Isla de Holbox, or Holbox Island, is a beautiful beach paradise located in the Yucatan region in Mexico, not far from Cancun. With its many hammocks and stunning beaches, it is the perfect place for a relaxing holiday.
After backpacking through Central America this summer, I fell totally in love with the region. The culture, the beaches and the food – I simply had to go back. So when I got a couple of weeks of work for Christmas, the choice was easy; I had to go back to Mexico! As I did last time, I visited the Yucatan Peninsula, only this time I chose different places in the area.
Copan Ruinas in Honduras were the third Maya ruins we visited when backpacking in Central America, after Chichen Itza in Mexico and Tikal in Guatemala. Surrounded by jungle, it is also a sanctuary for macaw mountain birds, the colorful national bird of Honduras.
Have you ever been standing on the top of a volcano, looking into the crater of glowing lava? No, I guess – most people haven’t. Granada, Nicaragua, is one of the few places where this is possible. Just the feeling of watching the lava with the sunset in the background was amazing!
Roatan is a Caribbean island in Honduras. As most other Caribbean island, Roatan is a paradise for snorkeling, scuba diving and other beach related activities. I spent a few days here when I was backpacking through Central America, and despite being a huge tourist destination, I enjoyed the island’s relaxing atmosphere.
Isla de Ometepe is a small island located in Lake Nicaragua. The island is famous for its two volcanoes and the stunning nature. For visitors, there are loads of activities to do and things to see. Either you want to hike a volcano, swim in an idyllic lagoon or drive around the island and watch the rural life of the island, Isla de Ometepe is a great place to spend a couple of days when visiting Nicaragua.
Caye Caulker is a paradise island in the Caribbean Sea, just outside Belize City. The tiny island has an extremely relaxed atmosphere as everything is totally laid back and the island is car free. Caye Caulker is known to be quite expensive, but compared to other “paradise islands” in Central America (like Isla Mujeres and Roatan), I did not find this island particularly expensive – as long as you keep your budget in mind. I love spending time in the Caribbean Sea – so many of my favourite places are out here. One of my friends recently moved to Dominica so I was tempted to get a flight to see her. There are so many benefits of citizenship in Dominica, I was tempted to make the move myself! As for my trip though, here are my recommendations on how to explore Caye Caulker on a budget.
One of the highlights in Guatemala is the Mayan ruins of Tikal. The ruins are surrounded by a mysterious jungle, where you can run into monkeys, reptiles, jaguars and coatis. Tikal was declared a national park in 1955 and is today an UNESCO World Heritage Site. When visiting Tikal, most travellers also stop by the tiny island Flores as most accommodations in the area can be found here. But is Flores more than just a place to stay? I found the little island very charming, and it is worth spending a few hours checking it out.
Located only one hour from Guatemala City, the colonial town Antigua is a popular destination for travellers in the region. Either you come for a volcano trip or to relax in the quiet city, here are some of mine recommendations for Antigua.
The archeological site Chichen Itza is one of the new seven wonders of the world and is maybe the biggest tourist attraction in Mexico, with an average of 1,4 million visitors a year. Located in the Yucatan region, the site is easily reached from popular beach destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. We went on a day trip to Chichen Itza from Tulum, and the tour also included a visit to the cenote Ik Kil. The cenotes are also connected to the Maya culture, as the cenotes were the entrance to the “under world”.
Isla Mujeres is a tiny island located just outside Cancun in Mexico. The island is idyllic with its white beaches and clear water. Many people go here on day trips from Cancun and the surroundings, but it is also the perfect destination for a relaxing holiday. It is quiet and peaceful, and we chose to start our two-month-long backpacking trip here to get a relaxing start.
In May I am graduating uni after five years. Once I have handed in my master thesis, I am going to celebrate the graduation by going to Central- and South-America for two months before I move to Oslo and start working in August. I have not been on a long trip like this in a very long time. I am so excited!
For the first time, I have guest writer contributing to my travel blog! Terese Nordgård is a Norwegian travel blogger who just came home from a trip to Washington D.C., and she has been kind enough to write a guest post about her trip. I recommend you to check out Terese’s travel blog here!
Cuba is one of the countries were nothing goes according to your plan. I also found it a bit difficult finding information online before I left, because everything changes so fast and information is only valid for a short period. The whole accommodation thing is also a bit confusing. Because of this, I made a small guide based on my own experience – this is the information I wish someone told me before I left!
Oh, these Cuban beaches! Costa Sur is a beach located a 5 minutes drive from the big beach Playa Anchon and 10-15 minutes from Trinidad. Costa Sur is much smaller and less known than Playa Anchon, but I found it even more beautiful. And it was not crowded at all – it was perfect! Costa Sur is an all-inclusive resort, but if you don’t stay there you can rent sun beds and an umbrella for 2 CUC. The resort also looked very nice, and even though I am not a typical resort person I would consider staying there if I am ever going back.