Central America: Guatemala to Costa Rica

Arrive at any time. Most international flights land at Guatemala City's La Aurora airport (GUA), about an hour's drive from Antigua. Drop your bags and use the afternoon to get oriented in the colonial city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The grid of cobblestone streets is walkable, set against the backdrop of three volcanoes.

A long travel day heads east, crossing from Guatemala into Honduras. The 280km overland journey takes between eight and nine hours, pushing through the highlands to the El Florido border crossing. The destination is Copán Ruinas, a quiet colonial town nestled in a river valley deep in coffee-growing country. Arrive in the evening with enough time to settle in before exploring the area tomorrow.

A full free day to explore the Copán area. The main draw is the nearby Mayan ruins, a UNESCO site famous for its intricately carved stelae and Hieroglyphic Stairway. Beyond the main archaeological park, you can seek out lesser-known sites in the hills or arrange a trip to local hot springs hidden in the jungle. The town itself is small and easily covered on foot.

This is a heavy travel day involving two border crossings and three countries. The 400km route leaves Copán and crosses from Honduras back into Guatemala, driving south before crossing again into El Salvador at the Anguiatú border. It's a long day on the road that ends in the quiet colonial town of Suchitoto, overlooking the waters of Lake Suchitlán. Find a local spot for pupusas, the national dish of El Salvador.

The morning is free to explore the cobblestone streets and whitewashed buildings of Suchitoto. In the afternoon, the route turns toward the coast for a 100km drive to the La Libertad region. The destination is a small surf town like El Tunco, a well-known stop on the backpacker circuit famous for its powerful break and black-sand beaches. Arrive in time to catch the sunset over the Pacific.

A full day to settle into the rhythm of the coast. The beaches around El Tunco are magnets for surfers, and lessons are easy to arrange. For a change of scenery, head to the local fish market for fresh ceviche or organize a trip inland to hike to the Tamanique waterfalls. Otherwise, the day is open for relaxing on the volcanic sand beaches.

A multi-stage journey connects El Salvador to Nicaragua. The day starts with a 205km overland drive to the port of La Unión on the Gulf of Fonseca. From there, a boat makes the crossing to Potosí, Nicaragua, a transit that doubles as the border check. Once on Nicaraguan soil, another overland leg continues to the colonial city of León. An evening orientation walk is a good way to get your bearings, passing the central park and historic churches.

An overland journey connects Nicaragua's two great colonial rivals, leaving the revolutionary murals of León behind for the polished architecture of Granada. The drive is relatively short, leaving most of the afternoon to explore. A brief orientation walk introduces the city's colourful centre, which sits on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. The city is a base for exploring the region's many volcanoes and lakes.

A full day to explore Granada and its dramatic surroundings. Inside the city, you can wander through local markets and small museums. The real action is outside town: options include kayaking the small islands, or isletas, of Lake Nicaragua, swimming in the clear water of the Laguna de Apoyo crater lake, or hiking the cloud forest trails on the dormant Mombacho Volcano, which looms over the city.

The journey to Isla de Ometepe is a classic Central American transit day. It starts with local buses from Granada to the port of San Jorge, via the town of Rivas. From the port, a one-hour ferry crosses the vast expanse of Lake Nicaragua to the island, which is dominated by the twin volcanoes of Concepción and Maderas. The stay here is in a community-run guesthouse in a small village like La Paloma, offering a direct experience of rural Nicaraguan life.

A full day to explore the twin-volcano island. For hikers, the main challenge is the strenuous climb up Volcán Concepción or the muddy cloud forest trails of Volcán Maderas. Less demanding options include seeking out pre-Columbian petroglyphs carved into boulders, kayaking in the Charco Verde nature reserve, swimming in the natural spring pools of Ojo de Agua, or simply renting a bicycle to explore the island's quiet roads.

Leave Ometepe by ferry, returning to the mainland at San Jorge. A series of local buses connects the port to the Peñas Blancas border. The crossing into Costa Rica is done on foot, requiring a ten-minute walk carrying luggage between the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican immigration posts. Once through, the final 190km overland journey climbs 1,400m into the mountains. This steep ascent ends in the cloud forest community of Monteverde, with overnight lodging at the Quetzal Inn Monteverde.

A full day in Monteverde is for exploring the unique cloud forest ecosystem. The two most popular activities are hiking across hanging bridges suspended in the canopy of a biological reserve (like Monteverde or Santa Elena) or riding the extensive network of ziplines that criss-cross the valleys. Tours of local coffee plantations, cheese factories, and night walks to spot nocturnal wildlife are also readily available.

The trip from Monteverde to La Fortuna follows a well-worn local route known as the 'jeep-boat-jeep.' A van navigates the rough mountain roads down to the shore of Lake Arenal. A boat then crosses the lake, offering clear views of the iconic cone of Arenal Volcano. On the far side, another van completes the short journey into La Fortuna. The town is Costa Rica's primary adventure hub, with a free afternoon to arrange rafting, canyoning or hiking.

A second full day in La Fortuna offers another chance to tap into the area's adventure sports. This is an opportunity for a full-day whitewater rafting trip on the Pacuare or Sarapiquí rivers, or a half-day of canyoning—rappelling down a series of waterfalls. More relaxed options include hiking trails in Arenal Volcano National Park or soaking in one of the many local hot springs.

The final travel day is a straightforward three to four-hour journey by local bus from La Fortuna back to Costa Rica's capital, San José. The route winds out of the northern lowlands and up through the mountains of the Central Valley. After arriving and checking in, the rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city center, including the National Theatre, the Gold Museum, and the busy central market.

The route concludes in San José. There are no activities planned for the final day, leaving you free to depart at any time. Head to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) for your flight home or to your next destination.