Essence of Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica

Day 1: Arrive in Mexico
Arrival in Mexico City. Meet at the airport and transfer to begin a half-day sightseeing in Mexico City, the world’s largest metropolis and the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.  We will visit the historical center with its bustling central square, the Zocalo, the metropolitan cathedral; the national palace with the famous Diego Rivera murals. Then drive to the beautiful Chapultepec Park and on to the Museum of Anthropology, considered one of the best museums in the world. We will have a tour for a general overview of the Pre-Hispanic history of Meso-America. Overnight hotel Regente. -/-/-

Day 2: Mexico City – Shrine of Guadalupe – Pyramids in Teotihuacán
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. We will visit today the Plaza de las Tres Culturas, so called because it symbolizes the fusion of pre-hispanic and Spanish roots into the modern Mexican identity.  Then visit the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, a monumental tribute to Mexico’s faith in the Virgin of Guadalupe. Continue to San Juan Teotihuacan to see the amazing archaeological site. Encounter the magic and mystery of the 2000 year old city of Teotihuacán, considered the most important city of Mexico tableland plateau between AD 200 and 500 when more than 200,000 people inhabited it – with a visit to the pyramids of the sun and the moon. Walk down the avenue of dead; pass the temple of Quetzalcoatl with its unique stone sculptures of plumed serpents, the temple of the butterflies. Overnight hotel Regente. B/-/-

Day 3: Mexico City – Oaxaca
Breakfast at hotel. Departure to Oaxaca. Arrival and visit to downtown, visit the culture museum, Santo Domingo de Guzman church, arriving at the cathedral, Zocalo and governor’s palace.  Continue to the typical market and listen to the explanation about products such as chocolate, mole and cheese. Overnight at Hacienda La Noria. B/-/-

Day 4: Oaxaca – Montealban – Mitla - El Tule Tree - Oaxaca
American breakfast at the hotel and visit of Monte Alban, ancient capital of the Zapotec people.  Visit includes the museum and at the archeological site, the main square, ball game, the observatory, and the dancers building. Departure to visit one of the most extraordinary and amazing things in nature, the unique and gigantic “Tule tree”, 40 meters high and 52.58 meters in diameter, it weighs 509 tons, and is approximately 2000 years old.  Afterwards continue to the archeological site of Mitla, the name means, “dead site”, it was the house of the religious power.  Visit its main palace, the column room and the tombs. Overnight Hotel Hacienda la Noria. B/-/-

Day 5: Oaxaca – Sumidero Canyon – San Cristobal De Las Casas
American breakfast at hotel. Departure to the airport to take the flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez, reception in Tuxtla Gutierrez Airport and transfer to Chiapa de Corzo where you will enjoy an approximately 2 hrs.  boat ride through the impressive “Sumidero” canyon. The locals named the great gorge “el Sumidero “ (the drain or sink) because they thought the Grijalva River, deep in the chasm, sank into a great cavern. Continuation to San Cristobal de las Casas. Overnight at hotel Mansion del Valle. B/-/-

Day 6: San Cristobal De Las Casas
American breakfast at Hotel. Full day at leisure. Overnight at Hotel Mansion del Valle. B/-/-

Day 7: San Cristobal De Las Casas – Indian Communities
American breakfast at hotel. Tour to visit the Indian communities. Like most people in the area around San Cristobal de las Casas, the people of San Juan Chamula are Tzotzil and speak a language of the same name. Northwest of San Cristobal de las Casas the people of Zinacantan grow corn, beans and chilacayote, a type of squash, for sustenance, as well as to take to market. Overnight at Hotel Mansion del Valle. B/-/-

Day 8: San Cristobal De Las Casas – Agua Azul - Palenque
American breakfast at hotel. Morning, drive to Palenque, stop to visit the waterfalls of Agua Azul. According to Mayan legend, Kaprakan, a character from the Popol Vuh (the sacred book of the Maya) built some steps in the mountain so he could more easily climb it. Chac (the rain god), mocking him for his arrogance, laid down a blue carpet, which moved as soon as the giant stepped on it. Continue to Palenque. Overnight at hotel Ciudad Real. B/-/-

Day 9: Palenque
American breakfast at hotel. Morning, visit to Palenque. Located on a natural balcony which opens up to the extraordinary jungle plains, this ancient Mayan city reached its peak from the sixth to the eighth centuries A.D., the most notable buildings are the temple of the inscriptions a majestic pyramid with a secret crypt: the fabulous royal tomb. Overnight at hotel Ciudad Real. B/-/-

Day 10: Palenque – Yaxchilan – Frontera Corozal - Bethel (Usumacinta) - Flores
American breakfast at hotel. Departure to Frontera Corozal to take the boat and visit the extraordinary Pyramids from Yaxchilan. Drop off in Frontera Corozal, where Guatemalan guide will meet group. Our guide is waiting in Bethel (Guatemalan side of the Usumacinta). After Immigration transfer to Flores for overnight in the Hotel Peten Esplendido or similar. B/-/-

Day 11: Flores – Tikal – Flores – Rio Dulce
Transfer by bus to Tikal. Where you visit the Tikal National Park, one of the largest Mayan Cities yet uncovered and researched you will go back more than 2000 years. Complete walking – tour of Tikal. In the afternoon transfer to the Rio Dulce River.  Before arriving to the Hotel short boat trip to the Castillo San Felipe. Overnight in the Hotel Catamaran or similar. B/-/-

Day 12: Rio Dulce – Quirigua – Antigua
On the way to Antigua we will have a short stop at the Mayan site called Quirigua, very fames for the beautiful estelas. Arriving in Antigua and short City tour. Overnight in the Hotel Las Farolas or similar. B/-/-

Day 13: Antigua  – Lake Atitlan - Antigua
Begin with a scenic drive over tall mountain ranges; we will arrive to the Lake of Atitlan. In Panajachel we take a boat to navigate to Santiago Atitlan, after visit of the town with market and church we will go back to Antigua by Bus, for overnight in the Hotel Las Farolas or similar. B/-/-

Day 14: Antigua – San Jose, Costa Rica
Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer to Guatemala City Airport for flight to Costa Rica. Private guided transfer from Juan Santamaría International Airport in to hotel in San José. B/-/-

Day 15: San Jose
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure. B/-/-

Day 16: San Jose - Tortuguero
Breakfast on route. Today you will be met at your hotel by the guide for the trip to Tortuguero National Park. Along the way you will have the chance to drive through the Braulio Carillo National Park, and enjoy the green scenery that surrounds this marvelous area.Upon arrival to the docks, you will be assisted onto the boats, and transferred up the main canal until reaching the area of Tortuguero. Upon your arrival to the lodge, you will be received with a fruit cocktail, then assigned a room & lunch is served shortly after. The group guide will program the activities according to the group. Lodging and overnight at Pachira Lodge. B/L/D

Day 17: Tortuguero
Following breakfast, the rest of the morning will be dedicated to guided visits to the smaller canals and the National Park of Tortuguero. Here you will be able to observe the vast amounts of bird, plant and animal life. Hopefull you can see the howler monkeys a species of this area. Lodging and overnight at Pachira or Mawamba Lodge. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. B/L/D

Day 18: Tortuguero
Free day to enjoy the pool area and surroundings. B/L/D

Day 19: Tortuguero - Arenal
Breakfast at the hotel. Boat transfer back to Caño Blanco.  Lunch included at a restaurant on route; continue to San Carlos. San Carlos offers a landscape of exceptional beauty with its forests, lagoons, fields of crops, rivers with hot springs, and the most active volcano of Costa Rica: Arenal. In other words, sanctuaries where one can breathe peace, purity and the majestic power of nature. At night, visit to Baldí hot springs. B/L/-

Day 20: Arenal - Peñas Blancas
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Safari float tour at Peñas Blancas River. Lunch on your own. Afternoon Kayak tour at Arenal Lake. B/-/-

Day 21: Arenal
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Arenal Hanging bridges tour. Afternoon mountain biking tour. B/-/-

Day 22: Arenal - Monteverde
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we will take you to Monteverde by collective shuttle bus and boat crossing on Arenal lake. The town of Monteverde, had its beginnings in the early 1950s with the impetus of a group of Quakers from the United States, a group that came to Costa Rica attracted by its pacific inclinations and disarmament. They established themselves in the region and devoted themselves to produce milk and quality cheeses.

Free afternoon to explore the surroundings on your own or to take optional adventure tours: ATV adventures or horseback riding. Overnight at Fonda Vela hotel. Breakfast. B/-/-

Day 23: Monteverde - Santa Elena
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, a local bilingual guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on a hiking tour to Santa Elena Reserve. This private biological reserve is dedicated to the conservation of the flora and fauna which exists in this complex ecosystem. The reserve consists of 10,000 hectares and serves as an important link in the growing network of protected areas in the country. Afternoon Canopy & Treetop walkways. The Tree Top walkway is the ideal cloud forest experience for those who wish to explore the beauty of the canopy at their own pace and appreciate the incredible array of flora and fauna and exotic bird life that the region has to offer. B/-/-

Day 24: Monteverde - San Jose
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will take you back to San José. Afternoon free. B/-/-

Day 25: San Jose - Fly out from Costa Rica
Departure transfer from your hotel to the International Airport. B/-/-