Tour

Tulum to San Jose
from USD 4115

Contiki Holidays

Tour Code: CA5TUS227
Vacation Type:
Brochure:
Duration: 35 Days
Countries: Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua

From Tulum’s beaches to Costa Rica’s cloud forests, this 35-day trip packs in a bit of everything. You’ll move through five countries, mixing Caribbean stops, jungle ruins, lakes, volcanoes and laid-back towns. There’s time for island life, cultural experiences and big scenery, balanced with free days to explore how you want. Expect simple stays, a mix of local and private transport, and lots of freedom to do things your way.



Tulum to San Jose Trip Map

Gold Seal Protection

  • Gold Seal Protection

Dining Summary

  • 3 Dinner (D)
  • 3 Breakfast (B)

Faqs

Mexico City: How can I purchase Free Time Add-Ons? You’ll now book and pay for your Free Time Add-Ons through WeTravel — a simple website link where you can browse all the FTAs, pick what you’re keen on, and pay directly by card, in any currency. You’ll get the link in your Welcome Email, usually 3–5 days before your trip starts. Once you’re in, it’s easy: check out the pics, descriptions and prices, add your chosen experiences to your cart, then check out online. You can book before your trip starts or while you’re on the road, up until each activity’s booking deadline.Missed the link? No stress. Your Trip Manager can share it with you on trip too.

Included Experience

  • Bacalar: Board a private catamaran and cruise across Bacalar’s Lagoon of Seven Colours with an expert captain and guide. Over three hours, you'll visit Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda, Isla de los Pájaros and Canal de los Piratas, with drinks, snacks and safety gear included.
  • Tikal National Park: Walk through one of the Maya world’s most impressive sites, with towering temples rising above the jungle canopy. Your guide will bring Tikal’s history, mythology and UNESCO-listed ruins to life as you explore ancient plazas and ceremonial spaces.
  • Lake Atitlán: Be welcomed into the home of a local Kaqchikel family in San Jorge La Laguna for a genuine look at daily life by the lake. Share dinner, learn about local customs and support a homestay programme that gives back to the community.
  • Antigua Guatemala: Explore Antigua’s must-see spots with your Trip Manager, from Parque Central and the Catedral de San José ruins to the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales. You’ll also see the iconic Arco de Santa Catalina, with Volcán de Agua stealing the background on a clear day.
  • Santa Ana: Get to know Santa Ana’s key sights, including the cathedral, Parque Libertad, Teatro Nacional, Palacio Municipal and Mercado Central. It’s a simple, useful intro to the city before you head off exploring your way.
  • Granada: Start at Parque Central, where Granada’s bright yellow cathedral sets the tone. Then wander towards Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Merced, with the option to climb the bell tower later for 360-degree views over the city and Lake Nicaragua.
  • : Wanna do your bit to help the planet while out on the road? This is your chance to help support the local ecosystem. As you work, you’ll learn all about the local trees, and the benefits that replanting them has for the ecosystem and the wildlife that lives here.

  • Che Tulum Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Viajero Bacalar Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Tropical Paradise Express Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Yellow Belly Backpackers Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Los Amigos Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Hostal Portal de Champey (Or Similar)
  • Dreamboat Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Maya Homestay (Or Similar)
  • Central Hostal San Sebastian (Or Similar)
  • Urban Nest Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Lagarza Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Poco a Poco Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Hostal De Boca en Boca (Or Similar)
  • Puesta Del Sol Homestay (Or Similar)
  • Nalu Nalu Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Hotel Quetzal Inn (Or Similar)
  • Viajero Arenal Hostel (Or Similar)
  • Viajero San José Hostel (Or Similar)
Day 1 Tulum

Welcome to Mexico! Once you make your way to the hostel, you'll have the rest of the day to settle in, explore the city, and get a first taste of this laid-back Caribbean stop. In the evening, meet your Trip Manager and fellow travellers at the Welcome Meeting.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Che Tulum Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 2 Tulum

You’ll have a full free day to enjoy Tulum however you like. Head for the beach, visit the cliffside ruins, check out a cenote, or just take it slow around town with cafes, shops, and plenty of time to do your own thing.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Che Tulum Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 3 Tulum

Another free day to enjoy Tulum your way, whether that means more beach time, a last cenote stop, or just taking it easy around town.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Che Tulum Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 4 Tulum To Bacalar

Time to lave Tulum behind this morning and catch the local bus south to Bacalar, heading from the coast to one of the Yucatán’s most laid-back lagoon towns.Once you arrive, the rest of the day is free to settle in and explore. You could relax by the lagoon, wander through town, or head to Los Rápidos if you’re up for an easy afternoon out.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Viajero Bacalar Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 5 Bacalar

Today, you'll head out onto the Lagoon of Seven Colours for a private catamaran experience, with time to take in Bacalar from the water and see some of its best-known spots along the way. Depending on conditions, we'll stop by places like Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda, Isla de los Pájaros, and the Canal de los Piratas. After the sail, the rest of the afternoon is free.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Viajero Bacalar Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 6 Bacalar To Caye Caulker Via Chetumal And San Pedro

Time to head towards Chetumal by private transfer, making our way towards Belize and the next part of the trip.From here, you’ll board the ferry bound for Caye Caulker as we set off across the Caribbean.On arrival in San Pedro, you'll briefly disembark to clear Belize immigration and customs before continuing on.Once you arrive in Caye Caulker, it’ll be a short walk to your accommodation. After check-in, the rest of the day will be free to settle in, explore the island, or ease straight into its laid-back pace.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Tropical Paradise Express Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 7 Caye Caulker

You’ll have a full free day to enjoy Caye Caulker however you like. Plus, there's the option to join a snorkelling and island adventure if you want to make the most of Belize’s clear waters.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Tropical Paradise Express Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 8 Caye Caulker

Yep, another free day to enjoy island life at your own pace. You could head out on a paddleboard, spend time by the water at The Split, or just lean into the slow pace and make the most of your final time here.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Tropical Paradise Express Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 9 Caye Caulker To San Ignacio Via Belize City

This morning, walk to the ferry terminal and say goodbye to island life as you make your way back to the mainland.Once you arrive in Belize City, a private transfer will be waiting to take you inland towards your next stop.After checking in, the rest of the day will be free to settle in and explore. With its local markets, cafes, and laid-back feel, San Ignacio is a good place to ease into this next part of Belize.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Yellow Belly Backpackers Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 10 San Ignacio

A full free day to enjoy San Ignacio your way. You can keep it relaxed with time around town, the local market, or a riverside cafe, or go bigger with the option to join either the ATM Cave expedition or a cave tubing experience. With an early start coming up tomorrow, today works well as a choose-your-own-pace kind of day.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Yellow Belly Backpackers Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 11 San Ignacio To Flores Via Tikal National Park

Time to leave San Ignacio this morning and cross the border into Guatemala by private shuttle, heading for one of the region’s biggest highlights.Once you arrive, we'll explore Tikal on a guided tour, with its towering temples, ancient plazas, and jungle setting.Later, continue on to Flores and check in on arrival. The evening is all yours to relax, head out for dinner, or enjoy the lakeside setting.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Los Amigos Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 12 Flores To Lanquin

You’ll leave Flores behind today and travel by private shuttle towards Lanquín, passing through rural landscapes and mountain scenery along the way.This will be one of the longer travel days on the trip, so expect most of the day to be spent on the road. Once you arrive, you’ll check in and have the rest of the afternoon free to relax by the river or settle into the jungle surroundings.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hostal Portal de Champey (Or Similar)

Day 13 Lanquin

Enjoy Lanquín at your own pace today. Take it slow by the river, relax at the accommodation, or make the most of the jungle setting. There’ll also be the option to join a full-day trip to Semuc Champey and the K’an Ba Caves if you’re up for something more adventurous.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hostal Portal de Champey (Or Similar)

Day 14 Lanquín To Lake Atitlán

You’ll leave Lanquín this morning and travel by private shuttle towards Lake Atitlán, with mountain roads and highland scenery the whole way.This will be another longer travel day, but the views on arrival will make it worth it. Once you’ve checked in at Panajachel, the rest of the evening will be free to relax, head out for a walk, or take in your first look at the lake and volcanoes.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Dreamboat Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 15 Lake Atitlan To San Jorge La Laguna

You’ll have a free morning in Panajachel to make the most of the lake before moving on. Take a walk by the water, browse the local markets, or just enjoy the views and a slower start to the day.Later,  head to a nearby Maya village for an overnight homestay with a local Kaqchikel family. Dinner's with a local Kaqchikel family, where you'll get genuine insight into daily life and community traditions.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Maya Homestay (Or Similar)

Day 16 San Jorge La Laguna To Antigua Via Lake Atitlán

Start the day with breakfast with your host family and a relaxed morning in the village.Later, you’ll head back towards Panajachel, with the option to join a cultural boat tour visiting Maya communities around the lake. In the late afternoon, continue by shuttle to Antigua, arriving in the early evening. After check-in, the rest of the night will be free to settle in and head out for dinner.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Central Hostal San Sebastian (Or Similar)

Day 17 Antigua

Explore Antigua your way today. Wander the cobbled streets, check out churches and plazas, shop for local crafts, or find a cafe with a volcano view. There’ll also be the option to join a Pacaya hike, an Antigua bike ride and plantation visit, or the Acatenango overnight hike if you’re up for something bigger.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Central Hostal San Sebastian (Or Similar)

Day 18 Antigua

Another free day in Antigua. Keep exploring the city, take it slow in a cafe, or join an optional visit to the Native Chocolate Museum for a closer look at one of Guatemala’s best-known local flavours.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Central Hostal San Sebastian (Or Similar)

Day 19 Antigua To Santa Ana

Leave Antigua this morning and travel by private shuttle across the border into El Salvador, with mountain views and coffee-country scenery along the way.Once you arrive in Santa Ana, your Trip Manager will give you an orientation of the town. After that, the rest of the day will be free to relax, head out for dinner, or settle into your new surroundings.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Urban Nest Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 20 Santa Ana

Enjoy a free day in Santa Ana to explore your way — cathedral, central plaza, local eats, the lot. Feeling extra? Visit nearby lakes and hot springs, or take on the Ruta de las Flores.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Urban Nest Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 21 Santa Ana To La Libertad Region

Leave Santa Ana behind this morning and travel by private shuttle towards the coast, swapping city streets for sea views.The rest of the day is free to relax. This is your chance to slow things down a bit — whether that means pool time, ocean time, or both.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Lagarza Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 22 La Libertad Region

Today's yours to enjoy La Libertad however you like. You can stretch out on the black-sand beaches, explore more of the coastline, or keep things easy and lean into the laid-back pace. If you’re keen to get in the water, there’ll also be the option to join a surf lesson with local instructors.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Lagarza Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 23 La Libertad Region To Leon Via La Union And Potosi

Leaving the coast behind early this morning, you'll set off by private shuttle towards La Unión.From here, you’ll board a public boat across the Gulf of Fonseca, trading the road for a more scenic route between countries.On arrival in Nicaragua, we'll clear immigration in Potosi before continuing the journey by private shuttle bus.Later, you’ll arrive in León and check in at your accommodation. It's a big travel day, so the rest of the afternoon and evening will be free to relax or head out and explore.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Poco a Poco Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 24 Leon

You’ll have the day free to explore León at your own pace. Visit the cathedral, wander the colourful streets, or head up to the cathedral rooftop for wide views over the city. If you’re after something more active, there’ll also be the option to take on the Cerro Negro volcano hiking and boarding adventure.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Poco a Poco Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 25 Leon To Granada

Time to travel by shuttle to Granada, arriving around midday.After check-in, the rest of the day will be free to explore Granada at your own pace. You can wander the colourful streets, relax in a cafe or plaza, or check out Cafe de las Sonrisas — a social enterprise spot with a great story behind it. There’ll also be the option to join an Isletas boat tour if you want to get out on the water.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hostal De Boca en Boca (Or Similar)

Day 26 Granada To Ometepe Via San Jorge

You’ll leave Granada this morning and travel by shuttle to San Jorge.From here, you’ll board the public ferry across to Ometepe, with lake and volcano views setting the scene on the way over.Once you arrive, a Local Guide will meet you and take you to your homestay. Settle in for the start of your island stay, with dinner included and a more local, day-to-day side of Ometepe ahead.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Puesta Del Sol Homestay (Or Similar)

Day 27 Ometepe

A free day to experience Ometepe your way. If you’re up for a challenge, there’ll be the option to join a hiking experience and take on more of the island’s volcanic landscape.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Puesta Del Sol Homestay (Or Similar)

Day 28 Ometepe To San Juan Del Sur Via San Jorge

Leave Ometepe today and make your way back to the port, saying goodbye to island life as you head off towards the mainland.From here, you’ll board the ferry back to San Jorge before continuing by road.Later, we'll travel by private shuttle to San Juan del Sur and check in on arrival. The rest of the day will then be free to settle in and enjoy your first look at this easygoing beach town.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Nalu Nalu Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 29 San Juan Del Sur

Enjoy a free day to enjoy San Juan del Sur however you like. Keep it easy with beach time, cafes, and sunset views, or head out and explore more of the coastline. Plus, there's an option to join a scientific whale and dolphin boat tour if you want to get out on the water and see a different side of this part of Nicaragua.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Nalu Nalu Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 30 San Juan Del Sur To Monteverde

Today, we'll travel south by private shuttle, crossing the border into Costa Rica and heading for the cooler mountain air of Monteverde.By late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Monteverde and settle into Santa Elena, the gateway to the cloud forest. The rest of the evening will be free to grab dinner, explore the town, and ease into your first taste of Costa Rica.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel Quetzal Inn (Or Similar)

Day 31 Monteverde

You've got a few ways to take on the cloud forest today. Go big with an optional zipline through the treetops, keep it slower with a walk across the hanging bridges, or get involved in a tree-planting experience that gives back to the local environment. After dark, opt in for a guided night walk and see a different side of Monteverde.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Hotel Quetzal Inn (Or Similar)

Day 32 Monteverde To Arenal

Travel by shared shuttle, with a bus-boat-bus journey taking you from the cloud forest down towards your next stop.By early afternoon, you’ll arrive in La Fortuna, where rainforest scenery, waterfalls, trails, and plenty of adventure all come into play. Once you’ve settled in, there’ll also be the option to head to the Arenal Hot Springs later on.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Viajero Arenal Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 33 Arenal

You have the option to start the day with canyoneering for a proper adrenaline hit in the rainforest. Or, if you’re after something more grounded, you can join a nature walk and tortilla-making experience with the Solano-Oviedo family, with a closer look at local life and conservation efforts around Arenal.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Viajero Arenal Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 34 Arenal To San Jose

Jump on a public bus and travel to San José with mountain views and small towns rolling by as you make your way into Costa Rica’s Central Valley.After arriving around late afternoon, we'll head straight to the hostel to check in. Later on, there’ll be the option to come together for a farewell dinner and round off the trip as a group.

Duration: 1 Day

Accommodation: Viajero San José Hostel (Or Similar)

Day 35 San Jose

And just like that, 35 days of non-stop Central America's colours, culture and chaos has officially come to an end.

Duration: 1 Day

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