Burt Bacharach and Hal David weren’t referring to the Costa Rican capital when they wrote the hit ‘Do You Know the Way to San Jose’, but any visit to Costa Rica will no doubt include some time in its heaving capital. It’s charms aren’t obvious, but dig deep and you’ll find galleries and boutiques in neighbourhoods layered with history like Barrio Amón, amazing museums (guests enter the National Museum of Costa Rica through a butterfly house), and great nightlife.
The reason you’ve come to this Central American country, however, has nothing to do with discovering the urban charms of Chepe, as it’s known. Open the dictionary at ‘tropical paradise’ and you’ll spy a photograph of Costa Rica. It is the epitome of what travellers began looking for once Alex Garland stuffed up the tiny pockets of Thailand that had yet to be overrun by keen beachgoers. Here, you’ll find soft eco-adventure – from horse riding along palm-fringed beaches to rafting down fast-flowing rivers – in plentiful supply. Marvel at the volcanic peaks of Poas and Arenal before heading to the white-sand, palm-fringed coastline of Manuel Antonio National Park. (For lovers of lazy wildlife, this is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see sloths.)
Those eager to explore the rainforest and its creatures – squawking scarlet macaws, giant anteaters, sleek jaguars – should head to Puerto Jimenez. Located on the Osa Peninsula, it’s not only handy for Corcovado National Park, but, should you head south, you’ll also discover the tiny village of Cape Matapalo, with its pristine beaches and great waves.
Inland is the spectacular Monteverde Cloud Forest, a 10,500-hectare reserve consisting of 90 per cent virgin forest. The site has the largest number of orchids anywhere in the world (about 500 species in all), as well as huge numbers of birds – the rare and scared quetzal is still regularly seen here – frogs and even bigger animals like the agouti (a large rodent). The continental divide runs right through the reserve, so you can put one foot on the Caribbean side and other on the Pacific.
Before we get started, let us tell you this: Republic of the Congo shouldn’t be confused with the place across the river called the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is mired in violence and poverty and was the setting for Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. It’s true that both are jungle-clad environments, but it’s only in the former travellers can journey safely to the best of what these domains offer. In fact, some of the forests in the Republic of Congo are almost intact and, with the value in protecting them from harm acknowledged, places like Parc National Nouablé-Ndoki and Parc National d’Odzala are some of the best eco-friendly destinations in Africa.
You’ve got to be on the intrepid side to venture here, but chances are you’ll be heading to either one of these parks to view the lowland gorilla populations. Also on the wildlife list are forest elephants, crocodiles, dwarf buffalos, leopards and lots of different birds.
The country’s coastline is the starting point for Parc National Conkouati-Douli, where you can do river tours and forest walks. The population of chimpanzees has been threatened in most parts of the country, but here there’s a rehabilitation sanctuary for youngsters orphaned by poaching, as well as wild families living in the thick jungle.
Where else would you find a city called Merv, which was once considered the ‘Queen of Cities’ worldwide, and the second most important in Islam. Now, it’s an awesome introduction to the archaeological ruins, culture and secrets of the ancient Silk Road, where exotic silks and spices, tea and gold where carted from the east to the west.
A member of the ‘stan’ community of Central Asian countries (the suffix means ‘land of’), among them Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan, the country is almost covered by the Karakum Desert (it takes up more than 80 per cent of the land) with the Caspian Sea forming its western edge. Everyone from the Mongols to Alexander the Great and the USSR has ruled the region and left an indelible mark on the people and landscape.
It may not be five-star, but what it lacks in material creature comforts Turkmenistan almost makes up for with a millennia of history. It’s probable this nation isn’t at the top of (or even on) your bucket list, since it still suffers from the excesses of its former leader President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov, even though he died in 2006. You still can’t, for instance, play video games or have long hair if you’re a man. It’s only really possible to travel here as part of a guided tour, and you’ll be watched diligently by military personnel and the police.
It’s certainly not one of Africa’s big drawcards, but this small landlocked country in the continent’s northwest is one for the curious. There are just four national parks, but you’ll find one of the largest elephant populations in west Africa here, alongside lions, leopards, buffalo, cheetahs and the endangered African wild dog. And, with just 600 metres of elevation separating its highest and lowest terrain, it’s all about the plains.
The largest cities have amazing mouthfuls for names: Ouagadougou (known as Ouaga) is the capital and Bobo-Dioulasso (not surprisingly, most call it Bobo) is the second largest city, even though it has a bit of a small town vibe. Neither is big on sights, as such, but in Ouaga you’ll be surprised by the great music, bustling markets and the opportunity to shake your thang to local bands at places like Petit Bazar. In Bobo, head to the Grand Marché – like the name suggests, it’s a big market selling everything from produce to local fabric – and the amazing Grand Mosquée, built in the 1880s and an impressive example of Sudano-Sahelian architecture (rounded forms made from mud with sticks protruding from the walls).
Infrastructure for travellers is limited, but with a good sense of adventure and the ability to go with the flow, you’ll be rewarded by a country visited by few but where the welcome is always warm.
Whether you’re a hiker, history nerd or beach bum, you’ve discovered the perfect host. Bulgaria’s rich history dates back millenniums and there’s a bit of everything – Mediterranean, Roman, Ottoman, Persian, Celtic – in its cultural pot.
But almost a third of Bulgaria covered in forest, so hiking choices are plentiful. Choose to scale the domed Vitosha mountains on the outskirts of the capital Sofia, or take to adventure on the glacial peaks that top the Pirin Mountains.
Get your fix of history in the cobblestone streets of Plovdiv, one Europe’s oldest cities, where you can see a second-century Roman amphitheatre or visit the rubbled ruins of Eumolpias from 5000 BC. But if ruins and relics aren’t your thing, you may find your calling at one of the many beach towns lining the Black Sea coastline, where resorts run rampant.
Treating yourself to slabs of banitsa, a pastry stuffed with feta-like cheese and vegetables, is a must. And if someone offers you wine on a boozy night remember to shake your head, because here nodding means no and shaking means yes.
Three decades ago Nicaragua – gripped by civil war and rendered a tourism basket case – was a no-go zone. Today, much has changed, and the Central American nation is a picturesque land of peace – the rest of the world, however, hasn’t quite caught on.
While nearby Colombia is emerging from a tumultuous past as a travel hot spot, and neighbouring Costa Rica has long been popular with American tourists, Nicaragua remains blissfully off the radar. Yet the country has so much to offer: rumbling volcanoes ripe for sandboarding, quaint colonial cities, pristine beaches, enviable surf breaks, smiling locals, enchanting cloud forests, and a rich biodiversity that includes animals like toucans, macaws, leopards and even freshwater bull sharks. Home to one of the world’s largest lakes and abundant eco-tourism opportunities (more than 20 per cent of the country is protected), Nicaragua is the kind of place where you can genuinely get off the beaten track. But the winds of change are blowing and it won’t be long before the developers move in, bringing with them the tourist masses. Get there now.
Psst, want to know a secret? You should head to B&H and do it quickly. For a country whose size is dwarfed by Tassie’s there’s plenty to check out. And people are finding out about it – especially Europeans. It’s one of the most-visited countries in the Balkan region and is expected to see a record growth in visitor numbers before 2020 rolls around.
Despite being heavily damaged during the Bosnian War of the 1990s, Sarajevo remains incredibly beautiful. Parts of its Old Town, with their Ottoman architecture, feel a little like Istanbul, while some Austro-Hungarian buildings have been restored to their former glory. While you’re walking through the streets, look down to find Sarajevo roses. Small craters left by shells have been filled with red paint to honour the lives taken.
Daredevils tend to stick Mostar on their itineraries so they can leap off the elegant Stari Most (Old Bridge), but the Old City, listed by UNESCO, has an intriguing mix of influences. Climb the the stairs to the top of the minaret in the Kossi Mehmed Pasa Mosque for a superb view of the bridge and Old Town. It’s worth heading 40 kilometres out of town, too, to see the stunning cascades of the Kravice waterfalls.
Set your sights out of the city to discover a growing force in ecotourism. The alps here are pristine and the perfect spot for hikers and mountain bikers. Whitewater rafters are in for a treat, too. It’s a popular pastime in Bosnia and the Tara River Canyon is the deepest river canyon in Europe.
Belarus isn’t the easiest place to travel. Visas are fiddly to get, the service industry is fairly underdeveloped and the country’s less-than-impeccable reputation with human rights organisations all mean tourism isn’t exactly thriving. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth seeing, exploring and understanding. As the ‘last Soviet Republic’, you won’t see much advertising or a whole heap of litter or graffiti – instead enjoy pleasant country landscapes away from the cities. And while most of its buildings were destroyed in World War II, if you’re interested in the Soviet period and its effects today, Minsk makes an intriguing visit.
This bare speck of a nation might well have been the fictional place the Beach Boys imagined in their 1988 song ‘Kokomo’. Turquoise water. Check. A variety of beaches. Check. Stunning marine life and nature. Check. Lots of cocktails. Check. Hammocks. Check. Amiable people that live up to the island cliché. Check. It all adds up to make that fantastic island holiday complete.
It is also a great place to park your yacht and stay awhile. Given its close proximity to Florida, the Bahamas does have resorts filled with the requisite podgy and pasty tourists from developed nations although you can definitely escape that scene if you head to some of the smaller islands.
You’ll certainly enjoy the island life. Oh, and definitely, definitely don’t forget to pack your sunnies – all that white sand can be blinding!
Sip on lemon tea at dusk and watch the mountainside burn. Azerbaijan, known as The Land of Fire, is home to many natural gas outlets that have been firing up unabated along the Absheron Peninsula for some for centuries. In the 1700s this natural wonder attracted the attention of Zoroastrians, who built temples around the flames and worshipped the fire for its cleansing properties. In more recent times, the Yanardag mountainside was lit when, rumour has it, an unsuspecting shepherd discarded his cigarette.
And if there’s a burning feeling inside your chest from too much of the local mutton stew – rather than the flaming countryside – take respite in Naftalan where the local oil is said to cure more than 70 ailments, including indigestion.
Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Naftalan was an elite tourist hotspot where wealthy Russians would go to soak in oil baths and plot cinema gold – two of the empire’s most famous movies, The Diamond Arm (1969) and Amphibian Man (1962), were filmed in Azerbaijan and sold more than 70 million tickets each. But Azerbaijan isn’t just a USSR relic; it’s a country on the move and one devoted to reclaiming its tourism industry. The country was host to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and the 2015 European Games, which saw a rise in infrastructure and accessibility. The Armenian borders are still sketchy, but the Land of Fire is open and ready to blow.
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