If you’re looking for the best hotel in Merida Mexico, The Diplomat Boutique Hotel Merida is a perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and attention to detail. Nestled in a beautifully restored colonial building, this charming oasis is one of the top choices for places to stay in Merida. The stunning Mexican tile, lush courtyard, and […]
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
My schedule was a bit complicated this summer but when I suddenly had the opportunity to take time off, I threw together a 10 day Mexico road trip itinerary, to get out of town quick and “do something simple but fun” (I thought). Our road trip was actually a super epic incredible 10 days exploring
My favorite pueblo magico is now Cuetzalan, Puebla, the absolutely gorgeous traditional town in the northeast of Puebla state, tucked into the lush tropical mountains. I based myself from the beautiful Cuetzalan hotel, Posada La Vereda, which was a perfect choice to enjoy both the incredible nature and quick access to the amazing town of
We visited the beautiful towns of Mineral del Monte Pueblo Magico and Huasca de Ocampo Pueblo Magico recently during an epic road trip and they were beautiful and interesting towns to get to know Hidalgo. We based ourselves in two Airbnbs in Mineral del Monte, La Fortaleza and La Mision. I’ll share all the details
I put off writing this post for years because I wasn’t sure there needed to be another “where to eat in Mexico City” guide out there. But because food is such a huge part of my travel experience and connection with culture & since I have several other posts about CDMX and I continue to
For digital nomads and many modern travelers, fast reliable internet is a must, and can be stressful to find in a hotel or airbnb. Countless times I’ve scoured airbnb and hotel reviews about wifi to see if I truly can feel confident it won’t be a problem during my stay (and many times it has!).
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
Many people only plan a long-weekend Oaxaca trip, and miss out on so much food, culture, and beauty in the city and pueblos. I can’t tell you how many times those visitors have started planning their next trip before their first is over. So we’re going on a 7-day itinerary in Oaxaca full of mezcal,
On my last trip through Chiapas and Guatemala, I spent the first two nights and the last two nights of my 2 week journey at the beautiful oasis of Sombra del Agua. This is one of the best designed Chiapas hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas for the thoughtfully curated decor, leafy patios, beautiful
The reason I started this blog years ago, is because I worked in a creative industry (fashion) but was burned out & craved inspiration (alongside my insatiable urge to travel). Learning from local artisans, seeing amazing architecture, and visiting museums would fill me with ideas and a renewed desire to create. That’s why I think
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
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
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
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
Last month I had the pleasure of staying in the beautiful and welcoming Casa Lum Boutique Hotel San Cristobal, Chiapas. For 4 days and 3 nights. I felt at home in the thoughtfully decorated hotel, taken care of by the attentive staff, and was just steps away from everything I wanted to see and do
Before my trip to San Cristobal de las Casas, I did some searching for where to eat and drink in the city. I had a hard time finding info that wasn’t only directing me to tourist restaurants – and while some tourist restaurants are fine, I love to get a taste of typical local food
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
There is very little that gets me more excited than learning from talented, master artisans in their homeland. In fact, the original reason I came to Oaxaca years ago was because of its reputation for gorgeous textiles and traditional artisan work. A couple years ago, I discovered Thread Caravan’s artisan Oaxaca tours (as well as
One of my most frequently asked questions is – where to stay in Oaxaca? So I put together a list of the best hotels in Oaxaca. I will only be including hotels that I have stayed at and loved or that I have very strong recommendations from trusted sources. There are hundreds of hotels in
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
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
The Oaxaca coast is full of different cove beaches and towns. The unique thing about this coastline is that every Oaxaca beach and town has a totally different vibe, so you can find a place for any type of traveler or travel style. So this Oaxaca coast guide is going to break down the best
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
Do you ever just immediately fall in love with a city you visit? This is what happened to me when I visited Granada, Spain. I loved every minute of wandering this old city’s winding streets. So I put together a Granada city guide, letting you know what to do in Granada – one of my
Food, to me, is one of the biggest pieces of the cultural puzzle. I try to eat as many local, traditional, and every day meals as possible to get a feel for the culture, history, and lifestyle of a place. And also because I like to eat. 🙂 For some reason though, I rarely do
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
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
One of the very first things I knew I wanted to do when I got to Peru was the Rainbow Mountain trek. This hike is still fairly new on the tourist scene, but it’s splashed all over social media – and I couldn’t deny the unique beauty of the layered and colorful mountain. So when
I feel like my time in the Cusco region of Peru was nothing short of magical – and I don’t say that lightly. For 3 weeks we spent time in Cusco city, Ollantaytambo, and many of the surrounding towns and ruins. One of my absolute highlights of these weeks was our 3 day tour with
Oaxaca is such an amazing foodie city that I don’t want to make one “must eats” post – I don’t think that does the traditional food culture here justice. Instead I want to focus on certain important dishes (like tlayudas), markets, and food collections in separate posts. One of the most important culinary gems
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
Tlayudas in Oaxaca are what street tacos are to Mexico City, or pizza is to New York City. They’re the quintessential meal/snack/post-bar grub/hangover food/etc.. Every restaurant has their own version, plus plenty of street food stands. At worst I’ve had a couple tlayudas that were “good.” But at best, they are ricisimo (delicious) ! So
After spending years in Oaxaca, I’ve made it my mission to visit just about every Oaxaca mezcaleria in the Centro. I’ve narrowed down my list of favorites, each with their own vibe, depending on your mood. I think mezcal is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted. (I love mezcal so much, I
One of my favorite things to do while traveling is to take photos. While a lot of people say that you miss enjoying the scenery when you’re focused on your camera (or phone) lens, I actually think I notice details a lot more. When I walk down any street, I zero in on the colors,
Belize is unlike the rest of Latin America. It may as well be on a different continent for its cultural differences with the neighboring countries. The culture is Afro-Caribbean, with some Mayan mixed in. The official language is English, though it’s not unusual to hear their own distinct Creole with some English and even a little
When I mention to someone that I’m currently living in Mexico City, I get two very distinct reactions. Sometimes my statement is met with enthusiasm (usually from someone who has already done some Mexico City travel), but more often it’s met with a pause and some confusion. Many Americans, Canadians, and even Europeans are very misinformed
It’s ironic that I’m writing this recommendation for a Yucatecan restaurant in Mexico City when I am actually in the Yucatan Peninsula. But Mexico City does cuisine from every region of the country incredibly well, and Cochinita Power is no exception! During our last trip to Mexico City, we stayed in the historic neighborhood of San
Anytime I have a chance to pass through Mexico City, I’m thrilled. I’ve been lucky enough to spent many months here over the years, staying in tons of airbnbs and hotels from Roma, Condesa, Coyoacan, Anzures, to San Rafael. They all have their own personalities and charms, but El Patio 77 boutique hotel in Mexico
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
It’s probably pretty obvious by now that Oaxaca is one of my favorite cities in the world. Few places have it beat for its high level of culture, complex food, delicious mezcal, colonial architecture, and surrounding natural beauty. So when I was planning my second trip to the city, I knew what I wanted in my
Cartagena is a Unesco world heritage site located on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. It’s the one of the oldest cities in Colombia, founded in 1533, and has loads of Spanish colonial charm. The majority of the city’s population are of Afro-Caribbean descent, so the local culture is totally different from the culture inland. Vibrant colors, colonial
Medellin is located northwest of Bogota, in the state of Antioquia. Residents, called Paisas, are much more interested in their local culture than that of Colombia as a whole. Antioquians are very proud of their history, culture, food, and way of life. The city is located in a valley surrounded by mountains. It’s large and sprawling,
Bogota is located almost exactly in the center of the country, high up in the Andes mountains at 2644 meters (8675 feet). It’s a huge city – with 6 1/2 million residents, but surrounded by beautiful natural places that can be reached on day trips or longer ventures. If you go to Colombia, chances are
Visiting the San Bernardo Islands is the final part in my series about the 3 best adventures in beautiful and diverse Colombia. Be sure to check out my previous posts about hiking epic Valle de Cocora and camping Parque Tayrona. Grab my customized map below with accommodation options on the islands and links to book! [thrive_leads
My 3 favorite adventures during my month long trip around Colombia weren’t found in the main tourist destinations of Bogota, Medellin, or Cartagena, they were in beautiful remote areas that took some work to get to. One of my absolute favorite days in Colombia was hiking Valle de Cocora, walking amidst the tallest palm trees in the world,
The first thing you’ll be told to do in Las Galeras is “The 3 Beaches” tour. This entails hiring a small speedboat from the main beach in town and taking a tour of the three most beautiful beaches nearby – Rincon, Fronton, and Madama. We had loosely planned to do this, but ended up touring
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
Complex sauces made from 30+ ingredients, chile roasted grasshoppers, and soup made of squash flowers – what do these foods have in common? They are a few of the local dishes that make Oaxaca famous for their complex cuisine. How about some suckling pig, artisanal hot chocolate or small batch mezcal? Did you know
My husband and I rented a fantastic apartment in Oaxaca, Mexico for a week in April. The aptly named Casa de los Abuelos (House of the Grandparents) made us feel right at home during our stay. When thinking over the pros and cons for this list, I really struggled to come up with any cons. I think
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
