The Tranquilo Traveler
The Tranquilo Traveler is a celebration of voluntourism, slow travel, and other interesting ways to see the world. Travel writer and award- winning Moon Handbooks author Joshua Berman created The Tranquilo Travel as a resource for world trippers and international volunteers, a window to the author’s travels in Nicaragua, Belize, and beyond, and an update of his books and articles.
Hopkins, Dangriga, & the Hummingbird Highway
By Joshua | 
1 Comment » 
While touring Dangriga, the sun makes one brief appearance after a long, gray day. It beams under the cloud cover just as I am walking by the oceanside bandstand featured on the title page of Moon Handbooks Belize. The photo was shot by my friend, Danielle Vaughn, at this exact moment of the day, when she and I were walking by the park after the Jonkanu dances. We found this teenager lounging on the railing, looking out at the Caribbean as the sun played on the oranges and yellows and greens. Three years later, I discover a young couple standing at the same rail, as entranced by the ocean as the teen was. Maybe, I think, just maybe — it’s the same kid, with his first love.
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Belize Authors Eat Fry-Jacks
By Joshua | No Comments » 
It’s always nice to finally meet folks with whom you’ve been corresponding for years, especially when those folks are Lan Sluder (author of numerous guidebooks, including Fodor’s Belize, Living Abroad in Belize, and San Pedro Cool) and Marty Casado (Master of the Domain at www.ambergriscaye.com). A few weeks ago, our paths all crossed on the beach in San Pedro, at Estel’s.
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Belize’s Southern Exposure: in Toledo
By Joshua | 3 Comments » 
Think Belize is over-touristed? You’ve been spending too much time in San Pedro, amigo. Time to head south to Punta Gorda and Toledo District, where vast tracts of forest, reef, river, ruins, and ridges await the handful of lucky visitors who decide to get off Belize’s beaten path. I leave from the southern tip of Placencia peninsula early in the morning and show up in PG ready to rumble.
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Push to Placencia
By Joshua | No Comments » 
Travel day begins with a two-hour boat ride down the New River, just after dawn. I’m tagging along with a family from Manhattan who isn’t into the birds as much as they are talking about the day’s schedule, which makes the trip quicker than it would be if we had to stop and admire every species spotted by our Captain.
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Lamanai: Up the River and Beyond
By Joshua | No Comments » 
It’s 28 miles up the New River, a maze of tributaries that my boat driver negotiates with ease, rounding corners of glassy water and pointing out dozens of species of birds as we make our way to the Lamanai Archaeological Site near the village of Indian Church.
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Belize Wildlife: In Your Face (San Pedro to Corozal)
By Joshua | 3 Comments » 
The Mexican Red Rump Tarantula (Brachypelma vagans) is quite harmless, despite its massive fangs and generally hairy nastiness. Or so says Vitalino, my Belizean guide to the Maya ruins at Cerros. “You want to put it on your face?” he asks, after I consent to him placing it on my shoulder. Um, not really. But then I think of the photo op and can’t resist.
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Signs of San Pedro
By Joshua | 2 Comments » 
A “cold” front finally blows through Belize, offering respite from the sun and fresh breezes from the north. It’s not the best weather for diving, but it’s great for staying in and writing, catching up on ten days worth of notes from throughout the country. That my hotel room is WiFi equipped is distracting for work, but nice for sharing a few island images.
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Tasting Belize: All of it
By Joshua | 4 Comments » 
It’s not easy visiting every hotel, restaurant, dive shop, and golf cart rental on Ambergris Caye. Today, it’s lobster ceviche and a chef salad at Wild Mango’s (by locally famous chef, Amy Knox) — it’s all quite delicious after the most amazing set of dives in my life.
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The Hits Keep on Comin’…
By Joshua | No Comments » 
After communing with Maya spirits, kinkajous, and gnarly tarantulas in northwestern Belize, I skim back across the forest canopy and out to Caye Caulker, where the locals immediately order me to “Go Slow!” I try to listen, but there are so many changes on the island that my few days here are a non-stop whirl of walking. And talking. And typing.
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BY JOSHUA BERMAN
Categories
- 0. Volunteering Abroad
- 1. Round-the-World Honeymoon
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