2 weeks - Something like Costa Rica, Belize or Borneo but none of these :)

Hi all,

We are planning a holiday for this summer (mid August). We will have 2 weeks and are looking for suggestions on where to go. A perfect holiday for us has some or all of these:
* interesting wildlife - especially fans of monkeys and bears!
* be on the ocean and have nice beaches (not too built up) and marine life (whales would be great). Fan of boat trips
We're not big divers so scuba isn't so important. But coral / snorkelling is always nice. Also we like parks / rainforest but aren't crazy hikers. Like it don't love it :)

But something like 6-7 days of rainforest or animals or whale watching or snorkelling THEN followed by 4-5 days in a nice beach would be perfect...

Some more info on:
- rule out Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa Safari, Thailand & Costa Rica (been to all of these recently enough)

• our top 2 was actually Belize but ruled it out due to rains / weather. Also thinking of Borneo but ruled it out due to civil unrest!

• but if we had to pick somewhere that we've been that seemed perfect it would have been Costa Rica. So think Costa Rica / Borneo / Belize and you'll probably get what we're about :)

So any suggestions from Asia, South or Central America (guess wrong time of year for Central America) or African Islands etc are more than welcome!!! Let us know what you would suggest and why.

Thanks for the help!
G

PS - sorry for putting in this forum wasn't sure where else to post!

Well, it doesn't belong on this branch obviously. Perhaps the Shoestring branch would be more appropriate but then you haven't said anything about budget so who knows.

You have indicated plenty of interests and they are diverse but you are going to have to indicate some priorities as well since there is no where to suggest where you are likely to see both monkeys and bears in the same place. Just throwing out a list of interests without some prioritizing doesn't help with suggestions. All you are likely to get are people's OWN preferences rather than suggestions that would fit YOUR preferences (priorities).

1. Where are you travelling from?
2. What is your budget including airfares?
3. What are your priorities from your list of interests?

Your original two choices were not bad at all.

I've been to both in August..the weather is not a great problem in Belize (unless you are unlucky enough to hit a hurricane;-) and the situation on most of Borneo is fine...I know there has been some problem in a small part of Sabah recently but doesn't seem to be anything serious (I have a friend there now).

Still...apart from those 2.Lots of places with monkeys,fewer with bears,fewer still with monkeys,bears and snorkelling!

There are still parts of SE Asia with sun bears (though not so easy to see in the wild) as well as loads of monkeys and very good snorkelling....Thailand,peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia for example.

I agree with lucapal and tis here. There are so many places you can choose from, but frankly there was nothing wrong with your original picks.

If Costa Rica is perfect for you, then head there! What is stopping you? I have been there in August and it is great.

Belize will be a great trip, don't get put off by weather.

Borneo is absolutely fine! Civil unrest is a bit strong. If you don't want to go to Sabah, try Sarawak on the other side. Base yourself in Kuching (amazing place) and then you have everything you want from your criteria.

Alternatively, try Madagascar?Do you like Lemurs?

Thanks for the feedback.

Spent 3-4 weeks in Costa Rica before so probably somewhere else is a good idea.

Borneo looks excellent but the warning about travel to the Northern part are getting stronger and think this is where some of our top picks (Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary, Sipadan Islands & Danum Valley) are... the warnings seem to be building http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/malaysia. I got caught in a visit to Thailand before during unrest and it just was one thing more to think about .....

We're thinking now of maybe either:
- Brazil (Pantanal / Igazu Falls / Rio / Beach)
- OR Galapagos + Equador

anyone any tips / experience of these? problem is very short trip so lots of travel but could be excellent to see!

I agree that Sabah in Malaysian Borneo has what you are looking for. In particular, there are some excellent wildlife viewing opportunities (from a boat, no need to hike!) along the Kinabatangan river.

Okay, Sabah is perfectly safe and the troubles are dying down. Warnings always air on the side of caution, especially from the fco. I wouldn't rate sepilok at all, it is a tourist attraction on a grand scale. Semmengoh Orang Utan rehab centre in Sarawak is MUCH better.

Brazil would certainly fit your criteria and is an amazing place. A shame you don't have longer to explore it, but a couple of weeks would be well filled there.

You reaaly haven't got much time for that Brazil trip (2 weeks?)..maybe if you leave out Iguazu?

Galapagos is great,but really expensive..Pantanal is not cheap but still considerably cheaper than the Galapagos.At least,it can be done on a budget.

No bears there,but you might see a jaguar in the Pantanal if you are lucky!

They haven't really got time for anywhere they are suggesting in 2 weeks lucapal. It will just be a case of picking a country, choosing one, or maybe two places in it and enjoying a holiday, as opposed to travelling.

My first thought on reading your post was Ecuador (though without Galapagos). Monkeys in the rainforest, bears in the mountains (not that easy to see but possible, do a bit of research and you'll find out where) and whales down on the coast. Not really tropical beaches but you have to compromise.

If you wanted to do Galapagos and Ecuador then I'd say a week in the Galapagos and a week in Ecuador - I'd actually suggest you spend that week in the highlands but you may opt for the Amazon (Napo or Yasuni best places).

As for Brazil. If you have the $£$£ you can do that itinerary in 2 weeks. Fly to Cuiaba and spend 4 or 5 days in the Pantanal, then fly to Iguazu for 2 days and fly to Rio spending 3 days in Paraty or Ilha Grande and 3 days in Rio itself. This won't be cheap but it's a great way to spend a couple weeks.

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback. I guess what I'm hearing is:

• Brazil / Galapagos - will both cost a lot, involve quite a few flights, be pretty rushed but could be excellent from an animals / wildlife perspective

• Borneo - should be able to find a "safer" plan and might be less traveling / less rushed. I had sort of ruled out Borneo but looks like I should think about it again..... any tips to help with this process on the must see places; assume I'm interested;
• wildlife / animals / rainforest
• marine wildlife (whales / sharks / snorkeling)
• nice beaches (quiet is better than party!)
• also although only warnings would prefer to stay away from the parts with trouble at the moment. Got caught up in civil unrest in Thailand before and very annoying!

Thanks!
G

Borneo is fantastic and safe too. Any troubles have calmed down. Check out the LP page on it and you will get all the info you need re what to see/do. Sabah is much moure touristy than Sarawak, but there's no harm doing a week in each.

Hi Mike - I'm going off this latest news from the Malaysian embassy "On 7 March, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib announced that operations against the armed insurgents were ongoing and that an area of eastern Sabah had been declared a ‘Special Security Area’. Additional police and military forces were being deployed to this area.". This was just last week.

Hi gcomeragh, first of all many government travel warnings always err very highly on the side of caution. Whilst I would heed advice and excercise caution by avoiding for example the easternmost islands and dive spots, the rest of Sabah (it is a huge place), say KK and the tourist spots of mount kinabalu etc should be absolutely fine with a reasonable degree of common sense and Sarawak is absolutely fine. It is like saying is it okay to visit Scotland when a terrorist bomb went off in London a few years back (the government warned against travel to London for YEARS after that!) Generally 'operations against armed insurgents' are ALWAYS ongoing.There has been a strong military, especially navy, presence in the area for years. Put it into perspective too. How many cases of kidnaps or troubles have you heard of? How many tourists visit KK every year?

There were warnings of piracy when I was there last, and guess what? Didn't even see a Captain Jack Sparrow!

If you are still worried, then head to the other side of the island. Base yourself in Kuching (a fantastic little city), surrounded by national parks, beautiful beaches in close proximity, jungle trekking, the Orang rehab centre (much much better than the one in Sabah), inland rivers to cruise down and wildlife spot ...

There were warnings of piracy when I was there last

Yes, my DVD collection can attest to that ;-)

Re: Sabah, I posted a comprehensive trip report on here a while back, but it hasn't (yet) been reinstated after the recent Thorn Tree purge. Meanwhile this thread might be of some use:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2155860

mike, to be fair, Captain Jack Sparrow is based out of the Caribbean, not the South China sea.

Actually @ mikehuxley...

As of yesterday three (3) different travel insurance carriers said they will not cover me if I traveled to the Sabah region of Eastern Borneo - the U.S., U.K., Australian, all of the EU and even a few SEA countries including the Malaysia government have issued warnings to their citizens to not travel to the region. Which explains why I can get a R/T from KL to Sandakan for $44 USD (including the taxes)

So although you might feel that Sabah is perfectly fine it isn't at the moment... even the Malaysia government would disagree with you.

Personally I am still going to go to Borneo but I will limit my travel around Kuching and the surrounding areas.

Mike, that's the point... you should be telling people they will be perfectly fine when you don't know that to be a fact. Exercising caution is one thing, but assuring and downplaying what are facts isn't being straight with someone.

Personally I have seen my share of stuff while working in the UN Peacekeeping forces in Central Africa so I could do without the hassle. Anyway, to each their own but I think we both would agree its a shame what's going on over there.

Well you never know Toad, the bloke apparently got around! But I will endeavour to be more geographically accurate with my sarcasm! lol!

Actually @jj_in_la, it is common practice for insurance companies not to pay out for travel in regions with travel advisories against them, despite the fact that those very same travel advisories are often highly overly sensitive and have been criticised by many in the past for being overly cautious.

Read this from the Sabah tourist board.

Kopi'vosian and Greetings from Sabah!

The Sabah Tourism Board wish to assure our visitors and partners worldwide that the tourism industry, hotels, island resorts, river, jungle and mountain lodges and activities throughout Sabah including the east coast, are operating business as usual. The various dive destinations of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai, Mataking, Pom Pom, Pandanan, Lankayan and Selingan Turtle Island are open for business. In the past few years Malaysian Government has installed armed security personnel on these islands and further beefed up. The National Security Council (NSC) confirmed there is no prohibition to visit the resort islands. All activities continue as usual.

Since Monday 11th March, Malaysian security forces fully secured the remote coastal village Kampung Tanduo, the ground zero where armed intruders holedup for a month. Sabah Commissioner of Police Datuk Hamza Taib said the operations with Tanduo and other affected areas had ended. Villagers are allowed to return to their homes, except for Kampung Tanduo which will become a military base. These villages are more than 150km from Lahad Datu town and are NOT in the tourist route.

The State Government and people of Sabah welcome the Prime Minister's announcement of the setting up of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE) along the entire east coast of Sabah from Kudat in the north to Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Semporna and Tawau in the southeast. This is timely to prevent intrusions, illegal entry and smuggling from neighbouring countries. The ESSZONE is for the significant enhancement of the security and safety of the whole Sabah east coast, including the islands.

The USA Homeland security has its complex military efforts of 3,169km US-Mexico border against infiltrations and smuggling. Australian Government has its ADF operations that defends homeland Australia extending up to 200km to the faraway islands to protect its maritime domain from security threats that include illegal arrivals, maritime terrorism etc.

Travelers who wish to travel to Sabah have the option to purchase travel insurance. Please refer to your local/Sabah travel agent.

We welcome the revised and favourable Foreign Travel Advisories. Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar assured the public, visitors and tourists their safety. "I would like to assure tourists that it is safe to travel to Sabah." Ismail said.

So do what you like, I'm not forcing you to travel in one region or another, I'm just saying that Sabah will be perfectly fine. If we all followed those damn travel advisories to the letter we'd never go anywhere! Hell, even London had one against it for years after the last terrorist bombing!

No you got the point completely backward. We SHOULD be telling people they will be fine in light of the oversensitive nature of FCO warnings and the DOZENS of posts daily bleating will i be safe? Noone has a crystal ball, noone can guarantee anything! i may even get run over by a bus outside my home ffs! But that wont stop me going out will it? Ah i love newbies coming on and throwing credentials like that about. One thing experience like that SHOULD have taught you is perspective of the wider picture. As i said im not forcing anyone to go anywhere or not, im just saying common sense should prevail over safety over manafactured fear.

Actually Mike I am not newbie - just my account was locked and was able to register. Let's just agree we have a difference of opinion. Best of luck to you and your travels.

Time was when a traveller didn't know much or care much about government warnings. Time was when a traveller was looking for adventure rather than a safety first tour.

Adventure by definition requires two things, the unknown and risk. Remove either and it's a tour.

Back in 1971 on my first long term trip I had a few interesting moments. The first was in the Sahara when my buddies and I were arrested for murder. Seems another VW camper was following the same route and they had 3 guys and 1 girl. We were just 3 guys. Since leaving someone in the desert between towns is the same as murdering them, when we checked in at one town we were arrested. Mistaken identity.

The next interesting moment was when we crossed the border into Uganda on the day Idi Amin took power. Also known as 'the butcher of Uganda'. Our time there was uneventful.

Not so a bit farther on when we were stopped by a rebel patrol and taken at gunpoint down a road to be 'interviewed' by their officer. We seriously considered jumping from the back of the truck and making a run for it through the bush. We didn't, the officer accused us of being 'foreign mercenaries', questioned us for an hour an finally let us go.

In Victoria Falls, trying to sell a watch to get a little cash I was arrested again. This time accused of having stolen the watch. Again, it worked out ok.

In Cape Town, I made the mistake of talking to a young black girl in the wrong neighbourhood and was chased by an angry group all the way to the Police Station where I ran in and took refuge. All in a day's travel.

I don't advocate that anyone go to a war zone knowingly. But I don't advocate that they take every warning of 'unrest' as a total ban on travel. It's just as easy to get somewhere and have something happen at that time.

In 1973, I was off travelling again. I planned to go to Israel for the winter and work on a kibbutz. After a stop in the UK and then hitch hiking across France and Italy, I arrived in Taranto, Italy with the intent of taking a freighter over to Israel (you could still hop freighters in those days).

At the booking office the guy behind the counter kept trying to tell me something but my Italian wasn't good enough to really understand him. All I heard him saying was no. Finally, he went into the back office and came back with a newspaper. The headline 'Israele Invade.' It was the Yom Kippur war. I didn't get a ship to Israel. But if I had been a week earlier arriving in Taranto, no doubt I would have and found myself in a country at war.

Look at the Achille Lauro. A cruise ship of ordinary tourists and it got hi-jacked. Guess what, their insurance wouldn't cover them either. Going to a country on a government watch list isn't the only way to lose your insurance coverage.

Come to that, I never bought travel insurance till I passed age 50.