{"id":6472,"date":"2018-01-15T08:49:36","date_gmt":"2018-01-15T14:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitcentroamerica.com\/packages\/on-the-pan-american-highway-through-central-america\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T02:15:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T08:15:32","slug":"on-the-pan-american-highway-through-central-america","status":"publish","type":"package","link":"https:\/\/www.visitcentroamerica.com\/en\/tours\/on-the-pan-american-highway-through-central-america\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Pan-American Highway Through Central America"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Traveling Central America through the Pan-American Highway is without a doubt a unique experience to enjoy the\u00a0Mayan culture<\/b>, the\u00a0colonial jewels<\/b>, the\u00a0natural wonders,<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0the living culture<\/b>\u00a0of its people.<\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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BOOK NOW! <\/i><\/i><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 1<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Arrival \u2013 Transfer to Antigua<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arrival at Guatemala City airport. Meet & greet by your local tour guide. Land transfer to the Villa Colonial hotel or similar (for two nights).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 2<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Antigua Walking Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cExploring\u00a0La Antigua Guatemala<\/a>\u00a0is like stepping back in time\u2026 cobbled stone streets, bouquets of bougainvillea bursting from crumbling ruins, pastel fa\u00e7ades under terracotta roofs, parks with fountains\u2026 amidst a dramatic setting surrounded by\u00a0three volcanoes, Agua, Fuego and Acatenango<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 3<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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La Antigua \/ Copan Tour (Honduras)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the morning, departure by bus for\u00a0Cop\u00e1n\u00a0<\/a>(Honduras), one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Maya World. Cop\u00e1n was declared a \u201cWorld Heritage Site<\/strong>\u201d by UNESCO, and presents a sophisticated architectural style, and a unique art for stone carving. Visit the main plazas, complexes and monuments (entrance fee included only to the archaeological site). The visit to\u00a0the tunnels of the sculpture museum is an optional tour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 4<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Copan\/Esquipulas\/La Palma\/San Salvador (El Salvador)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early morning drive to\u00a0Esquipulas<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>in Guatemala. This city is famed for being the center of Catholic pilgrimage in Central America, since it houses the venerated\u00a0Black Christ of Esquipulas<\/strong>. Continue to\u00a0La Palma<\/em>\u00a0in El Salvador<\/strong>, a picturesque town of cool climate and beautiful scenery. La Palma is called the \u201cCradle of Peace\u201d due to its key role in negotiations between the guerrillas and the government during the civil war. Afternoon drive to\u00a0San Salvador<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 5<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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San Salvador \u2013 Joya de Cer\u00e9n \u2013 San Andr\u00e9s<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the morning, visit to the Joya de\u00a0Cer\u00e9n<\/em>\u00a0Archaeological Site, one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It is believed that this Mayan village was inhabited by a brief period of time (around 1st century), before an eruption of the\u00a0Laguna Caldera Volcano<\/strong>\u00a0destroyed by covering it with three meters of ash, 1,400 years ago. This site is considered as the \u201cPompeii of the Americas<\/strong>\u201d and was declared a UNESCO \u201cWorld Heritage Site.\u201d You will also visit the site of one of\u00a0San Andr\u00e9s<\/a>\u2019 largest pre-Hispanic sites in El Salvador. In the afternoon, in the city of San Salvador, visit to the colorful downtown market, the emblematic\u00a0Cathedral<\/strong>, and the grave of Arnulfo Romero, the \u201cBishop of the Poor,\u201d mark the end of the day.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 6<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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San Salvador \u2013 Perquin\/Morazan<\/strong><\/p>\n

After breakfast, journey through the heart of\u00a0El Salvador<\/strong>\u00a0passing the majestic\u00a0R\u00edo Lempa<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0Santa Rosa de Lima,<\/em>\u00a0and from there to the beautiful pine forest mountains in the\u00a0Moraz\u00e1n<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>province. Visit the Salvadorian Resistance Museum and hike to\u00a0Mount\u00a0Perqu\u00edn<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to enjoy a panoramic view of\u00a0El Salvador<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 7<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Perquin \/ Crossing to Leon Nicaragua<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early morning departure on the way to the\u00a0El Amatillo<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Border crossing (between El Salvador and Honduras.) Continue on the\u00a0Pan-American Highway<\/strong>\u00a0for approximately two hours in Honduras, to reach the\u00a0El Guasaule<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0border crossing (between Honduras and Nicaragua). After border formalities, transfer to the Nicaraguan city of Le\u00f3n, the second largest city of the country. It was founded in 1524, and severely damaged by an eruption of nearby\u00a0Momotombo<\/em>\u00a0volcano<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 8<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Le\u00f3n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morning visit to the historic center of Le\u00f3n with the central park, the local fruit market, an allegorical mural painting on the history of\u00a0Nicaragua<\/strong>, and the third largest cathedral of colonial America, the\u00a0UNESCO World Heritage Site Cathedral of\u00a0Le\u00f3n Santiago de los Caballeros<\/em><\/strong>. Culture is palpable in this colonial city. Behind strong walls of the old houses are museums, and the second oldest university of the Central American region. Students distinguish this city and its public life. In the afternoon, visit to the\u00a0Pacific Ocean at\u00a0Las Pe\u00f1itas<\/em><\/strong>, and enjoy a beautiful sunset.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 9<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Le\u00f3n \/ Masaya Volcano \/ Granada<\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out after breakfast, and continue to\u00a0Masaya National Park<\/a>, one of the most visited national parks in the region. The park offers a rare chance for visitors to peer directly into the edge of\u00a0Santiago Volcano\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0steaming crater. Before leaving, we will visit a memorable museum located in the park. In the afternoon, travel to the \u201cwhite villages<\/strong>\u201d of Catarina and San Juan de Oriente, the location of beautiful gardens and colorful streets filled with handicraft produced by the local artisans. Take time to see\u00a0Valent\u00edn L\u00f3pez<\/strong>\u2019 school of ceramics workshop, where you will learn the art of making ceramics from scratch, and the secrets of indigenous ceramic handicraft making.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 10<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Granada \/ Lake Nicaragua<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the morning, enjoy a walking city tour around Granada, the oldest colonial city of the Americas, and currently one of the nation\u2019s tourism hubs. Founded by\u00a0Francisco Hern\u00e1ndez de C\u00f3rdoba<\/strong>\u00a0in 1524, its plazas and cobblestone streets are lined with colorful colonial architecture. Sights to see in Granada include the\u00a0Casa de los Leones<\/em>,\u00a0Casa de los Tres Mundos<\/em>, the central plaza, the municipality building, the cathedral<\/strong>, and you can ascend the stairs of\u00a0La Merced<\/em>\u00a0Church\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0roof to have a fantastic view of Granada. In the afternoon, ride to the port on an adorned horse-drawn carriage and finish the day with a relaxing tour around the\u00a0Islets of Granada<\/strong>, formed by a volcanic eruption. You will have a great opportunity to enjoy the flora and fauna of this unique environment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 11<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Granada \/ Ometepe \/ San Juan del Sur<\/strong><\/p>\n

Early breakfast and transfer by bus to the port of\u00a0San Jorge<\/strong>. Crossing the lake to Ometepe Island by ferry. Visit the village of the\u00a0Monkey Lagoon<\/em>,\u00a0Charco Verde,<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Altagracia<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0village. Later, we will visit the Archaeological Museum, and the stone paintings. In the afternoon, return to the mainland, and transfer to\u00a0San Juan del Sur<\/em><\/a>, where we will admire the beautiful and picturesque bay on the southern part of Nicaragua, discovered by the navigator Andr\u00e9s Ni\u00f1o in 1522, who gave it the original name of\u00a0San Juan del Mar del Sur<\/em>. Dinner will be served at the hotel\u2019s restaurant, with a view of the bay.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 12<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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San Juan del Sur \/ Pe\u00f1as Blancas Border (NIC-CR) \/ La Fortuna<\/strong><\/p>\n

After an early breakfast, transfer to the nearby border crossing with\u00a0Costa Rica<\/strong>, and continue (about four hours away) to\u00a0La Fortuna<\/em><\/a>. Register at the hotel and enjoy the evening at the hotel\u2019s thermal springs, and a fabulous dinner at the hotel\u2019s restaurant.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 13<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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National Park Arenal \u2013 Hanging Bridges La Fortuna<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the morning, transfer to Arenal\u00a0National Park<\/strong>. Once there, you can wander through an ash trail and get close to this distinctive retreat from the problems of everyday life as you climb over the rocks of a cooled lava field from the year 1992. Continue to the reservoir, and hike across the suspension bridge to observe nature, and especially\u00a0birdlife<\/strong>. Every now and then, you can also catch a sight of the volcano from the bridges. Transfer and overnight in\u00a0San Jos\u00e9<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/i><\/span>Day 14<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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Departure Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transfer to Juan Santa Mar\u00eda International airport for your return flight home.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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<\/i><\/i><\/span>Activities included<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
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