20 Days of Central America in Full Colour
5 Good Reasons To Do This Trip!
From indigenous tribes and Mayan cultures to Spanish conquistadors, Central American history has more layers than a Guatemalan tapestry. This trip puts you right in the middle of the potpourri.
There’s no better way to get to know a place than through its people. Spend time with locals in remote regions in a way that your usual travellers simply don’t get to.
Who doesn’t love a souvenir to remember a trip, but what about bringing home new skills from your travels? Try your hand at making chocolate, cheese, and, yes, really!, floral carpets.
From the artists of Léon and the magical mayhem that is Chichicastenango’s markets, to the impossible-to-imagine Palm Sunday celebrations of Antigua, these cities will happily wear out any boots made for walking.
The region is also packed to the brim (or volcanic rim?) with nature so head-shakingly beautiful that your camera will need an extra memory stick. Volcanoes, lakes, islets, birds, and a forest in the clouds? Check!
Trip Details
| Dates | Price AUD (per person twin share) |
|---|---|
|
|
|
$3,969 AUD
Private Supplement: +$1,034
|
Details
- 2 week cooling off period applies.
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
- Private supplement available: max 6 spots. Single supplement not available on Day 13 and 14
Please refer to our payment terms in the FAQs.
Trip length
20 days, 19 nights
Meeting point
Gran Hotel, San Jose, Costa Rica
Ending point
Meson de Maria, Antigua, Guatemala
Group size
Maximum 14
Participation requirements
Please see our “Is this trip right for you?” section under the Participation Tab.
Included
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Meals: 19 breakfasts, 18 lunches and 5 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation, boat, 2x domestic flights
- 17 nights of boutique and premium accommodation
- 2 nights in a luxury tented camp
- Entrance fees for sites, communities, workshops, and museums
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader
- Chocolate-making workshop, Pottery workshop, Indigo Dyeing Workshop
- Birdwatching in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
- Catamaran Excursion in Guanacaste
- Masaya Volcano Visit
- Isletas Boat Tour
- Uaxactun Archeological Site visit
- Shaman Mayan Ceremony in Iximche
- Local coffee tasting in Guatemala
- All listed activities and more!
Not included
- International Flights
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Additional hotel nights & late checkouts
- Drinks and other personal expenses
- Tip kitty (See FAQs for more information)
Click the tabs to find out more
Day 1 – Welcome to Central America!
Bienvenida to Costa Rica. A smiling face is waiting to take you straight to your hotel in San José. As it slowly starts to sink in… your first cup of Costa Rican coffee is only moments away!
Weave your way into the city and get ready for today’s adventure: a welcome dinner with your fellow Patchies – all of them just as curious about Central America as you are!
Accommodation: Gran Hotel (or similar), San José, Costa Rica
Included: Dinner
Day 2 – Night Walks and Cheese
Enough metropolis for a while, it’s time to head into the wild! The three-hour drive toward Monteverde is just long enough to finish that conversation from last night. Feeling peckish? Your local guide will take you straight to the doorstep of Finca El Paraiso, a sustainable, family-run farm where you’ll make your own cheese, feed the farm animals and learn about making nourishing food. The family will host you for lunch – with cheese, if you’re lucky!
After lunch, take a breather in your hotel room. But wait, doesn’t it seem like there might be a lot of animals hiding in those trees outside your window? The real pros know the exciting animals come out at night, so in the evening, head out to the Curi Cancha nature reserve with an expert guide ready to point out hard-to-spot ocelots or coatis. The park is small and only allows 50 visitors a day, so it’s just you and the jungle.
Accommodation: Sibu Hotel (or similar), Monteverde, Costa Rica
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Monteverde Cloud Forest
Start the day with your head in the clouds at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, a misty majesty home to over 400 bird species. You’re in the best place to spot the resplendent quetzal, a sacred bird to ancient Mesoamerican cultures, so keep your eyes open. And while it seems like the hanging bridge is on every traveller’s itinerary, the feeling of being suspended in the canopy, floating among the clouds, is worth sharing the space.
After having lunch together, you’ll have the afternoon to explore Monteverde. Maybe a visit to the orchid or butterfly gardens, or simply sipping a cool drink on the hotel’s terrace with your Patchie crew.
Accommodation: Sibu Hotel (or similar), Monteverde, Costa Rica
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – Live Long in Guanacaste
On your way to Guanacaste, you’ll swing by the Nicoya Peninsula for an inspiring life hack from some of the oldest and healthiest people in the world. Enjoy lunch with Blue Zone residents who are old only in years and learn what keeps them vibrant well into their second century.
The afternoon is your palate’s turn to explore Costa Rica. In the middle of a wildlife refuge, you’ll train your senses to find the scents and flavours that distil into a traditional, spirited rum.Your hotel for the evening offers up every beach wishlist item: sunchairs in the refuge of canopy, a sandy beach steps away, a pool overlooking the bay. Perhaps this is the real-life Blue Zone lesson: slowing down and enjoying the peace of Guanacaste.
Accommodation: Hotel El Mangroove (or similar), Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone
“Blue Zones” are geographic regions – spread around the world – where people live longer and are healthier than the global average. Researchers have found that several lifestyle factors, like diet, movement, purpose, social belonging and ways to mitigate stress contribute to these long lives.
The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is one of the five original designated Blue Zones. Here, residents have a plan de vida, a reason to live, which helps elders stay active and feel purpose. A focus on family and community strengthens this purpose. It’s also thought that the calcium-rich water of the region contributes to strong bones and lower rates of heart disease.
Day 5 – Guanacaste Dreaming
Did you sink your toes into the sand properly yet? Today, you have all day to really soak up the relaxation vibes in Costa Rica’s best climate. After enjoying breakfast to the sounds of the waves rolling onto the sand, it’s time to climb aboard a catamaran and head out to sea. Swim in clear blue water and enjoy lunching in the camaraderie of your fellow Patchies. Five days in, are you feeling the bonds forming?By the time you head back to the foreshore, you’ll be ready to ease into an afternoon of sun-soaking, pool-dipping, full-service enjoyment (and maybe treating yourself to a spa treatment right at the resort?). It’s the perfect way to round out your time in Costa Rica and prep for your next adventure : Nicaragua.
Accommodation: Hotel El Mangroove (or similar), Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 – Nicaragua
This morning, you’ll head straight to the border, a few hours’ drive north to Nicaragua, where you will erupt into the country – (almost) literally. Waiting on the other side of passport control is the Masaya Volcano National Park. Known by early colonisers as the Mouth of Hell, the glowing lava lake at the crater’s bottom may have you agreeing.
After a short drive to the hotel in Granada, a stroll around the bustling city centre may be just what you need. Grab a fellow Patchie or two and find a dinner place big enough for both yourselves and all the stories you’re already bringing with you.
(While we at Patch always want to deliver what we promise, here’s one instance where Nature calls the shots more than we do – this part of the itinerary may be altered if the volcano is rumbling to unsafe levels.)
Accommodation: Hotel Plaza Colón (or similar), Granada, Nicaragua
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 – Islets of Granada
This is a day of treats – both in experiences and in snacks! Start the morning by boarding a boat on Lake Nicaragua at the edge of town. As you’re gliding among the islands, scattered like jewels in the water, all you have to do is spot birds, gaze at the volcano in the distance… and relax.
Next up – chocolate! In this morning’s workshop, learn all about how chocolate is made in the place where it all began. Be sure to save room for a taste or two! The afternoon is yours to explore. Not looking to go far? The bright Immaculate Conception Cathedral across the street from the hotel offers a heart-titillating view of all of Granada from its tower.
Accommodation: Hotel Plaza Colón (or similar), Granada, Nicaragua
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 – White Towns Arts and Crafts
By now, you’re probably warmed up to all the experiences coming your way – as well as the unhurried pace of the locals. This combination culminates today as you explore the ‘White Towns’ of Nicaragua, a cluster of towns with whitewashed houses and a shared love for arts and crafts.
Your guide will expertly lead you through this friendly community, while you’re busy ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ over the wares. You’ll also meet with a local family, to get to know their lives and learn how their crafts represent centuries of local culture. Definitely make room in your suitcase for an irresistible item or two!
The afternoon drive to Léon gets you there just in time to stroll, get a sense of this historic town, and maybe even catch the sunset at the cathedral. If you love colonial history, you may have a hard time falling asleep tonight in anticipation of tomorrow.
Accommodation: Hotel El Convento (or similar), Léon, Nicaragua
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9 – Recharge in Léon
Grab a few extra platanos for breakfast and lace up your best walking shoes, because this morning you will get to know Léon on the street level. A colonial town of revolution, art and poetry, sample a bit of everything with the help of a knowledgeable guide ready to give you the inside scoop. Lunch at a local restaurant is the ideal way to chat through what you’ve learned with your fellow Patchies – did everyone see that pink cathedral?
This day is light on to-dos, a deliberate break before tomorrow’s big travel day and new passport stamps. Make the most of your afternoon staying cool in the hotel pool, enjoying a black, sweet coffee made of local beans in a nearby café, or basking in the revolutionary spirit of the town by continuing your explorations.
Accommodation: Hotel El Convento (or similar), Léon, Nicaragua
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 – Léon, Nicaragua to Suchitoto, El Salvador
After two nights in the same place, it’s time for this group of rolling stones to pack up and see what’s next. How about turning a normally humdrum border crossing into an adventure? After a ride up to the port in Potosi, you will embark on a boat ride across the Gulf of Fonseca – and the border to El Salvador. Volcanic views, wind in your hair, and a spray of the Pacific on your cheeks – what a way to arrive in a new country!
Once you arrive on the other coast, you can settle in for quite a long drive to tonight’s destination, but on your private coach you’ll lean back, let the rural views roll by your window and dream of what El Salvador may have to offer.
Accommodation: Hotel Los Almendros de San Lorenzo (or similar), Suchitoto, El Salvador
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 – Colourful Suchitoto History
While your visit to El Salvador may be as quick as a firework, it’s filled with just as much colour and light. Suchitoto means ‘Place of Flowers and Birds’ in Nahuatl, and with a name like that, you know it’s a true show-stopper.
Now halfway through your journey, you may have a sense of just how much history is layered into Central America – colonial Suchitoto has it oozing out of every corner. Spend the morning walking with a local guide through cobblestone streets and experience how each step moves you back through the decades.
As indigo was once El Salvador’s biggest industry, no visit is complete without immersing yourself in indigo dye. This afternoon, you’ll feel anything but blue, as you participate in an indigo-dyeing workshop. Then, follow your nose to the nearest pupusa and chew the last out of this short but jam-packed visit to El Salvador – tomorrow it’s time to pull out your passport again.
Accommodation: Hotel Los Almendros de San Lorenzo (or similar), Suchitoto, El Salvador
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 – To Guatemala via 1500 years in the Past
Before you cross into Guatemala, El Salvador has one more trick up its sleeve. On your way to the border, you’ll stop at Joya de Ceren, a Mayan farming community that was buried by a volcano in 600 A.D. You can easily imagine what daily life might have been like in this perfectly preserved village. How would you have spent your day back then?
Lunch offers a nice break from the drive to Guatemala City, and before long, you’ll be rolling into the Hotel Westin, a glittering, towering contrast to Mayan farm houses, where the pool probably beckons after your day on the road. You’re in one of the busiest – and safest – parts of Guatemala City, so if you’re itching to get to know it over dinner, you have about a hundred options within walking distance.
Accommodation: Hotel Westin Camino Real (or similar), Guatemala City, Guatemala
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 13 – New Friends in Uaxactun
The alarm wakes you early today, but for good reason! A short flight to Flores in the north leads to the foot of ancient Mayan ruins in Tikal. Are you suddenly in an archaeological blockbuster movie? As you explore your way around just some of the 3,000-plus structures, you’re quite likely to believe so!
Your Indiana Jones adventure reaches new levels this evening, as you’re invited to have dinner with one of the few families living among the ruins in nearby Uaxactun. Enjoy the meal together, carefully prepared according to their customs, and see how the Guatemalas of the past and present meld.
This day becomes even more mind-bending as you unpack your suitcase in a luxury tent right outside the ruins. The intimate camp means you’ll share your tent with a fellow Patchie tonight and tomorrow – what better way to swap stories and watch the stars rise over the ruins?
Accommodation: Viaventure Luxury Tented Camp in Uaxactun (or similar), Guatemala
Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 14 – Uaxactun
You’ll wake in the tent to birdsong (or monkey chatter) this morning! Didn’t make enough friends last night? Today, you’ll walk a mile in the shoes of the small, tight-knit community that lives here. Step back and forth between times, weaving through the Mayan temple ruins of Uaxactun with the help of your local guide, born and raised in the village. But it’s not all ancient! You’ll also get the chance to learn about important exports that sustain the villagers today. Do you know, for instance, what goes into making bubble gum? You will soon!
Sharing a traditional lunch with the locals means you’ll come ever closer to understanding their daily life – and we hope, come away with the same joy and appreciation for the jungle that surrounds their community. The magic of today continues after sunset, but we won’t reveal it just yet – follow the candles leading to the ruins and get ready for a dinner experience unlike any other.
Accommodation: Viaventure Luxury Tented Camp in Uaxactun (or similar), Guatemala
Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 15 – Shaman Ceremonies in Iximche
It’s hard to say goodbye to your new friends, so make the most of your last breakfast in the village before packing up and flying back south.
At the Iximche archaeological site and late Mayan-era ruins that are still sacred to today’s Mayans, you’ll get to witness a shaman ceremony meant to solve problems, cleanse the spirit or bring fortune. Close your eyes and you may feel your burdens lifted.
With the sense – and scents – of your cleansed spirit lingering, your arrival into Chichicastenango may feel more like floating. Let this energy guide you to a local spot for dinner, but don’t eat too late! There’s one more item on the day’s itinerary and you won’t want to miss it. At night, this mountain town really comes alive and you’ll set out on an evening adventure with your guide, navigating the narrow streets and colourful homes in a way few others get to.
Accommodation: Hotel Santo Thomas (or similar), Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 16 – Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlán
Guatemalans come from afar to shop at the Chichicastenango markets , and you’ll be among them. Bring cash and your keenest eye – you may bring home both a souvenir and a story. Closely following your local guide, well-versed in the maze, weave through stalls of handmade crafts, pick up plump fruits, haggle over the price of a colour-bursting scarf, all while infused in aromas of spices and incense.
After your impression-studded morning, a palate cleanser in nature might be just the ticket. Enter: Lake Atitlán. Let your heart rate slow over lunch by the volcano-crowned lake, your only task now is to savour the flavours and look for spider monkeys swinging by. Take in Panajachel village at your own pace before falling asleep right on the lake’s edge, the fracas of the markets replaced by birdsong.
Accommodation: Villa Santa Catarina (or similar), Santa Catarina, Guatemala
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 17 – San Juan la Laguna and Lake Atitlán
We wouldn’t bring you all the way here to this can’t-take-enough-pictures-of-it lake without letting you see it up close. Start the morning with a spirit-reviving, water-spraying boat ride to San Juan la Laguna across the lake. Another village seemingly built by splashes of colour and virtually untouched by travellers, San Juan is home to many artisans – and you’ll get to know some of them.
A group of women weavers in the village invite you in to teach you about how their textiles are created. Stay in town for a traditional lunch with a local twist, before boarding the boat back to Santa Catarina and enjoying a free afternoon in the village (or maybe venturing no further than the hotel’s thermal pool). Enjoy dinner with your Patchies at the hotel before settling in. If you’re feeling sleepy, not to worry, tomorrow’s adventure will perk you right up!
Accommodation: Villa Santa Catarina (or similar), Santa Catarina, Guatemala
Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 18 – Coffee and Antigua
After one last breakfast in the calm of Lake Atitlán, a ‘few-hour’ car ride brings you to the colonial town – and UNESCO World Heritage Site – of Antigua. Home of some of the best coffee in the world, thanks to its volcanic soil and perfect climate (which you may not mind partaking in, either!), you simply can’t go here without visiting a coffee farm. So, of course it’s your first stop. Enjoy lunch on the farm before getting a tour of the operations and absorbing the full experience with a coffee tasting.
Dip your toes in Antigua by venturing out for dinner, or take in the views from your hotel’s rooftop terrace. Tomorrow you will fully dive into this history-preserving pocket of Guatemala through the ages, so let that coffee seep out of your system and get a good night’s sleep.
Accommodation: Hotel Meson de Maria (or similar), Antigua , Guatemala
Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 19 – Palm Sunday in Antigua
You are going out on top, with a jam-packed last day of ‘did-that-really-happen’ moments. Palm Sunday in Antigua is unlike any other, and a guided walk puts you right in the heart of it, no matter if you’re there for the real deal in March or reflecting on the traditions in October.
In March, you’ll tread carefully around the alfombras to an empty spot, where you will help create an intricate design for the procession to pass over. October’s no less special, as you’ll explore miniature souvenir versions and hear the stories behind the originals and the passion woven into every detail.
No celebration is complete without lip-licking street food – your guide will bring you to the right spots for chickpeas in spiced syrup, tamalitos and other festive favourites.
What a day it’s been! Head still spinning from the colour, scent and flavour of Antigua, you’ll escape the bustle to a cozy local restaurant for one last dinner with your Patchies. Try to put into words what you’ve all experienced together – an epic cap to nearly three weeks of all that Central America has to offer.
Accommodation: Hotel Meson de Maria (or similar), Antigua , Guatemala
Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala
Holy Week (Semana Santa) is one of the biggest events in Guatemala. Grand processions through the town, elaborate decorations of homes and streets, food, floats and celebrations erupt all through Lent.
While Easter itself is a Catholic event, brought over by Spaniards, Guatemala blends these customs with indigenous beliefs and tradition to create a wholly unique celebration. Alfombras, colourful ‘carpets’ made of sawdust, flowers and fruits, line the streets only to be decimated by the processions – a reminder of the impermanence of both life and death. While these culture-blending celebrations happen all around Guatemala, no one does it quite like Antigua.
Day 20 – Farewell Friends!
It’s your last morning in Guatemala and Central America. If you have time, linger over breakfast or take in the views from the roof-top terrace. Then it’s time to make sure you’ve exchanged contact information with your newfound Patchie friends and given extra hugs all around, before your private transfer to the Guatemala City airport. Give one final wave to Central America as its volcanoes, coffee plantations, lakes and bright wonders disappear underneath your feet. Hasta Luego, until you meet again!
Included: Breakfast
Trip Map
Is This Trip Right For You?
You love travel but don’t like being herded around B-grade attractions… just the mere idea of joining a ‘big bus’ tour makes you want to run for the hills.
You also know, however, that some places are worth the wait.
You’re open-minded and open-hearted. You try to embrace the little things. You understand that even in the best vehicles, the air-con sometimes breaks. This is just part of the adventure, and you choose to be gracious.
You also love the idea of living a day fully, and then returning to unique, interesting accommodation!
You enjoy trying new food, visiting new places, and making new friends. You make a great travel buddy and you love to share experiences with others. You understand that to fit in with local cultures, sometimes that could involve trying something you haven’t tried before, or sitting on the floor to eat with a nomad family.
If that sounds like you, you’d make a great Patchie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD:USD exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on this trip is based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD: 0.65 USD
A deposit of 25% of the total trip price is required to hold your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made at least 120 days before trip departure.)
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 120 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.
This is the most frequently asked question we get!
Nearly everyone is in their 50s and 60s, with some people above and below (but of course, everyone is welcome!)
Most Patchies come alone and are matched with a room-mate. Remember, you don’t need to pay for a single supplement if you come solo. We will place you with a similarly-aged roommate.
The typical Patchie has travelled a LOT, is a well-seasoned adventurer, and is not easily thrown by small things. However, many Patchies tell us that this is their first ever group tour. Many of our guests have avoided tours to this point as they’re not attracted to being herded around in large groups.
Oh, and one last thing:
Patchies are warm, generous, and kind. We knew it would be like this, but we weren’t expecting it to be *quite* like this. We’re so blessed as a business to have the customers we do; we consider ourselves to be some of the luckiest people in the world.
Level 1
So long as you have a general level of health and fitness, you’ll be fine. There is no specific exercise planned for this trip, but there will be days where you’ll be walking and spending a lot of time on your feet – sometimes on uneven ground and unpaved tracks. Daily activities may include morning walks and getting on and off various forms of transport. Art classes may include getting up from ground level or low-lying seats.
You’ll need to be capable of occasionally using a squat toilet. We do our best to accommodate sit-down toilets (all the hotels have them) but when you’re out for the day, and nature calls, sometimes they can’t be avoided.
All activities are optional, meaning that if you don’t feel like it, you can skip it but it will be impossible to enjoy your trip if you’re not able to do a walking tour for a full afternoon. Unfortunately, this tour cannot accommodate people requiring walking aids.
A visa is not required for Australian or New Zealand citizens to enter any of the countries in the itinerary.
Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf.
We’ll be updating this section with the tipping amount and how it’s distributed, soon.
This trip begins in San Jose, Costa Rica, and ends in Antigua, Guatemala. We recommend that you fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport, as that is where your hotel transfer will be waiting for you. The most convenient departure airport is La Aurora International Airport. Both transfers – on arrival and on departure are included in your price.
There are several 1 and 2-stop flights available from Australia and New Zealand that transit through USA and Canada to Costa Rica. The similar routes are available for your return flight from Guatemala.
Try to arrive before midday on the start day, although earlier would be recommended. If possible, come one day early to settle in. We can organise additional hotel nights for you at cost.
The opportunity to do laundry during your trip is possible and best left for stays that are for more than one night. Your guide will be able to assist with recommendations during your trip.
In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
