Not often enough, we do features on Twitter friends of ours that represent great places to visit around our world. Twitter is fast and to the point, just the way we like it when trying to discover new and exotic places around on earth. Our Twitterverse is ever-expanding, now up to around 4,200 followers with goals of 6,000 in the near future. Check us out at @AboutTravelling – we’re not Twitter snobs and we always follow back – unless you are blatant spammer!
In this segment we’re looking at three off the beaten path resorts (an all-encompassing word, resort is) that are way beyond the typical all-inclusive foreign owned, identical looking, Caribbean resort where most North Americans end up on winter vacations.
As usual, these are not reviews but simply discoveries in our Twitterverse. We have no affiliation with the three spots ***. In fact, they have no idea that they are being featured here at all. It’s just appreciation from us for being mutual Twitter followers and a chance for you, the reader, to maybe discover that travel location that’s been missing in your life.
*** That’s not entirely true. Haciendo Taboada is the only one of the three that can be booked through Hotels Dot Com. If you click through the Hotels Dot Com advertisement on this page (at description of Haciendo Taboada) and book the hotel, we stand to make a small commission. If you happen to do this, let us know how the whole experience went!
Cuyabeno Lodge – Ecuador
Located within the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in northeastern Ecuador, Cuyabeno Lodge is located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, near the headwaters of the Amazon River. Getting there is half the adventure. From Quito, it’s about an hour’s flight to Lago Agrio. At this point, it’s a motorized canoe trip to the lodge.
There are three, four and five day packages for stays at the lodge. However, the four day is the standard. This includes three nights at the lodge with a variety of accommodations available, depending on budget and comfort expectations. Included in the package is return transportation from the airport at Lago Agrio. Also, ten meals and all non-alcoholic beverages are included along with 10-12 guided excursions into the Amazon.
Sounds like a bank-breaker, right? Not even close. You need to get yourself to Quito then Lago Agrio. However, the rest for the four day package is available from $260 USD per person. The lowest rate is for dormitory accommodations. For a standard private room, the price increases to $380 while a deluxe room is a very reasonable $440.
Why the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve? This is a 1.5 million acre reserve at the edge of the Andes Mountains that is unique and rich in species diversity. There are eight major ecosystems within the park. Mammals that might be seen are Jaguar, Puma, Dolphin, Manatee, Tapir and Giant Otter. Other stars include Cayman, Boa Constrictors and Anacondas. There are and estimated 580 species of bird in the area, along with around 350 species of fish in the waters of the Amazon Basin.
Twitter: @CUYABENOLODGE
Official Website: Cuyabeno Lodge
Hacienda Taboada
Mexico is great for beaches, whether they be on the Pacific Ocean or Caribbean Sea. However, Mexico is a really big country and there is so much more to see. Hacienda Taboada is a hotel around six miles from the centre of historic San Miguel De Allende. The city is in the centre of Mexico, due east of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. It’s also about 274km or 170 miles from Mexico City in the state of Guanajuato.
The town is a hot spot for foreigners and is a centre for the arts. San Miguel de Allende was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The main feature is the well-preserved buildings that date back to the 1600’s and 1700’s.
Named for Ignacio Allende, this might strike a cord with visitors from Spain. Allende was a captain in the Spanish Army who jumped ship to join the Mexican Independence Movement. Eventually, he died a hero, executed for treason by his original country.
As for Hacienda Taboada, at 5,700 feet above sea level, there is no oceanfront beaches to found here! The hotel consists of 70 rooms on an expansive property. Horseback riding is available on site and there is a really large swimming pool. Also on site is El Galeron, a first class dining venue. Don’t worry, it may not be an all-inclusive resort but you can get your drink on at the in-house bar.
As mentioned, this Hacienda Taboada can be booked through Hotels Dot Com. The rates are reduced considerably through the popular website and pricing doesn’t seem to budge much from season to season. I took some sample prices – these should be used as reference only as they are subject to change. Note – the prices are in Canadian Dollars. On weeknights, the range is from $130 per night up to $180 per night, depending on the room. On weekends, these prices increased to from $150 to $210. Click through the advertisement and check it out for yourself!
Twitter: @HaciendaTaboada
Official Website: Hacienda Taboada
Bedarra Beach House
Let’s travel far across the Pacific Ocean from the other two locations, shall we? Bedarra Beach House is located on Bedarra Island. This is located off the northeastern coast of Australia in Northern Queensland, nestled in the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is the closest international airport, about two hours away. Bedarra Island is directly off shore from Mission Beach, a popular resort area.
Bedarra Beach House is just as it sounds, a house on the beach. The island is part of the Family Islands National Park and is sparsely populated. On the one square kilometre piece of land, there is an eight villa resort and a handful of private homes. Out one door is the white sand and clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Out the other door is rainforest. This is not a commercial island with stores, restaurants, bars and servants. What you expect to use on your stay, you need to bring with you, including food and drink.
On the island, the highlight is what’s in the water but land creatures include the brilliant blue Ulysses Butterfly, Geckos, Forest Dragons and Pythons. The official website of Bedarra Beach House warns of Death Adder Snakes, some of the most venemous snakes in the world. The venom from these fat little snakes can cause paralysis followed by complete respiratory shutdown within six hours. In the water, there’s the tropical fish, of course, but also Sea Turtles.
Minimum stay at the Bedarra Beach House is five nights and the rate is $500 Australian Dollars per night. A seven night stay is $3,500. The maximum number of people at one time is limited to two and children are a no-no.
The nearby Bedarra Island Resort is, however, all-inclusive. There are just eight villas with once again a two person maximum per villa. The villa price ranges from $1,090 per night to $1,690 per night. There’s an additional $395 round trip charge for transportation to and from the island.
For North Americans, you do get a bit of a break in currency exchange. The Australian Dollar is by no means the Russian Ruble, but it not the British Pound, either. Currently, one Canadian Dollar gets you 1.05 AUD. The U.S. get a bigger break with a USD worth 1.24 AUD. Just for fun, a Canadian Dollar gets you around .55 of a pound or 50 Rubles.
Twitter: @BedarraBeachHse
Official Website: Bedarra Beach House
