Maya waterfall hike in Chiapas, Mexico
Mayan legend say the God of the Underworld torments those who die tragically by forcing their souls to wander the earth for four years. Each morning, their spirits turn into butterflies and at sundown they return to the Land of the Dead. Rainbows are signs of these lost souls. If that’s true, I’m in big trouble. Hiking a jungle trail, I’ve lost sight of my companions and am alone in the mist. Around me flashes a cloud of butterflies – some canary yellow and others with black polka dots–and rainbows arch from one side of the river to the next. I’m hiking El...
Read MoreSwimming with the stars in Oaxaca’s bioluminescent lagoon
No-one told me the Fountain of Youth was located in a Mexican swamp. I was floating in a boat in the middle of a lagoon under an ink-black night sky when I heard a large splash. Someone in our group had jumped into the water. We were participating in a Phosphorescence Excursion with Lalo Ecotours, an experience offered at special times of the year, when a unique alchemy of ocean currents and water temperature draw dinoflagellate plankton into Manialtepec Lagoon, a deep lagoon located 20 minutes outside Puerto Escondido. Much like fireflies of the north, the half-plant half-animal...
Read MoreSearching for soul in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Naked yoga, full moon parties and topless joggers — I’m on the beach in Playa del Carmen and happy to see that this beach town on Mexico’s Caribbean coast hasn’t lost its bohemian vibe. My introduction to Playa del Carmen began in the 1980s with my first husband , when we chose it as a budget alternative to Cancun. There were no resorts or condos, just endless stretches of white sand, mangroves and mysterious underground cenotes. Chickens ran freely across dirt streets and rooms with air conditioning were a luxury. While my then husband slept off the effects of a 5-day...
Read MoreEco-tour of Florida’s Treasure Coast
When Nancy Beaver’s marriage ended she didn’t plot revenge or decide her life was over. Instead, she got her captain’s licence and bought a boat. Now, she takes people on ecotours of the Indian River Lagoon near Port Salerno, in Martin County, Florida. Her mission is to promote a healthy, sustainable environment for all coastal and marine wildlife through research, education and preservation. After three days of driving Florida’s I-95 from Palm Beach to Jensen Beach, I was happy to get away from the superhighways and onto the water. My hope was to see a manatee or...
Read More5 unforgettable experiences on Day of the Dead in Guatemala
1) Explore a Kite Festival: Guatemalans believe the barrier between the realms of the living and the dead is at its most porous on Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) and the All Saints Day (Día de los Santos), so it’s an auspicious time to communicate with family ancestors by attaching messages to barriletes (kites) and letting the wind carry the messages up to the heavens. The best places to see these ceremonial kites are the barriletes fiestas held on November 1st in the central highlands near Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango. 2) Eat a Special Breakfast: Day of the Dead...
Read MoreCold springs, hot times at Pasabien, Guatemala
Ever since I first heard the song Soy de Zacapa I vowed to someday see the natural swimming balnearios (baths) at Pasabien. This spring I finally got my chance. The rest of the family had left for Guatemala City, Mama Tayo thought 35C too cold to swim and Papa Challo was sick, so we headed out with the boys, crossing the San Vicente River and skipping past the village of Huite. “Huitecos are known for their wit and intelligence,” said Javier, who enjoyed providing a running commentary about the people and places we passed while driving. Based on my recollection of the one guy from...
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Amazing Instagram photo by @sethstafford of Oahu's Sean Moody taking on the Mexican Pipeline
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Mercado Global's innovative approach to fighting poverty and empowering indigenous women in Guatemala’s highlands connects their artisan cooperatives to sales opportunities in the U.S. on an unprecedented scale.
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Beautiful Semuc Champey in Guatemala
In 2003, I left the corporate world to try my hand at travel writing. Now, I travel the world, writing about people, places and cuisine. My writing has appeared in over 100 publications and anthologies. 
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