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I'm surprised that Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, or any of the Maritimes are not on the BeenThere list. They definitely should be, in my mind. Eastern Canada gets no love, imho.
Nova Scotia is beautiful. Drive through it to Sydney and then take the ferry to Newfoundland. From there, you can explore this (deceptively large) island via car, dodging snowstorms and trying to not run into moose.
But it will all be worth it if you drive all the way to the very Northern tip of Newfoundland. Not only can you sit there and stare across the water at Labrador, contemplating how far North you are, but you can also revel in the knowledge that you are standing at a UNESCO World Heritage site - L'Anse aux Meadows. Get in touch with your heritage, at this, the "first and only known site established by Vikings in North America and the earliest evidence of European settlement in the New World" (from UNESCO).
Seriously, pretty awesome to drive to an 11th century Viking settlement in the New World.
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If you are looking to experience Costa Rica's rainforest, but like to be away from hordes of tourist, this may be your place.
Set just outside Braulio Carrillo National Park getting there is part of the adventure. A very easy bus ride to Horquetas followed by a two hour jumpy tractor ride and another two hour walk through the forest.
Their accommodation goes from extremely basic, in the Casa de Guias, set 200 metres in the middle of the forest, with no electricity to a much more comfortable Lodge.
The walks around, guided by bilingual locals, or volunteers, are through some deep jungle and are everything you would ever should expect in this environment. You will hear a lot of noises, and you may see some birds, and your guide may find some snakes, monkeys, frogs or pacas. However, always remember animals are and should be shy of humans.
This is not Manuel Antonio, a tiny park where animals can't hide, this is proper jungle, but still showers, great food, beer, and some card games after trekking for a day... and if you are brave you can swim in the cold waters of the waterfall.
www.rara-avis.com/
This is my account of the day: adegreeaday.blogspot.com/2009/08/rara-avis-spiders-and-other-thrills.html
Corsican wine is rarely encountered outside of Corsica, and when you do it's prohibitively expensive. The Corsicans are an insular lot, and tend to only make enough wine to serve local needs - a little is exported to France and an even smaller amount worldwide. Yet Corsica has the most incredible climate, perfect for wine production. So in itself, the opportunity to sample some of the products of the many small domains is interesting.
Add to this the dramatic Corsican landscape, a temperature which rarely dips below 25 degrees before the winter properly kicks in and the miles of unspoiled beaches where your only companions are a few wandering cows (nice brown and white ones with horns, not fellow tourists) and you've got a very pleasant adventure indeed.
Camping makes the whole thing affordable. Many camp sites have their own beaches for a quick dip before bed. They are littered along the main road that winds its way around Cap Corse and few cost more than 15 euro for the night for a couple with a tent.
There are signs along the roads advertising the different domains - the only choice you face is which one you fancy stopping off at and how much to buy (most don't take cards so you'll need to load up on cash). Each is very different, ranging from the very commercial to the ones where you ring a little bell and someone eventually saunters out and offers you some homegrown olives to go with your taster. An incredible range of wines is produced and every single place will have some unusual speciality to share with you alongside their big earners.
It's all so wonderfully relaxed: plenty of swimming in the remarkably clear sea, a little sunbathing perhaps, lunch from the excellent local market and an afternoon meandering between the domains discovering all of the wonderful wines that the Corsicans are smart enough to keep to themselves. It also makes great economic sense - even buying the wines in a Corsican supermarket will cost you upwards of 40% more than buying direct. Buying them outside Corsica becomes astronomical. At the domains you can expect to pay between 5 and 15 euro a bottle and end up with something really very special to take home with you.
Fly into Bastia (Easyjet flies on a Sunday), hire a car and set off North!
This is a great little traveller retreat in a beautiful setting by the river. It is located very near Semuc Champey (falls and swimming pools) and there are caves to explore for the adventurous.
Accommodation is in simple wooden huts on stilts with hammocks, the grounds are very lush and green. There is a great little restaurant near the river complete with swinging bar stools.
If you're there on the right night, expect a party atmosphere, this is a great place to meet other intrepid travellers. It's not an easy place to get to so it tends to attract only people who can be bothered to make the effort!
The facilities are what you'd call eco- long drop toilets (v.clean) simple showers. We didn't want to leave.
Get here from Coban (which itself is five hrs from Guat.city). It takes about two hours in a collectivo to get to Lanquin from Coban. Or try the great tour from dona victoria hostel in coban of semuc champey/ caves and they'll drop you off at El retiro on request! El retiro arrange a direct shuttle to Antigua (this took us 7 hours and was well worth the $15-20) and I think maybe they offer shuttles to Tikal.
www.retiro-guatemala.com/
Remember what you used to want in an island holiday? Without hawkers, cars, motorbikes... Just a golden beach, clear waters, good food, a few drinks at sunset and activities to do when you get bored of swimming, snorkelling, reading, sleeping and sun bathing.
I was recommended a great little island only three hours from Singapore by a friend. Pulau sibu (sibu island) is exactly what those who have a phobia about big commercial resorts need. This small island only 6km by 1km, no roads or mains power.
The beaches are deserted, the locals friendly and the scuba diving in the Mersing Marine Park excellent because there is only 1 PADI Dive Centre on the island.
Sibu Island Cabanas on Pulau Sibu is a really close to Singapore making it a great location for a weekend short break.
A two hour boat trip from the crowded, tout-troubled beaches of Sihanoukville is the paradise of Lazy Beach. Facing the sunset on the coral sands of the west bay are twelve beach huts serviced by the bar and restaurant. Chris and Richard's residents only policy means no day visitors and your paradise is shared with a maximum of 30 other guests.
It's a world of hammocks, snorkelling, jungle walks, delicious fresh-cooked food, and total relaxation.
Book on-line at www.lazybeachcambodia.com or at the Seahore restaurant on Serendipity beach Road in Sihanoukville.
The much overlooked islands in the northern Sporades are like stepping stones leading out into the azure waters of the Aegean National Marine Park, each one less inhabited than the other.
The largest island, Skiathos, hosts the only airport and once landed you should quickly make your way to the more beautiful and less touristy, Skopelos. Once there I would recommend making the exhausting climb through Skopelos Town to "Anatoli" restaurant where the views are breathtaking and the food is sumptuous - all accompanied by traditional rembetika music.
If possible travel by boat to the other islands; the sleepy Greek island of Alonissos with it's crystalline waters and hidden coves; the tranquil monastery at Kyra Panagia inhabited only by monks and male donkeys and the flat volcanic island of Psathoura hiding the underwater ruins of a lost city.
Fly direct to Skiathos and take one of the daily Flying Dolphin boats or a high-speed catamaran to the islands of Skopelos or Alonissos. Alternatively, hydrofoils go directly to the islands from either Athens or Thessaloniki;
www.skopelos.net
Whereas Ibiza town used to be on the edge, Sabina town still is. A great selection of bars and cafes on the beach just past the harbour and some unspoilt dunes. Very laid back, very cool and only 40 minutes ferry ride from the main island.
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