This article is adapted from the new Lonely Planet guide to Cancún, Cozumel and the Yucatán Peninsula, now available from Lonely Planet. (I didn’t adapt it, but I did research and write the part of the brand new book. Read…
Osa Peninsula
Even before first light, the growl of howler monkeys echoes through the trees. A lumbering tapir retreats into the cover of the forest for its daily rest, while a pair of scarlet macaws emits an unsonorous squawk and alights in…
Coffee in Costa Rica
If you like to drink coffee, you’re going to love Costa Rica. Thanks to its rich volcanic soil and varied topography, this small country produces coffee beans with impressive depth and a variety of flavors. And, in true Costa Rican style,…
Connected in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is the ultimate destination for outdoor adventure and discovery, and escaping the crush of the modern world is a key selling point of any getaway to this Central American gem. And yet… We still want to keep in touch with friends…
Return to Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres, Mexico – What a treat to return to Isla Mujeres, a sweet island off the coast of Cancún that we visited 12 years ago. That was an all-out intergenerational family vacation, with toddlers and grandparents. This visit was…
My Kind of Place
Isla Holbox, Mexico – For the record, it is pronounced hol-bosh (rhymes with gauche). Two hours north of Cancún, Isla Holbox once attracted only windsurfers and beach bums. But now its swanky swing bars, beachfront yoga and lobster pizza are…
Underwater Sculpture Garden
Cancún, Mexico – In 2009, the government of Mexico launched a creative project to protect the reefs near Cancún, at the same time offering visitors a wonderfully unique underwater experience. The Museo Subacuático de Arte – better known as MUSA…
Ser joven es ser Cancún
Cancún, Mexico – The mural facing Parque de las Palapas reads “Ser joven es ser Cancún”. Being young is being Cancún. The motto highlights this city’s youthful energy but also its short history. Cancún was founded in 1970, when the…
Tren Maya
Cancun, Mexico – To get to Campeche and back, I rode the new Tren Maya, which now circles the Yucatan Peninsula, connecting towns, tourist attractions, and archaeological sites, big and small. This particular route – between Cancun and Campeche –…
Maya World
Xpujil, Mexico – For anybody passionate or curious about the Maya civilization, a journey along Hwy 186 in Campeche will be a highlight of Mexico. This southern peninsular area was the earliest-established, longest-inhabited and most densely populated region in the…