Backpacking Central America: Expedition

We head into the mountain valleys to meet a local family and learn how their textiles are dyed and woven the old way. Next stop is a traditional mezcal distillery, where we'll find out how the smoky stuff is made and knock back a sample or two. Then it's on to Tehuantepec for an overnight stop en route to Chiapas.

We jump on a boat and cruise the towering Sumidero Canyon, watching for monkeys, birds and the odd crocodile. From there we climb into the highlands to San Cristobal de las Casas, a cobblestoned colonial gem. A short orientation walk gets us our bearings, with an optional pottery class for the creative types.

We're welcomed into a local family's home for a traditional breakfast, making our own tortillas and eating together family style. Afterwards we visit one of the most unusual churches you'll ever set foot in, then head back to town. Free time for markets and Chiapas coffee, before a walking tour, a Pox tasting and a group dinner.

We say goodbye to the mountains and hop on an included flight across the country to Cancun. Landing on the Caribbean coast, we'll check in and swap highland chill for tropical heat. It's a short overnight stop, so grab dinner and get an early night — paradise is tomorrow.

A ferry ride delivers us to Isla Holbox, and it's every bit the postcard: white sand, emerald water and sandy streets with no cars in sight. We'll settle into island time, eat fresh ceviche and watch the sun drop into the sea. Then it's beach bar, tropical beats and stars — no shoes required.

We're out on the water today, exploring Holbox's quiet corners, natural pools and sandbanks by boat. Keep your eyes peeled for the island's famous pink flamingos (seasonal) and time your camera for the sandbank sunrise. The rest of the day is yours: hammock, beach, cocktail, repeat.

We ferry back to the mainland and head down the coast to Playa del Carmen, where the energy steps up a gear. Check in, then take your pick of beaches, taco joints and Fifth Avenue shopping. Come evening, Playa's bar and restaurant scene does the rest.

Explorer mode on: today we visit Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. With a local guide we'll take in the Temple of Kukulkan, the Platform of the Skulls and the Plaza of a Thousand Columns. Then we cool off in the impossibly clear water of Chukum Cenote, an underground world all of its own.

A short ferry ride takes us over to Cozumel, home to some of Mexico's best Caribbean beaches. We've got our own beachfront club for the day, so pick your spot: swim in water you can see straight through, snorkel right off the sand, or just settle in with a drink. Lunch together, then back to Playa for a group dinner and a tequila or two.

We leave the crowds of Playa behind and travel south to Bacalar and its famous Lagoon of Seven Colours. A boat trip takes us out across water that shifts through every shade of turquoise you can name. Jump in, grab a cold beer and toast a very good day.

Country number two. We cross the border into Belize and catch a ferry out to Caye Caulker, a tiny island where golf carts outnumber cars. Our hotel is a minute from the sand, so drop your bags and get in the sea — we'll regroup for sunset on the swings at The Split.

Masks on: we're heading out by boat to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, part of the second largest barrier reef on the planet. Each stop brings something new — clouds of colourful fish, coral gardens and rays gliding underneath you. Keep your fingers crossed for manatees (seasonal), then feast on fresh Caribbean seafood back on the island.

Today is completely yours, and Caye Caulker is very good at doing nothing. Swim at The Split, laze in a hammock, paddleboard the shallows or head back under the water for more snorkelling. Rum punch, reggae, repeat — go slow is the island motto for a reason.

We leave the Caribbean behind and head inland, stopping in a Mayan village for lunch. Together we'll cook a traditional feast from scratch and get a proper insight into a culture that is still going strong here. Bellies full, we cross into Guatemala and check into our hotel on the little island of Flores.

Time to channel your inner Indiana Jones. Buried deep in the northern jungle, Tikal is one of the great Maya cities — think towering pyramids, ceremonial plazas and howler monkeys somewhere in the canopy. With local guides we'll explore the Lost World Pyramid and the Temple of the Grand Jaguar before heading back to Flores.

Guatemala is bigger than it looks, so today we cover some ground heading south into the highlands. We break the drive with a tour of the Candelaria Caves, an 80km system the Maya believed was the entrance to the underworld. Back in daylight, we roll on to Coban, a colourful town wrapped in green mountains.

4x4s take us up into the mountains this morning, and the last stretch is on foot through the jungle. Out of the trees appears Semuc Champey — a staircase of bright turquoise pools carved into the limestone, and yes, we're swimming. Afterwards we sit down to a home cooked lunch with a local Mayan family.

We continue south through the highlands to Chichicastenango, home to one of the biggest Indigenous markets in Central America. Time to browse, haggle and pick up something you definitely do not need. Then it's on to Panajachel on the shore of Lake Atitlan, with volcanoes on the skyline and the water lapping at your feet.

The best way across Lake Atitlan is by boat, so that's exactly how we get to San Marcos for a morning of lakeside calm. Later we continue to San Juan, where we split into small groups and stay overnight with Mayan families. Expect big smiles, a shared dinner and a few new words of the local language — laughter translates just fine.

It's an early one, but this is the sunrise you'll be talking about for years. We hike up through the dark to the summit of Mayan Face (Indian Nose) and watch the light spill across Lake Atitlan and its volcanoes. Hot cocoa at the top, breakfast with our host families back down, then we travel on to Antigua.

We start with a volcano briefing to get everyone ready for tomorrow's big climb. Then it's a walking tour of Antigua, a colonial town of cobbled streets, ruined churches and volcano views at the end of every road. The rest of the day is yours for markets, coffee and photos — there's a shot around every corner.

Those volcanoes we've been admiring from a distance? Today we climb one. It's several hours up through forest and rocky terrain to our campsite near the summit, above the clouds and well worth every step. After dark, Fuego puts on the show of the trip, firing lava into a sky full of stars.

A pre dawn start and one last steep push gets us to the summit for sunrise over Fuego, the Antigua valley and the highlands beyond. What goes up must come down, so we descend to Antigua for a hot shower and a well earned sit down. Tonight we dress up for a final dinner and drinks with the crew.

That's a wrap on 28 days across Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. Swap socials, start planning the reunion and remember it's not goodbye, just see you later. Stay on in Antigua, keep travelling or head home — either way we're here to help with onward plans.