My OAT Route of the Maya Review

A Great Tour for Travelers Who Have Seen a Lot of the World

Route of the Maya was a terrific OAT adventure—and in some ways, an unexpected one. Traveling through El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize, we experienced spectacular Maya ruins, beautiful scenery, fascinating local cultures and some wonderful interactions with people along the way.

What we especially enjoyed was that this felt like a real adventure rather than simply checking famous sights off a list. The combination of history, culture, food and everyday life made this one of our more memorable OAT trips.

When We Took This Trip: January 23 - February 7, 2023
Jesse's Thrifty Senior Traveler Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

“Unexpected” Is Why I Liked Route of the Maya

This was our 12th OAT/Grand Circle tour, taken in 2023. For one person in our group, it was trip #44! Most people had already taken multiple OAT trips, and I agree that this probably shouldn't be your first OAT adventure—or even your first trip to Central America. Costa Rica is prettier. Colombia has more spectacular sights.

But here's what I loved about this trip—and I think you will, too.

I definitely recommend Route of the Maya for a number of reasons. Mainly, you will see and experience things you don't expect. At least I didn't. And that's always one of my #1 reasons to travel.

Timing
Late January proved to be an excellent time of year to go. We encountered only one partial day of rain, and temperatures ranged from cool to comfortably warm.

Overall Review
This is a great tour for people who have traveled extensively—in other words, perhaps not your first or second big international adventure.

UNEXPECTED (in a good way) is how I'd describe the overall trip. We hear and see so much negative news about this region that I expected the worst. Quite the contrary.

Why an OAT Tour?
This is a part of the world where I personally would not want to travel independently. We never felt unsafe during our trip, but having OAT handle the transportation, hotels, border crossings and logistics gave us peace of mind.

And yes, there are some reminders that you're traveling in a different part of the world. We saw armed guards outside stores—even at McDonald's.

Great Pace
You really will see a lot over 15 days: cities, countryside, volcanoes, Maya ruins and the seaside. Looking back, it's pretty amazing how much we experienced in such a relatively short time.

Surprisingly Modern
Watching the news could easily leave you with the impression that Central America is deserted, impoverished and filled with crumbling cities.

Quite the contrary.

San Salvador has modern glass skyscrapers. In Guatemala City, we visited an area that reminded me of the Rodeo Drive/Beverly Hills section of Los Angeles. Yes, there is poverty—there is poverty in the United States, too—but I think you'll be surprised by the modern life, energy and people you encounter.

And I mean that positively.

The Mayas Then
We didn't choose this tour because we had a particular interest in the Maya. But several of the archaeological sites we visited will absolutely knock your socks off.

Especially Copán and Tikal.

In fact, my one real criticism of the trip is that I wish we had learned even more about the ancient Maya civilization.

The Mayas Now
You might be surprised to learn that Maya people and communities are very much here today, continuing traditions and practices that have survived for centuries.

And on this trip, you don't just hear about that history. You get to spend time seeing and experiencing Maya culture today.

That was truly unexpected—and it's probably the part of the trip I'll remember longest.

Good Value
For everything that's included, I found Route of the Maya to be an especially good value. I think you will, too.

Food
We were told beforehand that the food would be basic, and it was: chicken and fish, rice and beans, with some nice treats along the way.

I enjoyed it. The fresh fruit was especially good, and the hotels generally served pretty good breakfasts.

I gained a little weight—probably because of all those carbs. 😂

Hotels
The hotels were decent, but they weren't fancy. And that's perfectly fine. You're there to experience and discover, not sit in a luxury resort.

There was one hotel, however, that deserves special mention.

We stayed at the Genesis Hotel, where coffee and fresh cake were available 24/7.

As a cake lover, I ask you: Where else will you find that?

One Small Favor Before You Book

If you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing you’re seriously considering the Route of the Maya.

It's probably NOT your first trip with Overseas Adventure Travel. But if it is your first trip with Overseas Adventure Travel, I have a favor to ask.

If I’ve helped you make that decision, I’d like to ask a small favor in return.

When you book your first OAT trip, please tell them you were referred by Jesse Slome, Customer Number 932019. You’ll save $100 on your first OAT adventure, and I’ll receive a referral credit toward a future trip. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and OAT’s referral program is designed to reward both the new traveler and the person who made the recommendation.

And honestly, I’d appreciate it.

I’ve taken a lot of OAT trips over the years, and I created the Thrifty Senior Traveler to share the things I’ve learned along the way—not just the pretty pictures and official descriptions, but the little stuff you might not find anywhere else.

Like knowing that you can get 24/7 coffee and cake at one of the hotels.

That's the kind of fun travel advice you'll find here: practical, personal and hopefully useful.

So if Route of the Maya has convinced you to pack your bags, go for it. And if you decide to make OAT your first adventure, please remember to say:

“I was referred by Jesse Slome, Customer Number 932019.”

Thanks for reading—and have a wonderful trip. I really do think you’re going to love this trip.

Enjoy a few photos taken by Jesse Slome, the Thrifty Senior Traveler

Tips for OAT Route of the Maya

Here are a few things I’d suggest based on our 2023 experience. Some trip details can change, so check OAT’s current pre-trip information before you leave.

1. You probably won't need to exchange much currency.
During our trip, we were able to use U.S. cash or credit cards virtually everywhere we went. We even used credit cards for very small purchases, such as a single beer. We never needed to exchange currency.

2. Bring plenty of $1 bills.
I'd bring at least 25—and 50 wouldn't be excessive if you like to tip or buy small souvenirs. We found single dollars useful for optional drinks such as beer or wine during group meals, as well as for small purchases at restaurants and shops.

3. Bring a refillable water bottle.
We brought a water canister as recommended in the OAT handbook. During our trip, our trip leader handed out individual bottles of water each day. Check with OAT before your departure to see whether that's still the practice.

I now always travel with my own refillable bottle anyway. One of my favorite tricks is to leave breakfast with a little hot coffee in it. It makes a pretty nice mid-day pick-me-up.

4. Don't miss the cave rafting in Belize.
The cave rafting was great—and easy. Be sure to bring a bathing suit. OAT suggested “water shoes,” but the thin ones we brought weren't ideal. I'd recommend something with a thicker sole, such as Tevas or a similar shoe. You'll be walking over gravel for about 45 minutes.

5. Pack much lighter than you normally do.
I brought 10 shirts. I could have easily gotten by with five. Nothing about this trip is fancy, so you don't need a different outfit for every occasion. During our trip, there was a laundry stop midway through the tour.

6. Sunscreen: yes. Bug spray: probably.
OAT recommended bringing bug spray, so we carried both a large and small bottle. Frankly, I saw exactly one mosquito.

Maybe we were lucky—so don't blame me if you get eaten alive! 😂 But based on our experience, one small bottle should be plenty.

7. If you like bread, remember San Martin.
On your first night in San Salvador, don't miss San Martin. It's about a two-block walk from the hotel, and the baguette we had there was incredible.

You will write to thank me. I promise.

Written by Jesse Slome, The Thrifty Senior Traveler
Originally published August 26, 2026 | Last updated August 26, 2026