Xpujil, Mexico – I had a run-in with some angry hornets today (reminiscent of our pandemic roadtrip, when V was attacked by hornets during a hike in the Berkshires… good times). I was on my way to wonderfully remote Maya…
Campeche Centro Histórico
Campeche, Mexico – Welcome to the other side of the Yucatán, and I mean that both literally and figuratively. Located in the far southwestern corner of the peninsula, Campeche state is more rural, less prosperous and less developed than other…
Going Solo in Mexico
Cancun, Mexico – Now that S & V are twin-agers, I have become acutely aware that my time with them is limited. They are no longer allowed to miss school just so we can go on a family trip. This…
The Best Places to Travel in your 20s
Lonely Planet writers compiled a list of the best places to travel in your 20s. Not surprisingly, Costa Rica is on the list! (At least I am not surprised, because I nominated it and I wrote the entry.) Indeed, I…
Lonely Planet Guide to the Caribbean Islands
Somerville, Mass – Here we are in the deepest darkest days of December. The weather is cold in grey. The nights are long. We are looking at four months of winter. And what shows up on my doorstep, but copies…
Costa Rica on a Budget
Traveling in Costa Rica on a budget? It’s easy to experience sticker shock when checking into eco-lodges and renting vehicles and booking tours in Costa Rica. Indeed, it is the most expensive country in Central America, thanks to a booming economy and…
How to get around Costa Rica
Costa Rica packs a world of adventure into a relatively small area. Limited infrastructure means that getting around can be a challenge, but it’s also one reason that Costa Rica is the wild and wonderful place that it is. Do…
Things to know before you go to Costa Rica
Originally written for LonelyPlanet.com but they took it down, so now you can read the whole thing here! On a recent trip to Costa Rica, on a hike in the remote forests of Volcán Tenorio National Park, the sky unexpectedly opened up,…
NEW Lonely Planet guidebooks to Costa Rica
After writing guidebooks for 20 years, it can be anticlimactic to receive the final products–sometimes as much as a year after completing the research and writing. There have been times that my author copies languished in the box for weeks,…
Belize vs Costa Rica
This was a fun one to write. My colleague and I go head to head, debating which is a better travel destination, Belize vs Costa Rica? At any time of year, Central America astounds with its gorgeous beaches, exciting hikes, ancient ruins…