Travelrific® Travel Journal

Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!

Archive for central america

A Rocky Ride in Nicaragua

By Linda Tancs

Forty-five minutes from León, Nicaragua, stands Cerro Negro (Black Hill), Central America’s youngest volcano.  A mere child at nearly 165 years, its crater offers amazing views of volcanic chain Los Maribios, not to mention the sensory overload of heat and sulfur gas owing to its active nature.  In recent years, it’s found favor beyond avid hikers and volcanologists:  the adventure set have taken to boarding down its rocky, ash wall.  Thanks to Nature’s thinly-milled rock, thrill seekers can opt for a modified snowboard ride down a forbidding slope at even more forbidding speed (50 miles per hour or more).  Wear long pants, and prepare for a hard landing.

A Retreat Fit for a Filmmaker

By Linda Tancs

Talk about star quality:  Blancaneaux Lodge, a luxe resort in Belize, is the former family retreat of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.  Lucky for us he decided to share it with the rest of the world over a decade ago.  This hideaway in the rainforest is a birder’s paradise, offering the potential to view the ecosystem’s 300+ species like the Stygian owl, black-headed siskin, rufous-capped warbler, Great Pewee and solitary eagle.  Voted #1 Best Resort in Central and South America in 2009 and 2010 by Travel + Leisure, the menu includes local favorites like shredded beef salad flavored with sour orange and cilantro and classic Italian fare from the Coppola family cookbook. 

Share

Caribbean Honduras

By Linda Tancs

It’s getting harder to enjoy the quiet life in the bustling Caribbean, but there’s still hope at Roatán, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands.  West Bay Beach hosts a coral reef that meets the shore at the south end, allowing you to commune peacefully with a variety of colorful fish, sponges and sea fans.  The cruise ships generally meet up at a southern point referred to as “Tabayana Beach.”  Even so, the area is remarkably quiet–particularly, though, at the northern end.  There you can enjoy the fine, silky, palm-lined sand and its accompanying turquoise-blue water.  Either way, it’s a win-win.

Share

Cashless Cabins

By Linda Tancs

As of December 1, 2009, travelers flying on Delta and Northwest in North America, Central America and the Caribbean became aware that cash is decidedly not king.  In a move geared towards expediting the onboard payment process, customers flying within and among these destinations will have to use credit to pay for their munchies.  The rule, however, does not affect trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and South American flights or duty-free items.

Share

DISCLOSURE OF NO MATERIAL CONNECTION

 The author has not received any compensation for writing this content and has no material connection to the brands, topics, products and/or services that are mentioned herein.

%d bloggers like this: