Lake Atitlán's volcanic crater lake formed 84,000 years ago but today it's the livelihood for 12 Mayan villages producing all varieties of coffee, chocolate, honey and local produce like avocados.

Founded in the early 16th century, Antigua is a small town surrounded by massive volcanoes and famed for its candy colored Spanish colonial buildings.

A short drive from Mexico City, Teotihuacán is known for its architecturally significant pyramids, including the Pyramid of the Sun and the Moon, which can be seen from heights above in hot air balloons during sunrise. The area is also famous for its well-preserved murals and fine obsidian tools.

Known since the colonial era as Cartagena de Indias, Cartagena is made up of a charming walled Old Town, founded in the 16th century, with squares, parks, cobblestone streets and colorful colonial buildings. The tropical climate also gives way to spending days at the beach but the best are only accessible by boat.

What it means to be in your mid-thirties. A time of transition and a major turning point, the latter half of my thirties have given way to freedom and a deep sense of knowing.