Matador Network's Blog, page 520

Iconic travel host Samantha Brown talks accessibility and the reality of travel TV

The thrills and pleasures of travel are timeless, but the way we explore the world, and the lens through which we experience it, evolves over time. It’s an evolution that’s evident in travel TV. Many who love travel today grew up watching Rick Steves and Samantha Brown, and fondly remember the hosts guiding them through beautiful and luxurious destinations that were then silently added to bucket lists. Some may also remember being in awe of these hosts and their dream jobs, and silently told themselves, “I’m gonna do that one day.”

Well, much has changed since those innocent days in front of boxy 21-inch TV sets.

Destinations like Paris, London, Bangkok, Barcelona, and Tokyo have been covered ad nauseum on TV and in guidebooks — not to mention social media. Landmarks like Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, Alcatraz, and the Great Wall of China have been so well illuminated and dissected that it can feel like you’ve been there even if you haven’t.

Which may be one reason why the way people travel and how the media covers travel has largely shifted from destination-focused stories to people-focused stories. And that goes just as much for travel publications like Matador Network as it does for travel journalists like Brown, who has inspired so many others over more than two decades of work.

Known for her shows like Great Hotels, Great Weekends, and Passport to Europe, Samantha Brown’s newest venture is called Places to Love, and it’s the embodiment of newly-evolving travel values. The show, which airs on PBS, spotlights the people and cultures that give destinations their distinct personalities.

“I really wanted to focus more on people and the idea that there’s an effort that goes into creating the soul of a place, and that effort comes from its people,” Brown said in an interview on Matador Network’s No Blackout Dates podcast. She also added that it’s about “not being a consumer anymore,” but is instead about “really transforming into more of a community member.”

Within the context of the show, that means focusing on local artists, restaurant owners, archaeologists, and others who give both meaning and purpose to a destination’s beauty. It’s a far cry from simply pointing a camera at the Eiffel Tower and rattling off facts about its construction. Brown believes this more ground-level, intimate exploration of other cultures is the future of travel.

Brown also discussed the unprecedented accessibility of the travel industry. The advent of YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok allows “you to see a much greater diversity of people showing travel…not only diversity of color, but also abilities,” she said. It’s given those kids sitting in front of their boxy TVs a multitude of platforms to finally live out their dream job – or at least have a fighting chance to do so.

For the full interview with Samantha Brown, where she discusses everything from the behind-the-scenes of travel shows to packing hacks, check out the No Blackout Dates episode wherever you like to listen to podcasts.

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This plane allows you to have sex

Air travel just got a whole lot sexier thanks to Love Cloud, a plane charter company that’s inviting frisky fliers to get it on exactly 5,280 feet above Las Vegas.

The company, which brands itself as a “romantic scenic air tour” operator, offers three types of private charter: a Mile High Flight that can be booked for 45 minutes ($995), 60 minutes ($1,095), or 90 minutes ($1,495); a Romantic Dinner Flight that comes with either one or three courses ($1,295 and $1,595, respectively); and a Wedding Vow or Renewal Flight that lasts 45 minutes and costs $1,195, including a minister’s fee. For an extra $300, couples can tack a Romantic Limo Package onto any of the charters, which will have them shuttled to and from their aircraft in style.

Of the three, the Mile High Club Flight is Love Cloud’s hottest seller, founder Andy Johnson told The New York Times. While the flight was designed with duos in mind, the Times also reports that groups of up to four people have booked Mile High charters for an extra $200 per person.

If the thought of having sex in a cramped, questionably clean airplane bathroom never quite revved your engine, Love Cloud’s classier setup might just do the trick. The cabin is decked out with mattresses, red satin sheets and pillows, and a curtain sectioning off the flight deck, where the pilot is outfitted with noise-canceling headphones.

Though there’s a good chance passengers will be too, ahem, busy to appreciate the scenery during their escapades, the flight itself is actually pretty cool. Daytime flights offer views of the Las Vegas Strip, Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, and Lake Meade while night flights hover over the city to see the Strip all aglow. If looking out at the Hollywood sign mid-cuddle is more your thing, Love Cloud now operates a Mile High Flight over Los Angeles, too.

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Best Inca sites in Peru

Peru is best known as the home of Machu Picchu but there is an endless list of other amazing archeological sites to visit in Peru’s Cusco Region.

For the past twenty years, René Pilco Vargas has been excavating archeological sites in and near Cusco. He studied archeology at the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco and at the Universidad Mayor de San Marcos de Lima. He says that while Machu Picchu should be on your list if you’re coming to Cusco, there are also dozens of other Inca archeological sites that are worth your time and that you can drive to or access with a short walk or day hike. Here are the top 15 that Pilco Vargas says you should try to fit in your visit to Peru’s Cusco region.

Note: Some of these sites Cusco archeological sites are free, some have separate entry fees, and some are included in the Boleto Turístico de Cusco, also called the BTC. The full BTC includes sixteen sites in both Cusco and the Sacred Valley and costs s/130 PEN (about $34 USD). A partial ticket for either the sites in Cusco or the Sacred Valley costs s/70 PEN (about $18 USD). The Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN) is a volatile currency, so always check the current exchange rate when planning your trip.

Top 15 Inca sites in and near Cusco:SacsayhuamanQoricanchaOllantaytamboPisacInkilltamboHuchuy Q’osqoMaukallaqta & Puma O’rqoMorayChincheroTemple of the Moon & Monkey TemplePiquillaqtaWaqra PukaráQ’enqoTambomachayPuka Pukará1. Sacsayhuaman

Photo: Heather Jasper

Sacsayhuaman is the giant Inca archeological site that looms over the city of Cusco. While the site is called a fortress in most history books, Pilco Vargas explains that it was more of a ceremonial temple. Ceramics and other artifacts from throughout Tahuantinsuyu (the Quechua name for the Inca Empire) were found there, leading archeologists to conclude that it was a place where ritual offerings were made.

The walls are so impressive that it’s easy to understand the confusion. Sacsayhuaman was much bigger, before the Spanish dismantled most of it and used the stones to construct their own buildings and churches. However, the massive stones that the Spanish weren’t able to move give you a good idea of what it was like before. Several are estimated to weigh over 100 tons with the largest estimated at 125 tons. The shape of Sacsayhuaman was designed to be the head of a puma, with the city of Cusco below shaped as the body.

How to get there: You can take a taxi from anywhere in Cusco up to the site, or you can walk up the picturesque Calle Siete Borreguitos and follow the stairs to the back entrance gate of Sacsayhuaman. This route takes you by the Sapantiana Aqueduct, though it does include lots of stairs and shouldn’t be attempted on your first day at altitude. The Sacsayhuaman archeological site is 11.6 square miles, so don’t expect to see all of it in the typical one-hour tour. Guides are readily available but not required to enter the site.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: Sacsayhuaman is part of the BCT, and is included on the Cusco City Tour. The main gate opens at 7:00 AM and closes at 5:30 PM. Some areas are accessible without entering any gates or needing the BTC. Only the main sections of the site are wheelchair accessible on dirt and gravel trails.

2. Qoricancha

Photo: Heather Jasper

In Quechua, “qori” means gold and “cancha” is a wall or enclosure. The wall surrounding the Qoricancha was plated with gold when the Spanish first arrived. Today the wall still stands, though the gold has long since been stolen. Pilco Vargas explains that Andean society was organized with duality in everything. Cusco and other cities were divided in the upper half, “hanan” and the lower half, “hurin”. These two Quechua words explain why there was one important temple, Sacsayhuaman, above the city and another further down, the Qoricancha.

The Spanish built the church of Santo Domingo on top of the Qoricancha, but inside you can still see the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon. The temples are built with classic Inca architecture of perfectly carved stones that fit together like Legos. The sun and moon are represented in most Inca temples as a sacred duality. The Qoricancha is the best place to see another kind of duality: Inca and colonial architecture coexisting in the same space. There are also representations of the Inca agricultural and ceremonial cycles displayed near religious Spanish paintings from the colonial period.

Across the street from the Qoricancha is the Plazoleta de Santo Domingo and the archeological site of Kusicancha. Pilco Vargas says that originally the Qoricancha was much larger. What are now treated as two separate sites, the Qoricancha and Kusicancha, were one temple complex. What is now called the Plazoleta de Santo Domingo was named Intipampa during Inca times.

How to get there: The Qoricancha is an easy walk from the Plaza de Armas or a short taxi ride from anywhere in town.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: The entrance fee is s/15 ($4 USD) for adults and s/8 ($2 USD) for students who have a student ID card with them. Children under ten years old are free. It’s open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM and is wheelchair accessible.

3. Ollantaytambo

Photo: Heather Jasper

Ollantaytambo is now a sleepy little town, but it was once the site of the most famous battle between Manco Inca and invading Spanish forces in 1537. The Inca defended Ollantaytambo as the strategic gateway to Machu Picchu, according to Julio Rivera, licensed guide, and employee of the Ministry of Culture, who has worked exclusively at Ollantaytambo for five years.

Today Ollantaytambo is the most popular site in the Sacred Valley where you can see Inca buildings on the valley floor and impressive terraces leading up to the Sun Temple at the top. The wall that would have been the main part of the Sun Temple was partly destroyed by the Spanish. You can still see the faint outlines of three “chakana” and two puma heads. The chakana is usually translated as an Andean cross, though it represents different levels of existence, rather than the crucifix that the Christian cross represents. Below the Sun Temple are several unfinished walls that would have been the Moon Temple. Ollantaytambo doesn’t quite qualify as ruins because the site itself was unfinished when the Spanish arrived.

How to get there: From Cusco you can take a bus or taxi to the town of Ollantaytambo. Both are available at Puente Grau, five blocks south of the Plaza de Armas. The scenic drive takes about an hour and a half from Cusco to the Plaza de Armas in Ollantaytambo, which is only two blocks from the entrance to the archeological site. It is included in most tours of the Sacred Valley and is also the place where the train departs for Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: The entrance ticket is part of the BTC and is open every day from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The lower parts of the site are wheelchair accessible on dirt trails, but there are only ancient stone stairs leading up to the Sun Temple at the top.

4. Pisac

Photo: Heather Jasper

The Inca ruins at Pisac are a city that was strategically positioned at the opposite end of the Sacred Valley from Ollantaytambo. According to Pilco Vargas, archeologists have uncovered ceramics that date back to pre-Inca civilizations, proving that the site was used long before the Inca dominated the area. Pisac also contains an intihuatana, which Pilco Vargas explains is a sacred stone, usually made from carved bedrock. The word “inti” means sun in Quechua and a “huatana” is a place of attachment. Thus, an intihuatana is where the sun attaches itself to the earth. There are hundreds of intihuatana in the Cusco area, including at Machu Picchu.

The Pisac ruins include wide agricultural terraces, residential buildings, a military lookout, a religious section, and a cemetery. Like all Inca cities, there is a complex system of aqueducts and canals which bring water from nearby mountaintops. Pisac has one of the best examples of an Inca cemetery, which consisted of small tombs cut into a cliff. Unfortunately, they have all been looted, but you can still see how small they were, as people were buried in the fetal position, exiting this world as they entered it.

How to get there: You can take a bus or taxi from Calle Puputi in Cusco to Pisac in half an hour. Calle Puputi is about ten blocks east of the Plaza de Armas, next to Colegio Garcilaso de la Vega. The Pisac archeological site is included in almost every tour of the Sacred Valley.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: There is a gate at the entrance, but no walls or fences around the site. The entrance ticket is part of the BTC and is open every day from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you are there when the site is officially closed, you can usually still walk around, especially early in the morning. The first part of the trail along the tops of the terraces is wheelchair accessible, but the areas with buildings are not.

5. Inkilltambo

Photo: Heather Jasper

Inkilltambo is one of the least known, but best-preserved Inca cities close to Cusco. You can see the Inca’s signature wide, agricultural terraces, as well as a residential section and a religious section. Inkilltambo has some of the best-preserved storerooms, called ccolca, in the area. You can still see the ventilation system that kept the storerooms cold and dry. The ability to store food and transport preserved food around Tahuantinsuyu was one of the elements that gave the Inca so much organizational power.

According to Pilco Vargas, Inkilltambo didn’t receive any restoration work until 2005. At that time the Ministry of Culture funded a large-scale project led by several archeologists. Today there are still very few signs to explain what you are seeing, and those signs are mostly in Spanish. Pilco Vargas hopes that the Ministry of Culture will take a renewed interest in the site soon to make it more accessible to visitors.

How to get there: It’s a 20-minute taxi ride from the Plaza de Armas to the trailhead. The trail takes about half an hour and slopes gently uphill, following a stream. On the way, you pass two Inca kilns and a site named Huchuy Choquequirao. This is a stack of circular terraces used as an astrological observatory and as a site for ceremonies related to the movements of the stars. You can also have a taxi take you on a dirt road to the top of the ruins, from where you can walk down.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: There is no entrance fee, nor any gates or fences to close it at night or on holidays. It is not wheelchair accessible.

6. Huchuy Q’osqo

Photo: Heather Jasper

The Inca Wiracocha had this miniature city made for him and the Quechua name translates to “Little Cusco.” When the Chanca people were attacking Cusco, Wiracocha retreated to Huchuy Q’osqo, abandoning Cusco. A common soldier heroically led Cusqueñians to victory and was subsequently named Inca, after which he took the name Pachecutec. The Inca Pachecutec is one of the most well-known Inca and was responsible for building thousands of temples and towns, the most famous being Machu Picchu.

According to Pilco Vargas, the original name of Huchuy Q’osqo was Hakiapicahuana. “Hakia” means lightning and “picahuana” is a lookout or viewpoint. When the Inca Wiracocha had the place redesigned as a miniature version of Cusco, the name changed. However, geographically it is the perfect place to watch lightning storms roll through the Sacred Valley.

How to get there: Huchuy Q’osqo is one of the most difficult sites to access, though it is well worth the effort. You can walk uphill from Lamay, which is near Pisac and about an hour drive from Cusco. From Lamay, cross the river to where the trail starts. It’s only three miles long, but very steep and gains over 2,000 feet of elevation. Alternatively, you can walk downhill from either Chinchero or Patabamba, which is about six miles. Taxis to both towns are available in Cusco.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: On arrival you will be greeted by the guardians who live on site and will sell you the s/10 ($3 USD) ticket. There are no gates around the site, which is open every day of the year. This can be done as a full-day hike but there is also a camping area, and nearby are local families who rent rooms and cook meals for travelers. It is not wheelchair accessible.

7. Maukallaqta & Puma O’rqo

Photo: Heather Jasper

Like Inkilltambo, Maukallaqta has not yet made it to the tourist circuit. It’s out of the way enough that it has not been as looted as many other Inca sites. You can still see pottery and molds used to make silver plates. The city is one of the oldest Inca sites and, across the valley, is the famous cave Puma O’rqo, where the Ayer brothers emerged. The Ayer brothers are part of the founding myth of the Inca and a fascinating read.

Pilco Vargas explains that “mauka” means ancient and “llaqta” means town. There are dozens of sites named Maukallaqta in Peru, though this is the one that is related to the Ayer brothers and the beginning of Inca culture. Considering how extensive Tahuantinsuyu was, many different ethnic groups were under Inca control, though they retained their own culture and beliefs. Each ethnic group had their own origination myth and their own Maukallaqta, the place where their people began or were created.

How to get there: To get there, drive to the town of Yaurisque, about an hour south of Cusco on the road to Paruro. From Yaurisque, it’s a 20-minute drive on a dirt road to the trailhead. From the trailhead, it’s only a 15-minute walk, mostly flat, to the entrance to the archeological site. Some locals rent horses in Yaurisque, so you can ride directly to Maukallaqta.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: There is a guardian at the entrance to the site and the price is s/10 ($3 USD) per person. There are no gates or fences, so you can still enter if the guardian isn’t there. You can access the area by horse, but not with a wheelchair.

8. Moray

Photo: Heather Jasper

One of the many marvels of Tahuantinsuyu was their mastery of agriculture in so many diverse ecosystems. Moray is a naturally formed basin which the Inca modified to create a series of terraces. Each terrace that descends into the bowl is warmer than the one above, providing a perfect greenhouse. Archeologists have found evidence of hundreds of kinds of crops, many of which were probably hybridized here so the Inca could continually improve the yearly yield that they depended on.

How to get there: The site is a half hour drive from Urubamba and is included in most Sacred Valley tours. There are also tours that include Moray with Maras, which is an interesting historical and cultural place, though not an archeological site.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: Moray is open every day from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM and the entrance ticket is part of the BTC. Most of the site is wheelchair accessible on a dirt trail.

9. Chinchero

Photo: Heather Jasper

Arriving at Chinchero, what most people notice first is the grand vista of the glacial peaks that line the horizon. These are some of the most important apus, as sacred mountains are called in Quechua. Chinchero is at a higher altitude than Cusco, on a plateau between Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The Inca ruins at Chinchero were part of a palace for the Inca and they couldn’t have been better placed, considering the view. There is now a Catholic church on top of the ruins, another example of how two belief systems continue to coexist.

The ruins consist of buildings that are right next to the church and wide agricultural terraces descending along a stream below the church. If you’re not interested in the church and the main area of ruins, you can walk downhill from the market and visit just the agricultural terraces. The Chinchero market, a traditional Peruvian market, draws locals from several nearby villages.

How to get there: Taxis and buses to Chinchero are available in Cusco at Puente Grau and on Jirón 21 de Mayo. The archeological site is only included in a few Sacred Valley tours, though many tours visit the weaving shops in the town. Some of these shops are billed as cooperatives, though the only weaving cooperative still functioning in Chinchero is The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: Both the church and the ruins are part of the BTC and are open every day from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM There is a person checking tickets at the entrance near the church. The church is still active, and services are held on Sunday morning. If you walk downhill from the market, there is neither a gate nor place to check tickets for the terraces. The site is not wheelchair accessible.

10. Temple of the Moon & Monkey Temple

Photo: Heather Jasper

Many ethnic groups inhabited the Cusco valley before the Inca came to rule the land, so when they came to power, there were already numerous temples like the Temple of the Moon and the Monkey Temple. As with almost all pre-Inca sacred sites, they were then appropriated, modified, and used by the Inca. The Temple of the Moon is a massive outcropping of limestone, with carvings on top, covering the sides and in the caves underneath. Only one of the caves is accessible to the public and it is still used for offerings today. The shelves carved into the cave walls are covered with coca leaves, incense, and other offerings left by Peruvians who still follow their ancestral traditions.

Pilco Vargas explains that though it is commonly called the Temple of the Moon today, the original name was Amarumarkawasi. In Quechua, “amaru” is a snake and “wasi” is a house. Hence, the former name means “the house of the snake.” There is a smaller archeological site called the Monkey Temple, which is just downhill from the Temple of the Moon. Neither site has interpretive signs explaining what you are seeing.

How to get there: The Temple of the Moon requires some walking. From the San Blas neighborhood in Cusco, walk uphill along the Qhapaq Ñan, which is the network of Inca trails that linked all four corners of Tahuantinsuyu. You can drive up to the Temple of the Moon, but you will miss the Monkey Temple. Taxis are available anywhere in Cusco.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: There is no entrance fee or gates around this site. Only a small part is wheelchair accessible on a dirt trail.

11. Piquillaqta

Photo: Heather Jasper

Piquillaqta is an extensive city, built in the pre-Inca period by the Wari people. There are two parts to this archeological site, one being the city and the second being the Inca gate. Pilco Vargas is part of a family of archeologists and his relative Remy Pilco has worked for years as an archeologist at Piquillaqta. According to his studies, the site that we see today as an empty city, was full of buildings up to three stories high. Horizontal ladders were used to link upper floors of adjacent buildings.

As with Maukallaqta, in Quechua “llaqta” is a town. “Piqui” means flea. This could have been a condescending Inca name for a place that they conquered but then didn’t use much. The architecture of the town of Piquillaqta is much more primitive than Inca architecture, which would have been typical of Wari builders.

However, the Inca gate that is just south of the Wari town is classic Inca construction with massive stones that fit together perfectly. The Inca gate protects the Cusco valley from invasion from the south. Any travelers coming from the southern parts of Tahuantinsuyu, in what is now the Lake Titicaca region, Bolivia, and Chile, would pass through this Inca gate.

How to get there: From Cusco drive southeast 30 miles along the road to Puno. The main city of Piquillaqta is on the left side of the road. If you pass it, you’ll immediately see the Inca Gate on the right side of the road. This archeological site is included in any South Valley Tour. Taxis and buses are available in Cusco. There is an entrance and guard house at the main archeological site, but not at the Inca Gate.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: The main archeological site is open from 9:00 AM. to 5:00 PM and the entrance ticket is part of the BTC. Some of the dirt and gravel trails are wheelchair accessible.

12. Waqra Pukará

Photo: Heather Jasper

Waqra Pukará is a truly impressive site. From a distance, it looks like a natural rock formation with horns, which is where the name comes from. In Quechua, “waqra” translates to horns or horned and “pukará” means fortress. When you get closer you will see that what looks like a natural cliff is also covered with Inca walls. The area between the horns has been flattened and surrounded by buildings, only some of which remain. You can see an intihuatana, astrological observation points, and boulders that still hold evidence of grinding herbs.

Like many Inca sites, Waqra Pukará was created by pre-Inca cultures and incorporated into the Incan Tahuantinsuyu. During the reign of Inca Wayna Qapaq, it was the site of royal drama. A rogue general, T’ito Qosñipa, and his troops took refuge there after attacking the Inca’s army. After quelling the rebellion, rather than executing him, Wayna Qhapaq decided to send him north to fight the Kañaris in what is today Ecuador. T’ito Qosñipa defeated the Kañaris and brought some of them back with him. Today the last name Cañari is still common in the area.

How to get there: There are three trails to reach the site, and each can be done roundtrip in a day. The easiest trail involves a two-hour drive from Cusco to the village of Sangarará, from where you drive uphill for half an hour to the trail head. The hike takes about three hours each way and crosses a high-altitude plateau before a short descent into the canyon where you get your first view of Waqra Pukará.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: There is a s/10 ($3 USD) entry fee, charged by the guardians who live on site. There are camping areas for those who want to make this a two-day hike, though no bathrooms or other facilities. It is not wheelchair accessible.

13. Q’enqo

Photo: Heather Jasper

This site has interesting caves, where you can see stone tables used for sacrifices and an area that feels like a small amphitheater, with an intihuatana nearby. There are also tunnels, which were used symbolically to link the world of the living with the underworld. The name in Quechua means labyrinth and walking through the carved limestone walls you’ll see why. Look for the channels carved into the rocks, which could have been used to drain away the blood of sacrificed animals or for ritual use of chicha, a fermented corn drink. Several animals are carved into the walls, with figures that look like a monkey and a frog, among others.

How to get there: Q’enqo is very close to Cusco and can be accessed by walking up from the San Blas neighborhood along the same trail that takes you to the Temple of the Moon. You can also take a taxi or the public buses Huerto or Cristo Blanco.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: The admission fee to Q’enqo is included in the Cusco City Tour and part of the BCT. There is an entrance gate, which is opened from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Most of the site is wheelchair accessible on dirt trails.

14. Tambomachay

Photo: Heather Jasper

Tambomachay was the site of a temple dedicated to water and part of the structure remains. The most important features are the water system and the fountains, which still flow year-round. There was also a residence for the Inca, said to have been used for hunting trips.

How to get there: It is possible to walk to Tambomachay, though part of the walk includes a busy road without sidewalks. You can also take the public buses Huerto or Cristo Blanco. It is recommended to hire a taxi or visit with the Cusco City Tour.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility:Tambomachay is part of the BCT and is open 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. It is somewhat wheelchair accessible on a rough stone path.

15. Puka Pukará

Photo: Heather Jasper

Puka Pukará is a Quechua name that translates to Red Fortress. From this former military and administrative center, you have a spectacular view of Cusco and the valley south of the city. Archeologists have uncovered evidence of military barracks and quarters for government officials and messengers. This was also a point of control for the Qapaq Ñan, the system of Inca trails that connected most of South America. When the Inca visited Tambomachay, the soldiers who accompanied him would stay at Puka Pukará.

How to get there: It is possible to walk to Puka Pukará from Tambomachay, which is only about ten minutes away. You can also take the public buses Huerto or Cristo Blanco, a taxi, or visit with any of the agencies that offer the Cusco City Tour.

Price, hours of operation, and accessibility: Puka Pukará is part of the BCT and is open from 7:00 AM. to 5:30 PM. You can view most of the ruins from the outside, though if you enter the site, there is an expansive view of the Cusco valley from the top. There are no walls or gates to close the site before or after hours. Most of the site is wheelchair accessible on dirt trails.

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These are the ‘unacceptable’ things to do to Italian food, according to new poll of Italians

Italian food in America looks much different than it does in Italy — and for good reason. Recipes and eating habits have adapted since the first wave of Italian immigrants arrived on our shores in the early 20th century, introducing their exquisite cuisine and altering the landscape of American food forever. Of course, we’re grateful to those culinary pioneers but we Americans have since made Italian food our own. Still, both home cooks and professional chefs often try to honor original Italian recipes as best they can — but sometimes we miss the mark. Over in the homeland, Italians are taking note — and a new poll by YouGov reveals which “crimes against Italian food” outrage Italian people the most.

First off, Italians actually don’t disapprove of everything non-Italian do with Italian food. The Italians polled by YouGov for instance don’t mind when people eat pizza for lunch (technically, Italians believe pizza should only be eaten in the evening), or when we add meatballs to our spaghetti (a dish that doesn’t actually exist in Italy, but is in fact the creation of Italian immigrants to America). The YouGov survey also polled people from 16 other countries, including the United States and the UK, and perhaps unsurprisingly, people enthusiastically approved of both these things.

Here’s where things get a little more controversial though: Many Italians find “snapping dry spaghetti before boiling it” and “adding plain pasta to a plate or a bowl and adding the sauce afterwards” much less acceptable.

And then there are the cooking techniques and eating habits that they consider “abusing Italian food.”

For example, eating cheese with a seafood dish is a no-go — in Italy the two ingredients are never mixed. That means that you should not sprinkle cheese on top of pasta that includes any seafood element. What else, you ask? A true carbonara should get its creaminess from egg yolks alone; adding any cream to the dish is forbidden. And don’t even think about boiling pasta in cold water — it’s a big no-no among Italians, but that’s probably pretty common practice in many American households. However, if there’s one thing that Americans and Italians can agree on, at least according to this poll, it’s that pineapple does not belong on pizza.

The absolute worst sin that an Italian person could imagine against their cuisine? Using ketchup as a spaghetti sauce. Most Americans polled agreed that this is an unacceptable way to dress pasta, but this is not a universally held opinion: People from Indonesia and Hong Kong support using ketchup as pasta sauce; in fact ketchup spaghetti is a popular recipe all over Asia. However, if you don’t want to anger your Italian immigrants, you should probably save the ketchup for the French fries.

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The Dos and don’ts of a manatee viewing expedition, according to a tour operator

The West Indian manatee, which lives in Florida and is a Florida native mammal, isn’t extinct. However, the species faces many threats and is among the state’s most vulnerable. When in contact with a West Indian Manatee or any other manatee, people must be extra cautious and follow certain precautions. To educate their guests on manatees, Florida-based company Epic Paddle Adventures invites guests on tours to view manatees safely on a manatee Airbnb experience, with a goal to inform others about manatees and the threats they face. The hope is that through education comes a call to action, resulting in a general populace that is mobilized to sign the petitions when they circulate and vote for leaders who prioritize wildlife conservation.

In Florida, manatees are found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, and canals. “Manatee season” runs from mid-November through March, and can be later when the springs are warmer. Many environmental threats to the animals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, are harmful to the manatees’ food sources, which consist of plant life in the areas they live.

Epic Paddle Adventures gives guests an adventure plus an educational tour. The company spoke with Matador about how it demonstrates responsible manatee viewings through its manatee Airbnb experience and how this experience is beneficial both for their guests and the manatees themselves.

We hope you love the manatee excursion with Epic Paddle Adventures! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication. See our full Advertiser Disclosure here.

Want to know more about manatees and take on a new adventure of seeing them? You can check out this manatee Airbnb experience.

MATADOR: How did you decide to create an experience around manatees and what has the response been so far?

Epic Paddle Adventures: The first time you see a manatee in their natural habitat, it is just magical. We definitely wanted to recreate that sense of wonder that we felt the first time we saw manatees in Blue Spring. We are “water people” to the core… we love everything about being on, in, and around water. Water, especially in an environment like Blue Spring has such therapeutic and healing qualities for your mind, body, and soul.

Manatees are calm and peaceful marine mammals that pose no danger to people. In fact, they are very curious about humans. Educating our guests on interacting with manatees has become one of our top priorities on our tours. We have been certified as Guardian Guides through the Save the Manatee Club and practice passive observation. Taking guests to see these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat and spend time with them on the water…that’s our idea of an excellent time! Our guests agree and usually say that it has been their favorite activity whilst in Orlando, maybe ever! Overall, it has been a wonderful experience for all involved.

Why is the location where you hold the event perfect for people to get to spot the animals, and what is the perfect location/habitat for manatees?

Blue Spring is a designated Manatee Refuge and the winter home to a growing population of West Indian Manatees. During “manatee season”, which runs approximately from mid-November through March, several hundred manatees congregate together in the spring run-up to the spring head. They choose this spot to warm themselves in the spring´s crystal clear, 73-degree water. The spring is connected to the St. John’s River, where we launch and paddle up the river a short ways to the spring, where we can encounter the manatees leaving and returning to the spring to feed. Manatees can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas — particularly where seagrass beds or freshwater vegetation flourish.

What is the best thing you see when doing this experience with the manatees?

The best thing is the happiness, excitement, and joy on the faces of our guests when they see the manatees. People having a wonderful experience! Oh, and MANATEES!! We also get to observe Florida native birds, turtles, fish, otters, and alligators.

What should people expect when taking your tours to view the manatees?

For the manatee adventure, just like all of our other tours, we specialize in beginner-friendly tours and our staff is guest-centric! So, no matter the experience level, you will have a great time!

What would you like for guests to get out of this experience?

We would like our guests to be able to experience something that they have never done before, feel comfortable and have fun doing it. All while being able to encounter Mother Nature in all its glory!

What should you not do when coming into contact with a manatee?

People are not allowed to touch, feed or give water to manatees. It is against the law and it also encourages behavior that endangers manatees.

What are the best ways to view manatees and what are incorrect ways to view manatees?

We definitely feel the best way to view manatees is from a non-motorized vessel like a paddleboard or kayak, but we are a bit biased there. Incorrect viewing would be any way that would put manatees in harm’s way. An incorrect way to view a manatee would also be engaging in any behavior that disturbs or harasses a manatee. We are in their home and should be respectful of their peace and comfort.

What are your safety requirements when you take people to see the manatees, and how do you ensure animal safety throughout the experience?

We begin each tour with a safety briefing and educate guests on how to do passive observation. We do not crowd or rush toward manatees. We allow the manatees to observe us.

Are there certain behaviors that could throw a manatee off or seem like humans are a threat?

Yes, if you rush toward a manatee, that could make them uncomfortable. Also, putting your paddle in the water while they are close could scare them.

How can we protect manatees and educate others about manatees?

We are actually certified Guardian Guides by the Save The Manatee Club.

Save the Manatee Club’s Guardian Guides Certification is a voluntary recognition and education program offered to ecotourism providers in Florida that promote stewardship of manatees and their aquatic ecosystems. The goal of the Guardian Guides Certification is to eliminate to the extent possible disturbance to manatees from commercial manatee-viewing activities. Manatee-viewing tours can be a platform for education, appreciation, and conservation of this imperiled species. You can help foster these positive actions and prevent disturbance to manatees as a certified Guardian Guide.

Book a manatee Airbnb experience with Epic Paddle Adventures

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Delta is allowing free checked bags to help speed up the boarding process

Usually, checking a piece of luggage with Delta Air Lines costs $30 (or more, if you have several bags). But the airline is now allowing free checked bags for some passengers leaving from Boston Logan International Airport.

Far from being an act of generosity towards travelers, Delta is testing giving free checked bags in the hopes that it will help speed up the boarding process.

It’s currently free to bring one carry-on luggage and one personal items with you in the cabin, and because everyone wants to save $30, we’ve all been cramming our stuff into a 22 x 14 x 9-inch carry-ons. But fitting all those roller bags into overhead bins is a time suck for the airline as it slows down the boarding process. Rather than moving quickly to their seats, passengers clog the aisles trying to find a spot for their belongings, leading to departure delays.

To see if fewer carry-ons in the cabin really is the miracle remedy to boarding sluggishness, Delta will be texting certain passengers flying out of Boston before their arrival at the airport, offering them to check their carry-on for free. The test will run for a few weeks starting this month.

“Just as we’ve tested other airport experience modifications over the years, we are conducting a month-long test on select flights from Boston starting the week of Jan. 31, 2022,” a Delta spokesman said. “Select customers who have shared contact information with Delta will receive a text message before arriving at the airport with a proactive offer to check their carry-on bags. Customers will not be required to pay any additional bag fees associated with checking the carry-on bag.”

It’s currently unclear who will be receiving Delta’s offer for free checked bags and what the procedure will be exactly. How long before the flight will passengers be given this offer? If it’s the day before, they may be able to plan ahead and remove any fragile or valuable items from their bags; if it’s a last-minute message, however, passengers may not want to get their carry-on chucked in the cargo hold.

If reducing the number of carry-ons in the cabin is the heart of the issue, not charging for checked luggage may clinch it. But Delta’s not about to do that. In 2019, the airline made over 1 million dollars in baggage fees. More likely, they’ll start to charge for carry-ons.

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WATCH: This mountain forms a shadow in the perfect shape of a bear every afternoon

even frequent hikers have to admit they’ve never seen a bear this big.

The “shadow of the bear” is a well-known phenomenon around Cashiers,  a small town in Jackson County, North Carolina. Thanks to a large mountain and low sun angle, the “bear” appears nearly every day the sun is out between mid-February and mid-March.

Though it eventually becomes the beloved bear, the phenomenon starts as just a small dot when the sun is highest in the sky. As the sun gets lower, the shadow of 4,930-foot-tall Whiteside Mountain begins to stretch across the valley below. Thanks to perfectly placed rocks and bumps near the summit, the shadow eventually forms a perfect bear shape, right down to the ears and slightly raised back haunches. It usually appears around 5:30 PM and lasts for roughly 30 minutes before losing its shape.

While you can hike to the summit of Whiteside Mountain, the best viewing point for the shadow of the bear is the Rhodes Big View Overlook, a pull-off off on Highway 64. Jackson County sits in the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains, about an hour southwest of Asheville. That makes it easy to pack in a full-day hike past waterfalls or roaring rivers and still make it to the overlook in time to catch the shadow of the bear emerge.

There’s plenty to do near Asheville and the surrounding area if you’re keen on making a trip out of it, including highly rated restaurants, plenty of year-round festivals, and plenty of paddling and cycling.

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Watch: Skilled pilots save plane from toppling over during landing at Heathrow Airport

As frequent fliers know, the vast majority of a flight is pretty calm, give or take some turbulence. Landings, however, can sometimes get a bit dicey in tough conditions — descent and landing last about 4 percent of an average flight yet it’s when 49 percent of fatal accidents happen, according to Insider.

Which can make watching a tricky landing take place, let alone being on the flight itself, all the more nerve wracking. Take, for example, this video of a recently saved landing on British Airways flight 1307.

The flight was traveling a quick 80 minutes from Aberdeen to London Heathrow in an Airbus 321neo. Jerry Dyer, who runs the YouTube channel Big Jet TV, told CNN that the winds were around an estimated 20 miles per hour, though gusts between the buildings made the landing more difficult.

In the video, you can see the plane float over the tarmac for a bit around 20 seconds in, and you can hear Dyer say, “yeah he’s got that.”

One wheel lightly touches first, then both wheels and it looks like it might be saved. But then it gets wobbly and the left wing dips, at which point Dyer says, “easy, easy, easy!” before the plane pulls up to loop around for another try. On the way back up, it appears that the back of the plane knocks the ground.

When an airplane hits the back of the plane on the runway during takeoff or landing it’s called a tail strike. Landings are the most common for tail strikes, and they typically occur when a crew isn’t fully familiar with the plane or there are strong gusts or other adverse weather conditions — which was what happened in this case.

Stephen Flynn, a member of the UK parliament who was on the flight, later tweeted, “Can confirm this was not enjoyable.”

As disconcerting as the who ordeal was, it clearly could have gone a lot worse.

“In my view, the pilot deserves a medal!” Dyer wrote in the description, adding: “This has to go down as one of our best moments” caught on video.

The plane landed 16 minutes later — still eight minutes ahead of schedule.

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6 activities that prove Limón, Costa Rica, is home to epic jungle adventures

costa rica is one of the most-visited countries in Central America, and it’s not particularly surprising as to why. The country is abundant with mostly untouched natural areas, from waterfalls to national parks. There are natural hot springs, huge caves, and no shortage of places to relax on lush, tropical beaches. There’s a lot to love.

That makes it even more surprising that so many travelers tend to overlook the nearly 200 miles of coastline on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Not considering a visit to the Caribbean coast means missing out on some of the best nature experiences in the country, like Tortuguero National Park, famous for its sea turtle hatchlings. Limón, Costa Rica, is home to centuries of rich Afro-Caribbean culture, and good music and better food aren’t hard to find.

Limón isn’t difficult to reach, as it’s only three hours from San Jose. You can fly into the Limón, Costa Rica airport, or arrange a car to make the drive. You can also take the scenic route by renting a car and making the drive along Highway 32.

However you choose to get there, there’s an abundance of outdoorsy things to do in Limón. From bean-to-bar chocolate making with the Indigenous community to hiking a volcano in Tortuguero, these are the six best outdoor experiences to have in Limón, Costa Rica.

Six outdoorsy things to do in Limón, Costa RicaVisit the BriBri Indigenous communityPlan a beach day In Puerto ViejoTravel through an old-growth forestRide in a gyroplaneWildlife watch in Tortuguero National ParkHike Cerro Del Tortuguero1. Visit the BriBri Indigenous community

Photo: Joseph Jacobs/Shutterstock

There’s a lot of history in Limón, and you don’t want to overlook it. Visiting an indigenous community and learning about their sacred plants (including the ceremony and processing of cacao) is a must-do in the region. The BriBri community lies in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountains and dates to pre-Columbian Costa Rica. Today, visiting their community is a complete sensory experience, with the scent of chocolate in the air.

At the Watsi reservation near Limón, Costa Rica, generations of BriBri live together, sustaining their livelihoods solely off of the cacao plant. The visitor experience begins with a medicinal plant tour through their garden, where every plant grown is used either in sacred ceremonies or for cooking and crafting. Tree fibers become necklaces and whistling instruments, and the palmito (heart of palm) plant is mixed with coffee and boiled to make a snack most often paired with coffee. When someone dies in the BriBri culture, the Palmito plant is eaten during the ceremony without any salt. They believe that salt came to their land with colonization, so eating it in a traditional way is a small way to reject the influence of the Spanish.

Cacao, of course, takes up most of the space in the gardens. It’s bitter when plucked straight from the tree and goes through a multi-step process to become edible. The process — which only women are allowed to do — begins with roasting the cocoa beans over a wood-fire stove for about ten minutes. After roasting, the beans are cooled and crushed by hand with a large boulder. Women then remove the shells and grind the beans before melting them into a thick paste. They then add boiling water and sugar to make a hot chocolate-like drink. For centuries, the BriBri have been consuming cacao and using it for body-care products — you’ll walk away from the Watsi Reservation with a solid understanding of its importance.

2. Plan a beach day In Puerto Viejo

Photo: Costa Rica Tourism Board

Visiting the Caribbean side of Costa Rica wouldn’t be complete without planning a beach day. And Puerto Viejo, a laid-back town near Limón, has some of the area’s best beaches. You’ll feel the Afro-Caribbean influence right away, thanks to the frequent sounds of reggaeton playing in the streets and the many bars and restaurants serving authentic Caribbean dishes. Be sure to try rondon (pronounced like “run down”), a coconut milk-based soup with fresh Panamanian chili, whole veggies, and seafood.

One of the best beaches near Limón, Costa Rica, is Playa Negra, a black-sand beach with calm water and small waves. Surfers (or avid people-watchers) should head to Playa Cocles, a white-sand beach with consistent swells for intermediate surfers. Playa Punta Uva has crystal-clear water and tall palms, and Cahuita National Park is the area’s best spot for snorkeling.

If you’re looking for a private retreat, Aguas Claras may be a perfect choice. The boutique hotel sits just beyond a lovely, unspoiled stretch of beach loved by locals and runs Da Lime, a hip beachfront club.

No matter which beach you choose, cycling around Puerto Viejo is an easy way to get around. It’s easy to find bike rentals along the main street.

3. Travel through an old-growth forest

Photo: Marianna Ianovska/Shutterstock

What was once land for logging is now a haven for sustainable travelers. Selva Bananito Lodge is a third-generation, family-run eco-lodge tucked in the jungle at the foot of Limón’s Cerro Muchilla (Muchilla Mountains). The Wi-Fi is weak and the no-frills rooms are understated. For some, those may be cons, but for nature lovers, thrill-seekers, and those who prioritize sustainable travel, it’s a haven.

Staying at this eco-lodge means being surrounded by nature. You can expect to wake up in the mornings to the sound of birdsong as a crisp breeze passes through your open-air, reclaimed-wood cabin. The lodge is an island in the wilderness, surrounded by 300,000 acres of primary (never-logged) forest.

One of the best ways to experience it all is to take a day hike through the forest with resort guides. You’ll see the forest’s biodiversity first-hand during the three-hour treks passing by sacred trees and likely having a few exotic snake sightings. You can also opt to horseback ride through former banana plantations, passing grazing livestock before reaching a stunning view of the water source for the people of Limon, Costa Rica. Most activities are included in the cost of a stay.

At Selva Bananito, tourism is a conservation tool. In addition to practicing sustainable and regenerative farming, the lodge avoids single-use plastic and styrofoam and is powered by solar. Guides use tours as ways to monitor the forest’s health. While guests are hiking, rappelling, climbing, ziplining, or otherwise recreating, guides are observing the forest.

4. Ride in a gyroplane

Photo: Selva Air

If you’ve never heard of a gyroplane, you’re not alone. It’s like a smaller, simpler version of a helicopter. And on a ride with Selva Air, Selva Bananito Lodge’s private gyrocopter fleet, visitors can experience the beauty of looking down on the jungle canopy while flying above.

After a quick safety briefing, guests will take to the skies for 360-degree views of Limón’s lush vegetation along the Caribbean coastline. Pilots will usually dip over the river and just above the primary forest, pointing out areas like Isla Uvita (where Christopher Columbus once landed) and Catarata Roja (the highest waterfall in Central America). While guests get the thrill of flying in what feels like a toy plane, the pilot is using it as another way to observe and measure the environment.

You don’t need to stay at the lodge to book a flight, but you will need to get yourself to the lodge. Flights start at 20 minutes and $120 per person.

5. Wildlife watch in Tortuguero National Park

Photo: Marco Lissoni/Shutterstock

Just outside Limón is Moin Port, where boats leave daily for Tortuguero National Park and cost about $35 per person. You’ll be surrounded by nature for the entirety of the three-hour cruise; wildlife-spotting opportunities begin well before you reach the park.

Most people choose to spend at least a night near the park to take advantage of opportunities like sunrise canal tours, which require waking up around 5 AM. Guests can hop in a canoe, kayak, or larger boat for a rich wildlife-spotting experience as the jungle wakes up.

Bird-watching is also a popular activity best early in the morning, and you’ll have the chance to spot more than 300 species of birds that call Tortuguero home, including the majestic great blue heron. Three-toed sloths, lizards, and poison dart frogs are common, too.

Most people visiting stay in the village of Tortuguero. Pachira Lodge is one of the most popular as it’s just a five-minute boat ride from the national park. Beyond accessibility, the lodge itself mirrors its natural surroundings and looks at home in the jungle.

On-property, you may spot spider monkeys swinging from the treetops or crocodiles lazing on the riverbank. Keep an out for green turtles, too — their mating season is between July and October, and thousands of turtles go there annually as it’s a protected nesting site. Like nearly all tourist destinations near Limón, this park is all about sustainable tourism, so come prepared for a close connection with nature.

6. Hike Cerro Del Tortuguero

Photo: Costa Rica Tourism Board

With your extra time in the national park, consider hiking to one of the best views near Limón, Costa Rica. Tours pick guests up from the various hotel docks to make the 15-minute ride to Cerro Tortuguero, the park’s inactive volcano. For a $2 entry fee, you can climb the 400 steps to the top, flanked by trees and foliage for most of the way up. It’s a lot of steps, but there are platforms to stop, catch your breath, and take in the views. Don’t forget to look up to spot the howler monkeys that hang around the trail.

At the volcano’s peak, hikers will have incredible views of the Caribbean Sea, the park’s lagoon and jungle, and the town of Tortuguero. Be sure to bring lots of water, sunscreen, and eco-friendly bug spray.

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6 activities that prove Limón, Costa Rica is home to epic jungle adventures

costa rica is one of the most-visited countries in Central America, and it’s not particularly surprising as to why. The country is abundant with mostly untouched natural areas, from waterfalls to national parks. There are natural hot springs, huge caves, and no shortage of places to relax on lush, tropical beaches. There’s a lot to love.

That makes it even more surprising that so many travelers tend to overlook the nearly 200 miles of coastline on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Not considering a visit to the Caribbean coast means missing out on some of the best nature experiences in the country, like Tortuguero National Park, famous for its sea turtle hatchlings. Limón, Costa Rica, is home to centuries of rich Afro-Caribbean culture, and good music and better food aren’t hard to find.

Limón isn’t difficult to reach, as it’s only three hours from San Jose. You can fly into the Limón, Costa Rica airport, or arrange a car to make the drive. You can also take the scenic route by renting a car and making the drive along Highway 32.

However you choose to get there, there’s an abundance of outdoorsy things to do in Limón. From bean-to-bar chocolate making with the Indigenous community to hiking a volcano in Tortuguero, these are the six best outdoor experiences to have in Limón, Costa Rica.

Six outdoorsy things to do in Limón, Costa RicaVisit the BriBri Indigenous communityPlan a beach day In Puerto ViejoTravel through an old-growth forestRide in a gyroplaneWildlife watch in Tortuguero National ParkHike Cerro Del Tortuguero1. Visit the BriBri Indigenous community

Photo: Joseph Jacobs/Shutterstock

There’s a lot of history in Limón, and you don’t want to overlook it. Visiting an indigenous community and learning about their sacred plants (including the ceremony and processing of cacao) is a must-do in the region. The BriBri community lies in the foothills of the Talamanca Mountains and dates to pre-Columbian Costa Rica. Today, visiting their community is a complete sensory experience, with the scent of chocolate in the air.

At the Watsi reservation near Limón, Costa Rica, generations of BriBri live together, sustaining their livelihoods solely off of the cacao plant. The visitor experience begins with a medicinal plant tour through their garden, where every plant grown is used either in sacred ceremonies or for cooking and crafting. Tree fibers become necklaces and whistling instruments, and the palmito (heart of palm) plant is mixed with coffee and boiled to make a snack most often paired with coffee. When someone dies in the BriBri culture, the Palmito plant is eaten during the ceremony without any salt. They believe that salt came to their land with colonization, so eating it in a traditional way is a small way to reject the influence of the Spanish.

Cacao, of course, takes up most of the space in the gardens. It’s bitter when plucked straight from the tree and goes through a multi-step process to become edible. The process — which only women are allowed to do — begins with roasting the cocoa beans over a wood-fire stove for about ten minutes. After roasting, the beans are cooled and crushed by hand with a large boulder. Women then remove the shells and grind the beans before melting them into a thick paste. They then add boiling water and sugar to make a hot chocolate-like drink. For centuries, the BriBri have been consuming cacao and using it for body-care products — you’ll walk away from the Watsi Reservation with a solid understanding of its importance.

2. Plan a beach day In Puerto Viejo

Photo: Costa Rica Tourism Board

Visiting the Caribbean side of Costa Rica wouldn’t be complete without planning a beach day. And Puerto Viejo, a laid-back town near Limón, has some of the area’s best beaches. You’ll feel the Afro-Caribbean influence right away, thanks to the frequent sounds of reggaeton playing in the streets and the many bars and restaurants serving authentic Caribbean dishes. Be sure to try rondon (pronounced like “run down”), a coconut milk-based soup with fresh Panamanian chili, whole veggies, and seafood.

One of the best beaches near Limón, Costa Rica, is Playa Negra, a black-sand beach with calm water and small waves. Surfers (or avid people-watchers) should head to Playa Cocles, a white-sand beach with consistent swells for intermediate surfers. Playa Punta Uva has crystal-clear water and tall palms, and Cahuita National Park is the area’s best spot for snorkeling.

If you’re looking for a private retreat, Aguas Claras may be a perfect choice. The boutique hotel sits just beyond a lovely, unspoiled stretch of beach loved by locals and runs Da Lime, a hip beachfront club.

No matter which beach you choose, cycling around Puerto Viejo is an easy way to get around. It’s easy to find bike rentals along the main street.

3. Travel through an old-growth forest

Photo: Marianna Ianovska/Shutterstock

What was once land for logging is now a haven for sustainable travelers. Selva Bananito Lodge is a third-generation, family-run eco-lodge tucked in the jungle at the foot of Limón’s Cerro Muchilla (Muchilla Mountains). The Wi-Fi is weak and the no-frills rooms are understated. For some, those may be cons, but for nature lovers, thrill-seekers, and those who prioritize sustainable travel, it’s a haven.

Staying at this eco-lodge means being surrounded by nature. You can expect to wake up in the mornings to the sound of birdsong as a crisp breeze passes through your open-air, reclaimed-wood cabin. The lodge is an island in the wilderness, surrounded by 300,000 acres of primary (never-logged) forest.

One of the best ways to experience it all is to take a day hike through the forest with resort guides. You’ll see the forest’s biodiversity first-hand during the three-hour treks passing by sacred trees and likely having a few exotic snake sightings. You can also opt to horseback ride through former banana plantations, passing grazing livestock before reaching a stunning view of the water source for the people of Limon, Costa Rica. Most activities are included in the cost of a stay.

At Selva Bananito, tourism is a conservation tool. In addition to practicing sustainable and regenerative farming, the lodge avoids single-use plastic and styrofoam and is powered by solar. Guides use tours as ways to monitor the forest’s health. While guests are hiking, rappelling, climbing, ziplining, or otherwise recreating, guides are observing the forest.

4. Ride in a gyroplane

Photo: Selva Air

If you’ve never heard of a gyroplane, you’re not alone. It’s like a smaller, simpler version of a helicopter. And on a ride with Selva Air, Selva Bananito Lodge’s private gyrocopter fleet, visitors can experience the beauty of looking down on the jungle canopy while flying above.

After a quick safety briefing, guests will take to the skies for 360-degree views of Limón’s lush vegetation along the Caribbean coastline. Pilots will usually dip over the river and just above the primary forest, pointing out areas like Isla Uvita (where Christopher Columbus once landed) and Catarata Roja (the highest waterfall in Central America). While guests get the thrill of flying in what feels like a toy plane, the pilot is using it as another way to observe and measure the environment.

You don’t need to stay at the lodge to book a flight, but you will need to get yourself to the lodge. Flights start at 20 minutes and $120 per person.

5. Wildlife watch in Tortuguero National Park

Photo: Marco Lissoni/Shutterstock

Just outside Limón is Moin Port, where boats leave daily for Tortuguero National Park and cost about $35 per person. You’ll be surrounded by nature for the entirety of the three-hour cruise; wildlife-spotting opportunities begin well before you reach the park.

Most people choose to spend at least a night near the park to take advantage of opportunities like sunrise canal tours, which require waking up around 5 AM. Guests can hop in a canoe, kayak, or larger boat for a rich wildlife-spotting experience as the jungle wakes up.

Bird-watching is also a popular activity best early in the morning, and you’ll have the chance to spot more than 300 species of birds that call Tortuguero home, including the majestic great blue heron. Three-toed sloths, lizards, and poison dart frogs are common, too.

Most people visiting stay in the village of Tortuguero. Pachira Lodge is one of the most popular as it’s just a five-minute boat ride from the national park. Beyond accessibility, the lodge itself mirrors its natural surroundings and looks at home in the jungle.

On-property, you may spot spider monkeys swinging from the treetops or crocodiles lazing on the riverbank. Keep an out for green turtles, too — their mating season is between July and October, and thousands of turtles go there annually as it’s a protected nesting site. Like nearly all tourist destinations near Limón, this park is all about sustainable tourism, so come prepared for a close connection with nature.

6. Hike Cerro Del Tortuguero

Photo: Costa Rica Tourism Board

With your extra time in the national park, consider hiking to one of the best views near Limón, Costa Rica. Tours pick guests up from the various hotel docks to make the 15-minute ride to Cerro Tortuguero, the park’s inactive volcano. For a $2 entry fee, you can climb the 400 steps to the top, flanked by trees and foliage for most of the way up. It’s a lot of steps, but there are platforms to stop, catch your breath, and take in the views. Don’t forget to look up to spot the howler monkeys that hang around the trail.

At the volcano’s peak, hikers will have incredible views of the Caribbean Sea, the park’s lagoon and jungle, and the town of Tortuguero. Be sure to bring lots of water, sunscreen, and eco-friendly bug spray.

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