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Merida Travel Guide: What to do in Merida Vacation (Instagram Po

Merida Travel Guide: What to do on your Merida Vacation

Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Merida, Mexico

Why Visit Merida A Merida vacation offers a unique cultural experience. The city is rich with Mayan heritage, delicious Yucatecan cuisine, and stunning colonial architecture. If you travel to Merida, Mexico, you’ll find it’s a perfect base for exploring the Yucatan Peninsula, offering countless day trips from Merida to nearby archeological sites, cenotes (natural underground […]

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Guatemala Itinerary – 1 Week Guatemala Trip to Tikal, Antigua + Lake Atitlan: Travel Daydreaming

1 Week Itineraries: Travel Daydreaming Series, Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Guatemala, Hiking + Adventures, Lodging Tips, Nature, Tours

Guatemala is an incredible, diverse country and it’s impossible to do everything in a week. But we’ll visit 3 distinct regions during our 1 week Guatemala trip. From the jungle and ruins of Tikal, to the beautiful colonial city of Antigua, to magical Lake Atitlán, we’ll learn about Mayan culture, history, artisan work, and typical

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1 Week Coastal Oaxaca Itinerary to the Best Oaxaca Beaches: Travel Daydreaming

1 Week Itineraries: Travel Daydreaming Series, Beach Escapes, Eat Well in Latin America, Hiking, Hotel Reviews, Mexican Food + Mezcal, Mexico, Mexico Beaches, Nature, Oaxaca, Oaxaca Coast, Oaxacan Food + Mezcal, Off-the-Beaten Path

Travel Daydreaming is a virtual travel series, where I take you day-by-day through an itinerary in one of my favorite places. Today we will spend 1 week traveling to the best Oaxaca beaches, including Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, San Agustinillo, Zipolite and Punta Pajaros. I’ll take you to my favorite restaurants, wildlife tours, cocktail bars, day

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The Most Remote Place I’ve Stayed in Mexico: Chiapas Jungle Hotel Las Guacamayas

Chiapas, Hiking + Adventures, Hotel Reviews, Mexico, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Tour Reviews, Transportation

On my first trip to Chiapas, I ran out of time to make it to the Lacandona/Montes Azules Chiapas jungle and I really regretted it. So on my last trip to Chiapas, I made it a priority to make it to this remote and lush natural region. So I booked 4 days at Las Guacamayas

Best Creative Apps for Travel: Jet Journal Travel App for iPhone

Travel Planning Resources, Travel Tips

There are so many travel and social apps out there, but none seem to be totally perfect for everything I want to do. As a creative person, I really like apps that are aesthetically pleasing and allow for my own visual customization. I’ve been trying out Jet Journal travel app for iPhone and think it’s

Antigua Travel Guide: What to do in Antigua Guatemala, Prettiest Colonial City in Central America

Budget Travel Tips, Central America, Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Guatemala, Hiking, Hotel Reviews, Nature

Antigua Guatemala is a place I visit often, so I finally decided to put together an Antigua travel guide. This beautiful and lovely little city is one of my favorites in Central America, it’s full of gorgeous historic homes and churches, colorful walls, leafy greens, incredible textiles, and mountains + volcanoes on all sides. So

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The Best Neck Pillows for Travel: Travel Blue Dream Travel Pillow Review

Clothing + Accessories, Longterm Travel, Packing Tips, Transportation

If you travel a lot, you know the importance of getting rest when you can on those long haul flights, trains or buses. A restful journey means more time and energy to hit the ground running and enjoy your destination. I’ve been recently trying out one of the best neck pillows for travel – you

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Best Places to Visit in Guatemala: Lake Atitlan Things to Do + Lake Atitlan Hotels

Budget Travel Tips, Central America, Cultural Destinations, Guatemala, Hiking, Hiking + Adventures, Hotel Reviews, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Retreats

After several trips to the country, I can absolutely say that Lake Atitlan is one my favorite places to visit in Guatemala. When I think about Guatemala, I picture the magical lake surrounded by epic mountains and volcanoes, and the vibrant traditional Mayan towns that surround it. I want to write about all the villages

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Palenque Ruins Guide: 1 or 2 Day Palenque Tour Itinerary with Hotels, Misol Ha + Agua Azul

Budget Travel Tips, Chiapas, Cultural Destinations, Hiking, Hiking + Adventures, Hotel Reviews, Mexico, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Tour Reviews, Transportation

Planning my Palenque tours from San Cristobal was probably the most difficult part of my Chiapas travel planning. The Palenque ruins are quite far from San Cristobal, and there is mixed information online about the safest way to get there. So after lots of research and actually doing the trip, I want to write about

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Wellness + Yoga Retreat Guatemala: Villa Sumaya Lake Atitlan Retreat

Central America, Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Guatemala, Hiking, Hotel Reviews, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Retreats

A couple of months ago, I started planning a solo trip, but wanted to be in a space where I would: 1) meet interesting people and 2) have a meaningful experience. I had planned on finding a yoga retreat somewhere in Central America, and when I stumbled on Villa Sumaya, Lake Atitlan retreat, I knew

Reusable Travel Utensils + Travel Food Containers: To-Go Ware to Reduce Your Environmental Footprint on the Road

Budget Travel Tips, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Hiking + Adventures, Packing Tips, Travel Planning Resources, Travel Tips

I’ll be honest, I spent a few years of travel being lazy about my environmental choices. When I was traveling full-time, I didn’t feel like I had time to research and find natural, healthy, and sustainable products. Now I know that was an excuse (I could have made time) so I’ve become determined to cut

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Chiapas Travel Guide: Best Things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas + Hotels

Chiapas, Cultural Destinations, Food, Hotel Reviews, Mexico, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Tours, Transportation

After years of dreaming about Chiapas travel, I finally had a chance to explore the southernmost state in Mexico. It’s a beautiful and unique place, really different from anywhere else I’ve been in the country. If you like visiting places with stunning, wild nature or cultural destinations, you will love this region. Over my week

The Cutest Hotel in Puebla: Meson Sacristia de la Compañia Puebla Hotel

Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Hotel Reviews, Mexico, Puebla

One of my favorite things about our lovely weekend trip to Puebla was our stay in the gorgeous boutique hotel in Puebla – Meson Sacristia de la Compañia . This Puebla hotel is a sight for sore eyes – a vibrant pink courtyard, carefully curated antiques, lots leafy plants, pretty filtered light, and thoughtfully decorated

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Quick Puebla Travel Guide: 7 Things to do in Puebla City

Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Mexican Food + Mezcal, Mexico, Puebla

Contemplating a quick trip to Puebla? Many people skip over this huge, historic city, but if you have even a couple of days to detour here, you’ll find tons of cool things to do in Puebla city. So I’ve put together a quick Puebla travel guide to tell you my favorite highlights. You could easily

Fun Colorful Tote for Travel + Life: Shagbagg

Clothing + Accessories, Longterm Travel, Packing Tips

After 3 years of full-time travel, I’m tired of items that are only functional. Boring plain black bags and dresses don’t hold any appeal for me. I’ve realized that over the last 4 months, I’ve suddenly filled my closet with super colorful tropical floral skirts, printed scarves, and now – my sunny yellow Shagbagg tote.

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All-in-One Trip Planning Tool: Relovate Itinerary Planner

Budget Travel Tips, Eat Well in Latin America, Hotel Reviews, Tours, Transportation, Travel Planning Resources, Travel Tips, Uncategorized

I recently found out about a new trip planning tool called Relovate that I’ve been using as my itinerary planner for two upcoming trips. It has some really unique features that I haven’t seen before all in one tool, so I’m excited to tell you more about it! When I plan an upcoming trip, I

Best Things to Do in El Salvador: Why El Salvador Travel Should Be On Your Radar

Beach Escapes, Budget Travel Tips, Central America, Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, El Salvador, Food, Hiking, Hiking + Adventures, Hotel Reviews, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path

El Salvador travel is very off the radar for many, which is exactly the reason I was so interested to visit. During my whirlwind 6 day El Salvador tour with the El Salvador Tourism Board, I visited 10 towns/cities, 4 beaches, 2 volcanoes, 2 local markets, and a coffee farm. I learned so much about the

A Roatan Vacation for Adventure Lovers: Camp Bay Lodge in Off-the-Beaten Path East End

Beach Escapes, Budget Travel Tips, Caribbean, Central America, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Hiking, Honduras, Hotel Reviews, Islands, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path

I’ve already established that my time on the Caribbean island of Roatan was above and beyond anything I expected. I loved this interesting and beautiful island. One of the most surprising parts of my Roatan vacation was my 3 days on the wild and undeveloped East End. The East End of the island receives

Roatan Travel Guide: Non-Diver’s Guide for Where to Stay, What to Do + Where to Eat on Roatan Island

Beach Escapes, Caribbean, Central America, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Hiking, Honduras, Hotel Reviews, Islands, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Tours

Roatan is an beautiful Caribbean island that seems to be on very few non-divers’ radar. It’s actually fairly little known in the travel world in general. This small island is part of a chain of 3 islands in the clear Caribbean waters off the coast of Honduras. Most Roatan travel revolves around exploring the second

Cayos Cochinos from Roatan Tour: Snorkeling + Sailing the Most Pristine Coral Reef with Zeppelin Dive & Sail

Beach Escapes, Caribbean, Central America, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Hiking + Adventures, Honduras, Islands, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Tour Reviews, Tours, Transportation

The Cayos Cochinos are a little-known and postcard-worthy island archipelago off the coast of Honduras. The only way to reach them from Roatan is by chartering a sailboat or taking one of only a couple sail tour options. I was determined to visit this gorgeous island chain, so I did my research and booked a

The Best Puerto Vallarta Beaches for Instagram-Worthy Photos

Beach Escapes, Budget Travel Tips, Hiking, Lodging Tips, Mexico, Nature, Transportation

In my humble opinion, the Puerto Vallarta beaches south of the city are the most Instagram-worthy, beautiful, and dramatic beaches, and yet they are usually mostly empty. It baffles me because they are SO easy to get to, whether you have a car or are taking the bus. During my last trip to Puerto Vallarta,

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Puerto Vallarta Food Tour: Tasting the Best of PV with Pitaya Food Tours

Beach Escapes, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Mexican Food + Mezcal, Mexico, Mexico Beaches, Puerto Vallarta, Tour Reviews, Tours

I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me until recently, but food tours are my new favorite way to get to know a city and a culture. So when I was planning my trip to Pacific coast of Mexico, I contacted Pitaya Food Tours to set up a Puerto Vallarta Food Tour asap. The

Hiking Sierra Nevada Mountains: Spain Trekking Tour with Sierra y Sol

Europe, Hiking, Hiking + Adventures, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Spain, Tour Reviews, Tours

I love hiking and doing nature explorations when I go to a new place. So when I was planning my time in Spain, I knew I wanted to find a way to fit some trekking in. I had heard that hiking Sierra Nevada mountains was unique and beautiful, so I looked for a tour company

What to do in Cusco: Prettiest Places to Take Instagram-Worthy Photos of Cusco

Budget Travel Tips, Cultural Destinations, Hiking, Nature, Peru, South America, Uncategorized

One of my absolute favorite activities when visiting a new place is simple – wandering the streets with a camera in hand, hunting for pretty nooks and corners. When I was researching what to do in Cusco,I found some good suggestions, but ended up stumbling on others by accident. So I wanted to compile the

Boutique Hotel Lake Titicaca: A Luxurious Experience at Amantica Lodge

Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Hiking, Hotel Reviews, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, Peru, South America, Tour Reviews, Tours, Uncategorized

When I first found Amantica Lodge online, I immediately fell in love with this Peru luxury hotel. The design of the exclusive villa was everything I look for in a hotel – sleek, hip and beautiful. This seemed like the perfect choice for a boutique hotel Lake Titicaca experience. The stay totally lived up to

Oaxaca Mezcal Tour: Guide to Visiting the Best Mezcal Distilleries with Las Bugambilias Tours

Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Food, Mexican Food + Mezcal, Mexico, Mezcal, Oaxaca, Oaxaca City, Oaxacan Food + Mezcal, Off-the-Beaten Path, Tour Reviews, Tours, Uncategorized

It shocked me to find so little info online about what mezcal distilleries to visit on a Oaxaca mezcal tour. Sure there are lots of articles about the trendy spirit – but almost all focus on what mezcal is with a brief mention that Oaxaca is the place to find it. Then there are many

Santa Teresa Hotel: Review of Nautilus Boutique Hotel, Costa Rica

Beach Escapes, Central America, Costa Rica, Hotel Reviews, Lodging Tips, Tour Reviews, Tours, Uncategorized

When I found Nautilus Boutique Hotel online, I knew they filled all 3 of my Santa Teresa hotel requirements:◆Jungle plant overload◆Central location to beach and amenities◆Lots of cute details So if you hadn’t already guessed, I loved my time here! I only had 9 days in Costa Rica, so I wanted to make sure that I made

Casa Lajagua: A Relaxing Boutique Hotel in Panama’s Azuero Peninsula

Beach Escapes, Central America, Hotel Reviews, Nature, Panama, Uncategorized

Panama saved the best for last. We spent two months in the country traveling to many of the big tourist destinations, but really fell in love with Panama’s Azuero Peninsula during our last two weeks in the country. This area is thought of as the cultural heart of Panama – full of cowboys, ranchos, traditional

How to See the Best Oaxacan Textiles: Review of Las Bugambilias Tours

Cultural Destinations, Food, Mexico, Oaxaca, Oaxaca City, Off-the-Beaten Path, Tour Reviews, Tours, Travel Tips

The first time I ever came to Oaxaca was mainly due to the rich textile culture here. I’ve always been on the search for the best Oaxacan textiles: the most traditional techniques, high quality fibers, beautiful natural dyes and amazing huipiles. Guided Tour vs. Solo Exploring for the Best Oaxacan Textiles When you have a

5 Things the Guidebooks Miss about Oaxaca

Cultural Destinations, Hiking, Mexico, Nature, Oaxaca, Oaxaca City, Travel Tips

The first thing you must do in Oaxaca is eat. Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eat second breakfast, mid-day snack, and late night treat. Eat! Between meals, you should fit in some of the other activities the city has to offer. The five things below may or may not be in the guidebooks, but if

Coffee Beans and Bahias: Day Tripping on the Oaxacan Coast

Beach Escapes, Cultural Destinations, Mexican Food + Mezcal, Mexico, Mexico Beaches, Oaxaca, Oaxaca Coast, Off-the-Beaten Path, Travel Tips, Uncategorized

We haphazardly threw together a vague day-trip plan the night before – get up early, rent a car, and knock out three adventures – a boat tour of Chacahua lagoon, then on to the turtle sanctuary in Mazunte, and finally drive up high into the inland mountains to explore the tiny, coffee-growing village of Pluma