Top Travel Ideas for Central America and the Caribbean
From the depths of Central America’s rainforests to its Caribbean shores, these small-group adventures showcase amazing biodiversity, thrilling excursions and the best coffee in the world.
Central America is a wonderful holiday destination. In a single weekend you can climb volcanoes, trudge through rainforest and surf multiple coastlines. In a mere week you can crisscross countries, sampling coffee and cuisine as diverse as the lands from which they spring. Opportunities for adventure are limitless – especially on these Central American and Caribbean trips, bookable with Culture Trip.
A sprawling metropolis, ancient ruins and colonial cities in Mexico
If you want to get to the heart and soul of Mexico, this eight-day trip is the one for you. We start in the capital, where you’ll get a guided tour of the city’s most significant sights, including a visit to Frida Kahlo’s home and a boat tour on the Aztec canals of Xochimilco. You’ll also get authentic foodie experiences at Cafe de Tacuba, Mercado San Juan and Azulisimo restaurant. From there we travel back in time at the ancient Mesoamerican sites of Teotihuacan and Tula, before visiting a series of gorgeous towns and cities, characterised by their beautiful Spanish colonial architecture and their crucial place in the fight for Mexican independence. You’ll get a city tour of Querétaro, take part in a cooking class and embrace arts and crafts in San Miguel de Allende, and learn about the Cry of Dolores in the Museo de la Independencia Nacional in Dolores Hidalgo. The trip wraps up in the pretty university town of Guanajuato, before returning to CDMX.
From US$2299
Next available from 10th Feb 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Mexico City, Mexico
ENDS AT
Mexico City, Mexico
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
Hike, surf and sip coffee the pura vida way in Costa Rica
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where you’ll learn the meaning of pura vida on this eight-day Costa Rica trip. For some, it’ll be while spotting sloths during moonlit hikes in Monteverde. For others, it may be on the deck of a surfboard just off Tamarindo’s shore. For you, it could be the first sip of coffee in La Fortuna or the first glimpse of Arenal volcano. Ultimately, it’s academic – from the minute you set foot in this country, pura vida is wherever you roam.
From US$2199
Next available from 6th Apr 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
San Jose, Costa Rica
ENDS AT
Tamarindo, Provincia De Guanacaste
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
16
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
From capital city to the coast in Mexico
Mexico is a vastly diverse nation, but we’ve attempted to capture its complete essence in just eight days with this Complete Mexico Experience. You’ll start in Mexico City with an itinerary similar to the other Mexican trip on this list, and you’ll also get to visit the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan on this tour, but from there we take a different route. First is Puebla, the City of Tiles famous for pretty ceramics and a sticky sweet local delicacy. We’ll escape to the cactus-filled countryside in Zapotitlan Salinas, with a visit to an amazing botanical gardens en route to Oaxaca. Mexican cuisine takes centre stage here as you learn how to make tortilla, take part in an expert cooking class and a tasty mezcal tasting session. The trip wraps up with a taste of coastal Mexico in the resort town of Puerto Escondido, where we’ll stay at a glorious hotel, fit with its own private stretch of sand – perfect for a bit beach therapy after a week of pure adventure.
From US$2399
Next available from 24th Feb 2024
Secure your spot with a low deposit
Trip highlights and details
STARTS AT
Mexico City, Mexico
ENDS AT
Puerto Escondido, Mexico
DURATION
8
GROUP SIZE
14
PHYSICAL RATING
STYLE
This is an updated version of an article with contributions from Richard Collett and Nick Dauk.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.