A fantastic combo of active pursuits, culture and relaxation on a route, which winds its way through 4 countries, all packed into 11 days. Discover Mayan ruins and famous colonial towns, hike up live volcanoes and visit renowned craft markets. But also find out about life off the beaten track: chat with the friendly locals, swim in remote freshwater lakes, and relax on stunning isolated beaches.

This tour starts in Antigua, Guatemala. Flights should be booked to Guatemala City airport, a short taxi ride from Antigua.

Copan And Tegucigalpa, We make an early start from Antigua, travelling across the border into Honduras. Our first stop is at the famous Mayan ruins at Copán. The most southerly point of the once powerful Mayan civilisation is famous for its intricately carved stellae. Close to the border of Guatemala, Copan Ruins is a lovely little town set in the hills with cobblestone streets flanked by white adobe, red-roofed houses. The weather is ideal year round, with neither the tropical heat of the coast nor the winter chill of higher elevations nearby. The skies are clear, the air is pure, and stargazing is unmatched. The surrounding countryside is verdant and lush, dotted with pines and palms. Take a trip out to the hotsprings and soak and relax in natural streamside pools.  The nearby ruins are the most significant in Honduras, once upon a time being one of the largest Mayan cities, but the dynasty crumbled, leaving behind ornate buildings and sculptures, pyramids, stairways, and plazas.  We travel south through beautiful countryside to spend an evening in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. The name comes from the Nahuatl language, meaning "silver mountain" and the city has a dramatic, mountainous backdrop, pleasant climate, and is nestled in a valley about 1000m above sea level.

San Juan del Sur and San Jose.  From Ometepe, we travel to San Juan del Sur on the Pacific Coast to enjoy some beach time. A tranquil fishing village nestled at the head of a horseshoe-shaped bay on the Pacific coast of southern Nicaragua, San Juan has a wonderful bay and beautiful sandy beaches. Set against the prehistoric volcanic hills, you can enjoy fresh seafood on the beach and wake up to the sound of waves breaking on the seashore.  Leaving Nicaragua, we travel to San José, Costa Rica’s capital, nestled in valleys filled with coffee and sugar cane. We spend our last night of the trip here and this tour finishes after breakfast on Day 11.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible but please note that Latin America does not run like clockwork, therefore do not expect the streamlined travel arrangements associated with some other continents. Things do not always go to plan; there will be times when you will need to be patient and philosophical about your travels. Conditions in Central America can change rapidly and changes to the itinerary may be necessary. Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect. Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

During your tour your Tour Leader and/or Guide will recommend a variety of optional activities operated by carefully selected ground handlers to make your tour even more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners have been chosen for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. All optional activities are available at your own expense, and are undertaken at your own risk. Kumuka can not be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by third party. To start planning and budgeting for any optional activities that you may chose on your tour, please visit:

http://www.kumuka.com/Central-America-Optional-Activities.aspx

IMPORTANT: Some tours depart from the starting city very early on Day 1, therefore you might not have enough time to enjoy the optional activities in that area. Furthermore, some tours end on arrival in the finishing city and your flight may leave early the following morning, therefore leaving no time to partake in any optional activities in that area.

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY of the scheduled departure date at the meeting point. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your Tour Leader and fellow passengers. In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel. Your Tour Leader will leave a notice at reception on the first day of departure with information as to where he/she can be contacted and you should inform him/her that you have arrived. PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour.  It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:

1. Passport.

2. Vaccination Certificate.

3. Travel Voucher.

4. Travel Insurance Policy

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

When flying into Costa Rica some airlines are currently requesting proof of an onward ticket at check in, showing that you will exit the country. Unfortunately Kumuka tour vouchers are not considered sufficient  proof that you will exit Costa Rica. The Costa Rica embassy in London has advised that either bus or airline tickets should suffice, although some airlines are still insisting on proof of an actual airline ticket.

This information is provided in good faith and whilst we endeavour to keep abreast of the latest immigration and onward ticket requirements, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for any changes in immigration law or onward ticket requirements.

Prophylactic tablets are essential in some areas of Central America. They are prescribed by your vaccinating doctor and should be taken as directed. 

We suggest passengers budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Belize, Costa Rica and the Yucatan province in Mexico are more expensive than the other Central American Countries, in those areas you should budget on US$ 30 per day.

Take your money in US dollars only. This is the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America.

Traveller’s cheques should be AMERICAN EXPRESS. American Express is the most widely accepted.

Cash is far easier to exchange than Travellers Cheques, but also more risky as once lost, is irreplaceable. However, we do recommend that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20).

In many countries, you may exchange US Dollars traveller’s cheques for US cash, or retrieve US dollars cash from ATMs (with a credit card), usually for a small commission but please do not rely solely on this option.

Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs.

Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

Included Excursions - All activities mentioned in the brochure unless optional are included in your tour price. This also includes many extra things that the group does as a whole such as ruins site entrance fees, domestic flights, local guides at some attractions, National Park entrance fees.

How much should I take?

• Try to limit yourself to 15-20kg.  It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more.  If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your Tour Leader at the Pre Departure Meeting.  
• A good quality backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, water, sunscreen) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards, travellers cheques, etc., on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend that you DO NOT BRING A SUITCASE due to the difficulty of carrying these and travelling with them on Central American transport. Please do not bring more luggage than you are able to comfortably carry without assistance.

Most passengers will travel with digital cameras.  Should you run out of memory you can download your photos onto CD at the local internet cafes or camera shops on your tour.  Alternatively, you may be able to purchase extra memory cards.  With regards to film, all types of camera film are readily available in Central America.  However, it is often cheaper to purchase it in your country of origin or through duty free.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Most Latin American countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your camera confiscated.  It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour.

We choose our hotels, guesthouses and hostels for their location, comfort, security and hygiene standards. All are located near the city centre usually within easy walking distance of services and facilities. Most rooms are on a twin share basis with private bathrooms. Occasionally, bathrooms may be shared or larger apartments used by several members of the group.

Accommodation is not included in the city of departure or arrival (unless within the specified tour dates). You should allow US$30 to US$35 per day to cover food and accommodation during this time.

For better or for worse, tipping is an accepted part of everyday life and although it is always at your discretion, you will be expected to tip to reward service. 

Tour Questionnaire - We would like to hear about your experiences on tour. One week after your tour ends you will automatically receive a feedback questionnaire via email. If we do not have your email address you can still complete a questionnaire by visiting www.kumuka.com/feedback

Email - If you have any specific comments about your tour then please write to us by email to operations@kumuka.com

KUMUKA WORLDWIDE

UK OFFICE

Hillswood Business Park 3000
Hillswood Drive Chertsey KT16 0RS
Tel: +4420 7937 8855 Fax: +442075043782

Email: sales@kumuka.com
www.kumuka.com

AUSTRALIAN OFFICE

Level 5, 387 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9279 0491 Fax: 02 9279 0492
Email: sales@kumuka.com.au
www.kumuka.com.au