International Mankini Challenge

Whether it’s a friend or relative from home, someone just starting a backpacking trip or a seasoned traveller, one of the most popular questions to be asked is ‘what have been your best bits?’ This question is impossible to answer. For instance how can you measure the amazing natural wonders of Iguazu Falls of Brazil and Argentina against the man made breath takers of the Lost City in Colombia or the mines of Bolivia’s Potosi?

In my opinion the only way to give an accurate answer to ‘what are the best bits while backpacking in Latin and North America?’ is to categorise your experiences. And so, find below part one of what will be a fairly large collection of my Latin and North America top fives accumulated whilst trying to rise to the International Mankini Challenge (i.e. trying to get a picture of people in Mankini’s in iconic locations in every country of the world).

Top 5 Activities in South and Central America

1. Semuc Champey in Guatemala – great views, swimming in a series of natural pools, wading into limestone caves with only a candle for light, jumping off a bridge and tubing down a river all make up a day here

2. Sailing between Colombia and Panama via the San Blas Islands – if you’ve got the stomach for it, you can live the jetset lifestyle in the most beautiful of surroundings. The boat Delphin Solo provides a wonderful way to sail the San Blas Islands

3. The World’s Most Dangerous Road in Bolivia – cycling the road with the world’s highest fatality rate provides copious amounts of adrenaline and great views, especially while wearing a Mankini!

4. Volcano boarding in Nicaragua – 45 minutes up, one minute down and reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h (in a Mankini) gets the blood flowing

5. Carnival (all over Latin America, I happened to be in Bolivia) – celebrated all over Latin America, I experienced the water and foam fight of Oruro for three days

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