Planning a trip to Italy’s colourful Amalfi Coast seaside towns? This guide will take you through the must see towns, activities, restaurant and places to stay. Whether you want to splash out and stay in the top hotels or looking to travel on a budget, I got you covered. The allure of the Amalfi Coast as drawn people to the region for centuries. Its idyllic weather and dramatic landscapes dotted with breathtaking historic houses perched above the crystalline waters, making the coastline one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. Getting to the Amalfi Coast There are multiple ways to get to (and around) the Amalfi Coast. Naples airport is the nearest airport to the Amalfi coast, and it’s very well connected. If there are no convenient flights to Naples, you can fly to Rome and take a train from Rome to Naples. The Fast trains take just under an hour, and you can book your tickets on the Omino app or website. Make sure you look up the train times and time your flight arrival with the fast train departure. Also make sure to check which of the two Rome airports you’re…
A jewel of southern Italy, the island of Capri is famous for many reasons. It has jaw-dropping natural beauty, delicious cuisine and world-class shopping. It’s also a place to see and be seen – there’s a reason why so many celebrities anchor their yachts in Marina Grande. Here is why you should put Capri on your bucket list. Capri is famous for its dramatic stretch of coastline peppered with grandiose villas. The glitzy Italian island is a playground for glamorous celebrities and jet-setters. But despite its expensive price tag and exclusive vibe, you can find many attractions that appeal to every kind of traveller. Breathtaking natural vistas, immaculately manicured gardens, and spectacular secluded hiking trails abound, none of which will break the bank. Of course, if you don’t mind racking up some digits on your credit card, there are enough upmarket shopping and dining opportunities across the island. Read on for my guide to the best things to do in Capri. How to get there Capri is set in the blue waters of Italy’s Tyrrhenian Sea in the Bay of Naples just off the Sorrentine Peninsula in the southern Italian region of Campania…
Guest Blog – Average Joe Down Under This post was written by Darren from the Average Joe Down Under blog and podcast! You can find out more about Average Joe Down Under here and follow him on Instagram @Average Joe Down Under. Photo by Catarina Sousa on Pexels. The Best Place to Live in Australia: An Expat Guide Australia, with its stunning landscapes, vibrant cities, and high quality of life, has long been a top destination for expatriates seeking a fresh start. However, with such a vast and diverse country, choosing the best place to live in Australia can be a daunting task. Whether you’re drawn to bustling city life, pristine coastal towns, or the tranquillity of the countryside, this guide will help you navigate the best places to live in Australia as an expat. Where to Move to in Australia Australia offers a range of enticing cities for expats to call home, each with its own unique characteristics and distinct personality that allow expats to find their perfect fit based on their preferences and lifestyle. Photo of Sydney Opera House by Ocean Tse on Pexels. Sydney As Australia’s largest city, Sydney offers…
Part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Great Keppel Island lies 15 kilometres from the coast off Yeppoon in the Shire of Livingstone, Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Capricorn Coast of Central Queensland. Great Keppel Island is one of the best island getaways on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. It’s easy to see why with the option of snorkelling right off the beach, spotting wildlife during hinterland hikes and trying an array of aquatic adventures. Just a 30 minute ferry ride from the the mainland, getting here is convenient even for a day trip. To get the most out of a visit to the Great Keppel Island, I recommend staying over night. Great Keppel Island is the largest of a group of islands called the Keppel Islands. Great Keppel island is by far the most developed. But when I say developed, it’s not really. The extent of the development is a couple of accommodation options, a handful of restaurants and a few tour operators all clustered in one tiny corner of the island. The rest of this beautiful place is wild. There are no real roads across the island and bar a few 4WDs, no cars…
Myall River Camp is a serene eco retreat on the banks of the Myall River at Hawks Nest. The camp features luxury riverfront safari style glamping tents, rustic sustainable tiny homes and off-grid campsites. If you are looking for a peaceful, luxury escape in nature, this is the perfect getaway. Located under 3 hours from Sydney and one hour from Newcastle by car, it is very easy to get to for a weekend break from the hustle and bustle. It is made for reconnecting with others and nature, unwinding and exploring the beautiful surroundings. Perfectly situated on the Myall river, it’s just a stone’s throw to white sandy beaches and Myall Lakes National Park where you can enjoy 4WDing, sandboarding, surfing, kayaking and bushwalking. Myall River camp caters for any budget from beautiful off-grid campsites, eco friendly tiny homes and luxurious glamping tents. The tents accommodate up to 6 so perfect for a group of friends or a family, children must be 9 years or older to stay and pets are not allowed. Click here to book and find out more. Glamping tents: There are three to chose from. The largest sleeps six and…
History of Uluru Uluru is one of the world’s most renowned natural landmarks, previously known as Ayers Rock. In the heart of Australia’s outback, this iconic structure made of sandstone has a vast history and is sacred to the indigenous people. Uluru is often referred to as the heart of the ‘Red Centre’ and is one of Australia’s most recognisable landmarks. Uluru is located in the Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park where over 250,000 people visit each year, despite it being hundreds of kilometres from the nearest major town and almost 1000 km from the Northern Territory’s capital Darwin. The sandstone monolith of Uluru and the conglomerate domes of Kata Tjuta, rise from the flat plains of the Northern Terriorty over 300m in height. The monoliths unbelievable size and immense cultural significance to local Indigenous people has made it an icon of Australia, and its magnificence is something that has to be seen in person to appreciate. The Anangu people are the local Indigenous people who have been living on land around Uluru for over 30,000 years. Their stories teach that teach that Uluru is a…
Kings Canyon is located in Watarrka National Park which is only a three hour drive from its better known neighbour, Uluru and a 3.5 hour drive from Alice Springs with a 4WD, otherwise a five hour drive from with a 2WD. The mighty Kings Canyon features 300m high sandstone walls, watering holes and boasts views that stretch for miles across the desert. Many people come just for a day trip from Uluru but it is much more than just a day trip destination. The Watarrka National Park has a wide range of walking tracks from over night hikes to short easy 2 km walks, helicopter tours, camel tours and accommodation options ranging form camping to beautiful resort rooms and safari glamping. WHEN TO GO? May-Sep. The best of year to go is in the dry season, Australia’s winter from May-Sep. We went in September and this was just perfect. The days were warm but not unbearable and the mornings and evenings were cool but not freezing. In June and July the night temperatures can drop to close to zero so be prepared for cold nights in the middle of the dry season. We were very…
The ‘Top End’ of Northern Territory is frontier country, a tropical oasis that consists of Darwin, World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, remote Arnhem Land in the north-east corner, and the Katherine region where the tropics meet the outback. It is Australia’s most rewarding indigenous homeland, home to art centres, isolated communities and rock art. 1 in 4 Territorians identify as Indigenous, compared to only 3% of NSW and 1% of Victorians. NT is abundant in iconic Aussie wildlife, from salt and fresh water crocodiles to the flood plain birds of Kakadu. Darwin is an interesting place, Australia’s only tropical capital city and gate way to the Top End with an end of Australia feel. It is closer to Bali than Bondi and feels very removed from the rest of the country. When to go? There are only two seasons in the the Top End- the wet and the dry. Shoulder season is a good time to go to get the best of The Wet with a bit of The Dry, lower crowds and better prices. A lot accommodation, tours and restaurants are not open or reduced opening times during the wet so…
Waterfall Springs Retreat & Wildlife Sanctuary is a romantic luxury escape and a sanctuary dedicated to rehabilitating wallabies and kangaroos. Located an hour and a half from Sydney in the Central Coast, about 30 minutes from Gosford, lies this beautiful adults only relaxing retreat. Set in Kulnura, it offers luxury boutique styled accommodation with barbecue facilities, a garden, a pool and a shared lounge. Waterfall Springs Retreat and Wildlife Sanctuary is nestled amongst 33 acres of serene and quintessentially Australian bushland and the property’s name is derived from the four waterfalls that are on the bush track surrounding it. The retreat can host up to four couples at a time. Aside from the glamping tent they property has two suites and one apartment. Each suite opens up to the outdoors with garden views from the freestanding bathtubs big enough for two and has a gas fire to add to the cosy atmosphere. A gas log fire place in every suite only adds to the ambience of each room. The bedding and linen is of the highest quality and so comfortable. I had the best nights sleep since leaving the Irish countryside several years ago. The only think…
South Australia is the perfect place for a road trip and the most underrated state in my opinion. From the stunning coastline of the Eyre Peninsula’s, multiple award winning wine regions, the wildlife of Kangaroo Island, and the red hues of the South Australia outback, the diversity on offer in this state is second to none. The state is known as the rock pool state and I will show you why later in this blog. It is a huge state with a lot of it being outback, you could spend weeks travelling around and discovering hidden beaches, national parks and heading off road. We only had ten days to explore this state and squeeze in the top sights to see in South Australia. HOW LONG TO GO FOR? You could spend a few months as I said travelling around and exploring the coast line, inland and the outback. A month is a decent amount of time and most travellers would get to see the majority of the state. You can break it up into two one week holidays exploring different areas or jam pack the highlights (in our opinion) in 10 days. CAMPER VAN OR CAR? You can see…
Kangaroo Island is the modern day Noah’s Arc located off the south east coast of South Australia. It is one of the world’s greatest nature destinations abundant with wildlife, native bushland and marine life. The island has 509 km of coastline and is 155km from East to West. You definitely need longer than you think. The island os much bigger than expected and some of the roads unsealed which slows down travel time. It is not advisable to drive at night, dusk or dawn due to the high numbers of wildlife. Driving through the island you will see a lot of road kill which is so sad so please respect the animals habitat and don’t drive at night. There is a lot to see on this amazing island and there are not enough adjectives to describe just how magical it is. HOW TO GET THERE By sea: The ferry leaves from Cape Jervis, about a 2 hour drive south of Adelaide. Kangaroo Island SeaLink’s vehicle and passenger ferry service operates daily (except Christmas Day) between Cape Jervis and Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. The ferry takes just 45 minutes and you can bring your…
Living off the grid is the philosophy at Glenayr Farm. I took it to have two meanings; living off the solar power that is the farm stay’s sole source of energy and living disconnected from technology and busyness of life, away from the constant pings, rings and vibrations of notifications. Glenayr Farm is perfect for romantic getaways or group holidays. Staring out at the rolling hills of the quintessential Australian country side will make you think you and the on looking kangaroos who inhabit the property, on the only living things on earth. If you are looking to spend a few days living sustainably off what mother nature gave us and truely unplugged from technology, there is no better place than Glenyar Farm. Glenyar Farm is a family owned 320 working farm with four glamping bell tents and two luxury villas located 25 minute drive outside of Mudgee and a 3.5 hour drive from Sydney. There is no service here (unless you are Telstra) and no wifi which is exactly how the owners intended it to be. Although it seems you are so far from civilisation, Mudgee’s world class wineries, restaurant’s and shops…
Maria Island Maria Island (pronounced “Ma-rye-ah”), a small island located off the east coast of Tasmania, 13 km at its widest and 20 km long, is probably one of my favourite places in all of Australia, never mind Tasmania. But if you were thinking of skipping this little slice of paradise, don’t! The island is best known for its convict history and scores of animals, Cape Barren Geese, Tasmanian devils and wombats that live there, making it known as Tasmania’s ‘Noah’s Ark’. The minute we stepped off the ferry, we stopped wombats and Cape Barren Geese. Wildlife is just everywhere here! The water is some the clearest and cleaner I’ve ever seen, beaches so inviting to run onto and dive into the water. There are no cars on the island so everyone gets around on foot or two wheels and it is a slower pace of life with little reception so it ensures you are really off the grid. We unfortunately didn’t have the time to stay overnight and most people come for a day trip but if you have the time it is definitely worth spending 2-3 days here…
I decided to write a separate blog on Cradle Mountain to my complete guide to the lap of Tasmania (click here) on how to get to Cradle Mountain, what to expect, where to stay and eat and most importantly, what hikes to do for the time you have. Cradle mountain is a hikers dream, it is where the Overland Track, a 80 km multi day hiking trial starts from and ends the other side of the National Park in Lake St Clair. If the Overland Track isn’t for you and you like the comforts of a hot shower and comfy bed at the end of a days hiking, Cradle Mountain has so much to offer. You could spend a week here between both sides of the park. There are a plethora of day walks ranging from 19 km to a cruise 2km loop. Cradle Mountain is a huge National Park and unless you are planning on doing the Overland Track (6 days), you will have to visit the Cradle Mountain side of the park and then drive to the Lake St Clair side of the park to explore this. If you are big into your hiking…
Tasmania is a bit of Australia that is well known but few chose to come and explore. I am going to try change your mind about that! Tasmania is a state of Australia located 240 km off the Southern part of the mainland and is about the same size as Ireland or Switzerland. From top to bottom is is 364 km long and about 300 east to west making it very accessible for a self driving road trip. The longest day of driving we did was about 3 hours in total so no mammoth drives like the mainland means you can see so much in a relatively short time frame. Tasmania’s beauty is like no other and its landscape is so diverse; from the lichen covered rocks and white sandy beach of the east to the bleak alpine plateaus of Cradle Mountain National Park. It is steeped in convict history and has some tragic stories of the islands indigenous history, which makes it for such an interesting place to visit. The food and wine scene is just as epic and the landscape, with some of the countries best wine, cheese and local produces. The best way to see…
Home to 74 paradisiacal islands situated in the heart great barrier reef, this magical place is a non negotiable for tourists visiting Queensland. Most of the Whitsunday Islands are uninhabited and are a protected National Park teaming with wildlife, surrounded by colourful coral and white silica sand. But there are a few islands that are open for tourists to holiday on. When to go? The Whitsundays are located in tropical Queensland so temperatures rarely drop below 23 degrees all year round but the best times to go are Spring or Autumn. Avoid traveling during Jan-Mar as it is the rainy season, temperatures are very high, humidity is high and it is school holidays. ‘Stinger season’ also runs during the warmer months (Oct-May). That being said, jellyfish can be present year round. April- May: Heat and humidity are less, days are bright and clear with pleasant temperatures of high 20s. Jun-Aug: Best time to be in luck of spotting majestic humpback whales. Cooler temperatures of low- mid 20s dropping to 16-17 degrees at night. Sept- Oct: Peak season with glorious temperatures of high 20s, clear days and light winds. Whitsundays highlights: Whitehaven beach…
Western Australia is an enormous land mass, bigger than any European country and if it was its own country, it would be the 10th largest in the world. The sheer size of the state and long stretches without anything at all except desert for hundreds of miles, may put some travellers off visiting it. But don’t let the mammoth drives discourage you from visiting this beautiful area as you will be handsomely rewarded with beautiful vineyards and artisan food down south, pristine beaches with no-one in sight for miles along WA’s 12,500 km of coastline, red desert meeting the glistening blue sea, unforgettable sunsets, gorges and waterfalls in the National Parks and an abundance of marine life in the Indian Ocean. WA has a carefree spirit about it that’s free from the baggage and busyness of the east coast. It is also rich in Aboriginal culture that is far more apparent than any other part of Australia. You could spend months travelling up the coast and inland to explore the outback but we managed to fit what are considered the highlights of WA into a month long trip. The best way…
Byron Bay, located on the north east of NSW is the epitany of chill and laid back. It is well known for it hippy vibes, surfing paradise, boho boutiques, vegan cafes and a place where shoes are optional. Byron manages to combine the carefree finesse of the 60’s with modern day cool. There is something for everyone here from joining the local surfers at the legendary breaks or disappear into the hinterland in search of quaint towns and artesian food. Byron stole my heart on my first visit, I loved it so much so I booked to return a month later before I had even left. The minute you arrive you are hit with holiday feels and a sense of calm. Byron has been THE place for Sydneysiders to visit when interstate and international travel was off the cards so it has become a lot busier in recent times but despite the extra traffic, it has retained it’s charming small town feel. There is so much to do here, you won’t be short of activities to keep you busy. But it’s also a perfect place to chill, enjoy great food and do nothing…
Escaping to nature, detoxing from our hectic, digital lifestyles and discovering nature whilst staying in comfort is what Tiny Away is all about. Sometimes all we want is a getaway, and a true break from all the distractions, hustle and busyness of our general lives. Tiny Away was a perfect way to spend quality time together with nothing to do bar enjoy nature, cook and listen to the birds chirping, without the interference of the sound of others or traffic. The Tiny Away we stayed in was located just a five minute drive outside of Berry, a very quaint town in Shoalhaven region of the New South Wales. It’s a perfect location for a quick night away from Sydney being only a 2 hour drive south of the city and a ten minute drive to Seven Mile Beach National Park. True Colours Tiny House The tiny house we stayed in was called True Colours, located on 5 acres and surrounded with animals such as horses, dogs, chickens, and a cat, a veggie garden, and fruit trees. The property is an equine assisted therapy centre. We were honoured to be the first guests to stay in this gorgeous home…
The North and Central Coast of New South Wales is beautiful with so many gorgeous, empty beaches that go on for miles (literally, one of them 31 km long), rainforest, pristine National Parks, mountains and dotted with cute, quaint seaside towns. I took a road trip up the coast, North of Sydney and finishing up in Byron Bay. I wasn’t sure what to expect although I had heard of the beautiful expansive beaches and quieter towns where people are friendlier and things move at a less hectic pace. I would highly recommend a road trip up the coast, stopping to explore the beaches, National Parks, sunrises, hikes and quaint cafes. Central Coast Long Jetty Named appropriately for its three extremely long jetties, this once sleepy town has been dubbed the “Newtown fo the Central Coast” and has been gaining attention and fast becoming the Central Coasts hippest destination. With plenty of cool eateries, unique boho boutiques, sleek bars and pretty jetties, it is perfect for a lunch stop off or a day out from Sydney. Things to do: Enjoy a walk along the jetties and the Foreshore walk. They are even more beautiful at sunset. 2…
Byron Bay, renowned for its turquoise waters, laid back vibe, gleaming sand and tropical climate. It is fast becoming famous for its amazing food, drinks and cafe culture. When researching Byron, one of the top things to do was eating and drinking so here is a guide to the best restaurants, cafes and bars in Byron Bay. The brunch scene is the strongest I’ve seen yet and rivals any city I’ve visited. It is paradise for any foodies and coffee lover alike with a plethora of cafes, restaurants and coffee shops lining the streets. The vegan and vego scene is pretty strong here too with many vegan and vegetarian restaurants, vegan menus in places and great vego and vegan options on all the menus. Dinner: Daughter in Law. A new Indian restaurant on the scene where St Elmo previously was, it might seem familiar to anyone who has been to it’s sister restaurant, Don”t Tell Aunty, in Surry Hills, Sydney. This authentic The theme is cocktails and curry, bright lights, vibrant colours and tasty food for sharing. It is set at a reasonable price point and the food is extremely tasty. They…
Mudgee is a small country historical town located 268 km northwest of Sydney, past the Blue Mountains. It is surrounded by dozen of wineries, which is the obvious reason visitors flock to the colonial town. The food scene in Mudgee has a lot to offer too with an array of restaurants and cafes lining the main street. Mudgee is about a 3 and a half hour drive from Sydney, making it a perfect distance for a weekend break or an extended weekend throwing in a stop off in the Blue Mountains on the way. Best time of year to visit: Spring and Autumn are undoubtedly the best time to year to visit Mudgee. Due to its inland location, it can get bitterly cold during the winter and extremely warm during the summer, neither of which make ideal conditions for sitting in vineyards sipping wine. The cherry blossoms are in bloom in Spring (Sept- Nov) which make a gorgeous backdrop to vineyard photos. The night time is still chilly (lows of 7 degrees) but the days are sunny and dry in general. In non COVID times, September is when the calendar peaks with the Mudgee Food and wine festival which is…
Singapore is such a great city. It is so diverse and has a eclectic mixture of cultures. My favourite part of the city is the mix of the old and new, bright lights, modern shopping malls juxtaposed with the old temples, grand mosques and traditional shops. For such a small country and relatively compact city, there is such a wide range of things to do. There are great hikes and wildlife within a few mins from the heart of the city. Best time to visit Singapore I went during the rainy season which wasn’t ideal as a lot of the sights are outdoors and when it rains, its pours. Although for the most part, Singapore is a year round destination, the best time to visit is during Singapore’s dry season, between February and April. Singapore’s monsoon season is December- January and is slightly cooler. Although the torrential downpours of rain weren’t ideal, the run up to Christmas is a wonderful time to experience the bright lights of Singapore. The Gardens by the Bay are extra special during the festive period. Here are some of the highlights from my trip to Singapore and…
This is got to be the best way to travel between Coron and El Nido in Palawan if you have the luxury of time and a bit of extra money. It is definitely the most unique way of traveling between the islands and I would recommend it to everyone if they have the time. The expedition cruises last between 3-5 days depending on what option you go for. I opted for the 3 day cruise between El Nido and Coron. It was a fantastic experience islanding hopping around remotes islands visited only by a very lucky few, sleeping on private islands in little huts, enjoying incredible food freshly caught from the sea by our resident spear fisher, meeting families from the remotes islands, snorkelling with turtles and making friends for life around the camp fire at night. Trip overview: The trip I did and the most popular one lasts 3 days, 2 nights. It leaves from Coron/ EL Nido at 8am and everyone meets before at the pier for a safety briefing. You arrive into Coron/ El Nido (depending on the direction you travel in) just after sunset (6pm) so you can enjoy one last sunset from the boat…
The Kawasan falls are arguable the most beautiful series of waterfalls in the Philippines and are the most visited of all the waterfalls. The are on the island of Cebu and can be reached from anywhere on the island but the closest place to visit them from is from Moalboal in the south west of Cebu. The waterfalls are famous of their gatorade blue colour and for the canyoneering you can do from the various cliffs into the pool beneath. Every corner or hostel in Moalboal will have signs for canyoneering tours and full day tours to the Kawasan falls which if you’re tight on money, tight ton time and hate tours like me you will want to dodge. The tours start from 1500 peso upwards and can be as much as 3000 peso from Moalboal. It is the perfect spot for canyoneering as Kawasan Falls in Cebu offers all the activities that compromise canyoneering: swimming, climbing, hiking, cliff diving and so much more. This includes you transport, entrance fee, tour guide, lunch and equipment. The tours usually pick you up at 9 am and return somewhere about 3-4pm in the afternoon. I prefer having the freedom…
A country made up of over 7,000 islands, pristine waters, white beaches, Gatorade waterfalls and countless lagoons, the Philippines must be one of the most instgrammable countries in the world. It’s one of those places that looks better than the photos and was so much more beautiful than I could have imagined. General/ things to know: The capital is Manila, most international flights fly into here or Cebu. I didn’t spend any time in Manila itself but from what I saw moving between airport terminals, the traffic is crazy. Most people try get out of Manila ASAP and get to the islands. Airport terminals are up to a 30 minute drive from each other. Leave plenty of time to get between terminals. The domestic and international terminals and terminals 1,2 and 3 are all a drive or bus away from each other and with the horrendous traffic, it can take 30 minutes in a taxi or by bus to get between terminals. Bare this in mind when planning your flights. Currency is Philippine Peso ₱ (€1= ₱ 55/ USD $1= ₱ 50/ AUD $1= ₱ 34). Things in the Philippines run on islands time. The timetables and…
Shaka. They have a few of these around the Philippines. Some of the best smoothie bowls I’ve had. They do great coffees too and baked vegan goods. The place is always busy and the view out from it of Cloud 9 surf break is pretty great. Opening hours | Daily 6.30am – 5.30pm 2. Kitay’s Place. Rustic, quirky restaurant named after it’s music loving owner. The restaurant aims to be plastic free to preserve the beauty of the island and is environmentally conscious. I always try and support small businesses like this who are promoting sustainable tourism. The menu caters for veggies and meat eaters. Every Sunday they host live acoustic and DJ sets. Opening Hours |8am to 11pm – Tuesday to Saturday, 3pm to 2am – Sunday 3. Kermit. Get ready for the best pizza of your life. Kermit do amazing pizzas and pastas but also have mains too like vegetarian curry, salads, soups and fish if you fancy something lighter. They also run surf lessons, have cottages to stay in and daily yoga classes. Opening Hours | Daily 7am – 11pm 4. Kali Ma Vegan Cafe. This is the cafe which is apart of…
Things to know before traveling: Best time to travel to Japan depends on what you want to see. Early spring is a very popular experience the short lived cherry blossom season and probably the best season but crowds are prices are higher. Japan receives four distinct seasons although it will differ depending on the region. Winter will be freezing and snowy in the north whereas down further south in Okinawa and the southern islands, the weather remains warm all year round. June to October is typhoon season and also rainy season hits during these months. Japan’s summers are be stiflingly hot and humid. Either spring or autumn are best in my opinion or winter, between Dec- Mar, if you are going for skiing in the Japanese Alps. Currency: Japanese yen ¥ (€1= ¥1.20) Language: Japanese, English is not widely spoken and a lot of restaurants only have menus in Japanese so downloading google translate offline is really useful. The signs in the train stations are in English and Japanese and some restaurants have English menus too. Transport: JR Pass! I’ll cover this in detail further on. Taxis are exorbitantly expensive so avoid at all costs. Uber…
No trip to Japan would be complete without spending some time in the crazy, eccentric city of Tokyo. The list of things to do in Tokyo is endless. It is such a huge city and can take time to get around. I’ve made a shortlist of the best things I did in Tokyo. Robot restaurant. For an assault on the senses, check out robot restaurant for one of their shows. This is a crazy show and not really a restaurant as the name suggests but you can order food there and preorder a bento box meal for ¥1000. The food isn’t great here so I would just go to enjoy the show. They serve alcohol too but at triple the price of a drink in 711. Its not a cheap show but if you book online you can get it for 38% less and booking an afternoon show is also cheaper than an evening show. It is an experience for sure and other than in Tokyo, I don’t know where you would ever see something quite like it. An afternoon ticket online costs, ¥5246 (€44) and an evening one is ¥6500 (€55). 2. Hike…
Hong Kong, my favourite city in the world! Hong Kong has so much to offer and so much to do. It is one of the most diverse cities I’ve visited and has something to offer everyone weather you’re a foodie, a beach bum, hiker or city lover. Hong Kong is a compact city with incredible public transport that is incredulously cheap that it makes getting around so quick and easy. The main languages are English and Cantonese and the majority speak English or have some level of pigeon English making it a hot travel destination with very few barriers. If you are smart and plan your days well you can do and see a lot in Hong Kong in just a few days. I stayed on Hong Kong Island and I would recommend staying on that side or near the Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) on the Kowloon side. Most of the expats tend to live on the island side and hang out there, the central area and night clubs and bars are on that side too so best to base yourself there during your stay in Hong Kong. I spent four days in Hong Kong and…
Argentina is a travellers paradise with so much variety of terrains, landscapes and activities to suit everyone. It’s the second biggest country in South America spanning from the tip of Bolivia down to near the Arctic circle. Argentina has everything from out of this world waterfalls and tropical climates, South America’s highest peak, skiing in the winter, glacier carved landscape in Patagonia, metropolitan cities to the finest wine regions in the world. Argentina is safe,cheap, easy to travel and the people are so helpful and friendly. It is a massive country so be prepared for long night buses or several internal flights to explore the country. General info and tips Capital: Buenos Aires Language: Spanish Currency: Argentina Peso (AP); €1= 61 ( at time of writing, 3/9/2019). Money in Argentina- the AP is a volatile currency going through hyperinflation. The Argentine economic situation is very unstable and in just one day the stock market and value of the peso dropped by 30%. The dollar is seen as a very valuable currency in Argentina due to its stability. ATMs often run out of money and charge about €10 to withdraw and they have a maximum…
Machu Picchu, the finest example of Inca civilization, is the most visited site in Peru and is named one of the seven modern wonders of the world. Its not hard to see why. The ancient city was built by the Incas on a mountain top surrounded by temples, terraces and water channels. There are several ways to get to Machu Picchu. I will mention a few of them and cover the option I took, the Inca jungle trail, in detail. When to visit Machu Picchu The dry season between May- Oct is the best time to visit. Jun-Aug is peak season and number of visitors rise during this time meaning booking the train and Inca Trail in advance is a must. I went in June, during the busiest month and we still managed to get onto the Inca jungle trail, a train ticket coming back and entrance in at 7 am and we only booked the day before when we arrived in Cusco. The wet season is Nov- Mar where you can expect anything from light drizzle to heavy downpours daily. The heaviest rain is in February, which is also when the Inca Trail path is closed for maintenance…
Buenos Aires, the home of all things meat and steak, is seeing much more diversity now in its food scene than just coffee, parrillas, wine and repeat. It’s food scene is evolving and traditionally bound restaurants serving just heaps of meat are being redefined by wave of young chefs. Buenos Aires is a brunch goers and foodies dream where you can find classic empanadas for less than 50 cent to the world’s finest steaks and wine. Argentina is a melting pot of French, Italian and Spanish heritage to name but a few and they have all left their mark on the culinary scene. Here are some of the best restaurants in Buenos Aires, suitable for both veggies and meat lovers. Don Julio Parrilla: It was listed in Latin America’s top 50 best restaurants in 2016. A meat lovers paradise serving the finest grass-fed Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle, raised in the countryside outside Buenos Aires. The steak here is phenomenal and cuts like butter. The service is amazing, even when queuing outside. Reservations are required here but if you’re not in a hurry, stick your name on a list, have a…
One of my favourite past times is enjoying one of the greatest things in life: food. I was surprised at how good the food scene was in La Paz. The vegetarian and vegan trend is quickly catching on in La Paz and quality eateries are on the rise. Here are a few of my favourite places to eat in La Paz, all of them either vegetarian or having vegetarian options. Popular Cocina Boliviana. This was my far my favourite place and well worth the queue. The food here is incredible quality, presented impeccably and the service was second to none. A Mcdonalds at home would cost you more than this three course meal and drink setting you back a whole B$ 65 (€7). The run two sittings daily for a three course lunch, one at 12.30 pm and one at 2 pm. However you need to be here at 12 to put your name down as they don’t take prior reservations. I arrived at 11.45 am and they wouldn’t take my name until 12 pm. https://www.facebook.com/popularlapazbolivia/ 2. Cafe del Mundo. I came back to this place several times during my…
San Pedro de Atacama, know as the driest desert on earth in the North of Chile is also renowned for being the most expensive place in Chile. This is widely known even amongst Chileans. Its northern chile’s number one tourist attraction. The scenery around it is spectacular, including the world’s largest salt flats, volcanos, geysers and rock formations that make you feel you’re in another world. San Pedro Town itself is not much more than a picturesque plaza lined with trees and a few streets clustered with artasen shops, eateries and tour agencies. Despite the hoards of tourists, there a very chill and calm atmosphere here perfect for relaxing in a hammock with a good book in one of the many hostel courtyards. Getting there The nearest airport and big city is Calama, 106 km away. Domestic flights between Santiago and Calama are pretty cheap and sometimes work out cheaper than the 30 hour bus from Santiago. Another popular way of getting here is coming from Bolivia’s via the Salar de Uyuni. I finished up a 3 day tour with a transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. Where to stay There are…
Time: 2.5 days Location: Uyuni, Bolivia. Can also start from San Pedro de Atacama or Tupiza in Bolivia. Cost: B$870 (€113) Includes: transport, guide, breakfast x 2, lunch x 2 and dinner x 2, drinks at meals, accommodation x 2 nights, sleeping bags, transfer to Chile. Not included: hot springs (B$6/ €0.90), national park fee (B$150/ €20), paying for toilets along the way (all between B$2-5) Salar de Uyuni, located in the Andes in South West Bolivia, is the world’s largest salt flats covering a massive 11,000 squared km. It is believed that a lake dried up leaving a white canvas of white salt, cati filled islands and rock formations. It’s the Machu Picchu of Bolivia and no trip would be complete to Bolivia without including this white desert. There are a few options for doing a tour of the salt flats. The most popular are either one day or 3 day tours, with the option of finishing in Chile if coming from Bolivia or vice versa. You can also finish the tour back in Uyuni if you’re not travelling onwards and want to do…
Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca Mountain is one of the earth’s most amazing natural wonders. Until recently it was concealed under ice and snow until global warming unfortunately caused the glaciers to melt, unveiling this natural marvel. Its possible to hike the mountain, one of the most popular excursions from Cusco but bear in mind the unfortunate reason why we are able to do so now. When you’re in Cusco you will see tour operators lining every street and almost all of them will have the photo of the imfamous Rainbow Mountain outside advertising tours to it. Most of the tours cost between 60-100 PEN (€ 16-27) . The cheapest I saw advertised was 55 PEN (€ 15) and that includes transport, breakfast and lunch and entrance to Rainbow Mountain. All of the tours seem to leave at a ridiculous hour in the morning, actually the middle of the night. Some leaving as early at 2 am, others giving you a lie on until 4 am. Rainbow Mountain has exploded in popularity in recent years and we’d heard about the hoards of people hoping off the buses to tackle the mountain and jostle for space…
Huayna Potosi is a popular climb from La Paz and supposedly an “easy” 6000m climb. At 6088 m, it is higher than bucket list regulars Everest Base Camp and Mt Kilimanjaro, higher than any peak on the European continent and almost 6 times higher than the highest peak in Ireland; Carrauntoohil (1038 m). At the summit, the standard barometric pressure is 46kPa. In English this means that there is 46% of the oxygen that is available at sea level. This was a challenge I wanted to undertake and see what limits I could push my body to. Quick facts: Summit: 6088 m Base camp: 4400 m High camp: 5130 m Ascent time: 5-6 hours Decent time: 2 hours Time required: 2 days, leave La Paz 9 am and return 2pm following day. Cost: 650 Bolivians (€83) Included: gear, sleeping bag, guide, transport, lunch, snack, dinner, breakfast and soup after climb. Not included: breakfast day 1 and 20 Bolivians entrance fee. Difficulty level: hard Technically: easy, no mountaineer or climbing experience required. I had my eye on HP, literally, since getting to Bolivia. It can be seen high in the distance from Isla Del Sol and towering over…
Cerro Tunari is the highest peak in central Bolivia standing at 5035m. It’s situated in the Bolivian Andes in the Cochabamba department. The hike starts at 4500 m, passing through glacier lakes and giving majestic views of the Cordillera Tunari mountain range. It’s possible to hike on your own but tricky to get to and in the middle of nowhere so for safety sake, I would make sure you go with someone. When I was visiting Cochabamba, I googled ‘things to do in Cochabamba’ as you do and Tunari National Park and Cerro Tunari came up. If I’m in an area with a mountain within driving distance, I’m gona climb it. I think it’s the best way to see the area, you get a full view of the surrounding place from 5000 plus meters high. However my Google search wasn’t coming up with too much apart from some vague TripAdvisor reviews saying it could be done yourself by getting buses, but it wasn’t advisable. Other things coming up on my search were tour companies charging $100 for the day with a group. I wasn…
You can visit the Amazon from several countries in South America and choosing to visit it from Bolivia definitely has its perks due to its central location and budget friendly prices. It’s also significantly cheaper than other countries (yes, looking at you Brazil). Visiting the Amazon pampas with Fluvial Tours was so much better than I expected. There are two types of tours of the amazon, the jungle and the pampas tour. After having done the pampas tour, I wish I had planned the time to do both but for me I’m glad I picked the pampas.The main difference between the two tours is the wildlife. On the pampas you see lots of wildlife along the banks of the river. However you don’t actually go into the amazon rainforest and spend most of the time on a boat.The jungle tour consists more of walking through the jungle seeing and identifying flora. The wildlife seen is much more sparc. The jungle is so dense spotting wildlife proves much more difficult although you experience staying deep in the amazon rainforest. Flying into the rural town of Rurrenabaque over the Amazon gave me a real…
Peru blew me away with all it had to offer. I know I say every country in South and Central America are so diverse but Peru for me was the best so far. The people in Peru are just so friendly and eager to help. They always seem happy and their enthusiasm for football is contagious. While I was in Peru they made it to the final of Copa America which is unheard of for Peru. Watching the locals go crazy made watching football fun (coming from someone who doesn’t watch it unless paid to). Peru’s landscape ranges from Andean glacial peaks and sprawling deserts to the rich rainforests of the Amazon basin. In one day you can climb a mountain, visit an oasis and surf on the beach. Peru would be a top pick of mine for adventurous travelers, hiking lovers and anyone interested in discovering the land of the Inca’s. I spend a month in Peru and it didn’t feel long enough although a month is plenty of time to see the highlights and immerse in the Peruvian culture. I’m happiest when either A) eating or B) outdoors…
The Santa Cruz hike is one of the most popular multi day hikes from the town of Huaraz, which sits at over 3000 m between the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra mountain ranges. There are over 35 mountains over 6000 m in the area so the scenery surrounding this grimy, busy town is incredible. Huaraz lies 400 km from Lima and we arrived here on a night bus from Lima for $12. Santa Cruz hike takes usually 4 days but can be done in 3 days. It has some of the best views in the Andeas, you will be rewarded with views of turquoise lakes, snowy peaks and incredible views from the highest point on the hike, Punta Union at 4750 m. Santa Cruz hike can be done independently and we met plenty of people who went on it unguided. It’s a very straight forward path with plenty of hikers on it and its clearly outlined on maps.me. We didn’t have our our tents and sleeping bags but you can rent them in town. For the ease of it and the health of my back (I struggle to walk 800 m with my 17 kg…
Ecuador was one of those countries I hadn’t researched much before coming out to South America. I had heard of the Galapagos but not much else and probably did not allocate the time it deserved. I had three weeks in Ecuador and this is some of the things we did. Ecuador lies south of Colombia sharing borders with Peru and Brazil. It’s a pretty small country relative to its neighbours and often gets over looked and doesn’t get the attention it deserves. If you love hiking, beaches, colonial cities and mountains, Ecuador is has it all. From the Amazon jungle to snow capped mountains, surfing beaches and Andean villages, it ticks all the boxes. Ecuador uses the US dollar making it slightly more expensive than neighbouring Peru and Colombia but still its very cheap compared to US or Irish prices. Some of the best value hostels so far have been in Ecuador. I arrived to Ecuador from Colombia via land. This was fairly easy to navigate and took about 5 hours on a bus from the border town of Tulcan to reach the capital of Quito. Quito Quito is the world’s second…
The Galapagos Islands are usually bypassed by backpackers due to the expense of the islands and getting here. A trip to these magical islands usually don’t fit into their budget but it has been a dream of mine to scuba dive here since I got my diving licence six years ago so it was always on my South America bucket list. These volcanic islands were first discovered by Charles Darwin in 1535 and later declared a national park in 1959. Visiting The Galapagos islands is like visiting an alternative universe, it’s an enhanced archipelago of islands formed by volcanic eruption and inhabited by only those who could survive the journey from mainland. It is one of the two places in the world where giant tortoises can be found. The islands are home to some of the worlds rarest and most extraordinary animals such as blue footed boobies, green turtles, marine iguanas, hammerhead sharks , sea lions (the golden retrievers of the Galapagos) and so many more. What I found incredible was the fearlessness of the islands inhabitants. If you have a staring contest with the animals you will lose, and you will also lose a game of…
The Quilotoa Loop is a self guided hike (you can get a guide but really no need) through the Andean Mountains taking anywhere between 2-4 days but most people do it in 3 days. It’s an undulated ring path that travels between the little Andean towns of Sigchos, Isinlivi, Chugchilan and Quilotoa. You can either start at the crater lake or finish there. The whole loop is roughly 36 km in total. Make sure to bring enough cash with you as there are no ATMs along the way and most places will only take cash. Although the trail will be easier starting at the lake as it will be mostly don hill from here, we preferred finishing at the lake as you have something to look forward to for the three days leading up to it. We stayed in Latacunga the night before starting the hike and left our big rucksacks in the hostel and just took day bags with us. From Secret Gardens in Cotopaxi we got dropped to the bus terminal in Latacunga and checked the times of the buses heading to Sigchos the next day. We stayed in a lovely hostel in Latacunga called…
I had about two weeks left in Colombia when I landed in Bogota so after some deliberation and lots of changing of plans we decided we would skip San Augustin and The Tatacoa Desert due to buses, time spend traveling and the fact we needed to be in Ecuador soon. If you have time though from what I’ve heard and seen both Tatacoa Desert are well worth budgeting time for and are slightly off the beaten track so it will be slightly cheaper and you will get away from hoards of gringos. Bogota We flew into Bogota from Medellin for less than $45 but you can also get night buses here from Medellin. If you’re arriving in to Colombia from an international flight it will probably land here. Bogota is a HUGE city home to more than 8 million people. It is the world’s highest capital and sits at 2640 m so the elevation can be a bit of a shock. I felt floored for the first two days here like I had no energy and as if I had smoked 50 a day for the last 10 years. It was all fun and…
Medellín is the second largest city in Colombia with a population of about 4 million people. It’s located in a deep valley with tall skyward buildings in the centre and tightly packed houses sprawling outwards from the center up the sides of the valley. The city sits at an elevation of 1500m. The city has undergone a massive transformation in recent years and it’s clear why it is such an attractive city for travelers to visit with it’s pleasant temperate climate (although it rained A LOT when we were there), great restaurants and lively bar scene, museums, walking tours and public artwork. Medellín is my favourite city in Colombia by a mile and there is just so much to do here. Getting there and away Medellín is located in the basin of a valley surrounded by mountains and difficult to get to over land, long bumping buses so I suggest flying into it if you’re coming up further north or south. From the Zona Cafetera or Bogota you can easily take a bus. It’s a 10 hour bus from Bogota and a 6 hour bus from he…
Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast is one of the most popular areas for travelers and is dominated by backpackers enjoying all this area has to offer. It’s easy to see why this region is so popular with beautiful beaches, cultural experiences, diverse cities, unique landscapes and great hiking. Three weeks is ample time and will allow you take your time and make more stops along the coast line but I spent two weeks in Northern Colombia and I managed to see the highlights and not feel too rushed. I started my Colombian journey in Sapzurro, a small tranquil coastal town on the Panamanian border. I arrived to Colombia via the San Blas Islands (see my post about the San Blas Islands), so we stopped for lunch on the beach in Sapzurro before heading on to Capurgana for the night. Capurgana is a short 15 minute boat ride from Sapzurro and very similar. These towns have a relaxed Caribbean vibe and jungle backed beaches. They are off the beaten track and there isn’t too much to do there so I wouldn’t recommend visiting them unless you are arriving from the San Blas Islands or…
The San Blas islands are a group of about 365 islands off the Carribean coast of Panama. There are lots of tours doing day trips to the San Blas islands and two main tours organising cruises around the San Blas islands as a method to travel between Colombia and Panama. I chose to go with San Blas Adventures as they transport the guests via a speed boat which means you sleep on the islands and minimise your time on the water and get more island time. I didn’t fancy sleeping on a boat either with people possibly being sea sick beside me. Couldn’t hack the idea of smelling other people’s vomit. No gracias. All you need to know about San Blas Adventures: It’s a 3 night, 4 day trip. It costs $399 (or $379 if you use this discount code: TWOWANDERINGSOLES) You sleep in hammocks for night 1 and 2 and have a bed on night 3. You spend day and night 1 and 2 and day 3 on the islands. Night 3 is spent in a traditional Kuna village. The tour includes all food and accommodation from day 1 to lunch…
Panama is an amazing country with so much to do. It has incredible islands with white beaches and transparent water, cloud forests, jungles and volcanos. It is the only place you can see the sun rise over the Pacific ocean and set over the Caribbean sea. Getting there and away: From Costa Rica: crossing the border at Sixaola in Costa Rica to Panama was very swift and painless. We were coming from Puerto Viejo and heading to Bocas del Toro. Get the bus for 45 mins from Puerto Viejo to Sixaola. Walk from the bus station to what looks like a shop someone’s house to pay the exit fee of $8 and walk to the bridge to get stamped out of Costa Rica. Walk across the bridge and fill out a form in immigration. Walk to the immigration office and get stamped into Panama. All took about 10 mins in total. Getting to Bocas del Toro you will need to take a collectivo to Almirante to take the boat to Bocas main island. They will charge you $10 but try haggle to $7. The boat to Bocas will take 40 mins and cost $10 open return or $6…
Thinking of traveling around central America but not sure how much time and money you need and where to go? Hopefully this post will help you! Central America is relatively small compared to neighbouring North America and South America. You can get around it easy enough on public buses and shuttles and cover alot of countries in a matter of weeks. Its cheap too, not south east Asia cheap but cheap. Guatemala and Nicaragua being the cheapest countries to travel in, maybe that’s why I spent the longest time in both of those countries but they were also my favourite countries too. Time of year to visit The dry season is from Dec to Mar and the high season with dry warm days and cooler than the hotter, wet and humid months from May until October. How long do I need? I spend just over 3 months in total in Central America and felt it was the perfect amount of time to explore the highlights of each country, get off the beaten track slightly and emerse fully in the culture of the countries. Of course I could have spent a lot longer and ideally I would have loved…
There is a reason why this country is known as the “rich coast”. It has everything from surfing, farming, volcanos, cloud forests, adventure activities and national parks home to 6% of the world’s total biodiversity. It is a small country and easily seen by car or public bus. Although the public bus system can seem a bit chaotic as there is no one local company or central station in San Jose. Getting there from Nicaragua? There are lots of shuttles and the public ticobus going from the cities to San Jose or popular destination such as Tamarindo, Monteverde or La Fortuna. We are tight, broke backers so we opted to cross the border at Penas Blancas on the chicken bus and continue to La Fortuna by chicken bus. However the chicken buses in Costa Rica are nothing like the old school buses elsewhere in Central America and you will usually get a seat and I haven’t yet been sat between a breast feeding woman and a man holding a box of baby chickens. From Panama: buses go direct between Panama city and San Jose. If you’re coming from Bocas del Toro…
Nicaragua embraces backpackers with volcanic views, colonial cities, incredible surf beaches, Caribbean seas and cloud forests. Nicaragua straddles both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts giving travellers options of diving in warm turquoise Caribbean waters and wild black sand surfing beaches. This wonderful country in the centre of Central America is boarder by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. It’s a relatively cheap country and it’s very easy to get around with reasonable shuttles or dirt cheap chicken buses. You won’t need to do any ten hour buses to get from one place to the next. Getting there If you come via air you will fly into Managua airport where you will be able to get buses to your next destination. Coming from El Salvador? Hop on a small boat from Potosí. Coming from Honduras or Coasta Rica? You can get local chicken buses or a Tica bus, which is a bus company that run coaches through Central America. We came from D&D brewery in Honduras all the way to San Juan del Sur in one day. We got a taxi to a petrol station to meet the Tica…
Leon is Nicaragua’s second largest city and the culture and political capital of Nicaragua. It’s home to some of the countries most beautiful historic buildings and the revolution that shaped Nicaragua as we know it today. Leon and Nicaragua in general has taken a downturn in tourism due to the civil unrest and street violence following the government announcement that it would reform its pension system and reduce benefits by five per cent. The demonstrations and protests began in a peaceful manner but quickly descended in bloody and deadly protests which saw police officers brutally force protesters to their knees and brutally execute them. This made Nicaragua and it’s main cities dangerous destination for tourist and forced hostels to close their doors. Thankfully peace has been restored somewhat and the UK, USA and Canadian governments to name a few have lifted their warning against travel to Nicaragua. During my time in Nicaragua, I found it to be very safe and peaceful, albeit sparse of many other backpackers. Leon is a beautiful colonial city in the north of Nicaragua. I spent a wonderful two days in the city roaming around and two days on the…
This is the part where I start sweating buckets and probably don’t stop for the next four months. First impression of El Salvador, it’s warm. Very warm and I’ve resigned myself to the fact I’m going to have a SUL (sweaty upper lip) for the remainder of my time here. El Salvador is the second least densiely populated country in Central America and currently the most dangerous country in the world due to having the highest murder rate in the world. Reading about El Salvador’s high crime rate and shocking murder rate should have been a deterrent to heading off hiking and running on trails alone but after a few days here I felt very safe and found the people so genuinely friendly. Not like other countries where if someone is being friendly I was always thinking right, what is it you want? It seems here people are nice for nothing. I’ve been running and hiking alone and have come back unscathed. So far so safe in El Salvador, touch wood. I’m still in the country so I’m afraid of jinxing it. El Salvador…
There are two ways to get from Xela to Lake Atitlan, by taking a shuttle for about an hour and a half or the best way in my opinion, hiking the 46km through the countryside surrounded by volcanos. Of course I opted for the 2 night 3 day multi day trek. I had heard great things about this physically challenging hike and it turned out to be the highlight of my month in Guatemala. The cost of the trek is 750 Q and 100 Q for the bag drop. This includes everything from breakfast the first morning to lunch on the third day, except a beer or ice cream on the second day. I did the trek with Quetzaltrekkers, the only non-profit, all volunteer-run trekking and outdoors association in Guatemala. 100% of the profits goes to support a school and provide housing for children who would otherwise be working and living on the streets in Xela. The trek runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays only so plan your time in Xela accordingly. The night before the hike we met at the Quetzaltrekkers office at 6pm for a pre departure meeting. In the group we were 22 participants and 4…
Belize is a beautiful small country bordering Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the left and the Caribbean Sea to the right. It was a nice surprise to get off the boat in Belize and be greeted in English with a thick Caribbean accent. Belize is famous for its barrier reef, the largest in the northern hemisphere and second largest in the world, second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Belize has a tiny population of 350,000 and is rich in a Garfunkel Caribbean culture. The eastern coast of Belize is dotted with hundreds of little islands called cayes (produced “keys”) and some of them you can stay on or visit for the day. If you’ve come from neighbouring Mexico or Guatemala, the price hike in Belize will make your eyes water. It is known as one of the most expensive if not the most expensive country in Central America but it’s such a small country two weeks is plenty of time to do the islands, Southern Belize and the western part of the country with jungle, ruins and caves to explore. Things to know about Belize: Currency: Belizan dollars but…
The Yucatan is situated in Mexico’s south east coast surrounded my clear tropical waters and white-coral sandy beaches. The peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea and the gulf of Mexico and everything that one associated with the word “Caribbean” is on full display along the shore line. The area is so diverse; from the most amazing and diverse coral reefs saturated in colour to Mayan ruins, colonial cities and towns to underground caves of fresh water called cenotes, slow beach towns to the bright lights and party scene in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The Yucatan has something to offer for every type of traveler. Time to go: The dry season which is also the high season is November to March where it is less humid and slightly cooler than the humid summer months. The wet or hurricane season is from late August to October. This is where you will find cheaper deals and having travelled to this area myself in September, I would not hesitate to go back at that time of year. One of the days during the 10 days in Mexico was rainy, other than that we had perfectly clear and sunny days but it was…
If you haven’t been to Cuba, it should be on your list. It is a country steeped in culture, history and it has been through a lot. Despite 50 years of withering neglect, the damaged colonial buildings are still grand and beautiful. You will feel as if you are in a time warp with the lack of internet, private enterprise, old classic cars and brightly coloured buildings. Things you need to know when going to Cuba: Cash is king! In Cuba they have two currencies; you’ll hear it being referred to as the local currency, or Cuban Peso, and the tourist currency, Cuban Convertible currency (CUC). Cuban currency is considered a closed currency, i.e you can only get it from within the country. The exchange rate is $1 = 1 CUC and 1 CUC = 25 Cuban Peso for locals. Tourists use almost exclusively CUC so you won’t need to worry about the other currency. Take cash in your own currency and exchange it at the desk in the airport for CUC. Not many shops and restaurants accept card so make sure you have cash on you, and ATMs are few and far between. Sometime…
The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Caledonia, east of Australia and west of Fiji. The country is made up of about 80 islands of which 65 are inhabited. The capital is Port Villa, which is the largest city and the economic centre, located on the island of Efate. The second largest city is Luganville, located on Espiritu Santo and if you only have a short time here (less then 10 days), I recommend just visiting these two islands. Things to know: Time zone: GMT +11. Vanuatu observes Vanuatu Time all year. There are no Daylight Saving Time clock changes. It is the same time zone as Sydney during their daylight savings. Currency: Vanuatu Vatu. A$1 = 80 Vatu. Credit credits: Credit and debit cards are accepted in most bigger restaurants, hotels and tour companies but they charge anywhere between 3-5% service fee. Cash is the preferred method of payment for most vendors and there are plenty of ATMs around but they charge up for 700 Vatu (A$10) every time you withdraw. We were hit with over A$50 in Arm withdrawal fees until we started to use…