Central America & Colombia

Today we will cross the border into El Salvador and drive to the stunning Cerro Verde National Park, where we will be surrounded by awe-inspiring volcanoes and countryside. In the morning we will have will take a guided trek up the nearby Santa Ana volcano (approximately 4 hours).

Border information: Exit Guatemala at Ciudad Pedro de Alvarado, enter El Salvador at La Hachadura.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 6

After our trek up the volcano, we will take a short drive to the beautiful town of Suchitoto, where we will have a free afternoon to explore the town, with its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, and to learn about the incredible work of the community centre in which we stay.

In Suchitoto we will stay in dormitory rooms at the Centro Arte Para La Paz community centre, which runs many programs for the local communities to build cultural identity, unity, teaching skills, self-sufficiency, environmental equality and a culture of peace.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

Today we will have a day to explore Suchitoto, have a guided walking tour of the town, head out on a sunset boat trip or take a day trip to San Salvador.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Border information: Exit El Salvador at Anguiatú, enter Guatemala at Anguiatú. Exit Guatemala at El Florido, enter Honduras at El Florido.

Today we will have a full day drive to return to Guatemala and then onwards to Honduras, arriving at the small village of Copán.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 8

Today we will have an included guided visit to the spectacular Mayan ruins of Copán, followed by a free afternoon to explore some of the other highlights in the area.

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Today we will take a short drive to the town of San Pedro Sula and board a short local flight to Roatán, the largest of the famous tropical Bay Islands. On arrival we will transfer to the area of the West End Bay, where we base ourselves for our stay.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

Today we will enjoy some free time to take part in the wealth of optional activities available on Roatán, and of course to relax and swim on the stunning Caribbean beaches here!

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today we will start early to transfer back to Roatán's airport and catch our flight back to the mainland, rejoining our overland bus! We will then continue our journey east through Honduras to the beautiful countryside of Lake Yojoa.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

Today we will cross the border into Nicaragua, we will the head to the Somoto Canyon and stay in cabins near a village community.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 8

This morning we will enjoy our canyon tour and then drive to the university town of León.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

Today we will have free time to explore the town's wonderful colonial architecture or to take part in the many optional activities available here.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today we will take a short drive to Nicaragua's oldest city of Granada, a beautiful town which oozes with colonial charm! En route we will have an included visit to the traditional markets in the small town of Masaya, and witness the incredible active caldera of the nearby Masaya volcano (if its volcanic activity isn't too high).

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

Today we will have free time to explore the historic streets of Granada's old town, or take part in some of the myriad of optional activities that are available here.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

This morning we drive to the small town of San Jorge on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, Central America's largest lake. Here we will board a ferry to the stunning volcanic island of Ometepe, where we base ourselves in the port village of Moyogalpa and enjoy free time to explore on arrival.

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 3

Today we will have free time to explore and take part in optional activities such as the challenging trek to the summit of the Concepción volcano that dominates the island, or seeing some of the mysterious ancient petroglyphs that are dotted through the landscape.

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Border information: Exit Nicaragua at Penas Blancas, enter Costa Rica at Penas Blancas.

Today we will take an early morning ferry back to San Jorge and drive to La Fortuna in Costa Rica, a stunning town under the shadow of the mighty Arenal volcano.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 5

Today we will have a free day to take optional treks through the incredible surrounding volcanic landscapes or forest canopies, or get involved in many different adventure activities such as zip-lining, white-water rafting, and canyoning. La Fortuna is also famous for its outstanding hot springs, which we will have the opportunity to visit.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today we will leave our overland vehicle behind and transfer by taxi and boat into the dense cloud forests and coffee plantations of Monteverde, a stunning area offering an incredible diversity of flora and fauna.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 4

Today we will have an included walk on the trails of the Monteverde Cloud Forest National Reserve, followed by a free afternoon to visit some of the town's highlights or enjoy some adventurous activities such as canyoning or horse riding.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today we will continue by taxi to the small town of Tilaran, where we will rejoin our overland vehicle and drive to the spectacular beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast.

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 5

Today we will have an included walk through some of the beautiful trails within park, learning all about its flora and fauna and immersing ourselves in the idyllic landscape. We will have free time in the afternoon to take part in some optional activities or relax on the wonderful beaches.

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Border information: Exit Costa Rica at Paso Canoas, enter Panama at Paso Canoas.

Today we will drive across the Panama border into the Chiriqui highlands, arriving at the town of Boquete.

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 7

On Today we will have a free day to take part in some of the many optional outdoor activities which the town is famous for, including the opportunity to take the strenuous trek to the 3,478m summit of Volcán Barú, the highest point in Panama.

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today we will continue to Chagres National Park and explore the Grandfather of the Panama Canal: the Camino Real, a cobble stoned road from the Caribbean to the Pacific through the rain forests of Panama, established as the transport route of gold and silver by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th Century. The Camino Real was rediscovered only recently, and we will visit and stay overnight at a community, which worked together with researcher Christian Strassnig to identify the original route of the Camino Real in the jungle.

At Alajuela Lake we take a dugout boat to observe remains of the Camino Real at the lakeshore, then we arrive at the community and we are warmly welcomed by the people who are inspired with perspective of sustainable development through community tourism. We have a typical Panamanian lunch and see then a presentation of authentic Panamanian folklore. In the morning we will undertake a hike on the Camino Real, see the original cobblestone and be fascinated by stories of the mule trains, gold and pirates.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 8

After early morning coffee we can go for an optional bird-watching hike on a trail with plenty of tropical birds (free with local guides). At our return to the community we have a hearty breakfast. We will then take a hike on the trail. Afterwards it is time to say good-bye and we return by boat to our overland bus.

We will then drive to the Miraflores Visitor Centre at the world-famous Panama Canal, learning about its incredible role in shaping trade and world politics in the 20th century. After our included visit we will complete the drive to the capital, Panama City.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 1

Today there will be a flight from Panama City to Cartagena which will have been booked for you.

Upon arrival in Cartagena you will be taken to the joining hotel for the next leg of the trip.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Border Information: if joining in Cartagena, you will most likely enter Colombia at Cartagena Rafael Núñez International Airport (IATA code: CTG).

There will be an important group meeting at 6:00pm at the joining hotel - please look out at the hotel reception for a note from your leader with more details about this important meeting.

Please note that many of the options listed below will only be possible for those with extra time in Cartagena before the start of your trip with us - please contact the Sales team if you would like to book pre-tour accommodation with us to have extra time exploring Cartagena.

If you are continuing on from Panama, then your leader will have assisted you with airport transfers for your included flight to arrive in time for the joining meeting.

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today we will have a full day in the beautiful coastal colonial city of Cartagena.

In the morning we will have an included walking tour of the city, and then the afternoon will be free to explore the city further, enjoy the many optional activities on offer, or simply relax on the beach.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today we have a short drive to the stunning Tayrona National Park.

In Tayrona we will sleep in Hammocks, no food is provided, but there are restaurants and cafes nearby by. There is an hour walk from where we park our truck to our campsite.

Accommodation: Hammocks

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 5

Today we have an included walk in the National Park.

Accommodation: Hammocks

This morning we will walk back to our truck and leave Tayrona National park. We will head south for the pretty colonial town of Santa Cruz de Lorica on the Sinu River.

We will have a free day to relax and discover the historic centre, learn about the traditional Vueltiao hat or head to the coast and soak up the sun in San Bernardo del Viento.

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 6

We will have a free day to relax and discover the historic centre, learn about the traditional Vueltiao hat or head to the coast and soak up the sun in San Bernardo del Viento.

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Today we have a full days drive to vibrant city of Medellin. the following morning we will have a guided walking tour of the city. We then have plenty of time to relax or take park in some of activities available here.

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 10

This morning we have an included half-day city tour of Medellin using our overlanding truck.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today we will head into the heart of the coffee region for two nights at a beautiful Hacienda near the town of Manizales. Tomorrow we can relax in the grounds, take a bird watching walk to spot some of the many hummingbirds that frequent the area. We will have an included tour of the Coffee Plantation and learn about the cultivation of coffee.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 7

Today we will continue our journey south to the small town of Salento, the gateway to the spectacular Valle de Cocora.

Salento will be our base to take a guided trek through the Cocora Valley to see the Quindio wax palm trees, the largest palms in the world and the national tree of Colombia and also to do a coffee plantation tour.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 2

Today we will continue our journey south to the small town of Salento, the gateway to the spectacular Valle de Cocora. Depending on the weather, there should be an opportunity today to head into the Los Nevados National Park for a walk and maybe a visit the thermal baths on the way back.

The following day we will take a guided trek through the Cocora Valley to see the Quindio wax palm trees, the largest palms in the world and the national tree of Colombia.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 2

Today we have an included guided trek through the Cocora Valley to see the largest palm trees in the world.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today we will drive to the beautiful town and former colonial capital of Popayán.

On the following day we will have a free day to explore Popayán or take part in some excellent treks or other optional activities in the surrounding area.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 8

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Multishare Hostel

Today we will have a full day drive to the border town of Ipiales.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Basic Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 10

We will leave Colombia behind today and cross the border into Ecuador, we will have time for an included visit to the beautiful Santurio de las Lajas, before heading to Otavalo.

Border information: Exit Colombia at Ipiales, enter Ecuador at Ipiales.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Camping

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 3

We will head south for the final leg of our journey to the bustling captial, Quito. En route into the city we will have an included visit to Mitad del Mundo, the monument that marks the Equator.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel

Today's approximate drive time (hrs): 3

Border information: if you are finishing in Quito, you will most likely exit Ecuador at Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (IATA code: UIO).

Today is the end day for passengers finishing their trip in Quito. Please note there is no accommodation included on the trip tonight - please contact your sales agent if you are interested in booking extra nights of accommodation in order to fully explore and take part in some of the optional activities listed below.

Meals: Breakfast