Hello and welcome to On a Road to Nowhere!
Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to visit our humble travel blog. We’re here to inspire unique, authentic, and ethical travel experiences while giving you deeper insights into the history, politics, and culture of some of our favorite destinations. Travel should be about making meaningful connections and responsible exploration, not just ticking popular sights off a list. Read more about On a Road to Nowhere here.
The Latest
- Why You Shouldn’t Skip San José, Costa Rica’s Concrete Jungle
San José is Costa Rica’s bustling, gritty, kind of dirty, capital city. That urban grit stands in surprising contrast to the rest of a country that’s famous for its natural environment. The only jungle you’ll find in San José is the concrete variety that Grandmaster Flash and Axel Rose once sang about. Maybe that’s why most travelers leave San José… Read more: Why You Shouldn’t Skip San José, Costa Rica’s Concrete Jungle
Most travel blogs kind of suck. Half the time, it feels like you’re reading a pitch for a multi-level marketing scheme. At On a Road to Nowhere, we’re trying our best not to suck. Our travel guides provide honest opinions and insights into local history, culture, and politics so you can actually understand a place before you visit.
Central America
Asia
Gain insights and information about adapting to new cultures and navigating life overseas. Here we share stories and advice about the joys and harsh realities of living in a new country and culture. Click here to explore some of the latest posts…
- How to Talk to People Who Don’t Speak English Good
- What is Culture Shock? My Personal Experience in China
- Loneliness, Holidays and Living Overseas
- How to Vote in the Primary From Overseas
Mastering a new language can open both doors and windows to deeper connections and richer travel experiences. Whether you’re a casual tourist or a long-term expat, we have tips and guides for saying more than just “where is the library?” Read more here.
- The Best YouTube Videos for Learning Chinese: Your Ultimate Guide
- How I learned Chinese (and So Can You)
- How to Talk to People Who Don’t Speak English Good
- Bad Advice: Things You Shouldn’t Do When Learning Chinese
- Studying Chinese in China
- Why You Shouldn’t Skip San José, Costa Rica’s Concrete Jungle
San José is Costa Rica’s bustling, gritty, kind of dirty, capital city. That urban grit stands in surprising contrast to the rest of a country that’s famous for its natural environment. The only jungle you’ll find in San José is the concrete variety that Grandmaster Flash and Axel Rose once sang about. Maybe that’s why… Read more: Why You Shouldn’t Skip San José, Costa Rica’s Concrete Jungle - Monteverde: A Guide to Costa Rica’s Misty, Magical, and Touristy Cloud Forest
Monteverde is one of Costa Rica’s most popular destinations. There’s a reason why. The cloud forests of Monteverde are misty fairy lands that cling to the mountainsides. The trails of the area’s various reserves are dripping with vegetation. Vines and mosses hang from the limbs of towering trees and the forest shimmers with more shades… Read more: Monteverde: A Guide to Costa Rica’s Misty, Magical, and Touristy Cloud Forest - La Fortuna and Arenal National Park: Costa Rica’s Most Loveable Tourist Trap
Are you looking for Costa Rica Travel 101? Then you might want to sign up for the small town of La Fortuna. La Fortuna, as well as nearby Arenal Volcano National Park, is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, but for good reason. La Fortuna ticks practically all the Costa Rica travel boxes:… Read more: La Fortuna and Arenal National Park: Costa Rica’s Most Loveable Tourist Trap - Come to Costa Rica: A Travel Guide to the Tourist Hotspot I Still Love
Costa Rica has almost become synonymous with tourism. Ziplines rip through forest canopies, resorts clog the edges of pristine beaches, and colonies of North American retirees build their pickleball courts amid misty cloud forest. In many ways, Costa Rica could be a cautionary tale of over tourism. But, somehow, despite the over-abundance of tourist traps… Read more: Come to Costa Rica: A Travel Guide to the Tourist Hotspot I Still Love - I Survived a Dangerous Fish on the Rio San Juan, Nicaragua’s Wild Frontier
The Rio San Juan is a steamy river that weaves its way through lush tropical rain forest along Nicaragua’s border with Costa Rica. Here the intrepid traveler can explore sleepy riverside towns or take a boat through crocodile infested waters. You can also hike through the jungle trails of the Indio-Maíz Biological Reserve. A few… Read more: I Survived a Dangerous Fish on the Rio San Juan, Nicaragua’s Wild Frontier - Uncovering the Magic of Isla Ometepe: a Travel Guide to Nicaragua’s Twin Volcanic Island
The first thing you’ll see when traveling to Isla Ometepe will be two magnificent volcanoes rising up from the waters of Lake Nicaragua. One sits dormant, slopes draped in coffee farms and lush forest, its summit draped in heavy clouds. The other is barren and rocky, belching threatening smoke into the sky. There are few… Read more: Uncovering the Magic of Isla Ometepe: a Travel Guide to Nicaragua’s Twin Volcanic Island - León Was Nicaragua’s Biggest Travel Letdown
León seemed like the kind of place I would love. Before I arrived, I did what most travelers do and read all the travel guides and blogs I could about Nicaragua’s second largest city. A city filled with crumbling colonial architecture, burning with both tropical sun and leftist political fervor. Young Nicaraguans would fill the… Read more: León Was Nicaragua’s Biggest Travel Letdown - Granada, Nicaragua: a Colonial Beauty That Might Steal Your Heart
Granada is Nicaragua’s charismatic temptress. The city, nicknamed “La Gran Sultana” exudes old-world elegance charm. But don’t let that refined outer beauty fool you into thinking she’s some kind of stuffy old maid. There’s a fiery passion that flows through Granada’s colonial streets, and a population of some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet.… Read more: Granada, Nicaragua: a Colonial Beauty That Might Steal Your Heart
As tourism becomes more popular worldwide, the travel industry has grown increasingly exploitative and damaging. Instead of supporting local communities, tourist dollars often end up lining the pockets of foreign millionaires, while gentrification tears communities apart.
At On a Road to Nowhere, we want you to think critically about your impact as a traveler. Are you contributing to neo-colonial exploitation? Or are you striving for a meaningful cultural exchange? It’s important we challenge our own perspectives and do our best to contribute to travel ethically and responsibly. In other words: don’t be a jerk.