Latest from Cecilia Markley
10 Articles
La India Dormida: The Most Stunning View in Panama
The Panamanian legend of La India Dormida (The Sleeping Indian Girl) tells of a beautiful indigenous girl, Flor del Aire, who fell in love with a Spanish conqui
10 days in Morocco: Which Cities are Actually Worth Your Time and Which to Skip
Morocco is one of the most geographically and culturally diverse countries I have ever visited. For a country the size of the state of California, you could be
This City in Guatemala Will Take You off the ‘Gringo Trail’ and Immerse You in Indigenous Culture
Guatemala is a country with so much to offer, from stunning nature like Lake Atitlán, Semuc Champey and Acatenango Volcano, to ancient Mayan ruins like the famo
Are These the Best Mayan Ruins in Mexico? Visiting the Lesser-Known Palenque Ruins
The ruins of the ancient Maya city of Palenque in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas are unlike any others I have visited, covered in jungle and only partial
Sumidero Canyon: The Natural Wonder of Chiapas, Mexico
With vertical limestone walls reaching as high as 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) and tropical rainforest vegetation bursting all around, Sumidero Canyon is a stunnin
Here Are Which Central American Countries Are Actually Backpacker Budget Friendly (And Which Are Not)
Central and South America are typically ranked right above Southeast and South Asia on lists of most affordable regions of the world to travel. But not all coun
Hiking Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes: This Two-Day Hike Is Challenging but Rewarding
Guatemala has the most volcanoes of any Central American country. Acatenango and Fuego are two of its most famous. Located just outside the southern Guatemalan
Here’s What I Did During My 3 Days on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua
Nicaragua is called the land of lakes and volcanoes for good reason. Nowhere in the country better demonstrates that than Ometepe Island. Plopped in the middle
Visiting Cartagena: Colombia’s Colorful Colonial Walled City
I arrived in Colombia last week to begin backpacking South America with my boyfriend. Our first stop was the Caribbean city of Cartagena. Known for its Spanish
Tortuguero: The Amazon of Costa Rica
If you’ve always wanted to see the Amazon rainforest, with its wealth of biodiversity and famous Amazon River, but can’t make the difficult journey to get there