International Mankini Challenge

One thing Latin America is not short of is beautiful coastline and beaches. As I said before, I unfortunately missed out five countries in South America and only travelled through the south of Brazil, so the list below may change once I get to see the bits I missed last time.

Top 5 Beaches in South and Central America

1. Tulum, Mexico – down the coast from the mayhem of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, little Tulum has quiet beaches and sand like talcum powder

2. Little Corn, Nicaragua – long empty beaches and beautiful blue seas that aren’t cold at all are paradise, Don’t miss this place out when you go to Nicaragua

3. Tayrona National Park, Colombia – Caribbean coast in a beautiful setting of a national park near the diving resort of Tanganga

4. Montanita, Ecuador – wide empty beaches that you can swim or surf at with no litter. The water is also a great temperature

5. Florianopolis, Brazil – waves for learner and beginner surfers alike. The sand isn’t half bad either. Only problem is the locals who aren’t fans of the mankini

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Every country has features that are maybe less redeeming than others. Sometimes what maybe offensive to one person is seen as completely acceptable to another. It depends where you’re from, what you’re used to and your culture. I’ll be honest though, I struggled to get five things about Latin America I didn’t like.

Top 5 Most Annoying Things About South and Central America

1. Car horns – wherever you are in Latin America, car horns will make up the bulk of traffic noise. It doesn’t matter if the line of traffic is a mile long, drivers think blaring the horn will magically move things along quicker

2. Litter – for such beautiful countries it’s ashame that the locals are so carefree with their litter. looking after the environment isn’t high on these people’s agendas

3. Hissing/cat calls at girls – this happens a lot to foreign women. Guys can be with their wives and families and still make it clear they’d like to get to know another lady better!

4. Mis-directions – rather than admit that they don’t know, proud locals would rather make up directions than tell you they don’t know. Not great if you’re in a hurry or just generally have no clue where you are

5. State of the pavements (that’s sidewalks if you’re American) – don’t spend too much time looking around at your surroundings or you may disappear down a hole big enough to swallow a small family or get a toe severed by a random metal object (as I nearly did in Mexico)

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Wherever you backpack or travel to in the world, the place you stay and the people you meet contribute a large amount to how much you enjoy that town or city. I’m not a backpacker that travels hostels as I term it (i.e. travellers, usually young, who travel from one place to another because they’ve heard the hostel is great rather than choosing their route based on place), but I do appreciate a well run place.

There are loads of things that for me contribute to a good hostel. Some things hostels have control over (e.g. comfortable beds, cleanliness, adequate storage, secure lockers, good travel information, polite staff, a kitchen, a reasonably priced bar/restaurant, good communal areas, a big book exchange … I could go on) and some things they don’t (e.g. the crowd staying – though I think a reputation of a hostel can influence this). I also recognise that at different times during a trip you’ll want different things from a hostel e.g. you maybe travelling alone and want a very social/party hostel, or you may need to chill and want the opposite.

I’ve compiled a list of hostels I stayed at during my 13 months in Latin America that hit the spot (and where I usually recruited my International Mankini Challenge photogrpahers). That’s not to say there aren’t other great hostels out there, but these were my favourites.

Top 5 Hostels in South and Central America

1. La Iguana Perdida (Santa Cruz, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala) – Lake Atitlan in Guatemala is a volcanic lake surrounded by nine villages. The popular backpacker spot is the village of San Pedro. However I’d heard from a handful of trusted people about a great location with an equally great hostel called La Iguana Perdida in the village of Santa Cruz, and I wasn’t disappointed. The hostel is set right on the edge of the lake offering beautiful views and great sunsets from the comfort of a hammock. The rooms are clean and comfortable, the staff were really friendly, superb food, activities such as diving, kayaking, walks etc, I could go on. What really made it for me was the friendly and fun atmosphere. You all eat together at night, they politely ask you not to watch TV after 7pm and instead socialise in the bar. The games come out and for the 4 nights I was there, you have an unforgettable experience.

2. Backpacker Share House (Floripa, Florianopolis, Brazil) – I’d heard of the great beach resort of Floripa in the south of Brazil. Wanting to hone my surfing skills I checked in to the highly recommended Backpacker Share House. With free use of surfboards, kayaks, bodyboards, rash vests etc you’ve all the kit you need at your finger tips. If I’m honest the rooms are a little small for the number of people, but just like La Iguana Perdida mentioned above, the family vibe of the hostel is great. Everyone hangs out with everyone, most people eat together again at night, as they put on great and very reasonably priced food, and the partying kicks off big style thanks to the honesty bar – you chalk your own drinks up here. In the 12 months I spent in Latin America after visiting Floripa, this hostel was by far and away the one I heard recommended the most by travellers to other travellers.

3. Loki (La Paz, Bolivia) – This will no doubt be a contentious choice for many. There are currently four Loki hostels in Bolivia and Peru and I stayed in them all. Some people love them and some people hate them. I personally think some are better than others. Loki La Paz has about 120 beds and so is a decent size. As a lone traveller you can sometimes get lost in a big hostel, but not here. Everyone I met was friendly and a good laugh. Yes it can be loud and raucous, but I found the staff knowledgeable and helpful (the Irish hospitality of the owner is evident everywhere here). The beds are huge and comfy and the addition of a duvet is a real treat after months of sheets and itchy blankets. The bar in the hostel is also the social centre for the whole of the La Paz backpacking crowd I’d say.

4. La Casa de Felipe (Taganga, Colombia) – Courtesy of the Dutch chef, the food here is unbelievable. It’s like your eating at your favourite restaurant from home. Add to this a huge outdoor area to eat and drink in and La Casa de Felipe offers a great choice while you dive in Taganga. Personally I had a great room that slept six and we had out own kitchen, bathroom and patio. But I know other rooms aren’t as lucky/nice. However the staff were really friendly and helpful and after a 5 day trek one of the local receptionists even loaned me her spare room at her house down the road when the hostel was full (which it more often that not is).

5. 1004 Penthouse (Bariloche, Argentina) – Hands up, I didn’t stay here (it was always full). But I did pop in frequently to have a drink at the bar that offers unrivalled views of the town and lake, and for the great tour information. Situated on the 10th floor of an apartment block (you literally knock on the door expecting to find a two bed apartment like the rest of the block only to be met by a huge hostel penthouse) I’ve never seen a hostel like this. It looks and feels like an apartment inside as it’s finished to a high specification. Friends who stayed here rave about it!

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