8 Ideas for Off the Beaten Path Travel + Accommodations
Do you want to get off the typical tourist trail? Where to even start? Here are some pretty remote accommodations that our kids enjoyed as much as we did. Some of these off-the-beaten-path locations are indeed quite isolated and may take a bit of travel time and expense to get to. However, that is part of the real and gritty authentic experience.
Remember to consider your TOTAL BUDGET — you may be surprised that when you put it all together it can be within reach. And, if these locations look enticing, you can find more expensive or less expensive accommodations to fit your travel style. Happy planning!
These are my honest opinions and recommendations — I do not receive any compensation or discounts during our travel. This story does include some affiliate links for which I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please click the links to support my blog.
Listed More Expensive (not luxury!) to Least Expensive
The more remote the better? Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge immediately comes to mind. It is on the edge of the remote Corcovado National Park and just getting here is an adventure. There are several tours to choose from such as hiking to the Sirena Park Station and snorkeling at Cano Island. Save time for enjoying the property with sightings of colorful scarlet macaws overhead, a hike along the private beach to a waterfall, tidal pools to explore, magnificent sunsets, and more. Our designated guide, Freddy, not only enhanced our experience but also made it incredibly enjoyable for our kids.
Our visit during Thanksgiving week marked the end of the Green Season, or wet season, making it an ideal time to travel with fewer crowds and more budget-friendly options. Daytime showers treated us to stunning rainbows, and the heavier downpours occurred mostly at night.
GETTING THERE: Opt for a hopper flight to Drake Bay for a jeep to ocean boat transfer, or take the scenic route by driving to Sierpe for a river + ocean boat transfer. Either journey concludes with a wet landing and a tractor ride uphill to reach this beautiful eco-lodge.
I love visiting places on the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World list, and Kasbah du Toubkal is one of them! We stopped in during a hike through the area, part of an amazing 10-day Morocco tour. I wish we had time to spend a night or two! Even if an overnight stay isn’t in your plans, I highly recommend a visit. For a small fee, you can walk around the grounds and have a beverage up on the patio. Don’t miss paging through the book that captures highlights of Megan and Prince Harry’s 2019 visit to the Kasbah.
Read more of my articles on Morocco for ideas and inspiration for this trip.
GETTING THERE: After about an hour’s scenic drive from Marrakesh, it is an easy 15-minute walk to the accommodation. Mules are available to carry your luggage from Imlil if needed.
What a treat to stay at a jungle lodge while visiting Belize’s Cayo District. While this area features many eco-lodge options, Black Rock Lodge provided an excellent value, plus its proximity to the Maya Flats Airport worked great with our itinerary. Note: When planning your trip, consider flight schedules to or from Maya Flats Airport.
Black Rock Lodge is located about 40 minutes outside of San Ignacio in western Belize. Nestled in a dense rainforest with birds galore, this wonderful eco-lodge has cabins perched above the scenic Macal River. With a range of free on-site activities and additional paid tours, Black Rock Lodge offers a lot for the adventurous family.
Enjoy reading my other Belize articles packed full of great itinerary and budget-saving advice.
GETTING THERE: You can bring a car, but it’s not necessary. Arrange your own transfer or utilize the lodge’s service. We spent two nights in San Ignacio beforehand and flew to Caye Caulker afterward, enhancing our Belizean adventure.
You can rent this wonderful eco-home through Airbnb or directly from their Casa Uvita website. The house is spacious, super clean, and comfortable for a family of five. The owner and her housekeeper are so kind and helpful and they have added a pool since our visit! Uvita is south of Manual Antonio but feels worlds away. Don’t be concerned about this lodging not being on the beach, you will be rewarded with an amphitheater of howler monkeys and colorful birds. A quick drive takes you to the expansive whale’s tail beach, where walking out to the sandbar at low tide feels out of this world. You can also go on kayak excursions, hike to waterfalls, and drive 10-miles north to surf in Dominical.
GETTING THERE: Uvita is about four hours from San Jose. A rental car, preferably an SUV is essential for the freedom to explore the area.
The Pearl Islands, Panama | Isla Contadora
We stayed at the bread and breakfast Hibiscus House and rented a couple golf carts for beach hopping. Get out on the water with a snorkeling tour but also just jump in at any of the island’s beautiful beaches. Be sure to stop at Playa Larga to see the abandoned ferry and hotel — kind of creepy and kind of cool. I was told that one of the international Survivor TV shows filmed tribal counsels here.
GETTING THERE: Take a hopper flight or the ferry. I suggest taking a hopper flight there and the ferry back to Panama City to get birds-eye and eye-to-eye views of the huge container ships waiting to enter the Panama Canal.
Once you get here you will not want to leave! It is pure bliss to sit on the patio or dock — volcanos in all directions, eruptions, birds, boats. You have to take a boat or a long walk to the nearby village but that is part of the fun. The lodge has a restaurant and bar so you do not even have to leave. Maya Moon can arrange tours, yoga, kayaks, etc. for you. Note: There are private cabins and shared dorm rooms.
GETTING THERE: Getting there: Lake Atitlan is about a three-five hour drive from Guatemala City. Then, you take a boat from Panajachel to get to Maya Moon Lodge. We found it easy and inexpensive to take the public launchas.
If you are doing a land-based Galapagos vacation — and you should! — spend some time on Isabella Island to round out your adventure. It can be a long rough ocean ride to get there, but if you can handle that, it is so worth it. The island is very laid back and chill. Traverse over sleeping sea lions on your way to snorkel amongst swimming iguanas at Las Perlas. Take a day tour to Los Tunneles to see blue-footed boobies and swim with turtles and sharks. Explore tidal pools on your walk along the long white sand beach. Spot dozens of flamingos on the boardwalk to the turtle breeding center. Terro Real is simple yet clean and comfortable, and included breakfast. The owner was so kind and helpful.
GETTING THERE: Take the 2.5-hour ferry from Puerto Auora on Santa Cruz. It is about a 15-minute walk to the hotel or you can take a taxi from the dock.
Embark on an exciting journey to the enchanting Ometepe Island for a day or two, accessible from San Juan del Sur or Granada, Nicaragua. This unique island, formed by twin volcanos, is the largest freshwater island in the world. Hotel Villa Paraiso is simple, clean, and has comfortable family-friendly rooms. I’ll be honest, we experienced a lot of little bugs when outside after dusk, but the diligent staff at Villa Paraiso ensured the walkways were bug-free by the morning.
Have the hotel arrange outings such as a horseback ride to Ojo de Agua and a kayak tour to the estuary between the volcanos. You can also enjoy a nearby hiking trail on your own or with a guide.
GETTING THERE: Take a 1-2 hour ferry from San Jorge. For convenience, arrange with Villa Paraiso for a transfer to the hotel, about 20 minutes from the dock.
With the many casa particulars in the area, Villa El Habano stands out for many reasons: six clean and simple rooms, the warm hospitality of its hosts, and a lovely location. Located just on the outskirts of town, Villa El Habano has a touch of seclusion while being conveniently located a quick walk to the town center. Our room had all of the essentials including hot water, air conditioning, and a safe. An absolute must-do experience is a full-day horseback riding tour!
Read more on Vinales in my article, Off of the Beaten Path in Vinales, Cuba.
GETTING THERE: The taxi transfer from Havana to Vinales takes about 2.5 hours. I suggest that you arrange this through your lodging or Vinales tour provider. I highly recommend Riding Vinales.
