Having established itself in the 1990s as the “it” destination for ecotourists—think ziplining, whitewater rafting, and trekking—you’d imagine that tourists have discovered every inch of Costa Rica. Fortunately, it’s still possible to stray off the beaten path in Costa Rica and discover hidden gems on your trip. 

These are the best things to do in Costa Rica. 

Stay in a Jungle Ecolodge

The term “ecolodge” was practically born in Costa Rica, and some of the best rainforest-based accommodations in the world can be found here. The most authentic ecolodges take sustainability seriously—they’re built of local materials, employ Costa Ricans from nearby towns, recycle and reuse, and give back to their communities.

One of the best is the Pacuare Jungle Lodge, accessible via a 1.5-hour whitewater rafting trip (a bus ride and gondola trip can get you there too, but that option is less exciting). 

See Wild Animals

Although Costa Rica is full of animals, it can be hard to spot them in the wild. For a guaranteed viewing, visit the Jaguar Rescue Center in the Caribbean coastal town of Puerto Viejo (on Playa Chiquita). The center is a permanent or temporary home for sick, injured, or orphaned animals who cannot survive on their own in the wild. 

Guided tours are available where you can see animals, including monkeys, toucans, and more. Despite the name, there are currently no jaguars at the rescue center. 

Rappel Down a Waterfall

Imagine taking the thrill of rappelling and adding the rush of cascading water. In Costa Rica, a popular activity for adventure seekers is a twist on traditional rock climbing: waterfall rappelling. 

As you descend through crystal-clear falls in La Fortuna, you’ll experience an exhilarating blend of adventure and natural beauty. Don’t let the dramatic setting intimidate you—this activity welcomes anyone in reasonably good physical condition who can handle heights. No need for prior experience; just bring your sense of adventure and prepare to get soaked.

Sample Chocolate

The same conditions that make coffee such a strong-growing crop in Costa Rica allow cacao to thrive. And where there’s cacao, there’s chocolate!

See how organic cacao is harvested on Don Olivo’s Chocolate Tour, where you’ll see the farm’s 1,600 cacao trees, sample chocolates, and learn how the magic happens to transform cacao into chocolate. 

Soak in a Hot Spring

Given its volcanic landscape, Costa Rica has quite a few natural hot springs and mud pools. Most are open to the public, but will generally have an entrance fee.

One of the best places to indulge is the Rio Negro in Rincon de la Vieja. To reach the hot springs, drive across an unpaved road, walk 10 minutes down a dirt path, and cross a canopy bridge before arriving at the buttery smooth mud pool. The mud is super hot — most people paint it on with brushes and then let it harden. After a quick rinse, plunge into a nearby hot spring.

Take a Night Hike

To fully appreciate Costa Rica’s wildlife population, you’ll have to head out after dark. Nocturnal animals such as armadillos, sloths, caimans, frogs, and bats are among the critters you might see on a night hike in the Arenal area.

Fortunately, you don’t have to be out until dawn; most excursions begin at twilight and last two to three hours. Jacamar Naturalist Tours offers a night walk in which a guide will help you spot nocturnal animals and birds and teach you about medicinal plants in a family-owned garden. 

Study the Mystery of the Stone Spheres

The island of Yap has stone money. Easter Island is known for its moai. And Costa Rica, few people know, has its own mysterious stone carvings too: petrospheres, or stone spheres. Ranging in size from less than an inch to nearly seven feet in diameter, the stones are believed to have been carved between 200 B.C. and 1500 A.D. and were discovered by workers clearing jungles for banana plantations.

The spheres were originally found on Diquis Delta and Isla del Cano, just northwest of Corcovado National Park. You can see them at the National Museum of Costa Rica in San Jose or head to Finca 6 in Palomar Norte, where a visitor center helps explain the history of the spheres.

Be a Surf Bum

The Pacific coast of Costa Rica has some of the best surfing in all of Central America, with zones ideal for beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers. Costa Rica is known as a surfing hot spot because the water is often warm enough to forgo wetsuits, waves break cleanly, and the sea is surf-worthy nearly year-round. (September and October can be rough because of hurricane season.)

Beginners usually head to the touristy beaches of Tamarindo for basic instructions and easy-to-manage waves. Jaco is another chill spot that’s considered one of the Caribbean’s ultimate surf destinations. But we like the prospect of learning to surf in a laid-back village like Dominical. Sunset Surf Dominical is a family-run surf school that offers surf package deal, including accommodations, transfers, breakfast, surfing instructions almost every day, and your choice of additional activities, such as ziplining.

Go in Search of the Resplendent Quetzal

Costa Rica’s most famous bird, the resplendent quetzal (pronounced “ket-saal”), has jewel-toned green plumage with long tail feathers twice the length of its body, making for quite the show when it takes flight.

The bird lives in moist mountain forests, such as the popular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and less-visited San Gerardo de Dota Valley. Quetzals are a bit shy; you often hear their deep, melodious calls before seeing them. 

But even for non-birders, spotting one is a special treat. Head out in the early mornings between December and April for the best viewing chances, and use a local guide with knowledge of the bird’s favorite hangouts.

Buy Pottery — or Make Your Own

Costa Rica has a long history of artisanal crafts. Archeologists have discovered pottery dating back more than 2,500 years. In the towns of San Vicente de Nicoya and Guaitil in Guanacaste, you can observe artisans, who are descendants of Chorotega Indians, creating earthenware using the same techniques as their ancestors.

Observe the ancient art and buy pieces from the artists at Guaitil Artisan Village in the Carrillo community in Guanacaste. Or, take a lesson and craft your own souvenir to take home. 

Help Protect Sea Turtle Hatchlings

The beaches of Costa Rica provide one of the most important nesting grounds for four species of sea turtles. Visit between March and November for your best chance of spotting a turtle hatching. 

Dozens of tour operators offer trips to see them. But why not do one better and volunteer to protect them? Book a stay at Pacuare Nature Reserve, and you can sign up to patrol the beach for nesting sea turtles and help tag the turtles for data collection. 

Learn How Coffee Is Made

Costa Rica is well known for its coffee, which revolutionized the small country’s economy (that’s why it’s known locally as grano de oro, or the “golden grain”). Heck, coffee has revolutionized the world—you try going to work without chugging a cup in the morning. Seeing how the ruby-colored coffee berry is converted into the most important of all beverages is quite remarkable.

Several working farms offer tours. The original coffee roaster in Costa Rica is Cafe Britt, which welcomes 500,000 travelers a year to tour its plantation. For a more unique coffee farm experience, head into the mountains where Cafe Monteverde runs tours of its sustainable operation. 

Best Time to Go to Costa Rica

Costa Rica has two main seasons: the dry and rainy or “green” seasons. Dry season equals high season. From late November through late April, Costa Rican rains are mild, and tourists flock to the country. May through mid-November is Costa Rica’s green season; sure, it rains a good amount, but you will find a surplus of travel deals in the country during this time. Just keep in mind that it can be difficult to drive over muddy roads during the green season in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica on a Budget

Costa Rica is a fantastic destination for travelers watching their wallets. Budget-friendly offerings abound, from affordable but delicious local meals to economical lodging. 

Generally, the more remote and eco-friendly your lodging, the more expensive it will be. Isolated ecolodges in the thick of the jungle offer an unparalleled experience, but rates, which are often all-inclusive, tend to be high. In the more popular tourist destinations, well-priced resorts abound, and a traveler can likely find a room with an ocean view for an affordable price—especially during the rainy season.

The post Costa Rica Travel Guide: What to Do in Costa Rica appeared first on SmarterTravel.

The United States has a grand variety of road trip-suitable routes, from straight shots across deserts to stomach-churning switchbacks through the mountains. Whatever type of adventure you seek, however much time you have, and whatever you want to see, there’s a road out there for everyone. Read on to see the top road trips in the USA.

Best Romantic Road Trip: Pacific Coast Highway, CA

Route: Route 1, from Monterey to Morro Bay (123 miles)

Let’s hope your partner makes your heart soar; if not, the unimaginably gorgeous views from the Pacific Coast Highway will. Frequently coined the most romantic road trip in the U.S.A., the highway jogs alongside California farms and cliff-edged beaches, across high bridges and near groves of towering redwood trees. Tour the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium, enjoy lunch at a posh Carmel-by-the-Sea cafe, see the famous waterfall at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (check the updated status of the park here), and take a romantic sunset stroll at Big Sur. There are plenty of romantic Victorian bed and breakfasts where you can spend the night.

Where to stay to start your journey: Munras Inn, Monterey

Runner-up road trip: Charleston to Savannah, South Carolina

Best Road Trip in the Middle of Nowhere: Marathon to Presidio, TX

Route: U.S. Highway 385, FM-170 (160 miles)

The only companions you’ll have during long stretches of this paved, two-lane road through Big Bend National Park are cacti and migratory birds. This is one of the most isolated of all U.S. national parks, but it’s also one of the most dramatic, with desert, canyon, and mountain landscapes. Santa Elena Canyon is worth the detour from the main park road to see its 1,500-foot drop-offs. Stop for lunch at the 1930s-era Starlight Theatre in the historic Terlingua Ghost Town. Movie buffs will marvel at the abandoned Western film sets at Contrabando.

Where to stay to start your journey: Holland Hotel, Alpine

Runner-up road trip: Great Basin Scenic Highway, Nevada

Best Thrill-Seeking Road Trip: The Road to Hana, HI

Route: Routes 36 and 360, from the town of Kahului to Hana and a little beyond (68 miles)

Brace yourself—literally—for the ride of your life. Maui’s Hana Highway may sound tropically dreamy, with its lush rainforests, multi-tiered waterfalls, and scenic turnouts, but it’s not for the faint of heart—or weak of stomach. The winding, narrow road encompasses hundreds of curves and dozens of bridges (many of which are one lane), and the first time a fearless local in an SUV zooms by you, you’ll wonder where your breath went. Good places to stop and find it? The Ke’anae Arboretum (just past mile marker 16), Upper Waikani Falls (mile marker 19), and Ka’eleku Caverns (mile marker 31).

Where to stay to start your journey: Maui Seaside Hotel, Kahului

Runner-up road trip: La Ruta Panoramica, Puerto Rico

Best Wildlife Road Trip: Jackson to Yellowstone National Park, WY

Route: U.S. 191 (82 miles plus mileage within the park)

Bison, elk, wolves, moose, bears, and dozens of bird species live in America’s first national park, making it one of the best places in the United States to view wildlife. While animals are abundant inside the park, you’ll likely see some species on the short drive from Jackson to the park’s south entrance, and at Grand Teton and Jackson Lake along the way.

Where to stay to start your journey: Mountain Modern Motel, Jackson

Runner-up road trip: Seward Highway, Alaska

Best Foodie Road Trip: Stowe to Rochester, VT

Route: Route 100 (49 miles)

Farms, breweries, wineries, creameries, gourmet shops, and restaurants are nestled along the rolling pastures of Route 100, which bisects the prettiest state in New England. Take a leisurely drive along the north-south artery and its side roads, stopping to nibble artisanal cheeses at various farm shops and creameries. Sip apple cider and buy maple syrup at Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center, and taste robust red wines at Boyden Valley Winery in Cambridge. Browse Weston’s Vermont Country Store—its retro candies are worth the stop alone. And the grand finale? A tour of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory in Waterbury.

Where to stay to start your journey: Outbound Stowe, Stowe

Runner-up road trip: North Carolina Barbecue Society Historic Trail

Best Motorcycle Road Trip: Los Angeles, CA to Taos, NM

Route: Interstate 40 (916 miles)

Aching to be your very own counterculture hippie on a soul-searching odyssey? Billy and Wyatt (a.k.a, Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda) covered this course and then some in the 1969 film Easy Rider. They were headed to New Orleans for Mardi Gras; if you don’t have it in you to make such a lengthy trip, we suggest just covering the section from California to New Mexico (or at least Flagstaff, Arizona), with a detour to the Grand Canyon.

Where to stay to start your journey: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel, Los Angeles

Runner-up road trip: Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia to North Carolina

Best Fall Foliage Road Trip: Lead Hill to Hot Springs, AR

Route: Arkansas State Highway 7 (179 miles)

I’d normally select New England for autumn’s most kaleidoscopic colors, but even its most out-of-the-way back roads can be congested during peak periods. Instead, drive along Arkansas’ first state-designated scenic byway to Ozark National Forest, which has 42 different species of oak trees, plus hickories, maples, beech, and ash, among others. Such a vast variety of trees results in unimaginable colors painting the region’s low river valleys and hillsides. If you get an early enough start, have breakfast or lunch at Cliff House Inn and Restaurant overlooking Arkansas’ version of the Grand Canyon, in the town of Jasper.

Where to stay to start your journey: Hotel Seville, Harrison

Runner-up road trip: Anywhere in New England (see Scenic Autumn Drives in the Northeast)

Best Classic America Road Trip: Beartooth Highway, MT

Route: U.S. Highway 212, from Red Lodge to Cook City, Montana (68 miles)

A zigzagging road with countless switchbacks, endless views, and steep climbs, the Beartooth Highway seems to have changed little since Civil War General Philip Sheridan led 120 men along the route. Certainly, the views are the same: snow-topped rocky mountains, the bluest of blue skies, and bypasses through Custer National Forest, Shoshone National Forest, and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. No wonder longtime road tripper Charles Kuralt, the late CBS correspondent, called it “the most beautiful drive in America.” Note that the road is only open mid-May through mid-October.

Where to stay to start your journey: The Pollard Hotel, Red Lodge

Runner-up road trip: Pierre to Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Best Out-of-This-World Road Trip: Dark Sky Parks, Panguitch to Torrey, UT

Route: Scenic Byway 12 (270 miles)

Utah has 15 certified International Dark Sky Parks, so why not create a road trip to all of them? In addition to the well-known Bryce Canyon, other parks with an IDA-certified designation include Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, Cedar Breaks, and Kodachrome Basin. Along the way, you can glamp in a Conestoga wagon and yurt. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can start at Zion and make your way through the state’s five national parks, ending at Arches in Moab.

Where to stay to start your journey: Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale

Runner-up road trip: Phoenix to Sedona, Arizona

Best Mountain Road Trip: Beaver Creek to Keystone, CO

Route: Interstate 70 (70 miles)

Whether you’re planning an epic ski vacation or an outdoor adventure trip to these mountains off-season, the Rocky Mountains are your best bet for a mountain road trip. Start in Beaver Creek and then head to Vail. During summer Vail is home to “Epic Discovery,” where you can zip-line, alpine coaster, summer tube, and more. Make stops at Cooper Mountain, Frisco, and Breckenridge, then end in Keystone. Just don’t leave without having dinner at the Ski Tip Lodge.

Where to stay to start your journey: The Osprey at Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek

Runner-up road trip: Asheville, North Carolina to Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Ashley Rossi contributed to this article.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The post The 10 Best Road Trips in the US appeared first on SmarterTravel.

But if you’re looking for something a little different for your travel-happy dad, here are eight non-traditional maps that would make great gifts for Father’s Day in just a few weeks:

Wall Decor

Here’s a gift that provides a surprise twist: Etsy vendor Bombus cuts letters out of solid wood and then lacquers onto them maps of locations of your choosing. Select maps that have personal meaning to your Dad — he probably won’t notice them at first but then will likely be touched by the personalization. Cue the watery eyes.

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Smartphone Case

This iPhone holder is a beauty — it’s a rubber bumper case with a world map cover engraved walnut. This case support wireless charging and has options for personalization—just message the seller.

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Clock

Art vendor ArtPause puts a modern spin on the world map by rendering it in watercolor and then digitally manipulating the design. The result is a sleek, colorful map that looks vibrant against the white background of this circular clock.

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Corkboard

This is a cool gift for an office: A cut-out corkboard in the shape of a map. It stretches more than three feet wide.

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Personalized Passport Cover

Get dad something that will last a lifetime with this handmade leather passport cover and luggage tag from Etsy. You can personalize the products to have dad’s name or initials and chose the stain color for the final product. While the seller defaults to the World Map stamp, you can chose from a variety of designs at checkout.

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Cufflinks

Sterling silver-plated cufflinks depict a rendition of the historic “New and Accurate Map of the World,” which dates back to 1626 and is thought to be one of the first ones published in English.

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Beer Stein

Nice to pair with a six pack of brews from different countries, this hefty stein with a colorful, geometric world map and a frosted finish holds 16 ounces.

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Tie

A Father’s Day shopping list wouldn’t be complete without a tie. This one isn’t a cliche, though: It’s a tasteful ivory-colored silk tie painted with a vintage map.

Shop Now

The post 8 World Map-Inspired Gifts for Father’s Day appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Rattling ice machines. Dinging elevators. Bachelorette parties down the hall. The sleep gods have their work cut out for them if you’re expecting to snooze well while staying at a hotel.

We’ve compiled one of the most comprehensive guides available to sleeping in a hotel, covering everything from what you should ask when you’re booking the room to how you can swiftly take care of noisemakers so you can get back to sleep.

When Making Your Reservation

1. Ensure that you get a quiet room. Two requests that are absolutely vital and pretty widely known when selecting your hotel room: a room on an upper floor and away from the elevators.

2. Book a room midway down a hallway. This is generally the quietest part of the floor, as it’s away from the ice and vending machines, guest laundry facilities, exits, housekeeping closets, and other places where noise can be made.

3. Ask for a room on the concierge or suite level, if the hotel has one. Sometimes those rooms have taller ceilings, giving you a little more air space from the people above you.

4. Avoid rooms facing a pool. While the view might be pretty, pools can be late-night gathering places—despite posted closing times—and noise echoes off water.

5. Ask what time the trash is collected if there are dumpsters or recycling bins outside your windows. If the time is too early for your liking, get a different room.

6. Request a room at the back of a low-rise hotel. They are generally quieter (especially if they’re away from the parking lot). Even if the view is poor, the peace is worth it.

7. Get a room at least two or three levels above banquet rooms, bars, or other public spaces if the hotel has them. You’d be surprised how many floors a pulsating and thumping bass beat can penetrate.

8. Ask if the hotel is undergoing or has recently completed renovations. Usually these are done in segments—a floor or section at a time. You want to avoid floors that are adjacent to those currently being updated. But you do want to be on a floor that has finished being renovated—which will usually be cleaner, smell better, and have newer beds and linens.

9. Inquire whether guestrooms have blackout shades. These are the heavy, thick curtains that keep the light out, and you want to have them.

10. Make sure yours is a non-smoking room. If you’re not a smoker, the scent of old cigarette smoke will keep you from feeling at ease (awake or asleep).

11. Ask about pillow options. If you’re vulnerable to neck or back pain from using the wrong pillow, find out if pillows with different levels of firmness are available. Some hotels stock firmer ones in guestroom closets, or have a secret stash at the front desk. If the hotel doesn’t offer what you need, consider bringing yours from home.

12. Request two beds if you’re traveling with a friend. You’ll get a more peaceful night’s sleep if you snooze alone than you will if you bunk with someone you’re not accustomed to being next to.

Packing for Your Stay

13. Pack earplugs. Uncomfortable as they can be, wadding little bits of foam in your ears is far less annoying than being kept up all night by noise. Better yet, invest in Bose’s Noise Masking Sleepbuds which play soothing sounds to cancel out noise and let you sleep. You can also bring your own travel-size white noise machine, download a white noise app onto your smartphone, or stream white noise from your laptop on a free website like SimplyNoise.com.

14. Bring an eye mask. They are for your eyes what earplugs are for your ears—and they’re especially important if your room doesn’t have blackout curtains. Look for ones that are contoured so they don’t restrict your eye movements during deep sleep.

15. Pack a sleep sack if you tend to worry about the cleanliness or comfort of your hotel linens. They also are helpful for folks with skin sensitivities who are worried about the detergents or bleach used to clean hotel linens.

16. Spray your room. The chemicals used to clean hotel rooms or launder sheets can be a little overpowering. Add your own scent with a spritz or two of a gentle linen spray you bring from home. (Consider one with a lavender scent, which is known to be soothing; here’s one travel-size option from Amazon.)

Flite Mate Ear Plugs

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Cat Eye Mask

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Therm-a-Rest Compressible Travel Pillow

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Preparing to Hit the Hay

17. Don’t read, eat, or work in bed. Admittedly, this is not always possible, as seating can be limited in a hotel room. But try not to use your bed to do anything but sleep.

18. Don’t eat a large or overly rich dinner late at night. A belly that’s churning away digesting a big meal interferes with your ability to sleep soundly.

19. Abstain from alcohol. Although alcoholic beverages can help you fall asleep faster, even a moderate dose of alcohol right before bed can cause your sleep quality to suffer.

20. Sip tea. A small cup of chamomile tea or other warm, non-caffeinated beverage can induce sleep. Don’t drink too much though, or else you’ll need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

21. Silence your cell phone notifications, especially if you’re in a different time zone than your friends and family. People could be trying to contact you when you’re trying to sleep. Turn off notification sounds for texts, emails, and calls before you go to bed so you’re not disturbed.

22. Take a melatonin. This supplement mimics the natural hormone that your body produces to go to sleep. According to Dr. Aleksandar Videnovic, Principal Investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Sleep Center, “Melatonin helps our body recognize when it’s time to sleep, and it can be very helpful in alleviating symptoms of jet lag.”

Just Before Bed

23. Hang the “do not disturb” sign on the outside doorknob. This is especially important if you’re planning to sleep in. Some housekeepers start their service at 8 a.m. or earlier. If your room doesn’t have a “do not disturb” sign, request one from the front desk.

24. Set backup wakeup calls. How many times have you set an unfamiliar alarm clock, only to wake up the next morning in a rush because it never went off (or awakened in the middle of the night worrying it wouldn’t work)? For greater peace of mind, use two alarms—such as the hotel’s wakeup call service, your cell phone, a wristwatch, or a travel-sized alarm clock. Even if you’re not using the hotel’s alarm clock, check it to make sure the previous occupant of the room didn’t set it to go off at an early time.

25. Take a warm bath. The relaxation can help you sleep better.

26. Adjust the room temperature. According to Sleep.org, most people sleep best in temperatures between 60-70 degrees.

27. Read a non-suspenseful paper book or magazine. Avoid the TV, smartphones, and laptops, as they emit an artificial blue light that can have a stimulating rather than soporific effect. An e-ink e-reader, like the Kindle Paperwhite is a travel-friendly way to read without blue light.

28. Try a meditation exercise that’s designed to induce sleep. There are plenty of apps out there (such as headspace)  that will guide you through nighttime meditations to help you relax.

Once in Bed

30. Breathe deeply. Being out of your element can be stressful. Take some deep, slow breaths before bed to help you relax and unwind tense muscles.

31. Don’t wait to report noise. Hotel rooms have notoriously thin walls, and your neighbors may not realize their conversations are crystal clear to you. Sometimes a quick pound on the wall will do the trick to quiet down a noisy neighbor. (See: When the Hotel Guest Next Door Won’t Shut Up.) If you’re not comfortable doing so, just ring the hotel front desk. They’ll phone the guest or send security personnel to the room with a warning. Excessive noise or repeated warnings could result in the guest being asked to leave.

32. Ask to move rooms. All hotels should give a guest the option of relocating to a quieter room if uncontrollable noise—such as traffic, a humming ice machine, or the elevator—is persistent. Of course, it’s not exactly peaceful to have to pack up your belongings and relocate in the middle of the night, and the hotel might be sold out. But if you’re staying in a hotel for multiple nights, this could be an ideal solution.

33. Get out of bed if you can’t sleep. This is a good all-around rule, for traveling or at home. Rather than tossing and turning, get out of bed, turn on a low light, and read a mindless magazine until you’re ready to try again.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 12 Hotel Hacks That Will Save You Money
• How to Find a Clean Hotel Room
• Ditch the Hotel: 10 Cheaper Ways to Stay
• 6 Lies Your Hotel Might Tell You

Bose Noise-Masking Sleepbuds

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PolarBlack Bamboo Sleep Mask

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Nightingale Sleep System

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Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post 33 Ways to Sleep Better at a Hotel appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Dreaming of a summer trip to Europe? If so, here’s the bad news: So is everyone else. Thanks to warm temperatures and school vacations, summer flights to Europe are in high demand — and priced accordingly. But here’s the good news: Relatively reasonable rates are available for travelers willing to take the time to seek them out.

With a little research and flexibility, you could save several hundred dollars on the price of a ticket. In addition to the following tips, the best advice we can offer is this: If an airline does happen to cut prices or offer a discount on summer flights to Europe, don’t sit on it and wait for an even better fare. Whip your credit card out and grab that deal.

Aside from the rare last-minute bargain, airfares nearly always go up as your travel date approaches. As we noted in Want the Lowest Fare? Here’s When to Book, the best time to purchase Europe flights is at least three months in advance — so the later in the summer you can travel, the better.

Another reason fares are lower in late August: Many students and teachers are headed back to school, making for slightly lower demand.

Unless there’s a specific and unchangeable reason why you have to be in Europe on a certain day, be flexible on your travel dates. Use a flight search site such as Kayak or TripAdvisor Flights and select the “flexible travel dates” option. For example: When I searched for a flight from New York to Paris during the first two weeks of July, the difference between the lowest and highest prices was $271.

However, keep in mind the additional costs that may come along with an earlier departure or later return. Will you have to pay for additional hotel nights and meals, for example? Do the math to determine if leaving earlier or returning later would be worth it — or if an earlier-than-planned return home would save you even more money.

For the aforementioned New York-to-Paris flight, the lowest-priced flight was on a Tuesday. Midweek flights tend to be cheaper across the board. Aim for Tuesday or Wednesday departures and returns.

This rings especially true if you’re planning to go to Central or Eastern Europe — flying to Western European cities tends to be much cheaper, and then you can connect with flights on one of dozens of European discount airlines. (Learn more about international discount airlines.)

London especially is one of the most affordable hubs in Europe, with a plethora of no-frills airlines — easyJet and Ryanair among the longest-running, most popular and best priced. Frankfurt and Amsterdam are two others.

Let’s say you’re planning to spend a week in Poland. Flights from Boston to Krakow in mid-July are priced at $1,265 including taxes and fees, but flying from Boston to London on the same dates is only $657. Using Skyscanner.net — the best website to aggregate flights on Europe’s discount airlines — we turned up a rate of $133 roundtrip for Ryanair flights between London and Berlin (and that’s expensive for Ryanair; we’ve seen rates as low as 20 bucks!).

Of course, there are a few caveats. Flights from the United States usually land at London’s Heathrow International Airport, while Ryanair flies out of Stansted Airport 65 miles away — so you’ll have to connect via shuttle bus and plan on extra travel time. And the budget airlines tend to have much stricter luggage weight limits and smaller maximum sizes for carry-on bags than the big airlines.

As in the tip above, maybe it’s worthwhile to consider other airports besides the one closest to your house. Could you save a couple hundred dollars by driving to Montreal for your departure instead of flying out of Ottawa?

Shop Around

Don’t just visit one booking site such as Expedia or Kayak and call it a day. Such sites can be a useful starting point to get an overview of which airlines fly your intended route, but you should also check individual carrier websites as well as lesser-known sites such as Vayama.com (which specializes in international flights) and Momondo.com (an aggregator site that Frommer’s recently deemed “the best place to find the cheapest airfares every single time“).

You probably already receive the weekly email blasts and special offers that airlines send out, but don’t expect miracles from them; so many people receive them that it can be hard to nab a deal when it’s available. Better yet is to track your desired flight paths through sites like Airfarewatchdog (SmarterTravel’s sister site) or Kayak.com.

Things change at a moment’s notice in the fast-paced, algorithmically driven business of determining airfare, and Twitter is a good place to keep up with it. A few feeds we’ve been following lately to monitor airfare include: @airfarewatchdog, @traveldeals, @SecretFlying and @TheFlightDeal. (While you’re at it, don’t forget to follow Smarter Travel on Twitter too!)

Package deals that include lodging and/or rental cars can often save you money over purchasing all the elements of your trip individually, especially if you’re flying into and out of different cities.

For example, I found a nine-night trip to Eastern Europe, including New York-to-Prague and Budapest-to-New York flights, nine nights’ hotel, breakfast, train fare between cities and hotel taxes, for $1,416 per person through EuropeanDestinations.com. The flight alone costs $892 per person on Expedia; nine nights’ worth of hotel accommodations would easily add up to more than $754 ($377 per person), even before you factor in train fare or breakfast.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 10 Ways to Survive a Long-Haul Flight
• 5 Things You Shouldn’t Wear on a Plane
• How to Get the Best Airplane Seat

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

The post 9 Ways to Save on Summer Flights to Europe appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Increasing concerns over the risk of being arrested and detained in North Korea have led the U.S. Department of State to restrict Americans from traveling there. The ban is expected to go into effect on September 1.

“The safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas is one of our highest priorities,” State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement.

North Korea Travel Ban

The announcement came after an American traveler died earlier this summer, days after being released from incarceration in North Korea. Arrested during a tour in January 2016 for trying to steal a poster, university student Otto Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labor; he died days after being returned to the U.S. in a coma in June.

Tour companies operating in North Korea had been weighing restrictions on Americans since Warmbier’s death. Young Pioneer Tours, the outfit Warmbier traveled with, stated it would not accept Americans any longer. Uri Tours was in the process of reviewing its policy on Americans, tour manager Elliott Davies said, when the new ban was announced.

The restriction is unfortunate, said Brian Saylor of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, who arrived home after a tour of North Korea just days after Warmbier died. He traveled with Uri Tours.

“Don’t get me wrong: I was apprehensive on that trip,” said Saylor, a 40-year-old police officer and Army veteran who spent five days in North Korea during a month traveling in Asia. “We get the impression from our own media coverage that this is a dark, oppressive, tyrannical state and that everyone is miserable and starving. But it’s not true.”

While he was there, Saylor said several North Koreans asked him about the Warmbier situation, and about why there was so much tension with the United States. Saylor noted that if the U.S. government is not going to have formal diplomatic relations with North Korea, individuals traveling to the country for tourism, sports, or the arts could engage in citizen-to-citizen dialogue.

Why did he choose to visit North Korea? Saylor was stationed in South Korea during his time in the U.S. Army and later spent a semester studying abroad there. The mystique of the closed country to the north intrigued him, and he finally decided to go to North Korea in spring 2017.

The trip dispelled a number of myths he had in his mind about North Korean people, Saylor said. “You see some cultural similarities between North and South Korea. You see it as one country culturally and linguistically. But they’ve lived a very different economic life for the past 60 years or so.”

Though Americans won’t be able to travel to North Korea, travelers from other nations can still go—and still face ethical quandaries when considering traveling to a regime-run country with oppressive policies. Saylor said he gave thought to that before booking his trip.

“I don’t gloss over human rights issues,” he explained. But ultimately, he decided that tourism—like sports, music, and the arts—serves as “a small gateway to open up some kind of dialogue.”

Such an examination is what the organization Ethical Traveler suggests travelers do when deciding whether to go to a controversial destination like North Korea: Consider how you can minimize negative impacts and maximize positive ones.

“In this case, we mean mindfulness in terms of [whether you are] supporting the regime and in terms of the risk to each individual traveler,” says Ethical Traveler co-founder Michael McColl.

Four categories of Americans may still be able to go to North Korea by applying for an exemption, according to the State Department. The categories are journalists covering North Korea, American Red Cross or International Committee of the Red Cross staff on official business, other aid workers with “compelling humanitarian considerations,” and travelers whose trips are deemed in “the national interest.”

More from SmarterTravel:

• For Your Un-Bucket List: The World’s 10 Most Corrupt Countries
• Travel Alerts vs. Travel Warnings: What You Need to Know
• Culture Shock: How to Cope When You’re Outside Your Comfort Zone

[viator_tour destination=”972″]

The post State Department Bans Americans from Traveling to North Korea appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Having taken three weekend road trips in a row, it’s no wonder my back has been tied up in knots. And an autumn cold came on during this last trip, giving me lots more downtime at a West Virginia Airbnb cabin during the height of fall foliage season than I wanted.

I take good care of myself at home, but traveling requires a different set of healthy habits—ones I need to pay more attention to, even during long weekend getaways and small trips. Here are the articles I’ll turn to next time, and the best travel health tips, from head to toe.

Travel Health Tips for Every Part of Your Body

Avoiding Airplane Colds: Don’t Get Sick After Flying: We’re constantly lectured to stay hydrated on airplanes but rarely told why. It’s because humidity is lower at higher altitudes. This dries out the throat and nasal passages, which are the first lines of defense in preventing colds, explains SmarterTravel’s own Ed Hewitt. Best tip: Sip water throughout a flight to stay hydrated and you’ll be better poised to prevent a head cold.

How to Travel with Neck Pain: Best tip: Pack disposable heat wraps, or bring an empty resealable bag on a plane and ask a flight attendant for ice.

8 Expert Tips to Prevent Backache: If you must lift a heavy bag into an overhead bin, first lift it to seat level, then lift it to the bin. Don’t lift it from floor to bin in one fell swoop. (For more advice, see 7 Tips for Traveling with Back Pain.)

Preventing Traveler’s Diarrhea: Don’t be embarrassed—we’ve all been there. You probably know to tote hand sanitizer, but another good tip is to pack your own bar of soap and keep it in your daypack. Then you can use it at restrooms where soap isn’t provided. (For more advice, see our own guide to warding off traveler’s tummy.)

6 Tips for Traveling with Knee Pain: It’s all about the aisle seat.

Shoe and Foot Care During Travel: I tend to travel with two pairs of shoes—one set of walking shoes and the other a nicer set of flats for the evening. But based on advice from experts, I’ll be switching over to two pairs of super-comfy kicks and alternating them by day. Best tip: Clean your shoes frequently. Clean shoes breathe better.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 18 Surefire Ways to Get Sick While Traveling
• 9 Products to Help You Stay Healthy While Traveling
• Eating Well and Staying Active While Traveling

The post Travel Health Tips from Head to Toe appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Apple picking, corn mazes and fall foliage drives have their charms, but the crisp air and advent of winter beg you to do something more active. Don’t shelve the typical harvest rites of passage — just add to them from our picks for amazing autumn activities around the world.

Biking Acadia National Park’s Carriage Roads

Oil baron John D. Rockefeller Jr. was so enraptured by the beauty of the Maine island called Mount Desert that he commissioned the construction of 45 miles’ worth of carriage paths on it. Today, those paths make for some of the most phenomenal crushed-stone-trail biking in the United States — made even more gorgeous with a curtain of color from fall foliage.

Mount Desert Island is the second-largest island on the Eastern Seaboard (behind Long Island) and is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The carriage trails take bikers over rustic bridges, past secluded ponds and to scenic overlooks framed by white birch, beech and maple groves.

Swimming with Whale Sharks Off the Mexican Coast

Donning snorkeling gear and hopping into the ocean with a fish the size of a school bus is easily one of the coolest wildlife encounters you could ever have. Spotted like dominoes, with a 4.5-foot-wide mouth, whale sharks are docile and curious, allowing humans to swim alongside them and observe their unique filter-feeding habits.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks, with the optimal time in the fall running from mid-September through late October. Water temperatures are in the upper 70’s Fahrenheit.

All outings must be done with a tour operator, most of whom run trips from Cancun, Holbox, the Maya Riviera and Isla Mujeres. Make sure to select an outfit with a solid environmental record.

Guzzling Beer at Oktoberfest in Germany

As synonymous with autumn as Thanksgiving and blisters from raking leaves, Oktoberfest is one of Germany’s biggest exports to the world. Every city has some version of it — Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario, co-host the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany — but the original in Munich remains the largest and most authentic.

Shouldn’t it be called Septemberfest? Back when it first started in the early 1800’s (to honor the Bavarian crown prince’s marriage), Oktoberfest did indeed happen in October. Subsequent celebrations started earlier, and organizers soon realized September weekends tended to be warmer and attract bigger crowds. Thus the majority of the event happens then.

This year, the first keg will be tapped during a ceremony at noon on September 22, and the festivities last until October 7. What do they involve? Smooshing yourself onto long benches at tables under tents and drinking beer from liter mugs bigger than your head. Prost!

Birding in the United States

Motivated by the need to eat and stay warm, birds migrate seasonally along important “flyways” around the world. The United States has many significant migratory paths, with refuges for birds to make vital pit stops each autumn en route to their wintering homes.

If you visit a key wildlife refuge during a peak period, you could potentially see dozens of species in one day. A few noteworthy ones include the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Missouri (best visited from early October through early November), Wisconsin’s Horicon National Wildlife Refuge (early October) and Cape May, New Jersey (October through early November). Some of the best early-fall bird watching is in early September at Sunrise Coast in Maine; flocks arrive as late as the end of November at Point Loma, California.

Must-haves for your packing list: good binoculars, foul-weather gear and reliable walking shoes.

Experiencing Fall Festival Season in Bhutan

Residents of the Land of the Thunder Dragon commemorate the saint who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the eighth century by hosting three- to five-day ritual dance festivals called tsechus. They’re among the biggest social events of the year. While they’re held throughout the year in different districts, October and November see the most.

The festivals involve monks and locals donning masks and colorful costumes and performing mystical, ritual dances. It’s considered an important step in the obtainment of enlightenment to attend these events, so gussied-up Bhutanese families sporting coral and turquoise jewelry and toting bamboo picnic baskets flock to the capital city of Thimphu or to anywhere else the festivals are being held. While serious business is at work, there are also some moments of comic relief, usually provided by big-nosed clowns called atsara.

Taste Testing Truffles at Festivals in Italy

Italy has numerous fall festivals celebrating foodstuffs — chestnuts, wild mushrooms and wine among them — but none takes center stage like the tartufo bianco, or the white truffle. More than three dozen truffle fairs take place throughout northern and central Italy in October and November; you’ll find one happening every weekend — some big and touristy, others intimate and local.

Tuscany, Umbria, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna and Le Marche are regions that have especially popular ones, with Piedmont’s Alba White Truffle Festival the oldest and largest. The San Miniato Truffle Fair is in the namesake medieval Tuscan town midway between Pisa and Florence, and runs the last three weekends of November.

During the fall, truffles are the centerpiece of Italian restaurant menus and tastings. Other events at festivals include donkey races, prize ceremonies for the best-picked truffle, markets, wine tastings, theater performances and marching bands.

Grape Stomping in California

Lucille Ball was hilarious in 1956 when she hesitantly climbed into a barrel full of grapes and began stomping with reckless, slippery abandon, on one of the most beloved episodes of the TV comedy “I Love Lucy.”

Blessedly, the laws of wine-making states around the world prevent producers from creating the nectar of the gods by foot these days. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t give it a try.

About a dozen wine-making regions in California host grape-stomping activities in September and October. Pick your own grapes, then mash them with your piggies in St. Helena. Watch experts juice the competition during the World Championship Grape Stomp during the Sonoma County Harvest Fair in Santa Rosa (October 5 – 7). Other locales feature Italian music accompaniments, bocce ball competitions, country buffet dinners and hayrides.

Whale Watching in South Africa

Technically, October is springtime in the Southern Hemisphere. But the whale watching off the southern coast of South Africa is so spectacular that it’s worth fudging the seasonal calendar for a closer look.

Southern right whales come to the shallow bays and secluded coves around Hermanus to mate and breed. They get so close to the shoreline that you can observe them from terra firma. Grab a prime seat along the cliffs edging Hermanus and you’ll likely see more than a few whales breaching.

Very few cruise boats are allowed in the water at this time, so as not to interfere with mating and breeding. If you want to take a whale watching expedition, look for outfits departing from Cape Town.

The post 8 Unique Ways to Experience Fall appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Because of the country’s immense natural beauty, Norway transportation here isn’t merely a way to get from Point A to Point B. It also serves as an exceptional way to experience the country, perhaps more so than other places you might travel.

It’s quite efficient and reliable, and various forms of public transport often work in tandem to provide seamless connections. For example, a popular unescorted tour called Norway in a Nutshell (NorwayinaNutshell.com) offers an independent itinerary that takes you to the fjords in one day by combining the country’s best train, ferry and bus rides.

However, getting around Norway isn’t cheap, so it pays to plan in advance and search out deals and discounts.

Flying to and Around Norway

Norway is served by more than 50 airports, eight of which are international. Most out-of-country visitors arrive at Oslo Airport, which is 30 miles north of the city and accessible by train, bus and taxi.

Domestic flights are a great option for those seeking to make the most of their time in Norway and for travelers with remote destinations on their itinerary, like the North Cape and Svalbard.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines operates the country’s largest fleet. If you’re flying SAS to Norway across the Atlantic Ocean, check out its “Visit Europe and Scandinavia Airpass,” which can offer impressive flight discounts depending on your itinerary.

Two regional companies, Wideroe and Danish Air Transport, operate smaller fleets; Wideroe offers its own flight pass called the “Explore Norway Ticket.”

Resources:
Dat.dk/en
Sas.no/en
Wideroe.no/en

Renting a Car in Norway

Traveling by car in Norway gives you the freedom to go at your own pace and is generally not difficult. However, winding mountain roads are not for the faint of heart, and drivers heading into the more isolated north, or those who are traveling during the winter months, will need to do a bit of pre-planning before departure.

Most major car rental companies are found in Norway — Hertz, Europcar and Avis among them. Prices can be steep, so shop around online for discounts. You’ll need to be at least 21 years old to rent a car from most companies, and those under 25 will likely pay a surcharge. Many rental companies require that you’ve been driving for at least one year and that you have an International Driving Permit (available from AAA) if you don’t have an EU/EEA license.

Confirm whether the rental is a manual transmission or automatic. If your car pick-up and drop-off locations differ, expect a substantial price increase.

Take advantage of National Tourist Routes, which have visitor centers and viewpoints overlooking the breathtaking scenery along the way.

A few driving tips to keep in mind:

– In the colder months winter tires are required, as snow and ice are common. Smaller roads can close in poor weather conditions.

– There is no need to stop for tolls on main roads; each car has an electronic tag, and rental companies will pass along the charges to you.

– On country roads deposit tolls into clearly marked “honesty boxes.”

– Headlights must be on at all times, and every passenger is required to wear a seatbelt.

– Speed cameras are plentiful and fines are steep, so follow the locals’ example and obey the limit. If you’re pulled over for speeding, expect to pay the ticket on the spot. You should receive a receipt.

– Using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal.

– Norway has extremely strict drunk driving laws and a low legal limit; one beer could put you over.

– Watch for moose along the road, especially in the mountains.

– When traveling in rural areas, gas stations can be few and far between, so top off at every opportunity.

– You must carry a yellow fluorescent vest and a red warning triangle in the event of an emergency; make sure your rental car comes equipped.

Resources:
Europcar.com
Hertz.com
NasjonaleTuristveger.no/en

Norway by Train

The state-owned Norwegian State Railways — NSB for short — is the country’s primary operator, running both local and regional trains. Tickets can be purchased online, by mobile app, by phone or at ticket machines. A surcharge is assessed for passengers who buy tickets after boarding.

When it comes to long-distance train travel in Norway, it pays to plan as far ahead as possible. NSB sells a limited number of discounted minipris tickets. Minipris can be purchased between three months and 24 hours before departure; on long journeys you can save well over 50 percent compared to a standard-priced seat. They are unavailable on certain routes and at peak periods, and aren’t changeable or refundable.

Some trains permit you to upgrade your seats from standard class to “komfort,” which is slightly roomier and provides power outlets along with free coffee and tea, for an additional fee. Two-berth sleepers are a great option for overnight travel. Reserve seats in the family coach to take advantage of the children’s playroom, stroller space and other amenities.

For those planning multiple train trips in Norway, the Eurail Norway pass, which is available for three to eight days of travel within one month, can also provide considerable savings.

NSB’s Bergen line, which begins in Oslo, is one of the highest railways in Europe and a must for those wanting to experience Norway’s natural beauty. The privately owned Flam Railway line takes passengers along one of the world’s steepest and most scenic railways. The 50-minute journey, which passes through 20 tunnels, is considered an engineering feat and one of the world’s best train rides.

Resources:
Eurail.com/eurail-passes/one-country-pass/norway
Nsb.no/en
VisitFlam.com/flam-railway

Norway by Bus

Buses are a reliable long-distance transport mode and, indeed, perhaps your only public transportation option when traveling to Norway’s small, remote towns.

Nor-Way Bussekspress is the largest long-distance company, teaming up with smaller carriers to form an extensive network. It provides connections with trains and ferries too. Express bus tickets can be bought onboard by credit card, but booking online may reward you with considerable discounts. Note that mountain routes are usually suspended during winter months.

Discount carrier Lavprisekspressen offers routes from Oslo to Kristiansand, Trondheim and Stavanger. Tickets can only be purchased online (the website is currently just in Norwegian).

Resources:
Lavprisekspressen.no (Norwegian only)
Nor-Way.no

Norway by Taxi

Taxi rides in Norway are pricey and, thanks to efficient public transport options, easily avoided. Rates vary by company and can be paid by kroner or credit card (just let your driver know in advance). Taxi stands are typically easy to spot in cities; you can also hail a cab on the street or order one by phone. You’re not expected to tip your driver, though some customers choose to round up their bill. Oslo Taxi offers service in the capital, and Norges Taxi is found in several cities.

Resources:
Norgestaxi.no/english
OsloTaxi.no

Norway by Ferry

The only way to visit many of Norway’s isolated islands and coastal villages is by ferry. Ferries are also the best way to experience the country’s dramatic fjords.

The most famous ferry voyage is the Hurtigruten, which runs along the western coast between Bergen and Kirkenes. Roundtrip, the entire route covers more than 2,500 miles, stops at more than 30 ports — most of which are above the Arctic Circle — and takes 11 days. You can extend the journey by hopping on and off or shorten it by joining just a section of the trip.

The 11 ferries that make the voyage vary in age and style, but all include a restaurant and cafeteria, and most can accommodate cars. Though certainly not cruise-ship comparable, the ships and their cabins are comfortable and casual; different features are outlined on the Hurtigruten website. You can book online or call to make reservations. Though the experience isn’t cheap, you can find deals on reservations made well in advance as well as last-minute departures.

There are numerous additional operators of regional car ferries and passenger express boats in Norway, including Norled in western Norway and Senja Ferries in the north. In summer months, arrive early to queue for boarding.

If your travels include other European nations, ferries connecting Norway to Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Faroe Islands are available.

Resources:
Hurtigruten.us
eng.Norled.no
Senjafergene.no

You May Also Like

Oslo Travel Guide
Where to Stay in Norway: Lodging Tips

The post Getting Around Norway: Transportation Tips appeared first on SmarterTravel.

Peru is most often equated with its top attraction, Machu Picchu. The 15th-century Inca city high in the mountains is rightfully one of the most fascinating attractions in the world, but there’s much more to this South American nation than its ancient artifacts.

Peru is an active traveler’s dream, with countless sporting activities throughout the country (sand surfing, anyone?). It’s a country known for its festivals, markets, food, varied landscapes and wildlife. Truly, there is something to keep everyone wide-eyed and occupied.

Check out our list of 10 recommended experiences in Peru; then read our guides on where to stay and how to get around.

Ride a Dune Buggy in the Desert

Just west of the city of Ica is a strange sight: sand dunes emerging from the landscape out of nowhere, with a palm tree-lined lagoon plopped right in the middle. You’d think the scene was created for a Hollywood movie, but it’s completely natural. Local families flock to the lake for day trips, but dune buggy rides on the soaring dunes have become an even more popular attraction.

Nearly every hotel in Ica offers dune buggy rides, as do local tour operators (see Huacachina.com and MysteryPeru.com). Like riding on a roller coaster, you’ll zip up and down and around the sandy dunes for a few hours via the open-air buggies. Some travelers combine the ride with dune surfing. Others go in the late afternoon to take in sunset views from the top of the mounds. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a bandana to cover your nose and mouth are a must, as the sand goes flying during the thrilling desert sprint.

Browse Cuzco’s San Pedro Market

From the outside, the market looks like a dilapidated, shabby building you’d never want to enter. But the San Pedro Market is a dizzying kaleidoscope of noise, color and aromas, and is truly one of the most multisensory and exciting experiences in all of Cuzco. This is an honest-to-goodness, authentic commerce center for locals, who come to buy their food for the week among the seemingly endless stalls of fruits, vegetables, breads, meats and cheeses.

Benches line makeshift restaurants where fried guinea pigs rest on Styrofoam plates. Children weave among the locals, drinking freshly made juice and eating homemade gelatins. Around one corner, you might run into piles of potatoes in colors you’d never imagine; in another, you might spot a table full of donkey snouts. Plan to wander and sample eats for hours.

The marketplace building takes up three blocks off Tupac Amaru and spills out onto the streets. It’s open every day.

Advice from a Traveler Who’s Been There

The Best Cities of South America by Michael Z.
“At over 11,000 [feet] above sea level, Cuzco takes your breath away both literally and figuratively. Nestled in the Andes, this is the continent’s oldest continually inhabited city and a great hub for exploring the magnificent archaeological sites nearby. Cuzco is filled with a diversity of people. Travelers rub shoulders with the progeny of the Incas. Peruvian Spanish mingles with the language of tourists, complemented by the Quechua, spoken by the locals making their living alongside the stepped streets.” Read more!

Monitor Macaws in the Rain Forest

Macaws are what researchers call a “flagship species.” That means that scientists study them in order to glean clues about the health of the surrounding environment. By watching these colorful birds, you can determine how well the Amazon rain forest is doing.

Travelers can aid researchers studying macaws at the remote Tambopata Research Center deep in the Amazon. Accessible only by boat, the center sits on a river where hundreds of parrots and macaws congregate at a clay-lick (where they get essential nutrients from the mud).The work researchers are doing includes studies of blue and gold macaws’ feeding habits, examinations of genetics and parasites, and population counts. Travelers can choose to help with some of the more basic tasks.

The research center has a lodge with 18 rooms and eight shared bathrooms; it can be reserved through PeruNature.com.

Spend the Night on a Floating Island

The Uros people have lived atop floating islands on Lake Titicaca since pre-Incan times. The islands are made of woven reeds called totora that the residents are constantly replenishing. That they’re able to exist on these massive, woven “rafts” is astounding — nothing like it exists anywhere else in the world.

Through a handful of tour operators, such as Titicaca Tour (ToursLakeTiticaca.com) or All Ways Travel (TiticacaPeru.com), travelers can learn about the Uros’ way of life and spend the night with a family in their home. You can help them cut reeds to add to the floating islands, go fishing or help knit sweaters, which is one of the main livelihoods for locals.

Advice from a Traveler Who’s Been There

Unbelievable Peru by John Rybczyk
“The boat ride on Lake Titicaca was long. We heard about the Floating Island, sure, a floating island where people live and work and eat and sleep, sounded good, but a floating island. Well, seeing is believing. I think the first thing that struck me was the colorful clothing the people were wearing and when they explained how they made the ‘floating island,’ it’s unbelievable.” Read more!

Witness the Festival of the Sun

Hundreds of thousands of people converge on Cuzco in June to celebrate Inti Raymi, or the Festival of the Sun. It’s one of the largest gatherings in all of South America, with the pinnacle of the weeklong celebration taking place at the ancient fortress Sacsayhuaman on June 24 (the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere).

The festival honors the Sun God and traditionally helped the Incas feel assured they’d have good crops in the coming year. Banned for a period of time by Spanish conquistadors, who thought the pagan celebration was contrary to the Catholic faith, the event today includes live music and street fairs in Cuzco and an actor-led procession to Sacsayhuaman for a daylong ceremony culminating in dances around bonfires.

Given the volume of people at the festival, lodging can be hard to come by. Book as far in advance as possible, or reserve a package deal.

Advice from a Traveler Who’s Been There

Three Weeks in Peru by Mike6725
“High on [our] list was the local fortress or temple Sacsayhuaman (pronounced ‘Sexy Woman’ by tourists). Another wonderful example of the stonework of the Incas, it took thousands of workers more than 50 years to construct. As impressive as the structure is now, about 80 percent of the stones were removed by the Spanish for use in construction elsewhere.” Read more!

Look for Penguins in the Ballestas Islands

Three tiny islands sit right off the coast of southern Peru. The jagged rocks, with their wind- and wave-carved arches, would normally seem unexceptional, except that they are a vital sanctuary for many species of marine wildlife and birds. In fact, the Ballestas Islands and nearby Paracas National Reserve are frequently called the “Galapagos of Peru” because they harbor such a wide variety of species. Among them: blue-footed boobies, Inca terns, flamingos, fur seals, sea lions, dolphins and endemic Humboldt penguins.

Visitors are not permitted to go ashore, but plenty of boat tours take you near enough to see the wildlife up close. Peru Dream Travel runs excursions from the town of Pisco, while Peru for Less includes the Ballestas Islands on several of its package tours.

Soak in the Chivay Thermal Pools

The town of Chivay is a popular launch point for hikers venturing into the Colca Valley or Colca Canyon (a gorge twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States). Following a long day of trekking or a bumpy bus ride through the mountains, nothing is more soothing to achy muscles than a dip in one of the thermal pools outside Chivay.

La Calera Thermal Waters are manmade pools filled with water collected from nearby springs. It’s not fancy by any means, but the mountain views are priceless. La Calera has five reasonably priced pools, with free towels and lockers available to rent.

Cruise the Amazon River

The second longest river in the world after the Nile, the Amazon snakes its way across three South American countries. Peru is the most popular among the three countries to offer tours via riverboat. The hub of river activity is Iquitos, where tourists board 20- to 60-person ships for weeklong cruises into the upper stretches of the river; you can also hire a driver/guide for a day trip on the river.

The longer trips take you deeper into the river basin to the wildlife-rich Pacaya-Samira Reserve. Shorter trips will reveal some of the wildlife of the rain forest, but mostly you’ll get exposed to human life on the river: locals transporting bananas and other produce to market, illegally harvested trees floating downstream, weathered fishermen paddling themselves in dugout canoes, beer barges that barely seem like they can float. For the most bustling experience, head out onto the river at sunrise or in the late afternoon.

Taste Lima’s Mistura Festival

Peruvian cuisine is the ultimate fusion food; it beautifully melds native cooking with Chinese, Japanese and Spanish influences, among others. Sample everything from traditional dishes to modern nuevo cooking during the annual Mistura Festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of people and is considered the second largest food festival in the world (after the Taste of Chicago).

Everyone from Peruvian farmers to world-famous chefs converges on the fairgrounds in Lima for the weeklong festival, which includes food competitions, classes, demos and lectures. Hundreds of vendors in the Grand Marketplace dole out samples of such items as coffee, quinoa, cocona jam and mashed purple potatoes, and restaurants sell full meals.

The festival is traditionally held in September. Monitor the official website at Mistura.pe.

Best Time to Go to Peru

Roughly speaking, the best time to go to Peru is in May or September — what amounts to the shoulders around the country’s “dry” season. Peru’s weather can be roughly split into wet season (November – April) and dry season (May to October), but there is regional variance depending on whether you’re hiking the highlands (Andes), visiting the Amazon jungle or on the more desert-like coast, which includes Lima. During the dry season in the Amazon basin, the mosquito annoyance quotient reaches its nadir. Meanwhile, Inca trail trekkers will find that the dry season offers the clearest, warmest weather for wandering the landscape and ruins (it still can get to near freezing at night at higher elevations).

Peru on a Budget

Peru is a decently budget-friendly country, with a large cottage industry of hostels and campsites catering to the many backpackers who come to visit the jungle and/or hike the Inca trail. The majority of visitors come to Peru in July and August — so avoiding those months will save you money. Places with significant tourist infrastructure, like Cuzco, gateway city to the Inca Trail, offer plenty of over-priced dining venues, so try to find where the locals eat. The bus system can be a cheap way to get around — but patience (and possibly a motion sickness pill) is a virtue. Be careful when considering certain budget busters, like taking a flight over the famed Nazca lines.

The post Peru Travel Guide: What to Do in Peru appeared first on SmarterTravel.