Updated: 4/21/2018 | April 21st, 2018 As part of my desire to give you the best budget travel tips I can, I’m continuing my series on country costs. This time, we’re going to look at Panama. I’ve my time Panama with a goal of spending $35 USD per day. How did I do? I failed. […]
Getting Lost in a Jungle in Costa Rica
Updated: 02/21/2018 | February 21st, 2018 “Let’s go hiking,” I said one early morning at breakfast. “OK, we’ll go after lunch,” said Gloria and Lena. Gloria was a thirty-something olive skinned Spanish woman and her friend Lena, a short Latino with jet black hair from Chicago. Both were the only native Spanish speakers on the […]
See Something Different and Visit the Stone Carving Hermit of Nicaragua
Updated: 07/01/2018 | July 1st, 2018 Nicaragua is a place that attracts visitors with its surf, beaches, hiking, volcanoes, and delicious food. You’ll never be short of something to do. But if you’re looking for something different and personable, travel north to Esteli and search out Alberto Gutiérrez, the town’s stone-carving hermit. He’s not easy […]
My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Nicaragua
Updated: 07/01/2018 | July 1st, 2018 Nicaragua used to be a secret. “Pshhh, have you been to Nicaragua yet? That’s where you really want to go,” travelers would say. It was the land of backpackers and intrepid travelers. Tourists veered toward Costa Rica instead as Nicaragua’s rough past plagued its image. But over the years, […]
The Mayan Ruins of Tulum
While I was in Mexico last week, I had the chance to visit Tulum. Tulum is an ancient Mayan city located right on the beach. In fact, a popular thing to do here after working up a sweat from walking around is to go swimming in the ocean. There’s nothing like swimming in the shadow […]
The Cost of Traveling Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the most expensive countries in Central America. The whole country is a giant tourist trail, and older Americans and retirees have driven up prices over the years. Many budget travelers simply skip the country altogether because they feel it’ll be too expensive. Since it’s a hugely popular destination, I was […]
The Death of Nostalgia
Though I always like visiting new destinations, when I really like a place, I want to go back, and I often revisit places. In February, I went back to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. The last time I was there was in 2003, and I remember it for its amazing number of monkeys, lush jungles, and […]
My Favorite Destinations in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the most visited countries in Central America. American tourists have been flocking to the country for years, and it’s become a hot spot for retirees and expats due to its cheap living, great weather, amazing beaches, and friendly locals. I’ve been to the country twice and have absolutely loved it […]
Touring a Coffee Plantation in Panama
Updated: 07/05/08 | July 5th, 2018 I have a confession: I’m not a coffee drinker. I think the last time I had coffee was about five years ago. The only way I like coffee is when you add in all those other flavors, milk, and whipped cream because it masks the coffee taste and makes […]
Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast
Many people I’ve met have told me that the Pacific side of Costa Rica is the better coast to visit. The remote Osa peninsula, the monkey-filled area of Manuel Antonio, and the touristy Nicoya coast all beat the Caribbean, which has more rain, less wildlife, fewer “modern” conveniences, and uglier beaches. No matter where you […]
Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park
The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is usually dominated by two places: the Amazon-like jungle of Torteugero in the north and the party/beach paradise of Puerto Viejo in the south. But traveling the Caribbean coast, there was one place I liked best: Cahuita. About an hour north of Puerto Viejo on the southern Caribbean coast, […]
Loving Latin America
Posted: 01/18/2011 | January 18th, 2011 Over the last six months or so, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with traveling. I still love it and don’t want to do anything else, but in some ways, I’ve become tired of it. It’s become a routine, which is an unhappy thought. Fortunately, planning my trip to Central […]
