Despite the negative media coverage of Mexico, most of the country remains save for visitors. You should still take normal precautions, just like you would anywhere else – avoid flashing your valuables, wearing expensive jewellery and walking around late at night.
For more practical tips to stay safe, I recommend that you read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

As opposed to most other countries in Central America, getting around Mexico by public bus is easy and affordable. The buses are modern and tickets can be booked online. You can find all information regarding buses here
Note that even though they use the $ sign, the prices are in Mexican pesos.

While many people visit Mexico to stay in one of the resorts around Cancún – the country has so much more to offer. Here are five must visit places in Mexico!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is a small laid-back island, located just off the north coast of Yucatán Peninsula. When you arrive you will immediately feel the island vibes – locals selling tropical fruits on the streets, the unpaved sandy streets, and all the colourful houses. You will also notice that there are no cars on the island, only golf carts, which really adds to the whole “island vibe”. The town itself is small and as such is easily accessible by foot. Holbox definitely still has this “untouched” local vibe, which can be hard to find with all-inclusive resorts popping up all over Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It’s the perfect place for relaxing and to experience island life.

The miles long white sand beach and the turquoise blue water makes for a perfect place to relax, enjoy a cold drink or two, or even do some snorkeling. The sunsets on Holbox are not to be missed, I recommend watching it from the beach. After the sun goes down is when you can observe the bioluminescence, a magic phenomenon that occurs when waters of the seashore gets illuminated by certain micro-organism that emit their own blue light. You will find plenty of travel agencies around the island offering these types of tours. It’s worth noting that this is dependent on weather conditions and might not occur every day, the months from July to January is when you’ll have the best chance .

Internet connection, both wifi and 3G/4G, on the island is very unstable and definitely not something you can rely on. So it’s not the place to go if you need to finish a project or do anything that requires a stable internet connection. During my four days there, the internet was gone for about 24 hours straight.

How long to stay in Isla Holbox:

I would recommend staying for at least three nights. That will allow you enough time to explore the island, spend time on the beach and do some activities. If you want to spend a few days on the beach, I’d suggest to stay for additional two to three nights.

Where to stay in Isla Holbox:

Despite being a small island, Holbox has lots of options when it comes to accommodation.

If you are looking for a quiet hostel with chilled vibes, yoga classes and good atmosphere, I would recommend this one. It’s located just two blocks from the beach and just a minute or two away from the centre of town.

For those that are looking for more of a party hostel and wanna do some day drinking while hanging out in the pool, this one might be just what you are looking for.

You might also like: How to Choose Hostels

How to get to Isla Holbox:

The best/cheapest way to get there is to catch an ADO bus from wherever you are, to the ferry port in Chiquila, and from there take a ferry to Holbox. The bus ticket costs around 15-20 USD, depending on where you’re traveling from. There are two ferry companies operating between Chiquila and Holbox, they offer the same service for the same price, about 11 USD. The only difference between the two is that one runs on the hour while the other runs on the half hour. The journey time on the ferry is just under 30 minutes. There is no need to buy the ferry tickets in advance, there are ticket offices at the port.

2. Tulum

Tulum is located on Mexico’s Caribbean coast and is home to white sand beaches, Mayan ruins and a large number of stunning cenotes. Tulum consists of three areas – Tulum town, Tulum beach and the Tulum ruins, that each has its own charm. I loved the fact that you can bike pretty much anywhere, and wherever you go you are surrounded by palm trees. You have lots of cenotes, the beach and the ruins within 30-40 minute bike ride from Tulum town.

Tulum beach, sometimes referred to as the hotel zone, is a long strip of pristine beach just about 20-30 minute bike ride away from Tulum town. Along the beach runs an extremely picturesque street that has a very bohemian vibe to it, lots of palm trees and is home to a number of trendy restaurants. This is also where you will find the famous “follow your dreams” sign, as well as other similar signs. Renting a bike and riding along this road is something I would highly recommend.

Tulum town offers a more local experience than the beach zone. This where you’ll find authentic Mexican restaurants and plenty of taco stands. You can also find some trendy smoothie bowl places, my favourite ones are Matcha Mama and Del Cielo. In Tulum town you will get a lot more for your money than you would in the beach area. Tulum town also makes a great base for visiting the cenotes, many are just a short bike ride away from the town.

The Tulum ruins are located about 4km from Tulum town. While these are certainly not the largest Mayan ruins in Mexico, their location on the edge of a cliff overlooking the white sand beach and turquoise blue water, makes it a pretty spectacular sight. The ruins are accessible by bike and by car – the entrance fee is approximately 4 USD.

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How long to stay in Tulum

To say you need a certain number of days in Tulum is difficult, since there is a lot to see in and around Tulum. It depends on what you really want to do and see – but I would recommend at least 4 days. That will allow you enough time to visit the ruins, have some beach time, eating plenty of street food and visit some of the many cenotes in the area. With that being said, you can easily spend a couple of weeks in Tulum.

Where to stay in Tulum

If you want to have a lot of beach time, are not on a budget and want more of a luxury experience- I would recommend staying at Tulum beach. There are plenty of trendy hotels in that area, here you can check out hotels in Tulum.

For backpackers, those on a budget and for those looking for a more authentic experience – I would recommend staying in Tulum town. You will be a bit further from the beach, but closer to many of the cenotes.
I stayed here during my two weeks in Tulum and it’s honestly one of the best hostels I’ve stayed at. It has friendly and fun atmosphere, offer lots of activities and they also have bikes that you can use free of charge. It does not have a swimming pool though. If you’d rater stay at a hostel with a pool – I can recommend Maka and Mimosa.

How to get to Tulum

To get to Tulum you can rent a car or take a bus. The nearest airport is in Cancún, from there it’s just about a two hour car ride to Tulum. You can catch a bus to Tulum from pretty much anywhere in Mexico, prices and timetables can be found here.

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3. Valladolid

Colour lovers will feel like they’re dreaming when wandering the streets of Valladolid, a charming colonial town on the Yucatán peninsula. With its pastel coloured colonial buildings and old historic churches, Valladolid is probably what you would picture when thinking of the typical Mexican town. What I love about Valladolid is that it’s really authentic and gives you a taste of real Mexico, making it one of the 5 must visit places in Mexico. Contrary to Cancún and Playa del Carmen, instead of being crowded with people on spring break, in Valladolid you will encounter locals just living their every day life. The best way to explore Valladolid would be to simply wander around aimlessly with a camera in hand. A part from stunning architecture, there is even a cenote within the city, called Cenote Zaci, located just a couple of blocks away from the centre.

With plenty of cenotes and places such as the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, one of the new seven wonders of the world, at its doorstep – you should certainly allow for some time to visit the area around Valladolid. Cenote Ik Kil is located just a couple of minutes from Chichen Itza, making it an ideal place to cool down after exploring the Mayan ruins.

How long to stay in Valladolid

Valladolid can make for a great day trip if you’re short on time. You can spend a couple of hours wandering through the centre and then visit Chichen Itza. Such day trips are available from any of the major cities, including Tulum, Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
However, if you’re not in a rush, I would recommend staying at least 2 nights . Depending on how many of the cenotes you want to visit, you might want to add in a couple more nights. 

Where to stay in Valladolid

With Valladolid being a pretty small town, just about anywhere is a good place to stay. There are plenty of accommodation options that range from high end resorts to Colonial style boutique hotels and hostels.

For those on a budget and looking for a nice, affordable hostel – this one would be a perfect option. A Colonial style family run hostel, located right in the downtown area. Offering plenty of hammocks, air conditioned rooms and even has breakfast included.

If you want a little more luxury but don’t want to spend the kind of money you’d be paying for a high end resort, Casa Daniels is worth checking out! For just about 35 USD you can stay in a private room and cool down in a pool in a tropical garden after a day of exploring.

In Valladolid you will also find variety of high end hotels, most of them being Colonial style boutique hotels. Accommodation in Valladolid is pretty affordable, with luxurious hotels ranging from 50USD per night, here you can have a look at hotels in Valladolid. With that being said, if you are planning to treat yourself to a fancy hotel once in your trip, which I often do, this would be the ideal place for it.

How to get to Valladolid

Just as other cities on the Yucatán peninsula, Valladolid is well connected by the ADO busses. From the bus station it will only take you a couple of minutes to walk to the centre. If you are planning to rent a car, Valladolid is just about a 2 hour drive from Cancún and 1,5 hours from Tulum.

4. Bacalar

Close to the Belize borders you will find Bacalar, a quiet lakeside village that sits on the shore of Lagoon Bacalar, which is the main attraction of Bacalar. The lagoon is the reason most people decide to visit Bacalar, and was certainly the reason for my trip there :)) It’s a must visit for anyone that loves turquoise blue water. The lagoon is also known as Lagoon of the Seven Colours due to the many shades of blue the water will have throughout the day.

The best way to discover Bacalar is to take a boat tour. Most of them last for about 2-3 hours and will take you to the best parts of the lake, including Canal de Los Pirates, which is considered one of the most beautiful parts of the lake. The mud there is also believed to be full of minerals, so you can do whatever you want with that :)) Bacalar is also the perfect place for all sorts of water activities – paddle boarding, kayaking, scuba diving, you name it. There are of course a few cenotes in the area – the most famous one being Cenote Azul. in For those looking for a bit of culture, a visit to Fort San Felipe is a must.

A little tip before visiting Bacalar – bring enough cash (pesos, not USD) to last for the time you plan to stay there. Bacalar is not very developed, there are ATM’s but these can be working one day and not working the next, so you never know. Some places do take cards, but you absolutely can’t count on it.

Check out this post for where to eat in Bacalar!

How Long to Stay in Bacalar

I would recommend spending at least two whole days in Bacalar. About half a day to do a boat tour, then you’ll have a couple of hours to walk through the town and enjoy some of the delicious local food. Then you will have day to relax at the lagoon, go kayaking or do any of the other water activities. With that being said – I ended up staying there for almost two weeks

Where to stay in Bacalar

Bacalar offers plenty of options for all preferences and budgets.

For backpackers looking for a very social atmosphere, The Yak Lake House would be the perfect option. Located next to the lake, offering gorgeous views and lots of events.

If you’re looking for a bit more relaxed place, this brand new very stylish hostel is probably what you are looking for. A cozy little place with a gorgeous pool and super pretty spacious rooms.

How to get to Bacalar

Getting to Bacalar is relatively easy. Like the rest of the Yucatán Peninsula, it’s well connected by ADO buses. From Tulum the bus ride is just under 3 hours, while from Cancún it take a bit over 5 hours. If you are renting a car, Bacalar is approximately 4 hours drive from Cancún and 2,5 hours from Tulum.

5. Puerto Escondido

Located on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, Puerto Escondido is a relaxed beach town. Unlike places like Cancún and Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Escondido, it’s definitely not famous for all-inclusive luxury resorts. Instead it’s known for it’s surf scene and beautiful beaches. In Puerto Escondido you can spend your days catching waves on a surfboard, relaxing at the beach, enjoying the sunset and admiring turtles. After spending a day in the sun, I recommend taking a trip to Laguna de Manialtepec, where you can observe the bioluminescence. A magic phenomenon that occurs when waters of the seashore gets illuminated by certain micro-organism that emit their own blue light. You will find plenty of travel agencies around town offering these types of tours.

One thing you need to know before visiting Puerto Escondido is that cash is king. ATM’s tend to run out of cash frequently, so make sure to have plenty of cash before getting there. Some businesses accept cards, but don’t count on it.

How long to stay in Puerto Escondido

It’s not unlikely that you’ll never want to leave Puerto Escondido. With that being said, you should be able to get the hang of it in 4-5 days. That will leave you with enough time to explore a few beaches, try some local food, walk along the Adoquín and experience the nightlife.

Where to stay in Puerto Escondido

Due to its popularity among young travellers and backpackers, Puerto Escondido has an abundance of great hostels.For those planning to surf, you’ll probably want to stay close to Zicatela, which is where you’ll find the best waves. Close by La Punta de Zicatela is popular among backpackers, that’s where Villa Bonobo a boutique hostel, is located. Featuring a big rooftop with plenty of space to work out or do some yoga. Oh, and they have free coffee all day!

Closer to the centre of Puerto Escondido you have Puerto Dreams, a hostel that has everything you could need, including a co-working space. It’s surrounded with plenty of nice restaurants (Cocofam is a must try!) and about 20 minute walk from the beach.

Here you can check out hotels in Puerto Escondido. I recommend using the filters to filter out places that have a rating below 8, as those usually turn out to be a disappointment.

How to get to Puerto Escondido

The quickest way to get to Puerto Escondido is by flight. With direct flights only from Mexico City, you will need to transfer in Mexico city if you’re traveling from elsewhere in Mexico. You can also catch an ADO bus, but depending on where you’re coming from, it can take a long time. If you plan to rent a car, you can of course drive there as well.

I hope this post has inspired you to visit Mexico! If you want to get notified when I publish new posts, just click the red bell in the lower right corner, or follow me on Instagram where I usually announce new blog posts :)))

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to read:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Four day Tulum itinerary: Things to do in Tulum
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• San Cristóbal de las Casas Travel Guide
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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You can read about how I spent a month in Costa Rica in 2021 here

Before you start planning your trip to paradise, there are a few things you must know. After having visited Costa Rica four times and even lived with a local family during one of those trips, I have learned a lot about this beautiful country and its culture. So here are the 21 things you must know before visiting Costa Rica!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Be careful when choosing your transportation to and from San José airport

My recommendation is to take an Uber from the airport, it’s much cheaper and more convenient than taxis, who have a reputation for overcharging tourists. As soon as you exit the San José airport, you will be greeted by loads and loads of people, whose seemingly biggest wish is to drive you to your accommodation. As such, they tend to get almost aggressive, sometimes they follow you around even after you’ve told them that you already have someone picking you up. The important thing to know is that not all of them are official taxi drivers. Some of them are just random people that one day decided that they will now be offering “transportation services”.

Make sure to have the Uber app installed and set up on your phone before you arrive! You will have to verify your phone number and your card info, and that’s not something you wanna be doing in a rush at the airport. If, for whatever reason, you can’t take an Uber, take an official taxi. You will recognize the official ones from the none official ones by their red colour. The driver will have a license and the car will have a meter, which in Costa Rica is called “la maría”. Make sure that they put the meter on, if they don’t, they’ll overcharge you.

There is no need to arrange transportation from the airport in advance. Although, if your accommodations offers airport pick up at a decent price, you might as well book that to save you the hassle. Especially if you’re arriving late at night. If you’re staying in one of the hotels close to the airport, they usually offer that service for free.

2. Beware of a common scam taking place between San José and the airport

There is a common scam that takes place on the highway between the SJO airport and San José. How it works is, that two or more people will be working together, one of them being the driver, whose job will be to stop the car at the side of the road, claiming you have a broken tire or some other problem with the car. This is where the other/others in the scam arrive, it will look like they’re just helpful people that just so happened to be passing by and decided to stop and offer to help you. Now, things become chaotic as you all start changing the tire or to fix whatever else the “problem” was. In the midst of this chaos, one of the scammers will quietly steal your valuables, while you and the rest of the scammers are in the middle of changing the tire or whatever.

To avoid being scammed – take an Uber, an official taxi or a transport arranged by your accommodation. Do not take any sort of unofficial transport. For those renting a car, if you have a broken tire or have any problems with your car on the way to/from the airport, AVOID stopping on the side of the road at all cost! Instead, drive to the nearest gas station/hotel/town, anywhere that isn’t in the middle of nowhere.

3. Although Ubers are frequently used, they are technically not legal

Even though Ubers are available throughout the San José area, and are frequently used by travellers as well as locals, Uber remains in some legal grey zone. This doesn’t change the fact that Uber is the way to go when moving around the San José area. The taxi drivers, especially in San José, have a reputation for overcharging tourists and being rude. Uber in Costa Rica works just like anywhere else, but since it’s technically not 100% legal, there are two things you must be aware of:

• The driver will usually ask one of you to sit in the front seat. So if you get in an Uber and the driver says something in Spanish, he’ll most likely be asking you to get in the front seat.
• Especially at the airport, you might want to be a little discreet about it. The drivers at the airport will be telling you that you can’t take an Uber because it’s illegal, just tell them that your friend is coming to pick you up.

4. There are no street addresses in Costa Rica

One of the most important things you must know before visiting Costa Rica is that there are no street addresses. Yes you read that right. Streets in Costa Rica normally don’t have names and the houses do not have numbers. I struggled a lot with this in the beginning and couldn’t really get over how extremely strange it was. Questions like how do people get their mail? How does anyone find anything? How can an entire country function without street names?

I quickly learned that instead of “normal” addresses, the “address” is simply an explanation of where the building is. You will find addresses such as 350m west of Taco Bell, San Pedro and the pink house on the corner 100m from the church. For me, this really just raised more questions than it answered. What if you don’t know where this Taco Bell is? How do you know which direction is east, am I supposed to carry a compass with me at all times? How do I know when I’ve walked 300 meters? I need to carry a measuring tape too? Four trips to Costa Rica later, I’ve discovered that there’s no need to carry any of those things around, thanks to apps such as Google maps and maps.me. These will pretty much get you pretty much anywhere, although you will have problems finding residential buildings. I still have not figured out how people get their mail though

For the record, in downtown San José you will see that some streets are numbered – you have “Avenida Central”, Avenida 2, Avenida 4 and so on. Avenues run East to West, and then you have calles that run North to South. The houses here are not numbered though. This is pretty much the only place in the country where you’ll see street names in any shape or form.

5. There are more than one “San José”

If you’re flying into San José, make sure to book the flight to the right San José! The airport code for San José, Costa Rica is SJO. There is a city in California that is also called San José. Something that has turned out very unfortunate for a number of people that have purchased tickets to the wrong San José and not realized until they land in California instead of Costa Rica

Here you can book your stay in San José, Costa Rica!

6. It’s not as cheap as you might think

A very common misconception about Costa Rica is that it’s cheap. Since most countries in Central America are indeed very affordable, people tend to think that the same must apply to Costa Rica. But that’s just not the case. It’s nowhere near as affordable as countries like El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. To be fair, fruits and public buses are very affordable, but that’s about it. Expect prices to be pretty similar to those in US and Europe.

7. Be careful in San José

While I would not necessarily agree with those saying San José is flat out dangerous, you definitely have to be careful. With that being said, I have spent my fair time in San José and I’ve never had any problems there. Just keep an eye on your stuff at all times and be aware of your surroundings. Avoid wearing flashy jewellery (even if it’s a 3$ necklace) it’s not about the risk of the necklace getting stolen, but that it might draw attention to you. As long as you take normal precautions, and most importantly, know where to go and where not to go, it’s unlikely you’ll have any problems. There are certain areas in San José where you simply shouldn’t be, especially not late at night or early morning.

Buses leaving from San José usually depart at 6 or 7am, take an Uber (or a taxi) to the bus stop, do not walk there. Even if it’s a 5 minute walk, just don’t risk it. The area around the bus stations are often shady, the bus stations themselves are fine though.

Stick to the area around Avenida Central, which is the main street in San José. This is where you’ll find the most interesting sights such as the National Theatre and the National Museum. San José is not the place to wander off into the unknown, the atmosphere can change rapidly just from one block to the next, so always be aware of your surroundings!

8. The local restaurants are called “sodas”

The best way to get a taste of real Costa Rica is by eating at a soda. Sodas are small local restaurants, you’ll recognize them by the plastic chairs and the, often a little torn, “soda” sign. They are cheaper than regular restaurants and offer big portions, making them the perfect option for those on a budget. Sodas offer basic traditional food that usually consists of rice and beans, along with some meat or vegetables. Many sodas also offer things like nachos, guacamole and burritos.

9. The currency is the Costa Rica Colón

Colón, or Colones in plural, is the local currency in Costa Rica. US dollars are also widely accepted and usually you have a choice of paying with US dollars or Colones. Often you’ll get worse exchange rate when paying with USD, but if you’re bank account is in USD, paying in USD might be your best option. I always use Colones and never withdraw USD from the ATM’s. But since Colones aren’t readily available outside of Costa Rica, I often have 50-100USD with me when I arrive, just in case. I usually keep that as “back up” if my card doesn’t work somewhere or if the ATM’s aren’t working.

Santa Teresa, one of my favourite places in Costa Rica

10. Driving can take long and travel times are estimates

Between unpaved roads, sink holes, slow trucks, heavy traffic, and whatnot – driving in Costa Rica can take ages and driving times are estimates. If that. You can expect a 200km drive to take about 4 hours. Then again, a 4 hour journey can easily turn into 5 or even 6 hours if the traffic is bad. So always allow for extra time when going from one place to another.

11. The Waze app

The Waze app is a must have for anyone driving around Costa Rica. Especially if you’re traveling during rainy season (April/May-November/December). During that period the road conditions can change fast, rivers may flood and landslides can occur. Every day thousands of locals help update information on the Waze app, so you’ll always have the most recent updates on road conditions and traffic.

12. Bus stops are not well marked

Costa Rica apparently isn’t very keen on spending money on signs. Just like they don’t bother with formalities such as naming the streets, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they haven’t really gotten around to putting up signs for bus stops either. So when finding your bus stop, especially in smaller towns, you’ll often be at the mercy of locals, who will know where to find it even though that information is not written anywhere A number of people standing on the side of the street can also indicate that you’ve found a bus stop. Just ask them if this is the bus stop (parada de autobuses in Spanish). It’s just one of those things that isn’t written anywhere but somehow everyone just knows how it works.

13. There are road tolls

All the major highways between San José and the Pacific Coast have road tolls. Expect to pay around 250-750 colones (about 1 USD). Both Colones and USD are accepted, debit and credit cards are not accepted. You will of course only be required to pay the tolls if you have your own car, not if you’re on a bus or a shuttle.

14. There is no central hub for bus buses

You know how in most cities you have one main bus terminal where all buses depart from? That’s indeed very practical Well, In Costa Rica it’s not like that. Instead, you have lots of small terminals located all over San José. So when taking a bus from San José to anywhere else in Costa Rica, you’ll need to look up from which bus terminal the bus departs from.

15. It’s easy to take public buses to and from San José

There are direct public buses to and from San José to basically anywhere in Costa Rica. The public buses are way cheaper than shuttles, and they work just fine to get you to and from San José. However, if you’re traveling between others parts of Costa Rica, there often aren’t any direct public buses so in those cases I usually take a shuttle.

16. The traffic in San José during rush hours is insane

Driving in San José during rush hours is a nightmare. It’s loco. There are apparently some traffic laws in place but drivers seem too be more concerned about getting to wherever they need to be, than following any of them. Rush hours on weekdays is roughly 5-8am and 3-6pm. Additionally, you have a lot of traffic out of San José on Friday afternoons and than into San José on Sunday evenings, as the locals like to get out of the city during the weekends.

17. You can visit during rainy season

You can still enjoy Costa Rica during the rainy season! It can even be a great time to visit and certainly has it’s advantages! Rainy season, also referred to as the “green season”, runs from May through mid-November. During this time the jungles turns more green, as opposed to appearing brownish and often dusty towards the end of dry season. Costa Rica sees plenty of sunshine even during rainy season, it’s usually sunny in the mornings, followed by cloudy afternoons and a few hours of rain. Visiting during rainy season also means that you can expect to get better deals on flights and accommodation since this is the low season. This also means less tourists!

18. You can drink the water

There is usually no need to buy bottled water in Costa Rica as the tap water is generally safe. Some hostels and accommodations even have water filters so it doesn’t even taste bad. Just double check with your hostel/hotel before drinking the water, but in the majority of the country it’s totally fine. Make sure to bring an insulated water bottle to keep your water nice and cold. There is nothing worse than bringing a cold water to the beach, only to realise that because it’s in a plastic bottle, it has reached the same temperature as the outside temperature. Boiling hot water is not so refreshing

Find the perfect accommodation for your Costa Rica trip here!

19. It’s the safest country in Central America

Costa Rica consistently rates as the safest country in Central America. It’s one of few countries in the world that doesn’t have an army. Tourists do not have much to worry about when visiting Costa Rica, as long as they take normal precautions.
For some practical safety tips that are applicable around the world, read this post: 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

20. The biggest safety risk is petty theft

Bag snatching and pickpocketing do occur, so always keep an eye on your belongings. Avoid flashing your valuables and never leave your valuables unattended at the beach while taking a swim! If you’re going to the beach by yourself and plan to go swimming, leave any valuables at your hotel/hostel.

21. Don’t go to the beach after dark

This is possibly one of the most important things you must know before visiting Costa Rica! Yes it’s the safest country in Central America, but the beach is still not a safe place to be after dark. Unless you’re at a restaurant or bar at the beach, do not wander off to the beach at night. Even if you’re with a few other people. It gets completely dark, there is usually no one around, and the sound of the ocean will drown out any other sounds. This unfortunately makes for a perfect environment for crimes much more serious than pickpocketing.

I hope that you are better prepared for your trip to Costa Rica after learning about these 21 things you must know before visiting Costa Rica. if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner or follow me on Instagram where I usually announce new posts :))

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, you might also want to check out:

• 10 Best things to do in Costa Rica
• My trip to Costa Rica
• Mistakes to avoid when backpacking

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Guatemala is a very affordable country, with hostels ranging from 60 GTQ (8USD) and basic private rooms from approx. 200 GTQ (25USD). Local food in Guatemala, like in many other Central American countries, includes a lot of beans, corn and avocado. You can expect to pay around 40 GTQ (5 USD) for a meal at a local restaurant, which tend to have large portions. A cup of coffee will be around 1-2USD and a local beer will be around 2-3USD.

Before diving into the 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala, I want to address something many of you might be concerned about – safety. Guatemala, as well of other countries in Central America, tends to be displayed in the media as a dangerous and unsafe country. Hence, you might be under the impression that Guatemala is very dangerous and therefore you might be hesitant about giving it a change. For some practical advice on how to stay safe, read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

While the crime rates are certainly high, most incident of violent crime are drug and gang related and as such, is not targeted towards tourists. Petty crimes such as pick pocketing do occur, just like pretty much anywhere else. After having traveled through Guatemala for about three weeks, I can say that I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. I actually found that the local people are warm and welcoming, and go out of their way to help tourists and make them feel safe.

With that being said, here are 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Antigua

It’s easy to fall in love with the charming colonial town of Antigua. Featuring bright colourful buildings and cobblestone streets, as well as historical churches and buildings. On the subject of historical sites – the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Make sure to visit Arco de Santa Catalina, a bright yellow arch in the middle of the city that symbolises the entrance to Antigua. Cerro de la Cruz is also a must visit for anyone visiting Antigua – it’s viewpoint from where you’ll have a view of the city with the volcanic backdrop. Due to its location in a valley surrounded by three volcanoes, Antigua is also a great base if you want to hike some of the volcanoes.

Antigua is also a known as being one of the best (and most affordable) place to learn Spanish, making it the perfect place to improve your Spanish – or if you don’t know any Spanish yet, this would be an ideal starting point to learn the basics before exploring the rest of the country.

Where to stay in Antigua

Antigua has a very luxurious problem – there is an abundance of gorgeous hostels that have a 9+ rating. This is of course a luxury, but also makes it extremely difficult to choose one. I remember spending ages trying to compare all these picturesque hostels with flawless ratings. I actually ended up spending way more time in Antigua than I originally planned, and stayed in a couple of hostels. My absolute favourite one was Maya Papaya – it has everything you could possibly wish for in a hostel, the photos and the reviews really speak for itself

2. Chichicastenango

Do not worry if you have problems pronouncing the name of this village, it took me quite a while to get it right! The good news is that people will know what you mean when you say “chichiblalala” and then mention a market (mercado in Spanish). It really stands and falls with the word market – this is because Chichicastenango is where you find the largest indigenous market in Central America. The market is open every Thursday and Sunday – which is when locals travel from their villages and gather at this market and sell all types of handicrafts, jewellery, fresh food, colourful clothes and textiles, flowers and Mayan goods.

One thing you must keep in mind when visiting the market is to keep your belongings close to you and keep an eye on them at all times. Do not keep your valuables in a backpack on your back. As the market can get crowded, it tends to be a target for pick pocketing. I recommend that you keep your bag at your front and hold it at all times, or cover it with a piece of clothing, making it harder for pick pocketers to access it.

The market is pretty much all there is to Chichicastenango, although there are some beautiful churches near the market that are worth checking out. A couple of hours is all you need to explore the market so a day trip is really all you need.

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3. Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán (or in Spanish, Lago de Atitlán), is without a question one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The lake was formed about 84.000 years ago (so very oldddd) from a collapsed volcano. Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake in all of Central America (up to 340m), but it’s more famous for the stunning landscape around it. Surrounding the lake are volcanic mountains as well a a handful of unique Mayan villages. Each of the villages differs from the next, they all have their own atmosphere as well as each having their own traditional style of clothing. That being said, you should definitely aim to visit more than just one or two!

Must do’s at Lake Atitlán include wandering through the villages, enjoying the views from one of the cafés, riding the water taxis and/or kayaking, hiking the Indian Nose (I would recommend a guided tour) and watching the sunsets. Lake Atitlán is also a popular yoga destinations and around the lake you’ll find lots and lots of yoga studios.

The villages around Lake Atitlán

Panajachel (usually just called Pana) is known as the “tourist town”. Perhaps because it’s the most easily reachable, as this is where the buses/shuttles will drop you off. From there you can get to the other villages by water taxis that are readily available. They only take cash so make sure to have some of that! Being the most accessible village – it’s where you’ll find the most variety of accommodations.

San Pedro is very backpacker driven and attracts a lot of young people. Here you will also find many Spanish school as well as good nightlife. For coffee lovers, Café Cristalinas is a must try – they roast their own coffee and it’s delicious. The Fifth Dimension is a vegetarian restaurant that offers view of the lake, but more importantly, amazing and very fresh and healthy food. Wouldn’t mind eating there every day

San Marcos is more chilled and is known as the “hippie town”. Here you will also find plenty of vegetarian food options. I really recommend Vida for delicious food and view of the lake. Restaurant Fe is another option, they also have excellent food, but no view of the lake. The town is very small so it won’t take you long to explore.

San Juan is the arty town. This is where you’ll find the best art and textiles. Throughout the town you will see plenty of painted murals as well as art markets. San Juan is one of the less visited town around the lake and has a very relaxed vibe.

Santa Cruz is very traditional and authentic, perhaps due to the fact that it’s pretty isolated as it’s only accessible by boats. There isn’t a whole lot to do here, however, it’s a great choice for experiencing the authentic lifestyle and relax. Make sure to visit Cafe Sabor Cruceño which is operated by a non-profit school, offering tasty food and of course, views of the lake.

Where to stay in Lake Atitlán

When it comes to where to stay, I will say that the hostels here aren’t as great as the ones in Antigua, but there are still some pretty good ones. Here I’m gonna list some of my favourite ones.

Dreamboat Hostel – hostel located in Panajachel. Features a swimming pool & social atmosphere, however the dorms have no fans or windows that can be opened so it can get pretty hot. They still have a 9,2/10 rating so it’s not all bad. Dorms range from 7 USD and private ones from just under 40USD.

La Iguana Perdida – hostel located in Santa Cruz. Has gorgeous views of the lake, hammocks, good vibes and yoga classes. They offer both dorms and private rooms. Dorms range from 6USD and private ones from 13USD.

Sababa Resort – hostel/hotel located in San Pedro. Despite it being a resort, the prices are not what you would normally pay for a resort. They offer both dorms (from 30USD) and private rooms (from 120USD), all the rooms are super cute. So is the pool and the whole outdoor area . The only con here would be that it has more of a hotel vibe, so it might not be a great option for solo travellers that are looking to meet new people. But you could still stay there for a night or two just to enjoy the pool & the views

Hotel Hospedaje El Viajero – hotel located in Panajachel. Nothing fancy but has everything you need. They have a cute garden area and private rooms ranging from 15USD.

4. Tikal

In the depths of the Guatemalan rainforests you will find the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal. These now ancient ruins, used to be one of the major sites of the Maya civilization in the 8th century BC. As you make your way through the jungle, you will discover many temples, squares and palaces. The stunning nature as well as seeing the monkeys and parrots just roaming around, really adds to the experience. It really feels as if you’re in an Indiana Jones movie. The view from the top of the 65m high Temple IV, where you have views of the jungle as far as you can see, is truly something you will never forget. Seeing the sunset from up there was one of the most amazing experience of my life. Since the Tikal ruins are less accessible than other Mayan ruins in Central America, they tend to be less crowded than sites like Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Copán ruins in Honduras.

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Practical info for visiting Tikal

The entrance fee is 150 GTQ (19 USD) and must be paid in cash, foreign currency and credit cards are not accepted. This is apart from whatever you might pay to your guide or for transportation. I would strongly recommend having a guide, both to get to know a little bit of the history and simply to make sure you don’t miss anything important. And to not get lost. Although Tikal is magical, you definitely don’t wanna get lost there. I imagine it’s a lot more creepy than it is magical once it gets dark Maybe I’m just good at getting list, there certainly are paths and signs, but I feel like I could have easily gotten lost somewhere in all this jungle.

Where to stay when visiting Tikal

When it comes to where to stay, you basically have two option – staying close to the ruins or in Flores.

If you want to stay close to the ruins, Jaguar Inn is the only option. This is something I would only recommend if you are planning to be in Tikal for sunrise, as it will allow you to sleep in a little more and just have a more hassle free morning. The downside, however, is that you are really limited in your options for food and activities, since there is really nothing else there.

Your other option is to stay in the small city of Flores, which is known as the gateway to the Tikal ruins. Once in Flores, it’s easy to book a day trip to Tikal, you can either do so at the front desk of your hostel/hotel or from one of the many tour operators you will find on every corner. Flores is a man-made island roughly a 1,5 hour drive away from the ruins. Even though it’s classified as an island, it’s not really an island in the sense that you can actually drive there. But it’s certainly surrounded by water, apart from that one road, so I guess it’s almost an island?

While the only reason Flores is on people’s radar is its proximity to Tikal, it could be a destination on it’s own. It’s small but very beautiful, filled with cute and colourful buildings and cobblestone streets. Flores also features stunning sunset views, make sure to visit Sky Bar for the best view of the sunset!
My hostel recommendation for Flores would be this one – it has AC, a pool with a stunning view and a bar in the pool – need I say more? I would even add a day or two to my trip just to chill at the pool

5. Semuc Champey

Semuc Champey is the name of crystal blue natural pools surrounded by incredible green scenery. Semuc Champey means “where the river hides under the stones”, and that’s exactly what it is. It’s a 300m long natural limestone bridge, under which flows the Cahabón river. Over time, those natural pools have formed on top of these bridges. I’m not quite sure how this all comes together, but apparently this is how it happened

Located in central Guatemala, and I mean deep in the middle of the Guatemala jungle. As such, it’s not easily accessible. In fact, it’s a bumpy ride on what can only be described as a seeming endless road through unpaved dirt roads. Seemingly endless, in this case, means about 10-12 hour drive, depending on the conditions and where in Guatemala you’re coming from. But even so, it’s the most visited place in Guatemala, so definitely don’t let that stop you It will all be worth it once you are swimming in the turquoise blue water in the middle of the jungle!

What to bring & things to know when visiting Semuc Champey

First of all, make sure to bring a little cash to buy drinks and fruits from the local vendors. There is no food sold inside the park, so bring snacks or buy some food at the entrance. The entrance fee is 50 GTQ (6,5USD). You should also bring plenty of water, preferably in an insulated water bottle since those will keep it nice and cold, which, lets face it, is much nicer than drinking boiling hot water from a plastic bottle. If you plan to hike up to the viewpoint (and I think you should ) the hike is not flip flop friendly, so wear some sneakers. And of course bring a bathing suit & a camera!

There is really no need to hire a guide, as exploring the area is really straight forward. It’s open every day from 8am to 4pm, I would suggest being there as soon as it opens in order to avoid the crowds. Once you enter, you have two paths to choose from. One will take you to the viewpoint (mirador in Spanish), which is where you’ll have stunning panoramic views of the Semuc Champey and the surrounding mountains. A 40-50 minute hike through the jungle will get you to the viewpoint. I’d suggest to start with that, and then go back and take the other path that will lead you to the pools. You will probably feel like cooling down after the hike, and luckily, swimming is allowed in the pools, for the most part. The areas where swimming is save and allowed are market with signs.

It’s worth noting that during the rainy season (roughly from May to October) it happens that Semuc Champey floods and therefore visitors are not allowed. This usually only lasts for a few days.

Where to stay when visiting Semuc Champey

The shuttle/bus will drop you off in the nearby town Lanquin, which is the closest town to Semuc Champey, located 11km away. As tends to be the case with places that are seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the accommodation options aren’t very fancy, but I’ll list some of the better ones.

The first option is to stay in Lanquin, there isn’t a a lot to this town, but you have a few restaurants and a supermarket. From there it’s easy to get a bus or a shuttle to Semuc Champey, which are available throughout the day. Lanquin is very small, perhaps better described as tiny.

El Muro Lanquin – a pretty basic hotel but does the job. Private rooms from about 28USD

Vinas Hotel – Located about 5 minutes from the center of Lanquin, has a pool & a nice outdoor area. Private rooms range from about 22USD a night.

Your other option would be to stay in one of the accommodations located closer to Semuc Champey. This means that you will be staying in the jungle, not in an actual town, and as such will have to depend entirely on your accommodation for meals. Hence, you might be limited in terms of options, and prices will be higher.

Utopia Eco Hotel – located 3,5km from Semuc Champey, offering gorgeous views of the jungle. Prices range from 30USD for a private room.

Hostal El Portal – ideally located next to Semuc Champey. This hostel is very affordable, offering dorms from just about 10USD. They even have a pool, which of course is surrounded by beautiful greenery.

I hope these 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala have inspired you to visit this magical country. If you want some more Guatemala inspiration – I highly recommend a movie called “Guatemala” on Netflix!

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If you are planning your first backpacking trip, you might also want to read these 14 tips to staying safe while traveling. These are things I’ve slowly learned through my travels, and are applicable around the world.

You can consider this your beginners backpacking guide – your backpacking 101. So if you are planning your first backpacking trip, or if you simply feel that you haven’t really mastered the art of backpacking just yet, this post is for you. Now let’s get into some of the common mistakes to avoid when backpacking!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Bringing too much stuff

Be very selective about the things you bring, especially clothes. It can be tempting to pack every piece of clothing you feel like you might possibly wear – been there, not a great idea Eventually you will just be dragging around extra weight and you’ll have a harder time finding the stuff you are actually using. You probably don’t need to bring that t-shirt you haven’t worn for a year. Nor do you need to pack multiple pairs of sneakers just because you can’t choose one. 

There is also no need to be carrying huge bottles of shampoo, conditioner or any types of toiletries, so go ahead and put those into smaller travel-sized bottles. You will be carrying your backpack through airports, to and from bus stops, what have you – so believe me when I tell you that you want it to be as light as possible. 

Planning too much in advance

Unless you are traveling during easters, christmas, or other public holidays when things tend to get busy – there is no point in having accommodations lined up weeks or months in advance. You can book hostels from your phone in a matter of seconds through the Booking, Agoda and Hostelworld apps.

You might also like: How to choose a hostel

This especially goes for booking hostels in places where you haven’t been before. Let’s say you are planning a trip to Colombia. You can’t possibly know in advance if you will only want to spend two days in Cartagena, or if you will love it (like I did) and want to spend three weeks there. So lining up accommodations in advance is essentially just guessing how long you want to stay in each place, instead of deciding when you’re already there. You also might meet people that are planning to do something really cool and you’d love to join, but oh, since you have already booked all your accommodations for the next three months, you don’t really have the flexibility to join them.

In my experience – you don’t really gain anything from booking and planning every little thing far in advance. But you lose is the ability to go with the flow and go on spontaneous adventures, which for me, is what backpacking is all about.

Bringing the wrong type of backpack

This is one of the common mistakes to avoid when backpacking! You will want to travel with a backpack that opens like a suitcase, not one that only opens at the top. Why? 
Picture this: You have been laying on the beach and eating tacos for three weeks, and have now decided that you would like to change that. So you need to find that one set of workout clothes that you’re pretty sure you brought, and are probably sitting somewhere at the bottom of your backpack at this point. You will most likely end up having to empty your backpack to find it, oh and then put everything back in. This can of course apply to just about anything, not just workout clothes :))

What I’m saying is that you do not want to travel with a backpack that only opens at the top, you want to bring one that opens like a regular suitcase.
This is the backpack I’ve been using ever since my second backpacking trip. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a backpack for their next trip – it’s super convenient to travel with. It does indeed open like a suitcase, and the straps can be zipped away which is important when bringing it on a flight or on a bus, preventing them from getting dirty when thrown around by airline staff or when loaded on a bus. It also has a side handle so it’s easy to carry around even when the straps are zipped away.

Traveling too fast

This is a very common beginners mistake. I get that you want to see as much as possible during the time you have, so it might be tempting to squeeze in as many places as you possibly can. Visiting three countries in a month may seem like a great idea at first glance, but what you will discover is that running from city to city, from one attraction to another, will quickly become exhausting. A part from becoming tiring very fast, the biggest disadvantage of traveling too fast is that you won’t really get to know a place. Yeah you might tick lots of countries off your list and snap a photo or two in front of the main attractions, but you won’t really experience the countries and their culture. 

You might end up spending half your time on busses or trains, which lets face it, is just not very pleasant way to spend the day. It will also be more expensive because you’ll be getting on some sort of transport every few days. You will also find yourself taking flights instead of a bus or train to save time, but will of course cost much more. Instead of enjoying exploring and taking in the culture, you’ll end up running around trying to stick to your packed schedule.

If you are planning backpacking trip, you might also want to read these posts:

• How to choose a hostel
• How to save money while traveling
• 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

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