Announcing this year’s International Trip….Nicaragua and Honduras September 25-October 11, 2008!!

After several months of debating where to go this year for my international trip and even contemplating whether to go anywhere this year, I finally made my decision and purchased my ticket for this years International Trip. At first I thought of maybe taking a year off, but these international trips are like an addiction that runs through my blood and the thought of not getting that fix is more than I can stand!

The last two years have been rather “hard” and complicated trips covering vast amounts of territory in a short time (i.e., Turkey, Jordan and Israel in three weeks or Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore in three weeks). I knew earlier this year I wanted to go somewhere more confined where I could relax more than constantly running. In addition, I wanted to go somewhere where I was more familiar with the culture and language.

Europe and Latin America are both like second homes to me and feel completely at ease anywhere in those regions. However, the hurdle this year was the cost of gas! The cost of gas has made it’s way to the airline industry and finding cheap flights this year was a great obstacle and hardly non existent. Some of the destinations I wanted to go to (i.e., Buenos Aires) were over $1000 round trip. I continued researching various destinations I wanted to go to one of which was Nicaragua and Honduras for a variety of reasons. I was able to finally find a flight (multi-leg) for only $498…I seized it! So I feel happy now knowing I have a ticket to another international destination and God willing…my 31st and 32nd countries!

So how did I end up picking this destination (besides the cheap flight)? Well, first off I love Latin America..I speak enough of the language and love the culture, the music, the food. A few years ago I went to Costa Rica and love it. After further reading, I learned that Nicaragua is very similar to Costa Rica but with a lot less tourism…a much less traveled road! And Honduras…My primary reason for wanting to go there is to visit Copan the ancient Mayan Ruins which I hear rival the neighboring Guatemalan Tikal!

The journey will begin September 25 on a flight from LAX to Managua, Nicaragua via Mexico City. I’m still in the early planning stages. I will undoubtedly explore the city and some of the surrounding Lagunas and volcanic crate lakes. After a few days of exploring Managua I will venture south to Granada one of Nicaragua’s finest colonial towns. I will also use Granada as my launching off point for lago de Nicaragua and Las Isleta 365 Islands scattered in the lake. My primary destination is to climb Volcano Mombacho a still smoldering and active volcano. I will then venture into the tropical rain forest where there are over 60 species of bats, howler monkey and a plethora of birds.

After several days in Granada I will push further south to San Juan Del Sur on the Costa Rican border one of the finest beaches in Nicaragua for surfing and sunbathing.

I will then head back up to Managua and up to Leon. Around Leon I plan on visiting Isla Juan Venado a reserve of migratory birds and reptiles. I will then visit the perfect cone of Volcan Momotombo…a symbol of Nicaragua. This is yet another more famous active volcano that has erupted 14 times since the sixteenth century. Health permitting, I hope to hike the two hours to the lava strewn crater!

After exploring Nicaragua I plan to venture across the border up to Honduras. I will use the capital Tegucigalpa as my launching off point. Some of the highlights I hope to do in Honduras includes The Bay Islands to do some snorkeling in the worlds second largest barrier reef, visit La Mosquitia to explore the river plains where monkeys, toucans and jaguars roam in virgin forest, and over course my primary destination Copan Ruins, the ancient Mayan ruins.

My travels will conclude on October 11 when I fly back from Tegucigalpa back to Los Angeles via Miami! While some of this region is similar to my Costa Rican, El Salvador and Guatemalan journeys, each county offers something unique. In addition, my other Central American adventures were always crammed into 1 week of running here and there. This time, the plan is to linger, to savor, and to truly immerse myself in the eco system and the tropical rain forests.

So…if you have the time and the money and want to accompany me on this journey let me know I’d again love to have a travel companion. Or if you have been to these countries and have some suggestions on things not to miss..drop me a line!

Trip of the week will return next week….