Mexico
Puert Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is one of the most authentic tourist destinations in Mexico. It still has the beautiful beaches (especially if you stay in the Riviera Nayarit area), a really fun downtown area, the Sierra Madre mountains, amazing resorts, friendly people, quaint villages, and lots to do. Of course, you can also just relax on the beach or sit by their gorgeous pools.
We spent eight nights in Puerto Vallarta in October: five nights at the Riu Palace Pacifico, one night at the Palace Resort, and two nights at the Dreams Villa Magna. While we loved the Riu and Palace resorts, we were disappointed in the Dreams resort. Riu and Palace had amazing food, great beaches, gorgeous pools, good nightly entertainment, and were both just all around wonderful places to stay.
If you are looking for a price-friendly trip with plenty to do and beautiful beaches, consider Puerto Vallarta.
Palace Resorts in Cancun and Riviera Maya
I just returned from visiting several of the Palace resorts in the Riviera Maya, Cancun, and Cozumel. Each resort had similar restaurants, rooms, and amenities, but each resort had its own distinct personality. Each room had a huge double occupancy Jacuzzi and a mini fridge that was restocked daily. No matter what category you book, you receive 24-hour room service. The room service menu had three full pages of items you could order.
The food was excellent. I had some of the best sushi I have ever tasted at the restaurant Mo Mo No Ha Na. The thing that I loved about each restaurant was that they each had a large menu with a variety of meals to choose from. You could eat at the same restaurant every night and still try something new!
Playacar Palace had a beautiful white sand beach. The resort was located within walking distance to downtown Playa del Carmen, where there were several shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. This location is perfect for groups as well as couples. The resort is located next to the ferry dock, where you can pay $13 for a ticket to go over to Cozumel where you can enjoy all the amenities at Cozumel Palace at no extra charge.
Cozumel Palace is great for scuba divers. This area has some of the best snorkeling and scuba in the world. The infinity pools are beautiful. There were man-made sections of beach you could lay out on, but the majority of people were spending their time at the pool. This resort does share exchange privileges with Playacar Palace, so if you are a beach person, you can always take the ferry. My favorite part about this resort was their wedding gazebo located on the roof. They provide the wedding party with connecting rooms to get ready in. The bride has a secret door she can come out through and a long walkway to the gazebo. The location of this gazebo is perfect for wedding photos!
Aventura Spa Palace and Aventura Cove were beautiful properties located next to each other. This resort had an authentic look to it. In front of the resort are lagoons, with man-made beaches. The wedding photos we saw were very unique. In the background were large rocks where you can get great photos of the waves crashing against them. The wedding gazebos were all beach front! We were taken on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the property, which is an option for wedding packages. The spa was my favorite part about this resort. This is the only resort where you can use your full amount of Vacation Dollars on spa alone.
Moon Palace was a very large property. There are three sections to the property–Grand Moon, Nizuc, and Sunrise. the Sunrise section is the largest of the three. This area of the resort had the night club and the more active pool. The Nizuc section was beauiful. It is centrally located and has what they call the sporty pool. They had a volleyball net, basketball hoop, and soccer was being played on the beach. The newest section is the Grand Moon section. This side was quiter and has a beautiful and relaxing pool. They also have a gorgeous golf course on the property. For those of you who enjoy golfing, I would recommend staying in the golf villas. With this room, you are close to the golf course, and you get your own golf cart to use at your convenience. The beach was very long and narrow and the ocean was very calm. The majority of the water activities were taking place here. They have 15 restaurants and 16 bars to choose from at this property.
Cancun
Sun Palace is located in Cancun, and is a couples only resort. The white sand beach at this resort was beautiful. They have several pools to choose from at this resort. This resort only has 252 rooms so the service is very personalized. The resort is located within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and bars in the Cancun area. I loved the restaurant located on the rooftop!
LeBlanc was an extremely nice property. The spa at this property was the nicest spa I have ever seen. this resort is extremely classy. The beach is absolutely beautiful. There are three large pools and two of the infinity pools face toward the ocean. There are two swim up pool bars. This resort is a very nice, relaxing resort and is great for adults who want a truly luxurious vacation.
Royal Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya, Mexico
The Riviera Maya in Mexico is one of the best beach areas in the world. The second largest reef in the world follows the coastline from Cancun to Playa del Carmen clear down to the end of the Riviera Maya coast. One of the best places to stay if you want to be close to Playa del Carmen is the Royal Playa del Carmen.
One of our agents, Kristine, just got back and loved the rooms, the beach, the food, the location and the entertainment at the Royal Playa del Carmen. The food was amazing at all 6 restaraunts but Pelicanos and the Asiana restaruants at the Royal were her favorites. The free nightly entertainment included great live music and latin dancers that made for great shows. She really liked the rooms and the location of the resort. You can walk to Playa del Carmen and stroll the streets of Fifth Avenue. The rooms have in-room jacuzzis and are larger than the average room. The beach is large and there’s nothing better than having a long walking beach on such beautiful Caribbean water.
If you are considering a trip to Mexico, ask about the Royal Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya.
I just returned from an amazing and relaxing week in the Riviera Maya in Mexico. We traveled with three couples and had a great time at the Riu Palace Mexico. The entire staff was great from the moment we stepped in to the lobby, the food was amazing and the property was immaculate and beautiful.
This resort sits on an amazing beach. There are lots of palm trees if you want shade and lots of sun if you prefer that . I enjoyed everything about the beach here, from relazing with a good book, to a long morning walk or using the hobie cats and kayaks. The water here is so blue and crystal clear.
The food a t this resort was fabulous. We mainly ate at the main buffet because there were so many foods to choose from. i really enjoyed the Japanese restaraunt. For lunch there was a fabulous buffet restaraunt, which was easy to get to whether you were at the pool or the beach. the variety of drinks to choose from also was great. There are activities such as volleyball, water aerobics, Spanich lessons and more. Every night there was a show to enjoy after dinner.
This resort is laid out very well. No matter where you are, you are never far from food or drinks. It’s walking distance to Playa del Carmen and if you want to spend some time at the other Riu’s in the area you can. I would recommend this resort to anyone. For more information call Liz at Enchanted Honeymoons at 402-281-3022
I recently stayed at Beaches Negril in Negril, Jamaica with my husband and 4 year old son. this resort is amamzing and perfect for adults and kids of all ages. There were so many activities ranging from water sports such as snorkeling, glass bottom boat rides, kayaks, water skiing, and banana boat rides to land activities like beach volleyball, tennis, lawn chess, etc. Beaches Negril sits on the most amazing stretch of Negril’s seven mile beach. If you are a beach lover, this is the place to be! They also have two main pool areas each with the always popular swim up bars. Not only do the adults enjoy that feature but also the kids where they can get smoothies and non-alcoholic fancy drinks. My son particularly liked the “Superman” and “Bob Marley” drinks. They also have a water park with 2 large water slides for older kids and adults, a lazy river, and splach grounds with 2 slides for young children. We spent a lot of time in the lazy river on our vacation!
The food was amazing! My favorite restaurant at Beaches Negril is the teppinyaki restaraunt called, Kimonos. We also ate at the Seville (Italian) and Arizona’s (Tex-Mex) which we enjoyed as well. The beach grill is a must for lunch with Jamaican Jerk Chicken and Jamaican Beef Patties. They also have added Dino’s Pizzeria which was a favorite of my sons with made- to-order brick oven pizzas. One night a week they have a beach party where they set up an amazing buffet on the beach with food from each of the resorts restaurants. The entertainment at the beach party was also great with lots of music, dancing, local talent, etc. There are plenty of daily activities and nightly entertainment options for those of all ages.
We also had the opportunity to experience Butler Service at Beaches Negril. The butlers will take care of your every need. From the moment we checked in, he took care of us even taking us to our room for the check-in process. He asked us if we were beach or pool people in which we responded beach people. Every morning of our vacation, our butler set up a special spot on the beach for us with a fully stocked cooler for the day. He also helped us set up a trip to Rick’s Cafe which is home to the famous cliff divers and some of the world’s most beautiful sunsets. Our butler, Conrad, was amazing and I would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to go to Beaches Negril to experience this great level of service.
Beaches Negril is a perfect resort for anyone wanting to relax on the beach or have many options as far as water and land activities go. I travel to Jamaica at least once a year and can’t wait to go back!
For more information call me, Brandi, at 402-281-3022.
Negril, Jamaica
We spent our honeymoon at the Sandals Negril in Negril, Jamaica. It was the best honeymoon anyone ever could have dreamed of. In the planning stages, we worked with Kem who was attentive to our every need and wanted to make sure that our honeymoon was exactly what we wanted it to be. We had called other travel agencies and it seemed like they wanted us to know where we wanted to go and then just give them money, whereas Kem totally listened to what we were looking for for our honeymoon and made sure it was exactly as we hoped it would be. We loved Negril and want to go back as soon as possible. Thank you to Enchanted Honeymoons and their entire staff for making our honeymoon perfect.
Jamaica
I recently won a trip to Jamaica staying at the Iberostar and it is a great property if you are looking for a quiet property with a great beach. The rooms are all large suites with great balconies. The bathrooms were all marble and very nice. The entertainment at the Iberostar was some of the best I have ever seen. We enjoyed having 24 hour room service and each floor has a butler. I really liked this property and would love to tell you about it. Give Grace a call at 402-281-3022
Ireland
Nine days in Ireland is truly magical! I just returned and am already wanting to go back as soon as possible. From the quiet coastal roads of Kerry to the buzzing cities of Cork, Galway and Shannon and all the places in between it is a vacation to remember for a lifetime.
We started our trip in Dublin where we toured the Guinness Factory at 10 am. Some of our group were able to drink Guinness but I couldn’t quite imagine even attempting it. However, the Gravity Bar which is on the top level of the factory makes the tour worth doing at any time of day. It has panoramic views of Dublin which were beautiful. The same day we toured Powerscourt, a beautiful castle and garden area that is about 20 minutes outside of the city. This gave us the opportunity to get a feel for where everything was and to plan our next day.
The second day in Dublin we headed out on foot to explore the city where we saw Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, the Temple Bar area, St. Patricks Cathedral and St. Stephens Green. Dublin is amazing and I would recommend staying there more than the two days that we had there. Be sure to make time to eat at the Cafe Seine for an unforgettable lunch in a setting that is remarkable.
The third day we headed towards Cork but spent the night in Kinsale, a little harbor town that is known for great seafood. Make reservations at Fishyfish if possible as soon as you arrive. Cork is a town you could spend days in visiting the college and the amazing downtown that is filled with shops, restaraunts, pubs, and lots of live music and street entertainment. A very fun downtown area that I would liked to have had more time exploring.
Cork is 4 miles Northwest of Blarney where you will want to kiss the Blarney Stone and tour the castle and grounds. Seven miles from Cork is Cobh which was the last port of the Titanic and is a quaint little town with a cathedral that sits atop the highest point of the city and overlooks the water. It’s well worth seeing even if it is a jaunt to get there. This is a good place to look at and shop for heritage facts and souveneirs.
The National Park in Killarney was our next stop where we stayed at a B & B and it was a nice break from staying at hotels because it gave us a true feel for the Ireland hospitality and life. We toured the Ross Castle and the Lakes of Killarney which are set amongst mountains and have so much natural beauty it was truly magical. Killarney also has a great downtown where we went to the pubs for dinner and music. Strolling the streets of Killarney felt like you had stepped back in time with the old bookstores, shops, and pubs. You don’t see franchise stores in Ireland which is such a nice change of pace.
Our last three days were spent on the Aren Islands, the Cliffs of Moher and Dingle. Every one of these I would consider must sees as they were all so beautiful with the most spectacular views of the water and cliffs. The Aren islands are 30 miles off the coast so you take a ferry from Galway to a barren landscape comprised of exposed limestone terraces that end in a shear 300 foot drop to the Atlantic Ocean. The cliff edge fortress of Dun Aengus is of world historical importance. The cliffs and seas are home to otters, dolphins and whales. They boast 400 wild plants and flowers that are everywhere and a gorgeous beach area. It is truly a step back in time to visit the Aren Islands where life takes on a scenic calm lifestyle where your worries fade away.
Galway is a city that you should spend at least three nights in to be able to explore the shops, pubs and scenery of the city. It’s a great place to base yourself when seeing the Cliffs of Moher and even Dingle. Our last night was spent outside Shannon where we toured and enjoyed the Bunratty Castle and the mideival dinner at the Castle. I would recommend the dinner for a unique and truly Irish historical experience.
A trip to Ireland will be the most memorable and wonderful trip you ever take…I know it was for me.
Westin Playa Conchal
One of our agents just returned from Costa Rica. She visited several resorts while she was there. One of her favorite all-inclusive resorts was the Westin Playa Conchal.
This resort was more spread out with gorgeous gardens. They had beautiful, large pools with a great beach! They have an adult only section which is great for honeymoon couples.
The RIU Guanacaste is conveniently located about 25 minutes away from the airport. This resort is surrounded by beautiful, lush gardens. The resort has large pools, including a children’s’ pool and playground, making this a great property for families.
The spa, casino and nightly entertainment are great features for adults looking to get away! The RIU Costa Rica is a new resort located next door to the RIU Guanacaste.
This property has privileges at the RIU Guanacaste, where they can eat and drink as if staying at the resort. The pools are huge, and the food is great! The Spring Resort and Spa is where the bachelor took place!
This resort is not all-inclusive, and is more of a boutique style hotel. This property would be perfect for a secluded, romantic honeymoon. The resort is about a two hour drive from the airport, but has unbelievable views of the Arenal Volcano.
The resort has 7 natural hot springs and a wild life rescue preserve. The Tamarindo Diria was one of her favorite non-all-inclusive properties. This resort is about 30 minutes away from the airport in the charming town of Tamarindo.
The resort is within minutes from shopping, dining, and nightlife. The resort is situated on a beautiful white sand beach. Enjoy a romantic walk through the gardens or grab a drink at the swim-up pool bar! This resort has a lot of offer!
Sandals Grande Riviera – Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Two of our agents recently stayed at Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. They would highly recommend this adult only, all-inclusive property. This resort sits on the Caribbean Sea and is built into the lush mountain side on the east coast of the island. Your all-inclusive begins at the airport where you can help yourself to red strip in the Sandals lounge. The resort recently had up to $80 million dollars worth of renovations.
With the unlimited activities, beautiful gardens & pools, relaxing beachside cabanas & fire pits, and spectacular food & drinks, it is no wonder Sandals Grande Riviera has been voted “Jamaica’s Newest & Grandest” all-inclusive, offering more than any other resort.
It is a couples only resort which makes it a great place to celebrate a honeymoon or anniversary! It is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway for two. The size of the property and the large variety of activities and dining, also make this resort a great place to travel with a group of family and friends.
Some of our agents’ favorite things about the property were the beautiful gardens & walkways, great pools & swim up pool bars, amazing restaurants, and an unlimited amount of activities available day and night. The people at the resort were extremely friendly and made the trip one to remember.
There are several complimentary activities to participate in on property, including: golf, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, volleyball, tennis, rock climbing, and more! The resort has 105 pools including 7 main pools, 98 villa pools, and 22 whirlpools. Three of the pools have lively swim up pool bars offering premium alcoholic beverages and smoothies!
The resort has 15 unlimited gourmet restaurants to choose from. One of their favorites was Kimonos, which was a Teppanyaki restaurant. At Kimonos, the chef cooks the meal directly at your table, providing you with an evening of entertainment and delectable food. Sandals Grande Riviera has 10 bars, including 2 popular piano bars and a rooftop bar. The resort also has a new amphitheater which provides live entertainment late into the night!
While the agents were there, they ran into a few wedding parties who were having a great time! Sandals has a beautiful complimentary wedding package that is legally recognized in the United States. Sandals Grande Riviera has beautiful gardens and beachfront gazebos that would be the perfect background for a tropical wedding. Enchanted Honeymoons will help you with your wedding planning ahead of time, making the entire process simple and stress free!
Sandals Grande Riviera is 65% off and is offering up to $555 in air credit when you book your travel package in the month of August.
Call Enchanted Honeymoons today! 402-281-3022
Sandals Royal Bahamian
One of our agents just returned from Nassau, Bahamas. She stayed at the Adult-Only, All-Inclusive, Sandals Royal Bahamian. She had an excellent experience. The island is right off the coast of Florida, making travel quick and easy! The drive from the airport to the hotel only took about 10-15 minutes.
The resort has two large pools, both with swim-up pool bars. The property had amazing food ranging from fish and chips, nachos, and homemade pizza, to sushi, crab legs, and lobster. They had a large selection to choose from, with a total of 10 restaurants and 8 bars.
This resort has the largest watersports operation in the Caribbean. They had paddle boards, aquatrikes, hobie-cat sail boats, glass bottom boats, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, kayaks, wake boarding, and more! They also had daily pool and beach volleyball.
If you are looking for a little more privacy, the resort has a private island with romantic trails and cabanas. The island also has a restaurant and a swim-up pool bar, as well as a full service spa. There is a boat that will take you over to the island at every hour throughout the day! There were also jet skis on the beach that you could pay to rent for the day. Several guests would ride these over to the private island!
It was very safe to leave the resort. You could take a cab over to Atlantis and pay to ride their famous water slides, or go into town for conch fritters and duty free shopping. The people in the Bahamas were very nice!
The nightly entertainment was great! They had several bars that provided food, drinks, and entertainment, late into the night. The piano bar was always a popular place to go after dinner. They had over 150 songs to choose from. They also had a theater with a full service bar that put on nightly shows. The fire-pits by the ocean were very romantic and a great way to unwind after a day of activity!
The staff was fantastic. They went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our stay. It was the Bahamas 40th Independence Day, so the resort hosted several events to celebrate, including birthday cake and fireworks! We would highly recommend this resort for those looking for a romantic getaway!
One of our agents just returned from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She stayed at the Hard Rock Puerto Vallarta, which is located about 20 minutes north of the airport. This family friendly, all-inclusive resort is beachfront and offers spectacular views of the Pacific Coast & Sierra Madre Mountains.
Our travel specialist went with a group of people and had an excellent time. The resort staff was extremely friendly and accommodating from the moment they stepped foot onto the property. Their rooms offered a breathtaking view of the beach, ocean, and the mountains. Each room had a French style balcony, a large Jacuzzi, liquor dispensers, fully stocked mini-fridge, and 24 hour room service. The resort also offered complimentary Wi-Fi and free phone calls back to the US.
The daily entertainment was great! They had activities going on at every hour, including: yoga, water aerobics, pool & beach volleyball, Pictionary, bingo, dance & Spanish lessons, and more. They had one pool that was for those looking to relax or read a book. The main pool had music and a lively swim up pool bar, serving drinks until 7:30 pm. This pool also had waterfalls and waterslides for people of all ages. The resort is situated on the beautiful beaches of Bahia de Banderas in the heart of Riviera Nayarit. The beach was amazing! They had beach huts that you could sit under with waiters serving drinks and food all day long!
The nightly entertainment was also fun! They had live bands and a DJ each night. There was an outdoor amphitheater near the beach with live shows. One night they had the game show “Minute to Win It”, with great prizes, including a $100 gift card to the jewelry shop!
The food at the resort was fabulous. During the day they had two buffet style restaurants, a burger and quesadilla grill, and a wood fired oven serving homemade pizza and nachos with fresh ingredients. If you needed a break from the sun, the room service menu was great. At night, the resort offered four a la carte restaurants. One of the favorites was Zen, which was an Asian restaurant. It offers the best sushi menu! There was also an Italian, Mexican, and Brazilian restaurant that had a large variety of options!
With 350 days of sunshine, this destination has perfect weather any time of year. Winter and spring are the prime tourist months making summer and autumn a great value for families, groups, and romantic getaways. This resort also offers beautiful complimentary weddings!
“The Most Spectacular Sandals Yet!”
“A first class destination now has a world-class resort to match.” The new addition to the Sandals collection is located in an “exotic paradise” according to Sandals CEO, Adam Stewart. Sandals LaSource is located in Grenada in the southeastern Caribbean.
Take a quick 3.5 hour flight out of Miami to Grenada. Located 5 miles away from the airport is the 17 acre, adult only, all-inclusive resort. “Expect a resort like you’ve never seen before,” states Sandals founder, Butch Stewart. The modern resort features 225 gorgeous rooms, ranging from beach views, to sky pool suites with infinity plunge pools right outside the doors of your very own bedroom. Enjoy your contemporary bathroom, and the brand new soaking tub that sits on your terrace. Looking for something a little more private? Stay in one of the beautiful rondovals, which are bigger and more extraordinary than any other resort. “Who said you have to be a millionaire to vacation like one?”
The resort has five pools, including two river pools with cascading waterfalls, and a reflective infinity style pool that will blend in with the breathtaking horizon. Grab a drink at the swim up pool bar, or relax in the comfortable, poolside cabanas. Enjoy the complimentary water activities that the resort will offer throughout the day, including snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, hobie cat sail boats, and more. Indulge in the unlimited food and drinks throughout your entire stay. The resort boasts 9 gourmet style restaurants, including Sandals very first steakhouse. At night, enjoy the live entertainment, or find some privacy with your loved one at one of the many fire pits that line the beach.
“Sandals LaSource Grenada will exceed guests’ expectations while allowing them to enjoy the natural beauty of Spice Island,” said Stewart in a recent interview. Known as the Island of Spice, Grenada has the most unbelievable natural beauties. Visit the black and white sand beaches that stretch along the crystal clear waters. Take an adventurous excursion into the rainforest, where you will find nature at its finest. You will find waterfalls, cascading cliffs, hot springs, historical forts, underwater parks and more.
Sandals LaSource Grenada is “the most spectacular Sandals yet,” according to Sandals’ Lead Architect, Dev Dudani. This incredible resort will be open for guests Dec. 12th of this year. Call Enchanted Honeymoons Travel today to book your stay at the fabulous Sandals LaSource Grenada!
Written by- Destination Wedding, Honeymoon & Vacation Specialist: Lindsay Bolt
Between working around a variety of schedules and preparing for the time you’ll be spending away from home, family vacations can certainly feel complicated sometimes. However, by implementing a few of these helpful tricks before your next family vacation, much of the stress that comes with family travel will be a thing of the past. Check out our list of tips below to help turn the organized chaos into a relaxing getaway for all!
1. Try Cross-Packing
In theory, each family member hauling around their own luggage makes the most sense. However, this method can fall short when lost baggages comes into play. To avoid the chances of someone being stuck without their clothes or other personal items, pack a few items for each family member in every bag. This will ensure that everyone is covered (for at least a day or two) regardless of which piece of luggage took a detour.
2. Overpack Anything Mandatory
Kids always seem to have a way of going through much more than the typical supply of things when home is hundreds or thousands of miles away. There’s really no such thing as too many snacks, diapers, or really anything that you wouldn’t have immediate access to on plane, in the hotel room, and on the beach. The magic number of whatever these essentials are for your family can be hard to hit right on the head without prior travel experience. A good rule of thumb is to bring a little more than you think you need, since having extra is a much better alternative than running out in nearly every scenario.
3.Let The Kids Weigh In on the Trip
Many families have found it extremely helpful (and fun) to get the kids involved in the vacation during the planning process. Not only does it build up the anticipation and excitement for everyone, but is also a perfect way to make everyone feel more involved and willing to cooperate once the day finally arrives. By giving each family member some type of “responsibility”, everyone is able to feel like they contributed in some way (this could be something as simple as picking out an activity or excursion).
4. Opt for Non-Stop Air
Depending on your preferred departure city, this can be a tough one for those who do not live near international airports. On the other hand, if non-stop is an option to you between your departure and destination city, it is almost always worth any uptick in price. Lengthy connection times, pressure changes during take-off and landing, and dealing with carry-on luggage in multiple airports can really take a toll on the family morale!
5. Keep A Similar Routine
Vacation is for sleeping in, relaxing, and endless hours of fun. Though sometimes, deterring too far from the daily schedules and routines that everyone is used to can make transitioning back to reality a total nightmare. If possible, try to keep mealtimes and bedtimes similar to what the kids are used to at home. Your future self will thank you! 🙂
Do you have any family-friendly travel tips that work every time? Share them with us in the comments!
All images have either been provided by the travel agent or are licensed under the Creative Commons.
After just a five night stay this past summer, we’re convinced that it doesn’t get much better than Costa Rica for exploring the great outdoors! The Guanacaste area of Costa Rica in particular truly gives you the best of both worlds. Here you can spend your mornings exploring the rainforest and your afternoons soaking up the sun on one of the many golden beaches!
Whether you’re into hiking, surfing, or simply taking in the tropical scenery, you’ll find it all and more in this exotic country. Check out our list below of the top five things that make Costa Rica an absolute paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.
1. Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park
Nestled between the Tilaran and Guanacaste mountain ranges, touring the Arenal Volcano National Park was probably the most memorable experience of our trip. Arenal Volcano itself is surrounded by lush rainforest, which means you’ll have to do some hiking to get a good glimpse. We felt that the hiking difficulty was intermediate, but it could be intimidating to beginner hikers. Often times, the very top of the volcano is hidden by clouds, but fortunately we were able to get an unobstructed view of the entire peak.
For our tour, we went with Central American Tours and we would highly recommend them! Our tour guides were extremely informative, fun, and always completely in-tune with the surroundings.
2. Village Hopping
Another perk of Costa Rica? It is the perfect destination for exploring with a car! Since the Guanacaste area is surrounded by small villages, it is really easy to arrange mini-trips during your stay to get the full experience. On our way to Arenal Volcano National Park, we pit-stopped in several villages that were along the route. Each village has its own unique personality, and all of them we visited felt very safe and clean. This is your chance to try some authentic specialities at the local cafes and restaurants!
For the true adventurist, a road trip to the capital city of San Jose is around a 3.5 hour drive from the Guanacste area. The atmosphere in this city is unlike any other in the country, with an endless selection of nightlife, restaurants, cafes, markets, and museums.
3. Surfing
If you’re an avid surfer or have always wanted to learn the sport, Costa Rica is the place to do it! With both options for beginner’s surf school and waves for the experts, be sure to check out Playa Grande, Malpais, and Playa Naranjo (otherwise known as Witches Rock).
4. Resort Variety
Costa Rica holds a wide variety of accommodations, from all-inclusive resorts, to standard hotels, and even bed and breakfasts. If you’re hoping to get in a good amount of beach time during your trip, an all-inclusive beachfront resort will definitely be the way to go! For independent travelers who aren’t set on staying by the beach, a European-plan hotel in the mountains might be right up your alley.
We stayed at the RIU Palace Costa Rica and toured several other resorts in the area, including The Westin Golf Resort & Spa, RIU Guanacaste, Occidental Grand Papagayo, and Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort.
5. Wildlife Unique to Costa Rica
Costa Rica will give you plenty of chances to catch glimpses of all sorts of wildlife. Don’t miss the Mounteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, which houses more than 500 species of birds (including the vibrant Quetzal). In this reserve, you’ll also find over 3000 species of plants, many of which are orchid varieties. If you’re really lucky, you may even spot a white-faced monkey!
Ready to explore this tropical country for yourself? Here are a few of the things we wouldn’t visit Costa Rica without:
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Tennis Shoes
- Hiking Shoes
- Layerable Clothing
Call 402-281-3022 today to speak with an Enchanted Honeymoons travel agent about our all-inclusive packages in Costa Rica!
All images have either been provided by the travel agent or are licensed under the Creative Commons.