International Mankini Challenge

As I’ve stated before, I missed out Venezuela, Paraguay, Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana on my trip to South America and so I can only apologise for that. But based on the other 15 countries I visited in Latin America, these are the International Mankini Challenge favourites.

Top 5 Countries to Visit in South and Central America

1. Colombia – the diversity of what is on offer to see and do here is amazing. If you can think of it, there’s a place to do it. Don’t be put off by Colombia’s past, it’s a very different place now and constantly evolving – but please respect it

2. Argentina – the wine regions of Mendoza, the slopes of Bariloche, the Tango in Buenos Aires, the trekking in Patagonia and Iguazu Falls. I can think of more reasons of why to go that not!

3. Brazil - a massive country with a massive personality. You’ll not be disappointed, just give yourself enough time

4. Nicaragua – my favourite Central American country. Loads to do and not dangerous outside of Managua. Just make sure you get over to the Corn Islands (Little Corn is nicer) too

5. Guatemala – easy to travel and so it’s a little touristy. A good starter country if you’re new to backpacking

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One of the great things about travelling the world is finding new foods and drinks and even eating better quality versions of favourites from back home. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a backpacker budget, cheap food doesn’t mean bad food in Latin America

Top 5 foods in South and Central America

1. Steak from Las Cabras, Argentina – it’s been known to turn veggies into meat eaters, such is the thickness and taste of the steak

2. BBQ from Fran’s Grill, Belize – lobster tails, Barracuda steak, garlic bread, mash potato, Oreo cheesecake and rum all for $10

3. Chicken or meat Saltado, Peru – rice, onions, tomato, peppers etc is mixed together with meat to leave your mouth watering. Who’d have thought such simple ingredients could taste so good

4. Lobster, San Blas Islands – $1.50 for a whole freshly caught lobster and coconut rice. Possibly the cheapest in the world?

5. Empanadas – the staple snack and bus food of South America. Happiness in a pastry

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Latin America enjoys not only a wealth of man-made sights built over the centuries that leave you awestruck, but also some of the most naturally beautiful parts of the world you are ever likely to see. Trying to limit my list to five was almost impossible!

You may notice that 4 of the top 5 were also mankini picture locations. The only regret of my recent travels was not getting a mankini shot on the Brazilian side of the breathtaking Iguazu Falls.

Top 5 Naturally occurring sights in South and Central America

1. Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil – words fail me. It’s like being on a film set or something. It’s hard to believe the waterfalls are real

2. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina – the creaking noise as the glacier moves and the beautiful snow fields are like nothing you’ll have ever seen before. However it’s chilly in a Mankini

3. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador – nature at its most pure. Probably why the sea lions didn’t like the Mankini that much

4. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia – one of many Bolivian jewels, the contrast between these salt flats and ‘normal scenery’ is mind blowing. You’ll recognise Facebook pictures of people who have been there as they’ll be sat on a Coke bottle or in someone’s palm …

5. Volcano Pacaya, Guatemala – hot stuff as you get within metres of lava rolling down the slopes as you roast your marshmallows

The mud volcano in Cartagena (Colombia) and the Dos Ojos cenote in Mexico (made even more famous in the BBC’s Planet Earth series) also had strong shouts in what for me, was the hardest category to judge.

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If you’ve never been to Latin America and you think you’ve been on a long bus ride, think again. Buses are the main means of travel within Latin America. It’s extremely expensive to fly within the continent and so the locals, and backpackers, rely on the huge bus network where an 8 hour journey is termed local!

Buses vary in quality, from the complete flatbeds on offer in countries like Argentina and Chile, to the “chicken buses” of most Central American countries that once took American children to school – yes, they are pimped up versions of the yellow school buses you see in the movies.

One thing the whole of Latin America has in common though is that all bus drivers are crazy! They’ll overtake on bends and drive down roads you’d think twice about walking along! It makes for some interesting experiences and makes it hard to keep the mankini in place!

Top 5 Worse Bus Rides in South and Central America

1. Medellin to Bogota, Colombia – 9 hours of overnight travelling in what felt like a freezer truck. I was so cold I actually felt wet

2. La Paz to Rurrenabaque, Bolivia – false teeth and glass eyes are likely to be found on the floor of the bus on this bumpy ride. Add to that a very narrow road with no rails and a couple of hundred metre drop and you’ll understand why people get a little nervous

3. Arequipa to Cabanaconde, Peru – another bone crunching journey that is compounded by massive overcrowding

4. Bariloche to Puerto Natales, Argentina and Chile – 30 hours plus from the western border of Argentina to the eastern coast and back again sound fun to you?

5. Iguazu Falls to Buenos Aires, Argentina – being puked on four hours into a 19 hour bus ride is not a recipe for a comfortable and relaxed journey

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