Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Where the Rainforest Meets the Pacific

Manuel Antonio was one of the stops on our Costa Rica adventure, and it couldn't have felt more different from the time we spent around La Fortuna.

Located on Costa Rica's Pacific coast near the town of Quepos, Manuel Antonio is known for its beautiful beaches, lush rainforest, abundant wildlife, and, of course, Manuel Antonio National Park. It is one of those destinations where the rainforest seems to meet the ocean, creating some incredible scenery.

Baldi Hot Springs – La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Baldi Hot Springs is located in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica, at the base of Arenal Volcano. The resort is known for its numerous thermal pools, lush tropical surroundings, and family-friendly atmosphere.

The hot springs are naturally heated by geothermal activity beneath the earth, creating a relaxing setting surrounded by tropical gardens and the sounds of nature.

My daughter and I decided to splurge and spend one night at Baldi Hot Springs Resort & Spa. She had visited Baldi during a previous trip to Costa Rica and had enjoyed the hot springs, so we decided it would be fun to experience the resort together.

EXPLORING ROATAN, HONDURAS (Outside of the Cruise Port)

Roatan, Honduras is my favorite port out of all of the Caribbean ports I have visited.  Of course I'm  leaving on another cruise next month out of Puerto Rico so this may change.  Either way, Roatan is still a great port.

Carnvial has an amazing free Beach, Mahogany Bay, which is beautiful and an easy walk from the ship.  

I have spent my time in port going only to the beach and I loved it.  

The last time I went with my daughter and some friends, we hired a driver right outside of the port and for $30 a person, they carried us anywhere we wanted to go.  You can check out my video HERE.

To get outside of the port, you will want to veer left once you get through the Dufry shop (#12 on map) and walk to the courtyard.  You will want to walk to the end building with the red roof(#3 on the map).  This is the car rental and information area.

MAHOGANY BAY CRUISE PORT ~ ROATAN HONDURAS

Is Mahogany Bay one of the stops on your next cruise? If you’re wondering what there is to do while in port, you may be pleasantly surprised. Mahogany Bay is one of those destinations where you don’t need to book an excursion or even leave the port to enjoy your day. 



Mahogany Bay was built by Carnival, which means it’s designed with cruise passengers in mind and offers plenty to do right in the port area. One of the highlights is the beautiful beach, complete with plenty of lounge chairs where you can relax and enjoy the view. You’ll also find a variety of shops to browse, along with a few restaurants and food stands if you’d rather stay close and grab a bite without heading off the property.

This option allows to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading ashore. It’s the perfect opportunity to slow down, enjoy your meal, and even catch the sunrise before making your way to the port for the day.

Lamanai Maya Ruins & River Boat Safari: Our Carnival Belize Excursion

Our stop in Belize was part of a Carnival Breeze cruise that also took us to Honduras and Cozumel. For our day in Belize, one thing was high on our list: seeing Maya ruins.

We chose Carnival's Lamanai Maya Ruins & River Boat Safari, an excursion that combines a trip into the Belize countryside, a boat ride along the New River, and a guided visit to the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve.

We thoroughly enjoyed the excursion, and Lamanai itself was absolutely worth seeing. However, there were a few things about the tour that weren't quite what we expected from the excursion description. If you're considering this tour on a cruise to Belize, here's what our day was actually like—and what I wish I had known beforehand.

CARNIVAL CRUISE PORT ~ MAHOGANY BAY, ROATAN (HONDURAS)

Carnival Cruise ships dock at the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center, located in Dixon Cove east of Coxen Hole.  There are a few shops in port along with several restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.  Adjacent to the cruise center is 10 acre Mahogany Beach.  It's a little walk but you can take the "Magic Flying Beach Chair" for $14 (unlimited rides for the day).

Mahogany Bay is a great ports because you have the option of hanging out in port without spending a penny.  Of course there is shopping and restaurants available but you can still enjoy the beach without having to pay for an excursion.

HENRY MORGAN BEACH RESORT ~ ROATAN, HONDURAS

There’s no arguing that the beach here is beautiful. We didn’t book an excursion through the cruise line, but instead hired a driver/guide outside the Carnival cruise port. We asked to visit a nice beach, and they took us to the Henry Morgan Resort. Admission was $10, which included access to clean restrooms and a beach chair.

We were only there for about three hours, so I can’t personally speak to the food or lodging, but you’ll find plenty of information on TripAdvisor. Overall, most of the negative reviews of this resort relate to the food. The beach itself is public, so you’re likely to find a great place to eat nearby.

8 PLACES OUTSIDE OF THE US YOU CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD TO TRAVEL TO IN 2017

I have said this many times....Travel doesn't have to be expensive.  If it was, I would never leave my house.  I live in Arkansas where the minimum wage is $8.50, so many of us have to work extra jobs to earn travel money.  Some work three jobs!

The good news is that there are some places where you can consistently find cheap flights and lodging.  Places like Spain, Italy, France, Ireland,  many Caribbean islands, and almost all of Mexico.

One of your biggest expenses is airfare so be sure to check out my post on Finding Cheap Airfare HERE.

My travel companions and I have put a list of some of our favorite budget places to travel.

#1 ROME   I don't remember ever seeing Rome and a list for budget travel.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe because flying directly into Rome can be expensive.  If you fly to a cheaper destination like Barcelona, you can fly on to Rome for around $25.  Once you are in Rome, there are tons of things to see for free.  We paid to get into the Colosseum but you can walk to the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, and many more places for free. 

The public bus cost €1.50 for 100 minutes or €24 for a week so you can travel around Rome cheap.  There are tons of places to eat in Rome but if you are looking for someplace inexpensive, pop into one of the pizza shops where you can get a huge slice of pizza and soda for around €5.

#2 BARCELONA I never realized how popular Barcelona was as a travel destination until I traveled there the first time.  Barcelona is fairly easy to get around and there is always something to do.  Buses to and from the airport are very affordable (I think we paid ­€7) and if you stay in a hotel (or use Airbnb like we did) near the Placa CAntalunya, it's just a short walk to everywhere.  If you really want to eat cheap, find a tapas bar where you can pick up a tapas for €1 each. 

COSTA RICA SCRAPBOOK

I finished the photo book for my daughter and her trip to Costa Rica in 2012.  

I know I have mentioned it on numerous occasions, but I love Mixbooks.  They give you a huge selection of photo book themes with tons of add-ons.  The have coupons codes often and you can get a good quality book at a great price.  

If you have a lot of photos you would like to scrapbook, check out this company.

If  you print your photos for scrapbooking, you know how expensive it can be. My local Walmart charges $2.84 for an 8×10 so multiply that by the number of photos you have.  I can have a professional looking, hardback, bound book for a fraction of that so it is such a cost-effective way to go.

If you would like to see my personal albums, you can check out my Europe album  HERE. You can also check out my Jamaica album HERE.

MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK, COST RICA

Manuel Antonio is one of those places in Costa Rica that is hard to forget. Our family has visited the area, and my daughter has explored it as well, so these photos bring back some great memories of this beautiful part of the country.

Zarcero, Costa Rica: A Whimsical Town of Topiary Gardens

During one of her visits to Costa Rica, my daughter explored the picturesque town of Zarcero, located in the Central Valley northwest of San José. She shared these photos with me, and this colorful little town immediately caught my attention.

Zarcero is known for its charming church and, especially, the extraordinary topiary garden that sits in front of it.

Crocodile River Adventure in Costa Rica!

Sometimes the best travel stories come from the experiences we didn't get to have ourselves. My daughter explored the Tarcoles River during her Costa Rica visit and shared her photos with me. Seeing her pictures of crocodiles sunning along the riverbanks and colorful birds flying overhead made me add this experience to my own Costa Rica wish list.

A Wildlife Adventure on the Tarcoles River

Some of the best travel memories come from getting outside and experiencing the wildlife that makes a destination unique. During her visit to Costa Rica, my daughter took a boat tour on the Tarcoles River, one of the country's most famous wildlife destinations.