Alcion: Central America Discovery

Day 1: Arriving Panama City

Those passengers arriving on an international flight will be met at the airport by the tour leader or a local representative and escorted to the group hotel.

Day 2: Explore Panama City and the Canal

Your guided tour explores Central America's most cosmopolitan and wealthy capital, built along picturesque Panama Bay. The contemporary Hong Kong-style skyscrapers of the Paitilla district dominate the skyline at one end, whilst at the other lies the decaying, peeling colonial heart of San Felipe. After discovering the narrow streets, delightful plazas and overhanging balconies of this area you continue to Panama Viejo. This is the site of the city's original settlement until it was ransacked by the infamous British buccaneer Henry Morgan in 1671.

The excursion proceeds out of town to the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks. As the excellent visitors' centre elaborates, this extraordinary feat of engineering was started by the French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps in 1880, following his success with the recently inaugurated Suez Canal, but was only completed in 1914 after the Americans assumed ownership. To the delight of most Panamanians, the canal was returned to Panama on 31 December 1999.

Day 3: Head west to the highland town of Boquete

Board a bus for the journey across western Panama, along the Pan-American Highway (approx. 7 hrs) to the city of David where you switch to an old American school bus, known fondly as a ‘chicken bus', for the last stretch. The ascent to Boquete is the most scenic section of the trip as the road winds up through the mist and into the cloud forest. In the foothills of the Barú volcano the town of Boquete, with its cool, clean air, comes as a pleasant respite from the heat and frenzy of Panama City. This settlement in the heart of Panama's coffee- growing country is your base for explorations into the surrounding area.

Day 4: Travel to Colon Island

In the afternoon a bus heading north takes you across the continental divide to the Caribbean coast. This beautiful road winds its way through forested mountain scenery and descends to Almirante, a railhead for the export of bananas grown in the humid lowlands. From here, board a ferry across the Caribbean to the archipelago of Bocas del Toro, 24 km offshore (30mins in calm weather).

The islands of Bocas del Toro remain isolated from mainstream tourism, but it won't be long before this densely wooded region of secluded bays, coral reefs and Guaymi Indian settlements is firmly on the map. There are 6 large islands and countless smaller ones. Water taxis ferry local people and tourists between the small communities that dot the archipelago. Only the largest island, Isla Colón, has any roads and there is one major settlement here, Bocas: spend 3 nights here.

Bocas is an unkempt but charming little seaside town. Even though there is no beach the burgeoning number of lodgings, simple seafood restaurants and little bars, make Bocas a great place to relax. Evenings are balmy and generally low key, with activity restricted to the huddle of welcoming little watering holes along the shore. The archipelago also supports very traditional communities of Guaymi Indian fishermen who live in wooden houses suspended above the water on stilts. They travel solely by canoe, relying on paddle-power to get around.

Day 5: Bocas del Toro

Explore the islands and revel in the laid-back Caribbean atmosphere. One optional day trip is to the Bastimentos National Marine Park. Spend the day on the beautiful white sand beaches and delve into the jungle, rich with wildlife, which covers Bastimentos Island. Maybe take the plunge and snorkel around one of the spellbinding coral atolls. (Snorkels can be hired in Bocas.) Alternatively, adopt your own tropical island for the day. Take a short boat trip out to a deserted islet, pursued by playful dolphins, and lounge beneath the palms, or cruise among dense mangroves, spotting marine life beneath the clear surface of the Caribbean.

Day 6: Cross into Costa Rica and continue to Sarapiqui

Back on the mainland, a short, scenic road journey through wooded countryside brings you to the Costa Rican border. An anomaly in Central America, Costa Rica has long been a haven of stability; there's a democratic government, and they feel no need for a national army.

Starting along the road from Sixaola to Bribri vast tropical plantations stretch on either side as far as the eye can see. After an hour the road returns to the Caribbean coast, and the journey continues for another couple of hours along the picturesque, palm-lined highway to Limón. From here it's another 2hrs onto Sarapiqui, a small town that has become a popular base in which to take advantage of the wonderful forested national parks in the area, dispersed between banana and pineapple plantations.

Day 7: Explore the city independently or go white-water rafting

From the lodge where we are based spend the day exploring this exciting densely forested region. This exuberant foliage creates an enticing habitat for many species of bird and wildlife and there are numerous national parks to explore. You can view the canopy from above via a series of hanging bridges and towers, or hike through it on trails and paths that wind through the trees.

For the more adventurous the Rio Sarapiquí runs just east of the main street and is popular for rafting on its rapids. There are numerous other activities in the area including mountain-biking, boat trips and canopying or you may prefer just to relax and prepare for the next leg of your trip.

Day 8-9: Visit the Monteverde cloud forest

Board a private bus for the 4hr journey to Santa Elena on the edge of the Monteverde National Park. This is a magical sanctuary of verdant, dripping cloud forest high up in the Costa Rican mountains. Monteverde is home to the elusive Resplendent quetzal, an exotic bird with an emerald green body and rust-red breast which is an iconic symbol of Central America. You have a day here to explore this exquisite region. There is a guided tour of the Cloud Forest or Cuircancha Reserve depending on where the wildlife is best at the time. There are optional excursions to a nearby butterfly farm or, for those in search of a bit of action, there is an optional canopy tour over the cloud forest.

Day 10: Cross into Nicaragua

You continue towards Nicaragua, the journey starting with a steep but spectacular descent to the coastal plains, and, weather permitting, you may catch a glimpse of the imposing Arenal volcano. Be prepared for a dramatic rise in temperature. The bus passes through Liberia, a tranquil provincial capital in northern Costa Rica. After two hours you arrive at the border with Nicaragua.

Tourism is still in its infancy and the infrastructure is not yet well organised enough to handle many tourists. The difference between the two countries is striking. The stability, tranquility and relative affluence of Costa Rica is in marked contrast to the position Nicaragua finds itself in: it has long been plagued by economic and political uncertainty. The people are some of the poorest in Latin America and have suffered much in the past fifty years (through dictatorship, revolution, civil war, hurricanes, and earthquakes). Nowadays however there is a democratic government and development of the tourist sector is proceeding apace. Many visitors find Nicaragua - its welcoming people and unspoilt scenery - a pleasant surprise.

The journey continues to San Jorge on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. From San Jorge you catch the next available boat across the lake to the twin volcanoes of Ometepe Island.

Day 11-12: Ometepe Island

Ometepe is a serene and as yet totally undeveloped island. Even in comparison with the rest of Nicaragua, the infrastructure is basic with only rough roads and simple accommodation. Much of the island is still covered in primary rainforest and home to many different species of monkeys and parrots. It is also famous for its pre-Columbian stone statues and petroglyphs, carved by the Chorotega indians centuries ago.

There are opportunities for scenic and challenging walks on the slopes of the island's imposing volcanoes (Concepción and Maderas) which dwarf the surrounding landscapes. You can visit one of many coffee cooperatives on the island. Horse-riding and fishing are also options here. Due to heavy rainfall in recent years there is little beach on the island, however, there are many spots to sit back and enjoy the views across the lake and possibly take a dip in its warm waters.

Day 13: By boat and road to colonial Granada

Head back to the mainland and on to the evocative Spanish colonial town of Granada. This charming city was once one of the wealthiest in Latin America, a staging post for the shipment of looted gold. The architecture reflects this one-time prosperity: huge wooden doors open on to shady patios in once-aristocratic houses. Efforts are now being made to restore the city's faded splendour and newly promoted tourism has been a trigger for the establishment of many new bars and restaurants. You will get a feel for this is fascinating city, on an informal walking tour with your tour leader.

Day 14: Visit Masaya National Park

Enjoy a trip to Masaya National Park, visiting volcanic crater lakes, the old hilltop fort of Coyotepe, the impressive and still active Masaya volcano and the town of Masaya itself. The handicraft market in Masaya is well known for its intricate handmade hammocks.

Day 15: Travel via Managua to the former political hothouse of Leon

You continue northwards across dusty volcanic plains, passing the Momotombo volcano, to León, another of Nicaragua's restored colonial cities and the perfect antidote to the chaos of Managua. Here time is best spent wandering through the cobbled streets and around the shady plazas and ornate churches composing the town centre. Even during colonial times León had a strong liberal tradition (as opposed to the conservatism that characterised Granada), and it has remained the country's radical and intellectual centre, with a thriving university population. The Sandinista heritage is still visible today with a few large murals and revolutionary graffiti plastered over some of the town's white adobe walls.

Day 16-17: Bus through Honduras and into El Salvador to historic Suchitoto

An early morning bus takes you to the border with Honduras, where cutting across the hot coastal plain of Choluteca, you soon cross another border and enter El Salvador. El Salvador is Central America's least visited country and another with a turbulent past, where throughout the 1980s a chaotic civil war was fought in the mountains and fields that dominate the landscape. El Salvador is once again finding its feet, and you're soon whizzing through the country to the untouched colonial city of Suchitoto.

The atmospheric town of Suchitoto is located just 47km north of the dynamic capital San Salvador, but it is a complete contrast in all other senses. Virtually untouched by tourists it is easily navigated on foot, as you pass low level colonial buildings along cobblestoned streets, where craftsmen display their goods. From the centre, where a beautiful white washed church dominates the plaza, the town spreads down to the shores of Lake Suchitlán, where restaurants offer wonderful views of the lake and the nearby forest reserves. The surrounding area is a renowned bird migration zone, and you can spend a day walking along the trails of the forests that surround the town or take a leisurely boat trip out onto the lake. Alternatively just spend your time recharging your batteries.

Day 18-19: Visit the Mayan ruins of Copan

Rural Honduras beckons. It's a 6-7hr journey to Copán, which, along with Tikal, is the most impressive of the Mayan ruined complexes. This region of western Honduras is a remote province of velvety green hills and rushing rivers, dotted with whitewashed colonial villages where the horse is still the main form of transport. Its genial atmosphere comes in part from its relative prosperity gained through trade in coffee and tobacco, and through the tourism generated by the Mayan ruins.

Spend the night at Copán Ruinas, an attractive, cobbled village close to the site. There is time for a short hill walk, a visit to some nearby hot springs, but the main attractions, of course, are the archaeological site and the superb new museum, both of which you visit the following day.

Copán is unique, not so much for its impressive temples, but for the exquisite stelae and their artwork: huge, intricately carved statues depict the complicated history of the area and its great rulers. One of the highlights is the imperious hieroglyphic stairway; each of its 63 steps is sculpted with hundreds of different glyphs that describe important events in Copán's rise to prominence among the elite city states of the Mayan world. Copán flourished between 250 and 900 AD, at which point its prosperity mysteriously declined. Within about 100 years, this once-sophisticated city had been reclaimed by the jungle, only to be discovered by the Spanish conquistadors in the late 16th century, and subsequently excavated 300 years later.

Breakfast included on Day 18 only.

Day 20-21: Cross into Guatemala and continue to colonial Antigua

The Guatemalan border is a 10min drive from Copán. From here you continue to Antigua. There is a marked change in temperature as you climb into the highlands. 'Land of eternal spring' is an accolade adopted by Guatemalans to describe the climate of this western highland region, where the heat is benign and nights are pleasantly cool.

Guatemala is unique in Central America; a mysterious, timeless country in which half of the population is Mayan indian. Many, especially women in the highlands, still dress in their traditional hand-woven clothing, similar to that which was worn over a thousand years ago. Antigua is a colonial city of cobbled streets, overhanging tiled roofs and a beautiful, leafy central plaza. There is an abundance of huge, ruined churches, convents and monasteries, testament to a time when Antigua was the country's capital and its main religious centre. It seems that every doorway opens onto a leafy tiled courtyard.

A dramatic backdrop of smouldering volcanoes reminds you how the city was destroyed by an eruption in 1773. Antigua is a welcoming place to relax and unwind, do some shopping and enjoy some excellent food, or just to wander around the ruined convents and enjoy the flowers in their beautifully tended gardens.

Breakfast included on Day 21 only.

Day 22: Departure

Today you can depart at any time.

• Accommodation 
• All land transport 
• Services of partnered professional tour leader
• Scheduled excursions as specified 
• Meals as specified 

• International and internal airfares 
• Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable 
• Airport transfers 
• Optional excursions (please contact us for details)
• Travel insurance 
• Gratuities
• Any items not listed as included

This tour operates with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20 passengers. The minimum age is 12 years. Hotels are subject to change due to availability.