I drove down to Bradenton to meet a buddy for lunch today, but his work schedule intervened and I faced the horrible prospect of lunch alone. Boo, hoo. So I did what any self-employed Florida native would do when faced with such a dire situation in the middle of the week on a hot July [...]

I absolutely should not be writing about the beaches in Xcalak. I should be keeping this little-known destination a secret, but I just can’t help myself. The only saving grace may be that Xcalak is definitely not for everyone, so perhaps letting the cat out of the bag won’t be the beginning of its ruination.

The only sign of life at the town's main beach were a few village kids

Xcalak (pronounced ISH kah lack), located at the very southern tip of the State of Quintana Roo on the Caribbean side of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, was for many years the capital of the State. Banks, grocery stores, gas stations, retail stores, an electric plant, ice cream factory and even a movie theater served residents who numbered in the thousands. Then disaster struck in the mid 50’s when a hurricane leveled the community. Rather than rebuild, the government moved the capital further north to Chetumal, and many of the traumatized residents left the area as well.

Today Xcalak, a sleepy settlement of about 300 people, is so far off-the-beaten-track that few tourists make the five-hour drive from Cancun. Those who do are usually divers bound for Banco Chinchorro or fly fishermen who arrive to test their skills on the sand flats. Beachgoers have not yet discovered the area’s charms, perhaps because the beaches here do not offer wide swaths of pure white white sand and crystalline turquoise water like those found to the north in Tulum. Quite the opposite is true: Xcalak’s beaches are narrow and covered with dried seaweed, and extensive beds of seagrass cover the ocean bottom just offshore in most places. But Xcalak offers things not often found in other beach locations.

Path through sea grass leads to exquisite snorkeling along an offshore reef

An offshore reef is easily reached from shore and offers amazing snorkeling. The reef is substantial enough that if forms a breakwater, keeping in-shore waters as calm as a lagoon, and it is possible to walk out for half a mile before the water reached chest high. The beach is virtually deserted; it is not uncommon to walk for miles without seeing another soul. And shell collectors will be in their glory, since thousands of giant conch shells litter the shoreline. Perhaps most astounding, several minor Mayan ruins have been discovered in the area, including one oceanfront site where pottery shards by the thousands are free for the picking. Whether you are a stressed out corporate type needing a place to unplug and unwind, a couple in search of a romantic vacation spot, or a beachophile looking to discover the next great destination, Xcalak is a perfect getaway in a forgotten corner of the world.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole In The Donut

This is the southern tip of Eyre Peninsula in south Australia. We love beaches, we all love being on a beach but sometimes just taking a step back and watching the amazing power of the ocean crashing against a rock face is just as enjoyable if not mesmerizing. Australia’s coast line is simply awe inspiring and is complete with hidden coves and remote beaches. This particular part of the Australian coastline has impressive cliff faces and is also a great place to watch giant whales pass by during their annual migration. This video by Vimeo user VTrider allows us to be thrown into a state of awe. Be sure to watch this in full screen mode.

By Sebastien Tobler

Colliding Continents

Bar and restaurant choices abound

A sweet little beach village on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is the center of the action for both laid-back and adventurous pursuits. Right on the sand are a handful of bars and restaurants (like Onno’s Bar, Bambu Bar and Kahuna’s sports bar) that stay open late and offer opportunities to sample something different every day. Want to dance the night away? Eat on the beach with the sand between your toes? People watch? You can do them all on Cabarete Beach.

Rarely content to sit still, sport enthusiasts have plenty of choices in Cabarete. Learn to kiteboard at the Dare2Fly kiteboarding center, owned by the Vela Cabarete Windsurf Center (where you can take windsurfing classes as well). On the beach, play volleyball until you need to chill out under a green Presidente umbrella that advertises the tasty Dominican beer. Get a cool one, if you like.

Get your sail on, or just watch the show

Cabarete is a great launching point for other North Coast adventures, such as scuba diving, mountain biking, horseback riding, canyoneering, and surfing. But when you’re done, come on back to Cabarete Beach to lounge on the soft sand and watch the world go by. Whether you’re watching a World Cup game in a bar or watching the windsurfers in Cabarete Bay, it’s the ideal place to dial up or dial down—as you like.

I was in the Dominican Republic as a guest of the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism, but the opinions in this post are my own.

Photo Credit: Jill K. Robinson

Article by Jill K. Robinson of dangerjillrobinson.com

If you’re going to be hanging around on Florida islands, you need to be able to recognize poison ivy so you can avoid it. It is a very versatile plant. It grows on the ground, in trees and on fences. Sometimes it can be everywhere. You don’t want to touch it–not even dead, dry leaves [...]

Where do hatchling sea turtles go when they leave the nest?
The short answer is: they swim like crazy far out to sea until they encounter lines of floating seaweed called Sargassum. That’s where they’ll hide, eat and grow. Once in the Sargassum, some species of young turtles may spend as much as a decade [...]

Palm Beach in Aruba

The best spot for people-watching in Aruba, Palm Beach has something for everyone: lounge chairs and umbrellas, beach bars and restaurants, room to roam, and a handful of sporting opportunities. Home to the high-rise hotels (such as the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino and Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino), it’s got ample space to feel like you have a little corner of beach to yourself.

Grab a lounge chair under a thatched-roof palapa, or float in the warm water and take advantage of the time to chill out under the Aruban sun. If you can’t dial down the energy that easily, take a long stroll and stop by a beach bar to get a thirst-quenching drink and a view of the local iguanas.

Find your own spot on the beach

Sport enthusiasts have plenty of choices. Play beach tennis at the Moomba Beach Bar, right next to the Marriott. On the other side of the same hotel, you can take a class at the nearby Dare2Fly kiteboarding center. For three lessons (kite mastery, “body dragging” and board lesson), the cost is $375. The Aruba Marriott also offers a special “Surf in to Luxury” package that includes accommodations at the Tradewinds Club and a free windsurfing or intro kiteboarding class.

The best thing about Palm Beach is the soft, talcum-powder sand. Dig your toes in while you sip from your umbrella drink, and pick the perfect time to dunk yourself in the calm, turquoise water. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whether you’re snorkeling, swimming, sailing or floating. You’re in Aruba, and that’s all that counts.

I was in Aruba as a guest of the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, but the opinions in this post are my own.

Photo Credit: Jill K. Robinson

Article by Jill K. Robinson of dangerjillrobinson.com

This afternoon we decided to leave the computers behind and head for the beach. Pass-a-Grille was our choice as it’s close by.
We took a walk down to the jetty and enjoyed a view of a very green and vibrant Shell Key as we watched a rain shower form and start moving toward us.
We took shelter [...]

We made another run to Pine Island today for mangoes. It’s a tradition I started nearly 20 years ago. A new fruit stand has opened for business in a grove I’ve been driving past for years. Instead of wholesaling their mangoes this year they decided to open a retail stand on their property. Today they [...]

Ever dream of living the simple life on a South Pacific island?  Living in a palm hut near the beach, eating fish, coconuts, bananas and mangoes…ahh, that’s the life!
If so, you’ve probably read the book Kon-Tiki, by Thor Heyerdahl, about his trip aboard a balsa wood raft from Peru to the islands of the South [...]

Not so long ago, there was only one Majahual, Mexico, a small fishing village just two streets wide, sandwiched between the ocean and a vast inland expanse of mangrove swamps in the portion of the Yucatan peninsula known as the Costa Maya. Hoping to attract a larger share of the lucrative cruise market, the Mexican government began looking for a location to build a new dock that could accommodate the larger ships about to hit the market. With its pristine beaches and unblemished beauty Majahual was the obvious choice. By 2001 a berthing station and a new “town,” including a man-made private island with bars, restaurants, shops and pools, had been built a couple miles north of the original village.

Lighthouse at the end of the road marks a beautiful little pocket beach

While many cruise passengers are happy to spend the day in the Hard Rock Cafe and Starbucks in the shiny “new town,” others make the trek to the quaint original village. About halfway between the two, a pocket beach marked by a tall white lighthouse offers an ideal stopping place. Palm thatch umbrellas shade tables on the beach and a wooden beach shack with rope swings for chairs swings serves up tropical drinks and snacks. The sand here is is blindingly white and the sea a luscious shade of turquoise. An offshore reef is close enough for snorkeling, and the reef creates a protective inner lagoon great for swimming or examining the tiny marine creatures that inhabit the tide pools along the shore. Despite their good intentions, many of the cruise ship passengers bound for old Majahual never make it any further than Lighthouse Beach.

Palm thatch umbrellas shade tables on the beach

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole In The Donut

Question: When is a jellyfish NOT a jellyfish?
Answer: When it’s a siphonophore or a chondrophore.
Prefer to listen to this blog post rather than read it? Click the play button on the player below. It’s about 5 minutes of me blathering on about jellyfish:

Recently I was taken to task in a politely pedantic comment left by [...]

Located in the remote southeastern corner of the Yucatan Peninsula, Bacalar Lake is an extraordinarily beautiful body of water more commonly known as “Laguna de Siete Colores” – the Lagoon of Seven Colors. Overshadowed by the tourist meccas of Cancun and Cozumel just three hours to the north, few tourists make the trek to this second largest freshwater lake in Mexico. Yet those who do find an irresistible combination: the sleepy, slow-paced town of Bacalar stretches along the shores of a nearly thirty-mile long, crystal clear lake that shimmers in an ever-changing palette of blue hues.

How many shades of blue can you see?

Bacalar Lake is fed by several cenotes (sinkholes) and a few small jungle rivers which carry mineral-rich calcium carbonate sediment eroded from the underlying limestone. These fine-grained chalk-like sediments absorb all the colors of the spectrum with the exception of blue; rays of sunlight hit the bottom of the lake and reflect back a liquid blue rainbow. Marshes and wetlands that meander along the shore attract a rich variety birds and vast stretches of healthy mangrove provide shelter and breeding grounds for aquatic species.

The Balneario - community beach - in the center of town

The best place to dip your toes into the lagoon is the Balneario – the town beach – located on the north end of town and accessed via the pothole pocked coastal road. Bathers are welcome to use one of the thatch-roofed palapas or spread a blanket on the broad grassy picnic area that borders the shore. There is no sand beach here but kids don’t seem to mind, instead jumping off the pier or the bulkheaded sidewalk that runs along the shore. Visitors wishing to more thoroughly explore the lake will also want to start at the Balneario, as it is the most affordable place in town to rent a kayak or a paddleboat, either by the hour or by the day. Facilities also include changing rooms, rest rooms, a restaurant and bar, a pier where boats can tie up, and ample parking.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole In The Donut

In February I was birding on Fort Desoto and came across this specimen of a gray nickernut plant. The seed pods were bursting open and gave me a great look at where these popular seabeans come from.
Some interesting facts about nickernuts from the excellent book, Sea-Beans from the Tropics, by Ed Perry IV and John [...]

Other beaches in Tulum, Mexico may be more famous but none is more beautiful than Zazil-Kin. The beach is wide, clean, and absolutely gorgeous, and because of its location at the far northern end of the three-mile long Hotel Zone, always uncrowded. The few intrepid tourists who do make it this far up the beach come to enjoy the laid-back beach bar or book walk-in beach dives with the Aquatic Dive Center, also located on the beach.

Gorgeous Zazil-Kin Beach has bamboo bars, dive shacks, and restaurants with sand floors

The beach bar is actually part of Zazil-Kin Cabanas, which are set behind the low dunes at the back of the beach, but the general public is welcome. Tropical frozen drinks and $2 icy cold beers are available at the simple thatched roof palapa bar, where customers can grab a low-slung chairs and relax in the shade provided by lush palms trees.

Offshore reef is close enough for divers to walk in from shore

An offshore reef lies quite close to shore, making Zazil-Kin Beach more placid than the southern beaches, as the reef protects the inner lagoon from heavy surf. The close proximity of the reef allows shore dives and on most days the Aquatic Dive Center strings a long line of the distinctive red and white diver flags in the sand as a reminder to boats that submerged divers are present.

During the hottest part of the day, Zazil-Kin Cabanas offer alternatives to baking in the midday sun. Follow the sand paths over the dunes and wind through the palms to their restaurant, a unique open-air facility where heavy wooden tables and chairs sink into a sand floor. The menu is simple, offering mostly sandwiches and fries, but the food is quite good and the prices are some of the most economical in Tulum. A massage area is also open to the public. Alternatively, the Tulum Mayan Ruins, located barely half a mile up the beach, are within easy walking distance.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole In The Donut

Tulum, Mexico, once a little-known village of fishermen and rubber plantations on the Yucatan’s Caribbean coast, has become one of Mexico’s prime tourist hot spots over the past few years. Straddling the border between Riviera Maya and the Costa Maya, Tulum initially attracted visitors to see their ruins, the only ancient Mayan city built directly on the ocean. Wave after wave of tourists descended upon the archeological site, walked through the temples and ended up high upon the oceanfront cliffs, looking down at one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. Before long, visitors were arriving as much for the beach as the ruins and development soon followed.

Pitch a tent for free at Santa Fe Beach in Tulum

Today the beach is crowded with a three-mile long tourist strip known as the Hotel Zone, where some of the most exclusive, pricey digs in the Yucatan offer everything from gourmet food to meditation and Yoga retreats. Fortunately, it’s still possible to experience Tulum the way it used to be. At the northernmost end of the Hotel Zone lies Santa Fe Beach, a wide, windswept stretch of alabaster sweeping toward a crystalline turquoise sea. Few people make it up to this end; other than the beach it offers only a few scattered bamboo cabanas without electricity and a couple of beach shack restaurants. And because of the remoteness, no one cares if you pitch a tent.

Campers at Santa Fe Beach enjoy a secluded strip of sand and a distant view of the Tulum Lighthouse

To find Santa Fe Beach, take the road to Tulum Ruins. At the entrance, instead of climbing the steps into the site, turn right onto the dirt road running parallel to the ocean and follow it for about half a mile. Walk around the chain and posts strung across the road; the Tulum Lighthouse will be behind the chain link fence on your left. Turn left onto the second sand path after the chain link fence ends; this is an unmarked public access that leads to Santa Fe Beach.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Cultural Travel with Hole In The Donut

The small oceanfront town of Tulum, Mexico is perhaps most famous for its beaches, and none more so than El Paraiso Beach. The first thing I noticed about El Paraiso was its luxuriant swath of palm trees. Many of the beaches that stretch for miles on the Maya Riviera are all but devoid of shade, but at El Paraiso palms cluster thickly at the back of the beach and scatter toward the ocean, providing ample shade for the beach bar and restaurant, as well as for lounge chairs and mattresses that can be rented for the day.

Beach bars and shade palms back this lovely beach in Tulum

The next thing I noticed was the sand itself. Sugar fine, pure white, and always cool to the touch, it was the most gorgeous sand that I had ever seen. It was so perfect that I rubbed it all over my body several times that day. After rinsing off in the ocean my skin gleamed as if I’d paid for a pricey salt scrub exfoliation. And the ocean was pure bliss: gorgeous turquoise water so clear I could see every ripple on the bottom, gently lapping waves with an occasional larger wave that allowed me to body surfing back to shore, and a temperature just right – not warm like bathwater, but not the least bit chilly.

Magnificent white sand and turquoise water

Though I could have rented a lounge chair for about $5 per day; or a round vinyl-covered bed with a table, chairs and umbrella rent for about $15, I wanted to be near the shore and in touch with the sand, so I simply spread a beach towel and laid on the ground. Had I needed them, there were public showers and a bathroom in the restaurant behind the beach area. I opted not to eat at the restaurant because I’d had reports that it was not the best choice and the heavy beat music that blared from huge speakers at the bar would have intruded on my tranquility, but the music was enjoyable from my spot at the water’s edge and beach vendors kept me supplied with plastic glasses full of fresh peeled mangoes and pineapple.

El Paraiso Beach is also the site of Extreme Kite Boarding School. Located among the trees on the south end of the beach, this company offers lessons in kite boarding for those who crave more adventure than lounging on a beach for the entire day. As for me, I was content to watch fluffy clouds scud across the sky and seabirds glide gracefully on thermal updrafts while I munched on another strip of mango.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels

Low tide is a great time to find live shells on St. Pete Beach. Augers, tulips, fighting conchs, and olive shells were in abundance Saturday evening. There were a lot of augers, but not as many as the millions of Common Atlantic Augers we saw on Sanibel Island during our honeymoon.
We always leave live shells [...]

I found this Florida Fighting Conch on Pass-a-Grille Beach Saturday evening in about 8 inches of water. I brought it up on dry sand to photograph it. It kept flipping itself over before I could get a good focus on it.
Fighting conchs are fairly common on St. Pete Beach and Pass-a-Grille. My wife got some [...]

Have you ever dreamed in Technicolor and woken up thinking that those colors simply don’t exist in real life? Those rich, saturated, almost kaleidoscopic colors are what I experienced when I visited the beach at the Mayan ruins in Tulum, Mexico.

Turquoise water and pure white sand, set against a jagged rock cliffside

But wait. I’m getting ahead of myself. To get to the beach I had to pass through the ruins which are quite spectacular for their oceanfront location. During the height of the Maya empire this was an important port city and the major structures face the ocean from a high mound: a watchtower and astronomical observatory are stunning examples of the ancient architecture, as is a house built over a cenote. Once you’ve had your fill of wandering through the ruins, a wooden staircase leads down the cliff to the beach, an exquisite cove of pure white, sugar-fine sand bordered on both ends by ochre and red rock outcroppings. Gentle waves sweep into the sheltered cove, beckoning bathers into a sea so dazzlingly turquoise and aquamarine that it hurts the eyes.

Stairway leads down the cliff from the ancient ruins of Tulum to a stunning beach

Those who don’t care to swim can soak up the rays or clamber around the giant boulders and pinnacles on either end of the beach to discover more secluded pockets where crystal seas lap through holes in the rock. The beach has a year-round lifeguard, but it is only open until 5 p.m. each day, when the archeological park closes. Price of admission is 51 pesos (about $4.50 USD) and includes complete access to the ruins and the beach.

Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels