Drivers Beware: The Most Dangerous Roads in the World

by Martha Edwards on

Living near the Rocky Mountains, I thought I had some experience with dangerous roads. The ones I frequent twist and in turn around, over and under the huge, jagged mountains, through avalanche plains, with only a guardrail protecting your car from plummeting off a cliff’s edge. It wasn’t until I started travelling that I realized that the most dangerous road that I’ve encountered in Canada would be considered a smooth, luxurious ride in other countries.

So if our roads aren’t dangerous, where are the dangerous ones? I did a bit of research and here are the most dangerous roads in the world according to USA Today (click here for the full list):

  1. Bolivia’s The Old Yungus Road, from La Paz to Coroico
  2. Brazil’s Interstate 116
  3. China’s Sichuan-Tibet Highway
  4. Costa Rica’s Pan-American Highway
  5. Croatia’s coastal roads (any of ’em)

Judging by this article on the Old Yungus Road, I think I’ll pass on taking a trip on it anytime soon.

Oddball Hotels Around the Globe

by Catherine Bodry on

Tired of the boring old McMotel? Can’t stand another night in a single-bulb hostel room?

Forbes Traveler examines 10 “themed” hotels across the world. You can stay in a treehouse in Kenya. or Costa Rica. At the Pitcher Inn in Vermont, all the rooms are decorated to represent the state — down to the stars in the nighttime sky. My favorite is the whimsical Anatolian Houses (see photo), which houses guests in volcanic caves and looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Check out the slide show on msnbc.com and think about splurging on a wacky room during your next vacation. It might cost more than that rock-solid hostel bed, but the photos ought to be worth a thousand words.

Win Backroads Trip to Costa Rica!

by Martha Edwards on

Have you ever been to Costa Rica? I haven’t but I’ve been dying to go ever since my brother (usually the anti-traveler in the family ) came back from a 3-week trip armed with awesome photos, even better stories, a wicked tan and a hippy-style ring for me that I’ve worn ever since.

Here’s your chance to immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s lush rainforest for free — you can enter to win a Backroads Trip for two to the tropical destination. There’s no need to rush though — the contest is open until May 31, 2008. You can enter by clicking here.

(Via Marilyn at Intelligent Traveler)

Costa Rica’s Dilemma: Does Eco-Tourism Damage the Eco-?

by Willy Volk on

Writing for The Guardian, Leo Hickman has published a thoughtful rumination on Costa Rica. Held up as a shining example of eco- “best practice,” some Costa Ricans are growing concerned that the tourists they’re attracting are doing more harm than good.

The environmental scheme in Costa Rica is voluntary, meaning just about any Jose with cash can set up an “eco-lodge” overlooking a turtle’s nesting grounds. It’s cool when it’s overlooking the grounds, but when enthusiastic shutterbugs, for example, begin traipsing along the beach to experience the “eco-” up close, the turtles get upset — and they may not return. So much for eco-wonderland.

With parks exceeding the maximum amount of visitors that are allowed to enter each day; with zip lines being hoisted high in the trees; with “tropical golf courses” being constructed adjacent to the forests, how much longer can the delicate animal life cope, before the ecosystem simply falls apart?

Maybe well-meaning eco-turistas would serve the communities better if they just stayed home. Or maybe the government needs to intervene, and enforce the limits (already on the books) on the number of visitors the parks can allow.

Costa Rican Paradise: An Easy Sell?

by Jamie Rhein on

I keep getting emails in my junk box by someone who wants to sell me some “Costa Rican Paradise.” If I was a taker for such a thing, what would I get? Considering this is in my junk mail, I’d say something similar to that old shyster scheme that gets you “swamp land in Florida.” Translation: not whole lot or a whole lot of nothing.

Actually, I do have a friend I haven’t seen for awhile who does have a place in Costa Rica. I don’t think she answered the ad, but I found out what Costa Rican paradise looks like according to Mona. I Googled “Costa Rican Paradise” and Mona’s Web site appeared. I don’t know Mona and from what I read, she didn’t buy Costa Rican paradise either, but she went on a 12 day trip and developed this site to tell us about it. It’s actually quite helpful and a place I would start when getting some ideas for a Costa Rican get-a-way. Mona included information about each place she went, including links to photos and resources. Her stop included: San Jose, Puerto Viejo, Volan Arenal and Monteverde. (The photo is the Monteverde Road.)

Mona’s version of Costa Rican paradise included a 3-day raft trip, horseback riding, nature hikes, a crocodile farm, an exquisite view of a volcano from a paradise-like lodge, a canopy tour in a rainforest and a trip to a village in the clouds. Yep, that sounds like paradise to me. Sweet.