This tour travels along the avenue of the volcanoes in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua and

ends with a comprehensive exploration of Costa Rica. It offers a fantastic combination of active pursuits, culture and relaxation. Discover Mayan ruins in Copan and famous colonial towns such as Granada, hike up live volcanoes on Ometepe Island and explore the Pacific Nicaraguan coastline.  Costa Rica, is home to land of coffee and ecotourism. Into Costa Rica we visit Cahuita National Park and Tortuguero National Park where Green sea turtles may be seen nesting. Then to the Pacific side stopping at the town of La Fortuna at the base of active Volcano Arenal, a great place to do white water rafting, trekking and soak in the local hot springs. We hike through Monteverde Cloud forest in search of the elusive Quetzal bird, then relax with the sloths and monkeys on the beaches of Manual Antonio National Park before ending our tour in San Jose

This tour starts in Antigua, Guatemala. Flights should be booked to Guatemala City airport, a short taxi ride from Antigua.

Antigua. We start in Antigua, the old Guatemalan capital with its beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets and colonial history. There are wonderful markets and many cafés and restaurants as well as several optional activities including a climb up Volcan Pacaya, mountain biking, salsa dancing and horse riding. An optional city tour is a great way to discover this gorgeous city. Please note: our time in Antigua is limited so you may wish to reserve pre tour accommodation in order to explore the city thoroughly.

Granada, Masaya National Park, and Ometepe Island. Here in Nicaragua there are many fabulous highlights in this, the most undiscovered of all the Central American countries. The locals are friendly and the pace of life is unhurried. First stop is Granada, Nicaragua’s most beautiful colonial town and the oldest Spanish city in the Americas. Nestled on the shore of Lake Nicaragua, a stroll through the streets in the evening will reveal families sitting outside their homes on wicker rocking chairs, enjoying the breeze! Families and children, friends and couples fill the plazas until long after midnight, strolling between the arches and the pastel-painted buildings and along the tree-lined avenues. We take a morning trip to Masaya National Park where you can peer into the cone of its active volcano. From Granada, we travel to San Jorge and take a ferry out to visit Ometepe Island, the largest freshwater island in the world and inhabited by freshwater sharks! Ometepe was formed by the fusion of two large volcanoes – Concepcion and Maderas, the highest being 1610 metres to the cone. Here you can relax on the sandy beaches or take a challenging climb up either of the volcanoes, maybe enjoy an excursion to nearby petroglyphs or waterfalls. We stay at a hotel on the shores of Lake Nicaragua where you can enjoy views of the lake.

Cahuita. We take a couple of days to relax in the beachside town of Cahuita. This strip of coastline is fringed with endless coconut trees, a calm sea of transparent waters has a coral reef offshore, an old Spanish shipwrecked pirate vessel and a stunning black, volcanic beach. Drink from coconuts, bath in tidal pools, and eat delicious grilled fish. Absorb the Caribbean ambience and enjoy the lush surroundings. There's also a great variety of animals and birds such as raccoons, crabs (land and water), howler monkeys, kingfishers, night herons, white-nosed coatis, and a large variety of Costa Rica's famous frogs.

La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano. Not far away is La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano, a stunning sight on a clear night where you may see fluorescent lava flowing down its cone. The volcano has been active since 1968. Papaya, Ginger Root, Oranges, Pineapples, Sugar Cane, Beans and Cassava all flourish in the area. Nearby we visit Baldi Hot Springs, a complex of swimming pools, mineral pools and hot springs filled with thermal water heated by the volcano. There is a waterfall and water-slides flowing through the lush, tropical gardens. You’ll be surprised that the giant tropical plants that you’ll see growing naturally in the area are the enormous cousins of house plants growing in your home! In La Fortuna there is something for everyone. You can also make an optional visit to the Caño Negro National Park or go white water rafting.

Quepos, Manuel Antonio National Park and San Jose. On the other side of the Cordillera Central mountain chain lies the town of Quepos, from where we visit Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica’s most popular national park and home to a huge variety of flora and fauna. You will find monkeys, birds and delightful hidden coves in this tiny reserve, and beautiful beaches surround the park. Walking through the park is wonderful along the well-set trails, and animal spotting is easy: the park is inhabited by a wide variety of wildlife ranging from howler, squirrel, and white-faced monkeys, to coatamundis, anteaters, crocodiles, and iguanas to name a few. Enjoy leisurely sun-bathing, swimming, diving and snorkelling or take a short coastal tour of the adjacent offshore islands. Then it’s back to San Jose via coffee plantations, small farms, and large cattle ranches where we arrive mid-afternoon on Day 24 and the tour ends.

Please be aware that arrival times and the itinerary may change due to unforeseen delays or events such as festivals and public holidays. However, we shall endeavour to ensure all sites are visited and that your tour runs as smoothly as possible but please note that Latin America does not run like clockwork, therefore do not expect the streamlined travel arrangements associated with some other continents. Things do not always go to plan; there will be times when you will need to be patient and philosophical about your travels. Conditions in Central America can change rapidly and changes to the itinerary may be necessary. Be flexible, you will enjoy your tour much more. Kumuka makes a point of visiting the indigenous populations of each country you visit, in order to give a true reflection of the country; please treat the local people and their customs with respect. Lastly, your tour leader is always conscious of everybody's views, but sometimes he/she will have to make an unpopular decision and your understanding will be appreciated in these circumstances.

During your tour your Tour Leader and/or Guide will recommend a variety of optional activities operated by carefully selected ground handlers to make your tour even more enjoyable. These ground handlers and activity partners have been chosen for their standards in quality, professional ability and reputation. All optional activities are available at your own expense, and are undertaken at your own risk. Kumuka can not be held responsible for injuries or claims arising from adventurous activities by third party. To start planning and budgeting for any optional activities that you may chose on your tour, please visit:

http://www.kumuka.com/Central-America-Optional-Activities.aspx

IMPORTANT: Some tours depart from the starting city very early on Day 1, therefore you might not have enough time to enjoy the optional activities in that area. Furthermore, some tours end on arrival in the finishing city and your flight may leave early the following morning, therefore leaving no time to partake in any optional activities in that area.

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 8am THE DAY of the scheduled departure date at the meeting point. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your Tour Leader and fellow passengers.

In each departure city we have named a joining hotel from where the tour will leave. It is your responsibility to make your way to this hotel. Your Tour Leader will leave a notice at reception on the first day of departure with information as to where he/she can be contacted and you should inform him/her that you have arrived.

PLEASE ADVISE KUMUKA OR YOUR AGENT IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour.  It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:

1. Passport.

2. Vaccination Certificate.

3. Travel Voucher.

4. Travel Insurance Policy.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate. Your passport must be valid for six months after the END of your tour, and must have one blank page for each country to be visited.

When flying into Costa Rica some airlines are currently requesting proof of an onward ticket at check in, showing that you will exit the country. Unfortunately Kumuka tour vouchers are not considered sufficient  proof that you will exit Costa Rica. The Costa Rica embassy in London has advised that either bus or airline tickets should suffice, although some airlines are still insisting on proof of an actual airline ticket.

This information is provided in good faith and whilst we endeavour to keep abreast of the latest immigration and onward ticket requirements, Kumuka cannot be held responsible for any changes in immigration law or onward ticket requirements.

Prophylactic tablets are essential in some areas of Central America. They are prescribed by your vaccinating doctor and should be taken as directed. 

We suggest passengers budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Belize, Costa Rica and the Yucatan province in Mexico are more expensive than the other Central American Countries, in those areas you should budget on US$ 30 per day.

Take your money in US dollars only. This is the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America.

Traveller’s cheques should be AMERICAN EXPRESS. American Express is the most widely accepted.

Cash is far easier to exchange than Travellers Cheques, but also more risky as once lost, is irreplaceable. However, we do recommend that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20).

In many countries, you may exchange US Dollars traveller’s cheques for US cash, or retrieve US dollars cash from ATMs (with a credit card), usually for a small commission but please do not rely solely on this option.

Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs.

Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

Included Excursions - All activities mentioned in the brochure unless optional are included in your tour price. This also includes many extra things that the group does as a whole such as ruins site entrance fees, domestic flights, local guides at some attractions, National Park entrance fees.

How much should I take?

• Try to limit yourself to 15-20kg.  It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more.  If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your Tour Leader at the Pre Departure Meeting.  
• A good quality backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, water, sunscreen) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards, travellers cheques, etc., on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend that you DO NOT BRING A SUITCASE due to the difficulty of carrying these and travelling with them on Central American transport. Please do not bring more luggage than you are able to comfortably carry without assistance.

Most passengers will travel with digital cameras.  Should you run out of memory you can download your photos onto CD at the local internet cafes or camera shops on your tour.  Alternatively, you may be able to purchase extra memory cards.  With regards to film, all types of camera film are readily available in Central America.  However, it is often cheaper to purchase it in your country of origin or through duty free.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Most Latin American countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your camera confiscated.  It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.

For better or for worse, tipping is an accepted part of everyday life and although it is always at your discretion, you will be expected to tip to reward service. 

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.