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| DAY 1: |
Guatemala City- Antigua You will be met at the Guatemala City airport and transferred to your hotel in colonial Antigua. Free time to relax. Overnight Antigua. |
| DAY 2: |
Antigua Antigua is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the Americas today we will see why. Antigua the earlier colonial capital of Central America was founded in 1543. We will visit the Main Square, the Monastery of Capuchins, the Churches of La Merced and San Francisco, the music museum Kojom, palace of the Captains Generals, the Cathedral and other buildings and colonial spots. Overnight Antigua.
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| DAY 3: |
 Panajachel - Guatemala City Early in the morning we will depart to Lake Atitlan where a boat brings us to Santa Cruz. During a hike we will enjoy the volcanic scenery with the three cones Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro. In Tzununa or San Marcos La Laguna our boat awaits us and gets us to the Tzutuhil town of Santiago Atitlan. The residents of this small lakeside town still live a strong traditional and cultural life. After our visit of the local market and the the town's church our boat brings us back to Panajachel and we transfer to Guatemala City. Overnight Guatemala City. |
| DAY 4: |
Guatemala City - Copán/Honduras Morning transfer to Copán, Honduras. We travel on the main road, which connects, busy Guatemala City to the east of the country and the port of Puerto Barrios. At the junction of Rio Hondo we turn south for Copán. We arrive in Copan late afternoon the rest of the day is left to relax or explore the cobblestone streets of Copan. Overnight Copan. |
| DAY 5: |
Copán Ruinas Today we begin by walking to the legendary Archaeological Park of Copán Ruins, which consists of two main sites: the ruins and the sepulchres. Learn about the impressive 63 step stairway with over 2,500 hieroglyphs and masterfully carved Stella. We also visit Las Sepulturas, a residential and burial site of the Mayan nobles. In the afternoon we take a nature hike in the rural Copan Valley. Overnight Copan. |
| DAY 6: |
Lancetilla - Tela Transfer from Copán to Tela. En route we visit the Lancetilla Botanical Garden. The garden possesses an impressive collection of trees and plants from all over the world. We'll walk on trails leading through the Bamboo Forest, the Orchid collection and the nature reserve harboring more than 240 species of birds. We then proceed to our hotel located right on the beach. Typical dinner and overnight in Tela/Triunfo. |
| DAY 7: |
Punta Sal Early in the morning we leave by boat to explore the rock formations of the Punta Sal National Park, the first marine park opened on the mainland. Visiting sheltered bays well hidden among the rocks, we'll enjoy a tropical lunch and the exuberance of the woodlands. We can also swim and snorkel experiencing the marine life of the world's second largest coral reef, located very close to the shore at Punta Sal. Free time to relax on the white, sandy beach in front of your hotel. Overnight in Tela/Triunfo. |
| DAY 8: |
Pulhapanzak - Lago de Yojoa - Tegucigalpa Early in the morning we will head to Tegucigalpa. En route we stop at the Lago de Yojoa. Due to it's elevation and geographical location, the lake attracts the greatest concentration of birds in the country, migrating birds from the North and South American continents, as well as native species from the lowlands and the cloud forests visit the area periodically. About 400 of 700 species registered in Honduras live around this lake. Above Honduras greatest waterfall, Pulhapanzak - a former Mayan ceremonial site, we will take a refreshing bath and continue thereafter to the capital. Our hotel is situated outside the city where we enjoy the fresh air with its pine aroma. |
| DAY 9: |
Tegucigalpa - León/Nicaragua Accompanied by a fresh breeze we undertake a city tour around bowl shaped valley in which the city is situated. Overlooked by a big Jesus statue on El Picacho we stroll through the streets passing the modern on piles standing Palacia Legislativo and in contrast to it neigbouring solemn university complex from the 19th century. The famous market San Isidro in the quarter Camagüela will enlighten us by its sphere of trade. Nicuragua's volcanic countryside is waiting for us. We pass by active volcanoes on out way to León. Overnight León. |
| DAY 10: |
León After a huge earthquake, caused by the volcanoe Momotombo, León Vieja - Old León - was destroyed and rebuilt 32 km away close by the former Indian capital Subtiava. A rich history as the former capital of the diocese Nicaragua and Costa Rica it is a great spot to explore colonial architecture including Central America's greatest cathedral. In conjunction with highland city Estelí and was here that the Sandinian party found its greatest support in 1990. So it doesn't surprise that it still is the country's revolutionary and intellectual centre. We visit the impressive plazas and buildings and pay the last respect to the famous poet, Ruben Dario, buried in the cathedral of León (Loewe) where he is securely watched by a lion. Overnight in León. |
| DAY 11: |
Granada After breakfast we head to Granada. On a clear day a wonderful view on the Momotombo volcanoe will be presented to us. The wealth of Granada, built on foot of the Mombacho volcanoe, can be traced back to one part on the rich fertile surroundings and to the other part to the proximity to the Rio San Juan, that meant European trade, as it flows through Lake Nicaragua and thereafter into the Atlantic Ocean. That in turn attracted famous brutal pirates like William Walker, that looted and destroyed the city severely. Nevertheless the colonial treasures are everywhere left behind for continuous discoveries. Overnight in Granada. |
| DAY 12: |
Granda - Lake Nicaragua - Ometepe Today we go on treasure quest in Nicaragua's third biggest city, after León and Managua. The city was found in 1524 and produced special examples of churches in Spanish colonial baroque style. The appealing "sweet water sea" as the Spanish called the lake for its huge dimensions awaits us with a boat that takes us to the island Ometepe. There on the island, whose name means in Nahuatl "island of the two mountains" we will be witness of the life on the small rims around an extinct and a dormant volcanoe. The extinct volcanoe Madera will be thoroughly explored by us. Overnight amidst beauty on Ometepe. |
| DAY 13: |
Ometepe - Rincon de la Vieja/Costa Rica In the morning a boat will bring us to the south shore of the lake and we continue to the border town Penas Blancas. In Costa Rica our first stop is Rincon de la Vieja. There in the middle of an untouched forest lies a volcanoes of 1916 m hight over the Cordillera of Guanacaste and many animals that call this pleasant nature reserve their home. The one who takes on the challenge to climb the steep volcanoe will have a wonderful wide view. It is the birthplace of 32 rivers and streams, all surrounded by mountain jungle vegetation. Towards the south of the active crater, there is a freshwater lake of about 400 m long by 16 m wide. At the foot of the southern flank of the volcano there is an area of intense volcanic activity known as Las Pailas, which covers approximately 50 hectares which consists of hot springs, solfataric lakes, soffioni or holes that expel clouds of steam. Overnight in Rincon de la Vieja. |
| DAY 14: |
Rincon de la Vieja - Monteverde National Park During the morning you will enjoy a horseback riding tour in the Rincón de la Vieja surroundings, passing on beautiful trails in the private forest of the hotel until "azufrales" or to "Río Negro". During this tour you will observe the diverse flora and fauna present in this area. All horseback riding tours are accompanied by a local guide. After the horseback riding tour you will continue to Monteverde. Overnight in Monteverde. |
| DAY 15: |
Monteverde National Park Monteverde, a 10.000 ha. (24.710 acres) private Preserve, is always cold and humid thanks to the rain clouds coming from the Caribbean. It encompasses eight different ecological life zones and protects over 100 species of mammals, 400 of birds and 1.500 of plants. Exuberant forest area with trees covered with moss and ferns that protect the home of many different exotic frogs, the resplendent Quetzal, the emerald touconet, humming birds and others. In the 1950's, a small group of farmers named "Quakers" founded Monteverde, which is today a charming little town with a friendly atmosphere. Overnight in Monteverde. |
| Day 16: |
Monteverde Nationalpark - Manuel Antonio Nationalpark Early departure from Monteverde and continuation to Manuel Antonio, Quepos. Discover the rain forest of this unique National Park and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio. The "tombolo" on Cathedral Point is an interesting feature, which joins the ancient Cathedral Island to the mainland and where Espadilla Sur and Manuel Antonio Beaches are located. A further sight is the blowhole at Escondido Harbor, which is best viewed when the tide comes in. The main habitats of this park are primary forest, also found Secondary forest areas, mangrove swamps, marshes, and littoral woodland, lagoons and herbaceous swamps. Some of the resident avian species are the brown pelican, laughing falcon, black-collared hawk, white ibis, white-bilked chachalaca, white-collared cuejo, fiery-billed aracari, green kingfisher and northern jacana. Overnight Manual Antonio. |
| DAY 17: |
Manuel Antonio Nationalpark - Piedras Blancas Nationalpark Today we drive south along the coast to the hotel Esquinas Rainforest. The government of Austria as part of a model project combining development aid, nature conservation, and rainforest research financed this project. The lodge welcomes all nature lovers, whether ecotourists looking for a jungle adventure off the beaten track, natural history groups interested in studying the rich biodiversity of a tropical rainforest. Nearby the hotel we have hiking possibilities of different lengths and difficulties through the primary forest and observe a great variety of wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, caymans and colorful butterflies. We will admire and taste crystal-clear jungle streams and waterfalls, the beautifully landscaped tropical garden, mangrove swamps and the Pacific Coast. |
| DAY 18: |
Piedras Blancas Nationalpark - Panama City/Panama From Piedras Blancas we drive to Panama. In David we take a domestic flight to Panama City. Here we arrive in a multicultural metropolitain with its prospering bank business and agile trade. The Spanish Governor Pedro Arias Davila changed the tranquil life of this former fisher village 1519 into the one of a powerful governmental and ecclesiastical centre. Overnight in Panama-City. |
| DAY 19: |
Panama City After breakfast a city tour takes us to Panama Viejo, 8 km outside the city, where the Spanish founded the city. This one was apparently destroyed in 1671 by Henry Morgan and just the foundation has remained. Thatswhy today's location was chosen as it was easy defendable with three sites facing the sea and the fourth side being safeguarded by a huge wall and a ditch. So it has never been successfully occupied. Following we visit Casco Antigua, the Spanish colonial city Panama, that was founded in 1673. At the Miraflores locks we will observe the busy operations on and around the Panama Canal. Overnight in Panama City. |
| DAY 20: |
Panama City - Barro Colorado A guided excursion takes us to Barro Colorado Nature Monument (except Monday and Thursday). Barro Colorado became an island when the Chagres river basin was flooded to create Lake Gatun during the construction of the Panama Canal. It was declared a Biological Reserve Station in 1923 and since 1946 the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has administered the Island. In the town of Gamboa, at the mid-point of the Panama Canal we will board a boat for trip through Gatun Lake to the area of Barro Colorado Nature Monument. Overnight in Panama City |
| DAY 21: |
Panama City Today we have to say goodbye and take with us all our great memories to the airport where you will catch in time your international return flight. End of Program. |
- 20 nights lodging in double occupancy
- Daily breakfast
- Bilingual guide
- All excursions and local guides
- Transfers and entrance fees according to itinerary
Taxes in all countries
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Not included: custom fees, airport tax, tips |
