ATV Jungle Excursion and Beach Break in Costa Maya, Mexico

During our cruise of the Western Caribbean on the Norwegian Jewel, we participated in the ATV Jungle Adventure and Beach Break in Costa Maya. It was an excellent choice.

The ATVs are automatic and super easy to navigate. The course starts off straight and simple (to help beginners get acclimated) and then escalates in difficulty. Check out our video!


Midway through the ride, we had a water break at a pretty outlook area. Our tour guide Daniel told us a bit about Costa Maya and life in the area. Costa Maya is what Cancun was about 30 years ago. Aside from a shopping center at the port and a few private beaches, it's quite underdeveloped. That's a good thing for locals who don't want to be flooded with tourist yet not so great for the economy. As development moves forward, they're playing a balancing act, trying to keep a small-town feel while fueling the economy.

Even bandits need water breaks

Daniel is incredibly kind and helpful so I recommend working with him if you have the option to take the tour.

After the water break we continued the tour. Along the way, one passenger's ATV broke down. It was a minor hiccup. The assistant tour guide switched ATVs with her and he waited for the repair crew to arrive while we continued the tour. Surprises happen so it's nice when the crew is organized enough to handle them.

Overall, the ATV excursion lasts for about 45 minutes. There is a straight paved section, a winding sand track, a bumpy section similar to a pump track for bikes, and then an overgrown jungle and winding trail towards the end. That's where the most photos are taken, so you look all hardcore on your ATV busting through the jungle, hahaa.

There are a few things that you should know to get the most out of your adventure:

• Be sure to wear sunglasses. Aside from blocking the sun, they will keep dust and sand out of your eyes. Oh, and tree branches. 
• The little bandanas that Daniel gave us are optional. After rain, the sand doesn't blow around as much. We didn't really need to wear them. But I imagine that bandanas are really helpful in drier conditions where kicked-up sand could irritate your nose and throat.
• Wear shorts! Some ads for the ATV ride recommended wearing pants. Those who did were hot and miserable.
• Bring a video recorder like GoPro so that you can make your own videos. The pictures that the tour company took came out blurry and were $16 each. Safeguard your memories and save money by taking your own videos and pictures.

I heard saltwater helps locs tighten...?

After the ATV ride we were dropped off at a private resort just for cruise members. The service is exceptionally good (the bathroom attendant was like a second mother, haha). The open bar proved to be a much needed relief from the $12 cocktails on the cruise ship. Drink up!

Note: Food orders do take a while (since large groups arrive at once) so don't wait until you're famished to order. Order ahead and enjoy the beach while you wait.

Snorkeling in Roatan

Captain Bill's boat

We recently cruised the Western Caribbean on the Norwegian Jewel, with stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan, and Belize City! This post gives highlights from the cruise as well as things that we learned as first time cruise ship travelers, including tips for packing and land excursions.

First, the fun stuff! Getting off of the ship and into different countries was the best part about my cruise experience.  Each cruise offers shore excursions once you reach a port. At first, I thought these would be a huge rip-off. (I'm naturally suspicious of things that are too convenient.) But there are plenty of benefits:

• If you're on an official Norwegian Cruise Lines excursion, they're responsible for you. The boat won't leave you if you're running late, which is reassuring in countries where people are on "island time."

  

  At Frenchie's Restaurant

• Many excursions include a bilingual tour guide, the activity, transportation to and from the port, lunch, and some sort of beverages. While the price is definitely a bit higher, it's still a good deal for travelers who don't want to worry about the details.
• Excursions do not include tips for local professionals and they may not include all of the equipment needed for the activity, so be sure to ask the reservation specialist aboard the boat!

One excursion offered is a scuba and snorkeling trips in Roatan, Honduras.  The island is world renown for its scuba diving opportunities, boasting beautiful reefs, ship wrecks and stunning underwater cliffs. I'm not scuba certified yet so my husband and I decided to snorkel first. I LOVED it.

Confession: snorkeling makes me feel like a mermaid. I also prefer it to regular swimming because I don't obsess over oxygen deprivation, haha. Below is a sneak peak from our snorkeling adventure, filmed using GoPro.  This was actually taken during our honeymoon so the Norwegian snorkel sites will differ.

The sexiest dude is my husband, Alejandro. The other guys are Captain Bill and his assistant, whose name escapes me.


It was my first time snorkeling. Even is such shallow waters, I was surprise by how quickly pressure built up in my head. I wasn't used to it so I didn't dive very deep. Next time, I'll be more brave! It took about 20 minutes for me to learn what to do with my hands so I doggy paddled, haha. I look goofy but I'll chalk it up to inexperience.

If you're planning on taking an excursion during your cruise, there are a few things that you should know.

Alejandro, relaxing in the bay

Excursions

• The details provided in the ship's brochures are generally inadequate. Go to the reservations desk and ask questions! 
• Get all of the details of machines that you will operate, such as the number of passengers permitted, drive time available for each passenger, stick vs. automatic, appropriate attire and footwear, etc.
• Get a breakdown of the excursion timeline. We have a seven hour excursion where nearly four hours were spent in transit!
• Understand what is included in each packages as far as drinks, meals, and equipment.
• You'll want cash for tips and souvenirs. Seeking out an ATM while in the US is ideal but the ship may also have an ATM available (check the casino). Just about anything is preferably to ATMs at the ports, which charge high fees and may give you funds in local currency only.
• Most post excursions accept $USD.

Up next, an ATV Jungle Adventure, beach party, river safari and trek to the Lamanai Mayan ruins!

Gardening Can Help You Keep Your New Years Resolution

Small space, big impact. dynamichomeandgarden.com

As we begin the New Year, many people are setting health goals and making weight loss resolutions. One of the easiest ways that we can improve our health is by putting the right foods into our bodies. This doesn't require doing much compared to eating junk foods--still open mouth, insert food, chew and swallow--but it does require changing the way that we think about food.

One way to improve your physical and mental health is by fueling your body with nutritious foods. Make access to healthy foods easier and more enjoyable by starting your own organic garden! Even if it's just a few potted plants on your balcony, you'll trick yourself into making smarter food choices. Here is what I've observed:

• Having your own fruits and vegetables is empowering. It's a constant reminder that you aren't powerless over your health. Your decision matter.
• Taking care of vegetable and fruit plants reminds you about your health at least once a day. It's not a brutal, self-abusing reminder like looking at a scale. Rather, gardens of any size can be beautiful inspirations. These little reminders prompt you to make healthier decisions, even if they're small.
• Once you try your own organic produce, you'll begin to notice a difference in taste compared to conventionally grown foods. You can tell why organic produce may cost more; it's worth the investment. This will make shopping easier if you ever run into sticker shock.
• Working with food-bearing plants reminds us where food should come from and our relationship with it. That knowledge encourages you to be more mindful of food sources and ingredients without a lot of work. Bell pepper and hummus dip is made of, well, bell pepper, chickpeas and spices. What are Oreos made of? Exactly. If you can't answer that or pronounce things in the ingredients list, don't eat it!

  

  This dude grows lots of veggies in little space! urbanorganicgardener.com

All of these mini-revelations popped into my mind during my first season of gardening. It really helped me to make healthier food choices and be more mindful of what I'm putting into my body. It's not perfect. I still have Oreos and Krispey Kreme donuts occasionally but that sort of stuff isn't as damaging when the vast majority of your diet is healthy! 

Remember: food is fuel. Food should benefit our bodies. Foods that hurt you instead of help you, that weigh you down instead of energize you, that end your life sooner instead of increasing your vitality are foods that aren't doing you any favors. Kick them out and form a relationship with foods that will love you back!