Do you know the way to San Jose ...? La la la la la la la la la la la ... We didn't make it to the capital of Costa Rica, but at least I do now know where it is and how to get there. We did not, in fact, make it beyond Puntarenas, the small traditional fishing village situated on a narrow peninsula where the cruise ship berthed. We decided to stay and enjoy the atmosphere of this seaside location which is also favoured on weekends by the residents of San Jose a...

There are 33 volcanoes in Guatemala, a country whose name in Indian dialect means 'house of fire'. We saw several of these volcanoes on our visit here, three looming over the lovely city of Antigua, one of which belched big clouds of grey smoke and ash at regular intervals. Guatemala has been aptly named as its history has been turbulent both politically and due to nature in the form of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and floods. Despite all this, mother nature ...

Buenos Dias amigos. Puerto Chiapas was our last Mexican port of call and it was, like yesterday's port, a quiet little place new to the cruise ship trail. The cruise terminal has little around it other than some village huts nearby and a massive stretch of untouched beach that sweeps the coast for as far as the eye can see. The terminal does, however, have extensive facilities presented in a charmingly understated way. Local bands, singers and dancers greeted us ...

Huatulco is the loveliest little Mexican village we have pulled into so far. It is on a deep harbour, so much so that the ship docked by the pier within spitting distance of the beach that edges the town. The ship seemed too gigantic for the little bay, but after we pulled up a second ship cruised in and also docked along side us. The two ships overpowered the town, towering over the buildings, but the locals lapped up the business chances they offered. We disem...

The forecast showers stayed away while we were on land so we had a clear, but very hot and humid day in Puerto Vallarta. We caught a local bus from the port into town, which took about 15 minutes. No air conditioning, but the 50 cent fare certainly beat the fares on the cruise ship arranged buses and it was interesting riding with the locals and clattering about through the cobble stone streets. Puerto Vallarta is a lovely clean town sprawling by the water and c...