CENTRAL AMERICA TOUR Squirrel Monkey
Mayan ruins at Copan
Panama hats
Collared Aracari, Costa Rica
Aerial tram ride, Costa Rica
Tikal, Guatemala
DAY 5 Sarapiqui, Costa Rica An exciting highlight today is an aerial tram ride through the rainforest. This trip takes us through the treetops of primary forest in the company of a naturalist guide. After this we’ll visit the Earth University, where we’ll learn about the country’s biodiversity as we tour a banana plantation and a forest reserve. During a 1.2-mile trek, we’ll see, hear and smell many species of native plants. The forest is also home to three of the four types of monkey found in Costa Rica, many types of insect and more than 150 species of birds. SELVA VERDE LODGE, SARAPIQUI (3-STAR)
DAY 6 Caño Negro, Costa Rica Today we head to Caño Negro, where we’ll stay for two nights. En route we’ll stop at La Selva Biological Station, an ecology research facility where we’ll see some of the country’s most immaculate primary tropical rainforest. We’ll enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening. CAÑO NEGRO NATURAL LODGE, CAÑO NEGRO (3-STAR)
DAY 7 Caño Negro, Costa Rica On this day of discovery we’ll start with a boat tour of Caño Negro’s wetlands. The area is home to more than 350 species of birds including the great blue heron, wood storks, black-bellied whistling duck and the endangered jabiru, as well as caimans, sloths and monkeys. We’ll also visit a farm to learn about the growing and harvesting of medicinal plants. We’ll gather again this evening for dinner at the hotel. CAÑO NEGRO NATURAL LODGE, CAÑO NEGRO (3-STAR)
DAY 8 Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua Today we’ll journey by road into Nicaragua, where we’ll stay in Laguna de Apoyo for two nights. Before checking into our hotel we’ll visit Granada, the oldest city in the country, for a guided tour. We’ll see the striking blue San
Francisco Church and its convent, which is home to a fascinating museum. APOYO RESORT & SPA, LAGUNA DE APOYO
DAY 9 Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua Thousands of years ago the Mombacho Volcano erupted, throwing huge rocks into Lake Nicaragua. These are now known as the Granada Islets. We’ll enjoy a cruise here today. Some of the islets are uninhabited and some feature grand houses. Birdlife is plentiful here, so look out for cormorants, herons, parrots, vultures and many more species.
Our tour concludes as we head to the White Villages – picturesque rural communities scattered amongst the hillsides whose buildings were constructed using volcanic rock and limestone. Each village specialises in a different traditional craft, and, with an average elevation of around 1,600 feet, the view from each is spectacular. APOYO RESORT & SPA, LAGUNA DE APOYO
DAY 10 Managua After breakfast our tour continues as we head to Nicaragua’s capital Managua, where we stay tonight. Badly damaged by earthquakes in 1931 and 1972, much of the city centre has never been rebuilt, so the dilapidated buildings we’ll see here are a haunting reminder of nature’s power. Perhaps pick up a locally crafted souvenir in Roberto Huembes Market. GLOBALE CAMINO REAL HOTEL, MANAGUA (3-STAR)
DAY 11 San Salvador, El Salvador This morning we head to the airport for our flight to El Salvador, South America’s smallest country. On arrival we include a tour of its capital San Salvador and a visit to the Military Museum of El Salvador which is located in former barracks. Later, we visit the town of Suchitoto before returning to our hotel. MIRADOR PLAZA, SAN SALVADOR (3-STAR)
DAY 12 Copan, Honduras Today’s journey by road takes us to Copan in Honduras. En route we’ll make a stop at Joya de Ceren, an ancient Maya farming community which was buried by volcanic ash, preserving it incredibly well. We’ll stay in Copan for two nights. MARINA COPAN, COPAN RUINAS
DAY 13 Copan, Honduras The archaeological site of Copan is the most studied Mayan site in the world, and we’ll visit this morning. Among the incredible stone sculptures here we’ll discover the Great Plaza and the huge pyramidal Acropolis. The rest of the day is free for you to spend at leisure. MARINA COPAN, COPAN RUINAS
DAY 14 Livingston, Guatemala Our day begins with a drive to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala’s main Caribbean Sea port, where we board a boat for our journey to Livingston. En route to our hotel, where we’ll stay for two nights, we’ll visit the UNESCO-listed site of Quirigua. Here we’ll admire its famous stelae, or stone carvings, the largest of which is 35 feet high, five feet wide and carved from a single piece of stone. VILLA CARIBE HOTEL, LIVINGSTON (3-STAR)
DAY 15 Livingston, Guatemala The enchanting Caribbean town of Livingston was founded by the Garifuna people in around 1795. Today their local traditions, customs, cuisine and music set the town apart from the rest of Guatemala and we’ll discover it on an included tour. An afternoon at leisure gives you the chance to explore further with your travelling companions or to relax and enjoy the facilities at your hotel, which enjoys a lovely position overlooking the Caribbean Sea. VILLA CARIBE HOTEL, LIVINGSTON (3-STAR)
Market seller, Panama
DAY 16 Flores, Guatemala After breakfast we embark on a boat trip on the Dulce River to the Ak’Tenamit co-operative, a social development organisation that supports local community projects. We’ll also visit the San Felipe Fort, built to stop pirates entering the region from the Caribbean. VILLA MAYA, FLORES (3-STAR)
DAY 17 Tikal & Guatemala City UNESCO-listed Tikal is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites of the Americas and we will enjoy a guided tour here this morning. At its peak, the city was one of the most powerful Mayan kingdoms. The extensive ruins of temples, palaces and plazas lie among the tropical rainforests of northern Guatemala. This afternoon we’ll fly to Guatemala City for an overnight stay. BARCELO PREMIUM HOTEL, GUATEMALA CITY (4-STAR)
DAYS 18 & 19 Guatemala City to UK On day 18 we fly back to the UK, arriving on day 19.
Please note: We want you to get the most from your holiday with us please be advised this tour requires a good degree of physical fitness and is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility.
DEPARTURE DATES
For all dates, prices and regional fl ight options, see latest price guide. Holiday ref: SLCAT
2017 Heathrow 18 Oct 8 Nov 2018 Heathrow 14 Feb
Flights with United Airlines or similar scheduled airline via Newark. Transfer time is approx. 30 mins. ESTA from £29 - see page 209. Flight timings and hotels are subject to change and will be confi rmed in your fi nal documents.
Please have passport details ready when booking 147
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