Central America

Human-Like Sculptures Cause Controversy Around the World

Mark Jenkins Installation / Pictoplasma 2011 ©MatiasR Artist Mark Jenkins has spent the last few years travelling the world and installing his controversial life-like sculptures. Civilians have been so shocked by his sculptures that they’ve called the ambulance and police to help what they thought were real struggling or dead people. Perhaps the most controversal [...]

Photo of the Moment: The Marimba Man, Costa Rica

Website Offers Globetrotters Virtual Passport Stamps

Passport Pages ©jonrawlinson In an era of open European borders and passports with digital chips the passport stamp is now almost the exception instead of the rule in international travel. Now, a new website and app called Visastamper is offering a virtual passport service to give travelers the souvenir stamps from all of the countries [...]

Traditional Holiday Beverages From Around the World

Starbucks Holiday Cups ©Glenn Waters In the USA we have eggnog and hot chocolate (and the ubiquitous Starbuck “red” cups), but around the world the beverages that inevitably get spiked for the holiday season are incredibly varied. Over on Gadling, they have compiled a list of international Christmasey beverages. In Europe—north, south, east and west,–they [...]

They Draw & Travel: One-of-a-Kind Illustrated Maps

Map in Progress © Magic Madzik Get inspiration for your next trip abroad by studying the amazing illustrated maps on the website They Draw & Travel. The maps on this site aren’t like those found in an atlas, instead each map is one-of-a-kind, highlighting off-the-beaten path sites and activities that are local favorites. A variety [...]

15 Ways to See the World by Water

The Maldives ©nattu If you limit your travels to only land-based excursions you will miss out on 75% of the wonders the the world has to offer. CNNgo has compiled a list of 15 fantastic water-based excursions. From penguin spotting in the pristine coves of Tierra del Fuego to following the trail of the pharaohs [...]

The World’s Most Bizarre Spots to Scuba Dive

Scuba Diving ©Ilse Reijs and Jan-Noud Hutten If you are bored of diving in ordinary coral reefs and swimming with colorful tropical fish, add these wacky diving sites to your next travel itinerary. In Iceland you can swim in a crack in the earth caused by two continental plates moving away from each other, the [...]

Photo of the Moment: The Patience of a Saint, Honduras

A Guide to the World’s Rudest Hand Gestures

Rude Kids ©VMOS When you’re abroad and someone is giving you the thumbs up sign, it may not mean quite what you think it does. Likewise, in Jordan you should avoid inadvertently brushing your nose with your finger—it might lead to some unwanted sexual attention. If you are having trouble translating the international language of [...]

Adventure + Relax + Fun + Nature = Costa Rica Tree House Lodge

“Adventure + Relax + Fun + Nature = Costa Rica Tree House Lodge.” That is the slogan of the establishment of the same name. Located on the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, the Costa Rica Tree House Lodge provides four houses for rent, all of which are natural and eco-friendly: (1) the Beach House, [...]

Braving El Salvador’s “Fireball Festival” [Video]

If dipping rags in gasoline, setting them alight and tossing them at your closest friends sounds like your cup of fiery tea, El Salvador’s “Fireball Festival” is for you: Via MSN.

Undead Destinations

Bran Castle © Horia Varlan The recent pop culture obsession with vampires has led to a surge in fang tourism. Lonely Planet has compiled a list of the best places around the world to delve into the mystery of the undead. Explore ancient legends of beautiful Pontianaks– Indonesia’s version of a vampire–in their namesake city [...]

Three-toed Sloth Crossing a Busy Road in Costa Rica [Video]

Why did the three-toed sloth cross the Costa Rican road? Well … he didn’t actually. Lazy bum.

Photo of the Moment: Sunset in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Fancy 4 Weeks in Panama? Enter the Isla Palenque Island Intern Contest

Fancy a four-week stay in Panama? Enter the Isla Palenque Island Intern Contest: We’re looking for an adventurous, social media loving intern or intern-duo to write, photograph, film and share what you discover on our wild and virtually undiscovered private island in Panama. You’ll spend four weeks living on and exploring Isla Palenque – a [...]

Massive Beetle in Limon, Costa Rica

Sweet Jesus, this is just terrifying. One commenter notes it’s likely an Elephant beetle (Megasoma elephas), sometimes called a rhinoceros beetle.

Photo of the Moment: Under the Moon’s Halo, Costa Rica

Archaeologists Uncover World’s Largest Pyramid in Lost Mayan City [Video]

© Authenticmaya You can move backwards through Mayan history and, as long as you stay on this side of the 4th century, we still have a decent idea of what life was like. But go much beyond that and things begin to get pretty muddy pretty fast. For the era during which the early Mayan [...]