How to Get to the Rockies:

The best way to get to Rocky Mountain National park for your adventure in the Rockies is to rent a car in Denver, ideally at the airport. There is little transportation to the park; moreover, you will need a car to get from your hotel to the national park.

Where to Stay in the Rockies

The Estes Park Resort: The Estes Park Resort is a stunning property close to the national park and on Lake Estes. In fact, it is the only hotel that is actually located on the lake. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the hotel has its own restaurant so you don’t have to worry about where to get dinner after a long day of hiking.

What to Do

Visit Rocky Mountain National Park: A visit to the park will obviously be the highlight of your trip! The national park is huge, so I would recommend reviewing hike options with the outfitters at the resort in advance to decide which hike or hikes you want to do. Also, remember to reserve a ticket to enter the park in advance as well; if you wait until the day of it will likely be sold out. If for some reason you do forget, general entry is allowed after 3 pm. In addition, to enjoy the many hikes at the park, be sure to take a long drive through the winding roads of the park, there are so many stunning vistas you will want to stop 100 times for pictures! From alpine lakes to mountains to forests it is truly spectacular. In addition to the views, you could also get lucky enough to see some of the wildlife, which includes bighorn sheep, elks, and mountain lions. We saw a pair of moose swimming in a small lake and it was spectacular.

Visit Roosevelt National Forest: Adjacent to the national park is this gorgeous national forest that you should consider visiting. We hiked the Lily Mountain Trail, which was arduous but well worth it considering the views. Estes Park has lots of small cafes and shops where you can get sandwiches packed for a picnic at the top of the mountain.

Visit Estes Lake: If you are staying at Estes Park Resort a visit to the lake is essential. Wake up early, go for a run, bike ride, walk around the lake, or visit the marina and rent a kayak. The lake is so breathtaking with the mountains all around you won’t want to leave!

Where to Eat

Dunraven: Estes Park Resort has a restaurant with a great breakfast, including hearty fare like avocado toast, eggs benedict, and French toast with dulce de leche. They serve dinner as well. Grab a seat on their outdoor deck which overlooks Lake Estes and enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine before dinner!

The Barrel Beer: Colorado is well-known for its craft beers and the Barrel Beer is a great place in downtown Estes where you can sample some. We tried their beers and ciders and loved them all; they also have a food truck on site where you can get burgers and cheese fries.

The Rockies: The Verdict

An adventure in the Rockies is exactly what you need if you are looking for fresh air, beautiful views, and outdoor activities!

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As it turns out, the salt flats were amazing, but La Paz was also a fun, interesting city where three days goes by in an instant. There is plenty to marvel at, consume, and imbibe. I highly recommend spending at least three days in La Paz before heading to the flats. Not only will you get to enjoy La Paz but taking time to acclimate is very helpful…the altitude in Bolivia is no joke!

Where to Stay

Hotel Rosario La Paz: Located in the center of town, close to a teleferico line (the city’s aerial cable car urban transit system), this hotel was clean, comfortable and accommodating. It has a colonial style architecture, with an open-air courtyard and a restaurant which serves a great breakfast, complete with fresh-squeezed juices. Hotel Rosario La Paz also has 24 hours a day front desk staff who are helpful with directions and calling taxis.

What to Do

Red Cap City Tour: I always recommend kicking things off with a walking tour to orient yourself with the city. Our tour started off with a visit to Lanza market, where we visited small local shops serving freshly fried empanadas and apo, a warm breakfast drink made of purple corn. From there we went to San Pedro prison, a jail run as a small city by the inmates.

Afterwards, we hit up the famous witches market, calle jean which is a colorful colonial street, Murillo square, the central plaza of the city, and the famous San Francisco church. We walked through local street food markets, different neighborhoods and really got a feel for La Paz. One warning: it is a hilly city! Combined with the high altitude you may find yourself out of breath. Drink plenty of coca tea to ward off altitude sickness.

Cholita Wrestling: Historically, indigenous Bolivian men and women were treated poorly, disenfranchised and discriminated against throughout Bolivia. When President Murillo was elected in 2006 that began to change because of his role as a champion for the indigenous people. As such, cholitas were empowered to showcase their culture and they developed a theatrical type of wrestling called cholita wrestling. It is a must-see if you’re spending three days in La Paz, Bolivia. 

It involves cholitas as luchadores or fighters where they are dressed in their traditional garb and engage in wrestling and fighting with men dressed as monsters. The cholitas fight back when thrown and beaten by the monsters, and symbolically defeat their oppressors. It is as comedic and entertaining as it sounds. You will laugh, cheer and scream throughout the show, which of course includes snacks and plenty of beer. I highly recommend this uniquely Bolivian experience. We booked our tickets through Red Cap, which provided us with transportation to the show as well as tickets and coupons for drinks.

Coca Museum: This museum is dedicated entirely to the study of the coca leaf. Learning about the medicinal uses, as well as the illicit uses, of the coca leaf was deeply interesting, as we understanding the impact of the coca leaf on the Bolivian economy. The museum also has a café where you can enjoy coca tea, coca ice cream, and even coca brownies.

Ride the Teleferico: We bought tickets and just rode around on the cable cars for hours. It is a fantastic way to see the city from a bird’s eye view. This is probably the most cost-effective way to get some amazing views while spending three days in La Paz.

Where to Eat and Drink

This is always the most important question! Bolivian food is simple, with an emphasis on potatoes, corn, bread, and vegetables that can grow in difficult terrains such as carrots and corn.

Gustu: For a local fine dining experience, Gustu is the place to go. The venue offers exquisite dishes such as locally foraged mushrooms with a poached egg, native potatoes roasted and served with pickled onions, a dulce de leche inspired mango custard dessert and an impeccable local wine list. Prepare to dine for hours and if you are lucky, the staff will treat you to a tour of the kitchen and pantry, where you can learn about local Bolivian herbs, plants, and spices.

Ali Pacha: This is another fine dining option, but with a twist – it is plant-based. Truly, it is one of the most creative meals I have ever had.

Berlusca: We loved this little Italian joint that served fresh bread, light vegetable soup and delicious dishes like homemade pasta with zucchini and a sweet Pomodoro sauce. A local specialty is pasta with fava beans and cheese: unusual but divine.

Café del Mundo: This fun, travel-themed café has an extensive international menu where there is something for everyone. From falafel burgers to nachos to pasta, you won’t be short of options. They also have cocktails, milkshakes and coffee drinks, and you can choose from oat milk or quinoa milk.

Popular Cocina Boliviana: One of the more interesting spots in La Paz, this casual restaurant serves a set menu that focuses dishes made with quintessential Bolivian ingredients like potatoes, quinoa, fresh fruit, and bread. The menu will include an appetizer which could be a creamy vegetable soup, an entrée such as a stuffed potato, a local potato stew, a savory quinoa dish, or Bolivian empanadas called salteñas. Dessert, complete with local fruits, is also included.

Café Sol Y Luna: Stop by for a Singani cocktail. Singani is Bolivia’s national liquor, a grape brandy which you can drink on the rocks or in a cocktail.

Three Days in La Paz, Bolivia: The Verdict

South America is truly a fascinating continent to explore. I highly recommend visiting Bolivia, including La Paz. Three days in La Paz only scratches the surface but it’s worth the trip!

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My new friends at Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres

Dutchman Making New Friends at Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres

Before meeting the dolphins up close and personal, we had a 15 minute orientation on the program and the do’s and don’ts of the demonstration. Once done with orientation, we hopped on the platform to meet our new friends, Merlin and Ramses.  The trainer quickly went through the basics again had had us greet the dolphins. We had the opportunity to rub their bellies, swim with them, and have them swim us to the platform.  The dolphin swim experience was 45 minutes. We enjoyed the experience and we got to learn a little bit about dolphins (such as they eat 10 kilos of fish a day!).

Living the Life!

Windy Day at Garrafon

Tired and suntanned from our adventure, we boarded the boat back to Cancun.  We truly enjoyed the day trip to Dolphin Discovery Isla Mujeres. We felt that we did so much in one day: swim with dolphins, margaritas on the beach, zip line over the Caribbean, and even have a spiritual experience in just one day.

* Disclaimer:  We were hosted by Dolphin Discovery. Views are completely my own. 

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