When one things of a stereotypical jungle, the image that probably comes to mind is something similar to the Costa Rican rainforest. The most wild and preserved region is in the south, in the Osa Peninsula. There is an incredible variety of flora and fauna in this small country, some of which you don’t want to get to close to, such as the fer de lance. More in the north of the country there is the Arenal volcano which constantly spews out red lava, a sight that can be seen best at night. A visit to the Arenal hot springs after dark is an activity that should not be missed. The natural springs are in a jungle like environment and each one has a different temperature, depending on the amount of thermal heating. Costa Rica is a favorite destination of my family and we’ve visited the country several times, although only on the most recent excursion did I take images with something other than a point and shoot. I’ve come a long way as a photographer since these first visits, and now use superior gear. However, after a few days my camera shut down from the intense humidity. Fortunately it recovered when I got back to the states. My brother in-laws similar camera was not so fortunate.

The best way to get around is by airplane. There are some small airlines (with small airplanes) that fly to most of the popular destinations around the country. Although the distance from each location is not far, the roads are very bad and it can take many hours of uncomfortable, bumpy, driving to get from place to place. I don’t recommend staying in San Jose, just take a connecting flight to your final destination. 

One activity that is always enjoyable is zip-lining through the rain forest. On one occasion, there was fog on the mountain and at times you could not see anything but perhaps a tenth of a second worth of zip-line in front of you. This made for a particularly enjoyable and exciting ride. 

The first day in Cusco, Peru, was a struggle. At over 11,000 feet, it takes time to acclimate to the thin air. It was difficult to breathe and nearly impossible to do any physical activity. Even walking was difficult. The locals sell many products made of coca leaves which they say helps to counteract the effects of the altitude by acting as a stimulant. I personally did not find this to work, and the grassy taste of the leaves was not conducive to consuming large quantities. There were many wonderful scenic views of the countryside and the Andes mountains. Our trip included a visit to Machu Picchu, the striking mountain formation and Incan ruin.

My family traveled to Cancun, Mexico, for a vacation where we stayed at an all inclusive resort. We also visited a theme park called Xcaret, which had various attractions and activities, the one we enjoyed the most was snorkeling through dark tunnels.

We were fortunate enough to be able to stay in a house on the beach at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Since it is on the Pacific side, the sun sets over the ocean and often produces very impressive, colorful displays.