Party Central

Nursing our hangovers with some beach time

I'm currently sitting metres away from the surf breaks of Playa Gigante, Nicaragua enjoying my first alcohol-free day in over a month. As Bob Marley croons "Every little thing gonna be alright" over the hostel speakers; it's occurred to me that yes, indeed, everything gonna be alright - so long as I stay the hell away from alcohol over the next few days.

Following my intoxicating month in Belize I hightailed it straight to Utila, the smallest of Honduras' Bay Islands nestled in the Caribbean Sea. I had grand notions of putting my party days behind me and instead focusing on obtaining my diving certification (Utila is renowned amongst the backpacking world for being one of the cheapest places to learn to dive in Latin America). And whilst I did indeed obtain my Open Water Certification and subsequently my Advanced Open Water; the reggae baselines thumping from the dance halls throughout town and the ridiculously cheap cost of rum proved too hard to ignore, so I instead found myself spending many a dive trying not to throw up into my regulator. 

Paradise? You'd Better Belize It

New friends in Caye Caulker, Belize

Infatuation - that unpredictable, havoc-wreaking surge of dopamine that has fuelled the angst of many an artist, musician and poet. Like a filter on an Instagram photo it suffuses everything with a warm, fuzzy glow; miraculously erasing any flaws and camouflaging harsh truths. Scientists liken its effects to that of cocaine and heroin, such is its power over our delicate brain-chemistry. And just like an addict trying to go cold turkey, sometimes the only way to overcome an infatuation is to distance yourself from the object of your desire - completely.

This has been my experience with the Caribbean island of Caye Caulker, Belize. From the minute I stepped off the crowded water taxi onto the dock, I began feeling its effects. The calm turquoise water, the softly swaying palms, the powder-white sand and faded wooden cabanas… after the highlands and jungles of Guatemala, Caye Caulker felt like a different world. 

Flying Solo

From two to one

I've recently rented a room in the picture-perfect city of Antigua from a diminutive Guatemalan abuela who provides three hearty meals per day and affectionately refers to me as chica. My days are spent taking Spanish lessons, practicing my poor Spanish and fervently devouring books from the only second-hand book store in town. Because as of exactly two weeks ago, our cosy traveling party of two became an even cosier party of one... and I shall now be continuing this journey solo.

In the wake of our leisurely fortnight in Cuba my partner and I returned to Mexico, taking refuge from the touristy Yucatan Peninsula on the bohemian island of Holbox. We secured a fantastic deal on a rustic wooden bungalow (thanks to the impending low season) and for two weeks did little more than swing in hammocks, eat guacamole and fish tacos and drink cervezas on the beach at sunset. Yet as relaxing as it was, my partner found he couldn't shake his growing restlessness and impassivity for traveling. And as the week drew to a close, we both knew something had to change.

Cuba Travel Tips

We traveled seamlessly, but I researched extensively

In my last post I discussed how seamlessly we traveled through Cuba. This was in large part due to the gracious hospitality of the casa owners, who helped us organise transport and excursions and recommended places to visit and places to eat. However I also conducted extensive research before our trip, which prepared us well for a lot of the idiosyncrasies that you will face as a traveller to this perplexing island country.

You see, Cuba is not really a 'backpacker' destination if you define that as a place with various transport options, a range of budget accommodation choices and plenty of cheap eats. Whilst there is a plethora of casas to choose from, for the most part their prices are the same. And whilst cheap eats are indeed to be found, variety is somewhat limited. As for transport, you generally have two options for getting around: the Viazul buses or a private taxi. 

Also, Cuba is not a 'cheap' destination compared to some of its Central American neighbours. That said, there are still ways to save and if you budget accordingly you can have a great time without widening the wallet too much. To take some of the headache out of planning a trip to Cuba, I've summarised the need-to-know information below: