Ultimate Central America
Trip Code: QVRRC
Why we love it
The stars of this trip are the dramatic and varied landscapes of lush Central America. Active volcanoes, ancient ruins, idyllic beaches and emerald jungles – this trip has got you covered., Escape the Mexican heat in the highlands of San Cristobal de las Casas. This old-world town is surrounded by indigenous villages that have retained their traditional customs and roots., Get to know contemporary Maya life during a homestay in San Juan La Laguna, a village sitting on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, where you can share meals and conversation with a local family., Clear sea perfect for swimming, shacks serving cold cerveza and sandy shores covered in starfish are waiting in Panama's Bocas del Toro, where you spend three nights on Isla Colon., Hike, cycle or zip-line through the steamy cloud forests of Monteverde in Costa Rica – there’s so many ways to experience the lush canopies and unique Central American wildlife.
Is this trip right for me?
This trip includes some long travel days by local transport and private vehicles. Space can be tight, but it’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers.
Central America is generally hot and humid year-round. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Air conditioning may not always be available in your rooms. Occasionally, properties may require an additional charge for air conditioning.
The homestay is a wonderful opportunity to witness everyday local life. Conditions during your homestay in San Juan La Laguna are basic. Your room will be multi-share, and the bathroom will most likely be shared with the rest of the family. A hearty home-cooked dinner will be served during your stay, which can be a lot more basic than what you're used to.
There will be times when you have to walk with your luggage, and for this reason, we recommend packing light and using a backpack or something easy to carry.
With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.
Important information
1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in Mexico City. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 28 (San Juan La Laguna homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4.As per updated Nicaragua entry requirements, customers are currently required to supply a copy of their passport front page to their booking agent no later than 15 days prior to departure.
5. Should you have any questions or need assistance with the Honduras pre-registration, your leader will be able to assist on Day 1 of your tour. For more information, visit the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the ‘Essential Trip Information.
What to bring/pack
Most travellers prefer to take a small to medium wheeled suitcase, which is a great size for the packing capacity in our private vehicles. Whatever you take, be mindful that you will need to be able to carry your own luggage, handle it at airports, take in/out of accommodation and perhaps even walk short distances. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible. You'll also need a day pack/bag for activities and day trips. In terms of weight, airlines generally allow a maximum of 15-20kg for check in luggage and a maximum of 5kg for carry on.
Other than the items and clothing you always need on a trip, below we have listed packing suggestions specific for this trip:
ESSENTIAL:
Sun protection – sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen (reef-safe sunscreen for swimming). The UV index can be very high in this region, therefore it is essential you protect yourself adequately from the sun.
Clothing for hot and humid weather: Lightweight, breathable quick-drying clothing.
Clothing for cool nights/high altitudes and rainy days: A lightweight waterproof jacket, pants, clothing you can easily layer.
Closed-in walking/hiking shoes. We highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in/closed-toe walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings.
Personal travel documents which may include a passport, visa, driver's license, travel insurance, flight tickets and your Essential Trip Information. Photocopies of these documents stored separately from the originals will be handy. While not valid, a photocopy of your identification makes it much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
RECOMMENDED:
Water bottle. We recommend at least a 1.5 litre capacity. Clean, filtered water is available for free in many hotel lobbies. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments
Electrical adapter plug (view http://www.kropla.com)
Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes and Band-Aids.
Watch/Alarm clock or phone that can be used for both
Swimwear
Travel beach towel
Water-proof bag for your phone
Tissues &/or toilet paper &/or wet wipes
Insect repellent
Camera with a spare memory card, charger &/or batteries
OPTIONAL:
Earplugs to guard against a potential snoring room-mate
Phrasebook
VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your safe if available. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden.
LAUNDRY:
Laundry is available at many hotels and towns during this trip, although you might need to wait for a two-night stop in order to make sure you get it back in time. While laundry at hotels is usually charged by the item, laundromats usually charge by the kilo, which is generally inexpensive (about USD 2 per kilo).
Physical rating
None of the activities featured in this trip require special training or skills, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to participate. Cobblestones and uneven roads are common and you may be required to walk in hot and humid conditions. If you are in any doubt, please share these concerns or issues with your sales consultant so that your leader is aware prior and can pre-empt your needs.
Joining your group
Ibis Mexico Alameda, Balderas 49, Colonia Centro, Centro,, Cuauhtémoc,, Mexico City, MEXICO
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Intrepid offers a pre-arranged arrival transfer service from Mexico City International Airport [MEX] at an additional fee. If you have pre-booked this service, please ensure you provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel so the transfer can be organized.
If you have any problems and cannot locate your driver on arrival, please call our Intrepid Emergency number listed under the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section of your Essential Trip Information document. If you don’t have a device or mobile coverage, Mexico City Airport has a free Wi-Fi connection, so you can call that same number via an online application such as Skype. There are also several information desks and tourist information desks around if you require further assistance.
Otherwise, you can travel from the Mexico City Airport to the hotel by taxi. We recommend you use the authorized taxi services organized from inside the terminal. They will charge you approximately MX$250-350 (USD$14-20) for a trip to downtown. The drive to where the hotel is located is approximately 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Finishing your trip
Grand International Hotel Panama City, Via Argentina y Jose Marti, 17, PANAMA CITY, 587, Panamá, Panama City, PANAMA, Phone: +507 3960100
Alternate Finish Point
Via Argentina, Ciudad de Panamá
Intrepid offers a pre-arranged departure transfer service to Panama City International Airport [PTY] at an additional fee. If you require this service, please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your trip departure.
If you have pre-booked this service, your transfer driver will collect you from your hotel 4 hours before your flight time. If your transfer has not arrived within 15 minutes of the scheduled pickup time please ask the hotel reception to call our Intrepid Emergency number, listed under the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section of your Essential Trip Information document.
Alternatively, you can travel from the hotel to the airport by taxi. The hotel reception will be able to assist you with a taxi. The drive to the Panama City Airport will take approximately 20-30 minutes depending on traffic and will cost approximately PAB$35-45 (USD$35-45).
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 22
Lunches included: 6
Dinners included: 4
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in this region. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat dinner together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
Please let us know your diet requirements before your trip starts.
Generally speaking, in bigger cities/towns vegetarians can expect a reasonable range of vegetarian venues and/or vegetarian options within tourist restaurant menus. However, vegetarianism is not the norm in this part of the world so options can be limited when eating at homestays, small local restaurants, street stalls, markets, etc.
More restrictive diet requirements (vegans, coeliac, gluten intolerance, fructose intolerance, lactose intolerance, etc.) can also be accommodated along this trip but you should expect a lesser variety than what you can expect at home. We recommend that, if possible, to bring your own supply of snacks with you.
For those on strict Kosher or Halal diets, we understand your dietary requirements are important, however, sometimes due to cultural and language differences these are not always easy to convey when you are travelling. Your guide will do their best to assist you in translating your needs when eating out, but please be aware that these diets are almost unheard of in much of the continent and the best they may be able to accommodate is no pork and shellfish. If this will be a concern for you you may need to consider opting for vegetarian or vegan meals for the included meals in your itinerary. We recommend researching kosher or halal options in your destination country prior to travel to see if you are able to buy snacks once there, otherwise consider bringing some from home.
Climate & seasonal information
Please note that Hurricane season is June to November, when landslides, mudslides, flooding and disruptions to essential services can occur. Intrepid monitors these situations as they may arise, so that itineraries or activities can be amended as necessary.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Intrepid local operator : Available for phone call on +52 800 099 1184
Intrepid local operator : Available for phone call on +506 800 460 0029
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
This itinerary includes basic accommodation, meaning access to elevators can be limited. Often rooms will be located on higher levels and luggage will need to be carried up and down stairs. We recommend packing light for this reason. For more information, refer to the "Packing" section of the Essential Trip Information.