Central America: Hike, Bike & Kayak

The adventure

Grab your hiking shoes and charge your camera for a 9-day hiking, cycling and kayaking trip across Central America. Follow the volcano trail to the coast, stopping along the way to cycle through coffee groves and paddle across volcanic craters. Get the best views of the erupting Fuego volcano from your overnight stay on neighbouring Acatenango before summiting El Salvador’s Santa Ana volcanic lagoon crater. Enjoy time to rest and recover at the hot springs along the Ruta del las Flores or in the waterfalls of Tamanique before ending your adventure with a surf break on the Pacific Coast. This is one wet and wild adventure.

At a glance

Where you'll go

Day by day

Your journey through

Guatemala

Day 1AntiguaBienvenidos! Welcome to Guatemala. Your adventure begins in Antigua, Guatemala’s picturesque highland city surrounded by volcanoes. If you arrive early, perhaps walk through the cobblestone streets and brightly painted homes. Your trip starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel. Afterwards, ask your leader about their favourite Antigua restaurant, where you might enjoy getting to know your travel companions for the next week.

Antigua

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Guatemala. Your adventure begins in Antigua, Guatemala’s picturesque highland city surrounded by volcanoes. If you arrive early, perhaps walk through the cobblestone streets and brightly painted homes. Your trip starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your hotel. Afterwards, ask your leader about their favourite Antigua restaurant, where you might enjoy getting to know your travel companions for the next week.

Day 2AntiguaStart your Central American adventure with a half-day ride from the brightly painted streets of Antigua to a small but mighty coffee plantation. Start in the city, then pedal through the surrounding villages until you reach Finca Azotea – a coffee plantation that practises shade-grown coffee. On arrival, you’ll learn about this coffee production style and sample a variety of the coffee grown here. Then, hop back on the bikes, ride through the coffee plants and back to the city. Perhaps get some of your travel companions together for dinner at one of Antigua’s rooftop terraces. Ask your leader for their recommendations.

Antigua

Start your Central American adventure with a half-day ride from the brightly painted streets of Antigua to a small but mighty coffee plantation. Start in the city, then pedal through the surrounding villages until you reach Finca Azotea – a coffee plantation that practises shade-grown coffee. On arrival, you’ll learn about this coffee production style and sample a variety of the coffee grown here. Then, hop back on the bikes, ride through the coffee plants and back to the city. Perhaps get some of your travel companions together for dinner at one of Antigua’s rooftop terraces. Ask your leader for their recommendations.

Day 3Acatenango Volcano BasecampAfter breakfast, depart from your hotel and head towards the Acatenango Volcano. Standing at 3,976m (13,045 feet), Acatenango is the third-highest peak in Guatemala. Today’s adventure begins at La Soledad, where you’ll hike to tonight’s lodgings at the volcano’s base camp. Feel the increase in elevation as you pass through four of Guatemala’s climate zones – farmland, cloud forest, alpine tree forest and finally volcanic, stopping for lunch along the way. Reach camp around mid-afternoon and soak up those hard-earned views of Guatemala’s active Fuego volcano. Enjoy dinner around the campfire and watch as the sun sets and the lava begins to glow.

Acatenango Volcano Basecamp

After breakfast, depart from your hotel and head towards the Acatenango Volcano. Standing at 3,976m (13,045 feet), Acatenango is the third-highest peak in Guatemala. Today’s adventure begins at La Soledad, where you’ll hike to tonight’s lodgings at the volcano’s base camp. Feel the increase in elevation as you pass through four of Guatemala’s climate zones – farmland, cloud forest, alpine tree forest and finally volcanic, stopping for lunch along the way. Reach camp around mid-afternoon and soak up those hard-earned views of Guatemala’s active Fuego volcano. Enjoy dinner around the campfire and watch as the sun sets and the lava begins to glow.

Day 4AntiguaBe sure to set your alarm early to catch the sunrise over the Fuego volcano. For those keen to reach the summit of Acatenango, an optional one-hour hike will leave camp early in the morning. Upon the summiters' return, descend the volcano to yesterday’s starting point. From here, you’ll travel back to Antigua and grab lunch. Check back into the hotel to freshen up and enjoy free time for the rest of the day.

Antigua

Be sure to set your alarm early to catch the sunrise over the Fuego volcano. For those keen to reach the summit of Acatenango, an optional one-hour hike will leave camp early in the morning. Upon the summiters' return, descend the volcano to yesterday’s starting point. From here, you’ll travel back to Antigua and grab lunch. Check back into the hotel to freshen up and enjoy free time for the rest of the day.

Your journey through

El Salvador

Day 5AhuachapánEnjoy a later start this morning before leaving Antigua, crossing the border into El Salvador and the famous Ruta de las Flores region. Expect some time waiting at the border crossing, arriving in Ahuachapán sometime in the early afternoon. With free time until a cooking class this evening, perhaps set out on foot to explore the Pasaje La Concordia pedestrian area, known for its murals and monuments. Or if you’d like to relax your muscles, ask your leader about a visit to the Santa Teresa Hot Springs. Tonight, rejoin your group for a cooking class where you’ll learn how to make traditional Salvadoran pupusas (stuffed corn flat bread) that you’ll eat for dinner.

Ahuachapán

Enjoy a later start this morning before leaving Antigua, crossing the border into El Salvador and the famous Ruta de las Flores region. Expect some time waiting at the border crossing, arriving in Ahuachapán sometime in the early afternoon. With free time until a cooking class this evening, perhaps set out on foot to explore the Pasaje La Concordia pedestrian area, known for its murals and monuments. Or if you’d like to relax your muscles, ask your leader about a visit to the Santa Teresa Hot Springs. Tonight, rejoin your group for a cooking class where you’ll learn how to make traditional Salvadoran pupusas (stuffed corn flat bread) that you’ll eat for dinner.

Day 6AhuachapánGet an early start for another day hiking up one of Central America’s scenic volcanoes, today the Santa Ana Volcano. Found in the Apaneca mountain range, this volcano reaches an altitude of 2,381m (7812 feet) and last erupted in 2005. Reach the summit and look into the crater to spot the turquoise lake and out across the Los Volanes Complex for views of El Salvador’s coffee growing region. Descend from the summit and head towards Coatepeque Lake for an afternoon of kayaking in a 50,000-year-old volcanic lake. Enjoy a paddle looking out for the many species of birds and wildlife, including green iguanas, painted wood turtles and green herons, who call this area home.

Ahuachapán

Get an early start for another day hiking up one of Central America’s scenic volcanoes, today the Santa Ana Volcano. Found in the Apaneca mountain range, this volcano reaches an altitude of 2,381m (7812 feet) and last erupted in 2005. Reach the summit and look into the crater to spot the turquoise lake and out across the Los Volanes Complex for views of El Salvador’s coffee growing region. Descend from the summit and head towards Coatepeque Lake for an afternoon of kayaking in a 50,000-year-old volcanic lake. Enjoy a paddle looking out for the many species of birds and wildlife, including green iguanas, painted wood turtles and green herons, who call this area home.

Day 7El TuncoToday, you’ll be saying goodbye to the Central American highlands and hello to the Pacific coast. After breakfast at your hotel, start the journey to El Tunco – El Salvador’s famous surf spot. This beach earned the name ‘El Tunco’ – a Salvadoran slang word referring to pigs – due to the large boulder in the water that some say resembles the animal. Enjoy a free afternoon exploring the black sand beach or kicking back at an oceanfront restaurant. Surfing enthusiasts can join an optional surf lesson riding the world-class right-hand breaks.

El Tunco

Today, you’ll be saying goodbye to the Central American highlands and hello to the Pacific coast. After breakfast at your hotel, start the journey to El Tunco – El Salvador’s famous surf spot. This beach earned the name ‘El Tunco’ – a Salvadoran slang word referring to pigs – due to the large boulder in the water that some say resembles the animal. Enjoy a free afternoon exploring the black sand beach or kicking back at an oceanfront restaurant. Surfing enthusiasts can join an optional surf lesson riding the world-class right-hand breaks.

Day 8El TuncoFuel up at breakfast for a day exploring the waterfalls of Tamanique. Pack or wear your swimsuit before setting out to your hike with a local guide. Begin the trek on the jungle paths, climbing stairs and uneven terrain before reaching the falls. The trails to the four main waterfalls vary in hiking difficulty. The area's marquee attraction is the largest waterfall, sitting at a height of over 40 metres (131 feet). Enjoy several hours relaxing or swimming in the pools before returning to the beach this afternoon. Tonight, there's an optional group dinner to celebrate the end of your adventure.

El Tunco

Fuel up at breakfast for a day exploring the waterfalls of Tamanique. Pack or wear your swimsuit before setting out to your hike with a local guide. Begin the trek on the jungle paths, climbing stairs and uneven terrain before reaching the falls. The trails to the four main waterfalls vary in hiking difficulty. The area's marquee attraction is the largest waterfall, sitting at a height of over 40 metres (131 feet). Enjoy several hours relaxing or swimming in the pools before returning to the beach this afternoon. Tonight, there's an optional group dinner to celebrate the end of your adventure.

Day 9El TuncoThere are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

El Tunco

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

What's included

Discover El Salvador

A glimpse of the destination you'll explore.

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