Anchorage<- ->Panama City (CAP)

Anchorage 10 Aug 2013

Today there will be a welcome meeting at 10 AM. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Anchorage. We stay the night in a centrally located hostel in shared dorm accommodation.

Accomodation for the night: Alaskan Backpackers Hostel, 327 Eagle Street,AK99501, Anchorage.

                                             001(907)2772770

Hotel for the night: Alaskan Backpackers Inn

Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park 11 Aug to 12 Aug 2013

We set off early this morning for Kenai Peninsula where we will camp for a couple of nights and explore the area. During these 2 days we will have time to explore the area and view the stunning Portage Glacier. We will take an included boat trip out into Kenai Fjords National Park and there will be the opportunity for you to perhaps hike up Exit Glacier to the Harding icefield.

Denali National Park 13 Aug to 15 Aug 2013

We drive back past Anchorage and head some 480kms to Denali National Park, the home of Mount McKinley, where we camp for 3 nights. There is plenty of time for optional activities here as well as a guided tour of the national park where if we are lucky we may even spot a grizzly bear.

McLaren 16 Aug to 17 Aug 2013

We have a short drive today of 120 kms along the Denali Highway to a lodge on the McLaren river. We will have one night staying in the lodge and another in a remote bushcamp up stream and a chance to experience the Alaskan wilderness.

McCarthy, Wrangell-St Elias National Park 18 Aug to 19 Aug 2013

We drive on 380kms and arrive at the old copper mining town of McCarthy where we camp for 2 nights and explore Wrangell-St Elias National Park. This is the largest national park in the USA and has an abundance of optional activities to partake in such as hiking, historic mine tours, glacier walks or ice climbing.

Tok 20 Aug 2013

A long but incredibly scenic drive of 420kms brings us to Tok which is a small town but a major centre for dog-sledding. We camp in Tok and you might have the opportunity to view the Dog Sleigh exhibition.

Dawson 21 Aug to 22 Aug 2013

We travel 300kms today along the 'Top of the World Highway', amidst incredible scenery, enter Canada and into the Klondike where is situated Dawson City, once a hive of activity for gold prospectors. We will camp here for 2 nights, visit the gold mining areas and in your free time you may want to visit Diamond Tooth Gerties Casino, a real outwest experience!

Whitehorse 23 Aug 2013

A drive of just over 500kms bring us to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon territory. You have free time to explore town of relax in the hot springs by our campsite.

Cotton Lake 24 Aug 2013

We cross from the Yukon into British Colombia and head towards Cotton Lake area. We will camp on a campsite en-route today

Hyder 25 Aug to 26 Aug 2013

Today we will set up camp at a camp site in Stewart for 2 nights. We will be driving to Hyder located at the head of the Portland Canal. We will have time to explore this area and drive up Fish Creek Bear and Salmon Glacier Road and hopefully spot some bears amongst amazing scenery.

Hazelton 27 Aug 2013

Today will be an all day as we make our way towards the Rocky mountains. Will will find somewhere to camp for the night and en route have the chance to stop off in Hazelton to visit the Ksan Indian Village.

Jasper 28 Aug to 29 Aug 2013

We continue our drive in to the Candian Rockies arriving to Jasper amidst amazing scenery. Here we camp for 2 nights for a variety of activites.

Banff 30 Aug 2013

Today even thou we say we will stay in Banff, is more of a spare day to be used by the leader and the group anywhere along the trip.

Banff 31 Aug 2013

We drive on 300kms to the town of Banff, where there is a plethora of stunning sights and wonderful activities to occupy our time. We camp here for 2 nights and explore the surrounding area.

Banff 01 Sep 2013

Today is our last day in Banff and also of our trip. We will move into a comfortable hostel for our last night.

Calgary, Banff 02 Sep 2013

Today there will be a group meeting at 10 AM. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Banff. We stay the night in a centrally located hostel in shared dorm accommodation. Banff is located 1.5 hr drive from Calgary. Is very well connected to the International Airport of Calgary and our friendly sales team can help you out with information on how to book your transfer.

Hotel for the night: Y Mountain Lodge

Glacier National Park 03 Sep to 04 Sep 2013

Today we cross into the USA and after a drive of 400kms we reach Glacier National Park where we camp for 2 nights and you have a chance to go hiking.

Yellowstone National Park, Gardiner 05 Sep to 06 Sep 2013

Our journey continues south through Montana to the town of Gardiner where we will camp for 2 nights following a 600km drive and explore Yellowstone National Park. We will visit the park and the famous Old Faithful plus other geysers and there are plenty of optional activities to entertain you.

Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park 07 Sep to 08 Sep 2013

A drive of 250kms takes us from Montana to Wyoming as we head to Jackson where we will camp for 2 nights just south of the town. En route to Jackson we will visit Grand Teton National Park to view the spectacular mountain range and a chance to do some hiking.

Salt Lake City 09 Sep 2013

We leave Wyoming behind and head to Salt Lake City in Utah where we camp for the night. The city is wonderfully located, surrounded by mountains and we will explore the Mormon culture which began here.

Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park 10 Sep to 12 Sep 2013

We continue our drive south through Utah to Moab where we camp for 3 nights. We visit 2 incredible national parks, those being Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park plus ample time for own own exploration and optional activities.

Monument Valley 13 Sep 2013

We drive 250 kms to the iconic Monument Valley, the film set for countless movies and explore the area. 

We will be joined by our local Indian guides at the entrance of Monument Valley Tribal Park. They will drive us around the park for a couple of hours, showing us some of the incredible formations and explaining everything there is to know about the Navajo view of the buttes and mesas that will be surrounding us.

We then drive to our night camp where we spend the night in a traditional Navajo ‘Hogan’, all sleeping together on the ground in a circle. In the evening we also have a traditional meal of Navajo Tacos. We get up at dawn the next day to watch the sun as it rises over the valley.

Lake Powell 14 Sep 2013

We head into Arizona to Lake Powell, a drive of 200kms where we camp by the lake with over 2000kms of shoreline. En route we will visit the Navajo National Monument.

Bryce Canyon 15 Sep 2013

A 250km drive brings us to Bryce Canyon which we visit before moving on to camp for the night in a wonderful spot in Kodachrome Basin State Park.

Zion National Park 16 Sep 2013

Another short drive day takes us to Zion National Park for more incredible scenery and optional activities a plenty. We will camp for the night in the park.

Las Vegas 17 Sep to 18 Sep 2013

We have a break from camping for the next 2 nights and the chance to enjoy a bed, assuming you can drag yourself out of the various all night entertainment options as we head into the bright lights of Las Vegas. En route to Vegas we stop at the Hoover Dam and then the time in the city is free for you to explore and enjoy.

The Grand Canyon 19 Sep to 20 Sep 2013

After 2 nights in Las Vegas we hit the road again, hopefully bringing your liver and some money in your wallet with you as we head over to one of the USA's highlight's, the Grand Canyon. We camp by the canyon for 2 nights and allow free time for optional treks and flights.

Nogales 21 Sep 2013

From the Grand Canyon we head south through Arizona and towards the Mexican border near the town of Nogales.  

Los Mochis 22 Sep 2013

We wave goodbye to the USA and say Hola to Mexico on an all day drive to the Pacific coastal town of Los Mochis. We camp here for the night.

Sayulita 23 Sep to 24 Sep 2013

We progress further south into Mexico on another long drive day and along the coast to the Riviera Nayarit and the surfing town of Sayulit. We have 2 nights here camping near the beach and a chance for you to relax by the ocean and maybe have a go at surfing.

Tequila 25 Sep 2013

We drive 270km to the town of Tequila where we stay the night in a hotel and have a guided tour of the Cuerva tequila distillery.

Angahuan 26 Sep to 27 Sep 2013

We continue south to the small town of Angahuan where we will camp for 2 nights. This quaint town is the gateway to the Paricutín volcano and there will be optional climbs around the volcano on offer.

Patzcuaro 28 Sep 2013

We have a short drive today into the Michoacan hills and the small colonial town of Patzcuaro where we camp for the night. Set amidst beautiful scenery Patzcuaro is the perfect place to relax before the hustle and bustle of Mexico City.

Mexico City 29 Sep 2013

We head into the captial of Mexico today, one of the world's busy and most populated city. We stay for the night in a centrally located hotel with plenty of time for optional activities or to enjoy Mexico City's vibrant nightlife.

Hotel for the night: Hotel Isabel

Mexico City 30 Sep 2013

Today there will be a group welcome meeting at 9am allowing us ample time to head out of Mexico City to the pyramids of Teotihuacan for a guided visit. We will then return to the capital and stay the night in a centrally located hotel allowing you to enjoy the abundant nightlife.

Hotel for the night: Hotel Isabel

Oaxaca 01 Oct to 02 Oct 2013

We leave the hubub of the capital behind and journey to Oaxaca where we stay for 2 nights in a posada allowing you the chance to explore this this wonderfully laid back colonial city. During our stay here we will have a guided visit of the Zapotec remains at Monte Alban, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

San Cristobal De Las Casas 03 Oct to 05 Oct 2013

Today is an all day drive to the beautiful old colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas, one of Mexico's most beautiful towns, where we stay in a family run hotel. We have 3 nights in San Cristobal during which we will take a boat trip down the stunning Sumidero Canyon plus allowing ample time for the abundant optional activities that exist.

Yaxchilan 06 Oct 2013

We have an early start today and drive to the Lacanja region where we camp for the evening. We visit the Mayan ruins of Yaxchilan, taking a boat to get to the site and see the impressive murals at Bonampak.

Palenque 07 Oct to 08 Oct 2013

We drive towards Palenque where we will camp for 2 nights and visit the waterfalls of Agua Azul and Misol-Ha en route. On the second of the two days we will visit the incredible ruins of Palenque, rising high from the jungle. A guide will show us around the ruins and you will be free to see if you can visit all 200 of the buildings that make up the city!

Merida 09 Oct 2013

Today we have an all day drive to Merida, the capital of the Yucatan state. We stay in a colonial hotel in the heart of this bustling city and a chance to enjoy it's nightlife.

Chichen Itza 10 Oct 2013

We have a short drive to Piste today, the gateway for Chitchen Itza, one of the most spectacular Mayan sites. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the site as well as the daily spectacular light and sound show.

Tulum 11 Oct to 12 Oct 2013

After some incredible Mayan ruins and a few colonial towns we reach the Caribbean coastline for 2 nights of camping on a remote beach location near Xpuha follwing a drive of some 270kms. The time here allows you relaxation and on the second day we will visit the Maya-Toltec ruins of Tulum, perched high on the cliffs above the glistening blue sea, an incredible sight.

Corozal Town 13 Oct 2013

Border day. We might camp in the Carribean village of Corozal Town in Belize, or try to make it all the way to the ferry to go to Caye Caulker.

Caye Caulker 14 Oct to 16 Oct 2013

We leave Xpuha early in the morning and head to Chetumal where we board a boat, wave goodbye to Mexico and head for Caye Caulker in Belize. We have 3 nights in this incredible Caribbean location staying in a small hotel close to the beach. The time on the island is your to relax, sunbathe or enjoy the many waterbased activities on offer.

San Ignacio, Belize City 17 Oct to 18 Oct 2013

Today we head to the Belize mainland, catching a boat over to Belize City, the country's former capital. We will have a few hours to look round the city before heading on to San Ignacio, locally known as Cayo. We stay here for 2 nights and camp where a variety of optional activities are on offer.

Tikal 19 Oct 2013

We make the short drive across the Guatemalan border to the incredible Mayan ruins of Tikal, with it's temples hiding in the tropical jungle. We camp near the ruins and have a guided tour of the ruins.

Poptun 20 Oct 2013

Today we head to the small town of Poptun where we stay for the night on a working farm, camping in the grounds of the finca. 

Livingston, Rio Dulce 21 Oct 2013

We have a very short drive today to Rio Dulce where we board a boat to Livingston on the Caribbean coast. The town is distinctly different from the rest of the country and we will enjoy a night in a hotel here mixing with the locals.

San Andres Itzapa 22 Oct 2013

In the morning we journey back down the Rio Dulce to rejoin the truck and drive 300kms to San Andres Itzapa, a small village located in the moutains around Antigua. We spend one night at the centre of Manos Amigas. This centre is run by the Italian NGO 'Mani Amiche' in support of local women who have been abandoned and abused, and who 'hide away' in the centre with their kids. Dragoman is supporting this community and it is also the project that Luca, our Wanderlust 2012 Guide of the Year, will be donating part of his bursary to.

Panajachel / Lake Atitlan 23 Oct 2013

Being an exploratory trip we have left this day as a spare day to be used at leader and group discretion.

Panajachel, Lake Atitlan 24 Oct 2013

Today we may have the chance to visit the market at Totonicapan before a short drive to Panajachel, situated on the shores of the beautiful Lake Atitlan where we camp in the grounds of a hotel. There is the opportunity to take a boat out onto the lake or perhaps just enjoy some relaxation.

Panajachel, Chichicastenango 25 Oct 2013

We spend a second day camping by the lake and will visit Chichicastenango and it's fantastic market.

Antigua 26 Oct 2013

We drive 200kms back to Antigua where we have more free time to explore the town and stay in the same colonial hotel.

Antigua 27 Oct 2013

Today is free for you to explore Antigua and there will be a group welcome meeting at 6pm. During the day the more adventurous of you may wish to try and climb up Pacaya, an active volcano. We stay the night in a lovely colonial hotel.

Hotel for the night: Posada La Merced

El Impossible National Park 28 Oct to 29 Oct 2013

This morning we drive roughly 300kms and across the El Salvador border to El Impossible National park. We camp for a couple of nights and explore this incredible park with it's great diversity of plant and animal life where you may be lucky enough to see pumas, tigrillos or black crested eagles.

Cerro Verde National Park 30 Oct 2013

An early start takes us some 170kms to Cerro Verde National Park which offers amazing views of the surrounding volcanoes and countryside. We camp in the park which has basic facilities.

Suchitoto 31 Oct 2013

We take a short drive to the lovely town of Suchitoto, with it's cobbled streets and whitewashed houses where we stay in a local hotel for the night.

Copan 01 Nov to 02 Nov 2013

We cross the border and enter Honduras. Once border formalities are dealt with we will continue to the spectacular ruins of Copan where we camp for two nights in the grounds of a hotel for the night.

Roatan Island 03 Nov to 05 Nov 2013

A drive of just over 300kms brings us to the caribbean port town of La Ceiba from where we will get our flight to the stunning Bay Islands and to Roatan. Here we stay for 3 nights in a lovely posada near many of the bars and restaurants the island has to offer.

Please remember there is a 25 USD airport tax not covered by kitty.

Lake Yojoa 06 Nov 2013

We start early today to catch our filght back to the mainland. Upon arrival back at La Ceiba we head 230 kms to Lake Yojoa, half way between San Pedro de Sula and Tegulcigalpa where we can camp for the night by the lake.

Please remember there is a 25 USD airport tax not covered by kitty today.

Leon 07 Nov 2013

We enter Nicaragua today andafter a long drive of 400kms head to the university town of Leon, with wonderful colonial architecture ranked second best in the country behind that of Granada. We stay the night in a centrally located hotel.

Masaya National Park 08 Nov 2013

We drive approximately 130kms to Masaya national park, possibly stopping in Managua en route if time allows. We will visit the national park and the active volcano that lies in the middle of the park, viewing the crater and lava flows. We spend the night camping in the park.

Granada 09 Nov 2013

A short hour long drive in the morning brings us to Granada, Nicaraguas's oldest city, oozing with colonial charm where we spend the night in a hotel.

Ometepe Island 10 Nov to 11 Nov 2013

This morning we will hop aboard a boat and across Lake Nicaragua, Central America's largest lake, to Isla Ometepe. On the island we will stay in a small hotel for 2 nights giving you the chance to explore all the island has to offer.

La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano National Park 12 Nov to 13 Nov 2013

We drive 240kms to La Fortuna in Costa Rica, near the shores of Laguna de Arenal where we camp by the lake for fantastic vistas of the Arenal volcano and its lava flow glowing in the night. We stay by the lake for a couple of nights allowing you time for optional activities around the lake.

Monteverde 14 Nov to 15 Nov 2013

We continue south through Costa Rica to the dense rainforest of Monteverde where we stay in a hotel for a couple of nights. This stunning area offers an incredible diversity of flora and fauna which hopefully you will be lucky enough to see during a visit to the Cloud Forest Reserve.

San Jose 16 Nov 2013

We leave the cloud forest behind and head to Costa Rica's wonderful capital city of San Jose, some 140 kms away. We stay in a centrally located hotel allowing you the day and night to explore the city.

Manuel Antonio National Park 17 Nov to 18 Nov 2013

We leave the capital behind and head towards Quepos on the Pacific coast when the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is located. We spend 2 nights in cabins in the park enjoying jungle walks with a variety of optional activities on offer.

Chiriqui 19 Nov to 20 Nov 2013

We travel across the Panama border today to the Chiriqui highlands and the town of Boquete where we stay in a small pension for 2 nights. The area is famous for rafting, hiking, horseriding and the nearby Volcan Baru, the highest point in Panama.

Santa Clara 21 Nov 2013

We head towards the capital today and drive roughly 340 kms before arriving by the beach at Santa Clara for a chance to relax and dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean. We will camp for one final time in Panama by the beach.

Panama City 22 Nov 2013

A short 3 hour drive brings us to Panama City where we stay for the night in a centrally located hotel. We will visit the Panama Canal today and have time for you to explore the city's old and modern parts.

Panama City 23 Nov 2013

The trip ends today after breakfast and no accommodation is provided.

However if you are continuing on to Cartagena then your leader will assist you with getting to the airport for your included flight.  You will overnight tonight in a comfortable hotel in either Panama City or Cartagena (depending on the flight times and availability).