A Day Trip To Semuc Champey

Semuc Champey is not easy to get to. It is out of the way and isolated but that’s part of its appeal. Imagine a jungle landscape with green as far as the eye can see and a beautiful turquoise natural pool in the middle.

If you’re up for a 6 hour bumpy ride into the middle of the Guatemalan jungle then I would suggest staying in Lanquin for 2 or 3 days, relaxing poolside at Zephyr Lodge and doing a day trip to Semuc Champey. I had a lot of fun wondering around the small town itself, hiking to the hill-top church and eating at the local eateries around town.

The highlight of my time in Lanquin was visiting the Kam’ba cave system during the Semuc Champey day trip and putting on my Indiana Jones hat for a couple of hours. It was so much fun and months later I have not been able to stop talking about.

Book your own local guide for your Semuc Champey tour here and read on for advice on how to get the most out of your trip and some Semuc Champey safety tips.

Semuc Champey Day Trip

All of the hotels and hostels in the area will offer a tour to Semuc Champey. It’s really your reason for visiting Lanquin and if you have the time, I recommend this as part of any Central American itinerary. Besides the main attraction of Semuc Champey, there are several other side activities that get to do on a day trip.

Cuevas de Kam'ba

At the time of my visit Zephyr Lodge had stopped offering the cave portion of the tour due to safety and theft concerns so a group of us just booked a complete tour through another hostel. Feel free to ask around but prices were all kind of similar.

One of the funnest things I have ever done in my travels was exploring the Kam'ba Caves at Semuc Chmpey and I’m so glad I took the gamble against my hostel’s warnings. It really isn’t the safest attraction and you are in the middle of the jungle in Guatemala so if you decide to do this trip then I suggest you walk and swim slowly and take your time when doing some more of the riskier activities. Also when walking through some of the darker section, keep a look out for sudden drops from the roof. Watch your head, there are no helmets on this tour!

Once you enter the caves, you are given a candle to light your way. No modern flashlights here! At the entrance the guides will decorate you with war paint fresh from the walls of the cave so it’s a good idea to be nice so you don’t end up with a moustache! Our guide joked it was bat poop but I chose to pretend it was something else.

I was quickly submerged in the cold cave water as we started the two-hour trek into the cave system. This wasn’t my favourite part as I don’t like the cold but I soon forgot about my discomfort when we got to our first adventure. Climbing a wood and rope ladder contraption that looked as old as the caves, one-handed, while trying to keep the candle away in the other hand.

There were a few spots where I actually had to swim through the cave when I couldn’t touch the bottom but luckily there was usually a rope to guide us along. These parts where I was fully submerged is where I got the majority of my bumps and scrapes from the stalagmites poking out from the bottom.

For the extra adventurous, there was an opportunity to scale up a rock face and dive into a deep pool below. I tried my best but I couldn’t get my little legs up there to even attempt the jump. I had also had more than my fair share of Guatemalan tostadas by then so I wasn’t in the best shape.

Halfway through I got to try the most challenging thing I had done in weeks, climbing up a mini waterfall by rope. With my candle down my bikini bottoms for safe keeping I had to scale a small cliff with water rushing into my face while looking out for the best foot holds. This was super fun and super scary. If this is too much for you, there is a slightly less challenging rope ladder that you can climb off to the side to help you get up away from the waterfall.

Towards the end of the trek you get to slide down a natural waterslide through a waterfall into a dark cavern. One of the guides stayed at the top to show you where to slide and one was down below to make sure you landed safely.

The cave tour was honestly worth the 6-hour ride to get to Semuc Champey on its own and its something I would do again in a heartbeat. My friend and I kept talking about how much fun we were having and that we wished we could stay longer. You don’t get much more fun and adventurous than this.

River tubing, bridge jumps and a rope swing

Once you’re out of the cave it’s time to relax. You can look forward to floating gently down the Cahabón River with a beer in your hand and a huge grin on your face. But first I was invited to try out the rope swing into the river. This one hurts if you don't land perfectly straight! Tuck your legs in while you’re swinging and make sure to let go at the end as it won’t be pretty.

Once we had floated all the way down to the rickety old bridge and had climbed out, we were invited to do one last jump - off the 10-metre high bridge into the river below. I had had enough adventure for one day and lunch was calling my name so I just watched the brave souls jump in and then struggle to swim back to shore in the current. What an exhausting morning!

Semuc Champey

After lunch, we walked across the bridge and entered the park of Semuc Champey. At this point you can just head straight to the main attraction and just relax or you can opt to do the one hour long hike to get to the view point so you can see the whole effect of these beautiful natural pools. Hiking through the jungle covered in war paint and a bikini is one thing I never imagined I would do but there I was, living the dream!

It’s a muddy hike up and very steep but once you’re up there it’s really quite breathtaking. Once you’re down you can pack away anything you don’t want to get lost in the lockers provided and can finally jump into the pools!

Semuc Champey consists of a natural 300 metre long limestone bridge, under which passes the Cahabón River. Atop the bridge is a series of stepped, turquoise pools that are perfect for exploring. My guide took us to some of the more impressive parts of the pools including showing us where we could safely jump from and the hidden mini caves including one that you needed to swim underwater to get to.

Semuc Champey is really beautiful and my photos don’t do the pools any justice. If you’re in Guatemala I really hope you don’t miss this trip.

Where to stay

I stayed at Zephyr Lodge. Zephyr is a great place to stay in Lanquin but does have its downsides. If you have the budget, their private rooms are great and include your own balcony overlooking the jungle. The dorms are hit and miss. Comfortable beds but the dorms located near the bar are noisy at night until the party dies down. The shared showers have their own individual view of the jungle which is kind of cool as do some of the toilets. Everything is very clean and well maintained.

The infinity pool is really the attraction here. The pool has a stunning backdrop and a swim up bar. There’s a large sun deck for perfect days relaxing by the pool with a strong drink as well as a hot tub with very restrictive opening hours. Overall I recommend Zephyr Lodge. It’s a good place to stay for a couple of days, you can relax or party and have a good place to rest your head after a long day at Semuc Champey.

You could consider staying at a hotel or hostel close to Semuc Champey. There are a few that sounded really nice and it means you can visit Semuc Champey more than once or for longer than we did on the tour. One friend recommended Utopia.

Check out TripAdvisor for some more options.

Never stayed in a hostel before? Read my posts on what to expect and your hostel packing essentials. 

Other points

• A good option is to use this as a stop over point between Tikal and Antigua.

• Most travel agencies and hostels offer a shared shuttle service to Lanquin from Flores, Antigua or Lake Atitlan. Once you’re here an onward shuttle is just as easy to find. From memory, shuttles were a bit more expensive at Zephyr so if you’re feeling up to it you could walk into town and book something from another hostel or agency.

• You don’t necessarily need a guide to just visit Semuc Champey. You can arrange a ride in town or try to hitch along the main road. Entry fee to the site is approx USD $6.

• Stay safe by sticking to groups, not venturing off the path too far and be mindful of where your putting your feet and head in the caves.

• You can pre-book a local guide for your Semuc Champey tour through Get Your Guide.

What do you think? Are Semuc Champey and the Kam'Ba caves worth the trip? Let me know in the comments below!

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Indian's Nose - Lake Atitlan

While visiting San Pedro for a few days I found out about a moderate hike to see the sunrise over the lake. San Pedro is one of the larger towns located on Lake Atitlan and is known as a party town. This doesn’t stop the travel agencies from selling volcano treks to the nearby volcano and the shorter but steeper hike to Indian’s Nose.

The Indian’s Nose viewpoint sits at at 2,863 meters looking over the pueblos of San Pedro, Santa Clara and San Marcos. Its name comes from the fact the profile of the mountain looks like a sleeping Indian with the viewpoint as its nose. The hike is 1.5 to 2 hours of a very steep climb.

While I was doing my research on how to get there and whether I should do guide or no guide, I found out about an expat called Matt Purvis who is a geologist and runs specialist tours up to the lookout and around the area. Matt has a B.S.c. in Geology and an M.S.c. in The Science of Natural Hazards and the selling point of his tour is that you can learn all about how the area was formed and the unique history that makes up the region.

You can do this hike at any time of the day but the most rewarding time is early in the morning so you can see the sunrise. Worthy goal but we did have to get up at 3:30 am. I was more than happy to head to bed early to get some sleep but unfortunately we were staying in a bit of a party hostel. Picture me brushing my teeth in my pyjamas at 8 pm in the sink that is next to the bar declining offers for “just one more drink!"

I managed to convince one of my new travel friends, Laura, to do the hike with me but had some trouble waking her up the next morning. Why can’t everyone be a morning person like me?

Our guide, Matt, was full of energy when he arrived, while a few of the group looked worse for wear, myself included. I had woken up feeling dreadful and wasn’t sure my stomach was going to survive the hike. I didn't know if whatever was going on in there wanted to go up or down and I think it hadn’t made its mind up yet.

The worst part was while they were feeling ill because they had stayed up partying all night, I was genuinely unwell. I didn’t want to be lumped into the hungover category! To avoid this I was determined to get up that mountain and not make a word of complaint on the hike up.

Once we had the whole group together we headed to the chicken bus stop up the steep hill in San Pedro.  Challenge #1 completed!

Challenge #2 was the chicken bus ride to the trailhead and after a few close calls, I managed to keep my small breakfast down.

The group gathered at the trailhead where Matt and his two local guides handed out flashlights. These were absolutely necessary because the trail is completely dark and quite slippery in some points.

We set off on some relatively flat terrain while navigating through the back of the town until we hit the start of the steepest hike I’ve ever done. For about an hour I climbed up the side of the mountain while simultaneously holding down my breakfast and praying that it wasn’t going to try to come out in a hurry through the other end.

I struggled to make it all the way to the top, determined to not look like a whingey baby and even tough I was one of the last people up there I was pleased to see the top. Matt and his guides has built a fire to help warm us up while we waited for the sun rise but after getting a few whiffs of the smoke I promptly threw up off the side and into the poor bushes.

The good news was I felt completely fine after that, I just wish it had happened earlier! I also got to experience the sunrise without feeling awful.

Success!

Once we had some coffee and a light breakfast and soaked in as much of the view as we could handle, Matt gathered the group together to go through his mini geology lesson.

From Indian’s Nose you can spot the 8 volcanoes of the region. Matt explained how they came to stand in a line and how Lake Atitlán was formed. He spent about 20 minutes going through the basics of volcano formation and the unique history of the region complete with diagrams and makeshift drawings in the dirt.

Lake Atitlan fills the Atitlan caldera, a huge hole in the ground caused by a massive volcanic eruption 85,000 years ago. The eruption has been named the Los Chocoyos event after the birds that now burrow nest holes into the extensive deposits.

To help bring the size of Los Chocoyos into perspective compare it with the eruption of some modern day volcanoes. When Mt. St. Helens in the US blew up in 1980, one cubic kilometre (1km3) of rock, lava and ash shot from the volcano. This seems small compared with the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines, which ejected around 10 km3 of magma, the largest in living memory.

These modern eruptions are dwarfed, however, by Los Chocoyos 85,000 years ago. A total of 270km3 of volcanic debris was thrown out of the caldera, covering Guatemala with ash and rock.

Ash from the Atitlan caldera can be found in the rock strata as far north as Florida and as far South as Panama and most of Central America would have experienced a darkening of the skies as the ash rose into the atmosphere. Crazy interesting right?

After his talk, we headed back down the mountain but via different path so we could experience a different viewpoint. We got to walk through some local maize fields and coffee plantations where one of the local guides also taught us about local medicinal practices and the interesting division of land. The parents divide the land up amongst their children and the children continue the tradition. What was once a large plot of land has now become many smaller plots.

I highly recommend hiking Indian’s Nose when you’re in the area and if you have the opportunity go through Matt! Hiking is so much more fun when you get to learn something new and unique to the area that you’re in.

“Matt Purvis
geotravelguatemala@gmail.com
+502 3168 8625”

What to take

• Definitely take a flashlight. Your guide might offer one or if you have a head torch, even better. It gets really dark on that trail.
• Wear some good shoes. Hiking shoes if you have them but anything enclosed is best. It can be slippery even just from the dew at that time in the morning so no flip flops.
• Wear layers. If you’re doing the sunrise hike then it will start off cold but that see hike will have you warmed up before you know it.
• A poncho in case of rain.
• Enough water, at least 1 litre.
• Some food for the top
• Have you ever had a tough hike that you almost couldn't finish?

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Laguna Bacalar - The Lagoon of 7 Colours

The town of Bacalar and Laguna Bacalar itself are popular amongst budget travelers and backpackers but due to its remote location and importantly, the distance from Cancun Airport, it’s one of the least touristy places you can visit this close to the Caribbean Coast of Mexico.

Gaspar Pacheco founded the town in 1545 as Salamanca de Bacalar, derived from the Mayan words ‘Bak Halal’, meaning ‘place surrounded by reeds.'

I visited Bacalar on a two week trip with my family with a goal to show them what I love about Mexico away from the margaritas and novelty sombreros of the Mexican Riviera, and the extremely cultural but sometimes chaotic neighbourhoods of Mexico City. Although there’s nothing wrong with those things, I really wanted to show them another side of Mexico.

Fun with dad and the Bacalar sign

After a three hour drive from Tulum to Bacalar, we arrived in Bacalar and were immediately greeted by the sight if the lagoon. Laguna Bacalar is called the Lagoon of 7 Colours because of the distinct blue colours that are visible throughout the lake. The water clarity is also very impressive partly due to its white limestone bottom.

The lagoon measures 43 km long and 2 km at its widest point. It is also the second largest body of freshwater in Mexico, after Lago de Chapala in Jalisco and Michoacán.

There are several restaurants and bars located on the lakefront where you can have a meal or just a drink and sit lakeside or relax on the adjacent docks. There is one public dock that is free to access and is actually a lot of fun as well.

The lake is quite shallow at the shore except where there are cenotes. This makes it great for smaller children to get in and snorkel. Just be careful when jumping in!

You can rent a variety of equipment to get out into the water, including kayaks and sailboats but the best activity is a half day tour that gets you to all the different sites on the lagoon.

Lagoon tours

There are a few tour operators in town, some private and some that work as part of a cooperative. As you explore the town you will see signs everywhere advertising lake tours so you will have your pick of operators.

Lake tours are available next to the public dock that last for two hours and cost about $280 pesos.

After doing some research and because I was with my parents, I really wanted the best day out possible so we decided to go with the more expensive tour offered by Amir AdvenTours. The tour is in English and Spanish, goes for 3.5 hours and costs $526 pesos.

After meeting the guide and boat we crossed the Channel of the Pirates to take in the coastline from the water. From here you can see the Fort and all get a better sense of the 7 colours you can see throughout the lake.

We stopped in the channel for an explanation of the history of the lagoon and a quick swim in the warm waters. Amir then took the group for a walk through the sulfur infused muddy shallows for a full body mud mask followed by a fun race through the mud that really hugged your feet and if you were’t careful you could end up face first in the muddy water.

While we scrubbed the mud off Amir prepared a feast of tropical fruits including banana, watermelon, mango and the sweetest pineapple I’ve ever had.

Amir even helped push us up the tree!

Hanging out at the stromatolites

After the snack stop we visited the “Black Cenote” which is an open cenote with a depth of about 85 meters where we got to snorkel. For the brave, Amir showed us how to do a dive after climbing the branches of a tree.

Then we visited the “Cenote Esmeralda” with a depth of 45 meters and finally the “Cenote Cocalitos” where you can see stromatolites that are known as living stones and are considered as the oldest form of life in the planet.

Finally, we visited the Island of Birds for one more swim and snorkel.

The tour includes snorkeling equipment, life jackets, fruit, snacks and drinks. There was a good balance of information and fun water activities and by the end of the tour we were pretty exhausted. I highly recommend this tour!

The Fort of San Felipe

The Fort of San Felipe Bacalar is another major attraction in this area, because in its walls, pillars and ramparts there are still traces of past battles. The fort was built in 1729 with the main purpose of preventing the attacks suffered by the population from the pirates. Interestingly the fort was also used to monitor and repell traffickers of dyewood, a highly valued precious wood back then.

During the Caste War, the Fort was used by the Spanish as a point of defense against Maya who fought to win back the village, won the war but left the fort in ruins.

Today, the Fort of San Felipe Bacalar has become a local history museum. The collection in the museum includes pieces of pre-Hispanic history, Colonial history, drawings, historic plans, beautiful murals, multimedia devices and even the skeleton of a genuine pirate of the Caribbean.

Getting in and out

Bacalar is a great stopover in between the Yucatan and Belize. If you’re coming from Cancun it is a five hour drive or three hours from Tulum. There are regular ADO bus services if you’re not driving.

With it’s clear, warm waters and tranquil town, Bacalar is a great place to visit if you want to relax while taking in the stunning views the lagoon. These never got old and while relaxing on a dock with a good book, you could really waste a day or three away.

This post is part of my Top 30 in Central America and Mexico. You can also check out some more of my favourite sites and activities in Mexico here.

Have you made it to Bacalar? Any other recommendations for the region that I missed out? Let me know in the comments below!

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Somoto Canyon

The Somoto Canyon is one of oldest rock formations in Central America and has become one of the main attractions of Northern Nicaragua. The canyon is located fifteen minutes west of the city of Somoto and is also called "the structure" or “Namancambre” by locals.

The canyon walls run for five miles where the waters from the Comali River (from Honduras) and Tapacali River join to form the extensive Coco River. The cliffs have a height between 120 and 150 meters. In the narrowest area, they are situated just five meters away from each other. Between the small holes of the rock you can spot orchids, bromeliads and cactus.

The canyon was “discovered” by geologists in 2004 and since then tourism has ramped up in this tiny almost-border town and the Nicaraguan Government has wisely made it a Protected Area.

The Somoto Canyon tour

Somoto Canyon Tours is the only independent guiding group operating sustainable tourism out of the village of Sonis in the neighbourhood of the canyon. Somoto Canyon Tours started in 2008 to develop an enterprise to assist those who live within a few kilometres of the new attraction.

You can choose a trip of a variety of lengths depending on how much of the canyon you wish to see and how adventurous you’re feeling. I did the circular route of 6 hours covering 15 kilometres. It includes hiking, sightseeing, rock scrambling, wading, floating, swimming, boating, and jumps in both Rio Tapacali and Rio Camali.

You can also swim and do a small jump in the natural swimming pool below the confluence of the Tapacali and Comali rivers that form the headwaters of the Rio Coco, the longest river in Central America. I also got to check out the fruit bat caves that are only accessible on this trip which was a special treat.

Keep in mind that the water can get quite cold especially towards the end of the tour as the canyon narrows and less sun gets in. You should be able to warm up on the boat ride and walk back. I am a giant baby when it comes to the cold and I swore I would get hyperthermia in the last 10 minutes while floating downstream but I managed to survive until I got back into the sun and defrosted in our short hike back to the cabins.

I was asked if I was happy to have a new guide lead the small group of my two friends and myself. He didn’t speak much English but I speak Spanish and my friends were happy to be translated to. As with all the guides through Somoto Canyon Tours, he was a local guide and quite young, early twenties maybe. Even though he was young, he was very serious about making sure that everything went well and that we had fun on our trip. Too serious sometimes but we had a lots of fun trying to get him out of his shell!

The first Somoto Canyon jump

Free jumping

The highlight of the trip for me was the opportunity to jump from heights up to 20 metres. This is one for the very brave or experienced. I only attempted the 15 metre jump and I was terrified but was super proud of myself when I landed with minimal ouchies. Ladies, cross your arms over your boobs when attempting the higher jumps, just saying. At that height anything sticking out will get a big smack when you hit the water. Listen to the guide’s instructions and make sure to jump as straight as possible.

The best part about the guided tour is that the guide chooses jumps that get progressively higher. You start with a jump at the beginning of the tour of 2 metres. By the time you get to the end of the tour you have the choice to attempt the big 20 metre jump or a 15 metre jump. There's also a 5 metre option for those who haven’t worked up the courage yet. My biggest piece of advice for anything like this is to just decide to do it and jump in straight away. Don’t let your brain catch up to your feet!

Eeeeeep!

What to bring

You should only need a bottle of water, your camera and sun-cream. You’ll be in and out of the water so make sure to keep applying. Your guide will carry a waterproof bag in which you can place your items and where he’ll store snacks and lunch. You will be fully submerged in the water at some points so unless it’s in the bag it will get wet! Somoto Canyon Tours also provide river shoes which you can use if you do not wish to get your own wet.

Everyone gets a life jacket which is really important for safety reasons but also great to lay back and enjoy whit water floating when in the deeper downstream regions.

The accommodation

If you opt to stay the night you will be welcomed into Henry’s family homestead. There’s a farmyard full of animals to keep you company (and wake you up in the morning!) and you’re welcome to take part in the daily activities of the busy homestead.

There are cabins to sleep in that include private rooms and a dormitory with an adjacent toilet block. The accommodation is basic and there is only cold water in the showers but it is super clean and adequate for a night.

The family also offer a selection of traditional meals that include vegetarian options and you can preorder breakfast if you’re catching an early bus in the morning. I definitely recommend both the tour and staying a night here.

The "typico" served on the homestead - A Typical Nicaraguan Breakfast

Getting there and away

It’s fairly easy to get to Somoto by public transportation as long as you keep in mind that this IS the edge of Nicaragua. You won’t find many tourists here and it is one of the more remote tourist destinations. Along the way, I highly suggest visiting Esteli for a night so you can stop in to one of the cigar factories. You can set off to Somoto early in the morning, do a canyon tour and be on your way by early afternoon.

If you’re coming from Managua, you can take a bus to Somoto from the Mayoreo Market. These buses aren’t that frequent so I suggest catching any bus going to Esteli where buses leave hourly to Somoto.

You will get picked up from the bus station if you’re taking a tour with one of the tour companies but if you’re planning to go solo then you can take a chicken bus to El Espino (border with Honduras) and ask to be dropped off at the entrance to the community of Sonis. From there you will have an 8 kilometre walk to the trail head so be prepared!

If you’re the adventurous sort you can use this opportunity to continue on to the border of Honduras where you can head north to the centre of Honduras and possibly Lago de Yojoa or head east to the border of El Salvador. I did the former and it was a pretty easy transition. Connections were frequent and with a basic level of Spanish you should be able to find your way to any of the bigger cities.

You can also do the reverse by catching a border bound bus from Choluteca in Honduras.

My very serious guide

Somoto is a real treat in Nicaragua. By visiting and participating in a tour you are directly helping the local community and you also get to experience a different side of Nicaragua. I had a great time getting to know our very serious guide and the people in the small village community of Sonis. If you’re in Nicaragua and have a two days free then Somoto is a worthwhile stop and also a great border crossing option if you’re heading to El Salvador or Honduras.

This post is part of my Top 30 in Central America and Mexico. You can also check out some more of my favourite sites and activities in Nicaragua here.

Have you visited Somoto? Got anything else to add? Or been anywhere similar that I should check out? Let me know in the comments!

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Solo Travel Tips - How to meet people while traveling

Traveling on your own can be very daunting. For some people, it’s the one thing that stops them from getting out there and visiting the places they want to. As an introvert, I still get anxious when I get to a new place and I have to make friends all over again.

Solo travel can be tough but it also has it’s benefits. Funnily enough, one of the main benefits is how easy it is to meet people!

When you’re travelling in pairs or as a group, you don’t naturally tend to include other people in your conversation and likewise, a group of solo travelers are less likely to reach out to big groups of friends. Some of my closest friends are people that I have met while travelling and sometimes have even met up again to visit new countries together.

To help you get over your own inhibitions about travelling on your own, here are some tips that has helped me over the years.

Group excursion to a small weaving community, Antigua, Guatemala

1) Choose the right hostel

On my travels I have found myself in some hotels that attract certain groups of traveler. There’s the all hippie, fire-twirling, crystal carrying crew with questionable hygiene and a focus on “eco” practices over all else. There was the all French Canadian hostel where the conversation was predominantly in French. Some places are just popular with certain groups of traveler because it meets that particular need. There’s even some hostels that mostly attract couples, not much fun for a single female!

To circumvent this, make sure to do you research when choosing where to stay. Read reviews online using either TripAdvisor or a hotel booking site and look for key phrases and guidance on where will suit your particular personality.

A lot of hostels these days also put on events, like free drink nights, Sunday BBQ's and movie nights. If you have a choice, I also highly recommend staying in a hostel that provides breakfast. A communal breakfast is a a great opportunity to chat to other travelers. 

Christmas picnic with some new friends

2) Stay in dorms

Depending on your budget, you might think that a dorm room is the last place you want to sleep. They can be noisy, smelly and personal space is at a minimum. If you do your research though, you can find some very nice dorms. The benefit of staying in a dorm is you have some automatic friends, people to chat with during the day and discuss travel plans.

I am currently staying in a "Deluxe Dorm" that has brand new orthopaedic mattresses, privacy curtains and personal outlets and lights as well as hotel-style bathrooms and a balcony. I can still sleep in comfort and take the opportunity to hang out with my fellow room mates.

3) Force yourself into the middle of the action

Just last night I arrived at a new hostel in San Cristobal, my all-female dorm was on the quiet side and everyone seemed to be hanging out in the garden by the bonfire. Even though it made me feel physically ill, I forced myself to go take a seat by the fire and say hi to everyone loudly. Once that was over with, everyone introduced themselves to me and I was instantly part of the conversation.

If being confident doesn’t come naturally to you, the best thing to do is to just pretend. Choose someone in your life that you admire for their assertiveness and pretend to be them. I pretend to be a good friend from home who is the most extroverted, confident women I know. When I’m on my own I just think, how would she assert herself into this conversation?

Hanging out with some new friends on an excursion to cerro del cruz in antigua, guatemala

4) Do some group activities

Just because you’re traveling on your own doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself. Sign up for some half-day or full-day trips that interest you, and you have some automatic friends for a few hours. If things work out, you then have some people to have dinner with or share a long bus trip with to the next destination. You might even end up with some travel partners for days or even weeks.

Cuba was one of the hardest places to meet other travelers because of the lack of hostels, but somehow I ended up with a great bunch of travel buddies after a horse riding trip. 

Have you got any advice for traveling on your own? 

Boquete, Panama Travel Guide

Boquete is a charming little mountain town that has captured the imagination of expats and tourists alike. It’s located in the province of Chiriqui about 60 kilometres from the border of Costa Rica. If you’ve been suffering in the heat in the rest of Panama, you might enjoy spending some time cooling off in Boquete, as it situated 1,200 metres above sea level. I really enjoyed my time there and suggest a stay of at least two or three days to really take advantage of your visit. Read on to discover some of the activities and sights available as well as travel directions to help you get there in this travel guide to Boquete.

Things to do in Boquete

Adventure companies abound in Boquete, so you will have your pick of outfitters. I chose Boquete Outdoor Adventures for my time in Boquete as they offered packaged tours over several days that saved me some money. If you’re travelling in the low season feel free to negotiate.

Coffee farm tours

There are a few different coffee farms that you can visit, but I really enjoyed Finca Dos Jefes. At this farm you get a great appreciation of coffee history, farming and process. Towards the end of the tour you get to enjoy a tasting session and also get to grind and roast a batch of beans! I really enjoyed the variety of content and the staff were very friendly.

Rafting Rio Chiriqui

I had a great time rafting with Boquete Outdoor Adventures. They did a great job keeping everyone safe and made sure we a fun day. Most companies provide a riverside lunch in the trip which is served buffet style. It was surprisingly one of the best meals I had in Panama with fresh fruit and lots of veges and snacks. It took a bit of willpower to not fill up so much I couldn’t get back into the raft.

Rock climbing

Climbing in Boquete is quite interesting as you get to experience rock climbing on natural basalt rock formations. Accessible to both beginners and advanced climbers, you will find companies who can guide you to an appropriate spot and provide you with all the gear you need.

Hiking

There are a few hiking trails not too far away that you can do both with and without a guide. If you an avid birder you can specify that you would like a guide trained in spotting the local wildlife and hopefully spot a Quetzal!

Hot springs

There are some hot springs located about half an hour away towards the town of Caldera. The local bus goes infrequently, but if you ask at your hotel they should be able to provide you with the times and directions. If you’re happy to spend a little bit more money, you could include this as a side trip in one of your tours or take a taxi there.

Mi Jardin es su Jardin

For a nice free outing you can visit this impressive garden on the outskirts of town. It is located in private property, but left open to the public to enjoy, thus the name - “my garden is your garden”. Even if you’re not that into flowers I would suggest spending an hour just wandering around this enormous space. Every corner you turn you will encounter another interesting statue or water feature.

Island Trip to Boca Chica

One of the most popular trips available is the island trip to Boca Chica. This was probably one of my least favourite adventure activities but still very enjoyable. If you go at the right time of year (June - October) the trip also includes whale watching. Once you get to the main town, you get into a boat bound for a small island with nothing but sun, sand and the water to amuse you. The company I went with provided snorkel equipment, towels and a huge lunch buffet for you to nibble on during the day. I wasn’t the biggest fan of this trip mostly because I felt the water was a bit rough to really allow for proper relaxation and the lack of facilities both on the island (understandable) and back at the main dock was a bit annoying.

I would suggest this trip for anyone not planning to spend any real time on either the Pacific or Caribbean coasts and want to have a nice day out at a secluded beach and see some whales at the same time.

Volcan Baru

You can choose to do this either by hiking 6-7 hours to the summit and a 3-4 hour back down or by taking a highly-modified jeep to the top. Both options usually have you leaving in the early morning hours (from 1am onwards) so you can be at the summit for the sunrise.

On a clear day you should be able to see both oceans, Panama and Costa Rica quite clearly. It is a spectacular sight.

Where to stay in Boquete

For such a cute little town, Boquete has a great selection of hotels for all budgets. Here are my top recommendations for unique places to stay in Boquete.

Hostal Garden

Hostal Garden is a great budget option located in the centre of town with dorms and private rooms. You're surrounded by a beautiful garden, perfect for relaxing with a book in a hammock. Or you could test your skill on the slackline! The best part is there are fruit trees all around the property and you're welcome to pick what you like and snack.

Check out their reviews on: Trip Advisor

Get the latest prices: Hotels.com | Expedia

Boquete Tree Trek Mountain Resort

Rustic elegance awaits at this mountain resort located a few kilometres outside of the centre of town. It's not hard to find nature when you're staying in Boquete but at this resort you will be surrounded by lush forest and gently babbling brooks. Keep your eyes open for the resplendent Quetzal! If you want a carefree vacation then this will be a perfect base. Boquete Tree Trek Mountain resort provides everything you need including tours and a restaurant and bar on site.

Check out their reviews on: Trip Advisor

Get the latest prices: Hotels.com | Booking.com | Expedia

Where to eat in Boquete

The town has a variety of cafes and restaurants to match your budget. Some of my favourite places to grab a bite were:

Sugar and Spice

• Breakfast with coffee from $5
• Lunches from $4.50

This place serves some great meals that include their fresh bread baked in-house. Besides the breakfasts and lunches you will find different baked treats that you can take away to help sustain you as you explore the town. There’s also some fresh fruit water located inside, so no need to purchase any drinks if you’re counting your pennies.

Big Daddy’s Grill

American style food including fish (and vege) tacos, burgers and pastas as well as margaritas. Food is actually quite good, but takes you into the $6-$10 price range.

Re Pomodoro

Pallet style pizza sold by the slice (from $1) or you can get a whole pizza if you have some mates to share with or want to pack some away in the hostel kitchen for another meal.

Getting there and away

To get to Boquete from most places you will usually have to change buses in David. It is about an hour trip. If you're coming here from El Valle De Anton it can be a bit tricky so check out this step by step guide on travelling from El Valle to Boquete.

There are also several shuttle operators that can take you to and from other popular tourist destinations, including Santa Catalina and Bocas Del Toro. 

Have you been to Boquete or traveled in Panama? Let me know your thoughts on the region in the comments below!

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