Ideas for a tropical explora-vacation
March 20, 2018 10:18 AM Subscribe
For some time, I have been thinking I would like to go on a tropical/semi-tropical vacation. But I don't think a typical resort-holiday would be what I would like - and I know my husband would hate it (or so he says). So I'm here to pick brains about possible other, interesting but still affordable options - especially if there is a specific place you have been, or company/package you could recommend.
While I've traveled a fair bit in North America and Europe, I've never been closer to the Equator than Washington, DC. I've been wanting to see what it's like farther south than that - particularly the classic "tropical" environment.
Our interests in previous travel have been largely about history & culture - I'm also deeply interested in ecology, and would love to take tours that explained the geography and ecology of the region.
We have lots of "would likes" and "totally wasted on us":
Would really like:
- coral reefs - especially if there is snorkeling/other exploration of the ecosystem- and associated coral-sand beaches (I love swimming, and will need to commune with the ocean)
- palm trees, like the movies
- tropical rainforest - especially if there were guided tours with lots of ecology content
- any kind of boating (sailing, kayaking, etc) - this probably is a sina qua non if I want to get my husband to come (he hates beaches, but loves boats).
Would be great
- history (museums, historic sites)
- local culture - especially food, but also just walking around, seeing how people live
- other interesting topology and physical features to explore - mountains, caves, hiking trails, farm tours, volcano(!)
- an all-inclusive vacation (flight + accommodation + food), so we don't have to do all the planning or worry about meals, but with flexibility to do what we like
Don't need
- Any kind of fanciness in accommodations. A private flush toilet would be nice, as is access to nice outside - but we've happily stayed in cabins and tents; our idea of fancy is a B&B
Totally wasted on us
- alcohol (he doesn't drink at all, I drink very little)
- fancy dinners - we don't eat seafood other than fish and I'd rather have plantains than steak
- clubs, dancing, music - pretty well any kind of night life that isn't turtle migration or something.
Budget: this is the kicker. We're closer to a budget of $1000/person than $2000/person. It's not a hard budget in that we could go higher, but it would be hard to justify after years of $500/person vacations. Most of the more interesting eco-adventure tourism that I've found tends to be more expensive (like "join the crew of a wooden sailing ship!" which would be SO awesome). I've known people to take $900 / person trips to the Caribbean, but only to resorts that were primarily aimed at young people swimming in pools and drinking at clubs.
Other pertinent details:
- We'd be flying from Toronto, Canada, and are thinking of the Caribbean because of the proximity and cost - not adverse to other tropical locations; timing is quite flexible (I'm just pre-thinking), but would obviously like to avoid hurricanes
- We'd rather be in a relatively safe country where we were not confined to a resort for our own sake
- We'd rather not go to the Dominican Republic, due to the nastiness of the government; we're not sure about Cuba (but it is liberalizing); we're happy to support somewhere like Puerto Rico or Barbados - or to think outside the box (Guyana? Trinidad? I would happily eat nothing but roti for breakfast, lunch & dinner); we have distant cousins in Venezuela, whom we've never met but who my father-in-law has (or maybe just corresponded with)
Thank you in advance!
While I've traveled a fair bit in North America and Europe, I've never been closer to the Equator than Washington, DC. I've been wanting to see what it's like farther south than that - particularly the classic "tropical" environment.
Our interests in previous travel have been largely about history & culture - I'm also deeply interested in ecology, and would love to take tours that explained the geography and ecology of the region.
We have lots of "would likes" and "totally wasted on us":
Would really like:
- coral reefs - especially if there is snorkeling/other exploration of the ecosystem- and associated coral-sand beaches (I love swimming, and will need to commune with the ocean)
- palm trees, like the movies
- tropical rainforest - especially if there were guided tours with lots of ecology content
- any kind of boating (sailing, kayaking, etc) - this probably is a sina qua non if I want to get my husband to come (he hates beaches, but loves boats).
Would be great
- history (museums, historic sites)
- local culture - especially food, but also just walking around, seeing how people live
- other interesting topology and physical features to explore - mountains, caves, hiking trails, farm tours, volcano(!)
- an all-inclusive vacation (flight + accommodation + food), so we don't have to do all the planning or worry about meals, but with flexibility to do what we like
Don't need
- Any kind of fanciness in accommodations. A private flush toilet would be nice, as is access to nice outside - but we've happily stayed in cabins and tents; our idea of fancy is a B&B
Totally wasted on us
- alcohol (he doesn't drink at all, I drink very little)
- fancy dinners - we don't eat seafood other than fish and I'd rather have plantains than steak
- clubs, dancing, music - pretty well any kind of night life that isn't turtle migration or something.
Budget: this is the kicker. We're closer to a budget of $1000/person than $2000/person. It's not a hard budget in that we could go higher, but it would be hard to justify after years of $500/person vacations. Most of the more interesting eco-adventure tourism that I've found tends to be more expensive (like "join the crew of a wooden sailing ship!" which would be SO awesome). I've known people to take $900 / person trips to the Caribbean, but only to resorts that were primarily aimed at young people swimming in pools and drinking at clubs.
Other pertinent details:
- We'd be flying from Toronto, Canada, and are thinking of the Caribbean because of the proximity and cost - not adverse to other tropical locations; timing is quite flexible (I'm just pre-thinking), but would obviously like to avoid hurricanes
- We'd rather be in a relatively safe country where we were not confined to a resort for our own sake
- We'd rather not go to the Dominican Republic, due to the nastiness of the government; we're not sure about Cuba (but it is liberalizing); we're happy to support somewhere like Puerto Rico or Barbados - or to think outside the box (Guyana? Trinidad? I would happily eat nothing but roti for breakfast, lunch & dinner); we have distant cousins in Venezuela, whom we've never met but who my father-in-law has (or maybe just corresponded with)
Thank you in advance!
I'm not sure if your budget is in CAD or USD, but regardless, I traveled to Costa Rica and used Nature Air (the country's airline) as travel agents to book all of my air travel, accommodation, and excursions. They personalized our tour and took care of everything - one of the best travel experiences I've had. Just email them from the contact page and let them know your budget and they'll give you ideas and help you build your own trip. Can't recommend them enough.
posted by juniperesque at 11:07 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by juniperesque at 11:07 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
You sound like good candidates for something like the Adventure Week by Slickrock in Belize (a rec I got myself on the green years ago!) The food was excellent on the island by the way. Not fancy but tasty and plentiful. I only went to the island, so my time was all about the ocean, but the Adventure Week includes stuff in the rain forest too.
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:07 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:07 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hawaii would be a good match, especially the Big Island, but it might be hard to get under $1,000 / person if that's going to include your plane tickets. That's probably true of pretty much any tropical destination from Canada though.
posted by phoenixy at 12:45 PM on March 20, 2018
posted by phoenixy at 12:45 PM on March 20, 2018
Costa Rica or Belize seem perfect for you. Belize if diving is crucial. You will have a hard time getting everything you want to do in under your budget, though, so I'd encourage you to think of this as a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip and stretch your budget a bit.
Normally I would enthusiastically recommend Puerto Rico because it is SUCH A NICE PLACE to visit and it has many of the things you're looking for. But you'll want to do some careful research into the state of the infrastructure. However, if you're looking at this trip being in 2019, it could be fine by then, and people will be thrilled to have tourists return.
posted by lunasol at 12:57 PM on March 20, 2018
Normally I would enthusiastically recommend Puerto Rico because it is SUCH A NICE PLACE to visit and it has many of the things you're looking for. But you'll want to do some careful research into the state of the infrastructure. However, if you're looking at this trip being in 2019, it could be fine by then, and people will be thrilled to have tourists return.
posted by lunasol at 12:57 PM on March 20, 2018
Over 20 years back, my brother and I were in Dominical CR during an extended flat spell. We decided to take a hike across the Osa Peninsula. We grabbed our backpacks and took a bus to Carate and went into the Parque Nacional Corcovado at the Punta Leona station. We hiked a few days North along the coast up to Drake Bay. We saw no one else until we got close to Drake Bay. There, a few “eco-resorts” were found which were certainly not luxurious, but were in a beautiful area, with nice swimming and some snorkeling around Punta Ballena. We got a ride back to the coast highway and back to Dominical. By that time, the swell had come up. There are still a few areas in CR that are largely undeveloped (Punta Burica, Santa Elena Peninsula). If you’re not a backpacker, this could be challenging but it is certainly one of my fonder memories.
However, now the area around Drake’s is more developed but still off the beaten path and still stunning. The resorts are accessible from the main highway by a road to Drake’s Bay and Punta Ballena. The trails we walked are more like a dirt road now; guided hikes are available. You can take a boat to Isla Cocos (uninhabited and wild; where they filmed parts of Jurassic Park) and there is limited diving. Fishing and surfing are more popular on the Pacific coast of CR. Spanish is not necessary.
As far as PR, the central region in still devastated. We were just there for a week surfing. Around Rincon and Aguadilla (in the Western part of the island), the power is on and many (most?) hotels are operating. You can fly into Boqueron and skip the San Juan madness. Not much diving but the surf at Wilderness and Maria’s was rocking.
My recommendation would be to consider Boca del Toros, Panama. Diving, surfing, kayak and SUP tours, decent hotels and not too expensive. There is also a boat service up to Puerto Viejo, CR for a side trip. It’s not as far off the tourist circuit as it used to be, but still not too crowded. Again, English is widely spoken in Panama.
posted by sudogeek at 3:26 PM on March 20, 2018
However, now the area around Drake’s is more developed but still off the beaten path and still stunning. The resorts are accessible from the main highway by a road to Drake’s Bay and Punta Ballena. The trails we walked are more like a dirt road now; guided hikes are available. You can take a boat to Isla Cocos (uninhabited and wild; where they filmed parts of Jurassic Park) and there is limited diving. Fishing and surfing are more popular on the Pacific coast of CR. Spanish is not necessary.
As far as PR, the central region in still devastated. We were just there for a week surfing. Around Rincon and Aguadilla (in the Western part of the island), the power is on and many (most?) hotels are operating. You can fly into Boqueron and skip the San Juan madness. Not much diving but the surf at Wilderness and Maria’s was rocking.
My recommendation would be to consider Boca del Toros, Panama. Diving, surfing, kayak and SUP tours, decent hotels and not too expensive. There is also a boat service up to Puerto Viejo, CR for a side trip. It’s not as far off the tourist circuit as it used to be, but still not too crowded. Again, English is widely spoken in Panama.
posted by sudogeek at 3:26 PM on March 20, 2018
Response by poster: Thank you for your responses - some of the options look wonderful, but definitely out of our current budget. But I'll keep thinking, and maybe we can save up. Costa Rica or Belize do seem great - and kayaking among mangroves is something that wasn't on my "would be wonderful to have" list, but now is. (I did research on wetlands, love all marshes, mangrove swamps, etc.)
Just a note: I have no experience in scuba diving or snorkeling, so that would be super beginner. I don't even know if I would like it, I just really like Blue Planet.
posted by jb at 4:05 PM on March 20, 2018
Just a note: I have no experience in scuba diving or snorkeling, so that would be super beginner. I don't even know if I would like it, I just really like Blue Planet.
posted by jb at 4:05 PM on March 20, 2018
Does it have to be Caribbean? There's lots of nature to be seen in the southern US which may be more budget friendly and more accessible for you. Staying in the US may allow you to do more Airbnb type accommodations vs staying at a resort. California, Florida (wetlands!), Texas, have some decent beaches for you and the national parks in the US as a whole are great.
And while less tropical, the Grand Canyon is definitely worth seeing, and white water rafting may satisfy your boating requirement.
The redwood rainforests of the west are also worth visiting but again not tropical.
posted by rux at 8:31 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
And while less tropical, the Grand Canyon is definitely worth seeing, and white water rafting may satisfy your boating requirement.
The redwood rainforests of the west are also worth visiting but again not tropical.
posted by rux at 8:31 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
kayaking among mangroves is something that wasn't on my "would be wonderful to have" list, but now is.
Have you been to the Everglades? If not, that may be a more accessible vacation, since cheap flights to Ft Lauderdale are often abundant, and Florida is generally pretty affordable compared to a lot of other places in the US. You could kayak in the Everglades and spend a few nights at an airbnb/motel on the Keys for beach time. Key Largo is supposed to be nice for snorkeling and diving. Miami is right there and fun for local culture.
posted by lunasol at 9:27 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Have you been to the Everglades? If not, that may be a more accessible vacation, since cheap flights to Ft Lauderdale are often abundant, and Florida is generally pretty affordable compared to a lot of other places in the US. You could kayak in the Everglades and spend a few nights at an airbnb/motel on the Keys for beach time. Key Largo is supposed to be nice for snorkeling and diving. Miami is right there and fun for local culture.
posted by lunasol at 9:27 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
On non-preview: just remembered that, duh, you said you hadn't been south of DC so no, you haven't been to the Everglades! It's really beautiful and has a very lush, subtropical feel.
posted by lunasol at 9:28 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by lunasol at 9:28 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Florida may be your answer.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea -- shore dives and snorkling off Anglin Pier. We usually drive in, rent an apartment for a few weeks on the odd-numbered side of El Mar (not on the beach, less expensive), and spend our time at the beach. We also use our kayak when the water is calm.
The Keys -- kayaking among the mangroves at Robbie's at Islamorada.
posted by TrishaU at 1:44 AM on March 21, 2018
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea -- shore dives and snorkling off Anglin Pier. We usually drive in, rent an apartment for a few weeks on the odd-numbered side of El Mar (not on the beach, less expensive), and spend our time at the beach. We also use our kayak when the water is calm.
The Keys -- kayaking among the mangroves at Robbie's at Islamorada.
posted by TrishaU at 1:44 AM on March 21, 2018
What abput Mexico? All is combined there - scuba, palms, great Carribean sea and much of a culture and history.
posted by Tori88 at 5:09 AM on March 21, 2018
posted by Tori88 at 5:09 AM on March 21, 2018
Maybe the Yucatan Peninsula? I've spent a week of the last two winters camping on a beach in the Sian Kaan biosphere south of Tulum, Mexico and it has been amazing both times and also pretty cheap. (Renting a car is kind of a necessity, which pushes the cost up a bit.) We were fairly careful about our budget and spent around $1500 for a ten day trip for two in December including car rental but not flights.
You're in proximity to beaches, mangroves, places to snorkel, you can take boat tours on the ocean or in the mangroves, and there are tons of cenotes and caves in driving distance, as well as Mayan ruins. If you want to make a little more of a road trip out of it, there's other cool stuff to explore on the peninsula as well.
memail me if you want details on camping, etc.
posted by geegollygosh at 5:39 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
You're in proximity to beaches, mangroves, places to snorkel, you can take boat tours on the ocean or in the mangroves, and there are tons of cenotes and caves in driving distance, as well as Mayan ruins. If you want to make a little more of a road trip out of it, there's other cool stuff to explore on the peninsula as well.
memail me if you want details on camping, etc.
posted by geegollygosh at 5:39 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
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We spent most of the time on Roatan diving, and it was semi-fancy resort (not posh, but there were certainly cheaper options in town). Even if you're not into diving, it definitely had the palm trees and beach feel you're looking for. I imagine there were non-diving boating activities available as well. We also went horseback riding and caving one day to take a break from the diving.
Our mainland tour compnay was Junglexpedition. It was just getting started then, so I have no idea how their business plan has morphed over the last 10 years, but it sounds right up your alley. On the first day, Juan took us up the Cusuco National Park (rain forest! in the mountains!). We met a few villagers and did some hiking. The company was planning on starting a hostel up there, but I don't know if that ever got off the ground. We spent the night in another guest house because the hostel building wasn't ready yet. On another day, he drove us to the Copa (Mayan ruins). We ended up meeting a groundskeeper/laborer who was also working at a dig site that was not yet open to the public, and so we got to go visit that as well.
I remember that the tour company was pretty willing to tailor to what we wanted to do, so maybe get in touch with them and see what they would put together for you. Our tour guide was AMAZING, and the trip felt really special to us.
Caveats: Everyone told us not to leave our hotel in San Pedro Sula without a local, because it's not the world's safest city. I don't know what the situation is like these days. Also, I have no idea if it would fit your budget or not -- I don't even remember what we spent on it, and the diving portion was probably a big chunk of it.
posted by natabat at 10:57 AM on March 20, 2018