Day Trip to Parque Tayrona

Santa Marta is an ideal base for a Colombia vacation. Santa Marta is a city with a good selection of restaurants, shops and museums, and is a great jumping off point for Colombian adventures, and we are taking part. From Santa Marta, we took a day trip to Parque Tayrona.

What is Parque Tayrona?

Parque Tayrona, or Tayrona Park, is a large protected area on the Caribbean coastline in northern Colombia. Just over an hour drive from Santa Marta, it covers 150 square kilometers of rainforest, coastal lagoons, archaeological sites, and remote beaches.

Continue reading “Day Trip to Parque Tayrona”

Hiking in Curaçao

Here’s what to expect and where to go hiking in Curaçao

When we’re near land, Brian and I like hiking. We exercise, commune with nature and wildlife, and see the local views. After too much down time, we’re grateful to be healthy enough to hike and explore the island of Curaçao. Here are some tips and recommendations for hiking in Curaçao.

trail hiking in Curacao
A hiking trail in Curaçao

Be Prepared

Any time you hike, be prepared. Pack essentials like water, snacks, and bug spray. Wear good walking shoes (waterproof), a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen or clothes with SPF protection. Before hiking in Curaçao, read the following tips.

Continue reading “Hiking in Curaçao”

A Weekend in Virgin Gorda

We ended our stay in the Virgin Islands with a truly memorable weekend in Virgin Gorda. Dividing our time between a stunning natural beach and a really raucous party, we’ll always remember last weekend.

The Baths

Virgin Gorda is known for The Baths, considered a “must see” for any visitor to the BVIs. We loved everything about this natural landmark.

The Baths are beautiful sea pools created between huge boulders at the southern corner of Virgin Gorda. You pay a very small entrance fee (it’s a national park) and walk down a trail that takes you to a beautiful beach.

You can swim and snorkel in the crystal clear water at the beach, which is lovely on its own.

The Baths
View at The Baths
Continue reading “A Weekend in Virgin Gorda”

Impressions of The Virgin Islands

I have to get used to moving. A big part of cruising is moving, always visiting somewhere new, but I feel like we are not spending enough time in the places we visit. There are so many islands and so much to do and see on each of them that I know we are missing out by not seeing more.

It’s common for any traveller to have these emotions, this fear of missing out. We are fortunate: most people are in The Virgin Islands for a week on vacation and then have to go home. I have to get more in the mindset of enjoying what we see instead of regretting what we miss. In that spirit, here are my top impressions of The Virgin Islands.

heart
Loving the Virgin Islands

5 Impressions of The Virgin Islands

Continue reading “Impressions of The Virgin Islands”

Touring Puerto Rico

Visiting new places as a cruiser is different: we are traveling around islands as opposed to within them. In Puerto Rico we are trying to do both. Of course we sail, but we try to see as much as possible inland too.

Since our first weekend here, we have covered a lot of ground on this gorgeous island. We’ve been busy touring Puerto Rico.

Gilligan’s island

Just east of Parguera is another popular tourist spot focused around the small and wild Gilligan’s Island. Yes, there’s one here too!

Continue reading “Touring Puerto Rico”