Itinerary
- Day 1
Mexico City
Optional Activities
- Visit Chapultepec area with its many museums
- Xochimilco canal boat cruise
- National Palace to see Diego Rivera murals
- Explore vibrant nightlife
Landmarks Chapultepec Xochimilco National Palace - Day 2
Mexico City
- Meals
- Breakfast (Chilaquiles (breakfast nachos) suggested)
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk around historic centre
- Gastromotiva visit (Intrepid Foundation partner)
- Leader-led taco crawl with local street food vendors
Optional Activities
- Frida Kahlo Museum
- Museum of Anthropology
- Palace of Fine Art
- Explore city snacks - tostadas, tortas, chicharrones
Landmarks Frida Kahlo Museum Museum of Anthropology Palace of Fine Art - Day 3
Mexico City to Oaxaca
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Oaxaca
Optional Activities
- Explore colonial architecture
- Visit indigenous markets for woven textiles
- Sample regional food specialties - cactus fruit, baked chilli, grasshoppers
- Try tejate (maize and cinnamon chocolate drink)
- Day 4
Oaxaca
Optional Activities
- Monte Alban - mountaintop temples and pre-Columbian ceremonial center visit
- Mitla Ruins - Zapotec archaeological site tour
- Hierve el Agua - mineral pools and calcified waterfall visit
Landmarks Monte Alban Mitla Hierve el Agua - Day 5
Oaxaca
Optional Activities
- Cooking class in Oaxaca
- Shop artisan stores in markets and around town
- Visit Templo de Santo Domingo - grand stone church
Landmarks Templo de Santo Domingo - Day 6
San Cristobal de las Casas
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in San Cristobal
- Santo Domingo textile market visit
Optional Activities
- Visit local cafés for baked goods
- Try pox (traditional corn-based liquor)
Landmarks Santo Domingo - Day 7
San Cristobal de las Casas
Optional Activities
- Explore cobblestone streets and colonial architecture
- Sumidero Canyon - boat trip down Rio Grijalva
- Mountain bike exploration of surrounding villages
Landmarks Sumidero Canyon - Day 8
San Cristobal de las Casas to Palenque
Optional Activities
- Explore Palenque town
- Day 9
Palenque
Included Activities
- Palenque Archaeological site - entrance fee and self-guided walk
- Misol-Ha - waterfall visit
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Palenque ruins
- Guided jungle tour to hidden waterfall
Landmarks Palenque Misol-Ha - Day 10
Palenque to Campeche
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Campeche
Optional Activities
- Explore seaside colonial architecture
- Dine at Portales de San Martin restaurants
- Day 11
Campeche to Valladolid
Included Activities
- Becal - visit to jipi hat artisan cave studio
- Valladolid - local market visit
Optional Activities
- Explore Valladolid colonial architecture
- Day 12
Valladolid
Optional Activities
- Morning walk around Valladolid city
- Xkeken cenote - natural swimming hole visit
- Samula cenote - natural swimming hole visit
- Nool-Ha cenote - natural swimming hole visit
- Suytun cenote - natural swimming hole visit
Landmarks Xkeken Cenote Samula Cenote Nool-Ha Cenote Suytun Cenote - Day 13
Valladolid to Chichen Itza to Playa del Carmen
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked pibil feast with local family in Piste (traditional Maya underground-cooked food wrapped in banana leaves))
Included Activities
- Chichen Itza Archaeological site entrance and visit
- Piste - home-cooked lunch (traditional Maya pibil)
- Yokdzonot cenote - visit and swim
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling among mangroves
- Underground cavern snorkeling
- Walk white sand beach
Landmarks Chichen Itza El Castillo Caracol Great Ball Court Yokdzonot Cenote 
- Day 14
Playa del Carmen
- Meals
- Dinner (Local taqueria dinner with fresh fish tacos and informal Spanish lesson)
Included Activities
- Leader-led dinner at local taqueria with informal Spanish lesson
Optional Activities
- Walk through town
- Relax on beach
- Ferry to Cozumel island for reef diving
Landmarks Cozumel - Day 15
Playa del Carmen to Tulum
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Tulum
- Temple of the Frescoes visit
Optional Activities
- Swim in archaeological zone
Landmarks Temple of the Frescoes - Day 16
Tulum
Optional Activities
- Bike rental and exploration
- Hip cafés and restaurants with vegetarian/vegan options
- Dos Ojos cenote - cenote visit
- Yoga and meditation
Landmarks Dos Ojos Cenote - Day 17
Tulum to Caye Caulker
Landmarks Caye Caulker 
- Day 18
Caye Caulker
Optional Activities
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve snorkel trip
- Day trips to nearby Cayes
Landmarks Hol Chan Marine Reserve - Day 19
Caye Caulker
Optional Activities
- Manatee tour
- Sea kayaking
- Stand-up paddle boarding
- Beach relaxation
- Sample lobster and local cuisine
- Day 20
Caye Caulker to San Ignacio
Included Activities
- San Ignacio - leader-led orientation walk
Optional Activities
- Chaa Creek butterfly garden visit
- Barbeque street stalls for char-grilled chicken
Landmarks Chaa Creek - Day 21
San Ignacio
Optional Activities
- Actun Tunichil Muknal cave tour
- Mountain Pine Ridge day tour
- Macal River canoe or tube trip
- Xunantunich Maya ceremonial center visit
- Hand-cranked boat ride down river
Landmarks Actun Tunichil Muknal Mountain Pine Ridge Xunantunich - Day 22
San Ignacio to Tikal National Park
Included Activities
- Tikal National Park Archaeological site - entrance fee and transport
Optional Activities
- Guided site tour
- Zipline canopy tour
Landmarks Tikal National Park Temple IV - Day 23
Tikal to Rio Dulce
Optional Activities
- Explore Flores town
- Boat transfer through jungle to hotel
Landmarks Flores - Day 24
Rio Dulce
Optional Activities
- Scenic boat trip to Livingston
- San Felipe fort exploration
- Chocon-Machacas Natural Reserve hike for manatee spotting
Landmarks Livingston San Felipe Fort Chocon-Machacas Natural Reserve - Day 25
Rio Dulce to Antigua
Optional Activities
- Stroll city streets
- Sample tamales
- Sample pepian (spicy meat stew)
Landmarks La Merced Church 
- Day 26
Antigua to Lake Atitlan
- Meals
- Dinner (Local pupuseria dinner)
Included Activities
- Chichicastenango market visit
Landmarks Chichicastenango Market 
- Day 27
Lake Atitlan
- Meals
- Lunch (Homestyle lunch with local hosts in San Juan La Laguna)
Included Activities
- San Juan La Laguna weaving and dyeing experience
- San Juan La Laguna midwife home visit
- San Juan La Laguna medicinal garden visit
- San Juan La Laguna homestyle lunch with hosts
Landmarks San Juan La Laguna 
- Day 28
Lake Atitlan to Antigua
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Antigua
Optional Activities
- Museums exploration
- Indigenous markets visit
- Countryside cycling
- Salsa dance classes
- Day 29
Antigua
Optional Activities
- Explore colonial architecture
- Hike Pacaya Volcano
- Hike Agua Volcano
- Hike Jumaytepeque Volcano
- ChocoMuseo chocolate-making workshop
- Coffee plantation tour and tasting
Landmarks ChocoMuseo Pacaya Volcano Agua Volcano Jumaytepeque Volcano - Day 30
Antigua to Cerro Verde
Included Activities
- Leader-led informal Spanish lesson during travel
- Day 31
Cerro Verde
Included Activities
- Salvadoran pupusa cooking demonstration
Optional Activities
- Santa Ana volcanic crater visit for Lake Coatepeque views
- Lake Coatepeque swimming
Landmarks Santa Ana Volcano Lake Coatepeque Izalco Volcano - Day 32
Cerro Verde to San Miguel
Optional Activities
- City foot exploration
- Cuevas de Moncagua swim
Landmarks Chaparrastique Volcano Cuevas de Moncagua - Day 33
San Miguel to Leon
Optional Activities
- Optional salsa dance class
- Day 34
Leon to Granada
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional breakfast of scrambled eggs and gallo pinto (rice and beans))
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Leon
Optional Activities
- Basilica de la Asuncion visit
- Museo Historico de la Revolucion visit
- Volcano sandboarding
Landmarks Basilica de la Asuncion Museo Historico de la Revolucion - Day 35
Granada
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Cafe de las Sonrisas (café run entirely by deaf people))
Included Activities
- Breakfast at Cafe de las Sonrisas
Optional Activities
- Guided city tour
- Markets visit
- Kayaking around Lake Nicaragua islets
- Bike rental to Laguna De Apoyo
- Mombacho volcano crater hiking
Landmarks Cafe de las Sonrisas Laguna De Apoyo Mombacho Volcano - Day 36
Granada to Ometepe Island
Optional Activities
- Watch fishermen return
- Hike to nearby waterfall
Landmarks Ometepe Island 
- Day 37
Ometepe Island
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional Nicaraguan meal at Los Ramos Indigenous community including nacatamales (dough-based snack with meat, steamed in banana leaves))
Included Activities
- Los Ramos Community cooking class
- Los Ramos Community meal
Optional Activities
- Maderas volcano summit hike
- Natural springs swimming
- Petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings) exploration
Landmarks Maderas Volcano - Day 38
Ometepe Island to San Juan del Sur
Optional Activities
- Beach exploration
- Nearby beach visits for surfing
- Day 39
San Juan del Sur
Optional Activities
- La Flor beach reserve - sea turtle nesting site visit
- Christ statue hike for views
Landmarks La Flor Beach Reserve - Day 40
San Juan del Sur to Monteverde
Landmarks Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve 
- Day 41
Monteverde
Optional Activities
- Cloud forest hiking
- Mountain biking
- Zipline canopy tour
- Suspension bridge tour 40m above jungle
- Butterfly gardens visit
- Insect gardens visit
- Serpentarium visit
- Local cooperatives exploration
- Day 42
Monteverde to La Fortuna
Optional Activities
- Lake Arenal scenic views
Landmarks Lake Arenal Arenal Volcano 
- Day 43
La Fortuna
Optional Activities
- Guided nature hike around Arenal Volcano
- Hanging bridges forest tour
- La Fortuna waterfall visit
- Lake water sports - stand-up paddle boarding
- Thermal hot springs soaking
- Celeste River boat safari
Landmarks La Fortuna Waterfall Celeste River - Day 44
La Fortuna to San Jose
- Meals
- Dinner (Final farewell dinner with group)
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in San Jose
Optional Activities
- Gold Museum visit
- Mercado Municipal de Artesanias shopping
- Central Market shopping
Landmarks Gold Museum Mercado Municipal de Artesanias Central Market - Day 45
San Jose
