It鈥檚 a bright, windy December day, and we鈥檙e on a boat barreling east from Belize City. For nearly three hours, the Caribbean has been choppy and rough, until the water abruptly goes still. The sudden calm can only mean we鈥檙e inside the reef. We鈥檙e almost there.

I poke my head through a porthole in the ceiling. Ahead of us on the blue horizon, a small island is growing bigger and more distinct. Longer than it is wide, it appears to consist of palm trees, a narrow crescent of yellow-sand beach, and, at the north end, a cluster of wooden, thatch-roofed cabanas. A small dock on the lee side awaits. Figures emerge, arms raised in greeting.

Belowdecks, someone鈥檚 kids are shrieking like lunatics.

I blink, letting my eyes adjust to what I鈥檓 seeing, waiting for my mind to catch up. Am I here or there? Is it then or now? What I鈥檓 seeing makes complete sense, and also it doesn鈥檛. I鈥檝e gone across the sea and back in time.

The post Time Has Stood Still on This Belize Island. How Wonderful. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Any number of concerns are on our radar as we plan our next trip, from serious issues like how destinations are working to mitigate tourists鈥� environmental impact to inconveniences like months-long passport wait times. In this column, our travel expert addresses your questions about how to navigate the world.

I鈥檓 going to Mexico City and have heard that the food scene is incredible. But a friend of mine just went there and got a parasite, and she thinks it came from a meal at a food truck. I鈥檓 an adventurous eater, but I want to avoid getting sick. How can I protect myself when I鈥檓 traveling and eating out all the time? 鈥擜 Queasy Foodie

Whether you’re having carnitas from a roadside taco stand听in Mexico听or dumplings from a teahouse in Nepal, experiencing local food culture is one of the joys of travel, as it sounds like you well know. But contracting a foodborne illness far from home can be traumatic, dulling even the most adventurous palates and even scaring travelers from returning to a destination.

When Anne Driscoll told friends that she and her family would be visiting Punta Mita, Mexico, she received unanimous advice: be wary of what you eat and drink. At least a half听dozen friends who had already traveled to the small Pacific-coast surf town had experienced gastro disasters. Forewarned, she took every precaution, from increasing her normal probiotic doses before the听trip to avoiding fresh produce while there and only drinking bottled water throughout her stay. However, the听entire family still got听extremely ill. 鈥淚t was catastrophic,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was violently expelling the contents of my stomach through both ends.鈥�

Driscoll was the first to fall ill. She thinks a hamburger she ate at the resort restaurant might have been the culprit. She听assumed it would be harmless if cooked well-done. Her husband and two teenage daughters relaxed their guard听the final day of vacation and had ice in their drinks. The ice potentially could have caused the 24 hours of intestinal agony that, unfortunately, overlapped with their flights home to New Mexico. 鈥淭hey used up all the barf bags on the plane, and my youngest got sick in four different places throughout the Dallas airport,鈥� she says. Driscoll has no plans to return to Mexico anytime soon. 鈥淚 know it鈥檚 not logical, but the experience was so bad that I can鈥檛 imagine going back and risking it again,鈥� she says.

Each year one in six Americans comes听down with food-related illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Some countries, like Mexico, have a reputation for felling travelers with gastrointestinal bugs (who hasn鈥檛 heard of Montezuma鈥檚 revenge?). Developing countries, especially ones with humid climates where bacteria breed more easily, tend to be dicier, says Dr. Kyle Staller, director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. 鈥淏ut you can get sick from contaminated water or an improperly handled burger patty anywhere in the world, including the U.S.,鈥� he adds.

Causes of GI Distress

Food-related illnesses are caused by , including salmonella,听E. coli, norovirus, and giardia. They often fester on raw or undercooked meat, raw vegetables, food stored at unsafe temperatures, or food prepared in an unsanitary manner or with contaminated water.

鈥淒on鈥檛 drink the water鈥� is a common travel precaution, especially when visiting third-world countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 180 countries, including popular vacation spots like Mexico, Thailand, and Belize, have tap water considered unsafe for consumption. Even if it is potable, drinking water听in a far-flung locale can still cause GI distress, cautions Dr. Lynne Ahn, an integrative gastroenterologist in Boston. 鈥淓veryone鈥檚 gut biome is unique,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚f the mineral or salt content of the water in a destination is different from what you鈥檙e used to at home, you could experience discomfort or worse.鈥�

Traveler鈥檚 diarrhea is a common illness, affecting between 30 percent and 70 percent of people on the road, according to the CDC. Depending on the bacteria, parasite, or virus, you could end up suffering a few hours or even a week, and experience vomiting, stomach cramps, body aches, and a fever. People who have irritable bowel syndrome or a compromised immune system are often at greater risk of more serious side effects,听says Staller.

Best Practices

No one wants to spend vacation sitting on or hovering over a toilet. A good rule of thumb is to drink filtered or bottled water (although try to avoid single-use plastics, opting instead for glass bottles or cans) when traveling to a destination with questionable water quality. Ahn also recommends making sure all beverages arrive sealed, and wiping off the container before taking a sip. Even small quantities of dirty water can have serious repercussions, so it鈥檚 smart to avoid ice and use filtered or bottled water to brush your teeth, she says.

If you really want to play it safe, stick to familiar foods, says Kendra Weekley, a gastrointestinal specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. Different diets create different gut flora, which is why locals in Kerala, India, are able to handle a fiery curry but that same dish, even if the ingredients are uncontaminated, may leave an听American traveler with an upset stomach. In high-risk gastro-disaster destinations like India and Nepal, travelers may find it鈥檚 wise to carry听a stash of snacks like protein bars and instant oatmeal, especially if they鈥檙e undertaking an adventure like trekking or mountaineering.

Unfortunately for healthy eaters and vegetarians, fresh, unprocessed, and highly nutritious foods like vegetables and fruits will most likely get you sick in a country without rigorous sanitation standards, says Staller, who advises avoiding lettuce as well as produce that doesn鈥檛 have peelable skin. And like at home, travelers should be wary of raw and undercooked seafood and meat, he adds.

If you鈥檝e been justifying an extra glass of cabernet or vodka and soda, thinking it can help ward off germs, think again. While some studies have suggested that drinking alcohol with a meal can reduce the chance of food poisoning, due to increased acidic content in the stomach, Staller says alcohol cannot kill foodborne pathogens and will most likely just leave you dehydrated.

Where You Can Safely Eat

It may sound like you have to live off packaged snacks, but avoiding gastro issues doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean sacrificing culinary pleasures. Food is one of the best vehicles to explore a culture and can typically be enjoyed without incident if you take proper precautions, says Staller.

In general, eating from street-food vendors is riskier than dining at a restaurant. That鈥檚 because in many developing countries, hawker carts and food trucks aren鈥檛 held to the same food-safety standards. If you do choose to eat street food, however, try to catch听a glimpse of the preparation area. Does the kitchen look clean? Are food handlers wearing gloves? Are raw meat and raw vegetables being听handled separately to prevent cross听contamination?

A long line is often a sign of good quality, says Staller. This tenet applies to restaurants, too. 鈥淲hen there鈥檚 a high degree of turnover with diners, ingredients are being used versus sitting in a refrigerator that might have an unreliable power supply,鈥� he says. Foods left out for long periods, especially in humid environments, are more likely to put the eater at risk of developing food poisoning. Which is why experts always suggest skipping the buffet.

Ed and Christy Rossi learned this lesson the hard way on a trip to Marrakech, Morocco. The weeklong conference they attended provided a daily lunch buffet, with dishes heated by warming trays and salads kept fresh with misters. But it wasn’t long before听the couple succumbed to vomiting and bloody diarrhea. 鈥淚 thought we were dying,鈥� recalls Ed. Upon returning home to Colorado,听they immediately went to their doctor for antibiotics and discovered they鈥檇 contracted shigella, a gastro superbug. The experience hasn鈥檛 prevented them from returning to Morocco, but they鈥檝e sworn off buffets in general.

Avoiding fresh fruits and vegetables extends to condiments, something even cautious eaters may overlook, says Staller. A bowl of salsa looks inviting when you鈥檙e noshing nachos, but anything made from raw vegetables or fruits can be trouble. And it doesn鈥檛 hurt to wipe off the opening of that bottle of hot sauce or ketchup before use.

Preventative Measures

Some evidence suggests that taking probiotics two weeks prior to travel, and while traveling, can reduce the rate of traveler鈥檚 diarrhea, says Weekley听of the Cleveland Clinic. However, different strains of 鈥済ood鈥� bacteria affect people differently, so find what works for you and take an effective dose (ask your doctor or pharmacist). Side effects can include bloating or gas. If the thought of getting sick is causing you stress, probiotic pills are a low-risk, potentially high-reward precaution, she says.

But also: travel anxiety can often unsettle your stomach before you even reach your destination.听Says Weekley, 鈥淚f your mind is stressing over packing and getting to the airport, your gut will feel it.鈥澨鼴reathing techniques and free meditation apps like Breethe or Headspace can help calm your nervous system ahead of travel or while on the plane.

And be sure to stay hydrated on the flight. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 want to get up to use the bathroom and end up dehydrated and constipated,鈥� says Weekley. If you鈥檙e prone to getting backed up from flying or an atypical diet, she suggests traveling with soluble fiber supplements or a stool softener like MiraLax.

Staller regularly works in developing countries and says he has a tendency听to suffer from GI problems. His go-to? That tried-and-true recommendation: Barbie-pink Pepto Bismol. A of students traveling to Mexico showed that those who took two tablets of Pepto Bismol听four times a day were 60 percent less likely to experience traveler鈥檚 diarrhea. Staller says that鈥檚 his regimen the minute he hits the ground and throughout a trip. He notes, though, that Pepto Bismol鈥檚 active ingredient, bismuth subsalicylate, can cause alarming but harmless symptoms such as black stools or a black tongue.

What to Do if You Get Sick

If you contract a foodborne illness, symptoms such as stomach cramps, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea typically start within hours but can also occur several days after ingesting听tainted food or drink. When you鈥檙e ill, your body tends听to lose a lot of liquid, so staying hydrated is crucial. 鈥淚t鈥檚 often dehydration that makes you feel more sick,鈥� says Staller. He recommends traveling with oral rehydration salts, which are absorbed more effectively by the body than water alone. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like the equivalent of an IV,鈥� he says.

Traveler鈥檚 diarrhea is largely resistant to antibiotics, he says, so your best plan is to be close to a bathroom, stay hydrated, and ride it out. If you have severe symptoms, like a fever or blood in your stool, seek out medical care.

If you鈥檙e an omnivore and an intrepid traveler, chances are you鈥檒l be hit with a gastro catastrophe at some point in your journeys. Often disaster strikes when you let your guard down or simply don鈥檛 trust your gut. I tend to have a stomach of steel. The听two times I have gotten food poisoning I questioned what I was consuming yet听proceeded anyway to be polite to my hosts. All it took was the smallest sip of a lassi that had been sitting out in the sun in Varanasi, India, and a tiny bite of goat stew in the Omo Valley of Ethiopia to cause me 24 hours of anguish. Lesson learned: table manners don鈥檛 always apply on the road.

Have a question of your own? Drop us a line at Traveladvice@outsideinc.com.听

国产吃瓜黑料 correspondent Jen Murphy became an omnivore after an eight-year stint working at Food and Wine magazine. She鈥檚 since eaten everything from guinea pig to grasshoppers to fried cod sperm sacs and has remarkably only been hit with two major gastro disasters in all of her world travels.听

The post How to Avoid Food Sickness While Traveling appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

There are half a dozen things in the jungle that worry me: skinny green vine snakes, 200-pound panthers, all kinds of poisonous plants. And yet I鈥檓 walking through the dense jungle in a bathing suit, with an inflatable tube hanging from my shoulder as if I don’t have a care in the world. Therein lies the beauty of Belize鈥攖he country is an odd mixture of foreign and familiar, a living contradiction in the most fascinating ways. It sits in the middle of Central America, flanked by Mexico and Guatemala, but has more in common with Caribbean culture than its immediate neighbors.

The country welcomes foreigners as an integral part of its economy (and takes the American dollar), yet it has managed to resist some of the biggest trappings of that international influence. For example, there are no American chain restaurants. Kentucky Fried Chicken tried to open some locations here in the eighties, but it didn鈥檛 stick; locals were curious but ultimately more satisfied with the mom-and-pop shops that operate in backyard kitchens and buying from the women who sell snacks out of coolers on the side of the road.

I鈥檓 not suggesting Belize has some sort of identity crisis. On the contrary, the country and its citizens seem to be very comfortable with the cultural nuances at play. It is one of the most stable nations in the region, and one of the most diverse in terms of both culture and adventure. Less than 9,000 square miles, and just 180 miles long and 68 miles wide, it鈥檚 roughly the size of Massachusetts, so you might not think there would be much to it. But get this: . And with only 420,000 residents, even though the country鈥檚 landmass is small, it鈥檚 not hard to find solitude.

Mayans are the original denizens of Belize, having called it home since 1500 B.C., with communities inhabiting the Maya Mountains. Creoles, the descendants of enslaved Africans, make up roughly 24 percent of today鈥檚 population, while the majority of Belizeans are Spanish-speaking mestizo, a mixture of Maya and Spanish. The Garifuna, descendants of shipwrecked Africans who blended with native islanders, comprise a small but culturally significant portion of the demographic as well. More recently, a large influx of German-speaking Mennonites and Chinese immigrants have helped diversify the pot. Because the country was a British colony until 1980, English remains the official language (and Queen Elizabeth is still on all of the local currency), but due to the cultural diversity, most Belizeans speak three languages. They grow up speaking Kriol, are taught English in school, and many learn Spanish, thanks to the influence of their Central American neighbors.

The landscape is just as fascinating as the culture. With 240 miles of coastline along the Caribbean Sea, forest-covered mountains in the west, and peaks that rise up to 3,600 feet, Belize shifts between broad-leaved jungle, arid pine hillsides, and a coastline peppered with more than 450 cayes (small, low islands) that are strung together over the world鈥檚 second-largest barrier reef. You鈥檒l find restored Maya ruins on one side of the country and seaside villages on the other.

Despite all of the natural resources and the rich heritage, most Americans know little about the country. We鈥檝e made our mark and explored every inch of Costa Rica and Mexico, but aside from those in a handful of expat retirement communities and a few beach towns that get hammered with tourists, most of us find Belize still largely a mystery.

What many have heard of is the Great Blue Hole, a sinkhole amid the barrier reef that Jacques Cousteau labeled one of the best diving spots in the world. The site, with a diameter of 1,000 feet and a depth of 400 feet, is truly amazing, but even more so is the thriving reef that surrounds it, an equally popular attraction.

I recently spent seven days trying to crack the enigma that is Belize. I followed Maya guides into caves and over towering ruins. I snorkeled with third-generation professional water people and hiked through jungles looking for monkeys and wild cats. In the mountains I ate a steady diet of stewed chicken with rice and beans, and on the coast, seafood prepared every way possible. I couldn鈥檛 get enough of local delicacies, like banana jam and Marie Sharp鈥檚 pepper sauce, both of which changed my life in small, significant ways. A week was not enough. Even though I was constantly moving, seeking the next adventure, I barely scratched the surface. Belize remains a mystery. A delightful one. And I can鈥檛 wait to go back.

What You Need to Know Before You Visit

Hire a guide. I enjoy the discovery that trekking alone in the wilderness provides, but you should consider hiring guides for most of your pursuits in Belize. First, adventure guiding is a growing business here. Second, every guide that accompanied me grew up in the country and has a passion for their backyard and its resources. But mostly, you won鈥檛 know what you鈥檙e looking at without a guide. For instance, I toured Caracol, an impressive site of Maya ruins, with a guide and learned about how the city supported evidence of a middle class in the civilization and also that they believed the saba tree could span heaven, earth, and the underworld. In fact, some Maya sites, like the ATM cave (see below) require accompaniment by local guides to help preserve the sanctity of the area.

Getting around is slow going. It鈥檚 a small country, but it takes a long time to drive from one side to the other because there are only four paved highways. Belize is divided into six different districts, though most travelers stick to the mountains in the west, the coastal towns to the south, and the cayes that punctuate the sea. Aside from the highways, the rest of the roads are dirt, which require a four-wheel drive and can become impassable after a hard rain. Land travel between districts and towns is so tough that many travelers and locals take puddle jumpers between the bustling towns of Belize City, San Ignacio, Placencia, and the cayes. Keep this in mind if you鈥檙e planning to drive over to the next town or park鈥�20 miles could take an hour or two.

Prepare for the jungle. If you鈥檙e going to spend time in the interior, you鈥檒l be in a subtropical ecosystem that has all the hallmarks of a jungle: heat, humidity, and bugs. Lightweight hiking pants and long-sleeved sun shirts will be your best friends when it comes to keeping the bugs off. A layer of deet helps, too. That said, during my time in Belize, I didn鈥檛 find the mosquitos to be any worse than what I鈥檝e experienced in Florida or South Carolina. Take a few precautions and you鈥檒l be just fine.

Be serious about conservation. In 2017, the country passed a moratorium on oil exploration in Belizean waters, making it one of the few countries in the world to do so. In the past few years, the government has reigned in illegal fishing while expanding its offshore conservation areas, where hundreds of islands are dotted with resorts catering to anglers, paddlers, and divers. The most tangible and dramatic restoration effort happened recently, when the country sank the Winconcrete, a former World War II ship that will serve as an artificial reef, enhancing both the local ecosystem and its tourism draw. In recent years an environmental coalition that includes the Nature Conservancy, Rainforest Trust, and the World Land Trust purchased 236,000 acres of the Belize Maya Forest, protecting roughly 9 percent of the country鈥檚 landmass in a single effort.

Understand that it鈥檚 a rapidly developing country. After Belize broke from colonial rule, it experienced a huge developmental leap within a single generation. The growing pains are still apparent (a young road system is the most obvious), and many of the country鈥檚 residents remain below poverty level, but the future of Belize looks bright, particularly in terms of eco-tourism and conservation. Before the pandemic, lodges, parks, and Maya sites in the rainforest gave the local economy an annual boost of $15 million. Overall, ecotourism is responsible for $1 billion in annual revenue and more than 20,000 jobs in Belize.

Embrace soft adventure. The mountains and jungles are ripe for serious adventure, and dedicated residents are hard at work developing mountain-bike trail systems and rock-climbing routes. The potential for canyoneering in the Maya Mountains is off the charts as well. But by and large, guided adventures are of the soft variety, and most companies and resorts will steer you toward zip-line tours and cave-tubing opportunities. But don鈥檛 fret; the guides are locals who know the jungles well and are often willing to customize an adventure for a client. If there鈥檚 a river you want to explore, or a multiday excursion you鈥檙e dying to experience, ask guides what鈥檚 possible. They鈥檒l probably accommodate you.

Consult travel advisories. While certain sections of Belize City are widely regarded as dangerous due to gang activity, I stuck to touristy neighborhoods and felt safe there and throughout my travels. As always, it鈥檚 important to exercise caution and avoid making yourself a target for pickpockets. Check the current from the U.S. Embassy so you can make an informed decision.

Do a lot of research if you want to camp. The country has a variety of established campgrounds, both in the jungle and along the cayes. Most jungle preserves and parks offer camping options, and you might have the entire area to yourself, as the activity isn鈥檛 as popular in Belize as it is in the U.S. You鈥檒l need to research each park you鈥檙e visiting directly to make sure they have sites for rent, as there鈥檚 no central reservation database. Be sure to bring everything you need; you won鈥檛 find any independent outdoor stores here.

The Best Time of Year to Visit Belize

Those who visit in the high season, which runs from late November to mid-April, will enjoy consistently pleasant weather, with little rain and mild but warm temperatures that peak in the mid-eighties. It can get chilly at night and in the morning, though, especially in the mountains.

The rainy season coincides with hurricane season, running from June through November, though days typically only see brief afternoon thunderstorms. Hurricanes peak in September and October. The amount of rainfall differs depending on the region, with the south getting three times as much (150 inches) as the north (50 inches).

Aside from April and May, which are the hottest months, when the mercury might might hit triple digits, the temperatures are relatively consistent in Belize. Winter weather is definitely warm enough for swimming in the ocean, although occasional cold fronts, called 鈥渘orthers,鈥� will swoop in for a few days at a time.

Crowds disperse during summer months, and you can find the lowest prices then, but you鈥檒l also deal with the most finicky weather.

How to Get There and Around

Getting to Belize

There are an increasing number of direct flights, most of which fly into Belize City, at the center of the country. Alaska, American, Delta, and United Airlines all offer direct flights to Belize City year-round, and airlines including Frontier, Southwest, and Sun Country Airlines offer direct flights during peak season.

Getting Around Belize

Renting a car is straightforward, and a number of major companies have offices in the Belize City airport, but keep in mind all car rentals have to be returned to their point of origin, and gas is three times as expensive in Belize as it is in the U.S. If you鈥檙e going to explore the jungle, it might make sense to rent a four-wheel drive.

While there鈥檚 an expansive bus system, it can be slow and unreliable. If you don鈥檛 want to rent a car, many resorts offer transfers from the airport. A guided hike or adventure usually includes pickup and drop-off, and many services can also be hired to transport you between cities.

If you鈥檙e spending most of your time on the cayes, skip the rental and simply book transfers to airports and ferry landings. Regional airports connect key cities on the mainland to a few of the larger cayes off the coast, and听 and 听run daily flights between points. and 听will also carry you to the larger and smaller cayes.

Belize Travel: Where to Go

It鈥檚 a small country, so you might be inclined to try and 鈥渟ee it all.鈥� Don鈥檛. If you only have a few days, pick one region. If you鈥檙e here for a week, consider splitting your time evenly between the islands and the mountains.

There are four regions: northern Belize, western Belize, southern Belize, and the cayes. Central, coastal Belize City offers quick access to the cayes via puddle jumpers and ferries. It鈥檚 also the starting point for the only paved highways headed north, west, and south. Western Belize is mountainous, full of waterfalls, Maya archeological sites, caves, and jungle resorts. Off the coast, the 450 cayes are a mix of privately owned, bustling centers of tourism and pristine preserves.

The reef acts as a sort of glue, linking all these islands and attracting snorkelers, divers, and anglers. Southern Belize is home to coastal towns with a vibrant Garifuna culture, like the scrappy port town Dangriga, and up-and-coming tourist towns, like Hopkins Village and Placencia. Inland you鈥檒l find wild rainforests that hide animal preserves and archaeological sites. Northern Belize is the country鈥檚 hub of agriculture. Sugarcane is the main crop, but you鈥檒l also find groves of bananas and pineapples.

We鈥檙e focusing on the hot spots of adventure鈥攚estern Belize, southern Belize, and the cayes. Follow this guide to explore Maya sites, trek through jungles and caves, and island-hop along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, paddling, diving, and fishing as you go.

Western Belize

The 72-mile Western Highway runs from Belize City to the town of San Ignacio, a bustling hub with a lively food and bar scene roughly 11 miles from the Guatemalan border. As you make this drive west, the terrain quickly goes from floodplain (Belize City sits below sea level and was evacuated in the 1960s after a hurricane) to scrub brush to lush tropical forest. The mountains in western Belize rise to 3,681 feet, serving as a backdrop to communities like San Ignacio and Belmopan. From San Ignacio, the pavement mostly ends and the mountain roads that define western Belize can only be tackled by a four-wheel drive.

The terrain is decidedly jungly, with lush broad-leaved forest dominating most of the slopes and limestone crags giving way to hundreds of caves. Rivers run wild, offering numerous waterfalls and swimming holes. Citrus trees are everywhere, and Belizeans like to pull the fruit from the tree before it鈥檚 ripe, slice it, and eat it with salt, pepper, lime, and Marie Sharp鈥檚 pepper sauce. Mountain biking and rock climbing are gaining popularity, and more routes are being built every year. But if you鈥檙e in the Maya Mountains, you want to spend your time trekking to waterfalls, exploring caves, and visiting Maya ruins.

Some of these adventures can be done on your own, but again, spring for a tour guide so you can fully comprehend the magnitude of what you鈥檙e seeing. Even if you鈥檙e not camping and you鈥檙e only exploring for a day, bring everything you need with you鈥攕nacks, extra layers, extra water. And try not to be the last car out of the parking lot; the roads in the mountains are remote and rough, so if you break down, you want there to be one more car coming behind you to help. Otherwise you can expect to be spending the night.

What to Do

Explore Caracol

is a massive Maya city that鈥檚 now protected by Chiquibul National Park, the country鈥檚 largest, with multiple structures ranging from the foundational walls of 鈥渟uburban鈥� neighborhoods to towering temples. The ruins are not as famous as Tikal, in Guatemala, but it rivals its cousin in size and historical significance. In fact, the two cities would often battle each other, and toward the end of the Classic Period (250 to 900 A.D.), Caracol conquered Tikal and was the capital of the civilization in the region. The Maya flourished during this time, domesticating corn and erecting buildings with stone walls. Caracol supported up to 150,000 people, which is bigger than modern-day Belize City. The central structure of Cana, which translates to 鈥渟ky place,鈥� is still the tallest manmade structure in the country.

Hiking through the site doesn鈥檛 require putting in many miles, but access to the structures is essentially unchecked鈥攏othing is technically off-limits. While you can climb the massive stone steps and learn about the Maya in a hands-on way, be sure to tread lightly. offers guided walking tours of the site that delve into its significance; a hot lunch of stewed chicken, rice, and beans is included (from $60 per person).

Hike and Swim the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve

This protects a rare pine forest atop 2,000-foot-tall mountains, but the real gems here are the rivers, which have carved tight gorges through granite and massive caves through limestone. is the easiest waterfall to get to, about 20 miles from San Ignacio, and it鈥檚 worth a quick stop, but don鈥檛 spend too much time here, as it鈥檚 probably the least impressive feature in the area. Take the short but steep hike to , a 150-foot vertical drop surrounded by boulders to jump from. If you鈥檙e feeling brave, swim and climb your way a mile downriver, exploring chutes and cascades en route to Five Sister Falls, located below Gaia Riverlodge, where you can order a cocktail, or take the resort鈥檚 nature trail to the secluded pool at the base of the 20-foot twin Little Vaquero Falls.

Cave into Maya Culture

There are more than 400 known cave sites in Belize, 80 percent of which contain Maya artifacts. The most spectacular of them all has to be the (ATM), which requires a semi-technical descent more than a mile underground. It鈥檚 like canyoneering into the center of the earth. After a river crossing and a hike through the rainforest, you鈥檒l swim into the mouth of the cave, then wade through channels, squeeze through narrow hallways, climb rock slabs, and spot the remnants of pottery and human remains dating from 300 to 900 A.D., all of which were used as sacrifices to the gods.

As you travel deeper, you can see how the Maya became more desperate as they lived through a two-century-long drought, moving from a culture that gave thanks to the gods with food and pottery to a culture that pleaded with the gods with human sacrifices. Only guided parties can enter the ATM cave, and local guides receive special certification to ensure the cultural heritage of the site is honored. Book in advance, as there are no guides on-site available for tours (from $100 per person).

Where to Stay

Gaia Riverlodge

The 16-cabana will put you in the heart of the mountains in a high-end thatch-roofed hut overlooking Provincial Creek and the Five Sisters Waterfall. Even better, on-site hiking trails lead to multiple other falls. If you鈥檙e lucky, Coco, the resort dog who has her own thatch-roofed hut, will follow you on adventures throughout the property. The food is top-notch, too. Ask for the banana jam with your breakfast; it changed my life. From $315.

Midas

If you want to stay in the middle of San Ignacio and have multiple restaurants and bars within walking distance, this has 40 well-appointed rooms and colorful cabanas surrounding a large pool. It also sits on 30 acres, with hiking and equestrian trails. From $196

San Miguel Campground

This drive-in is located in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest, above Big Rock Falls and close to Privassion Creek. Make sure you bring everything with you, as it鈥檚 miles from the nearest town and there are no stores or visitor centers to stock up on provisions. Camping in Belize is all about self-sufficiency. From $30 per person

The Best Place to Eat and Drink

San Ignacio is busy and charming without feeling like a tourist destination. On Burns Avenue, a collection of bars and restaurants are popular with locals, Guatemalans that come across the border, and adventurous tourists. is a good place to look for traditional Belizean food (rice, beans, and stewed chicken or pork) but it also serves solid vegetarian options, like mixed veggie curry.

Southern Belize

This region is a tangle of lively coastal towns and beach bars, thriving wildlife preserves, pristine beaches, lesser traveled Maya sites, and active Garifuna culture. For the most part, it鈥檚 not as busy as western Belize and there are still vast tracts of jungle and forest that tourists and even most locals visit, particularly in the southernmost tip of the country.

What to Do

Explore Hummingbird Highway

The Hummingbird Highway, running 55 miles between the capital of Belmopan and coastal town of Dangriga, is hands down the prettiest road in the country. It鈥檚 flanked by the occasional orange grove and small village, which give way to steep slopes on either side of the road covered with palm-leaf forests. Most people drive the highway, but its length, hilly nature, and scenery beg to be cycled. You can rent basic-level bikes in the towns of Hopkins and Placencia (think: cruisers and older mountain bikes), but don鈥檛 expect top-end equipment. If you want to pedal Hummingbird Highway (or anywhere in Belize), it鈥檚 best to bring your own rig with you.

Whether you鈥檙e driving or cycling, make a pit stop at , a 1,600-acre tropical forest at milepost 17 where you can take a 20-minute hike to a waterfall with a swimming hole that鈥檚 tucked inside a limestone gorge plastered with moss, ferns, and palms. Apr猫s at , a red and white roadside stand that has what might be the best tamale in the nation. Get there early before its spicy chicken tamale sells out.

Look for Jaguars

The is the only one of its kind in the world, a 128,000-acre oasis of mountains and rivers set aside specifically for the protection of the big cat. Much like the rest of North and Central America, hunters have done a number on the species in Belize. As other countries made hunting them illegal throughout the 20th century, wealthy hunters could still travel here and pay up to $25,000 for the shot. Needless to say, populations were dwindling when the preserve was officially recognized in 1986. Today more than 100 live within the preserve, many of which grow to 200 pounds, thanks to a steady diet of armadillos. Sightings of the jaguars here are still rare, however (the animal is notoriously elusive), so you don鈥檛 need a guide. are well marked and extend from a staffed visitor center into the low-lying rainforest surrounding the wide, meandering South Stann Creek. This rich biodiversity is as much the draw as the chance of spotting a big cat.

Sign up for a trip with , and you鈥檒l get the lowdown on local flora and fauna from a guide who makes a habit of poking sticks into holes until something cool crawls out (it鈥檚 usually tarantulas the size of your hand). The operator also runs mini-canyoneering adventures that will have you jumping off of waterfalls through a tight, limestone gorge, followed by a mellow float by tube along the South Stann Creek River. Even better, hike the preserve at night, from 6 P.M. to midnight, and you鈥檒l get to see the forest come alive with snakes, spiders, and (fingers crossed) jaguars.

Boat the Monkey River

The howler monkey is a cartoonish creature, big and loud, and can be found hiding in the jungle canopy. Your best bet for seeing these primates is by taking a boat up the Monkey River, an hour and a half south of Placencia, off of the Southern Highway. The journey starts at the mouth of the river as it dumps into the Caribbean at the small hub of Monkey River Village.

Head with a (from $90 a person, minimum four people) on a small powerboat into mangrove forests filled with manatees, crocodiles, giant iguanas, and toucans. Deeper in the jungle, a short hike will bring you to an area where howler monkeys thrive. They live in tribes and are prone to howling at each other when one tribe encroaches on the territory of another, but they鈥檙e not aggressive, even though their call sounds like the scream of a dinosaur. The worst thing they鈥檒l do to you is pee or poop on you. Seriously, don鈥檛 let them pee or poop on you.

Where to Stay

Belizean Nirvana

This two-story has rooms on the water, each with its own share of Caribbean-facing beachfront. It鈥檚 located in Placencia, a funky village at the end of a peninsula with luxury resorts, expat retirement communities, and restaurants and bars where you鈥檙e likely to see as many locals as tourists. Get a first-floor room and you鈥檒l have a porch that spreads out into the sand. The beach is stunning, a narrow strip of sand dotted with coconut trees, with a mellow bay on one side and small resorts and lively bars and restaurants on the other. The heart of the village is a pedestrian-only street lined with beachfront dining and drinking establishments. From $150

Detours

You鈥檒l find Garifuna culture throughout the coastal towns of southern Belize, but Dangriga is the epicenter, home to regular festivals, museums, and drum-making shops. Check out the 听to learn about the history of the people and their contributions to today鈥檚 vibrant cultural community, and step into the to try your hand at working the instruments, made from mahogany and deerskin.

If you鈥檙e looking for seafood and elevated cocktails, , a rooftop restaurant at the top of a boutique hotel in Placencia has the best of both. Order the Seafood Sere, a Garifuna chowder served with coconut rice and plantain chips.

The Cayes

Belize is absolutely lousy with islands. These act as exclamation points along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef system in the world and one of the healthiest of its size. Yes, the Great Blue Hole is here鈥攁 seemingly bottomless pit that you can dive into, paddle around, or fly over during a scenic tour鈥攂ut there is so much more to this area than diving into a hole.

Sandy beaches are rare here, but they do exist if you know where to look. The ironically named 鈥淪ecret Beach鈥� on Ambergris Caye is the most popular, boasting restaurants and thatch-roofed picnic tables jutting out of the water. There鈥檚 world-class snorkeling and diving everywhere, some of the most productive saltwater fly-fishing in the world, and paddling options that range from easy two-hour spins to multiday bucket-list adventures.

Local airlines Maya Air and Tropic Air operate regular puddle jumpers making trips from the mainland to Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, the two busiest cayes off the coast. There are also regular ferries that connect the major islands, and you can hire boats and guides to take you to smaller, more remote islands along the reef.

What to Do

Swim with Sharks

OK, they鈥檙e nurse sharks, and they鈥檙e more harmless than the fish that follow them around feeding on their scraps, but they鈥檙e still sharks. And they can get quite big (a nine-footer swam beneath my feet while I was in the water). The sharks like to hang out in a break in the reef system dubbed Shark Ray Alley in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. to the reef (from $55 per person for a half day), which includes a stop at Shark Ray Alley. Sure, the snorkeling is amazing and you鈥檒l get to see all kinds of species, but come on鈥� sharks. That鈥檚 the story you鈥檒l tell when you get back home, not the parrotfish you saw.

Paddle the Islands

The breadth of the barrier reef and the sheer volume of islands that stretch across it make Belize an open-water paddler鈥檚 dream. A variety of experiences exist here, from casual half-day excursions within eyesight of high-end resorts to multiday adventures that will have you camping on primitive islands.

Caye Caulker, a 10-minute flight or 45-minute ferry from Belize City, is a great spot for beginners. The island is divided into two sections by a narrow channel, with most of the development existing on the southern side, while the northern side is occupied by a dense mangrove forest. rents boards and windsurfing kits (from $50 an hour) and guided tours if you don鈥檛 want to go it alone (from $100 per person).

If you鈥檙e an experienced paddler looking for a big adventure, will rent you expedition-ready gear and give you maps with suggestions for routes along the southern cayes for self-guided trips (from $40 a day or $375 for a week). The outfitter also offers a that starts with three days of guided paddling and lodging, then four days of self-guided paddling at the Glover鈥檚 Reef Atoll, a Unesco-designated World Heritage site that covers 80 square miles of reef, islands, and open water. You can spend a few days at its base camp learning key skills, then break out on your own for a few days to practice what you learned. also offers fully guided seven-day paddleboard trips throughout the same terrain. Instead of camping, you鈥檒l stay at various lodges (from $2,875).

Fish for the Big Three

You can find world-class fishing all along the coast, and most anglers show up with their fly rods in hopes of snagging a Grand Slam, which entails catching a bonefish, tarpon, and permit in a single day. There probably isn鈥檛 a bad place to fish along Belize鈥檚 portion of the Mesoamerican Reef, but the country鈥檚 atolls have become hot spots. Turneffe Atoll, the largest of the ringed reefs, casts a halo that鈥檚 30 miles long and 10 miles wide.

More than 150 islands along the reef serve as launching points for the lagoon, which encompasses a shocking variety of ecosystems, from expansive mangrove and seagrass habitat to saltwater flats and creeks to vibrant reef structures. Turneffe is just 20 miles off the coast, south of Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye, so the fish do receive some pressure. If you鈥檇 prefer an area that receives less attention, head farther south to the expansive , the largest of Belize鈥檚 eight protected marine reserves, much of which consists of shallow saltwater flats. Local anglers have dubbed the South Water Caye 鈥減ermit alley,鈥� due to an abundance of the highly sought-after species.

The Big Three are all catch-and-release only. You鈥檒l be able to land bonefish year-round, so timing isn鈥檛 as important for that species, but permit are hungriest in spring and summer and tarpon pass through in summer. In addition to the Big Three, you鈥檒l have the chance to cast for jack, snapper, and triggerfish. Hire a local guide service like , one of the most storied in Belize (and the only Orvis-endorsed outfitter in the country), to increase your chances of success. Half-day and full-day trips depart from Hopkins or Placencia (from $591).

Where to Stay

Victoria House

If you鈥檙e looking to treat yourself, book one of the thatch-roofed villas at , some which have their own private pool and all of which overlook a sandy beach with tall palms. The location on Ambergris Caye is ideal if you鈥檙e looking to explore the Hol Chan Marine Preserve, and in-house guides can take you on a variety of adventures. The restaurant is top-notch as well, especially its rotating selection of ceviche (get the tuna with watermelon if it鈥檚 on the menu). From $225

Glover鈥檚 Atoll Resort

This sits on Northeast Caye, a big, sandy island on the edge of the Glover鈥檚 Reef Atoll. Its variety of inexpensive accommodations range from hostel-style bunks and individual huts built on stilts to campsites beneath coconut palms. You can cook your own meals or eat in the restaurant. Accommodations are basic yet charming, but you鈥檙e here for the location鈥攕norkeling, fishing, and paddling starts right on the edge of the island. Camping from $10, cabins from $30

Thatch Caye Resort

Occupying the shorefront of a private island 30 minutes off the coast of Dangriga, hosts just 30 guests at a time. Stays include meals, all beverages, and adventure gear. Choose from an oceanfront cabana or an over-the-water bungalow. From $500 a night for two guests

Where to Eat and Drink

Yeah, you鈥檙e in the islands and you鈥檙e probably craving seafood, but take a break from the conch and spend one dinner at , in the heart of Ambergris Caye鈥檚 bustling San Pedro, where everything is cooked in the traditional Belizean way over an open fire. Don鈥檛 worry, there鈥檚 actually quite a bit of fresh fish on the menu, but don鈥檛 overlook the pork stew or chicken kebabs.

How to Be a Conscious Visitor

Go Local

The majority of the guides you鈥檒l encounter here were born and raised in Belize, making it easy to pass an entire trip with local experts. The Belize Tourism Board curates a list of gold-standard guides and hotels that follow new safety and health protocols. Follow the same principles for tipping as you would at home.

Tread Lightly

The barrier reef is a living thing that鈥檚 under constant pressure from humans. Be sure to pack non-nano zinc sunscreen without extra chemicals, like Thinksport, as you鈥檒l have a hard time finding it here. Don鈥檛 touch or stand on the reef鈥攅ver鈥攁nd no matter how friendly a fish or turtle looks, don鈥檛 try to get close to them. Even hovering over a turtle is a disruption.

Eat Sustainably

It鈥檚 never been more important to know where the fish you鈥檙e eating comes from. Belize is going to great lengths to help preserve the various populations within its waters, limiting commercial operations and certain harmful practices. Check out to learn what species you should seek out and which to avoid, and consult its list of restaurants that source only from local fishermen who follow sustainable practices.

Graham Averill is a longtime contributor to 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine and our national-parks columnist.

The post The Ultimate Belize Travel Guide appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Surf Uncrowded Breaks听On Costa Rica鈥檚 Caribbean Side

Costa Rica听has become one of the world鈥檚 most popular surf destinations, and with that status have come concerns that the country could lose its pura vida vibe. The once sleepy towns of Tamarindo, Nosara, and Santa Teresa are on surfers鈥� radars, and on the Pacific coast in Pavones鈥攚hich boasts the second-longest left break in the world鈥攖he waves are often packed. But you should still go, and consider the less visited Caribbean side. In the small coastal town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, four hours southeast of San Jos茅, you鈥檒l find 50 miles of white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and waves for every skill level. The main draw is Salsa Brava, a heavy, barreling reef break reminiscent of Oahu鈥檚 North Shore. But Playa Negra is perfect for foam-top-riding newbies, and Punta Uva for intermediates craving easy rides without drama. Those who want to test the waters before trying out Salsa Brava can hire a boat in Lim贸n to reach Uvita Island, a punchy reef break.

Stay at the year-old Hotel on Playa Chiquita (from $290, breakfast included). The vision of Costa Rican artist Elizabeth Steinvorth and her daughter Elena Rohrmoser, it has six suites and six bungalows perched in tropical gardens, a restaurant, and bars and nightclubs nearby. Given the area鈥檚 rainforest, you鈥檒l have no shortage of options if the surf鈥檚 not up. Kayak or SUP the Punta Uva River in search of monkeys and toucans, or get close to sloths and wildcats on a walk at the Jaguar Rescue Center. Cahuita National Park is a 30-minute drive from the hotel and laced with well-marked hiking trails that lead to snorkeling spots rich with marine life. From May to October, you鈥檙e likely to glimpse leatherback turtles hatching on the beaches. 鈥�Jen Murphy

Detour: New 国产吃瓜黑料 Bases

Kasiiya Papagayo

This 听on Costa Rica鈥檚 northern Pacific coast听is set on 123 acres of untouched jungle, with trails that lead to two empty beaches. Between the wildlife view颅ing (howler monkeys in the trees, eagle rays and turtles in the sea) and five palatial tented suites, Kasiiya rivals the most over-the-top African safari stays. (From $615)

Senda听Monteverde Hotel

If spotting a jewel-toned quetzal and two-toed sloths are on your wish list, then , three hours northwest of San Jos茅, is a dream base. A hanging bridge connects the property to Aguti Wildlife Reserve,听or drive 15 minutes to Monteverde Cloud Forest听Reserve, which听is home to more than 400 species of birds, 2,500 plants, and jaguars. (From $260)

Hotel Nantipa

The project of three Costa Rican friends, this is steps from some of Santa Teresa鈥檚 best surf breaks. If you aren鈥檛 a surfer, swap your sandals for hiking boots and explore nearby Monte颅zuma Waterfalls and Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve. (From $320)

Shred New Trails听Across Baja鈥檚 Sierra Cacachilas

When it comes to Baja, most people think humpback whales, monster Pacific swells, and jalape帽o-spiced margaritas sipped on empty beaches. Now mountain bikers eager to escape winter can add their own fantasy: cycling an expanding system of singletrack at , a solar-powered adventure resort with access to 34,600 acres in the Sierra Cacachilas between La Paz and kiteboarding hub La Ventana. Since 2014, an International Mountain Biking Association鈥搕rained, 15-person crew has been building what will eventually be 43 miles of singletrack on the ranch, with an eye toward erosion control and water management, which means the trails won鈥檛 be washed away in the next flash flood.

Twenty-five miles are complete, giving intermediate and advanced riders a few days鈥� worth of exploration in a trail system that feels like an arid Fruita, Colorado, with saguaro cactus and killer ocean views. The ten-mile Sky Trail will be finished in June and peaks at a summit that overlooks the sea before spilling into a giggle-out-loud downhill. Rancho Cacachilas also offers hiking and bird-watching, as well as on-site workshops in cheesemaking and seed storage. Or just kick back by the pool with a cocktail and take in the expansive view of Cerralvo Island in the Sea of Cortez.听鈥�Stephanie Pearson

Access and听Resources

Where to stay: With a direct line to the trails, Rancho Cacachilas鈥檚 rustic main lodging area Chivato has eight safari-style glamping tents and four rooms, plus outdoor showers and a small pool overlooking the sea. The minimum stay is two nights (from $175), which includes ac颅commodations, food, and activities. The ranch is open from October 1 to May 31.

Other activities: For a change of pace, guests can sign up for ROW 国产吃瓜黑料s鈥� eight-day Sea to Mountains 国产吃瓜黑料, which involves four days of sea-kayaking the wildlife-rich waters near Esp铆ritu Santo Island, followed by four nights at the ranch (from $2,040). Or take a six-hour camp ($399) or two-hour private lesson (from $190) with Evolution Kiteboarding in nearby La Ventana.

Need to know: Don鈥檛 bother renting a car鈥攕huttle buses are available from Los Cabos Airport to La Paz; from there, guests catch a private shuttle to the ranch. The Mountain and Bike Hub, an on-site rental and repair shop, offers high-performance dual-suspension rides (from $46 for four hours).

Snorkel听and Dive the Springs听of Northern Florida

As an aquatic wonder, Florida听is overlooked. Some 700 freshwater springs fed by mineral-rich aquifers bubble up from the limestone sponge the state sits on. From ground-level pools that reach down 100 feet to caverns created by sinkholes, these crystalline lagoons look like a cross between a Yucat谩n cenote and a Caribbean reef. And at a constant 72 degrees, they鈥檙e always the ideal temperature for snorkeling and diving. The small northern outlets of Branford, Fort White, Mayo, and Old Town are prime places to start exploring, due to their close proximity to the springs and to places to stay.

An hour and a half west of Jacksonville, 2,669-acre Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a great entry point, with bream-filled cerulean pools and a diveable open-颅ceiling cavern called Blue Hole. Thirty minutes west of Ichetucknee, less visited Troy Spring State Park features a sunken paddle-wheel riverboat, scuttled by Confederates as Union soldiers advanced in 1863, that makes for a good wreck-diving site. The park鈥檚 main pool, a 70-foot-deep cavern, is shaped like a funnel, with limestone formations that resemble brain coral. A dive here usually attracts hundreds of yellow-bellied slider turtles that swirl around you.

Ginnie Springs, a 35-minute drive southeast from Troy Spring, has a series of seven aquamarine pools along a two-mile trail that runs parallel to the Santa Fe River, filled with large gar, bass, and turtles. Plan a full day to snorkel or dive the springs. For technical divers, there鈥檚 also the Devil鈥檚 Spring system, with more than 30,000 feet of underground tunnels. Forty miles south, Devil鈥檚 Den Spring and nearby Blue Grotto, in the town of Williston, attract scuba and cave-certified divers, respectively, who come to explore the ancient fossil beds. Devil鈥檚 Den is a naturally lit underground pool, while Blue Grotto is 100 feet deep and has a passage to a 300-yard-long chamber. 鈥�Tony D鈥橲ouza

Where to Stay

听(from $20) is a mile from the park鈥檚 northern entrance, but consider a 20-minute drive to stay at 听(from $100) south of Branford. There are three cabins and a three-bedroom farmhouse on-site; book Earl Cabin, a cyprus-clad 19th-century shotgun house. Snorkeling gear is sold at the general store near the south entrance, but you鈥檒l need to bring your own diving equipment.

Primitive camping sites (from $23) dot 200-acre Ginnie Springs, many of them along the Santa Fe River. The three-bedroom 听(from $175) is also located in the park and has a large deck and a fully equipped kitchen. The park鈥檚 dive center rents equipment.

In the historic Old Florida town of Micanopy, 20 minutes south of Gainesville, the 11-room, two-cottage 听(from $125) makes a great base for divers headed to Blue Grotto and Devil鈥檚 Den Spring. Both sites offer full gear rental.

Land Some of the Caribbean鈥檚 Most Evasive Fish in Belize

The small fishing town of Punta Gorda in southern Belize听offers some of the most elusive catches on a fly. At the听edge of Port Honduras Marine Reserve, the area鈥檚 flats have a thriving population of permit, as well as big schools of bonefish and tarpon. Better yet, Punta Gorda, a 50-minute turboprop flight south from Belize City, still feels undiscovered. For more than 15 years, the Garbutt brothers鈥擠ennis, Eworth, Oliver, and Scully鈥攈ave been slowly putting the town on the map. Former commercial fishermen, the brothers now run a sportfishing charter company, dive outfit, and three-cabin lodge overlooking Joe Taylor Creek, from which their boats depart (from $1,340 for three nights).

The day starts with a breakfast burrito as you motor to spots chosen by the Garbutts鈥攕ometimes a small island in the Gulf of Honduras, some颅times coastal marshes, depending on tides and wind. Aboard a 23-foot super-panga with casting decks and poling platforms, your guides will propel the skiff into the shallows while searching for fish. Along the way, it鈥檚 common to spot manatees, lemon sharks, and dolphins. The brothers also have exclusive access to Lime Caye, a shallow flat 40 miles east of Punta Gorda known for its bonefish, permit, and diving sites. 鈥擟hris Santella

Where to stay: If the three cabins at 听are booked, 听(from $179) has 16 spacious suites and a three-bedroom villa overlooking a 12,000-acre nature reserve. The hotel transports you by car to a nearby dock that the Garbutt brothers use to pick up anglers and divers.

Other activities: There are plenty of nonfishing adventures. At the southern edge of the Belize Barrier Reef, 36 miles east of Punta Gorda, snorkel or dive with manta rays, sea turtles, and, from March to June, whale sharks at Sapodillas Cayes Marine Reserve. The well-preserved Lubaantun ruins, a 19-mile drive from Punta Gorda, date back to 730 A.D. After, cool off with a swim in Hokeb Ha Cave about ten miles southwest.

When to go: December through April is high season in Belize, with clear skies and temperatures around 80 degrees. Permit and most fish species are present all year.

What to bring: While the Garbutt brothers have a few rods to loan, most anglers bring a nine- or ten-weight and floating line. Bauer and raghead crabs are popular flies.

Hike an Entire Island Along Dominica鈥檚 Waitukubuli听National Trail

This volcanic island between Martinique and Guadeloupe was well on its way to becoming the Caribbean鈥檚 top adventure destination when Hurricane Maria hit in 2017. Many of its neighbors are focused on rebuilding as quickly as possible, but Dominica听is working toward a different goal. Following the hurricane, prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit pledged to make the small country of 73,000 the world鈥檚 first climate-resilient nation. In the past few months, long-awaited eco-hotels like 听and 听opened, and the country鈥檚 biggest draw, the 115-mile Waitukubuli National Trail, is expected to be complete by the spring, with final clearing efforts by volunteers, the government, and the private sector.

The entire length can be broken up into day hikes ranging from four to 11.2 miles, each showcasing a different aspect of Dominica鈥檚 dramatic topography. The first segment (4.7 miles) begins in Scotts Head Village, at the island鈥檚 southwestern tip, and traverses a wildlife-rich volcanic area and a series of hot sulphur springs. The trail culminates in the seaside village of Soufri猫re, where you can snorkel Soufri猫re鈥揝cotts Head Marine Reserve, a bay filled with underwater fumaroles and colorful reefs. On segment four, a challenging eight-mile rainforest route, you鈥檒l hit lookouts with views of five of the island鈥檚 peaks and traverse a deep gorge in the heart of Morne Trois Pitons National Park, home to the famous Boiling Lake, set in a lunar landscape.

Follow that with segment ten, a 4.3-mile meander through a forest that connects to the Syndicate Nature Trail. Join the island鈥檚 chief ornithologist, Bertrand 鈥淒r. Birdy鈥� Jno Baptiste, for a one-mile-loop detour to spot parrots endemic to the island, like the red-necked Amazon, or jaco, and the Imperial Amazon, or sisserou. Even if the rarest birds stay hidden, Dr. Birdy will make sure you spot at least a few dozen of the island鈥檚听167 species. 鈥�

Detour:听New Eco-Lodges

Jungle Bay

After being destroyed in 2015 by Tropical Storm Erika, , a boutique wellness resort overlooking Soufri猫re鈥揝cotts Head Marine Reserve, reopened in June. Run by a Dominican couple leading the charge on sustainable practices, the lodge uses solar energy (emitting 30 percent less carbon than traditional resorts) and has 30 eco-villas with bamboo furnishings and biodegradable bathroom products. The Waitukubuli National Trail is just an eight-minute drive south. (From $294)

Cabrits Resort and Spa Kempinski

Set adjacent to Cabrits National Park, this opened in October with two dining options and four swimming pools. The hotel gets an estimated 60 percent of its food from local farmers and fishermen, and it uses solar energy and a gray-water treatment system, diverting waste water to irrigation. Nearby, you can visit some of the island鈥檚 most spectacular beaches, SUP or snorkel crystal-clear Toucari Bay, and access Waitukubuli National Trail鈥檚 segment 12. (From $370)

The post Craving Warmth? Book a Flight to These Hot Spots. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Itz鈥檃na Resort

Belize

Opening in April, 听is a perfect base camp for exploring the best of Belize. Night-hike the world鈥檚 only jaguar reserve in search of the nocturnal cats? Check. Swim with whale sharks during their annual migration? Check. Sail to empty isles for private snorkeling sessions? Check. Float in the waters of the iconic Great Blue Hole? Check. Cast for wahoo lurking beyond one of the planet鈥檚 largest barrier reefs? Check. But good luck prying yourself away from Itz鈥檃na鈥檚 lush 20-acre property. The 30-suite resort sits on the Placencia peninsula, a 16-mile-long finger of perfect white sand that separates a mangrove-lined lagoon from the Caribbean. It鈥檚 all too easy to spend your days bouncing from the , offering one of the largest rum selections in the country, to the , which serves reef-to-table snapper and conch on a deck over the azure water. From $325 鈥擥raham Averill

听

Guatemalan Highland Tour

Guatemala

In 2014, Vermont native Brendan James was working for a nonprofit in Guatemala when some locals loaned him a hardtail mountain bike and led him along ancient Maya paths weaving around Lake Atitl谩n. He found fast trails flowing through cool, alpine forests and a homegrown zeal for the sport that鈥檚 only flourished since. Today, Guatemala is becoming Central America鈥檚 premier fat-tire destination, with newly built singletrack and bike parks opening across the country. James now spends 150 days a year scouting those trails and leading trips for his guiding company, . This year he鈥檚 launching the , a seven-day, 96-mile cross-country epic with 29,000 feet of downhill. Along the way, you鈥檒l follow livestock trails and old agricultural paths past 14th-century ruins, crash in small-town posadas, and relax in natural hot springs. From $2,375 鈥擳im Neville

Mukan Resort

Mexico

Reaching this 听in the Riviera Maya requires a 45-minute speedboat ride through mangrove canals, so it feels far removed from the region鈥檚 hot spot of Tulum. But there are other reasons this luxurious property stands out, namely that its ten suites, bungalows, and villas are among the very few accommodations nestled inside the 1.3-million-acre , a Unesco World Heritage site containing Maya ruins, a section of the 620-mile-long Mesoamerican Reef, and a jungle filled with diverse wildlife including 356 species of birds and 318 species of butterflies. 听in search of sea turtles, scout the biosphere and add threatened birds like the reddish egret to your life list, or fish for tarpon, permit, and barracuda with local guides who have plied these waters since childhood. The day鈥檚 catch is served on a dock over Sian Ka鈥檃n Lagoon. From $420 鈥擲tephanie Pearson

Isla Palenque

Panama

Want to play out a castaway fantasy? Newly revamped , located on the pristine Gulf of Chiriqu铆, along the country鈥檚 Pacific coast, ticks all the right boxes鈥攚ith some rather exquisite enhancements. More than half of the 400-acre private island is a nature preserve that neighbors Coiba National Park, a 38-island, 673-square-mile expanse filled with dolphins, leatherback turtles, and whitetip reef sharks. First envisioned as a safari-style camp in 2012, the resort owners reinvented it last summer by constructing eight thatch-roofed casitas just steps from seven gloriously empty beaches. Spend your days exploring reefs and nearby islands like Las Pi帽alitas by boat, kayak, or paddleboard, or hike to archeological sites full of pottery shards and stone tools left by the island鈥檚 pre-Colombian inhabitants. Come evening dine on local favorites like 谤辞苍诲贸苍, an Afro-Caribbean coconut stew, while keeping an eye out for breaching humpbacks. If you book through our travel partner , you鈥檒l get four nights for the price of three. From $770 for two people, all-inclusive 鈥擳.N.

The Maya Experience, Ka鈥檃na Resort

Guatemala and Belize

Tikal, the capital of Central America鈥檚 ancient Maya civilization, was discovered in Guatemala in the mid-1800s, and its stone temples have been a popular tourist destination for de-cades. But the extensive system of roads and canals that connected Tikal to thousands of previously unknown Maya structures wasn鈥檛 uncovered until 2016, when researchers began using planes and lasers to pierce the dense jungle canopy and map what鈥檚 been dubbed the Maya Megalopolis. Fernando Paiz, whose Foundation for Maya Cultural and Natural Heritage spearheaded the research, also owns the plush 听in neighboring Belize. Last spring he blended his two passions to create Ka鈥檃na鈥檚 new , a deep immersion into the ancient culture. You鈥檒l follow guides into the jungle on the way to the 77-foot-tall temple of Cahal Pech, learn to cook traditional dishes like the citrus-marinated pork known as poc chuc, or ride in a helicopter with Paiz and marvel as he recounts how the network of structures below is just beginning to be understood by archeologists. From $1,117 for two people 鈥擥.A.

Origen Escapes

Costa Rica

This country鈥檚 pura vida energy and epic surf spots aren鈥檛 a secret. But Costa Rica still has plenty of untapped terrain. , a no-expenses-spared bespoke outfitter, specializes in taking clients to the country鈥檚 untouched corners. In December, Origen鈥檚 four owners鈥攊ncluding Ofer Ketter, a former lieutenant in the Israel Defense Force, and expert waterman and Costa Rican native Felipe Artinano鈥攗sed their years of expertise to launch the Transformational Travel Series, a group of one-to-two-week itineraries highlighting environmental responsibility and local conservation efforts. Adventurous travelers can 听or raft 16 miles of jungle-shaded rapids, while citizen scientists can head off the grid with top naturalists to document new species or track migrating hammerhead sharks. From $1,200 per night 鈥擩en Murphy

Sansara Surf and Yoga Resort

Panama

While parts of Central America sometimes feel overrun with surfboard-toting gringos, Panama has maintained an undiscovered vibe, especially along the southerly Azuero peninsula. The country鈥檚 cultural heartland, this region features Spanish colonial churches, biologically diverse national parks, and some seriously great waves from December to May. Located in the sleepy village of Cambutal, 听11 cabanas are just steps from the Pacific Ocean, and with nearby beach, point, and reef breaks, you鈥檙e sure to find the wave you鈥檙e looking for. Choose from all-inclusive weeklong , or create your own 脿 la carte trip filled with offshore tuna fishing, snorkeling, and afternoons spent lounging in the natural pools of a nearby waterfall. No matter which you pick, the use of bikes, SUPs, and kayaks is included in your stay. From $199 鈥擩.M.

Yemaya

Nicaragua

Political unrest in this country over the summer and fall鈥攄uring which protesters clashed with security forces over government corruption鈥攕cared away so many travelers that numerous lodges and tour operators had to shutter their doors. Now, as the turmoil appears to be calming down, traveling here will help these businesses get back on their feet, and resorts that were never near the unrest are enticing visitors with deals. Consider , a 16-bungalow hideaway on the northern tip of Little Corn Island, a carless, 1.2-square-mile dollop of sand 45 miles off the mainland in the Caribbean. The property was revamped in 2017 with five remodeled luxury suites, and it鈥檚 slated to reopen in time for the winter holiday season with cut rates of $95 per night, leaving you to splurge on sundowners from the beachside bar, in-room massages, and 听on its 40-foot handcrafted sailboat. 鈥擳.N.

Acantilados

El Salvador

The surf-focused Salvadorean town of La Libertad has never seen anything like . The sleek 19-room boutique hotel, which opened in November, sits cantilevered over a cliff, exponentially amping the drama of the infinity pool. Surf the classic right-hand point break of El Sunzal in the morning, with or without an expert instructor, then stave off gnawing hunger at El Casco, a renovated century-old colonial house on the property that serves pupusas, tamales, quesadillas, and 苍耻别驳补诲辞蝉鈥�sweet Salvadorean dumplings. In the evening, soak your tired muscles in the saltwater pools, then head to the hotel鈥檚 craft-cocktail bar for a Martini Albahaca y Sandia, a mix of watermelon, basil, and vodka. Hikers should make the 90-minute drive northwest to 听and summit 7,812-foot Santa Ana, the country鈥檚 highest volcano. The view of turquoise Lake Coatepeque is worth it. From $159 鈥擲.P.

Honduran Coffee Route

Honduras

Even though crime has dropped by half over the past five years, Honduras still gets a bad rap. Wandering around the city of Tegucigalpa alone at night was never a great idea, but don鈥檛 judge a country by its capital. This fall, Central America鈥檚 second-largest nation has made it easier than ever for travelers to check out one of the things Hondurans do best: grow delicious coffee. The new 听isn鈥檛 a single road but a network of sustainable farms, regional tasting labs and research centers, and more than 60 lively caf茅s in six distinct growing regions. The maps and resources on the route鈥檚 website will help you craft your itinerary. Keep it simple by focusing on one region鈥攍ike Cop谩n, home to a magnificent tenth-century Maya city and seed-to-cup coffee varietals with hints of chocolate, caramel, and orange. Get a room at (from $124), which once catered to archeologists, and spend a morning taking a hike around Finca Santa Isabel, a 200-acre family-run coffee plantation with 85 species of birds, like white-breasted hawks and bushy-crested jays. If you鈥檇 prefer to have a guide, Cop谩n鈥檚 Xukpi Tours can take care of housing and transportation. 鈥擳.N.

The Whole Shebang

For cyclists who want to see it all鈥擬exico鈥檚 Maya ruins, Guatemala鈥檚 volcano-ringed Lake Atitl谩n, El Salvador鈥檚 sublime surf breaks, Nicaragua鈥檚 colonial cities, Costa Rica鈥檚 jungle, the Panama Canal, and the unsung spaces in between鈥攕ign up for the Mexico City to Panama City leg of . For 2019, this 2,467-mile, 40-day van- and chef-supported portion of the 9,013-mile journey has been rerouted so that all but eight miles are paved (though paved is a relative term, so bring a comfortable bike with beefy tires). From $8,000 鈥擲.P.

The post The 11 Best New Reasons to Visit Central America appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

For some of us, a 鈥減rivate island鈥� means pristine, golden beaches without another soul in sight and a lavish cabana where you鈥檒l sleep to the sound of ocean waves. But private islands don鈥檛 have to be just for the ultra-elite. From far-flung luxury hideouts to more affordable, easy-to-reach cottages, here are six private islands you can rent for the night.

Miavana, Madagascar

Located on Nosy Ankao, off the northeast coast of Madagascar, the five-star resort of opened this June. Dubbed a luxury eco-resort, the place runs on solar power and was built with sustainable materials like thatch and grass. The resort is made up of 14 oceanfront villas, a communal square, and an infinity pool on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Your nightly rate鈥攕tarting at $2,500鈥攊ncludes meals, butler service, and guided outings like kite surfing, snorkeling through shipwrecks, and whale watching.

Lanai, Hawaii

One of the most pristine and secluded of the Hawaiian Islands, Lanai is a 90,000-acre private island purchased in 2012 by Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle. In 2016, reopened after a massive renovation, offering views of a marine sanctuary to go with extravagant accommodations. Rooms start at $1,075 a night. Out of your budget? Try the 11-room , a historic inn in the old pineapple plantation town of Lanai City, where rooms start at $186 a night and include breakfast. While on Lanai, you can hike to secluded beaches, snorkel among spinner dolphins, or mountain bike rugged red-dirt roads.

Cuckolds, Maine

is a two-room establishment inside a restored 19th-century lighthouse, about 15 minutes by boat from the town of Southport, Maine. Breakfasts and afternoon tea are included in your stay. You can book the east- or west-facing suite for $500 per night, or get the whole island to yourself for a loftier rate (whole-island rentals start at $1,450). By day, take a sail or kayak tour of Boothbay Harbor.

Kokomo Island, Fiji

This new luxury resort opened in March on a private island owned by Australian billionaire Lang Walker. Located among Fiji鈥檚 Kadavu Island Group, is a 140-acre tropical haven with white-sand beaches and lush rainforests, accessed via seaplane or helicopter from Fiji鈥檚 mainland. You鈥檒l snorkel and dive through the Great Astrolabe Reef, the fourth largest in the world, trek through the rainforest, and sleep in private beachfront villas with infinity pools overlooking the ocean. It鈥檚 pricey鈥攕tarting at $1,995 a night鈥攂ut your rates include all meals, plus butler and nanny services.

Eagle Island, Georgia

To get to , you鈥檒l leave from a dock in the fishing village of Darien, Georgia, and take a 15-minute boat ride to your own private ten-acre island. This isn鈥檛 a resort鈥攊t鈥檚 a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house that can sleep up to 12 people and starts at $475 a night鈥攂ut you鈥檒l get resort-like services, including a stocked kitchen, kayak and boat rentals, and a friendly boat captain named Andy who answers your questions. Watch the sunset from a hammock, hike a nature trail around the island, or go crabbing off the dock.

Hatchet Caye, Belize

, a seven-acre private island an hour-long boat ride from the coastal town of Placencia, Belize, is home to a laid-back resort that first opened in 2011. Here, you can book one of eight oceanfront cabanas or four rooms in the main house starting at $433 per night, or you and up to 30 friends can reserve the whole island for $3,000 a night. Spend your time atop a kayak or paddleboard, or book a trip with the on-island dive shop to dive among whale sharks in the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second largest coral reef in the world. The resort鈥檚 restaurant serves good ceviche and fried lionfish tacos.

The post 6 Private Islands You Can Call Home for the Night appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The seven small countries wedged between Mexico and Colombia boast the world’s greatest density of adventure per square mile. Our scouts explored Central America’s reefs, jungles, and beaches, and came back with the knowledge you need for your own expedition.

El Salvador

Pupusas听and Point听Breaks

When I鈥檓 going on a surf trip to another country, I don鈥檛 want to feel like I鈥檓 in Newport Beach, which is why last June I packed my boards and flew to tiny El Salvador. The country has issues with gang violence, but tourists are almost never affected, and it鈥檚 the perfect place for a Central American experience without all the gringos.

So bone up on your Spanish and start with the small coastal town of El Tunco, about 40 minutes south of the airport in San Salvador. On weekends it鈥檚 packed with day-trippers from the capital, but it empties out during the week. The rocky beaches west of town offer a beginner-friendly surf spot with long, crumbling rights and steeper, shorter lefts. Surfers have known about the point breaks spaced every couple of miles along the country鈥檚 south-facing coast for years, but somehow it鈥檚 still easy to find nooks and crannies to yourself.

For bigger waves, head seven miles west to El Zonte, a two-restaurant town with a fun right point break. Stay at hotel (from $22), where Alex Noboa and his wife take turns running the joint and sneaking out to surf. Whoever happens to be out of the water can give you the beta on surf lessons, inland waterfall hikes, and coffee tours.

Farther down the coast toward Honduras鈥攚hat El Salvadorans call the east coast鈥攁n even more rural experience can be found. The surf spots are less consistent, but when the swell hits it鈥檚 unbelievably good. Countless surf flicks, like Reef鈥檚 Cancer to Capricorn, were filmed at the Las Flores break and the half-dozen other world-class waves in the area.

The crown jewel of the region is Punta Mango, a 200-yard cobblestone point break 20 minutes west of the town of El Cuco. Stay at (from $125), which overlooks the barreling, Americano-free waves.

Crucial Beta:听You don鈥檛 need to rent a car in El Salvador. For long trips, arrange a driver through your hotel; the 4.5-hour ride from El Cuco to Tunco ran us $125. For shorter excursions, take the bus. Many are kitted out with skull stick shifts and throbbing Latin beats, and 25 cents will get you and your board anywhere you want to go.

Local Flavor:听Wherever you go in El Salvador, you鈥檒l see women pounding out dough to load up pupusas with cheese, beans, chicken, chorizo, or carne asada. In El Cuco, you can鈥檛 get one before 5 p.m.; in the rest of the country, they seem to be available 24/7. No matter where you are, they鈥檒l run you 50 cents to two bucks.

鈥�Matt听Skenazy

Costa Rica

Howler听Monkeys, Waterfalls, and Empty Beaches

If you had the time, you could easily pass months in Costa Rica, hopping from the Monte Verde cloud forests to the world鈥檚 most famous beach breaks. But when planning a weeklong trip with a group of friends, we limited ourselves to a single geographic area, since we planned on traveling by buses and wanted to really get to know the place. We settled on the Pacific coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, specifically the pint-size town of Santa Teresa. Nearby Nosara is a famous surfing destination, which means plenty of people know the area is worth a visit. But the region has managed to maintain a laid-back feel鈥攁 rare thing in this sometimes touristy country.

After taking the ferry from mainland Puntarenas, the psychological equivalent of leaving Las Vegas for Joshua Tree, we headed straight for the (rentals from $12) and spent the next two days surfing poorly at Playa El Carmen and eating chicken tacos, yucca fries, and ceviche at a little shack called Taco Corner. Our third morning, we traveled by bus nine miles to the even smaller fishing village of Playa Montezuma in search of a series of cascading river pools, about a 20-minute hike from the village center. We whiled away an entire afternoon swimming under a waterfall, listening to the screams of monkeys in the trees, and watching kids splash around on a precarious-looking rope swing.

On the way out, we picked up a few tortillas and a bag of avocados at the market before heading back to the quiet of Santa Teresa. The only souvenir I brought home was a pound of Costa Rican coffee. I can still smell it in my bag.

Crucial Beta:听The town of听Nosara听is one of the best places to practice yoga in the Western Hemisphere. Our favorite retreat: . Started by a founder of the renowned Omega Institute in upstate New York, it鈥檚 the perfect place to听earn a teaching credential. The听monthlong听Jivamukti听training gets you starting certification in a听vinyasa-based听yoga ($6,350, all-inclusive). Not ready to go pro? Book a one-week retreat (teachers and practices change frequently), then lounge in the resort鈥檚 infinity pool, try a Reiki treatment at the on-site spa, and roll out your mat twice a day with panoramic views of the Pacific (from $500).

Local Flavor:听Don鈥檛 be tempted by a 鈥渢ropical鈥� cocktail in a hollowed-out pineapple just because you鈥檙e in Costa Rica. Central America has mastered the art of the light lager. Each country has a brewery churning out refreshing low-alcohol suds (our favorite: El Salvador鈥檚 Pilsener), and no matter which country you鈥檙e in, that鈥檚 what you should be drinking.

鈥�Meaghen Brown听

Belize

Whale听Sharks,听Hot Sauce, and Family Harmony

Planning a vacation that keeps an entire family happy is next to impossible. One person wants great food, another wants to sit on the beach, persons three through nine are indifferent, and the tenth hates humidity. Which roughly narrows the possibilities down to Portland, Maine, in August鈥攐r Belize just about anytime. That鈥檚 why last April my in-laws and I headed to Placencia, a small fishing village on the southern end of the country.

Belize is a former British colony, so getting around was as easy as renting a car and being able to read at a fourth-grade level. From there my wife and I chased baby tarpon in inland lagoons (); her sister commuted between the saltwater pool at our rental house and the postcard beach in front of it (); and the in-laws made frequent trips to the shockingly good for shrimp-stuffed squid with mango habanero sauce or braised Belizean lamb.

But the real highlight was the family bonding experience鈥攁 chance to snorkel with whale sharks as they made a brief mid-migration appearance. We took a boat beyond the Great Meso-American Reef, and there they were, great school-bus-size fish splashing through 12-foot swells. Everyone dove in except the boat鈥檚 captain and the poor guy鈥攎e鈥攃linging to an aluminum pole in the throes of seasickness. But, this being Belize, even the whale was accommodating鈥攊t surfaced before me as I emptied the last contents of my stomach into the ocean. 鈥淣ot many people get to see one that close,鈥� the captain said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime experience.鈥� In other words: a perfect family vacation.

Crucial听Beta:听The Maya ruins in Belize are smaller than Mexico鈥檚, not as well maintained, and not nearly as popular. Which makes them a superb place to visit if you don鈥檛 want to be herded like cattle through roped-off pathways. Significant portions of Lamanai (two hours northwest of Belize City) and Caracol (two hours south of San Ignacio) remain unexcavated and undeveloped, and they鈥檙e ideal spots to explore freely. (Seriously, though, please stay off the ruins.)

Local Flavor:听Ask for hot sauce at virtually any Belizean restaurant and they will bring you one brand: . Legend has it that Marie had a bumper habanero crop one year and, not knowing what else to do with it, ground it up, added some spices, and bottled it. The results鈥攏ow offered in 11 flavors ranging from mild to 鈥渂eware鈥濃�攎ake Mexican hot sauces taste like tomato juice. It鈥檚 hard to find outside the country, so load up at the airport.

鈥�Jonah Ogles听

The post Central America’s Most 国产吃瓜黑料-Packed Locations appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The first-ever hammocks were听used by to escape snakes, biting ants, and other creatures they鈥檇 prefer not to wake up next to. For most of us today, however, hammocks are the embodiment of hold-my-calls rest and relaxation. Here鈥檚 where to make that happen听no matter your budget.

Roughing It

Parque Tayrona, Colombia

From $6

For the price of a few ,听you can sleep to the sounds of crashing waves on an open-air hammock overlooking the beautiful听white-sand听beaches of听. Located听on Colombia鈥檚 Caribbean, the park is听known for its snorkeling, but听also听check out the 1.5-mile听uphill hike into the jungle to the ,听a perfect precursor to the three-day 听that begins in Santa Marta, about 30听minutes away. Shell out $95 for a private room that also comes with a hammock.听

Paratay, Brazil

鈥�From $30

Paratay is a tropical beach town about four hours from both听Rio听and听Sao Paulo. Base at this bare-bones mansion听cum听guesthouse, about a 20-minute water shuttle from the town center, and you鈥檒l听get a clean, basic room and quiet beachfront bliss with hammocks.听In Paratay, you can trail bike, kayak, dive, snorkel, or hike through the rainforest on the three-hour Gold Trail through听.听

Antigua, Guatemala

From $40

This hillside escape of treehouses overlooking Guatemala鈥檚 vast volcano range听is a 15-minute taxi ride from听Antigua鈥檚 center. Get the 鈥渄eluxe room鈥� and听you鈥檒l have two private hammocks with views. Feeling social? Crawl out of your arboreal home to snag one of six hammocks scattered about the grounds. Or听grab a trail map from the front desk and enjoy wandering the surrounding countryside.

Sharing Community

Topanga Canyon, California
听
From $95

Topanga Canyon听is one of L.A.鈥檚 more bohemian reaches, as well as a paradise for . This 听is a home鈥檚 guest wing (with a private entrance) surrounded by a听native-plant garden where you鈥檒l find听a cushion- and blanket-strewn hammock over a Mexican-tile patio听with views of the Santa Monica Mountains.听

El Zonte, El Salvador
听
From听$315

Incredible breaks and uncrowded beaches make El Salvador one of the most up-and-coming surf destinations. After riding your last wave, unwind with a swing on one of听the three hammocks at this 12-person, five-bedroom cliff听house. It鈥檚 located along the western surfing corridor and comes with a pool.

Big Island, Hawaii

From听$350

If you鈥檝e never road-tripped around Hawaii鈥檚 Big Island, put it on your to-do list. From the turtle听diving in Kona and hiking in 听to the hidden falls near Hilo and sightseeing in听, it鈥檚 one of the most incredible drives in the United States. Afterward, park yourself in this听hammock with unobstructed views of . The house听comes with its own private beach, Jacuzzi, and swimming pool, and sleeps up to eight.

Splurge

Guadeloupe

From $130

One of the lesser-traveled islands in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe is known for its spectacular beaches, great diving in听the听, and top-notch hiking up the 4,049-foot, still-active听La Soufri猫re volcano. Base out of听,听set on a rainforested hill overlooking the sea.听All the brightly colored rooms are open听air and equipped with hammocks for spontaneous napping.听

Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, Belize

From $279

In the open-air听Francis Ford Coppola Villa at the听, one of the walls is actually a hammock听affording private rainforest views and sounds from the river below.听Coppola鈥檚 intimate hideaway in the , the first national park in Belize,听is a great base for visiting Mayan sites like (in nearby Guatemala) and exploring the mysterious听.听

Sumba, Indonesia

From $900

This new, much-buzzed-about retreat on the island of Sumba offers surfing, sportfishing, diving, and sunbathing on a private 1.5-mile white-sand beach鈥攁ll the pleasures that drew travelers to nearby听Bali (a 90-minute flight away) before it became overrun. The best spot for apr猫s-adventure lounging: one of 鈥檚听colorful hammocks, which staff set up with pillows and towels, and then deliver freshly picked coconuts with edible听papaya straws.听

听

Three Free Hammock Parks for City Slickers

Governor鈥檚 Island, New York

Governor鈥檚 Island is听New York City鈥檚 favorite听quirky summer playground. It鈥檚听an uninhabited island a from Manhattan with a garden of听red rope hammocks鈥攁听perfect break between biking around the island and kicking back at the (man-made) beach club.听

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania听

,听a lawn of 38听hammocks听on the , is听relaxing way to end your day听听down lively South Street from the University of Pennyslvania campus to Penn鈥檚 Landing.

Vienna, Austria听

The Viennese sure love their hammocks鈥攖he city has a four-story installation in the 听and a 听in the . But for pure open-air swinging bliss,听the place to go is , where a slew of hammocks have been installed every May to October听since 2011.

The post 12 Hammock-Lovers鈥� Hideaways appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Warning: unless you鈥檙e an annoyingly carefree bon vivant with a hefty trust fund, reading our annual Best of Travel awards may trigger a deep sense of dissatisfaction with the pathetic state of your mundane life. There are so many cool places to go, you鈥檒l think as you scroll through our 30 epic selections. And not enough time! Why am I stuck at this desk! Do not panic鈥攖his is a totally natural reaction. And that鈥檚 the beauty of our annual awards.

国产吃瓜黑料 has been covering the adventure-travel beat for nearly four decades, and our two veteran Best of Travel writers, Tim Neville and Stephanie Pearson, have spent months poring over the latest trip offerings and scouring the globe to uncover surprising new ideas. We know this beat, and now we鈥檝e narrowed your choices of hotels, destinations, and outfitters from approximately 10.6 million to 30. The final choice is still on you, but the task is at least manageable. Or maybe you鈥檒l get that trust fund. 鈥�Chris Keyes

1. Best Island: Bermuda

A subtropical archipelago of 181 volcanic islands, Bermuda won the bid to host the 2017 America鈥檚 Cup, thanks to near perfect North Atlantic sailing conditions. Beyond wind, the British Overseas Territory, just a two-hour flight from New York City, has 75 miles of pink-sand beaches interspersed with jagged limestone cliffs, many of which are perfect for deep-water soloing and hucking into the Atlantic from the top. Stay at , a 50-acre hideaway with a private stretch of sand on the southern shore (from $455).

2. Best Dive: Cuba

Already sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department as an educational tour, this 11-day live-aboard yacht excursion helps fund research 鈥╝nd conservation work by trip leader David Guggenheim, a marine scientist, underwater explorer, and founder of the Washington, D.C., nonprofit . The location: , an archipelago of 250 coral and mangrove islands, located 60 miles off Cuba鈥檚 southern coast, that Fidel Castro established as a marine protected area and a no-take fishing zone. Only 1,000 divers are allowed each year, so you鈥檒l be one of the few to see whale sharks, sperm whales, sea turtles, goliath groupers, and some of the most pristine coral reefs anywhere on the planet. The package includes a chartered flight from Miami and a night at the five-star in Havana. From $7,474.

3. Best Street Food: Austin, Texas

The scene here is so fast-paced that today鈥檚 sweet chile chicken lollipops at or kimchi fries at the Korean-Mexican fusion truck may be gone tomorrow. (Though we sure hope not.) Hit eight trucks in one location at the Barton Springs Picnic Park, and find more worth seeking out at and .

4. Best River Trip: Fiji

Lined with vertical cliffs and cascading waterfalls, the 18-mile-long Upper Navua River Gorge on Viti Levu is like a tropical Grand Canyon, which is why formed and worked with local landowners, villagers, a timber company, and the Native Land Trust Board to establish the 10.5-mile Upper Navua Conservation Area in 2000. Bask in the fruits of their labor by paddling this pristine Class II鈥揑II warm-water river lined with swaying palms. As long as you鈥檙e here, add a couple of days kayaking the Middle Navua, sea-kayaking and snorkeling among the coral gardens of Beqa Lagoon, and sprawling out on white-sand beaches. $2,899 for eight days.

5. Best of the Wild West: Montana

Since 2001, the nonprofit has been working to restore the northern great plains to the pristine condition Lewis and Clark found them in more than 200 years ago. The resulting reserve, in northeast Montana, is now 305,000 acres. The aim is to reach 3.5 million by 2030, creating a U.S. Serengeti and the largest wildlife park in the lower 48, where herds of elk, mule deer, and bison thrive. But don鈥檛 wait to go. You can sleep under the stars now at the 11-site ($10), four miles north of the , and take a DIY mountain-biking safari on old ranch roads, passing grazing bison and scanning the skies for American kestrels, Sprague鈥檚 pipits, and Swainson鈥檚 hawks. Or paddle the Missouri River past pioneer homesteads and historic tepees to , a set of five luxurious yurts, each with AC, a hot shower, and a veranda for sundowners (from $4,800 for six days).

6. Best Place to Tie One On: Portland, Maine

The other Portland may have the microbrewery rep, but it distributes its beers to half the country. Many of the best brews in Portland, Maine, can only be quaffed here. , a classic American farmhouse brewery, just opened a tasting room downtown where you can try local favorite Space Cowboy, a low-alcohol ale, and full-flavor European-style beers like the Continental. Then head to , one of the country鈥檚 best beer bars, with 33 rotating taps, including roughly ten Maine brews. Or join , which offers two-and-a-half-hour tours along the Old Port area, with stops at distilleries and breweries like and (from $59).

7. Best Splurge: Greenland

鈥� brand-new eco base camp, with high-thread-count linens, hot showers, and a gourmet chef, is as close to a luxurious safari-style camp as you can get in these parts. Set on Sermilik Fjord at the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet, one of the least explored regions of the Arctic, the camp is within view of 5,000-foot peaks that plunge into the sea. Why pay top dollar to sleep in polar bear country in temperatures that barely hit the fifties in August? Because as Olaf Malver, the Danish camp founder who has spent 26 years exploring this coastline, says, 鈥淵ou will be dazzled by its dizzying beauty, strength, and simmering silence.鈥� Guests can take guided ten-mile hikes through tundras, kayak among humpback whales, and visit Inuit villagers who live by centuries-old traditions. From $8,995 for nine days.

8. Best Way to Get Strong Quads: San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Elevation, elevation, elevation. That鈥檚 what I recall about the through the San Juans, from Durango, Colorado, to Moab, Utah. Much as I want to write about the towering vistas and cascading ribbons of singletrack, you have to reach them first, and my memory of the 200-plus-mile ride is the 25,000 feet of elevation gain. The pain is worth it, with climbs ending at huts with glorious views. Note that these aren鈥檛 your gorgeous, timber-pegged cabins鈥攖hey鈥檙e two-by-four-and-particle-board huts, hauled up on trailer frames. But you鈥檙e not here for raclette and a hot-stone massage; you鈥檙e just happy that you don鈥檛 have to carry your own food, water, and shelter. The cabins are well stocked, including cold beer and a warm sleeping bag on a soft pad. A couple of suggestions: carry the hut system鈥檚 maps; where it says singletrack option, take it; and read the log books (some of the comments are hysterical). When you get to Geyser Pass Hut at the end of day six, start smiling, because you鈥檙e at the top of the La Sal Mountains, and a 7,400-foot descent, aptly named the Whole Enchilada, awaits. As do the Colorado River, Moab, and a Milt鈥檚 malted and cheeseburger.
鈥�Dave Cox

9. Best New Jaw-Dropping Hotel: Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman

Oman is one of the most peaceful and stunning nations in the Middle East. Start your exploration of the vast Arabian Peninsula at amid date, peach, and pomegranate trees, perched at 6,500 feet on the edge of a deep gorge in the Hajar Mountains. Ffrom $325.

10. Best International 国产吃瓜黑料 Hub: Chile

Running 2,610 miles north to south, Chile is the longest country in the world, and 80 percent of it is covered by mountains. With vast wild spaces like 650,000-acre (which opened to the public this year), pristine rivers with big trout, classic old-school ski areas, and pisco sours and damn good wine, it鈥檚 hard to go wrong. Consider these dream itineraries: (1) Fly into the capital city of Santiago, then work your way south to 370,000-acre in Tierra del Fuego. The former cattle ranch opened in 2013, but very few people have been lucky enough to explore this swath of untouched glaciers and peaks. Be one of the first to take it all in on a 16-day boat-assisted hiking and sailing epic with ($8,000). (2) Mid-country, two hours south of Santiago in the Millahue Valley, stay at the brand-new , a 22-room retreat and wine spa in the middle of an 11,000-acre vineyard with stunning views of the Andes (from $1,200). Mountain-bike the 65 miles of vineyard roads, then laze by the infinity pool. (3) Eleven hundred miles north in the Atacama Desert, explore the lunar landscape on horseback, relax poolside at the luxurious (from $1,350 for two nights, all-inclusive), then set out after dark to to view the universe through the clearest sky on earth.

11. Best SUP Odyssey: Belize

With the 180-mile-long Belize Barrier Reef, this laid-back country has long been a heaven for divers and snorkelers. It just got better with the world鈥檚 first lodge-to-lodge paddleboarding trip. On this through Belize鈥檚 118,000-acre , you鈥檒l paddle four to eight miles per day through calm turquoise waters, jumping off to snorkel where spotted eagle rays and barracuda glide in reef areas too shallow for motorboats. You鈥檒l visit with researchers at Smithsonian鈥檚 to learn about reef biology, stop for a beachside fresh-catch lunch at a Garifuna fishing camp, night-snorkel at Southwater Cut (a deep channel where the coral blooms after dark), and sleep in rustic overwater bungalows on tiny Tobacco Caye and in the seclusion of private Southwater Caye, 12 acres ringed by white sand in the Belize Barrier Reef. $1,829 for six days.

12. Best Place to Get in the Car and Go: India

Mention driving in India to veteran travelers and they鈥檒l recount white-knuckle cab rides and six-hour traffic jams. But on a ten-day driving trip with , you and a caravan of like-minded adventurers gain access to crowd-free luxury lodging and villages far from the tourist hordes. You鈥檒l pilot a Mahindra Scorpio (an Indian four-wheel-drive SUV) up to 90 miles a day, charging through the dirt roads of the Himalayan foothills or over the sand dunes of Rajasthan. A mechanic will be right behind you for on-the-fly repairs. From $1,500 for ten days.

13. Best Beaches: South Carolina

The Palmetto State has over 200 miles of coastline and an ample supply of gorgeous beaches, with comfortable water temperatures from May through October. Start in Charleston and head 20 miles north to uninhabited Bulls Island, part of the stunning 66,000-acre Cape Romaine 鈥∟ational Wildlife Refuge, for a hiking or kayaking tour with (from $40). Farther north lies Pawleys Island and its laid-back beaches, and three miles north of there is our favorite stretch of the state: Litchfield Beach. The northern end is the protected . You won鈥檛 find any putt-putt here, just wide-open white sand for miles.

14. Best Small Cruise: Doubtful Sound, New Zealand

As my wife and I planned our South Island road trip, the big debate was: should we do an overnight cruise into Doubtful Sound on a 70-person, three-masted sailboat? We didn鈥檛 really think of ourselves as cruising types. Then we looked at pictures of Doubtful Sound, which seemed too stunning to be real: ridiculously lush forest clinging to sheer cliff walls, pods of dolphins, towering waterfalls. So we booked the trip with . While we did some unbelievably cool stuff while we were in New Zealand, including helicoptering into a swanky lodge in the Southern Alps, the defining moment came during a rainy afternoon on that boat. Temperatures were in the mid-forties, and we had just returned from a short sea-kayaking excursion, wet and cold. But when I saw a few of my fellow cruisers (who, it should be said, were mostly young and adventuresome) lining up to jump off the rear deck, I stripped down to my skivvies, climbed onto a platform, and launched into the scrotum-searingly cold water. And then I did it again. My wife looked at me like I鈥檇 lost my mind. And maybe I had, at least temporarily. From $310.鈥擲AM MOULTON
鈥�Sam Moulton

15. Best Comeback Country: Sri Lanka

The first decade of the new millennium was rough on Sri Lanka, with a devastating cyclone, the tsunami, and a 26-year civil war that ended in 2009. Today, this largely Buddhist island in the northern Indian Ocean, with 8,000-foot peaks and 830 miles of coastline, has bounced back big time鈥攆oreign travel grew 19 percent in 2014. There鈥檚 no shortage of fun to be had at these base camps: Book a deluxe safari-style tent at and Spa in the center of the country and hike to sacred rock Sigiriya (from $221). , a brand-new clifftop hotel on 12 lush acres, 30 minutes east of the port city of Galle, hovers 100 feet over the Indian Ocean, with mountain biking, diving, and paddleboarding nearby (from $767). On the east coast, the village of Arugam Bay, sandwiched between miles of beaches and an inland tropical jungle, has consistent right breaks. Rent a beach cabana at the (from $38). Twenty miles south is Yala National Park, with herds of elephants and solitary leopards.

16. Best Outfitted Trips: Anywhere with Wilderness Travel

This 37-year-old team in Berkeley, California, dreams up more than 30 unique trips across 75 countries every year and is known for pioneering adventures that other outfitters copy later鈥攌ayaking tours through remote stretches of Tierra del Fuego, the world鈥檚 highest trek (at 23,000 feet) across Tibet鈥攁nd doing it all with an eye toward supporting locals and minimizing environmental impact. But what makes truly exceptional are the company鈥檚 trip developers and guides. Take Barbara Banks, a polyglot who鈥檚 spent 23 years with the company traveling hundreds of thousands of miles setting up local connections. (Norwegian ferry captains know her so well, they鈥檒l make unscheduled stops to allow Wilderness Travel groups to disembark directly at their waterside hotel after a day of hiking fjords.) Some recent new trips: sea-kayaking and camping on isolated beaches in Palau, visiting little-seen pyramids in Sudan, and tracking desert lions in Namibia with Flip Stander, a Ph.D. who has spent decades living among the big cats.

17. Best Domestic 国产吃瓜黑料 Hub: North Carolina

Take California, make the mountains greener and the beaches and restaurants less crowded, and replace all the digital millionaires with hospitable southerners, and you get North Carolina. On the coast, you鈥檒l find some of the East鈥檚 best breaks on the Outer Banks, and stand-up paddleboarders cruise through the 160,000-acre , filled with salt estuaries and flooded pines. In the west, there鈥檚 world-class singletrack and road riding in the Blue Ridge mountains (pros like local Matthew Busche of Trek Factory Racing train for the Tour de France here), 96 miles of Appalachian Trail, and some of the country鈥檚 best whitewater at the . That鈥檚 to say nothing of cities like Asheville, Wilmington, and Chapel Hill, which are full of farm-to-table restaurants, local breweries, and great music venues. Where to start your trip? Get a room at the two-year-old in Asheville (from $159) and mountain-bike the Big Avery Loop, a challenging 13-mile romp through rhododendron tunnels and way-off-the-back rock steps. Or rent a house on the Outer Banks in the spring or fall and learn to surf with the folks at (from $100).

18. Best Base Camp: Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia

Yes, getting to Namibia involves at least a full day of travel, but the payoff is worth it: no other landscape is like the surreal Skeleton Coast, which was carved out of lava rock 130 million years ago. One excellent way to see it is via , a fly-in oasis that opened last August on the banks of the Hoanib River in one of Africa鈥檚 most extraordinary wildlife-viewing regions. Desert-adapted rhinos, elephants, and other charismatic megafauna like springbok (a gazelle) linger near the camp鈥檚 spacious, fire-warmed common area and eight luxury safari tents (think pitched canvas roofs, big decks, and twin-bed interiors). A small plane can drop you off near the shipwrecks and seal colonies at Mowe Bay. From $500.

19. Best Road Biking: California

The Golden State has 800 miles of coastline and half a dozen mountain ranges鈥攁nd you can ride practically all of it year-round. From coastal tours like the supported eight-day, 525-mile from San Francisco to Los Angeles, to foodie-friendly tours along the back roads of Sonoma (visit for routes, rentals, and outfitters), to epic climbs like the five passes and 15,000 feet of elevation gain through the Sierra Nevada during the annual ($135), California has greater variety than just about anywhere. Get route maps online at the , or sign up with an outfitter like . Its supported, self-directed six-day tours from Yosemite to San Francisco or through Death Valley National Park let you decide where to ride, sleep, and eat, but a leader in a van sets up snack stops and water refills and hauls your gear. It鈥檚 like an egoless, six-cylinder domestique ($1,495 for six days).

20. Best Place for a Meal in Ski Boots: Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

After a morning spent charging Taos鈥檚 famously steep West Basin chutes, there鈥檚 no better place to refuel than the 鈥檚 festive outdoor deck. With its waitstaff in dirndls and lederhosen, German fare, and view of Kachina Peak, this ski-in, ski-out chalet is about as close to the Alps as you can get in the southern Rockies. I start with the soft-doughed pretzels and house-made sweet grain mustard. They鈥檙e the perfect warm-up for the goulash, bratwurst, or spaetzle (a German version of mac and cheese) and an Asam Bock, a beer on tap from Germany鈥檚 . On powder days, I often don鈥檛 end up at the Bavarian until dinner, which is served inside the log-built lodge, where you can still dunk bread in cheese on fondue Tuesdays during the winter. If I鈥檓 sleeping in one of the Bavarian鈥檚 four luxe suites, waking up to easy access to Taos鈥檚 new Kachina lift, which expands the mountain鈥檚 lift-served advanced terrain by 50 percent, is heaven. During summer, trails to Williams Lake and New Mexico鈥檚 highest peak鈥�13,159-foot Wheeler鈥攁re right out your door.鈥�Mary Turner

21. Best Urban Upgrade: Philadelphia

It may be better known for its cheesesteak, hoagies, and underdog sports teams, but lately the City of Brotherly Love has been gaining ground as an outdoor town. This year it鈥檚 launching a bike-share program and adding three miles of multi-use trails to its 220-mile citywide system. In 2014, it transformed 20,571 square feet of cemented wasteland into . You can even do paddleboard yoga along the Delaware River with (from $45).

22. Best Outfitted Trips for Families: Anywhere with Bicycle 国产吃瓜黑料s

Roughly 10 percent of 鈥� trips are now geared specifically toward families with preteens in tow. This year the Washington-based company launched three multi-day rides in Oregon, Idaho, and South Dakota that follow car-free bike paths and pass through kid-captivating areas like Mount Rushmore and Idaho鈥檚 Trail of the Hiawatha, with stops for ice cream, rafting, and swimming holes. Have younger kids? They鈥檒l pedal tag-alongs hitched to adult bikes, and toddlers and infants can ride in provided trailers. From $2,295.

23. Best Place to Eat and Drink Yourself Silly: Scotland

A decade ago, when restaurants like Noma ushered in a Scandinavian culinary renaissance, a bunch of Scots headed north and took jobs in those kitchens. Now they鈥檝e returned to make use of their homeland鈥檚 nearly 6,800 miles of coastline, abundant mushroom and strawberry harvests, and massive beef industry. Which is part of the reason the country named 2015 the . Just about every town has at least one restaurant with a creative menu. To experience the best of it, go to the , on the edge of Loch Dunvegan. Chef Michael Smith serves Sconser king scallops, Skye blackface lamb, and lobster from practically right out the door. And don鈥檛 forget to take in a Scotch distillery tour.

24. Best Places to Stretch Your Budget: Japan, Europe, and Brazil

With the economy bouncing back, the dollar is getting stronger鈥攅specially in these three destinations, where the exchange rate has steadily improved over the past 12 months.

Japan

Three nights at the ski-centric

• February 2014: $260
• February 2015: $220

Europe

One-week tour with

• February 2014: $4,000
• February 2015: $3,395

Brazil

Three nights in the Amazon at

• February 2014: $850
• February 2015: $750

25. Best Deal: Kolarbyn Hostel

These , located about 80 miles west of Stockholm, are made from wood and earth (you can pick blueberries off the roof) and set you up in the middle of a spruce forest straight out of Endor. Spend your days napping, hiking, or paddling nearby waterways, and end them with a visit to the floating sauna on Sk盲rsj枚n lake. $120.

26. Best Effort to Mitigate That Carbon Footprint: Indianapolis International Airport

Air travel is tough on the environment. So it鈥檚 nice when there are initiatives like the . Last year, workers more than doubled the number of solar panels at Indianapolis International Airport to 76,000鈥攅nough to power 3,210 homes for an entire year.

27. Best Safari: Kenya

国产吃瓜黑料 GO鈥檚 11-day was put together by owners Sandy and Chip Cunningham, who lived in Kenya for five years, in response to a simple truth: Africa鈥檚 most worthwhile destinations are often some of its most vulnerable. You鈥檒l visit three remarkable locations on the cutting edge of both conservation and accommodation in the wildest sections of East Africa. Take Campi Ya Kanzi, nestled in the shadow of Kilimanjaro, which has exclusive access to 300,000 acres of wilderness with lions, elephants, zebras, and giraffes, and not a single tourist in sight. You鈥檒l be hosted by local Masai and sleep in a lavish tent without the humming generators that mar other properties鈥攖he camp gets 24-hour power from solar. The trip culminates in a visit to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust鈥檚 elephant orphanage, where young pachyderms that have lost their parents to poaching are fostered. You鈥檒l get a once-in-a-lifetime, up-close look. From $9,585.

28. Best Viral-Video Opportunity: Bay of Fundy

Go with on a sea kayak with pods of humpback whales in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick. From $85.听

29. Best Airbnb Property: Mary May鈥檚

A morning spent at outside Bozeman, Montana, presents a dilemma. Do you fire up the professional range, swing open the French doors, and have a leisurely breakfast? Do you head out and explore the property鈥檚 100 acres of trails and trout waters? Or do you hop in the car for a quick trip to Yellowstone? There鈥檚 no easy answer, but few places let you experience as much for so little. $125.

30. Best Surf Trip: Baja, Mexico

There are lots of ways to enjoy Mexico. But I鈥檝e found that the very best is to cross the border in a 4×4 truck with surfboards, a few extra tanks of gasoline, and a couple of bottles of mezcal. If you don鈥檛 count the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali鈥攁nd, frankly, you shouldn鈥檛鈥攖he Baja peninsula has a population of just over two million spread across 55,000 square miles. That鈥檚 fewer people than Houston. The region鈥檚 2,000 miles of wild and desolate Pacific coastline are littered with fantastic, almost always empty surf. Many of the most famous breaks鈥擰uatros Casas, Scorpion Bay鈥攏ow have hostels and other amenities on the bluffs, but the rule of thumb is that the farther you get from San Diego, the more challenging and rewarding it becomes. You get to work for your dinner: spear-caught fish for ceviche and a lobster as big as a small dog. Lodging options that far south are limited鈥攚e slept in tents or our truck bed鈥攕o if you go, remember that when the wind starts whipping and the night gets cold, dead yuccas burn hotter than tumbleweeds.
鈥�Matt Skenazy

More of 国产吃瓜黑料's 2015 Best of Travel

• Gear: The 5 Best Pieces of Gear for the Road
• Guides: 5 Travel Guides You Need to Know
• Coming Soon: The Best of Travel Runner-Ups

The post The 30 Best Trips of 2015 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

While the mercury drops and polar vortexes close in yet again (just kidding鈥攚e hope), remember that there are still places in the world where the water isn’t bone-chilling and the breezes are gentler. These seven destinations boast great paddling alongside tropical fish, stunning resorts, and cheerful residents (because who could blame them?).

Go Multisport in Malta

This 121-square-mile island south of Sicily鈥攁nd its smaller satellites, Gozo and Comino鈥攁re pure gold for athletes. The Euro-pean Development Fund recently invested $1.4 million in more than 600 miles of cycling and mountain-biking routes in the Maltese Islands and Sicily. From Malta, take the 25-minute ferry ride to ($7), rent a mountain bike at ($17), and ride a 27-mile circumnavigation past Neolithic temples, stone villages, and the crashing Mediterranean Sea. For climbers, there are on the three islands and countless deepwater-soloing options. Divers can explore 100 major shore- and boat-diving sites, including the off Gozo, a Jacques Cousteau favorite. Stay at the , a former private townhouse on Malta鈥檚 Spinola Bay with 44 rooms and a rooftop pool (from $132).

St. Lucia Surf and Turf

One of the coolest things about the 300-acre Anse Mamin Plantation at the (from $420) is its impressive network of singletrack, designed in part by former world-champion mountain biker Tinker Juarez. With steep switchbacks and giant descents through a forest of fruit trees, Juarez鈥檚 three-mile loop tops out with a panoramic view of the famed Pitons. Anse Chastanet鈥檚 two beaches border pristine coral reefs for snorkeling and diving and harbor more than 150 fish species. For a one-way, old-school Caribbean sailing trip, start in St. Lucia鈥檚 Rodney Bay and take ten days to make your way to Grenada via the Grenadine Islands and their stunning moorings. 44-foot monohull, or add a skipper for $185 per day (from $7,529 for up to ten).

Stay Close at Caladesi Island 鈥⊿tate Park, Florida

Just north of Clearwater Beach on the Gulf of Mexico, this three-鈥╩ile spit of white sand is worlds away from the frenetic pace of the mainland. Accessible via 鈥▂our own boat or a ferry from ($14), Caladesi is a haven for nesting sea turtles and shorebirds like American oystercatchers. Hike the three-mile Hammock Loop, kayak a three-mile circle through the mangroves, or cast a line for flounder, redfish, or snapper. 鈥═he 108-slip marina (day-use permits are $6 per boat, $2 per kayaker; overnight mooring, $24) has a small caf茅 for snacks. Otherwise it鈥檚 BYO everything. There鈥檚 no camping on shore, 鈥╞ut day-trippers with saltwater experience can rent a 16-foot outboard from ($275). Or has a captained 53-foot boat that sleeps six (from $3,000).

Travel Back in Time (to Ometepe Island, 鈥∟icaragua)

This 171-square-mile Eden in the middle of Lake Nicaragua didn鈥檛 have electricity until the late 1980s or phone service until the early 2000s. And a bull-drawn cart is still the preferred mode of transportation for local farmers. Magical things happen on Ometepe, thanks to the island鈥檚 two volcanoes, Concepci贸n and Maderas. Hike 4,573-foot Maderas, with a 100-plus-foot waterfall and a swimmable crater lake, then soak in the nearby hot springs at Ojo de Agua. You鈥檒l find pre-Columbian petroglyphs everywhere, including at , a small lodge on the slopes of Maderas ($10). offers 20-minute flights on its 42-passenger planes from Managua to the island鈥檚 tiny La Paloma airport every Thursday and Sunday ($100 round-trip). Stay in the bungalows at on two-and-a-half-mile-long Santo Domingo beach (from $70).听

Unplug at Tobacco Caye, Belize

With a year-round population of only 30, this palm-fringed, five-acre islet is part of the Southwater Caye Marine Reserve, a 117,878-acre offshore wonderland for divers, snorkelers, and kayakers. The draw here is the Belize Barrier Reef, 鈥╝ Unesco World Heritage site just a few strokes off the island with a thriving turtle population and more than 500 fish species. Sign up with for five days of boat excursions to sites like Shark Cave, the Blue Hole, and Glover鈥檚 Reef Atoll, with accommodations in seaside, solar-powered rooms (from $1,000, all-inclusive). Kayakers can join 鈥� six-night, lodge-to-lodge Paradise Islands kayak and SUP journey, which winds through the South Water Caye Marine Reserve ($1,779). On Tobacco Caye, you鈥檒l stay at Paradise Lodge, a collection of over-water bungalows.

Score a Deal in Lefkada, Greece

The one benefit of Greece鈥檚 ongoing financial crisis is that the country still offers the best vacation bargain in Europe. Some of its most beautiful beaches are on Lefkada, a 117-square-mile island connected to the mainland by a floating bridge. From the iconic white-cliff-ringed sand at Porto Katsiki to the quaint fishing village of Agios Nikitas, there are dozens of options. Take advantage of the strong northerlies with a kite- or windsurfing lesson off (from $175), or hike 20 minutes down a steep cliff to secluded Milos (warning: clothing optional). Head inland to climb 3,799-foot Stravrota and mountain-bike the roads and singletrack that wind through olive groves (, $16). Average hotel prices are $100; there are also numerous rental options, including a in the village of Vafkeri, with a private pool and a stunning view of Skorpios, the island once owned by Aristotle Onassis (from $160).听

Splurge on Manta Island Resort, Pemba Island, Tanzania

Welcome to the ultimate tropical paradise, where the marine life is abundant and a private floating cabana lets guests sleep 15 feet underwater. Seriously. This sleek, Swedish-designed suite has a rooftop deck to laze in the sun and stargaze, a waterside deck for dining on the Swahili-spiced catch of the day, and an underwater bedroom with windows for watching barracuda swim by. After a night or two in the cabana, spend the rest of your trip in one of the resort鈥檚 breezy seafront villas. Fill your days diving at nine nearby sites, where you鈥檒l see Red Sea sweetlips and large-eye squid while sailing on a traditional dhow carved from a mango tree, or combing the nearby forest for the Pemba flying fox. Floating suite, $1,500; other rooms from $495. For a custom trip with an added safari option, book with .听

The post Drop Anchor at a Balmy Island This Winter appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.