18 Days Central American: Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras

About the destination: San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, has a very different vibe than most of Latin America with a lot more American influenced architecture and a Mediterranean climate. San Jose is a town in the middle of nature. Located in the Central Valley, the city is surrounded by the most varied forms of wildlife as well as the volcanos, Poás and Irazú. It is also the central point from where you can reach the country’s rich National Parks, its gorgeous beaches, its amazing rivers and its pristine mountains.San José has certain attraction on its own like the National Theatre, the Central Market, the National Museum or the Metropolitan Cathedral. Moreover, its friendly people give a lively vibe to the city, something you can appreciate in the city’s many restaurants and bars. Some museums and buildings give away their colonial past and European artistic influences. San Jose also has much to offer and it is a city of great historical and cultural significance.

About the destination: Arenal is situated north of San Jose. An active volcano, waterfalls, hot springs, and a big lake is what makes Arenal an interesting place to visit. The volcano is visible from all parts of the Arenal area and you can actually feel the volcano too, there are tremors and small eruptions constantly. There is a very nice, safe path through the rain forest. The scenery is beautiful along with all the animals and nature. It is relaxing just taking in the sights. The volcano is the area’s main draw, but there are plenty of things to do around the Volcano. Enjoying the beauty of the hot springs, water rafting, visiting the Arenal Butterfly Conservatory and going on one of the many hiking tours, which display all the natural beauty and wildlife. In one of the hiking tours you can go unguided and follow the path which leads to a beautiful waterfall. It is quite lovely to cool off in the waterfall after that long hike.

About the destination: Monteverde is located in the northern central part of Costa Rica and famous for its cloud forests, which are one of Costa Rica’s premier destinations. Beautiful cloud forests and rainforests are surrounded by green mountains.Monteverde reserve encompasses everyone's idea of a rain forest. It contains more than 100 species of mammals including 5 species of cats, over 400 species of birds including 30 kinds of hummingbirds, tens of thousands of insect species and 2,500 species of plants. The area is acclaimed as one of the most outstanding wildlife refuges in the New World Tropics. There are many activities to do. Rafting, zip-lining, canopy tours, coffee tours, and you can visit a frog museum and Insectarium.Monteverde and Santa Elena settlements are separated by a muddy road but neither has a clear downtown. Shops, restaurants, tours and hotels are sown along the road. In Monteverde region you will experience a unique and beautiful nature.

About the destination: Granada is a city in western Nicaragua and the capital of the Granada Department, it is Nicaragua's sixth most populous city. Granada is historically one of Nicaragua's most important cities, economically and politically. It has a rich colonial heritage, seen in its architecture and structure. Granada is also known as La Gran Sultana, in reflection of its Moorish and Andalusian appearance, unlike its sister city of León and historical rival, which displays Castilian trends. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Volcan Mombacho Lots to do on the volcano...great hikes, a real cloud forest at the top, a couple of zip lines operators, tour of the coffee plantation and processing facility is. • There are 6 main churches: the Cathedral, La Merced, Guadalupe, Xalteva, San Francisco and María Auxiliadora, which all have interesting historical backgrounds and are in very different states. • Fuerte La Polvora. A few historical exhibits are available on the main level, you can climb the towers for views of the quiet city streets, or wander through the lovely courtyard. • Lake CocibolcaL. During the day this is a nice place to catch a breeze, and there are many Nicaraguan families that come here to pass the time. Vendors pass selling all kinds of food. • The Centro Turistico, a park like area complete with bars and restaurants. It's a bit cleaner than the beach right down from the city. • The Central Park with the Cathedral and the Colonial houses surrounding it. • The Isletas. • Mi Museo.

About the destination: Tegucigalpa is located in the department of Francisco Morazan in the central part of Honduras. It is surrounded by mountains, which makes Tegucigalpa one of the cities of Honduras with the nicest weather all year round. Tegucigalpa combines its Colonial architecture with modern office buildings. Parque Central, the city’s main square, is a gathering place downtown and has a good perspective of the hills around the city. The cathedral dominates downtown Tegucigalpa. It is in one side of the Parque Central. The cathedral was built in the 18th century and its altar is decorated with gold and silver and there is a lot of fine art inside. Just north of the capital we have La Tigra, one of Honduras's top and most accessible national parks.Tegucigalpa, filled with colonial charm, is a modern and lively city with a lot of things to do and places to visit. Enjoy the nation's capital!

About the destination: Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. The city was located in the extreme southeast of the Mesoamerican cultural region, on the frontier with the Isthmo-Colombian cultural region. The city has a historical record that spans the greater part of the Classic period and has been reconstructed in detail by archaeologists and epigraphers. Las Copán Ruinas are the highlight of Copán. Although quite extensive, they are not as huge as Tikal in Guatemala or Teotihuacan in Mexico, but there is more sculpture here than any other Pre-Columbian city. The ruins are prized for the carved stellae of ancient rulers, and the well preserved hieryoglyphics including the hieryoglyphic stairway. Also in the archeological park is a marvelous Mayan museum (entry $7/person) with a reconstructed temple and fabulous artifacts. It's recommended to be there when it opens at 8AM, as the site gets very hot by mid-day. Hire a guide at the entrance to the ruins for $25 divided between however many people you can collect. Cesar (30s, good accented English) and Antonio (60s, few teeth, excellent English) are recommended if they're around. Besides the ruins, the countryside is attractive. Slow paced local life is quite calm, and farming of corn, beans, coffee, and tobacco is the main vocation.

About the destination: San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, is situated on the foothills of Volcán San Salvador in the centre of the country. It is a big city with some nice museums and a few grand buildings and monuments.In the city centre you will find a bustling street life with a lot of traffic and vendors on the streets. There are several squares and parks and monumental buildings. Plaza Gerardo Barrios, in the heart of San Salvador, exudes grandeur and stateliness. Nearby, we’ll find the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Iglesia El Rosario, one of El Salvador’s architectural gems, and the Mercado Ex-Cuartel, the country’s largest souvenir market. The best museums in San Salvador are in the more modern and quieter parts of Zona Rosa and Colonia Escalón. One of the most enjoyable things to do in and around San Salvador is a visit to the Parque Botánico La Laguna in Antiguo Cuscatlán area. These beautiful botanical gardens, located at the bottom of a volcanic crater, showcase much native fauna. San Salvador provides a convenient location from which to explore the rest of the country. Good restaurants, fine shops, exciting nightlife, and friendly Salvadorians. Come in and explore the city!!