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…
7 Best Hikes in Costa Rica
Want to discover the best hikes in Costa Rica? From popular jaunts through the coastal rainforest to arduous climbs to mountain peaks, Costa Rica has vibrant and varied landscapes that offer endless opportunities for hiking. Indeed, sometimes there’s no other way to…
16 Best Things to Do in Costa Rica
Come to Costa Rica to discover magnificent landscapes, endless outdoor activities and creatures great and small. This smallish Central American country offers a world of adventure, from water sports to mountain hikes, from rainforest wildlife watching to cloud-forest birding. And when you’re…
Río Celeste
Río Celeste, Costa Rica – We spent the first half of our week in the Río Celeste region, tucked into a valley between the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes. The region is famous for its namesake river – another true blue…
Monkey Park
La Fortuna, Costa Rica – Monkey Park is a misnomer. This is not a park at all, but rather a family-owned forest preserve that occupies a corner of a flourishing farm. A 2.5-kilometer trail winds through the luscious primary forest.…
Welcome to My Treehouse
Boca Tapada, Costa Rica – I’ve been coming to Costa Rica for years, visiting and reviewing hotels that offer treehouse lodging, but this is the first time I had the opportunity to actually sleep in a tree. I don’t know…
Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat
Chilamate, Costa Rica – I am moving quickly on this trip! I spent a few days at one of my favorite places – the Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat. In the past, we have stayed here en famille (although it’s been…
Riddle
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Costa Rica – Spending the day looking for birds at the world-famous rainforest preserve, La Selva Biological Station, I made up a riddle. How do you find a keel-billed toucan in the rainforest? Answer: Follow your…
Mendenhall Glacier
What’s in a name? Juneau, Alaska – Apparently, the original Tlingit name for Mendenhall Glacier was Sitaantaagu, or “the glacier behind the town.” My source (Encyclopedia Britannica) says the Tlingit also called it Aak’wataaksit, which means “the glacier behind the…