Relaxing – Maldo Travels

San Andres – Buggy Rental

Jean Maldonado — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 20:00:00 +0000

When we arrived in San Andres, we mainly got around the island via public transport or taxi. In the first couple of days on the island, we noticed several buggies on the streets and also rental spots. We enquired about the buggy in one of the rental spots near Centro and decided to hire one for one of the days we had free. The rental came to 200,000 COP¹ for 1 full day with a full tank.

We picked up the buggy at around 11 AM and headed down to the southern tip of the island. It took us about 45 minutes to drive down the coastline enjoying the great beach views along the way. We stopped at El Hoyo Soplador which is one of the main tourist spots in San Andres. At this place, the parking is free, but the locals ask you to buy a drink or food from the restaurant bar. We ordered one of the local cocktails called Coco Loco which was served in a coconut. There was a long queue when we got there to take a picture at the place. This tourist spot is a natural phenomenon of a blowhole in the rocky ground. When the waves come crashing into the cove, you’ll get a gust of wind and water sprayed out of the blowhole. We waited in the queue for about 10-15 minutes to get a picture/video.

Next, we continued driving along the coastline in a loop around the island. After about 20 minutes, we arrived at a viewpoint on the west side of the island. At this viewpoint, there is the tourist letter sign of I Love San Andres Island. There aren’t as many people at this viewpoint compared to the other letter sign of San Andres in Centro, so it’s easier to get a picture here. After getting a picture we continued driving up the coastline to get to Centro on the north side of the island. It took us about 30 minutes and it was now around 1.30 PM so we went for lunch in Centro.

After lunch, we stopped by the main tourist letters of I Love San Andres in Centro. We then looped back around the island making stops at remote beaches along the way. Most of the west side is quite rocky and mainly used for Scuba diving. The south and east side have untouched sandy beaches with clear water. Since these beaches are more remote, they don’t have crowds like the beaches at Centro and were great to relax in. We finished our loop back to Centro at around 6 PM to drop off the buggy.

San Andres – Semi Submarine

Jean Maldonado — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 20:00:00 +0000

We booked this tour for the afternoon with Ecodivers Tours following our Scuba Experience Tour in the morning. The minibus that picked us up from the dive center dropped us off in Centro and we headed to the tour agency’s office. From here, one of the reps walked us over to the pier where the semi-submarine boat was located. It was a large boat which was anchored in deeper water, so we first got on a smaller boat which took us to the semi-submarine. The semi-submarine had lots of seating space for about 50 people and lots of shade. We set out at around 3 PM and headed in the direction of Haynes Cay for about 30 minutes.

The boat slowed down near a shallow zone where there was lots of sea life and we were invited to go down to the hull. The hull was full of windows so you could see all the marine life swimming around. The guide pointed out the different species and gave us information on them. Another guide dove into the water to lure fish toward the boat. This part of the tour lasted for about 20 minutes before we headed to another zone for swimming. The boat anchored in and we were free to go for a swim. The current was very strong so not many people got in, but it was a refreshing swim to cool down from the sun. At around 4.30 PM we began making our way back to the pier and finished the tour at 5 PM. It was a quick boat ride into the sea and a good way to explore the sea life without getting wet.

San Andres – Caribbean Paradise

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 20:00:00 +0000

At the departure airport, everyone has to purchase a Tourist Card which costs 25 USD² and can be paid in USD or COP³. you must make sure to keep the Tourist Card throughout your stay and present it at the San Andres customs when leaving the island. We arrived at the San Andres Airport at around 4 PM. The airport is quite small so we got through customs quickly. Upon exiting the airport, several taxis are waiting to pick up passengers. Our hotel was located in San Luis on the east side of the island which was a little far away from Centro where the main strip is. We decided to first walk to the main strip to see if we could get a tour for the following day.

The main strip is a short 20-minute walk from the airport, and you can first walk to the beach and walk alongside the sea which is a beautiful walk. Once we got to the main strip, we found a couple of tour agencies and bought an Islands Tour for the next day. We then took a taxi to our hotel which cost us 25,000 COP. We stayed at San Luis Place by Dorado which had a private beach. A perk of the hotel we stayed at is that we also had access to the private beaches and facilities of the other hotels By Dorado. That evening we headed to one of them in the San Luis area Hotel Reina del Mar which had a bar and restaurant.

We spent a week in San Andres which is great for both relaxing and going on tours to explore the island. Many of the hotels have private beaches and we found time every day to chill at the private beaches and pools of the hotels By Dorado. There are also lots of tours and activities available and we headed out on the Islands Tour, a Scuba Diving Experience, a Semi-Submarine tour, rented a golf cart to tour the island, and went to a Boat Party. Overall, it’s a great island destination to experience Caribbean beaches with lots of activities.

Cunuyacu – Waterfall and Hot Spring

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 08:47:00 +0000

Located on the foothills of the volcanic twin mountains Los Ilinizas, the waterfall and hot spring of Cunuyacu are about a 2-hour drive away from Quito. These destinations are less frequented by tourists and on an off-the-beaten-path route. To get there, you first need to get to the Ecological Reserve which can be accessed via a dirt road in San Juan de Pastocalle after coming off the Panamericana highway. There is a large tourist sign at the entrance of the dirt road so it should be easy to spot. It had rained the day before so the road was quite muddy. We went in an SUV-type vehicle and managed to get through most of the way without any issues. There was just one part where there was quite a large rock where the passengers had to get off for the car to make it up.

We made it to a car park at around 7.30 AM, and although we could proceed further, we decided to leave the cars there since the road wasn’t getting any better. We then started hiking up, and after a couple of minutes, we came across the entrance that had a large welcome sign. The road at this point was cordoned off to block vehicles access. There was also a house here and I had read up that there was someone who lives in the area that provides transportation. However, it was quite early and no one seemed to be in, so we went across the barrier and continued hiking up. From this point, the dirt road got much worse with large holes and rocks. Only a 4×4 vehicle would be able to make it up, but for a hike the road is fine. It took us about an hour to reach a viewpoint which was also the start of the trail.

First, the trail descends to the river where there is a small wooden footbridge. It was quite muddy so take care when going down the trail as some parts are very slippery. After crossing the bridge, the trail splits with one route leading to the waterfall and the other going to the hot spring. The trail has signposts along the way so you won’t get lost. We first followed signs for the waterfall and we got there in about 10 minutes. The waterfall itself isn’t too big, but the highlight is its red/orange color. The color is due to the rocks that have been tinted red by volcanic minerals. The color of the water itself is clear and it doesn’t give off a bad odor that volcanic minerals tend to produce. We were able to get close to the waterfall which made for some great pictures. To get close to the waterfall you have to cross the stream which has some slippery rocks. Water shoes or wellies would be great but not necessary. We were the only ones there and we didn’t run into any other groups at this time. We spent about 20 minutes taking pictures here before continuing to the hot spring.

We first turned back and walked along the trail to return to the footbridge. Then we followed the other route that leads up to the hot spring. Along the trail, we passed through a mystical forest of Polylepis trees. In Ecuador, this tree is nicknamed the ‘Paper Tree’ due to its appearance of the bark peeling off like layers of paper. This trail is a little longer and we reached the hot spring in about 20 minutes. Once again, we were the only group there and had the place to ourselves. The hot spring is a small natural pool where they’ve stacked some sandbags to contain more water. The water temperature itself is warm, not hot, but it’s more refreshing after the hike. You can smell the minerals here, but it is not off-putting. The highlight is the view since the pool is like a balcony on the mountainside looking over the landscape. The weather wasn’t great so we didn’t get to see much of the neighboring mountains, but it was still a great place to relax. We stayed here for about an hour before it started to rain, so we started heading back before a downpour.

It was a wonderful experience abundant in nature and great for a day trip from the capital city. The hike itself was fairly easy and only tiring due to being at an altitude of over 4000 meters. If you go later in the day, the transportation service would save you the 1-hour initial hike. It was also great to have the place to ourselves without having to deal with tourist crowds.

Botany Bay – Beautiful Sandy Beach

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 06:41:00 +0000

It’s possible to take public transport to this destination, but you need to first take a train to either Broadstairs or Margate and then take a bus to Botany Bay. From London, it’ll take around 2 hours and 30 minutes, depending on where in London you’re departing from. It’s much easier to get there by car since it’s a 1-hour 45-minute drive if there’s no traffic. However, this beach is very popular in the summer, so it’s best to leave in the early morning to get a decent parking spot near the beach.

The Botany Bay area is very residential and depending on where you’ve managed to park, you’ll likely have to walk along the cliff to one of the beach entrances. You’ll get some spectacular views of the sea and beach from this walk. There’s a free toilet and changing area at one of the main entrances, it’s not very big nor well kept though. If it’s a busy summer’s day, then there will probably be a long queue as well.

The beach itself is quite small, but it’s a sandy beach which is quite rare in the UK, hence its popularity. It’s also rather unique given the white chalk cliffs that border it. The cliffs make for great photo opportunities and are also great to walk along since they have great viewpoints of the beach. When we went in September, the weather was in the high 20s to 30s, but the water was still icy cold. Overall, it’s a great beach that’s close enough to London for a day trip.

Seven Sisters – Scenic White Cliffs

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 17:08:00 +0000

The closest towns to the cliffs are Seaford and Eastbourne. Both have train stations with services from London and the train ride is about 2 hours. We decided to go to Seaford by car and it’s also a 2-hour drive. It’s quite a popular tourist site so the car park by the seaside can get full very quickly. There are a couple of stalls at the stone beach for snacks, drinks, and ice cream. It was quite chilly when we went, so there weren’t many people in the sea since it was freezing cold. There’s a path along the stone beach lined with colorful beach huts which makes for a nice walk.

The path leads to the start of the trail at Seaford Head West that goes towards the white cliffs. The walk up the cliff is quite steep so it’s a little tiring. The rest of the trail is easier though and fairly flat. There are no barriers on the cliff edges and there are warning signs throughout the trail stating that ground on the cliff edge can be unstable. So it’s best to stay clear from it and always keep an eye on children. There are some great views along the trail though, and you can pick up some of the white chalk rocks along the way.

We walked along the trail for about an hour until we got to a viewpoint of the Seven Sisters white cliffs. From this viewpoint, you get a panoramic view of the rolling cliffs. You can continue along the trail to get to the Seven Sisters cliffs, but we decided to turn back to Seaford to have time for a quick stop in Brighton that is only a 30-minute drive away.

Porto – Historic Coastal City

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 23:48:00 +0000

Our flight back to London departed from Porto in the evening, so we got to Porto at around 11.45 AM to explore the city. We found a car park near the Câmara Municipal do Porto. There’s a large plaza with several cafes and restaurants in the area. We walked around the area for a bit and then headed for lunch at Kind Kitchen which had excellent vegan options.

Following lunch, we walked down to the river to cross the bridge Ponte Luís I. The roads leading there were narrow and filled with colonial buildings. We also stepped into São Bento Station where the walls at the entrance are decorated with beautiful mosaic tiles. We also passed many old churches and the Cathedral Sé do Porto which is at the top of the cliff near the bridge. You can cross the iconic metal bridge which has pedestrian walkways on either side.

The interesting thing about this bridge is that the tram passes over it rather than local traffic which makes it great to walk across. The bridge is very high up and has great views of the river and the city. It took us about 10 minutes to cross the bridge and on the other side, there’s a cable car which goes down to the riverside. Tickets cost 6 EUR one-way and 9 EUR for return which was a bit pricy so we decided to walk back across the bridge. On the way back, we took a small detour via Jardim Marques de Oliveira and took a little break at a nearby cafe. We then headed back to the car park to make our way to the airport to catch our flight back to London.

Lisboa – City Sites and the Beach

Jean Maldonado — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 23:45:00 +0000

From Canas de Senhorim, it was about a 2-hour 40 -minute scenic drive through mountains and valleys. The highways are great and once in the city, the roads become very hilly and narrow. Our rental was automatic which made driving in the hilly city much easier. We found a car park near Castelo de São Jorge and then walked to Praça da Figueira to have some breakfast. We found a great restaurant that has a tasty vegan menu.

After breakfast, we walked uphill for about 30 minutes to Castelo de São Jorge. We went through stone-tiled roads and several building walls were decorated with iconic tiles. There were also great views of the city on the way. The castle complex is quite large and we walked the perimeter of its walls. We didn’t go inside though and headed to a viewpoint instead. It was about a 25-minute walk to Miradouro da Graça. This is a great spot for unobstructed views of the city and the iconic suspension bridge Ponte 25 de Abril. There are several tables and chairs with parasols here where you can order snacks and drinks. We took a break here for about 30 mins before heading back to the car park. When we got back, we came from the top and found that the car park rooftop was also a great viewpoint of the city. It was about 1.30 PM now so we headed to the beach at Sesimbra.

It was about a 1-hour drive with some traffic getting out of the city. As we arrived at the beach, we got a wonderful elevated view of the sea driving down winding roads. We found a car park a short walk away from the beach. There are several bars along the beach and private spots with parasols that you can rent. There are also plenty of public areas where you can set yourself up. The beach is sandy and stretches for miles. There are cliffs at the far end and it’s a very beautiful place. We chilled here for about 3 hours before heading back to Lisbon for dinner.

There was a lot more traffic on the way back, especially crossing the bridge so it took us about 1-hour 30 minutes. We made a stop at Torre de Belém before heading for dinner in the city. The riverside is a beautiful walk, especially at sunset. You get a great view of the suspension bridge and Santuário de Cristo Rei as well. We headed for dinner at around 7.30 PM and then drover back to Canas de Senhorim.

Papallacta – Natural Mountain Hot Springs

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 18:12:00 +0000

From Quito, it can take between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes depending on where you’re staying to get to Papallacta. Public transport is an option but it’s best to go by car or organized tour. The weather varies but normally when it’s winter in Quito between October and May, it tends to be summer in Papallacta. As you approach Papallacta, if the skies are clear you’ll get to see the snow-topped Volcano Antisana in the background. It’s a great sight and the highway is in good condition for a comfortable journey to Papallacta.

Once in Papallacta, there are a couple of hot spring pools in the small town. The ones near the bottom are cheaper and have fewer facilities. We went to the one at the top of the hill called Termas de Papallacta which is a resort and spa but has pools open to the public. There’s lots of parking available and a guarded entrance. Tickets cost 9 USD³ each and give you access to several pools, changing rooms, showers, and restroom facilities. You can also rent lockers available from the shop/cafe. There are several indoor changing rooms throughout the site as well as restrooms and showers. This site is quite relaxed with what you wear in the pools. It was very sunny on the day we went, so a lot of people got into the pools with a t-shirt and hat to avoid getting sunburnt.

We got there at around 9.30 AM so it wasn’t that busy. We first headed to the pools on the upper level. There are gazebos with tables and chairs throughout and we managed to grab one of those spots. It’s a nice place to relax in the pools and chill on the chairs. Around the back on the upper level, there is also a polar pool. After getting out of the hot pools, some people would jump in the polar pool since its supposed to be good for your muscles. Later in the afternoon, we went to explore the lower pools. There is a large pool and the temperature here is a little lower than the ones on the upper level. There are then some more pools around the corner and these are very hot. One of them has a warning sign and I could just about dip my toe in it. We also found an indoor area below the large pool which had 2 waterfall-like showers with the hot spring water. We stayed until around 2.30 PM before heading down to the town to get some lunch. Once we were done, we then headed back to Quito.

Singapore – Marina Bay Sands

Jean Maldonado — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 22:38:30 +0000

After booking my flight to Singapore, I immediately started looking at the famous rooftop infinity pool at the Marina Bay Sands. There’s an observation deck next to the pool, but the only way to get pool access is by staying at the Marina Bay Sands hotel. It’s best to book your stay directly on the Marina Bay Sands website to know exactly what you’ll be getting. There are several room options and after doing some research, I found it would be best to go for a room with Club55 access. You can check the website for the privileges available at Club55, but the highlight is complimentary beverages & canapés from 5 PM to 9 PM. The price difference for a room with Club55 access would be the cost of an evening with fine dining followed by drinks at a bar, so it’s definitely worth it. A complimentary breakfast is also provided to sweeten the deal.

Once you’ve booked your stay, the hotel will reach out 3 days before your stay for you to register your details with them. The check-in time is 3 PM and early check-in is highly unlikely and pool access is only provided after 3 PM. We got there at around 4 PM for check-in and we were upgraded to an Orchid Suite with a City View. Our check-in was at Tower 1 and we had to walk across to Tower 3 to get a lift to our room which was on the 46th Floor. The suite was huge with a living room facing the Gardens by the Bay, and a massive bedroom facing the city. The en-suite bathroom was like another room on its own with a spacious bathtub and separate shower. The room truly offered premium comfort and we spent some time settling in.

At around 5.30 PM we headed up to the infinity pool to take some pictures. We then headed down to Club55 at 6 PM for the complimentary beverages and canapés. It was quite busy but we managed to get a table by the window with a city view. The waiter handed us a drinks menu and then let us know we could head up to the self-serve buffet area for the canapés. There was a good selection of alcoholic beverages including Gin, Whisky, Bourbon, Cognac, Tequila, Vodka, Rum, Wines, and Champagne. There was also a range of hot drinks, beverages, and juices to choose from. Our waiter came around regularly to take more drink orders and to collect our plates. We stayed there until around 8 PM when we headed back up to our rooms to change into our swimsuits. We then headed up to the infinity pool which stays open until 11 PM. After the pool, we got changed and went to check out the casino which was on the lower level. We played a couple of games of roulette and then headed to the rooftop bar of CÉ LA VI in the hotel. This bar turns into a club in the late hours with a DJ on set playing chart music. We stayed until around 3 AM and then headed down to our room to get some rest.

The following morning, we headed up to the rooftop restaurant Spago in Tower 2 for breakfast. This is a very popular spot and there was a queue at this time. We waited for about 10 minutes to be sat down and the waiter pointed out the options in the buffet-style layout before showing us to our table. There were lots of options available including different style eggs, dumplings, buns, noodles, rice, some meats, cereal, bread, juices, and hot drinks. It was a very tasty and filling breakfast with a great view of the city. We were done with breakfast by 10 AM and went to check out the observation deck. There are good views of the city and Gardens by the Bay from here. The checkout deadline is 11 AM so we then headed down to our room to pick up our things and checked out of the hotel.