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Poison dart frog, Bocas del Toro

Central America tour ideas
Poison dart frog, Bocas del Toro

From Aztec ruins and Catholic cathedrals to lively rainforests and deserted beaches, Central America packs an incredibly diverse array of attractions into a compact area. Collectively, our specialists have explored it all and can help introduce you to a region’s landmark sights, as well as lesser-known attractions that offer a deeper insight into the area’s rich culture, history and wildlife.

Our sample itineraries aim to give you a basic starting point and show you what is possible. However, when it comes to planning your tour, we’ll create a personal itinerary based on your interests —  whether you’re hoping to go whale watching in Baja California, discover jungle-covered Palenque in Mexico, or dive the Blue Hole in Belize.

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Ideas for your trip to Central America

These itineraries are designed to give you some suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Central America, and they showcase some of the routes that we've found work particularly well. Treat them simply as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely for you by one of our specialists based on your particular tastes and interests.

Central America tour ideas

Tour Ideas

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Central America tour ideas

Tour Ideas

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  • Leon Cathedral, Nicaragua

    Historic Nicaragua

    Nicaragua

    • Explore the colourful and vibrant city of Granada.

    • Learn about Nicaragua's turbulent modern history in León.

    • Stare down into the active Masaya volcano crater.

    • Enjoy remote beaches on the Pacific Coast.

    11 days from £2,855pp

  • Sloth, Tortuguero National Park

    Highlights of Costa Rica

    Costa Rica

    • Explore the canal networks of Tortuguero National Park.

    • See a huge array of wildlife from tiny frogs to sloths and tropical birds.

    • Trek in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano.

    • Relax on the beach, or take a surf lesson instead.

    • Zip-line through the cloudforest and relax in a natural hot spring.

    11 days from £3,805pp

  • Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

    Costa Rica self-drive family adventure

    Costa Rica

    • Explore Tortuguero National Park, an ecological treasure trove consisting of a maze of canals and rivers teaming with all sorts of wildlife.

    • Drive through some of Costa Rica’s most spectacular landscapes.

    • Explore Arenal Volcano, an activity hub that's home to hanging bridges, rainforest walks and lake kayaking.

    • Spend a couple of days in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui for great white-water rafting.

    • Relax in the thermal river of Rio Perdido.

    • Enjoy time on the beach, or take a surf lesson instead.

    16 days from £4,070pp

  • Keel-billed toucan in Belize

    Simply Belize: jungle & beach

    Belize

    • Explore the jungles and caves of the Cayo District.

    • Hike jungle and forest trails on guided walks.

    • Snorkel and swim in the turquoise waters of Ambergris Caye.

    • Snorkel Belize's celebrated Mexico Rocks

    • Tour the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich

    10 days from £4,125pp

  • Morgan's Rock, Nicaragua

    Classic Nicaragua tour

    Nicaragua

    • Marvel at the vast crater of the Masaya Volcano.

    • Relax, walk, kayak or mountain bike on Ometepe Island.

    • Relax on beautiful Pacific coastline beaches.

    • Explore the colourful and vibrant cities of Granada and León.

    13 days from £4,325pp

  • Arenal Volcano, Arenal Volcano

    Discover Costa Rica

    Costa Rica

    • Raft along the class III and IV rapids of the Pacuare River to and from the remote jungle lodge.

    • Zip along wires strung across the forest.

    • Trek through the jungle to meet indigenous tribes.

    • Take a surf lesson on one of Costa Rica's Pacific beaches.

    10 days from £4,360pp

  • Red-eyed Tree Frog, Costa Rica

    Classic Costa Rica tour

    Costa Rica

    • Take a boat trip among the lush network of canals in Tortuguero National Park.

    • Explore Arenal Volcano, an activity hub home to hanging bridges, lake kayaking and hot springs.

    • Relax on one of Costa Rica's pristine beaches.

    • Visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a mystical temporal forest hiding a myriad of birdlife.

    13 days from £4,940pp

  • Sloth, Costa Rica

    Wildlife of Costa Rica

    Costa Rica

    • Wander cloudforest canopy walkways in search of a variety of birdlife.

    • Enjoy a river safari in the Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve.

    • Visit the coastal Manuel Antonio National Park to spot white-faced capuchin monkeys, among other species.

    • Explore the Osa Peninsula, home to the highest concentration of wildlife in Costa Rica.

    12 days from £4,995pp

  • Ambergris Caye, Belize

    Belize honeymoon

    Belize

    • Snorkel with sharks, turtles and rays on Ambergris Caye.

    • A visit to Belize's last frontier, the Toledo District, where you can visit cacao plantations and swim in caves.

    • A relaxing end to the trip as you unwind on Placencia's beaches.

    13 days from £5,145pp

  • Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City

    Culinary Tour of Mexico

    Mexico

    • Get to know Mexico City and experience some of the wonderful street food on offer.

    • Visit Puebla and explore the surrounding countryside with its archaeological ruins.

    • Learn the secrets of Mexican cuisine through street food tours and market exploration in Oaxaca.

    • Take a cooking class with a local chef.

    • Relax at the coastal town of Huatulco and enjoy the delicious seafood available.

    14 days from £5,150pp

  • Panama City by night

    Classic Panama tour

    Panama

    • Explore the buzzing Panama City.

    • Get up close to the enormous locks and tankers by transiting the Panama Canal.

    • Meet the indigenous Kuna community on the San Blas Islands.

    • Relax on the beautiful beaches of Bocas del Toro.

    14 days from £5,250pp

  • Cayo District, Belize

    Guatemala & Belize uncovered

    Guatemala and Belize

    • Stunning Lake Atitlán with its backdrop of volcanoes.

    • Verdant countryside of the Cayo District.

    • Fascinating Mayan ruins hidden in the jungle.

    • Explore the exquisite colonial city of Antigua.

    • Snorkelling in the turquoise waters of Ambergris Caye.

    14 days from £5,265pp

  • Hummingbird, Costa Rica

    Birdwatching in Costa Rica

    Costa Rica

    • Enjoy the services of an expert naturalist guide at the Turrialba's renowned birding lodge, Rancho Naturalista.

    • Visit La Selva Biological Station to explore the pristine tropical forest trails, home to 448 species of birds.

    • Discover the famous resplendent quetzal in the tranquil cloudforest of San Gerardo de Dota.

    14 days from £5,555pp

  • Santa Catalina Arch in Antigua

    Grand tour of Guatemala

    Guatemala

    • Explore the pretty cobbled streets of colonial Antigua.

    • Admire the scenery around Lake Atitlán with its backdrop of volcanoes.

    • Visit authentic local communities and markets in Guatemala's highlands.

    • Tour the turquoise pools and limestone caves at Semuc Champey.

    • Marvel at the Maya temples of Tikal, towering above El Petén's lush jungle.

    13 days from £5,685pp

  • Palenque, Mexico

    Classic Mexico tour

    Mexico

    • Mexico City — the country's buzzing capital.

    • Palenque — Mexico's atmospheric Mayan ruins in the heart of the jungle.

    • Chichén Itzá — the most famous of Mexico's Mayan ruins.

    • Enjoy the long stretches of soft sandy beach in the Mayan Riviera.

    15 days from £5,685pp

  • Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City

    Self-drive Mexico: Baja California

    Mexico

    • Soar over the UNESCO-listed archaeological zone of Teotihuacán in a hot air balloon.

    • Explore the desert landscape of the Baja Peninsula at your own pace.

    • Day trip to Espíritu Santo Island to spot a number of bird species as well as observe and snorkel with playful sea lions.

    • Boat excursions to spot whales and dolphins in pristine lagoons.

    14 days from £5,995pp

  • Mayan pyramid in Tikal

    In search of the Maya through Honduras, Belize, Guatemala & Mexico

    Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and Mexico

    • Visit some of the most impressive Maya sites in Central America from Chichén Itzá in Mexico, Tikal in Guatemala, Xunantunich in Belize and Copán in Honduras.

    • Stay in the Belizean jungle, walking through trails in search of howler monkeys and colourful birds.

    • Explore the ruins and relax on pristine sandy beaches in Tulum on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.

    22 days from £6,895pp

  • Howler monkey, Belize

    Grand tour of Belize

    Belize

    • The plantations and Caribbean culture of Punta Gorda.

    • Spotting toucans and macaws in the trees above your lodge in Orange Walk.

    • Explore the jungles and caves of the Cayo District.

    • Swimming and diving in Ambergris Caye.

    15 days from £6,995pp

  • Manuel Antonio

    Classic Costa Rica self-drive tour

    Costa Rica

    • Explore Costa Rica’s magical landscapes in your own 4x4, with the freedom to stop whenever you like.

    • Enjoy a river safari in the remote Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve.

    • Explore Arenal Volcano, an activity hub home to hanging bridges, lake kayaking and hot springs.

    • Discover the trails of Manuel Antonio, where rainforest meets beach.

    • Explore the Osa Peninsula, one of the most bio-diverse areas of Costa Rica.

    15 days from £6,995pp

  • Bocas del Toro

    Birdwatching & Bocas del Toro in Panama

    Panama

    • Explore the three cities within Panama City.

    • Get up close to the enormous Miraflores Locks.

    • Stay at the best birding lodges in the country.

    • Walk the beautiful Quetzal Trail.

    • Experience some of the most remote and pristine islands of the Bocas del Toro archipelago.

    15 days from £7,530pp

Mexican street