costa_rica_jim_isla_tortuga (Photo credit: khage)

Isla Tortuga is a beautiful tropical island located in the province of North Puntarenas. A favorite destination for many tourists, cruises are very popular for those who wish to visit the island from other cities in the country.

The peaceful Isla Tortuga is situated just off the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, which is home to a number of indigenous Tico villages, pristine beaches, and beautiful wildlife reserves and refuges.

Visitors to the island will immediately be struck by the abundance of coconut palm trees, white sand beaches and emerald waters that are perfect sites for a relaxing vacation. Many tour operators can bring travelers to Isla Tortuga from cities such as Jaco or Puntarenas. These trips, which take about 90 minutes, offer breathtaking views and an up-close view of the marine wildlife found in Costa Rica.

Upon arriving on the island, travelers can spend the day enjoying a wide variety of recreational activities, including swimming, hiking in the hills, playing volleyball on the beach, or simply relaxing and sunbathing on the shore. Adventure travelers are encouraged to take part in canopy tours and zip lines that will provide birds-eye views of the island and its lush forests. On the water, kayaking and taking a ride on a glass-bottom boat are other popular activities among tourists at Isla Tortuga.

Snorkeling and scuba diving are perhaps the biggest attractions on the island. By partaking in these exciting adventures, travelers will have the opportunity to view a wide variety of marine life, including sting rays, angel fish, spinner dolphins, octopus and even sharks. Scuba divers can also get an up-close look at the site’s three sunken ships, which is one of Central America‘s unique dive sites.

By spending some time on Isla Tortuga, travelers on a Costa Rica vacation will have an opportunity to experience life away from the bustling city and truly connect with their natural surroundings. With the island just a short trip away from the mainland, an escape to Isla Tortuga may just be the perfect way for vacationers to spend a few days in the sun.

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COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Bermuda is a British overseas territory with a stable democracy and developed economy. Tourist facilities are widely available. Read the Department of State’s Background Notes on Bermuda for additional information.
SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP)/EMBASSY LOCATION:
If you are going to live in or visit Bermuda please take the time to tell our Embassy or Consulate about your trip. If you enroll, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. It will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency.Here is the link to the Department of State’s travel registration page.
Local Consulate information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.
American Consulate General Hamilton
16 Middle Road
Devonshire DV 03
Bermuda
Telephone: 441 295-1342
Emergency after-hours telephone: 441 335-3828
Facsimile: 441 295-1592

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ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. CITIZENS:
All persons travelling between the United States and Bermuda are required to present a passport to enter Bermuda or re-enter the United States. Travelers with questions concerning travel to Bermuda may contact the British Embassy in Washington DC or any one of the British Consulate Generals across the U.S. Visit the British Embassy website for the most current visa information.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Bermuda.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.
SAFETY AND SECURITY:
Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook as well..
You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
Take some time before travel to improve your personal security—things are not the same everywhere as they are in the United States. Here are some useful tips for traveling safely abroad.
CRIME:
Bermuda has a moderate but growing crime rate. Recent crime statistics can be viewed at the official website of the Bermuda Police Service. Examples of common crimes include theft of unattended baggage and items from rental motorbikes, purse snatching (often perpetrated by thieves riding motorbikes), mugging, and theft from unsecured hotel rooms. Valuables left in hotel rooms or left unattended in public areas are vulnerable to theft. Criminals often target visitors on rental motorbikes and at popular tourist attractions.
The back streets of the city of Hamilton are often the setting for nighttime assaults, particularly late at night after the bars close. Travelers should exercise caution when walking after dark or visiting out-of-the-way places on the island as they can be vulnerable to theft and assault, and because narrow and dark roadways can contribute to accidents. In the past, there have been reports of sexual assault and acquaintance rape and occasional use of “date rape” drugs.
Travelers should note an increase in gang presence and illegal drug activity in Bermuda. There have been no reports of gang violence targeted towards visitors to Bermuda, although gunfire between gang members has occurred throughout the island
Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, you may be breaking local law too.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:
If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates ). If your passport is stolen we can help you replace it. For violent crimes such as assault and rape, we can, for example, help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and help you get money from them if you need it. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. Although Bermuda does not have a formalized Victims of Crime program, there is a Criminal Injuries Compensation Board c/o The Supreme Court, 113 Front Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda. Tel; (441) 292-1350 Fax: (441)292-2268.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Bermuda is 911.
Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES:
While you are traveling in Bermuda, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, For example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Bermuda, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.
Bermuda has zero tolerance for possession or importation of controlled substances, and possession or importation of dangerous weapons including stun guns and pepper spray. Violations have resulted in fines and prison sentences. Cruise ships and cruise ship passengers visiting Bermuda are searched by Bermuda Customs officials and persons with controlled substances are fined, imprisoned and/or not allowed to re-board the ship.
Recent changes to Bermuda’s laws allow police to require DNA testing for certain criminal offenses.
If you are arrested in Bermuda, authorities of Bermuda are required to alert the U.S. Consulate in Hamilton of your arrest. If you are concerned that the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should request the police to notify the U.S. Consulate General in Hamilton of your arrest.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against taking any type of firearm, ammunition or component of a firearm into Bermuda. Entering Bermuda with a firearm, some bladed instruments or even a single round of ammunition or ammunition magazine is illegal, even if the weapon or ammunition is taken into the country unintentionally. Pepper sprays and stun guns are considered dangerous weapons in Bermuda and are illegal. The Bermudian Government strictly enforces its laws restricting the entry of weapons and ammunition. Permission to import or own a gun in Bermuda must be sought in advance from the Bermuda Police Service. Any privately owned firearms must be secured at Bermuda Police Headquarters. Violations may result in arrests, convictions and potentially long prison sentences.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
Adequate medical care is available for routine procedures, though extremely expensive. The hospital performs general surgery and has an intensive care unit. Serious or complex medical problems will likely require medical evacuation to the United States. Most Bermudian health care providers including the local hospital do not accept overseas insurance and will expect payment at the time of service.
You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.
MEDICAL INSURANCE:
You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:
Does my policy apply when I’m outside the United States?
Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation?
In Bermuda, places, doctors and hospitals expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
While in Bermuda you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Traffic in Bermuda moves on the left side and the roads are very narrow, often with no defined shoulder. The maximum speed in the city of Hamilton is 25 kph (15mph) and 35 kph (21 mph) on the rest of the island. Under Bermudian law, non residents are not allowed to own, rent or drive four-wheeled vehicles. Non residents must rely on taxis, the local bus system or rented motorbikes. Traffic is moderately heavy. Road accidents – particularly involving motorbikes — are common and can result in serious injuries or death.
Rental motorbikes are readily available, and the required helmet is provided. However, visitors should carefully consider whether or not it is worth the risk to ride a motorbike. Motorbikes provide the greatest road peril in Bermuda; local operators tend to abuse the speed limit and they will often pass on the left or right side with no warning. Those unfamiliar with driving on the left side are likely to find the roundabouts and regulations for yielding at junctions confusing and dangerous. In addition, vehicles often stop on the side of the road, blocking one lane of traffic. Main roads, while generally in good condition, are extremely narrow and tend to be bordered by heavy vegetation or stone walls. Taxis are readily available. The local bus system, serves the length of the island and stops close to most beaches, hotels, the downtown shopping area and other points of interest. In addition, water ferry service to a variety of stops around the island is available seven days a week and is a very safe and enjoyable mode of transportation.
For specific information concerning Bermuda’s drivers permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Bermuda Department of Tourism offices at 310 Madison Avenue, Suite 201, New York, NY Tel: (212)_818-9800.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Also, we suggest that you visit the website of the country’s national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Bermuda’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Bermuda’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
CHILDREN’S ISSUES:
Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.

taken from: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1067.html

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Lake Chapala is the largest natural lake in Mexico, located 42 km south of the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. Hydrologically it belongs to the Rio Lerma Lago de Chapala Rio Santiago drainage system, one of the most important in Mexico. The main tributary R. Lerma supplies almost half of the water input, while the R. Santiago drains the lake water to the Pacific Ocean.

This region, the Mesa Central Region, is a highly unstable geological zone. The lake forms part of an east west oriented graben which is a Tertiary lake system where the majority of once existed lakes are now dry or almost dry. The geological history of the lake is poorly known. It is thought that the present lake basin and the R. Santiago outflow originated in the middle Pleistocene or the late Pliocene. The original drainage was probably from the west end of the lake directly to the Pacific Ocean, but uplifting blocked that flow establishing the present R. Santiago drainage. Terraces provide evidence of lake water level variation due to climatic changes during the Pleistocene.

The catchment area is large as compared with the lake area, amounting to 52,500 km². Sixteen percent of this area drains directly into the lake via small streams and runoff, while the remainder belongs to the watershed of R. Lerma. The climate is moderate, tropical and sub-humid with a single summer rainy season. Winter rains are less than 5% of the annual precipitation. Average annual evaporation (1,910 mm) greatly exceeds annual precipitation (781 mm in average). Principal uses of the lake are irrigation, tourism, recreation and fisheries. In addition, it is the main water source for Guadalajara City with a population in excess of 4.5 million. The city used 2.108 X 10⁸ m³ of water in 1986, and water demands are increasing at a rate of 4% per year owing to urban, agricultural and industrial development.

Principal industries in the lake’s drainage basin are chemical, petrochemical and food processing. However, 93% of the water consumption in the basin are for agriculture. Predominantly untreated wastewaters are released to the R. Lerma. In the lower part of the river near the lake, much of the organic loading comes from pig farms.

taken from: http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/nam/nam-59.html

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Falmouth, capital of the Parish of Trelawny, is situated on Jamaica’s north coast near Montego Bay.

Founded by Thomas Reid in 1769, Falmouth flourished as a county seat and market center for the Parish of Trelawny for forty years. Jamaica had become the world’s leading sugar producer. The town was named after the birthplace of His Excellency Sir William Trelawny, Falmouth, Cornwall, England, and is noted for being one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved historic towns.

Falmouth compares well with Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia in the United States. Falmouth was meticulously planned from the start, with wide streets in a regular grid, adequate water supply, and public buildings. Interestingly, Falmouth received piped water before New York City.

During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Falmouth was one of the busiest ports in Jamaica. It was home to masons, carpenters, tavern-keepers, mariners, planters and others. It was a wealthy town in a wealthy parish with a rich racial mix. This was the heyday of King Sugar. Within the parish, nearly one hundred plantations were actively manufacturing sugar and rum for export to England. Jamaica had become the world’s leading sugar producer. In Falmouth Harbor as many as 30 tall-ships could be seen on any given day, delivering goods and slaves, and loading their holds with rum and sugar manufactured on nearby plantations.

Starting in 1840, Falmouth’s post-emancipation fortunes as a commercial center declined. This decline and lack of support for development has left many of its early buildings standing. The streets are lined with many small houses known for their unique fretwork and windows, major merchant and planter complexes, and commercial buildings, all dating from 1790 to 1840.

While Falmouth saw little commercial advancement after the 1840’s, houses continued to be built. The town’s buildings, the old and the not so old, make up the historic townscape of Falmouth. These shared characteristics weave the varied building styles into a distinctive pattern of early Jamaican architecture, and a critical mass of each variety makes the town an unusually distinctive place.

Within the Falmouth Historic District lies the largest intact collection of Georgian buildings – unparalleled in the entire Caribbean. There survive many small houses known for their unique gingerbread fretwork and jalousie windows, major merchant and planter complexes, and commercial buildings, all dating from 1769 to 1840.

Market Street is lined with the largest coherent group of colonnaded commercial buildings in Jamaica. This contrasts dramatically with Falmouth’s residential areas, where rich and poor lived close to one another in a common pre-industrial manner. As a result, there are small wooden houses and brick Georgian mansions scattered throughout what is now officially designated as the Falmouth Historic District.

Today, a visit to Falmouth is like a walk through history: every house, every corner, and every street is filled with stories of Jamaica’s rich history.

Taken from: http://www.falmouthjamaica.org/content.asp?catID=8545

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Does the decor of this ship make ANY sense? Nope. Does the layout sometimes stink? Yep. But, the service was amazing from everyone and we had a fantastic time.

I should point out that I am not an experienced cruiser, having only gone on two cruises and both have been with Carnival. This trip was taken with my mom and my sister and we stayed in an interior room on deck 1. I am 26, in grad school, and I work in the social work field, so I have little money for cruising and I am not used to , nor do I really expect, extreme extravagance when I travel. That being said, my review of the Freedom:

DECOR

It seriously doesn’t fit together across the board. From the dark snakeskin prints on the walls in the restaurants, to the squiggly colored lines on the ceiling and glass panels in the stairwells and the random paintings of animals in the stairwells, I have no idea what they were really thinking. I felt like each room had a theme that was decent, but there was definitely nothing holding the decor of the whole ship together. That being said, I kind of like the “vegas” styling of Carnival ships, so it didn’t really bother me.

LAYOUT

By the third day, we had it figured out to which deck we needed to walk on and what elevator to take to get places. For example, we were on Deck 1 and the Chic Dining Room was on deck 3 and 4, BUT you need to get forward of the dining room to get to the desk (if you come up from the aft area of the ship, you have to walk through the entire dining room to get to the front desk). So, from deck 1, you have to walk all the way forward, go up to deck 3, and cross back through the lobby to get to the dining room. Heaven forbid you are on deck 4 and trying to get to the dining room because then you either go down to deck 2 and walk forward, go up to deck 3 then back through the lobby, or you have to go up to deck 6, walk forward, then down to deck 3 and back through the lobby. Was this the end of the world? No, it just takes some getting used to. My husband and I sailed on Carnival Legend last year which does NOT have this same issue.

SERENITY

I love kids, but I don’t have any yet for a reason and I don’t personally want to listen to other people’s kids all the time. So, serenity is a great escape from children with wonderfully padded lounge chairs, couches, hammocks, and whirlpools.

LED SCREEN

I was concerned this was going to be too noisy and just annoying, but it turned out to mainly be a waist of space. Most of the time, they just show a looped video of different ports that this ship sails to. Sometimes they played concerts like Sheryl Crow or Journey. The only time I found the screen useful was for watching Sunday and Monday night football. Does it really get better than watching football from a hot tub in the middle of the Caribbean? I don’t think so.

FOOD

I thought the food was great. The Wok at Lido was delicious, but expect a line as they cook all food to order. Fish and chips at the Lido was also very tasty and the pizza at the pizza grill was delicious (except the goat cheese one which my mom tried and wasn’t a huge fan of). We did anytime dining and felt that the food in the main dining room was delicious every night. We also went to the steakhouse, which was a fun treat and definitely worth the $30 per person charge. The only thing that needs improvement is breakfast. There is a really wide variety of food to choose from and the fresh fruit was really good, but oftentimes the french toast or eggs aren’t that hot and are more so just warm. If that offends you, you can go to the main dining room for breakfast and all will be served piping hot.

SERVICE

We had phenomenal service this cruise. Everyone is so helpful and they are always willing to do whatever it takes to help make you happy. Our waiters would bring you whatever you asked for, even when you request three starters and two main courses, without batting an eye. The individuals who cleaned our room were great too. We got towel animals every night, which just make me smile. One night after having gone to the towel folding demonstration, we were in the hallway and had mentioned that we wanted to see a monkey. Sure enough, that night the steward had made a monkey hanging from the ceiling for us.

SHOWS

The comedians were hilarious. I can’t speak to the family friendly shows as we didn’t go to those, but we went to all the adult shows and they were really great. The shows in the main show lounge are not my thing. I did showchoir back in high school (synchronized signing and intense dancing) and I always feel like I am at a high school showchoir competition at those shows. However, my husband loved them on Legend, so we watched them. On Freedom, my mom and sister (who also did showchoir) felt the same way as I did. Don’t get me wrong, they are very talented dancers and singers and the music is great, but it’s just not my thing.

GYM

Don’t ask why, but I love to work out, even on vacation. The gym here is really nice overall. There are free weights, plenty of elipticals and treadmills, and some stationary weight machines. My big issue was that there are no straight bars for doing things like squats or lunges, nor is there a Smith machine. So I had to come up with new ways to do those with free weights.

CABIN

As stated, we were in an interior. It was pretty spacious, all things considered. My only complaint was that the mattress in the upper (the third bed that comes down from the ceiling) was not very comfortable. Otherwise, it was fine. We had a balcony room last time and I missed having a couch in the interior room. All the interior room has is a chair, but oh well. You don’t spend much time in the room anyhow.

OVERALL

Overall, we had a fantastic time. Our service was wonderful, the food was tasty, and we had a lot of fun. I would recommend Carnival to anyone.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=89936

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Aruba Restaurants, Activities, Tours, Shopping, Real Estate, Hotels, Diving, Fishing and more!

Welcome to Aruba!

Aruba is located in the very heart of the southern Caribbean, a 2 ½ hour flight from Miami and about 15 miles north of Venezuela. 

One of the Caribbean’s most popular island destinations, Aruba is at once breathtakingly serene and dramatically rugged at the same time. Sheltered from the Atlantic’s vicious currents and pounding waves, Aruba’s southern and western coasts are famous for their pristine white beaches framed by swaying palm trees. The beaches here are among the world’s best, and there are literally dozens to choose from. They’re surrounded by tranquil turquoise seas which plunge to 100 feet in some areas, and they provide remarkable visibility for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. 

In particular, Hadikurari Beach, located a little south of the lighthouse near the northwestern tip of Aruba, is known for terrific snorkeling. Those looking for exceptionally calm waters will enjoy Palm Beach, located alongside the island’s collection of high-rise hotels and casinos. Eagle Beach is another highly popular beach, especially with locals. It’s a beautiful picnic spot with plenty of shaded areas. Baby Beach is a great choice for families with children or for those who are not strong swimmers. The calm, shallow waters can be easily explored, and stunning coral can be seen in the channel. Most of the island’s best hotels are located on the islands northwestern coast. 

On the other side of the island, the northeastern coast along the Atlanta Ocean does not enjoy this same protection from the elements, and they are routinely battered by heavy seas and thunderous waves. However, the incessant waves here carve out fascinating rock formations such as the famous coral Natural Bridge, most of which unfortunately collapsed in late 2005. There are plenty of other formations to explore, though, and due to the fact that this part of the island is exposed harsher conditions, it’s quite undeveloped. 

In between these two coasts lies an exceptionally flat terrain which has often been likened to a Martian landscape. The air is dry and arid, and the landscape is dotted with cacti as well the wind-bent divi-divi trees. Hidden coves, winding roads and huge piles of boulders beckon to the more adventurous tourist who wants to get off the beachy path. Aruba is the perfect size for those who want to explore all that the island has to offer – at 19.6 miles long and six miles across at its widest point, the island total size is only 70 square miles. To the east of Aruba are Bonaire and Curaçao, two island territories which form the southwest part of the Netherlands Antilles; Aruba and these two Netherlands Antilles islands are sometimes called the ABC islands.

Unlike most of the Caribbean islands, Aruba has a dry, arid climate, and constant trade winds help produce year-round temperatures which hover around 82 degrees. Since Aruba is virtually flat, these trade winds easily blow across the island and do not allow any moisture to collect. In fact, less than twenty inches of rain fall on the island each year, usually in late autumn. Aruba is fortunate to lie just outside of the hurricane belt, and serious storms are a rarity. 

An island of approximately 120,000 people, Aruba heavily depends on tourism; 70% of its gross domestic product is created by the thousands of visitors who flock to the island every year. About 730,000 visitors come to Aruba every year, as well as another 550,000 cruise ship passengers, 70% of which are from the United States. Venezuelans make up a large number of the remaining visitors. Aruba is fortunate to have one of the Caribbean region’s highest standards of living, as well as the lowest crime rate. Poverty and unemployment are both low, making the island a safe and enjoyable tourist destination. Together, the State of the Netherlands, the State of the Netherlands Antilles, and the State of Aruba form a Commonwealth. Linguistically, Aruba is dominated by a language called Papiamento, which is a mix of Dutch, African dialects, Portugese, Spanish and English. Dutch is the island’s second official language, though Spanish is also often used. English is known by many of the island’s inhabitants as well, especially those closely connected to the tourism industry. 

Visitors and locals alike never have a shortage of things to see and do on Aruba. Those looking for activities after dark are happy to discover that the island is well-known for its exciting nightlife, fine dining and eleven flashy casinos, some of which are open around the clock. Gourmands speak highly of Aruba’s restaurants with cuisines ranging from Indonesian to French to Japanese. Numerous dance-clubs, Vegas-inspired shows and dinner/party cruises provide endless options for energetic night owls. 

Some of the best parts of Aruba, however, are best enjoyed during the day, when visitors can tour the island’s fascinating cultural history. A Dutch colony since 1636, Aruba became an independent state in 1986. Walking tours provide an excellent overview of the island as well as insight into Aruba’s distant and more recent past. Aruba’s capital city is Oranjestad, located on the southern coast on the island’s western edge. Here, visitors can get a taste of Aruba’s Dutch history as they explore Fort Zoutman‘s Museum, the island’s oldest building. The William III Tower is here as well, and the omnipresent early twentieth century Dutch architecture on quaint streets like Wilhelminastraat can be easily enjoyed on foot. Those who venture into the surrounding countryside will behold mysterious, undeciphered writings on the walls of Arikok National Park‘s caves, and the Church of Santa Anna, with its famous 115-year-old oak altar. Hikers will enjoy a climb to the top of Hooiberg, one of Aruba’s tallest mountains; on a clear day, Venezuela can be seen from the top. Other popular sites include Fontein and Quadiriki Caves and Daimari, a coconut plantation which was the site of the first gold discovery. 

All of this considered, it’s easy to see why Aruba continues to be one of the Caribbean’s most popular and well-loved islands. 

Statistics:
Size: 70 square miles (19.6 miles long and 6 miles across at the widest point).
Population: About 120,000
Main Industry: Tourism
Currency: Aruban Florin
Time Zone: Atlanta Standard Time
Average Temperature: 83 degrees Fahrenheit, year-round

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The Rancho Cascada is located 2 hours from Santo Domingo in an ecological park with an area of 184 hectares.
Tropical jungles, oranges, coffee and banana plantations, whitewater, pristine mountain landscapes, and Caribbean Sea offer adventurers the right area here.

The owner of the plant Rudolf Baumer is a specialist outdoor and realize for 8 years in the Dominican Republic committed to sustainable tourism projects.
The Rancho Cascada offers as Ökologde very nice accommodations and is also the starting point for discovery tours in the tropical mountains.

:: Mountain Bike Tours: more than 800 km of trails and itineraries
:: Hiking and trekking tours e.g. to 3087 m high Pico Duarte
:: Canoe and kayak tours to hiking rivers, lakes or the sea
:: Horseback riding and hiking: day rides or multi-day Outbacktour
:: Canyoning, Canyoning: Level 1 to 2 is possible, rappel up to 45 m
:: 4 X 4 tours in the national park or beach to beach

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Caught between the relentless beat of progress and the echoing shouts of tradition, the Yucatán Peninsula stands at a crossroads. On one side you have the brawny mega-resorts like Cancún and Playa del Carmen with their oft-preposterous pomp and circumstance. On the other are the proud, steadfast traditions of the Maya, the mystery of the ceremonial centers created by their ancestors, and the Old World allure of colonial masterpieces such as Mérida and Campeche. And in between, on every peroxide­-blonde beach and every patch of jungle still echoing with the roars of howler monkeys, beats the heart of Ixchel, the earth goddess, marveling at her remarkable creation.

Despite overzealous development, the natural beauty of the Yucatán abides, and with it, the reverberations of civilizations past. Set in a vast, jungle-swathed natural reserve, the pyramids of Calakmul are a prime example of nature and ancient history in perfect harmony. Far more famous and crowded – but absolutely unmissable nonetheless – are the ruins of wondrousChichén Itzá, seventh modern wonder of the world. There’s a Maya ruin nearXcalak, too, although that’s probably not the reason you’d be visiting – this tiny beach town in the middle of nowhere has another attraction: its absolute isolation from the tourist trail.

taken from: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/yucatan-peninsula

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• Off the Tourist Trail – Merida, Mexico (travelpod.com)
• On the way to Calakmul (thepickledonionyucatan.wordpress.com)
• Chichen Itza – the home of the Mayans (newsguy.co.uk)