Central America & Caribbean – MLE Travel Diary

The Best of St. John: Ultimate Virgin Islands Travel Guide

MLE Travel Diary — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:00:00 +0000

If there’s only ONE place you visit this year, let it be the US Virgin Islands! Let me tell you why…

Located in the Caribbean, the Virgin Islands are the perfect winter getaway with their stunning beaches, friendly people, and plethora of fun activities. Not only that, but there you’ll find the #1 beach in the WORLD: Trunk Bay Beach!

I spent 4 days on St. John solo traveling the island, and had the best time. If you’re planning your first trip to USVI, make sure to check out 11 things you need to know to prepare for your travels!

This US Virgin Islands Travel Guide will help you plan your trip to the islands, with my recommendations for the best things to do, where to stay, where to eat, and how to get around.

Wondering if you need a passport to visit the US Virgin Islands? Find out here, plus 11 other essential tips you need to know about the Virgin Islands before you go!

Save all these spots and more by clicking the link below!

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Things to do and see

1. Trunk Bay Beach

Trunk Bay Beach was voted the #1 beach in the entire WORLD and after seeing it with my own eyes…I believe it! If this isn’t on your bucket list yet, you absolutely need to add it and check it out ASAP!

This is the perfect day trip. It is really easy to access; there is a big parking lot if you’ve rented a car, or taxis run all day from Cruz Bay up to Trunk Bay and between the other beaches.

I suggest bringing a picnic lunch and snacks. But there is a Snack Shack where you can buy food as well!

2. Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands, Boat Cruise

I highly recommend doing a day trip to the British Virgin Islands while you’re here. There are a few different options, and cruises leave from both St. Thomas and St. John.

Jost Van Dyke & Soggy Dollar Snorkel Sail

This is the tour I did, and I would highly recommend it! We snorkeled at one spot before getting to Jost Van Dyke, and had about 3 hours at Jost Van Dyke once we arrived.

This gave us enough time to grab lunch and explore the island! While you’re there, I highly recommend walking all the way left on the beach; there is a really great viewpoint of the entire beach!

Book the tour leaving from St. John
Book the tour leaving from St. Thomas

The Baths of Virgin Gorda

This is the tour to choose if you want to explore the Baths of Virgin Gorda on Jost Van Dyke. The Batholiths are a series of interconnected boulder formations creating little caves to wander through, and crystal clear waters to explore.

Book the tour leaving from St. John
Book the tour leaving from St. Thomas

Private Boat Charter

If you have a bigger group, or want to be more in control of your itinerary, I suggest a private boat charter. With this, you’ll be able to choose where you want to explore and have your own boat crew to take you around!

Book a private charter from either St. John or St. Thomas

3. Maho Bay

Maho Bay is THE spot if you are looking to snorkel and see turtles! This is a smaller beach north of Trunk Bay Beach and a must see.

You can also catch a beautiful sunset from here!

5. Lunch at Lime Out & Snorkel Tour

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Perhaps you have come across the iconic floating taco bar in the middle of the ocean already, and if not then this is definitely something you’ll want to add to your bucket list!

Lime Out is on the other end of the island from Cruz Bay. I recommend booking this tour for an easy experience of visiting the Taco Bar and getting to snorkel along the way!

4. Lind Point Trail

Lind Point Trail is a moderately easy 2 mile trail that will take you from Cruz Bay to Salomon Beach and Honeymoon Beach.

I definitely recommend spending a couple hours walking this trail and checking out the beaches along the way! Especially Salomon Beach; it’s only accessible by this trail so it’s a mostly private beach if you’re willing to make the hike.

6. Ram Head Peak

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Ram Head Trail is a 2.6 mile roundtrip hike that will give you sprawling views of the ocean and islands. I recommend waking up early to catch sunrise here!

7. Cinnamon Bay Plantation Ruins

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While you’re driving along the coast to explore the beaches, I recommend stopping by the Cinnamon Bay Plantation Ruins. There are lots of plantation ruins all around the island, actually.

There’s a short walking trail, about 0.5 miles. Plus, there are signs throughout the ruins to educate you about the history of the Virgin Islands and to follow how sugar cane was processed from the fields into sugar, molasses and rum.

8. Cruz Bay Visitor Center

Stop by the Cruz Bay Visitor Center for your National Park stamp and to check out the history exhibits that will give you more background on the US Virgin Islands!

You can also check in with the National Park rangers and volunteers for guidance for their hike recommendations and other park experiences.

9. Day trip to St. Thomas

Although most people day trip to St. John from St. Thomas, you can absolutely go the other way to explore the island! The ferry runs every hour all day long; for more information on the ferries keep reading!

Where to stay

Since St. John is covered mostly by the National Park, there are really just two areas with most of the lodging – Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. I’ll share my top 3 hotel recommendations – one budget, one mid-range and one luxury option, depending on your budget.

Budget: The Inn at Tamarind Court

I spent less than $100 per night on my stay in the US Virgin Islands, thanks to the Inn at Tamarind Court! It’s a cross between a hostel and a hotel, with rooms specifically for solo travelers.

The room rate includes breakfast, which is really only fruit and toast, but I enjoyed my stay here. I shared a bathroom with just two other people and didn’t have any issues.

Mid-Range: Coconut Coast Villas

A boutique hotel like Coconut Coast Villas is perfect, offering studio, 2 and 3 bedroom condos. This will let you make your own food to save money, while offering nice amenities like an ocean front pool, hot tub and patio.

Luxury: The Westin St. John Resort Villas

If you’re looking to splurge and really enjoy your time at your hotel in paradise, I recommend the Westin St. John Resort Villas. This hotel is absolutely stunning and has all the amenities you’ll need for a comfortable stay.

Also, this is where the boat tours take off from so that makes it really convenient for any cruises you want to go on!

Where to eat and drink

1. The Longboard

The Longboard is a Caribbean-inspired Coastal restaurant with the best food on the island, in my opinion. It was so good, I actually ended up eating here 3 out of my 4 nights.

I would recommend the poke bowl, fried rice and brussels sprouts! They also have a really great happy hour every day from 2 – 4 PM.

2. Lime Out

Lime Out is a MUST when you come to St. John! Their tacos are phenomenal, and they offer a wide variety of options! I got the Rum Rib Tacos and they were delicious.

It is all the way on the opposite side of the island, so if you don’t want to deal with getting a taxi back and forth, I recommend booking the Lime Out Lunch and Snorkel Tour!

That’s what I did, and it was such a fun day! You’re able to swim over to the floating bar for drinks and souvenirs, and then you’ll eat your tacos on the boat for lunch.

3. North Shore Deli

North Shore Deli has affordable deli sandwiches and breakfast options. I had the Cali Pastrami sandwich and it actually turned into two meals for me.

4. Irie Pops

I couldn’t have been more excited to come across Irie Pops – it’s a dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free ice cream shop with SOFT SERVE ice cream, popsicles and more! I cam here multiple times haha.

5. The Lime Inn

Sound familiar? Yep, that’s right – the Lime Inn is the LAND counterpart to Lime Out!

They offer an even wider variety of tacos and quesadillas, and everything is so delicious. Definitely come here at least once, especially if you aren’t able to make it out to Lime Out.

How to get around the Virgin Islands

By Foot

The downtown Cruz Bay area is very walkable! It was easy to get from my hotel down to all of the restaurants and shops.

To stay active, I would definitely suggest walking the Lind Point Trail or any other hike throughout the Virgin Islands National Park.

By Taxi

Most of the major roads are NOT walkable (I did try to walk through the National Park and quickly realized this was a terrible idea). Enter, these US Virgin Islands Taxis that are all over the island!

They are really more like open-air buses, but they’ll take you all over the island. Here’s what they look like:

You can hail them in the roads, or head to a hotspot like the Cruz Bay Ferry Dock, popular hotels or Beach parking lots.

If you can’t find one nearby, you can call the Taxi company. There are lots of drivers on the island, or I would call the mainline to catch a ride: +1 (340) 228-4895.

Each ride cost me anywhere from $6 – $12, which I felt was very affordable and made it really easy to get around the island.

By Boat

To get to St. John you will need to take the ferry from St. Thomas. There are two different ports – Red Hook and Amalie Beach.

They have different schedules, so I recommend not booking your ticket in advance so you can take whichever ferry lines up better with when you arrive, timing-wise. You can take a look at the schedules here.

While you’re on the islands, I would definitely recommend going on at least one boat cruise. The Jost Van Dyke day trip was my favorite; it is such a great way to spend a day.

By Bus

There is one bus, the Vitran bus, that travels from Cruz Bay, through Coral Bay and all the way to Salt Pond Bay. Note that the bus does not run on Saturdays.

It is an extremely affordable option, with rides for just $1.

It won’t take you to the beaches, but will take you through the National Park and from coast to coast on the island. This is a great option to see more of St. John!

For the current schedule and more information, check out the Virgin Islands public transportation site here.

By Car

A popular option is renting a car in the US Virgin Islands, especially a jeep rental. You’ll see these all over the island.

If you want to rent a car on St. John, remember that they drive on the left side. Roads are also very narrow and winding throughout the park.

Car rentals typically have a minimum of 4 days rental, so depending on how long your trip is, it may not be do-able if your trip is shorter than that.

Additionally, keep in mind that if you rent your car on St. Thomas, you will need to drive it over on a car ferry. There aren’t a ton of parking spots on each ferry, so make sure you plan accordingly.

My parents rented a car when they visited the US Virgin Islands a few years ago, and said that they had to actually back their car up to get it onto the ferry. Just something to keep in mind, depending on your comfort level!

If you’re on the fence about renting a car; I personally was really glad I didn’t rent a car. I felt like I was able to see everything I wanted to without a car, and still had the experience of driving on the roads as a passenger and seeing the National Park that way.

If you’re planning a trip to St. John, be sure to read up on general Virgin Islands travel guidance, including when to go, whether or not you need a visa, and what you need to know before you go.

And feel free to send me an email or DM on Instagram with any questions or for personalized travel tips!

mariss

The post The Best of St. John: Ultimate Virgin Islands Travel Guide first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

12 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting The Virgin Islands

MLE Travel Diary — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Sharing the best Virgin Islands travel tips that everyone should know before they go to the beautiful Caribbean Islands for the first time! Make sure to take notes so you can be prepared for your trip.

Overall, I absolutely loved my time on St. John and already am planning my next trip back! As a solo female traveler, I never felt unsafe during my trip and found that the people were super friendly and happy to have tourists visiting.

Although the US Virgin Islands are technically a part of the United States, there are some things specific to the islands that you’ll want to be aware of. I’m going to share what I learned from my visit so you will be fully ready for yours!

1. US Citizens do NOT need a passport to visit!

However, I would still recommend bringing your passport to expedite your return back to the United States mainland.

Also, if you are planning on doing a day trip to the British Virgin Islands, you WILL need your passport for that!

2. Cars in the Virgin Islands drive on the left side; the driver seat is also on the left.

This was one of the more interesting things I’ve ever seen when it comes to driving in a new place. If you plan on renting a car, be aware that although the car layout may be similar, cars drive on the OPPOSITE (left) side of the road.

3. Shared taxis can be found all over the island.

These vehicles are called taxis, but are really more like open-air mini-buses. Most taxis have two or three rows of benches, and no seatbelts.

You can flag them down if you see one on the road going in the direction you’re headed. Or, you can usually find one located at a central location, like the ferry port or beach parking lot.

The Virgin Islands taxis were really easy to use, and each ride cost me anywhere from $6 – $12.

Since I was by myself, these rates were on the higher end. If you’re traveling with multiple people, the taxi driver will usually give you a small group discount, and charge you less per person.

Additionally, when you get of the plane, unless you booked a private transfer, these shared taxi vans will be waiting to take groups of people to their hotels or to the ferry port. It really couldn’t be easier to get around the islands without renting your own car!

In case you are in a more isolated spot and can’t locate a taxi, I recommend saving the taxi driver numbers – there are different taxi companies for each of the islands – St. John, St. Thomas, St. Croix, etc. If you’re heading to the Virgin Islands soon and want these numbers, send me a DM on Instagram and I can share the taxi contacts I used!

4. Make sure to bring cash for taxis, tips, and more.

The currency in the US Virgin Islands is the same – they use the US Dollar. I recommend bringing $50-100 cash per person per day, depending on what types of activities you’re planning on doing.

Most restaurants I went to accepted credit cards, but cash is definitely the easiest and most appreciated on the islands.

5. Hurricane season typically runs from June to November.

As with most spots in the Caribbean, you’ll want to look out for hurricane season. You can usually find great deals on flights and hotels during this time, but be aware that it comes with an additional risk!

Especially if you’re not staying on St. Thomas, where the airport is located, you may have a harder time leaving the island in the event the islands get put on hurricane watch.

6. Power outages can occur randomly with no notice, especially on St. John.

On my last night in St. John, I woke up at 2 AM to the power being totally shut off. It turned back on at 3:30 AM, but was out for about 2-3 hours in total.

This is something that really surprised me when it happened to me and I started reading more about it. It’s apparently a well known issue across the islands, especially in St. John – residents are unfortunately at the mercy of the Water & Power company, and typically don’t know how long the power will be out for.

If you want to avoid any potential issues, book a hotel or other lodging that has a generator so your power will be uninterrupted on your trip.

7. The roads through the Virgin Islands National Park are steep, winding, and narrow.

If you choose to rent a car, know that the roads you’ll be driving on are full of lots of twists and turns, narrow streets, and steep hills.

I was glad that I didn’t end up renting a car, especially since I was alone, and taxis were readily available all over the island.

8. Food costs are generally higher than in the US mainland.

Since the Virgin Islands import nearly all their food, food costs will be higher when you’re on the islands. My meals out at restaurants averaged between $25 – $45 per meal.

If you want to cut down on your food costs, I recommend getting groceries from the closest grocery store. However, keep in mind that the prices at the grocery store will likely still be higher than you’re used to back at home!

9. Be careful not to bring sand fleas back from the beach.

This is something I learned the hard way. Luckily for your sake I’ll spare you the photos I took of the 50+ sand flea bites all over my legs!😂

To avoid this – make sure you shower immediately after getting back from the beach. I would also recommend leaving any sandy towels, chairs, clothes, etc outside or in a bag separated from the rest of your belongings.

10. Cell phone service is available throughout most of the island.

All major US cell service providers have cell coverage over the US Virgin Islands.

I have Verizon Wireless and only lost service briefly when I was down in the water at one of the beaches. However, by the time I would have actually needed my cell service again up at the parking lot, it was back.

One thing to note is you may get roaming charges if you get close to the British Virgin Islands. If you’re worried about this, I suggest putting your phone on airplane mode when you’re on a boat excursion or venturing out to the right side of St. John.

11. Tipping is expected.

Similar to the United States, tipping is expected. A good rule of thumb is 15% – 20% of your total bill, including on things like your boat excursions.

I personally didn’t tip my taxi driver on the little rides all over the islands, but I did tip on my rides to and from the airport.

12. The Virgin Islands are on Atlantic Standard Time (AST), +1 hour from EST.

I didn’t realize this until I landed, but both the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands are one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST), on Atlantic Standard Time (AST).

Let me know what surprised you the most the first time you visited the Virgin Islands in the comments below! And be sure to follow me on Instagram for more travel content.

mariss

The post 12 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting The Virgin Islands first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

The Retreat Costa Rica: The Best Luxury Wellness Retreat Review

MLE Travel Diary — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Looking for the best luxury wellness retreat in Costa Rica, or maybe ever? Overall, the experience that The Retreat Costa Rica provides to its guests is unreal and unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced! I highly recommend it if you’re in need of some rest and relaxation, going through a tough time, or want to treat yourself.

From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel at home. Every single person greeted us by name and ensured we were enjoying every moment of our stay.

We opted for the Immersive Wellness Program, which included a Healing Touch massage, three personalized meals a day, a cooking class, a customized spa itinerary, and more! In this post, I’ll share my experience at The Retreat Costa Rica, highlighting my favorite aspects, the room options, dining experiences, and other amazing amenities.

The Retreat Costa Rica Highlights

Main Pool and Jacuzzi

Just looking at The Retreat Costa Rica pool again brings me so much joy! I absolutely loved coming out here to relax, read a book or hang out with my friend and the other hotel guests.

You can also see the daybeds in the back, which side note – these sort of trap the sun during the day and can really heat up! So make sure to put on your sunscreen, or avoid these during the day!

The jacuzzi is located at the far side of the pool; you get a really great view of the rainforest when in the jacuzzi. I recommend coming here at night or before dinner time!

Tours & Excursions

The Retreat Costa Rica offers a variety of private excursions so you can explore the beautiful country of Costa Rica! As nice as the resort, is it was really fun to leave the property for a day and explore Costa Rica’s wildlife!

If you’re staying at The Retreat Costa Rica for more than 3 days, I definitely recommend taking advantage of one of the many tours!

The great thing about each tour and excursion is that since it will be you / your group only, it can be customized fully to your preferences. So if you want to skip something, or see if you can add in something else, definitely let The Retreat Costa Rica team know and they can work with you to accommodate your preferences!

La Paz Waterfall Garden and Poás Volcano Adventure

We went on the La Paz Waterfall Garden tour. It was a full day, visiting the Arenal Volcano, grabbing lunch at a local restaurant, and exploring the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

Unfortunately when we were there at the end of November, it was really cloudy at the Arenal Volcano so we weren’t able to see anything! I would definitely recommend waiting until your trip gets closer to check the weather to make sure you will be able to see everything you want to. The front desk can help you with deciding on which excursion to choose, depending on the weather!

For more information on the La Paz Waterfall Gardens and my time there, check out my recent post with everything you need to know!

Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna And The Adventure

Based on what I heard from other resort guests and The Retreat Costa Rica front desk, this excursion tends to be the most popular!

You’ll get to spend a full day exploring the Rainforest, including seeing a volcano, crossing hanging bridges, admiring giant waterfalls, and relaxing in mineral-rich hot springs. The thermal mineral pools come directly from a volcano, which is crazy and definitely worth checking out!

Beach Play Date and Surfing Adventure at Jacó Beach

This was another option that we really considered. The Retreat Costa Rica is located about in the middle of Costa Rica, so you aren’t able to just walk to a beach from the resort, which makes this excursion really appealing.

Jacó Beach is renowned for its world-class surfing and sustainable tourism. The tour goes through Orotina for fresh coconut water, then stops at the “Bridge of the Crocodiles” over the Tárcoles River to view large crocodiles. Then, you’ll get to enjoy beach time, relaxation, or pre-booked surf lessons at Jacó. After visiting Playa Hermosa and having lunch, you’ll return to Jacó to explore the local artist community, shop for souvenirs, or watch the sunset.

For all of the tours and excursions that The Retreat Costa Rica offers, make sure to check out their website.

Nature Hike

The Retreat Costa Rica has a hiking path on-site, with the full route taking you 2 hours through The Retreat Costa Rica’s organic coffee plantation down to a waterfall! It is also said that the hike has a palpable energetic impulse.

We did not get the chance to explore the hiking path, but heard good things. You can take a self-guided tour whenever you would like; just make sure you tell the front desk when you are heading out on the hike so that they are aware since there is not great cell reception on the entire path.

Alternatively, there is a group hike offered during the week with a guide that will point the fauna, indigenous plants and trees, and different bird species you encounter. Make sure to ask the staff when you check in when this is so you can plan accordingly!

Daily Yoga Classes

There are daily Yoga (morning) and Yoga Nidra (evening) classes that are included with your stay held at the Yoga Pavilion and Yoga Room. The Pavilion overlooks The Retreat Costa Rica with views straight to the Pacific Ocean on a clear day!

I went to a couple Yoga Nidra classes for the first time ever, and they were really transformative. It was very meditative, with a bit of light stretching.

This was the perfect way to wind down before dinner! And definitely something I want to incorporate more of into my daily life at home, although it is much less peaceful here in Los Angeles.

Loose Leaf Herbal Tea Bar

There is a loose leaf herbal tea and coffee bar right between the Library and the Dining Room! I have never seen anything like it; they had so many different herbal teas like chamomile, lavender, peppermint, green, earl grey, and detox teas.

We probably drank like 3-4 cups of tea every day, it was amazing! The tea leaves are so fresh and flavorful; it’s really cool to see how much of a difference it makes.

The Retreat Costa Rica Rooms

When booking on The Retreat Costa Rica’s website, you can choose from three room options: a Deluxe Room, a Premium Room, or a Luxury Loft. Each room is a bit different and they all have their own names. We stayed in Mandarina, a Premium Room and loved it!

The view was incredible, and the hanging chair was so fun to lounge on in the morning. Check out the view from our room in the morning:

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The Retreat Costa Rica Dining

I would really recommend opting for a package, or a room with meals included. There is essentially a personal chef on-site that crafts unique meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

The culinary experience is outstanding, with all food being organic, fresh, and anti-inflammatory. Most ingredients come directly from the farm on the property, ensuring a farm-to-table experience that enhances the quality and flavor of every dish.

What sets this place apart is the personalized meal service tailored to your dietary restrictions. I have a severe tree nut allergy that they were able to accommodate, which was a huge relief and added to the enjoyment of my stay.

The dishes were not only healthy but also incredibly creative and delicious. Here are some photos to give you a glimpse of the fantastic meals I enjoyed:

The Amenities

Vida Mía Healing Center & Spa

The Spa is world class, offers Ayurveda services and is located on top of a quartz mountain which gives it an additional powerful healing energy.

There are so many different service options, like acupuncture, massages, facials, Ayurveda treatments, crystal healings, scrubs, and even introspective workshops.

One healing touch experience was included as part of our package, and we also added on a bunch of different treatments like other massages, facials, etc. I tried Reiki for the first time and it was magical. I felt like a different person coming out of my treatment!

Hotel Gym

One of my favorite amenities at any hotel I visit is the hotel gym. I love being able to keep up my routine as much as I can when I travel.

The Retreat Costa Rica’s gym was small but had everything I needed to work up a sweat each morning. You can also pay for personal training sessions!

Reading Room and Crystal Display

When you’re at The Retreat Costa Rica, there are a couple of rooms inside that you can relax in. One of these is the Reading Room, which has various books and games that all hotel guests have access to at any time.

Another room is the Crystal Room, where there are a lot of these healing crystals on a shelf. The energy all throughout The Retreat Costa Rica, and especially in this room, is just magical.

Photo Gallery

there were lots of peacocks roaming the property - we got lucky and saw this one all puffed up!

some pretty flowers outside of the spa!

Overall, The Retreat Costa Rica is an incredible luxury wellness resort that I highly recommend you stay at the next time you visit Costa Rica, or if you are looking for a wellness retreat. It has everything you could ever want out of a retreat, plus a variety of wellness packages to tailor your experience to exactly what you are looking for.

Make sure to follow along on Instagram for more, and send me a DM if you are going to Costa Rica soon and want any more tips on where to go!

mariss

The post The Retreat Costa Rica: The Best Luxury Wellness Retreat Review first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens In Costa Rica: Everything You Need To Know

MLE Travel Diary — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 15:00:00 +0000

La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park is a MUST for when you visit Costa Rica! With over 100 different animal species, it’s the biggest animal sanctuary in Costa Rica!

I’ll be sharing everything you need to know from what the gardens entail, how to get there, and other important things to note.

They’re open every day from 8 AM – 5 PM. This was so beautiful; I highly recommend coming for a visit!

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

There are 5 different waterfalls you can walk to; each next one somehow more impressive and astounding than the first!

From the top of the park, you are able to hike down to see each of the waterfalls. The hiking paths are paved and there railings the entire way, so it is pretty easy to hike for people of all ages.

Fair warning: there are a LOT of steps and our legs were shaking after walking down to all of the waterfalls.😂 I recommend wearing hiking shoes, since the stairs can be slippery at times, especially if it’s raining.

Luckily, there is a shuttle that takes you back to the top from the end, so you don’t have to walk all the way back up! The last shuttle departs at 5 PM, so make sure you are at the gift shop shuttle stop by then.

Animal Sanctuary

The Park is an animal sanctuary for all sorts of species that cannot live in the wild for various reasons. It’s so amazing to be able to see so many different beautiful animals.

You can see everything from butterflies, macaws, hummingbirds, sloths, frogs, snakes, monkeys, to bigger animals like jaguars and pumas! Some of my favorites are featured below:

You can get pretty close to a lot of the animals. Especially in the Butterfly Observatory and Aviary, you will literally be walking through their habitat with the animals!

Tickets

As of 2023, admission is $50 for adults, and $34 for children under 12! Make sure to check their website for the most current rates.

You do not need to book admission tickets in advance; you can buy them when you are there if you prefer. We took a tour offered by our hotel, and they handled the ticket purchases.

The Park also offers a buffet lunch that is reasonably priced and includes many local different Costa Rican dishes! This is something else you will be able to purchase in person only.

Getting There & Parking

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is the perfect day trip from San José. It’s about an hour away by car, and under 2 hours by bus.

There are also a lot of tours offered, some of which combine attractions if you are looking to hit multiple spots in a day. We took a private tour offered by our hotel, and also stopped by the Arenal Volcano on our tour!

Parking is free and very easy; there is a big lot right outside the front entrance.

Most people spend around 2 hours in the Park checking out all of the animals and the waterfalls. This is about how long we spent here. However, you could easily spend longer, especially if you’re going to the buffet, or even a full day here!

Heading to Costa Rica soon? Make sure to check out my Costa Rica highlight and follow along on Instagram for more!

mariss

The post La Paz Waterfall Gardens In Costa Rica: Everything You Need To Know first appeared on MLE Travel Diary.

Best Luxury 5 Star Hotel in the Bahamas

MLE Travel Diary — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:00:00 +0000

I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about the best 5 star hotel in the Bahamas: SLS Baha Mar. This is likely going to be biased, considering this is the only luxury hotel I have stayed at in Nassau.

That being said, I’d be shocked if you disagreed with me by the end of this blog. Presenting to you…the best 5 star hotel in the Bahamas.

And if luxury travel is your thing, be sure to follow me on Instagram and sign up for my mailing list! I have a few luxury hotels on my list planned for this year (in destinations like Greece, Switzerland, Banff to name a few) and can’t wait to share with you!

I went to the Bahamas for the first time with my boyfriend this summer for my birthday. I cannot wait to go back! The weather was perfect, the people were fun, and it was the ideal combination of fun and relaxation for us.

Baha Mar Resort

We stayed at the SLS Hotel in Baha Mar – comprised of the SLS, Rosewood, and Grand Hyatt hotels. The Rosewood is also a stunning 5 star hotel in the Bahamas.

While staying at any of these three propertiies, you’ll get access to all 3 hotels, pools, casino, restaurants, and my personal favorite: the Baha Bay Water Park.

I wish I had photos of the waterpark, but we kept our phones in the room each time we went. It was SO much fun. I think we were the only people our age (without children) haha!

There is a lazy river, splash zones, wave pool, and water slides. It was a blast, I can’t remember the last time I did something so fun that made me feel like a kid again. I would go back literally just for the waterpark.

Each of the pools has its own vibe. I definitely recommend checking them all out! The pool at the Grand Hyatt has a swim-up bar, which was a lot of fun.

Fitness Amenities

As I’d expect at any 5 star hotel in the Bahamas, there was a beautiful, state of the art fitness center located in the center of the resort complex. They had a few group classes you could take, one being Yoga with Flamingoes!

I really wanted to try that out, but realized it was a class as it was already happening. So definitely make sure to check the schedule beforehand so you can plan out any classes you might want to go to!

There is this really nice outdoor grass area where you can do your workout, or come out to stretch. It got pretty hot by 9 AM, so I would try to sit in the shade you can see a bit here and stretch after my workout.

It was so nice to wake up every morning in paradise, go to the gym, then go to brunch. My boyfriend and I literally met at a gym so this was very fitting for us haha.

The Beach

Now, I understand the gym on vacation might not be for everyone, and that totally makes sense – you are there to enjoy the views, not metal equipment! In that case, may I suggest lounging by the beach?

This is right in front of the hotel, reserved for guests only. Are you KIDDING me. The water was so blue, and the sand was so white.

If I haven’t yet convinced you this is the best 5 star hotel in the Bahamas, I feel like this will do the trick. It was so so beautiful! They also put rafts out in the water that you can float on in the middle of the ocean.

Dining Options

There are nearly 30 different restaurants throughout the properties that you are able to dine at. I highly recommend making your reservations well in advance of your trip.

We went to the Sugar Factory, Cleo, Katsuya, Drift, and the Swimming Pig. You can check out all of the options here.

The Rooms

The room itself was incredible – the bathroom lighting was perfect for a mirror selfie hehe. And check out this view from our balcony! It was such a stunning view to wake up to each morning.

And also made for a great backdrop for our photos! We went the last week of July and lucked out with the weather. It was sunny 90% of the time, with a couple tropical sprinkles throughout the week.

After going back through all of my photos, I want to go back as soon as possible. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have had this experience with my boyfriend.

These photos don’t even do it justice! Definitely add the SLS Baha Mar resort, the best 5 star hotel in the Bahamas, to your bucket list, if you haven’t already.😍

Please let me know your favorite bucket list hotels in the comments below; I am always looking for more recommendations to add to my list! And be sure to follow along to stay in the loop for more luxury hotel and dream destination content.

mariss

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