Central America holiday
| country: | Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 18 Apr, 16 May, 30 May, 13 Jun, 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 7 Nov, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 19 Dec 2011: 2 Jan, 16 Jan, 30 Jan, 13 Feb, 27 Feb, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 10 Apr, 24 Apr, 8 May, 22 May, 5 Jun |
| price: | From £755 (17 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Central America holiday
Get ready for a fast-paced adventure through the best of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. From oceans teeming with marine life to tropical forests alive with jungle melodies, this pocket of Central America is something of a natural paradise. Whether you're shopping in colonial Antigua, exploring the intricately carved structures at Copan, diving into the crystal blue waters off the coast of Honduras or taking a night hike up an active volcano at La Fortuna, you'll get a wonderful insight into Central America during this incredible adventure.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Antigua. Shop for ceramics, jade statues or intricate textiles or head to the street stalls west of Central Park for some cheap and tasty Guatemalan food. |
| Days 2-3: | Copan. These Maya ruins are home to intricately carved monuments, staircases and statues. |
| Days 4-6: | Roatan Island. Discover the world-class diving or spot Jesus lizards in the botanical gardens. Alternatively, nothing beats melting into the white powdery sand under the shade of a coconut palm. |
| Day 7: | Comayagua. Mingle with locals in the lush surrounds of Comayagua's central park. |
| Days 8-9: | Granada. Cruise the lake or explore markets and museums. In the evenings, stroll the streets and talk with the locals who chat to each other from their open-front living rooms. |
| Days 10-11: | Ometepe Island. Spot Lake Nicaragua's resident freshwater sharks - a true one-of-a-kind found nowhere else in the world. Take an optional hike to a towering volcano or go for a slower pace at one of the beaches or jungle swimming holes. |
| Days 12-13: | Monteverde. Go birdwatching, walking or mountain biking through the rainforest. Perhaps wander along a treetop walkway or simply sit back and breathe in the fresh mountain air. |
| Days 14-15: | La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano National Park. Thrill-seekers may opt to explore Arenal Volcano after dark, or spend a full day white-water rafting. Alternatively visit the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge or relax in the hot springs. |
| Days 16-17: | San Jose. Join locals milling around Mercado Central for some super-cheap Costa Rican food or head out for a final spot of shopping. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. The central tenet of the Awards, in which winners are nominated by tourists, is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We just can't get enough of the Amazon, not only as a jaw-dropping travel destination but also as a global treasure and this trip will help to ensure that the incredibly Amazon Rainforest is here for us to enjoy for generations to come! Our Amazon Fund will help support on the ground projects by the Foundation's long time partners Greenpeace and WWF. By booking your Latin American adventure with us you're helping us work towards a sustainable future for the Amazon.
This trip gives you plenty of opportunities to get to know the culture and vibrant history of Latin America. There are numerous chances for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey. Your leader and the occasional local guide will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some Spanish at the same time). All travellers are encouraged to explore with the group and on their own, learn a few words of the language and interact with the locals as much as possible. Local guides are employed to help explain as much as possible about the cultural differences and the historically significant places that we visit. This also allows us to appreciate the importance of preserving and respecting these sites and to help us minimise the impact of our visits. There are plenty of opportunities to support local merchants in the markets and stalls that we pass along the way. We can purchase traditional handicrafts from local artisans and learn more about the importance of preserving these crafts. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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