Seville is the city HOT on everyone’s lips at the moment. It blew up all over social media in 2022 and will very likely only become more popular in 2023.

I first visited Seville on a day trip as part of a Spanish Exchange programme when I was 16 and finally returned many (many) years later in September 2022.

I spent 2 and a half weeks there just soaking in the Andalusian atmosphere. I spent most of that time alone and rented an apartment, so got to know the city a little like a local. Spoiler alert: I LOVED IT and want you to love it to!

So, here are 10 things to do in Seville, all tried and tested by me (of course)!

Casa de Pilatos

Everyone knows about the Real Alcázar de Sevilla and yes of course that features on this list too. But, not everyone knows about its little sister, Casa de Pilatos.

Ok it’s not really its little sister before any history buffs come at me, that was just a turn of phrase, k?

Casa de Pilatos is just as beautiful as the Alcázar in my opinion, just much smaller and much less known. It’s located in the Barrio de Santa Cruz, a district of Seville you’ll know better as the Old Town, or the Jewish Quarter.

So whilst it’s not hidden away on the outskirts of the city or in some unknown neighbourhood, it definitely doesn’t get as much attention as the Real Alcázar de Sevilla.

From the outside, it doesn’t look overly spectacular, but inside is where the intricately patterned tiles and stunning courtyard shine. I mean hello, look at the photos!

The entrance fee is around €10 per person. You can opt to add on a little extra for a guided tour of the upper floor; only accessible via a tour.

La Plaza de España

I imagine you already know about this place if you’ve planned a trip to Seville, but it really is one of the top things to do!

La Plaza de España is the biggest square in the city, though there’s nothing square about it. It’s a huge semi-circle surrounded on one side by an impressive, ornate building and has a Venice-like canal running across the open plaza.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get to watch some live Flamenco dancing and listen to traditional Flamenco musicians and singers while you’re there, just under the arches of the building.

Make sure to head there early in the day to beat the crowds (it’s popular for a reason!).

While you’re there, be sure to head upstairs for views out across the plaza and over to Parque de María Luisa (Maria Luisa Park) too, it’s beautiful!

Oh, and on some days, the Military Historical Museum of Seville is open, located inside the huge building. Tickets to this are totally free!

One major tip for la Plaza de España is to check dates in advance for any events that might be being held there. It’s such a huge space that it’s often where gigs are held and you wouldn’t want to go all the way to Seville and not be let in to see it!

Las Setas de Sevilla

Or, “the mushrooms of Seville”. Excellent name if you ask me.

You may not recognise the name but I imagine you’ll recognise the photos! It’s the biggest wooden structure in the WORLD. Yep, the world. In relatively tiny Seville, in the south of Spain.

As you can see, it’s a pretty impressive sight from the ground.

But it’s also impressive from the top. You can actually walk on the top of this huge structure on its looped walkway where you’ll get uninterrupted 360 degree views of the city. If I’m being completeeeeely honest, I preferred the views from La Giralda Tower as you can actually see Las Setas from there, nestled in the city buildings.

If you decide to head up on top of Las Setas for sunset, get your tickets in the morning to avoid a huge queue in the evening and just go back later in the day. When you do go up for sunset, get up there a little early and nab a spot by the edge of the railings if you want to get photos of the city without other people in them, as it can get really busy! But, don’t go up *too* early as the walkway doesn’t take long at all and there are no seats or anything.

Tip if you fancy a Sangria in that area – head to Doña Encarna; there are outdoor tables with a view up to Las Setas and the Sangria is excellent!

Real Alcázar de Sevilla

AKA the Royal Alcazar Palace, in English.

What would a “10 things to do in Seville” list be if it didn’t include the Alcázar? It’s the most popular and well known sight in Seville (ok maybe joint with La Plaza de España).

This huge palace contains architecture and influence spanning millennia, multiple cultures and religions, but when you’re inside you’re most likely to notice the Arabic influence in all the decorative tiles and doors.

I visited this place three times in the two and a half weeks I was in Seville as it’s so worth visiting!

Yes there are queues to get in and yes it’ll be busy (even on the first entry slot of the day), but if you buy your tickets online in advance and go early in the morning, you’ll give yourself the best shot.

In summary, yes it’s a little touristy, but it’s absolutely beautiful and so worth adding to your “things to do in Seville” list.

Seville’s Oldest Tapas Bar

Now of course you’re going to want to seek out tapas when you’re in Seville and let me tell you, there are a LOT of tapas bars. But you’re definitely going to want to seek out El Rinconcillo, Seville’s oldest tapas bar.

It opened in 1670 and is just around the corner from Las Setas, so it’s an ideal place to head to for dinner after a sunset walk on top of Las Setas.

El Rinconcillo is where you’ll find a truly authentic, traditional tapas experience. If you head upstairs there is a seated restaurant, but the best experience is downstairs. Find a windowsill to perch on, a tall barrel table to stand at or, preferably, a slot at the bar.

Order your drinks and tapas as you fancy them and watch the barman tally your order in chalk on the bar in front of you.

As you can imagine being Seville’s oldest tapas bar, this place gets BUSY. In the evenings it opens at 8pm and your best bet is to get there for then. You’ll literally find people hanging around outside waiting for it to open, so get there much later and you could struggle to find space.

I ate in there a few times and will definitely be eating there again when I go back! Make sure to try the chickpea and spinach dish “espinacas con garbanzos” – it’s delicious!

La Giralda Tower

As I mentioned above under the Las Setas section, I loved the views from La Giralda. It’s a bell tower attached to the Seville Cathedral (la catedral de Sevilla) and is the second tallest structure in the city!

There’s no lift up the tower, but don’t panic too much about the thought of those thighs burning, as the tower is almost exclusively sloped the entire way up! There are 35 brick ramps spiralling up to the top, with one staircase for the final climb at the top.

I personally didn’t hugely rate the cathedral itself. Yes it’s impressive, massive and holds Christopher Columbus’ tomb which is pretty cool, but it isn’t unlike many other European cathedrals. It isn’t La Sagrada de Família in Barcelona, let’s just say!

BUT, the Giralda Tower is still so worth it.

Just one thing – it’s a working bell tower. A bell will ring every 15 minutes so, y’know, be warned. When I tell you I jumped a foot in the air…

Rooftop Cocktails at La Terraza de EME

After a full day of wandering the cobbled streets, nibbling on tapas and checking out the sights, you’re gonna be in need of a cocktail, am I right?

I’ve got JUST the place for you. Head to the EME Catedral hotel and ask to go to their rooftop bar, La Terraza de EME. You’ll be escorted in the lift up to the roof, where you’ll be greeted and shown to a table. There are a couple of different rooftop areas, both with views across to the cathedral.

As you can see by the photos, it looks pretty spectacular lit up at night!

They don’t take reservations at this bar so you may have to wait for a table to become free as there’s no standing, so just keep that in mind.

Another thing to note is that it’s not the cheapest bar – cocktails are around €16 each. But, after lots of cheap tapas and cervezas during the day, why not splurge on a cocktail? Go on, you deserve it!

Triana Food Market

Triana is a neighbourhood just over the river from the old town and all the main sights. It’s so worth a visit just to get a glimpse at a less touristy area and to mix with the locals a little more. It definitely has a totally different feel to the rest of Seville!

The food market, or El Mercado de Triana, is right on the edge of the Triana Bridge and is filled with food stalls selling olives, fruit, vegetables and other local delicacies.

It also has a handful of small restaurants serving typical Andalusian dishes. Highly recommend a visit as there were definitely a lot of locals in there eating, a good sign that the food is decent!

Mercado Lonja de Barranco

I know I know, I keep switching from Spanish to English, sorry! Just keeping you on your toes.

This is the second of two markets on this list of things to do in Seville, and it totally different to El Mercado de Triana.

Forget the traditional, small, local tapas bars for just a second and head to Mercado Lonja de Barranco on the banks of the river. It’s actually located just over the bridge from El Mercado de Triana so you could hit up both in one afternoon easily.

It’s quite an upmarket market but surprisingly, you can get a Cruzcampo beer at the bar for under €3!! There’s a selection of deli counters, but the buzzy little bar at the back is the main event. Sit inside in the air con (if it’s 40 degrees like it was when I went!) or nab a table outside under the shades.

It’s such a handy spot to know about if you happen to be in Seville when it’s super hot as there aren’t a lot of air conditioned bars around!

The Bullring

Hear me out. I know this one can be controversial.

Spain has a long history with bullfighting and regardless of your opinion on it, it’s steeped in tradition and forms a big part of the culture in certain areas.

You might be surprised to hear that bullfighting still exists. Still happens. I was, when I visited La Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla. Bit of a mouthful right, so let’s just call it “La Plaza de Toros”, or “the bullring”!

Bullfights still take place in Seville every year, from the end of Easter (known as Semana Santa in Spain) to the end of September.

You might not be willing to go and watch one, but did you know you can still tour the ring on non-fight days?

Tickets on the door are just €10 and include a guided audio tour, which you actually access on your own phone – so bring headphones!

I found it really interesting listening to the audio and learning about the famous matadors, so I’d definitely recommend being open-minded to it and adding it to your itinerary.

10 Things To Do In Seville

So there you have it, 10 things to do when you’re in Seville! These were some of my favourite things there and I hope you love them! If you go and use this blog post, I’d love you to let me know in the comments!

Have the BEST time!

Pin It:

The post 10 Things To Do In Seville (2022) appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

I bloomin’ love my own space and spending time alone and when I’m travelling, I need to know my accommodation has room for me to re-charge my social batteries in peace.

If you’re the same and have Sri Lanka on your travel horizons, keep reading! I spent a month in the country and stayed in 13 (yes, 13!) different accommodations and these are my TOP FOUR introvert friendly places to stay in Sri Lanka.

The Ultimate Introvert’s Paradise

When I say this place is dreamy, I’m telling you this place is DREAMY. Swiss-owned and designed but with Sri Lankan hosts and hospitality, Uyana is already off to a good start. It’s located in Ahangama, near lake Koggala, about half way between the popular towns of Weligama and Unawatuna.

It’s the perfect location to get away from the backpacking crowd and just hide out with a book for a bit. Plus, with only four bedrooms (meaning a grand total of eight guests at any one time!), it becomes an introvert friendly winner.

Add in an infinity pool overlooking wild monkeys in the jungle, a jackfruit tree and a field of water buffalo and you’re probably already rushing to book.

This beautiful boutique hotel is completely hidden away and you can be forgiven for thinking you’re in your own private world when you’re inside. It’s the very definition of peaceful and just the ultimate place to re-energise and recharge.

I mean, the pictures speak for themselves, am I right?

Hotel In The Hilltops With The Best Views

My lovely friend Niamh and I found the Horizon Hilltop Villa in the morning, spontaneously booked it to check-in that same day and I am SO glad we did! Such a stunning, quiet hotel and check out those balcony views below!

It’s close enough to Dalawella and Unawatuna to give you the social interaction when you want it, but it’s hidden up in the hills behind the beach. Perfect for when you need to just get away and re-energise surrounded by monkeys in the trees and beautiful bird song.

Each room overlooks the pool and the jungle view and with only a few rooms in total, you can be sure to have plenty of time to yourself. And, bonus: the food in the open air restaurant is delicious, so if you don’t fancy a tuk tuk ride into town and just want to grab some dinner and run back to your balcony to read alone, it’s ideal!

Forested Hideaway In The Central Northern Region

These next two hotels are both part of the Cinnamon chain found across Sri Lanka and although they’re larger resorts, they’re both introvert friendly places to stay in my opinion!

Cinnamon Lodge Habarana sits in probably some of the most beautiful hotel grounds I’ve seen. In the mornings the mist rolls through the trees, across the grassy areas and the lakes and if you’re up before everyone else, a walk through the grounds is idyllic. If you’re a nature lover, this is the hotel for you as there are SO MANY wild monkeys running playfully around. You’re almost guaranteed to see more monkeys than people!

The main building with reception, restaurant and pool area is lovely, but the grounds and rooms are where the introvert friendly vibe comes in.

The rooms are dotted throughout the grounds in small lodges. Each has at least one big terrace or balcony, so if you need space to relax alone, you’ll have it. Top tip: ask for a first floor room for extra balcony privacy!

Secluded Lodges With Wild Animals

The second Cinnamon hotel to feature in this post is Cinnamon Wild Yala, on the edge of Yala National Park. It’s the ultimate safari spot, with wild elephants, leopards, sloth bears, buffalo and more wandering around (and through!!) the hotel complex.

You’ll also see a ton of crocodiles in the lake just in front of the pool, which isn’t something you get just anywhere in the world!

Each room comes in its own private, free-standing lodge, all hidden away down different winding nature trails. Granted, once it gets dark you might need to ask for a chaperone from the hotel staff to get back to your lodge, but potentially bumping into a wild animal is kind of part of the fun right?!

Once you’re in the resort, there’s nowhere outside for you to walk to. No lively bar scene down the road to lure you into a night out you don’t really want but feel pressured to have. Eat the delicious food at the buffet (I know, the word “buffet” sends shivers over me too but I swear it’s so good!), grab a quick sunset drink on the rooftop and then scurry back to your lodge in peace.

Just try not to walk into a leopard, ok? I was kidding when I said that was fun.

So there you have it!

Travelling around a new country, meeting lots of new people and interacting with locals on a daily basis can all take a huge toll on an introvert’s social battery. Take the pressure off yourself and book into one of these introvert friendly places to stay.

And if you do head to Sri Lanka and stay in one of these, tag me on Instagram and let me know! Happy (peaceful) travels!

Pin It:

The post 4 Introvert Friendly Places To Stay In Sri Lanka appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

Ok, that all caps was quite enthusiastic and you may not yet be travelling again since you-know-what. Hopefully though, if you haven’t ventured abroad yet, you’re starting to think about it! It’s all about the baby steps, so why not start with a short but super-sweet weekend away (you know where I’m going with this…) to Copenhagen!

I just returned from a 3 night break there and loved it so much that it re-ignited my desire to write blog posts, so I can give you all my tips on where to go!

The Danish capital is known for its Michelin star restaurants, colourful harbour and of course, Smørrebrød. Y’know, those open face sandwiches eaten literally EVERYWHERE in Denmark and Norway.

Oh and also The Little Mermaid statue. But don’t get too excited; that doesn’t even feature in this list of places to visit, because I was told by locals that it’s the most disappointing thing in Copenhagen! I took their advice and didn’t even go to see it, so, yeah.

The Perfect Food Places To Visit In Copenhagen

Let’s start with food (and drinks!) shall we? Finding lovely little spots to grab a drink and watch the world go by, or to try some local food, is one of my favourite things to do on a city break. It’s a really easy way to get a glimpse of the culture while also filling your belly with tasty treats.

Scrummy Breakfast At Buka

Are you even on a European city break if you don’t grab a coffee and a croissant from a bakery?

Well, are you even in Copenhagen if you don’t grab a coffee and a DANISH PASTRY from a bakery?

Those Danish pastries you’ve had from your local coffee shop at home are no match for the real deal. Head to super-stylish Buka on Strøget (the city’s main shopping street) and grab one of the delish pastries on offer. They’ve also got other yummy looking brekkie options like savoury croissants and sandwiches, or oats and yogurts.

If you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, don’t fret! There are different dairy-free milks available for your coffee and some of the breakfast items are dairy-free too. Although, the Danes sure do love their cheese and butter, so watch out for that…!

Oh and a word of warning – the almond croissants are incredible but jeez are they intense. Unless you have a SUPER sweet tooth, maybe share one between two. Just a heads up!

Al Fresco Lunch At Torvehallerne Market

Torvehallerne market consists of two separate glass covered markets; both with a huge variety of food and drink to taste. It’s the perfect place to visit on a cold or rainy day, but on a sunny day, it’s even lovelier.

There are a few different seating areas in the outdoor space between the two market halls; so pick up some Smørrebrød style tapas at Tapa del Toro and a glass of wine at Vinveto and find yourself a table.

In the two days I was in the city, I visited this market TWICE just to bathe in the buzzy atmosphere and (let’s be real) to sip great wine.

Highly recommend and it’s a place I’ll definitely visit when I’m next in Copenhagen!

Upmarket Dinner Experience At Fleisch

This restaurant is a must-visit if you eat meat (or seafood!), but be sure to book in advance to secure a table! It’s a popular spot for good reason.

Fleisch is located on the edge of the city’s old meat packing district and the area couldn’t be more different to the rest of the city. Forget fancy old buildings and instead imagine a sea of low-rise, nondescript white industrial buildings with windows framed in electric blue.

Sound a bit odd? It kind of is!

But, on a sunny Friday evening it is such a cool place to be, as it’s the locals’ after-work hang out spot. Get there before your dinner reservation to grab a few drinks, sit at one of the outside tables and then head inside Fleisch for a cosy dinner.

This area turned out to be one of my favourite places to visit in Copenhagen!

Top tip: the steak is a huge portion, so if you’re going for starters too, space your courses out with (you guessed it) some wine.

A Variety Of Drinking Spots In Copenhagen

I know I already covered a few drinking spots in the last three recommendations, but those were combined with places to eat too. Below, I’ve listed three totally different watering holes that give you three totally different vibes!

Street-side Sipping At Dina

This cute café is right around the corner from the main city hall square Rådhuspladsen and Tivoli Gardens, but unless you were aiming to go there, you’d probably miss it.

Think Parisian-style wicker chairs, with tiny two-person tables and stylish city-folk sipping on an Aperol Spritz in the sunshine and you’re pretty accurately imagining Dina. I found this place as it was right next to where I stayed at the Hotel Kong Frederik (which, side note, I do NOT recommend!) and I’m so glad I did!

No matter the time of day, it was always busy and seemed to be another little local meeting place. Get yourself down there for a cheeky afternoon cocktail before heading into Tivoli!

Pure Hygge Vibes At Nyhavn

I’m sure you all know by now what hygge is, but for anyone unsure how on earth to pronounce it, it’s “hoo-ga”. Yes, really. You might think that hygge is just a stereotype that we’ve placed on Denmark, but it isn’t. They really do go out of their way to make everything as hyggelig as possible (“hyggelig” – pronounced “hoo-ga-ly” – is the adjective and isn’t it great?!).

The bars all along the world-famous Nyhavn harbour have totally nailed this, with heaters, fire pits, blankets, fairy lights… you name it! As with any city, the most touristy areas don’t often have the best food and this is likely true for Nyhavn as well, hence I’ve included this under the drinks section instead.

But, I really enjoyed trying a traditional Danish dish called Biksemad at McJoy’s pub. Chances are pretty high that it wasn’t very authentic (!), but the dish of pork and potato hash, with small cubes of beetroot and a fried egg on top was really tasty!

Getting back to drinks though – this old harbour complete with wooden ships is just a lovely spot. Of course, being the most well-known image of Copenhagen, it’s a busy area, but hit it up on a weekday evening and you should avoid the main weekend crowds!

Get Your Boogy On At Halmtorvet 9

Ok, so you don’t have to get your boogy on, of course.

Halmtorvet 9 is just on the outskirts of the meat packing district and on a Friday night is buzzing with the after-work crowd. Again, another spot that seemed much more local and less touristy (perfect, in my opinion!).

It’s an open-air bar set in a courtyard style garden, with big umbrellas and varying table and chair combos. There’s also an indoor bar area and another indoor dance floor. Like I say, you can scrap the dancing if that’s not your thing and just hang out outside!

This place is definitely filled with the millennial crowd and is one of the livelier spots in the meat packing district. Whether you fancy a dance or just want to sit with a drink and some music, this is your place.

Places To Visit In Between All That Food And Drink

I mean, I’m not here to judge. If you want to spend all of your time consuming all the good stuff then you go for it!

But if you also wanted to see a few sights while you’re in Copenhagen, these are some of my top places to visit.

Be An Adrenaline Junky At Tivoli Gardens

Couldn’t not write a post all about places to visit in Copenhagen and NOT include Tivoli Gardens now, could I?

This world-famous amusement park was the inspiration for Disneyland no less. I must admit, being an avid Disney World and Disneyland visitor over the years, I was a little sceptical. I’d expected a scattering of rickety rides and a few fairground-like stalls selling candy floss.

Boy was I wrong. Yes there are fairground rides, yes there’s a couple of (slightly questionable) old rides, but there’s also a full size ROLLERCOASTER.

To say I was pleasantly surprised by Tivoli would be an understatement. This place is fantastic for kids and adults alike and you could easily spend a few hours, if not a whole day, inside the park.

One of my absolute favourite parts about it though wasn’t the rides, or the incredible details everywhere, but the fact it is right in the heart of the city. You can see lots of city buildings from the top of the rides or even from the ground, which is pretty cool to see! It also just gives off such a sense of fun, y’know. To have this in the middle of a capital city feels like the Danes must really prioritise enjoyment and downtime, which can only ever be a good thing.

Get yourself to Tivoli Gardens and make sure to buy the Ride Pass, as that way you’ll have a wristband with “Turpas” written on the side, allowing you access to every ride. If you only buy the entrance ticket, you’ll be paying for each ride individually.

Chill In The Gardens Of Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Castle was built to be used as a summerhouse by Danish King, Kong Christian IV in the 17th Century. Today it isn’t used as a residence for any members of the Royal family, but it does hold Denmark’s Crown Jewels.

You can purchase tickets to go inside the castle, but I can’t vouch for that experience as I only walked around the outside.

The castle is situated in The King’s Garden, a beautiful public park that was perfect for a wander and looked ideal for a picnic. It’s also just a few minutes walk from Torvehallerne market, so is a great place to walk to, to burn off some of that tapas!

Visit The Royals At Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg is the current home of the Danish Royal family, so it only seems right to pay the palace a visit while you’re in the capital.

There are four near-identical palaces surrounding a main central square, which is all totally open to the public to wander through. Two of the buildings are occupied, but the other two are used as guesthouses, with Levetzau’s Palace also housing the Amalienborg Museum.

Again, I didn’t venture inside so can’t tell you what that’s like, but a mooch around the square is enough to give you a little taster! Frederik’s Church is also a two minute walk away and looks like a mini replica of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. If you do head to that area, definitely pop your head into the church and check out the stunning ceiling!

Check Out The Autonomous Freetown Christiania Community

You may or may not have heard of Freetown Christiania; an autonomous community in the Christianshavn area of the city. I hadn’t until I was researching my trip and when I found out that photos are strictly not allowed, it was clear why.

This part of the city won’t appear on those big IG accounts you follow, so unless you know about it, you really wouldn’t know it was there. There are no signs pointing towards it and it’s not really discussed in the rest of the city. It just quietly exists.

Freetown Christiania started up in the 70s and quickly became known for the infamous Pusher Street. Here, you’ll find pop-up stalls where drugs are openly sold and small shops from which locals sell their wares.

A lot of people feel more comfortable visiting this area with a tour guide and after visiting without one myself, I can absolutely see why. There’s a slightly disconcerting atmosphere and you can feel a little on edge wandering around, but as long as you visit during the day and keep your wits about you, it’s a really interesting place!

So, There Were My Top 10 Places To Visit In Copenhagen!

I really hope this list helps you when you visit the Danish capital!

Once you’ve visited, hop back onto this post and let me know in the comments which of these reccos you tried. Would also LOVE to hear all about your visit on IG, so tag me in your posts and stories so I can be green with envy!

If you’re in the UK and not quite ready to jet off abroad still, I’ve got you! Check out my list of 12 things to see and do in Cornwall, or more specifically, 10 places to visit on the south coast of Cornwall instead!

Pin It:

The post 10 Places To Visit In Copenhagen appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

It’s a mix of inhabited and uninhabited islands and is a really popular holiday spot for Brits. Most go there to hike, spend time on the water, watch wildlife or just to relax!

I booked onto the trip last minute so hadn’t actually done much research at all before going. After spending a week there, I wish I’d researched a little or had been told about certain things to expect. With that in mind, I’ve collated top tips for any of you planning a trip to the Isles of Scilly.

They’re in no particular order, so keep reading to the end to make sure you’ve taken note of them all!

Take Cash

Before you leave mainland England, head to an ATM and take out some cash. ATMs are few and far between on the islands, with just two on St Mary’s (the main island). You might be wondering why cash, given we’re in 2021 and most places accept contactless payment…

The Isles of Scilly are quite remote and while internet access is available almost everywhere, it’s temperamental. I spent a lot of the week struggling to even use the WiFi at my hotel, let alone reliably connect to data. I’m assuming it’s for this reason that a lot of places only accept cash, as presumably card machines would be a nightmare!

You’ll also need cash for the many boat trips you’ll be taking. Tickets are circa £6 per adult per trip and you hand over cash when you board the boat. There are also activities such as the observatory on St Martin’s island that are paid in cash on arrival.

Boat Costs & Schedules

Ahh, the boats. I’d ignorantly imagined there to be near-constant boat services between the islands. Like a hop on / hop off service, y’know. I thought we could just jump on a boat almost whenever we wanted and that they’d run into the evening. The plan was to have dinner on one island and take a boat back to the island we stayed on afterwards.

Turns out, that’s not possible with the public boats. If there’s one top tip I wish I’d known about before heading to the Scilly Isles, it’s this one!

Check out this website before you go to get an idea of the boat times between the islands. They run about four times a day. That’s it. And they rarely (if ever) run later than 4.45pm. There are options once you’re there to organise private boats, but you’ll be looking at roughly £80 per boat to make a short trip, as opposed to the usual £6 per person public boat price. You also won’t be able to guarantee their availability, so could get a little, well, stranded.

One thing to check BEFORE you book your flight or boat from the mainland, is the time of the boat from St Mary’s to your destination island. Of course, this is only applicable if you’re not staying on St Mary’s!

I took the 2pm flight from Land’s End, so I arrived on St Mary’s at 2.20pm (the flight is so quick!). The transfer from the airport to the quay takes just 5 minutes, so I was at the harbour at around 2.30pm. However, the next (and last) boat was at 4.15, so I had a long wait with my luggage. Had I known this, I’d have probably booked a later flight to shorten the wait time!

Another word of advice (or warning!) for the boats is that the schedule can change due to the weather. Drop off and pick up points can change too. Sometimes without much or any warning. For example, on St Martin’s island Lower Town and Higher Town quays are at opposite ends of the island. They’re a 35 minute walk apart. You might be expecting to arrive at Lower Town, but the boat could actually take you to Higher Town. This could be for many reasons, such as other boats using the quay or the tide being too low for Lower Town.

Just be prepared for the schedule and locations to change! Always speak to the boatmen. Ask exactly where they’re dropping you off or what time they’re returning to collect you. They will be your most reliable source of information!

Eating Out On The Isles of Scilly

I’d highly recommend researching restaurants before you go. On some islands, like Bryher and St Martin’s, options are very limited and so booking in advance is crucial. For example, Adam’s Fish & Chips on St Martin’s requires pre-booking AND pre-ordering of food. They catch the seafood fresh and locally and only catch what they need to ensure they’re not over-fishing.

Whilst you may prefer to play things by ear, in the Scilly Isles, it’s best to go with a plan. You don’t want to miss out on a restaurant you wanted to eat at! I got lucky on Bryher island and managed to walk into Hell Bay restaurant and get a table for lunch. But, from what I’d overheard, you usually always have to pre-book.

Another thing to note with the restaurants is that a lot of places close really early compared to the mainland. Last food orders are usually before 9pm and places close at 9.30pm on average (if not earlier!). Definitely check before you go and expect to eat your evening meal earlier than you possibly usually would.

Plan An Itinerary

As mentioned in the top tip about boats, life on the Isles of Scilly means needing a reasonably strict plan. But, you also need to have the ability to go with the flow. During my trip, kayaking was cancelled due to high winds and a vineyard tour was cancelled as they were closed. Both were cancelled last minute and by the time they were, there wasn’t time to get a boat to a different island to explore somewhere else instead.

Speaking to locals on the islands, it seems things closing at the last minute are normal and unsurprising. Island life is laid back and when visiting, you have to fall into that laid back mindset too. I’d suggest going with an itinerary in mind, pre-book activities you’d like to do and have back up plans in case things are cancelled!

Footwear – Need To Know

If you think you’ll be able to book an Uber or hop on a bus when you’re on the islands, think again. Ok, so on St Mary’s island you can actually take a taxi or a bus, but on the other islands, you’ll be either walking or cycling.

I walked SO MUCH during my six day stay, from just walking across the island from my hotel to the quay, to hiking the circumference of the islands. I’d expected to be walking a lot because that’s one of the top reasons people visit the Isles of Scilly and an activity I’d planned to do. But I didn’t quite expect to have to walk so far, everywhere.

As mentioned above, the walk between Lower and Higher Town quays on St Martin’s island takes 35 minutes at a good pace. If you’re staying at Karma St Martin’s hotel (as I did), you could be doing that walk multiple times a day just to get from one place to another.

For that reason, you’re going to want decent, sturdy, comfortable footwear (if this isn’t a clear sign I’m into my 30s, I don’t know what is!). As I visited in summer, I had trainers, sandals and flip flops, as well as reef shoes for the kayaking. Everywhere on the islands is casual and you’ll rarely find anyone “dressed up”, even in the evening, so keep it comfortable and practical and you’ll be good to go.

Weather On The Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly are often warmer than mainland England due to being located furthest south. During the summer, you’ll definitely need to take care in the sun as you’ll burn a lot more easily than elsewhere in England. I certainly did and the temperature wasn’t even that high! Due to the air quality being much better thanks to a lack of pollution, the UV index rating is a lot higher. It’s just something to be mindful of, especially with the constant sea breeze too.

Because of where the islands are situated, out in the Atlantic, it can also be windy there year-round. I hadn’t really considered that in advance and therefore didn’t appropriately pack for it. Floaty dresses and skirts are a no-go, as you’ll be forever holding them down and cursing the wind! I wore the long skirt in the above photo on a rare wind-free day and got lucky!

Also be sure to pack a (preferably waterproof) wind-breaker jacket if for nothing else than the inter-island boat crossings. It can get pretty breezy on those boats! You could also get a little sea-sprayed and if that doesn’t sound overly enjoyable to you, the jacket will be your saviour!

Happy Holiday!

I really hope this blog post has been helpful for you if you’re planning a trip to the Isles of Scilly. I definitely wish I’d known about some of these things beforehand as it would have led to a smoother trip for sure!

Don’t forget to check out my Instagram @thisplanetbynina for posts, reels and story highlights of my time on the islands – I post a lot of content over there that you won’t want to miss! You’ll find links to my account all over this site.

If you’ve been to the Isles of Scilly and have more top tips for us all, please share them in the comments below!

Check out my posts on things to do in Cornwall and more specifically, the south coast of Cornwall too!

Pin It:

The post Top Tips For Visiting The Isles of Scilly appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

If you’re reading this post you’ve likely booked a stay in Cornwall or are planning one. I guarantee you’ve made an excellent decision. There are so many different areas, all with a different look and feel but all equally stunning. I’ve already written a post on 12 Things To See And Do In Cornwall, all of which are spread around the county, but this post is specific to the south coast.

Why Visit The South Coast Of Cornwall?

Compellingly dubbed The Cornish Riviera, the south coast of Cornwall is overflowing with hidden coves, postcard-worthy harbour villages and quiet beaches. It’s scattered with sub-tropical gardens and the views in every direction (like the rest of Cornwall) are to die for. The south coast is tamer than the wild and rugged west coast and doesn’t have the same seaside and surf vibes as the north coast. It feels more village-y (not a word) and more tranquil.

If you’re deciding on where to base yourself in Cornwall or are planning a big road trip around the county, I’ve got the south coast covered in this post!

Keep reading for my list of 10 places you just HAVE to visit on the south coast of Cornwall.

1. Falmouth

Falmouth is a town overlooking the Fal Estuary, the largest estuary in all of Cornwall. It thrives on its position by the river and the sea and is all about the water. From sailing, to diving, to kayaking the River Fal, there are endless water-based activities in Falmouth.

When I visited, I was only there for an afternoon and after driving to Pendennis Point, spent time wandering in the town centre. There are so many independent boutiques and places to grab a coffee and a Cornish pasty on Market Street. In fact, The Cornish Bakery is supposedly home to the world’s best and I can vouch for their spicy chickpea and potato (whilst not traditional) being utterly delicious.

For an evening meal, head to Mangia, a family-run Italian restaurant with all pasta made fresh in-house. The Floris family are so friendly and the fresh pasta (and dessert!) is the best I’ve had in a very, very long time. It’s a tiny restaurant so get there early to make sure you bag a table!

2. Polperro

One of my favourite villages in Cornwall. When visiting Polperro by car, there’s a huge dedicated car park just outside of the village. From there, you walk into Polperro itself, alongside a narrow stream and surrounded on both sides by pretty white houses on the hillside that are typical of the area.

Once you reach the harbour front I guarantee you’ll be reaching for your camera in an instant. The beauty is astounding, with boats bobbing in the turquoise water, steep tree covered hills all around and streets bursting with Cornish charm. When you picture Cornwall, no doubt this is the kind of village you conjure in your mind.

Be sure to stop at The Three Pilchards pub and request a table on the secret rooftop terrace – the food was top notch and the views are unbelievable! This was actually my first visit to a pub/restaurant after our third long lockdown in the UK and I’m not sure I could have picked a more perfect place for it!

3. Mevagissey

Mevagissey (pronounced Meva-gizzey) is the second-largest fishing port in Cornwall and is another gorgeous Cornish village. When the sun is shining, the harbour water here looks like you could be in the Mediterranean. It’s less than a 10 minute drive from The Lost Gardens of Heligan, so spend the day in the gardens and head to Mevagissey for the evening.

Be sure to walk along the harbour wall to not only get a spectacular view out to sea and along the coast, but to look back at the village too. Boat trips regularly set off from the harbour and whilst I didn’t take one, the scenery from the shore looks incredible. Apparently dolphins can be spotted from Mevagissey too, so if that isn’t an incentive to jump on a boat I don’t know what is!

4. Veryan

The tiny village of Veryan sits inland and is famed for its five thatched-roof Round Houses. Admittedly there isn’t a lot here, but if you’re on the Roseland Peninsula I’d still recommend stopping by. There are two pairs of Round Houses at either entrance of the village and another in the middle. Famously built by Reverend Jeremiah Trist for his five daughters, they make for a brilliant photo opportunity!

There’s also a picturesque church in the centre of the village and a traditional English pub – The New Inn – to perch outside with a drink.

5. St Just in Roseland

If someone can tell me of a more beautiful church, I’ll be stunned. St Just’s church is set amongst sub-tropical gardens and flowers, right beside the calm water of St Just Creek. The atmosphere is indescribable; it’s one of those places you just have to visit for yourself.

Park in the dedicated car park, grab yourself a tea and some cake from the lovely little tea room and then wander down the hill into the grounds of the church. Be sure to take a peek inside the church too, as the wooden beams on the ceiling and the flower arrangements in the pews are simply gorgeous.

6. The Eden Project

The Eden Project features in my 12 Things To See And Do In Cornwall post, but I had to include it in this one too because it’s just such a classic day out. I personally found the Mediterranean Biome to be substantially less interesting than the Rainforest Biome (there just wasn’t a lot going on in there…), but would still recommend visiting!

In addition to the Biomes, outdoor gardens and Invisible Worlds exhibition, you can also fly over the top of the entire site on England’s longest (and fastest!) zip line! There’s also a giant swing and other aerial activities to satisfy your inner dare devil. Whenever I’m next in the St Austell area, you’ll find me in the air!

7. Charlestown

Charlestown is a Grade II listed harbour, home to traditional wooden tall ships and a surprising number of bars and restaurants. Ok, that made it sound like there are hundreds; there are only a few but when you see the size of the harbour (it’s TINY), even a handful of places seems a lot!

The harbour itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it really does feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the 18th Century and Georgian times. Get there for golden hour to see the orange glow on the wooden ships, grab a drink at one of the waterside pop up bars and soak it all in.

8. Fowey

Another Cornish place name that looks totally different to how it’s pronounced! This one’s pronounced “Foy”, so don’t pronounce it “Fo-wee” or you’ll get a few looks from the locals…!

Fowey is a coastal town, sat on the River Fowey right by the estuary. If you’re driving, park in one of the car parks just outside of the town and either walk in or make use of the minibus services. Note: if you park in the Main Car Park, the walk down to the town is STEEP and feels near-vertical climbing back up!

I really loved Fowey; it’s got some fantastic home interior shops (my favourites… even though I don’t own a house!) like Brocante, where I could have spent all of my money. There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat or a coffee and sit along the waterfront looking out across to Polruan.

I’d highly recommend a 45 minute river boat tour for just £9 per adult as the views are spectacular. The tour guide I had could have done with adding a little more enthusiasm to his speech and to sound a little less robotic, BUT it was still definitely worth it for the views and to spend time out on the water. You can also take a water taxi across to the village of Polruan – I can’t give any first-hand experience of that but it’s a very short distance and Polruan looks lovely from across the water!

9. The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Now, I should start this section with a caveat, which is that The Lost Gardens of Heligan didn’t hugely live up to my expectation. It felt a little unkept, to be honest. HOWEVER, I visited in April 2021, right after England had come out of (yet another) lockdown and so I’m giving them benefit of the doubt that they just hadn’t been able to maintain the site as well as they perhaps usually do.

That being said, there’s still a glorious array of plants, trees and flowers to wander through and I still enjoyed it there! The Burmese rope bridge in the middle of the Jungle area is a fun addition to the site and seemed to be a firm favourite amongst the kids there!

I’ve included it on this list because it’s such an iconic location. The Lost Gardens are definitely somewhere to add to your list of places to visit, but I’d keep an eye on the latest reviews online! I don’t want to undersell Heligan, but I also want to keep it real and be honest!

10. The Hidden Hut

How does a takeaway picnic on the beach sound? That’s what The Hidden Hut offers. Freshly cooked food such as chowders, dhal, pasties and seafood paella from an uber cool hut at the back of Porthcurnick beach. There are a few picnic benches to sit at, but most people sit on the grassy banks to the side of the hut or take their food onto the beach itself.

It’s one of those places that you almost don’t want to talk about to keep it a secret from the masses. But, it deserves all the praise that it gets and is now one of the hottest foodie spots in all of Cornwall! Be sure to check out their website for their lunch serving times and menus and keep an eye out for any upcoming feast nights!

This photo does the place no justice at all but it’s (stupidly) the only one I took! Definitely take a look at their website or Instagram page to see what the hype is all about!

So there you have it, my list of 10 places that you should visit on the south coast of Cornwall.

If you do go to Cornwall and visit any of the places on this list, please come back and let me know what you thought of them! I’d love to hear all about your trip!

Pin it:

The post 10 Places To Visit On The South Coast Of Cornwall appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

Throughout my life, I’ve always travelled with partners, friends or family. The first time I ever flew by myself was on New Year’s Eve in 2017, when I travelled from London to Munich. I was aged 27 and I was met at my destination, so didn’t spend any of the trip alone. Despite having travelled on hundreds of flights in the past, it was still a slightly nerve-wracking experience going through all the steps by myself.

Since then, I’ve flown that same route alone again and have also flown to Dubai and back alone. Those times too I was met at my destination airport by people I knew and who I would then be spending time with.

That’s it. In all my 31 years and hundreds of trips, that’s the extent of my solo travel experience.

So Why Am I Considering Solo Travel Now?

Many reasons.

As I write this, we’re a year and a half into a pandemic and therefore I’m desperate for any travel! I’m also single and a lot of my friends who I would have previously travelled with are at totally different stages of life to me, so they’re not in the position to drop things and fly across the world. My pool of possible travel companions is now pretty small, but my desire to keep travelling far and wide is increasing.

Cue the last few weeks and my thoughts, therefore, on the option of solo travel.

Historically, society has told us that by our thirties, we should be either settled down or aiming to settle down soon. In recent years, lots and lots of people are rebelling against that expectation and living life at the pace they want to live it. Which is exactly the way it should be.

I definitely expected that at this point I’d be a lot more settled than I am. It’s not necessarily something I wanted as such, but that’s social conditioning for you. Maybe I’ll want that one day, but right now I have a wandering spirit in me.

Sure, I’ve lived in the same flat in London for four years and have been working full time almost solidly for over 12 years. Some might say “well that is settled”. To me though, as someone who’s been fighting wanderlust for YEARS with the conditioned mindset of “must earn good, constant money”, I don’t feel settled, I feel like I’m settling.

Big difference.

What Life Do I Want?

I’m living a privileged life that I’m sure so many would love to be living. I earn a reasonably decent wage, don’t have anyone relying on me financially and am totally debt-free. Quitting university after 3 months when I was 18 helped with that bit! I also live in one of the most iconic cities in the world and have access to build whatever kind of life I want to if I put my mind to it.

And the life I want is to be travelling as much as possible. I don’t yet know if I want to be travelling full-time or for an extended period. But, the flexibility to travel for a couple of months at a time here and there would be amazing. Over the past year especially, I’ve come into a lot more clarity in my mind about not wanting this 9 to 5, living-for-the-weekend lifestyle.

There are also so many inspiring women out there taking on solo travel, some of whom have been living that life for years and years! A lot of my current thoughts on solo travel are drawing courage and inspiration from the idea that if they can do it, why can’t I?!

Solo Travel Anxiety

If you haven’t worked it out by now, pretty much my only option to live the travelling lifestyle I want to live is to go solo. Of course, I could book onto group tours (more on that later!). But, something in my gut is telling me I need to start with solo travel.

Now if you know me really well in real life, you may be reading this and thinking I’ve had a personality transplant. Growing up, my school reports consistently presented me as a shy and quiet child. Sure, initially I was a VERY shy child (like hide behind my mum’s leg shy!). But then it stopped being shyness and I just settled into someone who was quiet.

I’ve always hated being centre of attention and I could never ever be accused of being “the loud one”. For the most part I’m confident in myself, but I usually only pipe up if I actually have something to say that I deem to be of value. Otherwise, I sit back and take in the conversation going on around me.

Fellow introverts, where are ya? I know it’s not just me that’s like that, but it can make for tricky group scenarios when you just can’t compete with the louder, more outspoken members. Small groups of a couple of people are ideal, large groups are very sub-ideal (to me)!

A few years ago I suffered from social anxiety and it would take a lot for me to get psyched up to go out and socialise with a group of people. I’d say 99% of the people that know me won’t know this, as I think (??) I hid it quite well.

That anxiety has largely gone for the most part, but I still get the occasional bout whereby even a solo trip to the supermarket takes some psyching up. Sounds crazy, right? Unless you too have suffered with this. In which case, I feel you; it’s not fun.

So, when you suffer the occasional anxiety ridden day and can’t even make it to the supermarket, should you really go solo travelling?! My response for most of my life would have been “pah! Absolutely ridiculous idea!”. But I’ve lately come to the realisation that I. NEED. TO. CHANGE. SOMETHING. Unless I step out of my comfort zone and take the plunge, nothing will ever change and my dreams of a travelling lifestyle will never come into fruition.

Why Not Take A Group Trip?

Good question. I’m not completely opposed to the idea and am keen to push myself to go on one at some point. But, I feel as though solo travel is something I need to do to REALLY push myself. Get totally out of my comfort zone and be forced to interact with strangers. In terms of spending time alone, I actually really enjoy my own company. The thought of sitting in a restaurant alone though, surrounded by couples, families and friend groups fills me with dread. That’s another ball game entirely.

It’s probably the bit I’m the most anxious for, truth be told.

To truly make a change and become the person you want to become though you have to push the boundaries. Not just step outside your comfort zone, but leap out. A bit like a skydive, which ironically, I’ve done and LOVED!

The craziest thing I’ve done was quitting my job at age 24 and head to the South Pacific islands on a one-way flight. But I was with my then boyfriend and we’d planned to be away for anything up to a year, so quitting a job didn’t seem a big deal. Turns out we spent our money a LOT quicker than we thought and were home after three months. Jobless. It took six months to get another one, but I got one in the end – and a much better paid one at that!

So, I’m not averse to taking a bit of a risk but I’ve never taken a risk alone. Never made that decision alone.

That’s why my first step to change needs to be ALONE. Exactly what I’ve never done before.

On a group tour you’ve got the safety and comfort of the guide and other travellers (although as you’ve read above, for me that would come with its own challenges…). On your own you’re the only one in charge, you have to make all the decisions and you have to suck it up and interact with people.

So Will I Take The Leap?

Who knows. That’s the honest answer. I’d like to shout “YES!”, but I’m not completely there yet. This post contains my current thoughts on solo travel spilling out onto the page and into the wilderness of the internet. Putting it out into the universe as a “this is where I’m at right now”.

Watch this space – if I do take the solo travel leap I’ll document it all here and on my social media accounts!

Let me know if you’ve travelled solo and what your thoughts on solo travel are! Or if you haven’t done it, why not? Let’s open up the solo travel conversation in the comments; I’m really keen to hear all about your thoughts and experiences!

Pin it:

The post Thoughts On Solo Travel – Is It For Me? appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

I’ve been to Crete four times and on three of those trips I’ve stayed in Chania Harbour! Twice, I was lucky enough to stay in traditional Greek-owned homes that are owned by a friend of a friend’s. The third time, I booked a beautiful, modern Airbnb, just one street behind the harbour front.

If you’re planning a trip to Crete, here are 10 photos to make you want to visit Chania Harbour!

As you can see, Chania Harbour in Crete isn’t the Santorini-style white washed buildings with blue roofs. It’s an eclectic mix of brightly coloured buildings and bare stone walls. I absolutely love it there and I haven’t met anyone yet who’s been and hasn’t either! So, book that trip to Chania Harbour and you’ll fall in love with it too.

If you’re thinking of going to Turkey instead, check out this post on the absolutely beautiful harbour village Selimiye!

Pin it:

The post 10 Photos To Make You Want To Visit Chania Harbour In Crete appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

I know, I know, all of the blogging pros and coaches out there are almost certainly screaming at me right now (or would be if they were reading this!). Should have started straight away, shouldn’t have wasted four years procrastinating, etc. There are no legit reasons why it’s taken me this long to get it off the ground, except for a lot of faffing, doubting and waiting for the “perfect time”.

There is no perfect time and I’ll never not faff or doubt myself. It’s only now that I’m 31 years old and a year into a global pandemic that I’ve finally (FINALLY) got my butt in gear.

So Why Start A Travel Blog?

Well, as you may have noticed, I love to travel. Like, I’m obsessed.

But on top of that, I love being creative. For my entire life I’ve loved making things like handmade birthday cards, gift tags for presents and paper decorations for my home. There’s always been a bit of an artistic streak in me. Writing is another thing I really enjoy, albeit I’ve not done a lot of it thus far.

I grew up with the notion that I had to get a “proper” job and earn good money, to be able to buy a house, get married and have children. The standard life that society tells you to get. So, after school I went to university, left after three months (essays, referencing and living in gross student halls – no thanks) and started a full time job. That was back in 2008/2009 and I’ve now been working in a “proper” 9 to 5 office job for 11 years.

But, I never actually wanted that lifestyle. Sure, maybe some day I’d want to own a house, get married and have children, but I’ve never been one to want to follow the norm. Never wanted to join the rat race and spend most of my waking hours at a job I’m not that interested in.

When I discovered four years ago that there were people called Travel Bloggers, who ran their own websites, travelled the world and got paid to do it, I instantly knew I’d found my calling.

What Do I Expect From Blogging?

Blogging to me means that one day I could potentially work entirely for myself, with the flexibility and freedom that comes with that. I could maybe be location independent and be creative in the form of writing, photography, website design and general content creation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware that this lifestyle isn’t easy, straightforward or with minimal work. I’m down for the long hours, stress, (more) self-doubt and that it will very likely take me years to get to the point where I can quit my regular job and do this full time.

I’m not naive to it at all and that’s a BIG reason why I’ve procrastinated so much and have put off starting it until now. But enough’s enough. I still (after four years of faffing) want to do this and try to make a go of this. Time to take the bull by the horns, start a blog and start creating the lifestyle I want!

Pin it:

The post Why I Chose To Start A Blog appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

Isn’t it just so beautiful?!

I honestly can’t recommend Selimiye enough if you’re in that area of Turkey. Golden hour in the evening is especially stunning, as the sunlight hits the mountains surrounding the bay and gives it a perfect glow.

The promenade around the bay is filled with outdoor restaurants, boutique shops and ice cream parlours (have you ever seen authentic Turkish ice cream being made?!). It really is an idyllic setting and somewhere I hope to return to again and again.

If you’re thinking of heading to Greece instead, check out this post to see why you should consider the beautiful old Venetian port town of Chania, on the island of Crete!

Pin it:

The post 10 Photos To Make You Want To Visit Selimiye appeared first on This Planet by Nina.

Year 12 & 13

Biology Adventure Tour to Costa Rica

Saturday, 6 April 2008 – Sunday, 14 April 2008

I remember that day so clearly. Our teacher asked us to raise our hands if we wanted to spend 8 days in Costa Rica to study the fauna and flora of the country. Biology was my favourite subject and travelling (even at 18, when the only “travelling” I’d done was in the form of family holidays) was my favourite thing. I shot my hand into the air like a rocket. 

Eagerly, and slightly nervously at the fact I knew full well I couldn’t afford this trip on my part-time weekend job, I handed the letter to my parents after school. Six days later we were sat in the Main Hall, listening to our teacher and a representative from Casterbridge Tours talk about the prospective trip. Next thing I knew my parents agreed to the tour and that was it, I was going to Costa Rica.

Travel Day

Waking up to snow wasn’t on the radar of things we’d expected. It had snowed a lot overnight and it just kept coming. According to reports it was the heaviest snow southern England had seen for two decades. I mean come onnnn, it was April and we were headed to the tropics. Really?! Checking the news, it was clear that hundreds of flights from London airports were being cancelled. We started to dread that ours would be too. 

A couple of my friends had been dropped at my house, ready for my Dad to drive us to London Gatwick airport. Our flight was still showing as on time (spoiler: it was definitely not on time), so my Dad slowly and cautiously drove us down the motorway to the airport. I’ve honestly never encountered another drive like it. We could barely see a few metres in front or behind us and were virtually ploughing snow out of our way with the front bumper.

Flight Delays

Somehow, we arrived in one piece at the airport and after waving goodbye to my Dad, we checked in to our flight. As far as I recall, we boarded on time, but it became quickly apparent that we weren’t flying anywhere fast. It turned out that all of the planes had frozen and needed to be de-iced before they could move.

Our plane was very far down the list of planes awaiting the de-icer and so we sat, in our seats, still attached to the gate, for 8 HOURS. We were due to be flying London > Newark (USA) > San José, so the 8-hour delay meant we’d definitely missed our connection in Newark. What was funny (and by funny, I mean not at all funny. English sarcasm.) is that by the time the de-icer reached us, our plane had well and truly de-iced itself and so we didn’t need it anyway.

Eventually we took off and flew to Newark, but arrived so late at night that we had to wait until the following day to fly to Costa Rica. We checked into a nearby airport hotel, slept for literally about 3 hours and then headed blurry eyed for our final flight.

Arriving in San José

Touching down in San José felt like such an achievement! We were all shattered but SO excited to see this new country and everything it had to offer.

After we’d arrived at our hotel and had a few moments to rest, we headed off on our private tour bus to INBio Park (which I’ve just found out is now permanently closed), an education centre with aims to show off the different habitats and species you can find all over the country. One of the first things I spotted was a SLOTH. An actual sloth, on day one. I genuinely hadn’t expected to find one so easily and actually didn’t spot a single other sloth for the entire duration of my trip, but I was (and still am!) over the moon to have seen one with my own eyes.

Bear in mind this trip was in 2008, so the photos I have aren’t the best quality and look like they were taken on a toaster…

8 days in Costa Rica

As I’m typing this post, it’s April 2021 and I’m at the beginning stages of planning an itinerary for my Mum and I to travel to Costa Rica in 2022! If you’ve visited more recently than 2008, please drop any and all recommendations in the comments! Muchas gracias in advance!

I’ll share my 2022 itinerary once it’s created and booked, so you can use it too if you want to plan your own trip.

This is what my 8 days in Costa Rica looked like and was without question the catalyst for my travel obsession!

Day 1

The first day should have involved leaving the UK and arriving in Costa Rica, but as you’ve just read, that didn’t go to plan!

Day 2

After arriving, we visited INBio Park, spotted sloths, alligators and iguana and ate (yes, ate) grubs from a tree. Please don’t go ahead and eat any old grub from the inside of a tree though (unsure why you’d ever do that…), this was part of the educational experience and the grubs were provided to us by a very knowledgeable guide! Note: they don’t taste as bad as you think, they’re just a bit….gritty.

Day 3

Learnt about some of the 70 species of Heliconias on Heliconia Island in the Sarapiquí region. Most of these are native to Costa Rica, but some are from other tropical locations around the world. Here was also the chance to see lots of birds, butterflies and even spider monkeys!

We were also taught by local artisans how to make jewellery using seeds found in the forest; I still have my seed earrings somewhere, although 13 years down the line and a number of house moves later and I’m not 100% sure where they are…!

Day 4

The morning was spent at a local primary school, where we had the absolute best time singing, dancing and making crafts with the children. It hugely helped that the majority of us on the trip were able to speak enough Spanish to interact with them!

The afternoon consisted of a boat ride along the Sarapiquí River, which was incredible; the sheer diversity of wildlife we saw blew my mind! It wasn’t a matter of trying to scan the river banks and tree tops for animals, it was trying to figure out how to look in all directions at once so we didn’t miss anything.

P.s. don’t say I didn’t warn you about the photo quality!

Once the sun had gone down that day, we had a guided walk through the forest to see bats, study any caught in nets and then release them back into the wild. Don’t panic – they’re caught humanely and purely to study them and count their numbers. They’re also never held for more than 2 hours.

Day 5

Trekked through the rainforest and across suspension bridges for a chocolate tour! We learnt how cacao grows and how it’s made into chocolate, which was really interesting and of course, delicious. The humidity that day was something ridiculous like 95% though, so it was honestly like walking through water and the afternoon rain we had was the heaviest I’ve ever experienced anywhere in the world!

After the chocolate tour was a bus ride to the Arenal volcano and lake, both of which were stunning. The volcano was even mildly erupting at the time, which was a very humbling experience! We really did pack a lot in that day, as we also managed to visit La Fortuna waterfall, swim in its pool and climb the unimaginably steep (and slightly treacherous) steps back up.

The evening entailed a relaxing retreat at the Ecotermales hot springs, which sit at the foot of the volcano, surrounded by lush jungle. Never have I been anywhere so utterly idyllic and I’ll absolutely be adding this to my itinerary for 2022!

Day 6

We moved from the Arenal/La Fortuna region to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. The difference in landscape and climate from Sarapiquí to Monteverde is huge; I’d really recommend visiting both cloud and rainforest regions during your trip if you can. The afternoon was spent at an education centre for amphibians and snakes, some of which we were able to hold. I’m not someone with a fear of frogs or snakes so I kinda loved seeing all the different species, but I can imagine this would be some people’s worst nightmare!

Day 7

Probably my favourite day was our final day. But it didn’t start out that way. We were told the itinerary was to visit a butterfly sanctuary, followed by a tour of a cheese factory (if you know me, you’ll probably be laughing as this, quite literally, is my idea of hell) and a pig farm. We did all of these things and expected to head back to our hotel for a quiet afternoon of packing and preparing to leave for home.

But, our teachers had a surprise in store for us – they’d booked (and PAID) for us all to go zip lining in Monteverde! I’m a giant fan of these kinds of adventure activities, so 18 zip lines and a Tarzan swing was the absolute best ending to the trip and totally counteracted the cheese factory hell!

Day 8

Day 8 meant it was time to fly back to London and leave Central America behind. You might be thinking that 8 days isn’t long enough, but we saw and experienced so much in that time. If you don’t mind a fair amount of travelling between places, you can really pack a lot in!

For my 2022 itinerary, I’m hoping to visit for about two weeks to still see a lot but travel a little slower.

Where It All Began

That 2008 A Level Biology trip to Costa Rica really did spiral my mind into a travel obsessed state and it’s remained firmly in that state ever since. It was then that I was bitten by the ever-infectious travel bug and it’s since that trip that I knew I wanted a life filled with travel. Costa Rica is where it all began for me and I’m so so excited at the prospect of returning.

Roll on 2022!

If you’ve been, don’t forget to leave recommendations and tips in the comments. I’d love to chat all things tropical with you!

Pin it:

The post 8 Days In Costa Rica – Where It All Began appeared first on This Planet by Nina.