What is your favourite...
Place
Mexico City – Despite being a megalopolis, this city never ceases to amaze me. There is so much to see and do if you’re feeling energetic but it is also a great place to sit in a café or one of the many parks and people watch. The history is fascinating, the food is incredible (whether you’re looking for something upmarket or some tacos on the go) and the people are really friendly and welcoming. Make sure you visit Ciudadela market in town, it’s a great spot to pick up souvenirs and on weekends, you may even see locals salsa dancing on the square. Items tend to have prices on them, if, like me, you’re put off by having to haggle.
Accommodation
Eolo – this hotel is a real gem, a fantastic place to unwind and take in the views. The hotel staff really go above and beyond to make you feel welcome, show you around the grounds and the food is out-of-this world. We were treated to a fabulous “picnic lunch” which even included a blanket so that we could actually sit on the Perito Moreno glacier. Make sure you make use of the telescopes to enjoy the skies on a clear night.
Excursion
If you’re looking for adventure then Dunes and Lagoons of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is for you. This excursion involves making tracks across virgin sand dunes in a 4×4 and cooling off in the crystalline lagoons. From May-September, the lagoons are full and it is a truly unique experience.
Top travel tip
Look out for local festivities around your travel dates. Some of my most memorable trips involved fully immersing myself in local celebrations such as Day of the Dead in Isla de Patzcuaro (Mexico), Semana Santa in Antigua (Guatemala) and Olodum performances on a Tuesday evening in Salvador da Bahia (Brazil). There are often some smaller-scale celebrations as well which will really allow you to soak up the culture.
Top packing tip
In a part of the world where the weather can change on regularly (depending on where you go), you’ll need a bit of everything. I roll up my clothes in my suitcase as it makes it easy to see what I’ve got, at a glance but it’s also a great way to fit a lot more in. Surprisingly, clothes seem to come out a lot less crumpled as well!
