Ideas: Come one, Come all!

Hello!

This December I'm planning on doing a month long trip somewhere in the world. I'd like it to be a combination of backcountry hiking as well as being able to see the country I visit. I was planning on going to Ireland since it fairly small and easy to travel through , but after finding out that it's pitch dark by 5PM, I'm looking elsewhere.

So, throw out your ideas! Be as specific or as general as you'd like. I've got about a $1,500 budget(including airfare) and I'm located in Georgia, USA.

I know I've been quite general about all this, but that's essentially how things are right now. Wide open. Figured we could start general and work to specifics later on in the game.

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

Ireland is a decent choice and it is not pitch black by 5pm. Yes gets darkish a little early at that time of the year but that should not be allowed to deter you.

How about Costa Rica?

Regardless of when it gets dark in Ireland, the weather will be far better in Costa Rica in December than it will in Ireland.

Your budget will limit your choices significantly. If you avoid the primary tourist areas I think CR will let you stretch your dollars a little further than anywhere in northern Europe.

Good luck.

Also good season for Chile, Argentina, New Zealand.

I like Costa Rica. I've been there to visit close family friends there, plus it would let me explore an entire country. Is there good backpacking/trekking down there? Chile and Argentina are certainly good options as well, I just don't know them as well.

New Zealeand airfare would probably be too expensive for my current budget.

I think Ireland is out for this trip. I'm going to save it for this summer. A large majority of the people I've talked to have advised me not to go in Winter and come back during Summer.

My suggestion is that you post your questions relative to CR on the Central America branch.

There are a lot of folks over there who really know the country.

Good luck.

You can see a lot of Guatemala in 4 weeks and if you like Costa Rica thne you will cetainly like Guate. Plenty of trekking mainly up Volcanoes and best done through an local agent.

New Zealand IF you can get there and get around on that budget, sadly I expect not.

I like the idea of Guatemala as well. If I can get affordable airfare, I may go there! Regardless, I've got some great places to look at, so thanks a lot! The info has helped a great deal. Maybe I'll repost here, and/or make a new thread out lining my plan. Thanks again!

If you choose Guatemala (not a bad choise :-)) don´t miss the neighbor El Salvador. You can get there by bus from Guatemala. El Salvador is a little country with few tourists, friendly and helpfull people. The nature is marvelous, especially in the western part with volcanoes, waterfalls, small towns around the Flores Road (Ruta de las Flores), coffee-mountains, nigth-marked in Nahizalco, local food-festival in Juayua, small nice hotels, local restaurants/bar even with (local) live-music. . Just a hours drive from the green mountains you´ll find the great coastline, where you can snorcel, surf, watch the turtles, sending out the baby-turtles to the ocean ( the turtles depends of what time of the year you´ll go there) etc.

You can also include Nicaragua in your choice. You fly via nature air with a pretty much affordable pricing.Surfing is great there at low cost as well surrounded by various hostels check out www.buenavistasurfclub.com. Then going south of the capital - Granada, Ometepe or San Juan Del Sur with itineraries you can choose:

-Visit the colonial city of Granada including a boat ride on the little Islands of Granada at Lake Nicaragua.

-Trip to the city of Masaya, visiting the first national park of Nicaragua Masaya Volcano, Masaya art craft market, Catarina view point, San Juan de Oriente pottery town and canopy tour at Mombacho volcano.

-Transfer to Ometepe Island. Lunch at Moyogalpa and later walking tour in charco Verde. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon in your hotel.

-or Full day trip on the island visiting Finca Magdalena, Finca El Porvenir, Playa santo domingo la piedra inculta trail, Altagracia y el ojo de agua. Or hike one of the two volcanoes Maderas volcano or Concepcion volcano. Or hike at San Ramon Waterfall.

-Transfer to San Juan Del Sur and enjoy of the beach.

Be sure to bring in a hand pocket journal to record all the good memories that you can have on this spectacular country. Check out http://www.nomadjournals.com - they got all kind of journals (hiking, travel, writing) to make your vacation an unforgettable journey.

In Europe you could still consider Andalucia in Southern Spain. Not sure it is within your budget.

Man if you could afford to go to Africa, I'd say check this out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8in4xQ5aco

Enjoy!