Ecuador, Scott Homan

Grazing Chimborazo, Equador

One place I’m definitely returning to this year is to hike the tallest Volcano in the world, Volcan Chimborazo. It’s located near the equator in Ecuador and at 20,702 feet (6310 meters) has a year-round snow-covered summit. When I was last there, the weather was calm and a nice 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The summit is technically known as the farthest point from the center of the earth due to the “Equatorial Bulge”. Access to the protected area starts far above the tree line in a traditional Quichuan (Quechuan) high-altitude farming community. Above the farms you encounter rare wild llamas who make an incredibly high-pitched sound, almost like an echoing bird call. Being so high up offers incredible views and a feeling that humans just don’t belong there. It’s a taste of an alien world. Night time stars are amazing and city lights hours away can be seen from the refuges. If you are a winter sports fan you can hike up with snowboards, skis, or snowshoes (you need to bring your own). The closest hotel to acclimatize to the altitude is in a small Quichuan village called Casa Condor. It’s a great place to relax, visit a waterfall, and spend quality time with the traditional craft-making and farming families that live there. They have hot foods, nice beds, play excellent traditional music and is the highest place in the region with electricity above 12,000 feet. Summiting is possible year-round for a cost of around $200 including all gear, food and official guides. March through May are cloudy months, while December and January offer the best views and weather.

Colombia, Noel Lau

My top destination for 2010 is Colombia. I am not sure how hot Colombia is as a travel destination these days (editors note: it’s hot, hot, hot) but I think it should be and it has a lot of potential. With some interesting pre-colonial ruins like The Lost City and San Agustin, there are also beautiful and untouristy beaches,  both on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, not to mention the romantic and fairytale-like city of Cartagena. The Colombians are one of the most warm-hearted and helpful people, who pride themselves on their openness and hospitality. So, traveling in Colombia not only grants you access to the sights, but the people who really open themselves up and allow you to experience their culture as well. No doubt there are tourists and travelers in Colombia, but most really only go to touristy places, like Cartagena, Bogota, Tayrona National Park, etc. The country has so much more to offer and for independent-minded travelers, this could be one of the least explored countries. Like the Colombian tourism board says in its campaign, “The only risk is that you would want to stay.”

France, Avery Sumner

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Canada photo credit: Natalie Lucier

I never thought I’d be endorsing France as a top destination for adventurers. Nor did I think I’d know so much about what the country has to offer. I always envisioned more humble foreign lands in my travel abroad dreams. But when you marry a Frenchman, life doesn’t always turn out like you planned. Or does it? Okay, I didn’t marry a Parisian or into the family of a chateau vineyard. What I got was a working class villager whose regional accent pegs him instantly as a vrai campagnard, sort of a nice way of saying hayseed. The family life he introduced me to is, I’m sure, something very few outsiders get to see. His simple parents who lived without ever turning the lights on before the sun had well gone down and who ate non-complicated meals promptly at noon and seven in the evening every day of their lives exemplified all that I didn’t expect to find in France. The longer I stayed, the more of this traditional, very old way of living did I see.

If you leave the touristy parts of France behind what you find is a stunningly unsophisticated lifestyle with traditions that go back to the middle ages. Apart from becoming a lawful member of such families, the best way to get to know these French countryside caretakers is to walk into the villages where they make their daily bread. And that’s exactly what I propose for any traveler wanting to get a taste of a raw and real France. Walk across the country. France has an intricate trail system that allows any pedestrian to get to the tiniest village or to the center of Paris without ever getting in a motorized vehicle. To learn more visit www.ffrandonnee.fr or look for information on les grandes randonnees orthe GR trail system of France. For inspiration check out http://enfantduchemin.free.fr/ The documentary has both a French and English version.

Germany, Cara Metell

Affenberg means “monkey mountain”…and that’s it, a mountain of free-range monkeys. Technically they are Barbary Macaques. It’s not what you’d expect to see while gallivanting around Lake Constance (a lake that borders Germany, Austria, and Switzerland). All the surrounding areas are full of adorable guest houses and quaint restaurants. When you’re there, you’ll not only meet lots of friendly outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, biking, and water sports, but you’ll get the chance to meet (and feed popcorn to) furry friends as well.  It’s a delightful and unexpected surprise in southern Germany. Affenberg Salem, Boden: http://www.affenberg-salem.de/en/index.html

Puerto Rico, Thomas Bennet

Puerto Rico is an amazing island that seamlessly blends golden beaches with lush jungle, Salsa with Reggaeton and rum with whatever is handy. A few things not to be missed: the islands of Culebra and Vieques were used by the US Navy for shooting practice until 1975 and 2003, respectively, but are now used mostly for their beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. Besides the forts of San Felipe del Morro and San Cristóbal which offer great views of the city, Old San Juan has a wonderful collection of restaurants, several casinos and the ever popular Calle de San Sabastián filled with bars and music to fit everyone’s tastes. Don’t forget to visit the Bacardi and Don Q factories (both with free tastings) and the tourist information center which also offers tastes of several of the island’s rums.

The beaches of Puerto Rico are alluring, but this is an island of two faces, and to know the other side you have to take a hike in El Yunque. This national forest about an hour outside San Juan offers compelling views of much of the northeast coast and wonderful day hikes for those looking for something a bit different from the usual beach lounging. For a bit of surfing head to Rincon on the west coast: a true beach town and mecca for surfers on the island.

Canada, Stephen Bugno

All eyes will be focused on Vancouver in February, but I’m thinking of the furthest point from there: Newfoundland. I have a bad habit of getting obsessed with a place just by seeing a single photograph. Gros Morne National Park’s flat-top mountains and deeply incised waterways are the destination for both outdoor enthusiasts and geologists. One photograph may not be a good reason to travel to a place, but I can’t help it. Canada is the second largest country on earth and a perfect destination for a good old fashioned road trip. Yes, I said Canada. If you were expecting some exotic location from the guy who lived in Mongolia and volunteered in the West Bank, you’re wrong: there’s no place I’d rather go more in 2010 than Canada. This country has everything…(well, almost everything…except tropical beaches). Whether it’s old city Quebec, the multi-ethnic flavor of Toronto, the endless prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the 250,000 lakes of Ontario, the Rocky Mountains, or the rain forests of British Columbia. Although the Canadian dollar is nearly even to its US counterpart, you can try and cut costs by getting off the beaten path, camping, using couchsurfing, and self-catering.

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