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How to plan a Dia de Los Muertos Trip in Guadalajara in 2020

Alyssa Ramos

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dia de los muertos in guadalajara

If you want to experience Dia de los Muertos in 2020 (or “Day of the Dead), Guadalajara, Mexico is definitely the place to do it! I’ve been trying to make it to Mexico for three years to participate in the festivities, and after finally getting to this year, I’d highly recommend it!

In this post I’ll go over everything you could possibly need to plan your bucketlist trip, and participate in all of the incredible activities! You’ll also get some important background information about the holiday and the culture that I personally find fascinating!

What Exactly Is Dia de los Muertos?

dia de los muertos in guadalajara mylifesamovie.com

As I mentioned above, the English translation is “Day of the Dead”. But contrary to how spooky that sounds, it’s anything but a scary holiday! It’s also 100% NOT a “Mexican Halloween”! And you should also NOT dress up as a “Catrina” for American Halloween. But feel free to do so in Mexico!

Anyway! Dia de los Muertos is meant for you to remember and celebrate loved ones who have passed away. Altars or “ofrendas” are set up with a couple essential items that make it “possible” for the relatives to “pass into the living world” for the night.

The alters must have marigolds (orange flowers), a photo of the deceased, and some of their favorite things! For example, mine would probably have my passport, my camera, and a bottle of white wine!

Many festivities take place around the city for Dia de los Muertos to celebrate, which I’ll get into later in this post!

Why Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in Guadalajara?

dia de los muertos in guadalajara mylifesamovie.com

Did you know that Guadalajara is considered the cultural hub of Mexico? It’s also the second largest city, and where most Mexican millennials are migrating to for its trendiness.

Guadalajara is charming all on its own, and also has quick access to some other amazing parts of Mexico too! For example Tequila (yes, it’s an actual town!) is only a thirty minute drive, or two hour train ride if you take the Jose Cuervo Express! Complete with tequila tastings of course.

If you wanted to include a beach getaway, Puerto Vallarta is also very close to Guadalajara! And speaking of transiting around, an important thing to highlight is that Guadalajara is DRASTICALLY less congested than Mexico City!

What, When, and Where are the Dia de Los Muertos Festivities?

dia de los muertos in guadalajara mylifesamovie.com
Catrine-Mariche players at Calaverandia

There are scheduled festivities in Guadalajara for Dia de los Muertos, and I’ll update this closer to October 2020 in case they change! There’s also things going on in popular smaller nearby cities which I’ll include as well!

Calaverandia

The marigold-decorated “trajinera” boat at Calaverandia

Location: Avila Camacho Park, Guadalajara

Dates: October 25 – November 18

Cost: General ~$25 USD, VIP ~$50 USD

Calaverandia was probably my favorite of the Dia de los Muertos festivities that I participated in and therefore HIGHLY recommended! Described to me as a “new dramatically designed theme park reminiscent or the award-winning movie Coco”. And I’d have to say that’s pretty on point!

You can get your face painted like a traditional Catrina or Catrine, and there’s also the option to get some neon face paint! Then explore over twenty family friendly attractions and experiences! It was honestly SO COOL, and that’s coming fro a 31 year old who sees A LOT of cool stuff all the time!

Some of my favorite attractions were: the interactive Underworld Forest, the slightly terrifying interactive cemetery, the trajinera boat rides on the lake, and the light and sound show that explains the meaning of Dia de los Muerotos.

I’d recommend doing Calaverandia before or after the actual Day of the Dead, which is November 2!

Tlaquepaque

tlaquepaque dia de los muertos

Location: Click for Map

Dates: November 2 or 3

Cost: Free to walk around!

Tlaquepaque is basically the vibrant little neighborhood where alllll the Dia de los Muertos celebrations go down! It starts in the afternoon, and carries on late into the night!

The cobblestone streets adorned with marigolds and colorful paper flags above are packed with people celebrating. And all around the neighborhood there’s quite a few things to see and do!

First you’ll probably want to get your face painted, right? Look for one of the many booths doing that or simply ask someone with a staff shirt on. The trick is to look at the people getting their faces painted to decide which artist you like best! It’s usually only around $5 USD to do it, and absolutely a must!

Pro Tip: Be sure to bring some fun accessories like a flower crown or top hat to add to your catrina/catrine look!

tlaquepaque dia de los muertos makeup

Join the crowd of mostly locals with your painted face! Pop into the various trendy shops, savory smelling food booths, or stop by one of the many restaurants for a tequila cocktail!

You also DO NOT want to miss the “Catrina Bridal Parade”! It’s equal parts terrifying and mesmerizing! It’s basically set up like a full on fashion show…except the participants dress up in their best bridal wear…and skull faces!

How and Where to Get Your “Skull” Face Painted

dia de los muertos makeup
I scoured Pinterest for Catrina makeup ideas, but finally just let the artists create what they thought would look best with my outfit!

I mentioned this mixed in with a couple sections above, but since it was one of my number one questions, I’ll give it it’s own section!

Initially I thought that you needed to do your own skull face paint…but silly me. OF COURSE there are tons of people who do the face paint for you! You can find them at any of the festivities, usually at a tented booth with a photo of the skull makeup in front. If you need any help finding them at all, just point to your face and say “Catrina?”

If you want something more intense (think rhinestones, flower appliques, etc.), I’d recommend asking your hotel concierge if they know someone you can hire. I saw a few people getting their faces made up at hotels, and the results were stunning!

Where to Stay in Guadalajara

We stayed at an absolutely ADORABLE boutique hotel called Demetria Bungalows that I’d highly recommend. Each room is decorated differently, with thoughtful little added touches.

For example, we had a bouquet of Marigolds since it was Dia de los Muertos! Which might I add, contrasted beautifully with the dark purple walls, chandeliers, and zebra throw pillows! This hotel is also pretty central to everything I’ve been mentioning!

If you’re looking to do this trip on more of a budget, use the map widget below to find hotels with the best prices!

Booking.com

Best Foods to Try and Restaurant Recommendations

chilaquiles mexican food

Naturally if you’re going to Mexico, you’re probably wanting to try allllll the delicious Mexican food right? We had a solid mixture of authentic Mexican food and international cuisine, so I’ll list my recommendations for both!

Breakfast

pan de muertos in guadelajara
Pan de Muertos or “bread of the dead” is absolutely DELICIOUS despite the morbid name!

Foods to try: Chilaquiles (tortilla strips simmered in a spiced tomato sauce topped with an egg and crumbled cheese), Pan de Muertos (sweet bun typically only made and served during Dia de los Muertos).

Restaurant Recommendation: Postreria – an extremely popular breakfast spot whose owner, Fernanda Covarrubias is like the Top Chef of Guadalajara! Most famous for her decadent and highly decorated desserts, but the savory dishes are just as great!

Lunch/Dinner

mariache guadalajara
The mariache and dancing show happing in front of our lunch table at Bariache!

Foods to try: tacos, quesadilla, fajitas, ceviche, tamales, tortas, pasole, tostadas, mole,

Restaurant Recommendation: Casa de Bariache – A deliciously tacky joint that combines a bar with mariache performances (hence the name, get it?). Enjoy live performances while eating traditional Mexican food and drinks!

I’d also highly recommend trying a street taco stand at least once! We found a couple great ones in the main historical city center in Guadelajara!

If you have any questions or additional information about Dia de los Muertos or Guadalajara, please leave a comment below!

Be sure to check out the Mexico Instagram Story Highlight for the behind the scenes videos of Dia de Los Muertos!

Also, if you have time, I’d highly recommend taking the Jose Cuervo Express tequila train to Tequila, Mexico from Guadalajara! Read about it below!

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Guadalajara Tourism and also contains some affiliate links, however all experiences, opinions, writing, and photos are my own!

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Dia de los Muertos is a MUST-experience cultural event that takes place each year in Mexico! The "Day of the Dead" is meant to remember and celebrate loved ones who have died, in a fun and festive manner! In this post you'll find everything you need to get your "catrina" skull face paint, where all of the best Dia de los Muertos festivities are in Guadalajara, and more!
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Please CLICK HERE to see my Amazon list of everything I used and would highly recommend bringing! Also includes which cameras I used for the images above!

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Alyssa Ramos is one of the first original travel blogger/influencers who helped normalize solo female travel. She’s been to 146 countries so far, plus Antarctica 4x, and all of her tips are on this blog!

@mylifesatravelmovie
Alyssa Ramos | Most Traveled Women

@mylifesatravelmovie

One of the World’s Most Traveled Women 146 countries (solo, so far) • 7 Continents Expert • Activist • Entrepreneur GroupTrips: @mylifesatraveltribe
  • Before the term “influencer” or “content creator” existed, I was one of the original travel bloggers, unknowingly helping pioneer what is now a multibillion dollar Creator Industry.

I helped transform solo female travel from taboo to trendy, and taught thousands of people how to work remotely and build a brand.

I’ve done so much more than just create content, although hardly anyone sees the behind the scenes. And it’s been 14 years that I’ve owned the title of travel bloggers/influencer so…

Allow me to re-introduce myself.

I am Alyssa Ramos, the founder of My Life’s a Travel Movie brand, one of the very first travel “influencers” and one of the pioneers of the creator industry, of normalizing solo female travel today, of influencer-hosted group trips, and of getting paid to travel via social media!

I started my blog in 2012, then started using social media to promote it in 2014, earning me the title of “influencer”but what was never fully seen was the entrepreneur behind it who helped create an entire new industry with no money and when hardly anyone believed it would work.

Soon after I became one of the first travel blogger/influencers to make a full time living from it, I was asked to speak at conferences, interviewed in the press, and I was one of the very first people to make the courses about how it’s done (they didn’t exist when I started!)

I had a big dream to get paid to travel the world, and to normalize solo female travel, and once I succeeded, I kept going.

Today I am not only a travel influencer, but also a humanitarian, animal activist, a trailblazer, an author, speaker, writer, entrepreneur and…one of the most experienced solo female travelers in the world.

So far I’ve been to over 150 countries (off the 197 list), all 7 continents (Antarctica 4x), and I average 20 countries per year.

Now I’m going bigger. I’m launching a travel show, more speaker events, writing another book, and I’ve started the Travel Tribe Foundation to give back through my group trips.

Thank you everyone who has been here with me for so long, and welcome to anyone new!

To follow along with my updates, please comment “travel
  • Before the term “influencer” or “content creator” existed, I was one of the original travel bloggers, unknowingly helping pioneer what is now a multibillion dollar Creator Industry.

I helped transform solo female travel from taboo to trendy, and taught thousands of people how to work remotely and build a brand.

I’ve done so much more than just create content, although hardly anyone sees the behind the scenes. And it’s been 14 years that I’ve owned the title of travel bloggers/influencer so…

Allow me to re-introduce myself.

I am Alyssa Ramos, the founder of My Life’s a Travel Movie brand, one of the very first travel “influencers” and one of the pioneers of the creator industry, of normalizing solo female travel today, of influencer-hosted group trips, and of getting paid to travel via social media!

I started my blog in 2012, then started using social media to promote it in 2014, earning me the title of “influencer”but what was never fully seen was the entrepreneur behind it who helped create an entire new industry with no money and when hardly anyone believed it would work.

Soon after I became one of the first travel blogger/influencers to make a full time living from it, I was asked to speak at conferences, interviewed in the press, and I was one of the very first people to make the courses about how it’s done (they didn’t exist when I started!)

I had a big dream to get paid to travel the world, and to normalize solo female travel, and once I succeeded, I kept going.

Today I am not only a travel influencer, but also a humanitarian, animal activist, a trailblazer, an author, speaker, writer, entrepreneur and…one of the most experienced solo female travelers in the world.

So far I’ve been to over 150 countries (off the 197 list), all 7 continents (Antarctica 4x), and I average 20 countries per year.

Now I’m going bigger. I’m launching a travel show, more speaker events, writing another book, and I’ve started the Travel Tribe Foundation to give back through my group trips.

Thank you everyone who has been here with me for so long, and welcome to anyone new!

To follow along with my updates, please comment “travel
  • I thought I was going to shipwreck trying to get to an existing shipwreck in the Solomon Islands…and I was traveling solo with just a fisherman driving me on his small boat. 😳

But! We made it, even with a massive storm approaching, and I experienced one of the most incredible “my life’s a travel movie” moments in my 12 years of continuous solo traveling!!

I truly felt like I was in a movie! The ship is an old cruise ship that hit rocks and slowly sank as it washed ashore on Roderick’s Bay. It’s only half sunk, so you can swim around it (it’s super creepy and dangerous, don’t do it alone), and since it’s completely unregulated, you can also climb it and zip line into the water (also dangerous, can’t recommend)

The angle of the ship also created one of the most vibrant marine sanctuaries I’ve seen in a while, with lots of actual colorful coral and fish (including clown fish!)

I went to Solomon Islands after my second trip to Papua New Guinea, on my quest to slow solo travel to every country in the world.

Would I go back to the shipwreck? Probably not. That boat ride was terrifying. But I’d go back to see more of the islands in the Solomon’s, there’s so many!

Would you brave the ride to get to this shipwreck?

For any fellow extreme adventurers, my Solomon Islands travel tips and itinerary is on my website linked in bio!

———————-

For anyone new here: Hi! I’m Alyssa Ramos of @mylifesatravelmovie - one of the most traveled and most experienced solo female travelers  in the world! I’ve been to 146 countries so far over 12 years, and love rare destinations and animals! My goal is to inspire you to travel off the typical path and to shatter negative stereotypes about “dangerous” destinations. Follow me for expert tips and inspiration!
  • D. R. Congo and Silverback Gorillas both have reputations for being extremely dangerous, and that’s true, to an extent. But hear me out.

First a disclaimer: I am one of the most experienced solo female travelers in the world, and I also have a degree in Animal Science plus extensive experience with wild animals. All of my animal encounters are ethical, researched, and done with professionals. My goal is to promote responsible animal tourism that actually benefits and protects the animals, Don’t try to do any of them on your own!

Ok so the Mountain Gorillas! Yes, they can be extremely dangerous! However, many of them have been socialized, and are therefore accepting of human visitors (and very curious)

Gorilla trekking tourism is what protects these beautiful animals, because it generates more money to have them alive, so it forces the govs and other orgs to implement strict rules and anti-poaching efforts!

In fact, these gorillas were almost poached to extinction before trekking became popular, and now most of the trackers (people paid to find the gorillas to trek to) are former poachers! 

I’ve gone gorilla trekking 5 times and it’s always a safe and beautiful experience (the trek is difficult though and can be up to 8 hours through thick jungle)

Now about D.R. Congo…. Shortly after my first solo travels there, Virunga National Park closed and remains closed due to armed conflict with rebel groups..:

I still went to visit Goma several more times, and I truly love Congo, but I will be waiting with anticipation for the safety to increase, because the gorillas in DRC were my top favorite see! 

For more info on DRC or the other 150 countries I’ve traveled solo to, please check out my blog linked in bio!

———-

Please follow me @mylifesatravelmovie for more extreme adventures with purpose 💖

#alyssaramostravels #mylifeisatravelmovie #mylifeisatravelmovie
  • I have a “bucketlist tattoo” that I add to when I complete a major bucketlist check! This one was a double check: seeing a wild Polar Bear and reaching my farthest latitude north (so far): 82 degrees North!

For reference, the geographic North Pole is at 90 degrees North, so we were very close to it! Maybe one day I’ll reach it!

There’s only one tattoo shop in Longyearbyen, therefore it’s officially the northernmost tattoo shop! And I also have tattoos from the Southernmost tattoo shop in Ushuaia for my 4 trips to Antarctica!

Anyone else have cool tattoos?

——————-

For anyone new here: Hi! I’m Alyssa Ramos of @mylifesatravelmovie - one of the most traveled and most experienced solo female travelers in the world! I’ve been to 146 countries so far over 12 years, and love rare destinations and animals! My goal is to inspire you to travel off the typical path and to shatter negative stereotypes about “dangerous” destinations. Follow me for expert tips and inspiration!
  • This is my 3rd year being an American living on a vineyard in Italy (married the owner!) and I def have a lot of tea/wine to spill about it 😂

People have this dreamy or glamorous “Emily in Rome”-esque idea about traveling to Italy, falling in love, preferably with someone who owns a vineyard, and living happily ever after…well I did that, and it can be a bit more “difficile vita” than “dolce vita” at times!

Shall I give the full interview for the “real Netflix documentary about an American living in Italy”?? 😂
  • I’ve swam with Orcas, a crocodile, and my for-fun hobby is shark diving, but I draw the line at poisonous swimming snakes. 🙅‍♀️🐍 It really just came up to me like that when I was sitting on the beach on an island in New Caledonia! 

I had been contemplating going swimming with the turtles nearby, but changed my mind after I saw this!

This was a “Blake-banded Sea Krait”, common to this area in the South Pacific Islands, I’ve heard several divers say they’ve seen them! But no thanks, I prefer sharks. 😂

Animal safety tip: as an experienced animal encounteress, i never ever suggest provoking or trying to “fight off” any dangerous animal that isn’t actively trying to attack you. Stay calm and still and let it pass like I did in this video. Then, feel free to run. (Jk I’d still suggest carefully and slowly backing a way, keeping an eye on it).

What would you do if you saw a swimming snake?!

——————

For anyone new here: Hi! I’m Alyssa Ramos of @mylifesatravelmovie - one of the very first travel “influencers” and now one of the most traveled and most experienced solo travel women in the world! I’ve been to 146 countries so far over 12 years, and love rare destinations and animals! My goal is to inspire you to travel off the typical path and to shatter negative stereotypes about “dangerous” destinations (and animals). Follow me for expert tips and inspiration!
  • I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
  • Yes, that is a real, wild Crocodile. Yes, I swam with him (several times) Would you dare?

This is Panchito the Crocodile, he lives alone in Casa Cenote which is close to Tulum. Crocs are not commonly found in cenotes (pronounced “seh-note-ay” and are deep fresh water reserves throughout the Yucatán peninsula ) and no one is really sure how he got there.

Panchito is allegedly “friendly”, but it’s more like “unbothered until provoked”.

Recently for the first time ever Panchito attacked a swimmer because some unintelligent people were throwing rocks at him to try to provoke a reaction for a video 😡

Even this last time when I was there, while I was freediving in the cenote, other tourists were loud and slashing at Panchito, causing him to interrupt his tanning session, jump into the water, and dive under the mangroves until the people were gone (I watched all of it and was honestly a bit scared when he came swimming towards me underwater).

Anyway! If you want a unique wildlife experience, check out Casa Cenote but do not disturb Panchito!!! Or any wildlife! Animal karma is real!

I live in Tulum half-time and have lots of posts and tips about it and also this cenote, all on my website along with tips for over 140 countries - MyLifesAMovie.com

—————————

For anyone new here: Hi! I’m Alyssa Ramos of @mylifesatravelmovie - one of the most traveled and most experienced solo travel women in the world! I’ve been to 146 countries so far over 12 years, and love rare destinations and animals! My goal is to inspire you to travel off the typical path and to shatter negative stereotypes about “dangerous” destinations. Follow me for expert tips and inspiration!
Before the term “influencer” or “content creator” existed, I was one of the original travel bloggers, unknowingly helping pioneer what is now a multibillion dollar Creator Industry. I helped transform solo female travel from taboo to trendy, and taught thousands of people how to work remotely and build a brand. I’ve done so much more than just create content, although hardly anyone sees the behind the scenes. And it’s been 14 years that I’ve owned the title of travel bloggers/influencer so… Allow me to re-introduce myself. I am Alyssa Ramos, the founder of My Life’s a Travel Movie brand, one of the very first travel “influencers” and one of the pioneers of the creator industry, of normalizing solo female travel today, of influencer-hosted group trips, and of getting paid to travel via social media! I started my blog in 2012, then started using social media to promote it in 2014, earning me the title of “influencer”but what was never fully seen was the entrepreneur behind it who helped create an entire new industry with no money and when hardly anyone believed it would work. Soon after I became one of the first travel blogger/influencers to make a full time living from it, I was asked to speak at conferences, interviewed in the press, and I was one of the very first people to make the courses about how it’s done (they didn’t exist when I started!) I had a big dream to get paid to travel the world, and to normalize solo female travel, and once I succeeded, I kept going. Today I am not only a travel influencer, but also a humanitarian, animal activist, a trailblazer, an author, speaker, writer, entrepreneur and…one of the most experienced solo female travelers in the world. So far I’ve been to over 150 countries (off the 197 list), all 7 continents (Antarctica 4x), and I average 20 countries per year. Now I’m going bigger. I’m launching a travel show, more speaker events, writing another book, and I’ve started the Travel Tribe Foundation to give back through my group trips. Thank you everyone who has been here with me for so long, and welcome to anyone new! To follow along with my updates, please comment “travel
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Before the term “influencer” or “content creator” existed, I was one of the original travel bloggers, unknowingly helping pioneer what is now a multibillion dollar Creator Industry. I helped transform solo female travel from taboo to trendy, and taught thousands of people how to work remotely and build a brand. I’ve done so much more than just create content, although hardly anyone sees the behind the scenes. And it’s been 14 years that I’ve owned the title of travel bloggers/influencer so… Allow me to re-introduce myself. I am Alyssa Ramos, the founder of My Life’s a Travel Movie brand, one of the very first travel “influencers” and one of the pioneers of the creator industry, of normalizing solo female travel today, of influencer-hosted group trips, and of getting paid to travel via social media! I started my blog in 2012, then started using social media to promote it in 2014, earning me the title of “influencer”but what was never fully seen was the entrepreneur behind it who helped create an entire new industry with no money and when hardly anyone believed it would work. Soon after I became one of the first travel blogger/influencers to make a full time living from it, I was asked to speak at conferences, interviewed in the press, and I was one of the very first people to make the courses about how it’s done (they didn’t exist when I started!) I had a big dream to get paid to travel the world, and to normalize solo female travel, and once I succeeded, I kept going. Today I am not only a travel influencer, but also a humanitarian, animal activist, a trailblazer, an author, speaker, writer, entrepreneur and…one of the most experienced solo female travelers in the world. So far I’ve been to over 150 countries (off the 197 list), all 7 continents (Antarctica 4x), and I average 20 countries per year. Now I’m going bigger. I’m launching a travel show, more speaker events, writing another book, and I’ve started the Travel Tribe Foundation to give back through my group trips. Thank you everyone who has been here with me for so long, and welcome to anyone new! To follow along with my updates, please comment “travel
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I thought I was going to shipwreck trying to get to an existing shipwreck in the Solomon Islands…and I was traveling solo with just a fisherman driving me on his small boat. 😳 But! We made it, even with a massive storm approaching, and I experienced one of the most incredible “my life’s a travel movie” moments in my 12 years of continuous solo traveling!! I truly felt like I was in a movie! The ship is an old cruise ship that hit rocks and slowly sank as it washed ashore on Roderick’s Bay. It’s only half sunk, so you can swim around it (it’s super creepy and dangerous, don’t do it alone), and since it’s completely unregulated, you can also climb it and zip line into the water (also dangerous, can’t recommend) The angle of the ship also created one of the most vibrant marine sanctuaries I’ve seen in a while, with lots of actual colorful coral and fish (including clown fish!) I went to Solomon Islands after my second trip to Papua New Guinea, on my quest to slow solo travel to every country in the world. Would I go back to the shipwreck? Probably not. That boat ride was terrifying. But I’d go back to see more of the islands in the Solomon’s, there’s so many! Would you brave the ride to get to this shipwreck? For any fellow extreme adventurers, my Solomon Islands travel tips and itinerary is on my website linked in bio! ———————- For anyone new here: Hi! I’m Alyssa Ramos of @mylifesatravelmovie - one of the most traveled and most experienced solo female travelers in the world! I’ve been to 146 countries so far over 12 years, and love rare destinations and animals! My goal is to inspire you to travel off the typical path and to shatter negative stereotypes about “dangerous” destinations. Follow me for expert tips and inspiration!
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D. R. Congo and Silverback Gorillas both have reputations for being extremely dangerous, and that’s true, to an extent. But hear me out. First a disclaimer: I am one of the most experienced solo female travelers in the world, and I also have a degree in Animal Science plus extensive experience with wild animals. All of my animal encounters are ethical, researched, and done with professionals. My goal is to promote responsible animal tourism that actually benefits and protects the animals, Don’t try to do any of them on your own! Ok so the Mountain Gorillas! Yes, they can be extremely dangerous! However, many of them have been socialized, and are therefore accepting of human visitors (and very curious) Gorilla trekking tourism is what protects these beautiful animals, because it generates more money to have them alive, so it forces the govs and other orgs to implement strict rules and anti-poaching efforts! In fact, these gorillas were almost poached to extinction before trekking became popular, and now most of the trackers (people paid to find the gorillas to trek to) are former poachers! I’ve gone gorilla trekking 5 times and it’s always a safe and beautiful experience (the trek is difficult though and can be up to 8 hours through thick jungle) Now about D.R. Congo…. Shortly after my first solo travels there, Virunga National Park closed and remains closed due to armed conflict with rebel groups..: I still went to visit Goma several more times, and I truly love Congo, but I will be waiting with anticipation for the safety to increase, because the gorillas in DRC were my top favorite see! For more info on DRC or the other 150 countries I’ve traveled solo to, please check out my blog linked in bio! ———- Please follow me @mylifesatravelmovie for more extreme adventures with purpose 💖 #alyssaramostravels #mylifeisatravelmovie #mylifeisatravelmovie
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4/9
I have a “bucketlist tattoo” that I add to when I complete a major bucketlist check! This one was a double check: seeing a wild Polar Bear and reaching my farthest latitude north (so far): 82 degrees North! For reference, the geographic North Pole is at 90 degrees North, so we were very close to it! Maybe one day I’ll reach it! There’s only one tattoo shop in Longyearbyen, therefore it’s officially the northernmost tattoo shop! And I also have tattoos from the Southernmost tattoo shop in Ushuaia for my 4 trips to Antarctica! Anyone else have cool tattoos? ——————- For anyone new here: Hi! I’m Alyssa Ramos of @mylifesatravelmovie - one of the most traveled and most experienced solo female travelers in the world! I’ve been to 146 countries so far over 12 years, and love rare destinations and animals! My goal is to inspire you to travel off the typical path and to shatter negative stereotypes about “dangerous” destinations. Follow me for expert tips and inspiration!
6 days ago
3
View on Instagram |
5/9
This is my 3rd year being an American living on a vineyard in Italy (married the owner!) and I def have a lot of tea/wine to spill about it 😂 People have this dreamy or glamorous “Emily in Rome”-esque idea about traveling to Italy, falling in love, preferably with someone who owns a vineyard, and living happily ever after…well I did that, and it can be a bit more “difficile vita” than “dolce vita” at times! Shall I give the full interview for the “real Netflix documentary about an American living in Italy”?? 😂
1 week ago
13
View on Instagram |
6/9
I’ve swam with Orcas, a crocodile, and my for-fun hobby is shark diving, but I draw the line at poisonous swimming snakes. 🙅‍♀️🐍 It really just came up to me like that when I was sitting on the beach on an island in New Caledonia! I had been contemplating going swimming with the turtles nearby, but changed my mind after I saw this! This was a “Blake-banded Sea Krait”, common to this area in the South Pacific Islands, I’ve heard several divers say they’ve seen them! But no thanks, I prefer sharks. 😂 Animal safety tip: as an experienced animal encounteress, i never ever suggest provoking or trying to “fight off” any dangerous animal that isn’t actively trying to attack you. Stay calm and still and let it pass like I did in this video. Then, feel free to run. (Jk I’d still suggest carefully and slowly backing a way, keeping an eye on it). What would you do if you saw a swimming snake?! —————— For anyone new here: Hi! I’m Alyssa Ramos of @mylifesatravelmovie - one of the very first travel “influencers” and now one of the most traveled and most experienced solo travel women in the world! I’ve been to 146 countries so far over 12 years, and love rare destinations and animals! My goal is to inspire you to travel off the typical path and to shatter negative stereotypes about “dangerous” destinations (and animals). Follow me for expert tips and inspiration!
1 week ago
17512
View on Instagram |
7/9
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!!

Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!)

I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁

The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island…

Check out my Shebara blog post for full details!

Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while..

You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too.

I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!)

I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!!

These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy?

One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget!

The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi!

One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide!

Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! 

An incredibly u
I’ve stayed at over 500 hotels in my 12 years of traveling to around 20 countries per year, here’s 20 that absolutely blew my mind and I cannot forget!! Swipe to see each caption for the name and location of these beauties (and some just bizarre!) I have a full list with links of the hotels here and ones I’ve posted about, linked on my bio! Please use those links if you book these places bc most don’t pay me to give this free publicity so the way I can monetize is using the links, it costs you nothing, and helps me a lot, thanks!! 😁😁😁 The currently viral @shebara resort in Saudi Arabia with UFO looking over-water bungalows! Costs around $2-4k per night and doesn’t include the transfer to get to the island… Check out my Shebara blog post for full details! Probably the most bizarre hotel I’ve ever stayed at is this one in Turkmenistan. It’s known as “the wedding hotel” bc it’s where most people have their receptions, but the ground floor wing behind me is open for tourists….except, I was the only one there and it seemed like it had been empty for a while.. You can’t book hotels on your own in Turkmenistan, you have to take a tour and have a letter of invitation. Full blog post with that info too. I’m scheduled to return to Turkmenistan in October and also next year with @mylifesatraveltribe (sold out though, join the waitlist!) I never would have guessed I’d end up living on a vineyard and recalling @pacheca.group The Wine House as inspo for a future rental project!! These wine barrel rooms are in Portugal. Who thinks I should try to build some on our vineyard in Sardinia Italy? One of the bougiest hotel experiences is at @anantaramaiaseychelles ! The villas are beautiful but it was the 24/7 butler service that I can’t forget! The Seychelles was my 100th country, and they brought me enough wine bottles to write out the number in my private jacuzzi! One of my all time favorites is @tulia_zanzibar 😻 it’s one of the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed, sustainable resorts I’ve experienced, AND it has a water slide! Scotland surprised me a lot with its incredible hotel options! Namely, all of the castles! There’s so many of them!!! An incredibly u
1 week ago
20617
View on Instagram |
8/9
Yes, that is a real, wild Crocodile. Yes, I swam with him (several times) Would you dare? This is Panchito the Crocodile, he lives alone in Casa Cenote which is close to Tulum. Crocs are not commonly found in cenotes (pronounced “seh-note-ay” and are deep fresh water reserves throughout the Yucatán peninsula ) and no one is really sure how he got there. Panchito is allegedly “friendly”, but it’s more like “unbothered until provoked”. Recently for the first time ever Panchito attacked a swimmer because some unintelligent people were throwing rocks at him to try to provoke a reaction for a video 😡 Even this last time when I was there, while I was freediving in the cenote, other tourists were loud and slashing at Panchito, causing him to interrupt his tanning session, jump into the water, and dive under the mangroves until the people were gone (I watched all of it and was honestly a bit scared when he came swimming towards me underwater). Anyway! If you want a unique wildlife experience, check out Casa Cenote but do not disturb Panchito!!! Or any wildlife! Animal karma is real! I live in Tulum half-time and have lots of posts and tips about it and also this cenote, all on my website along with tips for over 140 countries - MyLifesAMovie.com ————————— For anyone new here: Hi! I’m Alyssa Ramos of @mylifesatravelmovie - one of the most traveled and most experienced solo travel women in the world! I’ve been to 146 countries so far over 12 years, and love rare destinations and animals! My goal is to inspire you to travel off the typical path and to shatter negative stereotypes about “dangerous” destinations. Follow me for expert tips and inspiration!
2 weeks ago
10.5k173
View on Instagram |
9/9

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