Get into the Pacific with a surf lesson led by local instructors in El Salvador’s La Libertad region. Practise in the water and experience the coastline from a different perspective, whether you are trying to stand on a board for the first time or building confidence.

The region is closely associated with surf culture, where volcanic-sand beaches meet rolling Pacific waves. This structured lesson adds hands-on activity to a coastal stay. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Walk across Monteverde’s hanging bridges for an elevated view into the cloud-forest canopy. This slower-paced option lets you spend time observing the vegetation and the forest’s changing layers from above the ground.

In Monteverde, moisture carried through the highlands helps sustain mosses, ferns and other plants throughout the forest. The bridges make that intricate habitat easier to appreciate without the pace of a zipline. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore Monteverde after dark on a guided night walk, when the forest has a different soundscape and nocturnal wildlife may become active. Follow your guide’s observations for a closer look at this highland habitat beyond daylight hours.

Night walks offer a contrast to canopy adventures and daytime trails, though wildlife sightings always depend on conditions. It is a focused way to experience the atmosphere of the cloud forest. The walk is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Hike the slopes of Pacaya, an active volcano near Antigua, for a closer look at Guatemala’s volcanic terrain. The outing offers a more physical alternative to city sightseeing, with open views across dark volcanic ground and the surrounding highlands.

Pacaya belongs to the volcanic chain that shapes southern Guatemala’s landscape. Conditions and viewpoints vary with weather and volcanic activity, making the terrain itself the focus of the experience. This optional excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Get your bearings on a Trip Manager-led orientation of Santa Ana. See the city’s cathedral and Parque Libertad, alongside the Teatro Nacional, Palacio Municipal and Mercado Central, where everyday commerce brings a different rhythm to the surrounding civic streets.

These landmarks reveal a city shaped by El Salvador’s coffee-growing era as well as its present-day life. The walk offers a useful introduction to Santa Ana’s architecture and local atmosphere without committing your time to a longer guided tour.

Take part in a hands-on tree-planting experience in the Monteverde area. Learn about local trees as you work and discover how replanting supports the surrounding ecosystem and the wildlife that depends on it.

Monteverde’s highland forests are known for their cool, mist-laden conditions and exceptional biodiversity. This included activity connects that landscape with a practical conservation effort, offering a way to contribute while gaining a closer understanding of the local environment.

Cycle through the Antigua area on an optional bike ride and plantation visit. Moving at a slower pace than a road transfer gives you a closer view of the cultivated landscape beyond the city’s cobbled centre.

Plantations form part of the agricultural setting of Guatemala’s highlands, where volcanic soils have long influenced local growing traditions. This experience pairs an active outing with a chance to learn more about that landscape. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Take on an overnight hike up Acatenango, a demanding ascent through changing highland terrain near Antigua. The mountain’s elevation brings sweeping views across Guatemala’s volcanic landscape, with conditions that can be cold and exposed.

Acatenango stands beside Volcán de Fuego, giving the route its dramatic setting. This is the most substantial hiking option offered during your time in Antigua and calls for suitable fitness and preparation. The excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit Antigua’s Native Chocolate Museum for a closer look at cacao, one of Guatemala’s best-known local flavours. The visit offers a focused cultural alternative to exploring the city independently.

Cacao has deep roots in Mesoamerican foodways, extending far beyond the sweet chocolate familiar today. A museum visit puts that ingredient in context and adds another dimension to Antigua’s cafés and markets. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Hike Cerro Negro near León and take on a volcano-boarding descent across its dark, loose slopes. This active excursion combines the effort of climbing a young volcanic cone with an unusual way to come back down.

Cerro Negro’s stark terrain contrasts sharply with León’s colourful streets and colonial architecture. The outing is designed for travellers seeking a more adventurous encounter with Nicaragua’s volcanic landscape. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore the waters near Granada on an Isletas boat tour, passing among small islands scattered along the edge of Lake Nicaragua. From the boat, see how lakeside scenery and island life differ from the city’s busy plazas.

The Isletas were formed from volcanic material associated with nearby Mombacho volcano. Their sheltered channels make this a gentler, water-based way to experience Granada’s setting. The tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a guided hiking experience on Ometepe to explore more of the island’s volcanic landscape. It is an active choice for travellers who want to move beyond lakeshore views and spend time on the terrain that defines the island.

Ometepe’s two volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas, rise from Lake Nicaragua and shape its forests, farmland and communities. The precise hiking route is not specified, so terrain and difficulty should be confirmed when booking. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Head onto the Pacific on a scientific whale and dolphin boat tour from San Juan del Sur. Watch the coastline from the water while looking for marine mammals in their natural habitat.

This outing offers a wildlife-focused perspective on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast rather than another beach day. Sightings depend on season and sea conditions and cannot be guaranteed. The tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Glide through the treetops on an optional Monteverde zipline experience. Suspended above the forest, you can take in the highland landscape from a viewpoint quite different from a walking trail.

Monteverde’s cool, often misty climate sustains a richly layered cloud-forest habitat. The zipline is the more adrenaline-focused way to encounter that setting, pairing height and motion with broad forest views. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Spend time at the Arenal hot springs near La Fortuna, soaking in warm water amid Costa Rica’s volcanic landscape. The visit offers a restful alternative to the area’s more strenuous outdoor activities.

Arenal’s geothermal setting has made hot-spring bathing a distinctive part of a stay in the region. The specific hot-spring venue is not stated in the itinerary, so facilities should be confirmed locally. This optional visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Take on an optional canyoneering experience around Arenal, bringing a more adventurous approach to the region’s rainforest terrain. It is the activity choice for travellers looking for a physical challenge rather than a gentle nature walk.

La Fortuna sits amid forested slopes and waterways shaped by Costa Rica’s wet tropical climate. The itinerary does not specify the route or individual challenges, so confirm activity details and requirements locally. Canyoneering is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join the Solano-Oviedo family for a nature walk and tortilla-making experience around Arenal. Spend time learning about local life and conservation efforts, with a hands-on introduction to a food tradition found across Central America.

The combination of a family-hosted activity and time outdoors offers a more personal perspective on the La Fortuna area than an adventure excursion alone. It is an optional experience at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Come together in San José for an optional farewell dinner with your fellow travellers. The shared meal gives the group a dedicated occasion to reflect on the places and experiences encountered across Central America.

Rather than a routine included dinner, this is a social gathering to mark the close of the trip. The restaurant and menu are not specified in the itinerary. Participation is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Explore Antigua’s historic centre with your Trip Manager, taking in Parque Central, the ruins of the Catedral de San José and the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales. Walk beneath the Arco de Santa Catalina, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.

Antigua’s cobbled streets and colonial buildings sit beneath a ring of volcanoes. On a clear day, Volcán de Agua frames the arch, giving this introduction to Guatemala’s former capital its distinctive backdrop.

Walk through Granada’s historic centre, starting at Parque Central beneath the bright facade of Granada Cathedral. Continue towards Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Merced, passing colourful streets and the plazas that give Nicaragua’s colonial city its character.

Founded on the shores of Lake Nicaragua in the 16th century, Granada has long been a crossroads of trade and culture. This included walk introduces its principal landmarks; a climb up La Merced’s bell tower is an independent possibility rather than part of the guided experience.

Experience everyday island life during an Ometepe homestay, with a local guide welcoming you on arrival. Stay in a community setting and share included dinners, with time to appreciate a side of the island that extends beyond its volcanic scenery.

Ometepe rises from Lake Nicaragua around the Concepción and Maderas volcanoes. Staying locally offers a more personal perspective on the communities that live between its lakeshore, farmland and forested slopes.

Contiki

• 2 Dinner (D)
• 2 Breakfast (B)

• Mexico City: 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.

• 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.