Travel Destinations
“You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.”
Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises
One of the most difficult decisions to make when deciding to travel, is also probably the most important: choosing where to travel to. Below is a collection of various travel guides to different destinations spanning from Latin America to East Asia. Check back frequently, as we’re always adding more. Or better yet, sign up for the mailing list!
Keep in mind wherever you travel that we have a certain responsibility as tourists. Especially as tourists from rich countries visiting poor or developing countries. Many of these countries have suffered for decades at the hands of our governments and corporations. The least we can do is be respectful when we visit these amazing places. The people in these countries have welcomed us, we should behave as grateful guests. Be mindful of local customs, be prepared to pay a little extra sometimes and remember that most people really want you to have a good time in their country!
Central America
Asia
The Latest Travel Posts from Various Destinations…
- Hiking, Coffee, and Classic Rock: Boquete is Panama’s Pleasant Surprise
The mountain town of Boquete in Panama’s western highlands is sort of like receiving a surprise bouquet of flowers. It’s unexpected, but delightful. Boquete was unexpected, because on paper, it seems like the sort of place I hate to travel to. The town center is very gentrified. It’s a major hub for North American retirees. Boquete is the sort of place where the main road is lined with so many burger joints, pizzerias and craft breweries. You’ll hear almost as much English as Spanish. You might even forget you’re in Panama. The delightful surprise is that Boquete has much more… Read more: Hiking, Coffee, and Classic Rock: Boquete is Panama’s Pleasant Surprise - Rethinking Travel Safety and Crime in Latin America
Mention traveling in Latin America to almost anyone in the United States and you’re likely to get one question: is it safe? Our newspapers are filled with horror stories of cartel violence. Crime and safety even dominate discussions in hostel common rooms on the road. Not the food or culture or scenery or anything else. The main concern is always how safe are Central and South America for travelers. My wife and I were at a party shortly before we left for our year and a half long trip through Latin America. A few beers in, an acquaintance sat us… Read more: Rethinking Travel Safety and Crime in Latin America - Passing Through Panama: A Travel Guide to the Country that Connects the Americas
Panama is the little snake sliver of land that connects North and South America. It’s home to the famous canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Depending on your travel itinerary, you may even have a connecting flight at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. Maybe you could say Panama is the land of connections. Unfortunately, I can’t say that I really connected with Panama. The country felt like a bit of a shoulder shrug compared to some of its neighbors. It doesn’t have the archeological and cultural richness of Guatemala. It definitely doesn’t have the exquisite friendliness of… Read more: Passing Through Panama: A Travel Guide to the Country that Connects the Americas - Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica’s Most Disappointing National Park
Life is full of disappointments. Maybe you’ve been craving hummus all day, but your favorite Lebanese deli is closed. Maybe the person you’ve fallen madly in love with told you they just don’t find you physically attractive. Or maybe, worst of all, you’ve wasted time on your Costa Rica trip visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. For some reason, Manuel Antonio National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most popular parks. Everyone and every other travel guide seems to be madly in love with it. Lonely Planet lists it as number six out of eight best places to visit in Costa… Read more: Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica’s Most Disappointing National Park - Bijagua is Costa Rica’s Best Destination for a Lovely Stroll
The small town of Bijagua is one of my favorite places in Costa Rica. It might be one of my favorite places I’ve ever traveled to, although not for reasons that I would have expected. As travelers, we’re often adventure seekers. We hop on surfboards, climb volcanoes or trek through jungles in search of thrilling tales we can bring home with us. Interesting stories we can collect and fit in our luggage alongside the other cheap souvenirs. That’s all fine in its own way, but sometimes what you need is the opposite. Bijagua is the opposite in all the best… Read more: Bijagua is Costa Rica’s Best Destination for a Lovely Stroll - Facing Near Death in Drake Bay: a Guide to Visiting and Surviving Costa Rica’s Wild Osa Peninsula
Drake Bay is a small town on the shores of Costa Rica’s magnificent Osa Peninsula, and I absolutely loved it. I loved the muddy roads that climb up from the beach past ramshackle tourist restaurants and palm trees full of nesting scarlet macaws. I loved the outstanding Corcovado National Park, where you can see tapirs, monkeys, snakes, anteaters and more. I wasn’t as in love with the two times we almost died. Once during a surprise thunder storm on the boat ride into town. Later we faced down a troop of angry monkeys. Okay so maybe the monkeys probably weren’t… Read more: Facing Near Death in Drake Bay: a Guide to Visiting and Surviving Costa Rica’s Wild Osa Peninsula