So…What’s Your Favorite Country? (It Depends on What You Value)
What’s your favorite country that you’ve visited so far?
I was recently asked that question by a group of doctors who were volunteering in Antigua, Guatemala. As many of you know, Italy is still at the top of my all-time favorites list. But when they narrowed the question to the countries of Central America, I told them it would be easier to rate each one on a scale from one to ten.
I started with Costa Rica and said, “I give it a nine, maybe even a ten.”
One of the ladies blurted out, "I disagree." She said that Costa Rica had become saturated with tourists and was too expensive for a Central American getaway. Although I agreed with her for the most part, I had good reasons to back my rating.
But I realized that wasn’t really the question they were getting at. "Okay, tell me what you value, and I'll tell you the best country for you to visit," I shot back.
Because that's really what travel comes down to, right?
If you value fresh tropical fruit, incredible wildlife, colorful birds, lush jungles, volcanoes, waterfalls, and gorgeous beaches, Costa Rica still delivers. In my opinion, it's still very close to a perfect ten. It's also one of the safest countries in all of Central America with a stable government and economy. For first-time travelers looking to explore Central America, it's hard to beat because it's modern, easy to navigate, and very tourist-friendly compared to some of its neighbors.
Now, if you don't really care about nature, biodiversity, or sustainable tourism, maybe Costa Rica is only a five for you. And that's okay. The same goes for Italy. If you value incredible food, wine, history, culture, charming villages, and rolling vineyards, Italy is a ten all day long. But if none of those things excite you, then you’d rate it much lower.
You get what I’m sayin’ here?
There is no such thing as one best country. There is only the best country for You.
If you love white-sandy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and a cool city vibe, I'd probably send you to Cartagena, Colombia or Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (which is a little more party and less culture, but the beaches are incredible). If you love history, diverse landscapes, a storied past, and incredible food, I’d send you to Greece or Turkey.
Did you know Brazil is almost as long as the continental United States is wide? Argentina is massive too. You can spend weeks or months in either country and have completely different experiences depending on where you go.
Think about the United States. One traveler visits New York City. Another spends time in Detroit, Michigan. Someone else explores Wyoming. Then you ask all three, "So...what's America like?"
You'd get three completely different answers.
So, if you’re reading this, you and I just might value similar things, and I just might be able to give you advice that you’d appreciate.
If you’re nodding your head, I want you to know that I’ve rated all of the Central American countries I visited based on my own tapas style of travel. To find out my own traveling-solo-artist-salsa-shopping-adventure opinion of each Central American country, make sure you open and read my next email.
In the meantime, if you can’t wait (spoiler alert), watch me talk about my favorite country in all of Central America. I think you’ll be surprised at which one was my favorite.
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