Hawaii Vacation

Hawaii- The Big Island

On the big island of Hawaii you will find diversity in the geography ranging from beaches to volcanoes.  You will find miles and miles of undeveloped land as well as bustling urban development in cities like Kailua -Kona.  Hilo, which is located on the windy side of the island, gets a lot of rainfall. This contributes to the lush green landscaping of this side of the island making Hilo an interesting sight and a must see on the list of destinations. 

Most people begin there journey on the big island in Kona.  You should plan to take a few days to relax and enjoy the nearby beaches, or perhaps go snorkeling at Kealakekuea Bay.  Next you should take some time to explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  This is a must see on the list.  The park is amazing to say the least.  If you have plenty of time you can actually make camp in the park and really explore.  The park has over 140 miles of hiking trails and is nothing short of spectacular.  If you are short on time, you should still take a drive through the park. 

There is a stretch of Highway 137 dubbed Red Road that is also worth visiting.  There is a canopy of Milo and Hala trees that have intertwined to form a sort of a tunnel effect. 

You should also plan to spend some time in Hilo.  The lush landscaping makes for great scenery and picture taking opportunities.  Hilo has been called the rainiest city in the USA, so don’t expect much in the way of beaches.  But Hilo is a cute little town; nonetheless, that offers some history and culture complete with Bed and Breakfasts.

There is a quiet little town called Puako located on the Southern Kohalo Coast that is home to the fabulous tide pools.  This is accessible by highway 19 near the Hapuna Beach State Park.  The giant tide pools are home to some marine life including coral making this destination a must see.  However, don’t plan on staying in Puako, it is such a small town that it doesn’t have any lodging and it really is off the beaten path.  

Who would have thought that horseback riding would be on the list of activities for a Hawaiian vacation?  Well, actually there is a huge ranch called the Dahana Ranch Roughriders in Waimea.  It’s owned and operated by a native Hawaiian family and is still a working cattle ranch.  The ranch raises and breeds, and trains cattle and horses.   There are also some excellent cycling opportunities here in Waimea as the terrain is full of rolling hills. 

Before checking out and leaving the island stop into the Pololu Valley which will offer some hiking trails.  You can even take a mule ride through the valley.  Lastly, you should take some more time to relax on the white sandy beaches of the big island.  Or perhaps, take one last snorkeling opportunity at Kauna’oa Bay.  Whatever you decide to do, I’m sure that your stay in Hawaii will amaze.   

More Hawaii Vacations!

Costa Rica, Spas and Retreats

If your goal is to escape cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women, then you might consider the benefits of a Costa Rican Vacation that is a Spa or Retreat.  There are those of us that cannot just vacation, we have to have more meaning in our adventure.  In this case, instead of getting away from it all, you are getting to it all.  It seems the result is the same you get to relax and unwind.

I found many, many yoga and meditation retreats so I will just try to tell you about the ones that stand out.  I encourage you to do your own search

Pancha Mama
Pancha Mama means Mother Earth in Spanish and if you are a time-warped hippie that had a go around with communes this is gonna ring your bell.  Pancho Mama is referred to as a Spiritual Eco Village.  The fees are extremely reasonable, if I read their fee chart correctly.  A number is listed with no digits behind it so I am relatively sure these are the rates.  For a tent it is $12.00 for a single and $20.00 for a double.  For a House it is $28 for a single and $50 for a double. 

Offered are lessons in yoga, meditation, tai chi, surfing and horseback riding.  This is also a total vegetarian cuisine and the meals approximately $4.00 a piece with children’s meals costing a mere 1-2 dollars.

Luna Lodge
Lana Wedmore has worked in the tourist service industry for years and her final destination for her own Lodge is the Osa Peninsula in the southern region of Costa Rica.  Her rates are not cheap but they are competitive with the larger hotels and she has included a Wellness Center where you can learn or practice Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, or massage.  The buildings are beautiful and in harmony the ocean and jungle that surround it.  Her rates run from $125 – $200.

Tree Houses Hotel
I didn’t see any ads for yoga or massage but I did see info on the Hot Springs.  That’s gotta be healthy.  So, here is another unusual way to spend your holiday…. in a tree house.  Mind you, these tree houses have full bathrooms with tubs and they have Air Conditioning.  You have got to at least visit the website, the rooms are very cool.  The rates run $75 -$85 per night.

Costa Rica Quilting Retreat
I can’t imagine making quilts in the jungle, but if there are any enthusiasts out there, this is your lucky day.  Bungalows are offered in a private gated community.  The Main building has a swimming pool and they have BBQ’s out by the pool.  The fee for this is $925 for the B&B arrangement in the main house, or you can pay $950 for a cottage. With only the $25 extra for the cottage, I would take the cottage

In Conclusion. I have found that most of the spas or retreats are very spendy, and atmosphere is the largest offering.   They do many weddings in Costa Rica and the luxury Hotel/Spa experience is the fancy pampering newlyweds enjoy.  I have listed retreats that are a bit less expensive and more individualized than the normal offering. 

Find more Costa  Rican Travel Tips and book your next vacation with BeldoTravel.com.  Sign up for the Deals and Steals Newsletter to get the best Travel  Deals around.

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