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Copy of Guatemala Itinerary 1 Week Guatemala Trip.LR

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 […]

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,

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

5 Tips to Finding Budget Hotels and Hostels in Central America, South America and Mexico

Budget Travel Tips, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Lodging Tips, Mexico, Nicaragua, South America, Travel Planning Resources, Travel Tips

Are you scared of hostels? Do you fear pre-booking a budget hotel, only to walk into the bedroom and find stains on the sheets and cockroaches in the corner? Fear not, there are tons of great budget hotels and hostels in Central America, South America and Mexico. I’ve traveled through this region for years, staying

Dreamy Design Hotel in Tulum: Review of Huitzical

Beach Escapes, Caribbean, Hotel Reviews, Lodging Tips, Mexico, Mexico Beaches, Nature, Travel Tips, Tulum, Uncategorized

Mention Tulum and you’ll get some strong opinions. Some people love it, while others think it’s over. I just visited Tulum for the second time, and I loved it just as much as the first time a few years ago. However, because it’s now quite touristy, I think there is a specific way you should

What is Housesitting? And How to Find Your First Housesit…

Housesitting, Lodging Tips, Travel Planning Resources, Travel Tips

Housesitting has changed my life. I never thought I’d be able to travel for extended periods of time, but we traveled non-stop for almost 3 years, and housesitting is a big reason we were able to do so! I can’t say enough good things about international housesitting. This amazing arrangement allows us to cut out

Oaxaca Hotel Review: Casa De Las Bugambilias B&B

Cultural Destinations, Eat Well in Latin America, Hotel Reviews, Lodging Tips, Mexico, Oaxaca, Oaxaca City

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

Boutique Hotel in Guadalajara: Review of La Fe Hotel and Arts

Guadalajara, Hotel Reviews, Lodging Tips, Mexico, Uncategorized

When I look for the perfect hotel in Latin America, I always like to find accommodation that balances authentic local charm with modern and comfortable amenities. LA FE Hotel and Arts does this perfectly. This boutique hotel in Guadalajara is set in a gorgeous 1930’s mansion that has been converted into a quaint 7 room hotel. Almost all of

Colombia Travel Guide: Top 4 Things to do in Cartagena

Beach Escapes, Caribbean, Colombia, Cultural Destinations, Food, Lodging Tips, South America, Travel Tips, Uncategorized

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

The 3 Best Adventures in Colombia: Part 3 – Visiting the San Bernardo Islands

Beach Escapes, Budget Travel Tips, Colombia, Cultural Destinations, Food, Hiking + Adventures, Islands, Lodging Tips, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, South America, Transportation, Travel Tips

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

The 3 Best Adventures in Colombia: Part 2 – Camping Parque Tayrona

Beach Escapes, Budget Travel Tips, Colombia, Food, Hiking, Hiking + Adventures, Lodging Tips, Nature, Off-the-Beaten Path, South America, Travel Tips

This is part 2 in my 3 part series about the best adventures in Colombia. Head back to my previous post about hiking epic Valle de Cocora. And stay tuned for the final adventure in the series! Here is Part 2 – Parque Tayrona is a national park on the northeast Caribbean coastline of Colombia. It’s well

Hotel Tip in…Las Galeras, Dominican Republic

Beach Escapes, Budget Travel Tips, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Food, Hotel Reviews, Islands, Lodging Tips, Off-the-Beaten Path, Travel Tips, Uncategorized

As I’ve previously mentioned, budget hotels in the Dominican Republic didn’t impress me much. In Mexico or Central America you can find many stylish hostels or quaint local guesthouses in every town, but in the DR it’s much more challenging. The budget options here tended to be a bit rundown, with bare bones furniture and

Can you backpack in the Dominican Republic?

Beach Escapes, Budget Travel Tips, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Food, Islands, Lodging Tips

Are people backpacking Dominican Republic? This was the question that I asked myself before our recent trip. The answer is yes…but the information and online resources are few and far between. Daily I’m bombarded with Groupon and Travelzoo deals to all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic. Yet when I began my search for budget hotels or

Hotel Tip in…Oaxaca, Mexico

Budget Travel Tips, Cultural Destinations, Hotel Reviews, Lodging Tips, Mexico, Oaxaca, Travel Tips, Uncategorized

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

Hotel Tip in…Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Beach Escapes, Budget Travel Tips, Hotel Reviews, Lodging Tips, Mexico, Mexico Beaches, Oaxaca

It’s rare to find a budget hotel with a great beach view directly from your room. So when booked a room at Hotel Buena Vista for $36/USD a night, I was thrilled. Our room was huge, with two beds, a kitchenette, private bathroom, and a huge balcony that overlooks Playa Zicatela below. I spent every