Central American Adventure - Overland Trip

Itineraries

Arrival day.

Free day to relax on the beach or visit the ruins of Tulum. This Mayan temple complex overlooks the Atlantic Ocean in a dramatic setting. In the evening we board the overnight bus to the Belizean border.

We head on to the tiny country of Belize, stopping in colourful Belize City before taking a boat ride to Caye Caulker, an idyllic island fringed with palm trees, where we spend two nights.

Free day to relax on Caye Caulker. From here you can arrange a variety of excursions, including snorkelling and boat trips out to the endangered manatee.

Today we travel back to the mainland and head inland to San Ignacio, a small town situated within the Belize jungle, where we stay in simple wooden cabins.

A free day in San Ignacio. The town is a great base for exploring the surrounding area and there are plenty of options to choose from, including horse-riding, jungle trekking, caving, canoeing and visiting some of the excellent Mayan sites in the area, such as Caracol.

We take the bus to Flores, a pleasant island town on Lake Peten Itza in Guatemala, where we spend the night.

We embark on our trek into the thick jungle of the Peten region, spending our nights camping near little-visited Mayan ruins. On day 10 we arrive at Tikal and we spend the night in the National Park, watching the sunset over the jungle from the top of one of the pyramids. (Day 8 - LD, Days 9 - BLD, Day 10 - BL)

We visit Tikal, perhaps the most impressive of all the Mayan sites, set amidst thick jungle. We spend the morning exploring the ruins before returning to Flores.

We leave the jungle behind and drive to the Rio Dulce, boarding a boat to Livingston, home to Guatemala’s Garifuna population.

Drive to Antigua, one of the most beautiful of Central America’s cities. Surrounded by volcanoes and full of picturesque colonial architecture, Antigua is a delight to explore.

Two full free days in Antigua. The energetic can take a hike up one of the nearby volcanoes for fantastic views over the city.

Drive to Panajachel, a relaxed village on the shores of the impressive Lake Atitlan. On the way we stop to visit Chichicastenango, home to Guatemala's most colourful market.

A free day in Panajachel. There's the chance to take an optional boat ride to visit some of the fascinating nearby villages, and find Maximon, the mysterious Mayan God that lives in one of the houses.

Today we travel to the village of Totonicapan, a wonderful place to find artisan workshops for all different kinds of crafts. This evening we enjoy the privilege of staying with a local family. (LD)

We bid farewell to our host family before moving on. We cross the border into Mexico and head to the town of San Cristobal, home to a large proportion of Mexico's indigenous population and with a character all of its own. (B)

A free day in San Cristobal. You can visit the nearby Sumidero Canyon, a series of cliffs that reach an impressive 1,500m in height. Alternatively, you could take a horse ride into some of the nearby villages.

We take a bus to Palenque, the town close to the impressive site of the same name.

We head into the jungle early in the morning in a quest for these little visited Mayan ruins. A boat ride take us to Yaxchilan (Place of the Green Stones), one of the few Mayan cities where women have ruled as well. In the afternoon we visit Bonampak, a site that is known for its well preserved frescoes. The Lacandon Indians are the original inhabitants of this part of the jungle, and we spend the night at an original Lacandon settlement in a simple multi-share cabin. (BLD)

After breakfast we take a walk through the Lacandon jungle with an indigenous Indian guide. Along the way we stop at small waterfalls to take a swim. Later this afternoon we drive back to Palenque. (BL)

A free day to visit the amazing Mayan ruins at Palenque, set amidst stunning rainforest. We also have the option of visiting Agua Azul, an area of beautiful jungle scenery and superb waterfalls. In the evening we take an overnight bus to Merida.

We arrive in Merida, capital of the Yucatan state and packed full of markets and old colonial buildings. Nearby are the ruins of Uxmal and the Celestun National Park, home to huge flocks of flamingos. A free day to enjoy the city.

In the afternoon we drive to Chichen Itza. We have plenty of time to visit the magnificent Mayan site and spend time exploring its temples and pyramids.

After having time for a last visit to the ruins before the crowds arrives, we then head to the lively coast town of Playa del Carmen.

Tour ends.