It was interesting to experience the Christmas atmosphere in Mexico around the holidays. It was an odd combination of somber tradition and flamboyant fiesta. We noticed the bright decorations along the malecon when we arrived - which is similar to any city in the US of course with a decorated tree, stars, and christmas lights everywhere. Christmas tree in La Paz (Lynessa Nelson)
On our fourth night in La Paz we walked up from our hotel into a new neighborhood and ran across a celebration at the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. At first I didn't realize it was a church from the vendors outside. They were selling all kinds of stuffed animals and glow-in-the-dark toys and noisemakers. Alongside these where figures of saints and other religious icons. The sidewalks were packed with people and the noise from everything was deafening. We decided to take a quick peek into the catholic church and discovered that it too was packed with a mass in session. The chaos outside was magnified by the organization of the mass and solemn procession. We stepped back outside and into the circus on the street to head onward. I wish we could have stayed to watch the service because I was fascinated by the families and how everyone was celebrating the Advent season.
The following morning we walked to the main square and saw the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Paz - the main cathedral in La Paz. The vendors were nowhere in site so it must have been a special celebration the evening before. We peaked inside but there wasn't a service going on just yet. It was the serene setting inside that I was used to from visiting other churches in Spain and around Europe. My friend explained the traditions to me a bit when I returned from Mexico. From her experience living on the Baja, she saw that the Mexican's motto was typically "Go big or go home!" when it came to celebrations or festivals. If you're going to have a religious party, treat it like a party - duh! Cathedral in La Paz (Lynessa Nelson)
During our stay in La Paz we enjoyed seeing the passion and celebration of the Mexican people and as some of them celebrated Advent. I knew we were heading home to zero-degree weather and snow so we soaked in all the sunshine we could get in our final hours. Cruising down the Malecon we ran into this display in front of a family fun center. Feliz Navidad in La Paz! (Lynessa Nelson)
I wasn't sure if they had poinsettias in Mexico or not but the decorations looked so fitting among the palm trees. Mexico we have enjoyed your people, your beaches and your wildlife so much this week. We hope to return someday soon to continue the explorations. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good Flight!
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
1 day ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
1 day ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
6 days ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.