Mexico, Belize, Guatemala & Costa Rica

This self-launched itinerary replicates Gap360's "Best of Central America" 30-day group tour across Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Costa Rica — at a fraction of the price. Swap the group tour leader for local guided day trips booked via GetYourGuide or Klook, twin-share hostel dorms or budget guesthouses for the tour accommodation, and local buses/shuttles/ferries for private group transport. All cost estimates are approximate and per person, based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,050

This self-launched version of Gap360's Guatemala to Costa Rica Adventure takes you through the same five stunning Central American countries — Antigua's volcanic skyline, Mayan ruins at Copán, El Salvador's surf coast, Nicaragua's colonial cities and volcanic islands, and Costa Rica's cloud forests and adventure hotspots — at a fraction of the guided tour price. Swap the private group vehicle for chicken buses, shared shuttles and public ferries; replace the tour guide with local booking platforms and hostel noticeboards; and enjoy the same experiences with far more flexibility. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£560

Experience the very best of Central America — from Mexico City's vibrant streets and ancient Mayan ruins to Belize's coral reefs, Guatemala's volcanic highlands, and Costa Rica's jungle wildlife — entirely on your own terms. This self-launched itinerary follows the same 40-day route as Gap360's Epic Central America programme, swapping guided group transport for local buses, shuttles and budget flights, and replacing included accommodation with top-rated hostels and guesthouses. The result? The same unforgettable adventure at a fraction of the price. All costs are approximate estimates per person.

Travel Crew

~£1,620

Same three-country Central American adventure — beaches, ruins and jungle — done independently at a fraction of the cost. You'll island-hop to Caye Caulker, explore Tikal and the Belizean interior, homestay on Lake Atitlán and salsa your way through Antigua. All transport is local bus, water taxi or shared shuttle; accommodation is hand-picked hostels and guesthouses. These costs are approximate estimates based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£480

Ditch the group tour price tag and launch your own Mayan adventure through Mexico and Guatemala. This self-launched itinerary follows the same iconic route — from the beach vibes of Playa del Carmen through the ancient ruins of Chichén Itzá and Palenque, the colonial charm of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, and on into Guatemala's Lake Atitlán and Antigua — all using local buses, shared shuttles, and budget guesthouses. You'll hit every major highlight, connect with local culture, and keep far more cash in your pocket. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£438

This self-launched version of Much Better Adventures' flagship Guatemala itinerary takes you through the same incredible highlights — volcanic overnight camps, Lake Atitlán kayaking, Tikal at sunrise, Semuc Champey's emerald pools and bat-filled caves at Lanquín — without the guided group tour price tag. You'll swap the organised transfers for a mix of chicken buses, tourist shuttles and a budget internal flight, and book activities directly or via GetYourGuide. The result is the same epic 12-day loop through Central America's most dramatic landscapes at a fraction of the cost. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£620

Summit three of Guatemala's most dramatic volcanoes — Cerro Grande/Pacaya, Acatenango, and Tolimán — on this self-launched 7-day adventure. Swap the guided group tour for independently booked local guides, budget guesthouses in Antigua and San Juan La Laguna, and local shuttle buses between destinations. You'll hit every summit, sleep on two volcanoes, and watch Fuego erupt at midnight — all at a fraction of the commercial tour price. This is a challenging high-altitude trekking itinerary best suited to experienced hikers with good fitness. All costs are approximate estimates.

Travel Crew

~£315

A self-launched 8-day solo-friendly route through highland Guatemala and western El Salvador, following the same spine as Inter Tours' group itinerary — colonial Antigua, the Chichicastenango market and Lake Atitlán, the Mayan ruins of Tazumal and Joya de Cerén, the coffee fincas of Ataco, and the volcanoes and murals of San Salvador. Everything is booked independently: shuttle vans and public coaches, guesthouses instead of 4-star group hotels, and self-bookable day tours via GetYourGuide or local operators in place of the guided package. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£635

An independent, self-launched version of Much Better Adventures' 8-night Antigua-to-Atitlan trek. You'll replicate the colonial-town start, the five-day highland traverse past Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes, and the lakeside finish at Lake Atitlan — but booking local guides, shuttle transfers and budget guesthouses yourself. Expect cloud forest, coffee fincas, suspension bridges, Maya villages and one of the most beautiful lakes in the Americas, for roughly a third of the packaged price.

Travel Crew

~£505

A self-launched version of the classic 5 Volcano Challenge: summit Cerro Grande/Pacaya, wild-camp on Acatenango for the Fuego eruptions, take on Chicabal and Central America's highest point Tajumulco, then finish with Volcán San Pedro above Lake Atitlán. You'll book shuttles, local guides and hostel/guesthouse beds yourself — same volcanoes, same views, a fraction of the guided-tour price. Level 6 fitness needed: expect 5–7 hour hiking days at 2,500–4,220m and real altitude. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£795

Ditch the group tour price tag and explore four incredible Central American countries on your own terms. From the colonial streets of Antigua and volcanic landscapes of El Salvador, through the colourful cities of Nicaragua, to the cloud forests and jungles of Costa Rica — this self-launched route follows the same epic journey as Intrepid's Real Guatemala to Costa Rica tour, but using local buses, shared shuttles, ferries and budget accommodation to slash the cost dramatically. Expect volcanic craters, surf beaches, sloths in the canopy, cooking classes with indigenous communities and some of the most biodiverse landscapes on the planet. All bookable independently via GetYourGuide, Klook, or direct — no group leader required.

Travel Crew

~£785

A self-launched version of G Adventures' 17-day Volcano Trail through Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. From the laid-back vibes and waves of the Pacific Coast to tropical rainforests alive with jungle melodies, follow the road less travelled between volcanoes, colonial towns, lake islands and cloud forests — moving mostly on public chicken buses, local shuttles, boats and ferries, and staying in simple multi-share hostels and guesthouses.

Travel Crew

~£640