Top AAA Vacations Tours in Central America: Rainforests to Spectacular National Parks

Central America is the land of natural wonders, a bucket list destination for adventurers or those looking for a recharge that only the breathtaking landscapes and diverse ecosystems can offer. This region boasts unparalleled natural and cultural treasures, from lush rainforests to towering volcanoes and sparkling beaches to local farms and indigenous community visits.

For travelers looking to explore the beauty of Central America, booking a tour through AAA Vacations® is the perfect option. These tours offer expert guidance and carefully curated itineraries, ensuring that every moment of your journey is both memorable and authentic. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top tours in Central America through AAA Vacations®, highlighting the unique experiences and destinations offered by each.

Tour 1: Tropical Costa Rica

·Price: Starting from $1,799

·Operator: AAA Member Choice Vacations

·Length: 8 nights accommodation

·Cities: San Jose, Arenal, Monteverde, Guanacaste, Samara

This tour is a Central American postcard come to life - a journey through Costa Rica’s infinite coastlines, lush rainforest topography and even an encounter with its most active volcano.

You’ll start your tour in San Jose and take a scenic ride into Arenal. A stop at the local coffee plantation is the perfect pick me up – with geothermal pools at your resort accommodations to wind down afterward. The next day, a Cano Negro guided river trip will give the opportunity to spot tropical wildlife from a covered canoe.

With nearly 35% of Costa Rica’s land used for agriculture, a stop at a family-owned farm in Arenal is a fantastic learning experience about local, sustainable harvesting practices. Here you’ll sip on cane liquor and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch.

Next, it’s off to Playa Carrillo, Guanacaste, where you’ll luxuriate at a resort for two nights in a region known for its breathtaking beauty and fine sandy beaches. Finally, you’ll have two nights in Monteverde’s lush cloud forest, where you’ll experience the forest canopy as you traverse hanging bridges and an exhilarating ziplining tour.

To wrap up your tour of the Pura Vida culture with a day of sun and relaxation in the quaint and charming beach town of Samara. Renowned for its awe-inspiring sunsets, this is the perfect place to reflect on your journey as you take in the stunning natural landscape as the sun sets and paints the sky over Costa Rica.

Your AAA Complimentary Inclusion: $50 per person credit toward a pre-booked optional excursion.

Tour 2: Central & South America - Custom Vacation

·Price: Customisable

·Operator: Pleasant Holidays

·Length: 6 nights accommodation

·Cities: Customisable

This Pleasant Holidays operated tour is perfect for those who want to choose their own adventure! Do you want to traverse around the active volcanoes and geothermal pools of Costa Rica? Take a dip in the azure waters and powder sand beaches of Belize? Maybe you’ve always wanted to cross the Panama Canal or fish in the lakes of Nicaragua? All those excursions are possible with the guidance of AAA’s expert tour planners.

This customizable plan allows you to curate your own travel experience, from the perfect itinerary and accommodation to your preferred mode of transportation. Whether it’s a stay at the eco-friendly Si Como No Resort, Spa & Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica, or a boat ride from the Pacific to the Atlantic in less than a day, AAA will craft your perfect experience.

Your AAA Complimentary Inclusion: $100 per booking activity voucher.

Tour 3: Jungle and Volcano Tour

·Price: Starting from $2,075

·Operator: Trafalgar Travel Tours

·Length: 7 nights accommodation

·Cities: San Jose, Sarapiqui, Arenal

The Jungle and Volcano Tour of Costa Rica is a thrilling, family-friendly adventure in Costa Rica’s magnificent outdoor playground.

The tour begins with an exciting glide along the canals of Tortuguero, in Tortuguero National Park, with colorful toucans perched above, watching as you pass by. Witness the lush jungle vegetation and keep an eye out for playful monkeys and other exotic wildlife.

Next, trek up the slopes of the Arenal Volcano, an active volcano renowned for its breathtaking views and occasional nighttime light show. Get close to native wildlife in Sarapiqui at the Snake Garden Wildlife rehabilitation center. Next, you’ll marvel at the dense canopy as you traverse the Arenal Hanging Bridges.

Coming down from the clouds of Arenal, you’ll head south to Manual Antonio National Park, renowned for its crystal blue waters and exotic wildlife. It’s not uncommon to have up close and personal experiences with white-faced monkeys in the tree canopy or dolphins and sea turtles on the optional catamaran cruise. This tour is a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation and exploring the Pura Vida lifestyle of Costa Rica.

Your AAA Complimentary Inclusion: AAA Complimentary Inclusion: $80 per person optional excursion voucher.

Tour 4: A World of Nature in Costa Rica

·Price: Starting from $2,499

·Operator: AAA Member Choice Vacations

·Length: 11 nights accommodation

·Cities: San Jose, San Carlos, Arenal, Playa Herradura

Unleash your adventurous spirit and discover the true eco-paradise of Costa Rica! Nature here can be both thrilling and rejuvenating and this tour aims to provide both.

Beginning with two nights at a tranquil lodge in Tortuguero, you’ll get an intimate guided tour through Tortuguero National Park, one of the most important green turtle nesting beaches in the Western Hemisphere. You’ll also have the opportunity to glimpse jaguars, manatees and ocelots with an intimate narrative from a local guide.

This tour also features the culinary delights of local farms. A cooking class at a local home, a tour of the cacao fields and a demonstration of bean to bar process for chocolate are all included. Next up is a rejuvenating three-night stay at a remote resort on the edge of the San Carlos River. A Peñas Blancas River Safari will take you on a peaceful float through the rainforest as a naturalist narrates the flora and fauna drifting by.

Then, you’ll head to Arenal, where you will stand suspended over the forest floor as you journey across a network of hanging bridges, immersing yourself in the breathtaking views. Looking to refresh? Stay back at the hotel and take in the geothermal springs’ revitalizing waters.

Want to take it up a notch? Hike the lava fields of Arenal Volcano or soar over the jungle canopies on a thrilling zip line or go whitewater rafting experience! Finally, it’s off to Manuel Antonio National Park, home to dense and lush rainforests and white sand beaches. In this natural wonderland, you can traverse the trails where the wild things are or take a dip in the turquoise waters as wildlife goes about their day in the canopies.

Your AAA Complimentary Inclusion: AAA Complimentary Inclusion: $75 per person credit toward an optional excursion.

Tour 5: The Complete Panama Canal

·Price: Starting from $3,899

·Operator: Alexander + Roberts

·Length: 9 nights accommodation

·Cities: Panama City, Panama Canal, Gamboa Rainforest, Gatun Lake, Portobelo

Step aboard this ultimate Central American journey and experience the highlights of Panama in only the way that a AAA tour can show you. This trip features architectural feats, expansive lakes and an intimate look at Panama’s indigenous culture.

You’ll start your journey in Panama City, where you’ll learn about the Canal’s intriguing history and sightsee through the charming cobblestone streets of Casco Antiguo. Treat yourself to a complete transit through the Canal, a marvel of engineering that is a better experience in person than in pictures. Leaving from the Flamenco Marina, you’ll go rise and fall through the locks in the same way the first mariners did in 1914.

Next, it’s time to journey on to the Gamboa Rainforest Lodge, where you’ll take a guided boat tour across Gatun Lake — the second-largest artificial lake on the planet. The Sloth Sanctuary awaits for you to remind you to slow down and take in the exotic smells and sights of the surrounding exotic flora and fauna.

In this once-in-a-lifetime tour, you’ll visit the Emberá village, where you’ll learn about the local shamanic rights and medical plants used in everyday life. Rounding out the tour, you’ll leave the rainforest for a beach resort in vibrant Portobello and Panama City. Here you’ll immerse yourself in the enduring Afro-Caribbean culture, from the lively fish markets to the Carib-inspired cuisine.

Join us for the journey of a lifetime with never more than 16 guests and experience Panama the way it was meant to be seen.

Your AAA Complimentary Inclusion: Complimentary pre-night, breakfast & transfer in Panama City.

From the exotic rainforests of Costa Rica to the crystal clear Caribbean waters off the coast of Panama, AAA tour packages have you covered. Friendly and knowledgeable tour managers are here to assist you every step of the way.

Whether it’s a fully guided tour or a customized adventure, with AAA by your side, you’ll spend more time making lasting memories and less time fretting over booking confirmations. So start planning today – Central America awaits!