Travels in Belize - Part 4

Some resorts touting that you’ll get away from it all mean it literally, in a good way. And that would define the Margaritaville Beach Resort Ambergris Caye in Belize. Once your shuttle boat docks at its pier, you won’t find any other resorts, restaurants or bars nearby. But you will find a low-key, informal vibe on a property that’s huddled in a tropical verdancy. Find out more about this resort in my latest article for ForbesLife.

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Travels in Belize - Part 3

The Matachica Resort in Belize is a luxe resort that’s calm, vibrant and unpretentious. There are plenty of places to lounge, indoors and outside, including under an umbrella along the pier.

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Travels in Belize - Part 1

No matter where I travel, I try to capture the sunrise — a special time for me. This is the Margaritaville Beach Resort on Ambergris Cay in Belize.

I also lingered on the beach for the sunset when the clouds took on a dramatic quality.

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Photos: Guatemala

Mayan ruins pepper much of Guatemala's expanse, with the National Park

of Tikal, 

a UNESCO World Heritage Site from 900 BC, probably the most famous. 

This is an immense site that requires an entire day to explore if you want to 

check out all of the structures. You’ll likely hear or see howler monkeys 

skittering about the jungle as you stroll Tikal.

Another ruin is Kaminaljuyu or Valley of the Dead

is just two miles from the city center. This site in unique because of its

display of elaborate adobe architecture, including funerary chambers. But

perhaps the most unusual or unexpected is Quirigua, which is a site showing off

tall stone carvings (stelas) rather than grand pyramids that are more than

1,000 years old.

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Guatemala In Picture

Mayan ruins pepper much of Guatemala's expanse, with Tikal probably the most famous. Each of my explorations was a day trip from Guatemala City, including Quirigua, two hours away but worth the it for the magnificent stelae displayed at this site. Mayan ruins, such as  Kaminaljuyu or Valley of the Dead, are even scattered around the country's capital city. This short YouTube video slideshow  provides a snapshot of my adventures.

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An Eco-Conscious Coffee Plantation in Mexico

Whenever I walk into a Starbucks - which is as infrequent as possible - I often wonder why they can't make a good cup of coffee. (Obviously, I'm in the minority considering their huge sales figures and the number of stores that pop up on every other corner in Manhattan where customers flock to the counter for high-fat frappuccinos and overly sweet caramel macchiatos.) But, as a coffee lover, I'm always determined to find the perfect cup. So, it was to my delight when I spent several days at the Argovia Finca Resort, a sustainable and organic coffee plantation in the mountains of Mexico's Chiapas province.

I just wrote about my stay at Argovia for National Geographic Traveler - Intelligent Travel. After reading this, you'll never wonder again what makes a great cup of coffee. (It takes a lot of care, work, knowledge, and thoughtfulness, qualities that are in abundance at this coffee plantation.)

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