#1 Get a map / directions



Grupo Mayan travel experts know from experience that the best time to get a good local map is now! Definitely don't wait, or assume you don't need one, because it's possible to get hopelessly lost very very quickly in unfamiliar surroundings, and of course it's much worse if you're unable to ask for directions. At a stretch you could simply ask for directions at your hotel, but unfortunately directions are very easy to forget ? so ask for them to be written down, with a sketch map if possible!

#2 Go for a stroll

It might be tempting to stick to the security of your hotel for a while after you arrive, but you aren't here to see a hotel, are you? To get the most out of an overseas trip you need to check out your surroundings, and the best way to do this is on foot. (Although the safety experts at Grupo Mayan would add: before you set out, consider any safety concerns with walking in the area you are in, and don't forget to refer to #1, above!)

#3 Get your camera out

Just after your arrival is a great time to get some pictures of where you are for the folks back home. This is because things will stand out to you more when you are seeing them for the first time. Grupo Mayan photography experts know that after a few days you will be more accustomed to your surroundings, and so the things that stood out to you when you first arrived may not seem as remarkable. This will make it harder to get truly memorable snaps, so don't delay.

#4 Sample some local food

If you aren't familiar with the local flavors, getting a taste of them early on in your trip is a must. Food habits and tastes tell you so much about a place, so try everything! The experts at Grupo Mayan can tell you from experience that if you do this just after you arrive, it will help you to get the most out of the country you are visiting. You don't want to still be eating western fast food on Day 10!

#5 People-watch

If you have the time, take 30 minutes or an hour to sit in a busy public space (Grupo Mayan experts recommend a town park, central plaza or village square) and watch local people as they go about their lives. Often one of the best things about travel is that it exposes us to different ways of living, but you need to get out there and experience it. Until you take the time to stop and look, you won't really get under the skin of a place.