Best of Mexico & Costa Rica

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative for a complimentary transfer to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and fellow travellers – until then, the day is yours. Perhaps take a stroll to get a feel for this vibrant capital where the ancient and modern collide. After the meeting, you might like to head out with your leader for an optional group dinner – an opportunity to get stuck straight into the many local culinary delights.

Today, you’ll get to know Mexico City during a guided tour with your leader. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral – the largest and one of the oldest cathedrals in Latin America. You’ll also explore Zocalo, the city’s main square, and the remains of Tenochtitlan – the capital city of the Aztec empire. Check out famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera’s Mural Museum at the Alameda Central. Today’s guided tour includes a visit to the Museum of Anthropology – home to an impressive collection of 600,000 pieces of Mexican art and artifacts. After, the day is yours to spend as you please. The Leon Trotsky and Frida Kahlo (La Casa Azul) museums are famous sights worth checking out as an optional activity. Otherwise, maybe visit the colourful floating gardens of Xochimilco just outside the city. (B)

Depart Mexico City this morning and visit the ancient Teotihuacan ruins, once one of the biggest cities in the world. Meet with a local guide and discover the ruins known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon which dominate the skyline. Stroll down the Avenue of the Dead and get a sense of what life was like here nearly 2000 years ago. Continue to the colourful city of Puebla, joining your leader for an orientation walk to get your bearings around the beautifully preserved city centre. Puebla is known for its delicious food scene – your leader will have tips on the best places to dine on local specialties this evening. (B)

This morning, get to know Cholula, a city close to Puebla, by joining your leader on an orientation walk. Cholula has more churches than any other city in Mexico and you’ll stop at a few on your journey, like Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, located on the top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula. After, head back to Puebla after to explore the historic city at your own pace in the afternoon – maybe sit down for a dish of mole poblano (Puebla’s specialty sauce of dried chillis blended with spices, nuts and chocolate, typically served with chicken). (B)

Today you’ll journey to Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-ca), the city best known for its mole and mezcal. You’ll see the rest of its best bits on an orientation walk with your leader. Maybe see the main square with its architecture dating back to the 16th century or the Mercado 20 de Noviembre – a food market loved by the locals. Tonight, maybe join your group for a dinner where you can try some of the regional specialities such as tlayudas (Oaxacan pizza) or one of its seven varieties of mole. (B/D)

Learn about the traditional skill of crafting alebrijes – brightly coloured folk art sculptures of mythical creatures – in a women-run workshop in San Martin Tilcajete. This workshop was founded by local woman Rosario – her family has been dedicated to the craft for three generations. The artisans will walk you through the history of the art and how the crafting process works and you’ll hear the story of how this community became a local symbol of resilience and female leadership. Then, enjoy a free afternoon – maybe visit the nearby archaeological site of Monte Alban, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Have your camera ready to go because you can get a fantastic view across the three legs of the valley of Oaxaca. Season depending, a folkloric ballet performance is another great option, as is the Santo Domingo Cultural Centre. (B)

Set off with your leader this morning, first stopping at the famous Tule Tree – a 1500-year-old Montezuma cypress with a 36 m circumference, making it one of the widest in the world. Travel on to the Mitla archaeological ruins – once the religious centre for the Zapotec people. Lunch today will be at the home of a local Zapotecan family, where you’ll have the chance to try traditional dishes and learn about their culture. Visit a woman-owned mezcal farm and tour the cacti plantation – you’ll round out your day of exploration by sampling some of the different mezcals. Relax on the bus as you travel to Salina Cruz for the night. (B/L)

Your journey continues as you drive to the Sumidero Canyon – a gigantic natural canyon with walls reaching as high as 1000 m. Here, you’ll hop aboard a boat for an up close and personal tour of this remarkable landscape. Be sure to keep an eye (or an ear) out for howler monkeys along the way! After your boat trip, drive to the charming city of San Cristobal de las Casas. When you arrive in 'San Cris', take a walk and soak up the old-world atmosphere of this town, which is due to the grand Spanish architecture, prominent Indigenous cultures and winding cobblestone streets. Your leader will help orientate you with a walk around the town centre, and then you’re free to venture wherever your heart desires. (B)

This morning, your leader will take you on another orientation walk of the city, passing impressive churches, green plazas and countless museums before bringing you to the nearby Maya village of San Juan Chamula. Sitting in the highlands, this village serves as a marketplace and religious ceremonial centre for the Indigenous communities who live in the surrounding hills. The local people have retained their traditional way of life and can often be seen wearing their own distinctive clothes. Make the short drive to the next town of Zincantan. As you explore with your leader, you'll learn more about these mostly Maya communities. Later, during your free time back in San Cris, maybe rent a bike to explore the town further. (B)

Say goodbye to San Cristobal de Las Casas as you head for Palenque. This is a bit of a long travel day, so have your favourite playlists and audiobooks ready to go. When you arrive, the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore. Sitting in a steamy jungle, Palenque is a central town close to the nearby Maya ruins of the same name, which you'll have a chance to check out tomorrow. (B)

This morning, you’ll visit the ruins of Palenque. Sitting on a hilltop surrounded by thick trees, the ruins date back to AD600 and are some of the most impressive Maya relics in Mexico. As you take a guided walk among the temples, listen out for the eerie calls of howler monkeys and screeching parrots echoing from the jungle. There are many ruins that are still unexcavated and remain concealed in the forest. The area gives you an idea of what the Spanish invaders must have seen when they arrived. This afternoon, visit Misol-Ha, where the cascading falls and quiet surroundings create a refreshing escape into nature. (B)

Settle in for another driving day as you travel from Palenque to the historic city of Merida. Your drive will be broken up with short stops and an included lunch stop. Lunch will be a moreish selection of local seafood, with alternatives available. Founded in 1542, Merida is the capital of the Yucatan state and has retained much of its old-world charm. When you arrive, stretch your legs with an orientation walk with your leader where you’ll have the chance to learn about its Maya heritage. (B/L)

Today is a free day to explore the many sights of Merida. Perhaps visit some of the museums, including the impressive Regional Anthropology Museum of the Yucatan, and stroll the city streets, which are alive with art and culture. Hang out in the green and shady Plaza Grande, with the 16th-century cathedral on one side and City Hall, State Government Palace and Casa Montejo on the other. The outdoor market is another essential stop, with an array of hammocks and Mayan replicas for sale, plus a selection of enticing local cuisine, including the dish cochinita pibil ('little pig') or the incredibly spicy El Yucateco hot sauce. If you’re keen to explore more Maya sites, you may want to head for the ancient ruins of Uxmal. Here, you'll see the Palace of the Governors, considered by many to be the best example of classic Maya architecture. (B)

Your first stop today is Chichen Itza, possibly the most famous Maya site in Mexico and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. You'll see the marvellous Temple of Kukulkan standing over the ruins and not far from the temple is the ‘ball court’, where many disputes are known to have been settled by way of a ball game that employed only the elbows, hips and wrists. Stone carvings depicting violence suggest it wasn’t such a casual sport. After a guided tour of the site, enjoy a special lunch with a family in the town of Piste. Tuck into a traditional pibil feast – a Maya style of cooking that involves barbecuing underground, which the family have perfected over generations.  Finally, continue to the popular seaside town of Playa del Carmen, where you may like to join your group for a final dinner together. (B/L)

This morning, you’ll fly to San Jose. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and taken to your hotel. San Jose is a rapidly expanding city, home to some great markets, historic neighbourhoods and a chorus of old theatre. The rest of today is free for you to explore San Jose at your own pace until your second welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Maybe visit the Pre-Colombian Gold Museum or join the San Jose By Night Food and Culture Urban Adventure. After your meeting, maybe ask your leader for the best spots for a first taste of Costa Rican cuisine in the surrounding streets. (B)

Head out this morning, bound for La Fortuna – a leafy small town known as the gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park. When you arrive, you’ll learn how to cook traditional Costa Rican tortillas from a local woman who knows all the secret tips. Dona Chela will help you to prepare the dishes with ingredients from her garden, which you can also wander around before and after you cook. You'll make your tortillas in the traditional, old-school way by using the wood-fired stove in the kitchen. Sit down to a lunch of Costa Rican favourites, accompanied by your own handmade tortillas and get to know the family. After, check in to your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon in the lush surroundings. Maybe visit the nearby hot springs for a soak, fed by the thermal Tabacon River. (B/L)

Today is a free day in La Fortuna. Maybe get active and head to the famed national park, hiking the Arenal Volcano for some gorgeous views. Maybe just wander the rainforest and take one of the trails leading to La Fortuna Waterfall. You can also book a Cano Negro boat tour – this full-day activity will see you visiting the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, a wetland system home to varied wildlife like sloths, monkeys, caimans and tropical birds. Look out for the critters as you cruise along the river – you can even hop in a canoe or kayak! (B)

Today's journey to Monteverde is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. You’ll take a boat across Lake Arenal, then take a scenic drive to this major eco-tourism destination. When you arrive, you’ll have a free afternoon to choose your own adventure. Get out and explore the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve on your own, or head to the nearby butterfly garden. Visit the suspension bridges for some leafy views over the area or take on a forest night walk, looking out for local wildlife. (B)

Begin the day with a tour of the spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve – host to more than 100 different species of mammals and 400 species of birds. Your leader will share information on the fascinating biodiversity of the region and lend their expert eye to spotting some wonderful wildlife. Look out for the resplendent quetzal and its quirky hairdo and listen for the sounds of howler monkeys and the unmistakable call of the three-wattled bellbird. With nearly 500 unique species of orchids, the reserve holds the world’s highest diversity of this famed flower. After a morning with your head in the clouds, drive on to Manuel Antonio in the afternoon. (B)

Take the day to experience the lush national park surrounding Manuel Antonio. Your park entrance fee is included and joining you will be a naturalist guide with all the insider knowledge that you need. Spend some time discovering the park and learning about the beauty of the jungle, keeping an eye out for sloths and iguanas. Wander into the depths of the rainforest and be aware of where your naturalist guide is telling you to look – they know exactly where to find the weird and wonderful that call this place home! Tonight, dinner is included at your hotel. (B/D)

Drive to a small Indigenous community this morning, saying your goodbyes to Manuel Antonio. The Terraba (or Teribe), are an Indigenous group with a rich cultural heritage. Located on approximately 34. 7 sq mi (9000 ha) along the Terraba River, they have survived off the land for more than 500 years. The community consider themselves matriarchal and women are the teachers, responsible for passing information down through the generations. Here, you’ll learn how to paint your own wooden mask, before sharing a local home-cooked lunch with the villagers. This afternoon, travel by private vehicle to your mountain lodge on the edge of Quetzales National Park. Situated in the misty Talamanca Mountains, this remote cloud forest sanctuary serves as your restorative counterpoint to Costa Rica's busier regions. This hidden valley offers genuine solitude and the chance to recharge surrounded by untouched wilderness. After checking in, join your group for an included dinner at the lodge's restaurant. (B/L/D)

Join a local naturalist guide early this morning for a walk in the cloud forest adjacent to Quetzales National Park – if you’re lucky, you might just spot the resplendent quetzal (yes, this is its official name). This region is recognised as one of the best places to see this colourful bird in its natural habitat, as it’s a highland cloud forest like Monteverde (but with far fewer tourists!). As you walk, talking the opportunity for quiet exploration, look out for the quetzal as well as the hummingbirds, tapirs and sloths that call this area home. When you end up at waterfall, soak up the sounds of birdsong and running water – bliss! (B/D)

Craving a cuppa? Today you’ll visit an ecological family-owned farm, where everything is produced organically. Here, learn how the coffee bean makes its way from cherry to cup. Learn the full process, from planting to harvesting, roasting and grinding, and then prepare your own cup of coffee. Have lunch with the family to reward your hands-on efforts. After, drive back to San Jose where your leader will take you for a stroll to stretch your legs and get a feel for this lively city. You might like to head out for an optional farewell dinner and toast to a trip well-travelled. (B/L)

With no further activities planned after breakfast, you’re free to leave any time after check out. If you’d like to extend your stay in Costa Rica, just reach out to your booking agent. (B)