Country Comparisons

We rated the best and worst features of the countries we visited on this trip for easy reference. You can sort the table below by clicking on the "sort by" link underneath the header column. For more information on the nifty icons, check out the definition of our rating scales.

Continent	Country	Weeks	Safety	Cost	Mnc Rating	Details
sort by continent	sort by country	sort wks	sort by safety	sort by cost	sort by rating
North America	USA	6				more about USA
North America	Alaska	3				more about Alaska
North America	Canada	1				more about Canada
Central America	Belize	1				more about Belize
Central America	Guatemala	3.5				more about Guatemala
Central America	El Salvador	1				more about El Salvador
Central America	Nicaragua	1				more about Nicaragua
South America	Peru	3				more about Peru
South America	Bolivia	1				more about Bolivia
South America	Chile	3				more about Chile
South America	Argentina	4.5				more about Argentina
South America	Uruguay	0.5				more about Uruguay
South America	Brazil	4				more about Brazil
Antarctica	Antarctic Peninsula	2				more about Antarctica
Africa	Lesotho	0.5				more about Lesotho
Africa	Botswana	1.5				more about Botswana
Africa	Zambia	1.5				more about Zambia
Africa	Malawi	1.5				more about Malawi
Africa	Rwanda	1				more about Rwanda
Africa	Uganda	7.5				more about Uganda
Africa	Kenya	2				more about Kenya
Africa	Tanzania	3				more about Tanzania
Central America	Mexico	2.5				more about Mexico
Central America	Honduras	0.1				more about Honduras
Central America	Costa Rica	1				more about Costa Rica
Central America	Panama	2				more about Panama
South America	Colombia	2				more about Colombia
South America	Ecuador	2.5				more about Ecuador
Africa	South Africa	2.5				more about S. Africa
Africa	Zimbabwe	0.01			-	more about Zimbabwe
Africa	D.R. Congo	0		-	-	more about DRC

Country Review: USA
Continent	North America	click for larger image
Country	USA
Weeks Spent	6
Safety
Cost	(Budget busting backpacking)
MNC Star Rating	(Amazing excursions - Must return)
Summary	The sheer scale and grandeur of the U.S. only becomes clear as you drive across it. Amazing national parks.
We Liked	The south west for deserts and giant redwoods Rafting the Grand Canyon Las Vegas
We Didn't Like	Culturally/linguistically monolithic The cost of petrol / accommodation - ouch!
Top Tip	Camp or travel in a campervan to control costs.
Details	Go to our highlights page for USA

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Country Review: Alaska
Continent	North America	click for larger image
Country	Alaska
Weeks Spent	3
Safety
Cost	(Budget busting backpacking)
MNC Star Rating	(Life changing! Made the trip worthwhile)
Summary	Huge, wild and beautiful.
We Liked	Trekking through chest-deep rivers Paddling past icebergs to calving glaciers
We Didn't Like	The prospect of being eaten by a grizzly bear The cost of everything
Top Tip	Save up to make the most of all the great things to do here.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Alaska

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Country Review: Canada
Continent	North America	click for larger image
Country	Canada
Weeks Spent	1
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Good fun but missing the "Wow")
Summary	Sleepy, rural and friendly, with magnificent Rocky mountains.
We Liked	Seeing family Friendly Canadians
We Didn't Like	Our campervan breaking down
Top Tip	Come in summer - it can hit -50 degrees in winter!
Details	Go to our highlights page for Canada

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Country Review: Mexico
Continent	Central America	click for larger image
Country	Mexico
Weeks Spent	2.5
Safety
Cost	(Mid-range travel)
MNC Star Rating	(Good fun but missing the "Wow")
Summary	Surprisingly developed and modern, a bridge to the wilder countries to the south.
We Liked	The street food Drinking mezcal and cheesy music Aztec ruins
We Didn't Like	Costly travel Violent street demonstrations Unwelcoming Mayans
Top Tip	Dive with whale sharks on the Yucatan in November.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Mexico

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Country Review: Belize
Continent	Central America	click for larger image
Country	Belize
Weeks Spent	1
Safety
Cost	(Top-end for travelers)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	A tiny country with great beaches, world class diving and Mayan history.
We Liked	Diving the Blue Hole Spelunking deep into a cave to see the remains of human sacrifices
We Didn't Like	Sunscreen that didn't work Rude locals
Top Tip	Take a two week break, trek through jungle to ruins, then head to the beach and dive with sharks at the famous Blue Hole.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Belize

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Country Review: Guatemala
Continent	Central America	click for larger image
Country	Guatemala
Weeks Spent	3.5
Safety
Cost	(Fun on the cheap!)
MNC Star Rating	(Life changing! Made the trip worthwhile)
Summary	Thriving indigenous culture, active volcanoes and close up turtle encounters.
We Liked	Learning Spanish while staying with a local family Protecting endangered turtles Climbing a lava-spewing volcano
We Didn't Like	The government's disregard for the environment Very touristy Antigua
Top Tip	Go there! With the Mayan ruins from the Rebel Base in Star Wars, why wouldn't you?! One of our favourites.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Guatemala

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Country Review: El Salvador
Continent	Central America	click for larger image
Country	El Salvador
Weeks Spent	1
Safety
Cost	(Fun on the cheap!)
MNC Star Rating	(Ho Hum)
Summary	Barely touristed quiet backwater, slowly recovering from a horrid civil war.
We Liked	Being the only tourists there
We Didn't Like	Lack of things to do! Terrible, grease-laden food
Top Tip	If you're a surfer, El Salvador has some of the best breaks in the world.
Details	Go to our highlights page for El Salvador

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Country Review: Honduras
Continent	Central America	click for larger image
Country	Honduras
Weeks Spent	0.1
Safety
Cost	(Fun on the cheap!)
MNC Star Rating	(Ho Hum)
Summary	Who knows - we passed through in 2 hours!
We Liked	Efficient border posts
We Didn't Like	Thieves and touts swarming us like flies at the border
Top Tip	Honduras has the cheapest scuba diving certification courses anywhere.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Honduras

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Country Review: Nicaragua
Continent	Central America	click for larger image
Country	Nicaragua
Weeks Spent	1
Safety
Cost	(Fun on the cheap!)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	Poor, proud and pretty, traveling here was hard work but rewarding.
We Liked	Camping in a cloud forest on top of an active volcano Meeting an endangered red-eyed tree frog
We Didn't Like	Some pretty serious poverty with visibly malnourished locals No decent coffee as all the good stuff is exported!
Top Tip	Read up on the country's turbulent history before coming, to understand the situation today.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Nicaragua

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Country Review: Costa Rica
Continent	Central America	click for larger image
Country	Costa Rica
Weeks Spent	1
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Good fun but missing the "Wow")
Summary	An ecological paradise, well developed for tourism but noted for petty theft.
We Liked	The country is benefiting from a commitment to environmental protection
We Didn't Like	Someone stealing Magnus' trousers from a hostel Felt a little bit too touristy
Top Tip	A perfect location for a family trip with good facilities and great trips, treks and wildlife viewing.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Costa Rica

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Country Review: Panama
Continent	Central America	click for larger image
Country	Panama
Weeks Spent	2
Safety
Cost	(Mid-range travel)
MNC Star Rating	(Amazing excursions - Must return)
Summary	A diverse land of Caribbean beaches, rainforest jungle hosting remote tribes, and thriving cities.
We Liked	Panama City, we found it hard to leave The remote Darien jungle where we hung out with thong-wearing tribesmen
We Didn't Like	Evil bed-bugs terribly savaging Cheryl The threat of guerrilla attack
Top Tip	If heading to Columbia, find a captain to sail you to Cartegena across the Caribbean. It's a fantastic trip.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Panama

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Country Review: Colombia
Continent	South America	click for larger image
Country	Colombia
Weeks Spent	2
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	By and large safe, with salsa in its veins and cultures reaching back 5000 years.
We Liked	Finding it remarkably safe and beautiful Swimming in a mud volcano
We Didn't Like	A parasailing crash landing for Cheryl The continuing military tension in the air
Top Tip	The south of the country is beautiful and full of great people and history.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Colombia

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Country Review: Ecuador
Continent	South America	click for larger image
Country	Ecuador
Weeks Spent	2.5
Safety
Cost	(Top-end for travelers)
MNC Star Rating	(Life changing! Made the trip worthwhile)
Summary	Small but has it all: Amazon, Andes, beaches, tribes and the incomparable Galapagos Islands.
We Liked	Crossing the Equator Swimming with sea lions during a Galapagos liveaboard Climbing a 20,000ft active volcano!
We Didn't Like	Coming within a hair of having our laptop stolen in crime-ridden Quito
Top Tip	Get to the Galapagos, whatever it takes! If climbing Cotopaxi - acclimatize for 8 days first.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Ecuador

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Country Review: Peru
Continent	South America	click for larger image
Country	Peru
Weeks Spent	3
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	The land of the Incas lives up to its reputation for gorgeous mountains and ancient cultures.
We Liked	Staying at a local village then trekking to legendary lost city, Machu Picchu
We Didn't Like	The taste of the national dish - grilled guinea pig The taste of the local beer fermented with human spit...
Top Tip	There is tonnes to see here - Peru easily merits a 6 week visit.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Peru

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Country Review: Bolivia
Continent	South America	click for larger image
Country	Bolivia
Weeks Spent	1
Safety
Cost	(Fun on the cheap!)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	A poor country sitting on top of the world, Bolivia has a hypnotically atmospheric feel.
We Liked	A wonderful jeep trip across the world's greatest salt flats
We Didn't Like	Being denied a chance to play a round at the world's highest golf course in La Paz since it was Employee Day only
Top Tip	Check out trips to the Bolivian Amazon and Pantanal regions - much more accessible and cheaper than in neighbouring Brazil.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Bolivia

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Country Review: Chile
Continent	South America	click for larger image
Country	Chile
Weeks Spent	3
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Good fun but missing the "Wow")
Summary	Could almost be in Europe, yet is subtly different. A wonderful family holiday destination.
We Liked	A monster 6-day trek in Torres Del Paine over Christmas - just gorgeous
We Didn't Like	Our broken legs after the trek The long, pricey bus journeys heading south
Top Tip	Don't try to cross the whole country by bus if you only have 3 weeks!
Details	Go to our highlights page for Chile

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Country Review: Argentina
Continent	South America	click for larger image
Country	Argentina
Weeks Spent	4.5
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Amazing excursions - Must return)
Summary	Argentina has everything you could possibly want in a holiday - it's just so huge it takes a long time to get between destinations.
We Liked	Almost everything: glaciers, waterfalls, ancient history, dinosaurs, Welsh tea houses... the list goes on but can't end without wonderful steak, wine and the friendliest people we met ANYWHERE!
We Didn't Like	Yerba mate; the national drink is a bitter brew that must be drunk when passed to you to avoid causing offence (it's nasty!)
Top Tip	Visit Peninsula Valdez in mid-February: if you're lucky you will see Killer Whales deliberately beaching themselves to catch unwary seal pups - wow!
Details	Go to our highlights page for Argentina

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Country Review: Uruguay
Continent	South America	click for larger image
Country	Uruguay
Weeks Spent	0.5
Safety
Cost	(Mid-range travel)
MNC Star Rating	(Ho Hum)
Summary	Like Argentina but smaller, more expensive and without most of the good stuff.
We Liked	Err...
We Didn't Like	There wasn't much to do other than eat and drink, or visit a farm
Top Tip	Give it a miss and spend more time in Buenos Aires.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Uruguay

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Country Review: Brazil
Continent	South America	click for larger image
Country	Brazil
Weeks Spent	4
Safety
Cost	(Mid-range travel)
MNC Star Rating	(Amazing excursions - Must return)
Summary	A huge nation with samba running through its veins and beaches and jungles to die for.
We Liked	Crazy Carnival-time with the Tourneys An Amazon adventure with Cheist
We Didn't Like	Rampant destruction of the rainforest
Top Tip	More expensive than most other South American countries, particularly with the huge distances involved. Take more time or use hopper flights and offset the carbon.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Brazil

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Country Review: Antarctic Peninsula
Continent	Antarctica	click for larger image
Country	Antarctic Peninsula
Weeks Spent	2
Safety
Cost	(Oh, oh, we're broke!)
MNC Star Rating	(Life changing! Made the trip worthwhile)
Summary	The last great wilderness, all freezing winds, endless ice and cute penguins.
We Liked	Mind-bending stark beauty Sitting on a beach beside thousands of inquisitive penguins Meeting Gary & Kirstin in Antarctica
We Didn't Like	Rough, rough seas on the way home The price of the trip!
Top Tip	An absolute must do trip - off the scale on our cashometer, so save HARD before doing this. If possible take a 2+ week trip to get the most from this once-in-a-lifetime expedition (we're going to do it again!).
Details	Go to our highlights page for Antarctica

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Country Review: South Africa
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	South Africa
Weeks Spent	2.5
Safety
Cost	(Top-end for travelers)
MNC Star Rating	(Good fun but missing the "Wow")
Summary	Tension in the air as the country works through its racial issues. Very westernized but some wonderful things to see.
We Liked	Watching a leopard eat an impala in a tree Seeing our first elephant in the wild Great roads
We Didn't Like	A barely submerged racial tension that persists A lack of an "African" buzz Security-mania in Jo'burg
Top Tip	Include a trip to landlocked Lesotho in any itinerary and a trip to the Soweto township (safe).
Details	Go to our highlights page for South Africa

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Country Review: Lesotho
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Lesotho
Weeks Spent	0.5
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	Tiny, mountain nation seems like a land lost in time.
We Liked	Pony trekking through remote mountain-top villages
We Didn't Like	Children trained to beg for sweets or money
Top Tip	Take an overnight (or longer) pony trek from Malealea.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Lesotho

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Country Review: Botswana
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Botswana
Weeks Spent	1.5
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Amazing excursions - Must return)
Summary	A rare well-run country with good infrastructure, amazing natural resources. Not easy to travel independently through.
We Liked	Amazing national parks The Okavango Delta Lovely people helping us out wherever we travelled
We Didn't Like	The hassles of traveling without your own transportation - much more work than in other countries The famous Kalahari bushmen no longer having their own land
Top Tip	Rent a 4*4 to reach the more remote destinations (expensive) or just rely on the kindness of strangers as we did.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Botswana

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Country Review: Zambia
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Zambia
Weeks Spent	1.5
Safety
Cost	(Right on our budget)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	A small agricultural country, with a few major tourist attractions.
We Liked	Getting off the beaten track and staying with welcoming villagers
We Didn't Like	The numbers of tourists at the major attractions
Top Tip	Get away from Vic Falls and the Zambezi and meet up with some of the locals.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Zambia

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Country Review: Zimbabwe
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Zimbabwe
Weeks Spent	0.01
Safety
Cost	(Budget busting backpacking)
MNC Star Rating	-
Summary	A top tourist destination now falling apart due to terrible government.
We Liked	Our decision not to travel there due to recent turmoil
We Didn't Like	The prospect of getting constantly ripped off by the government's ridiculous exchange rate
Top Tip	As soon as Mugabe is out - get in there!
Details	Go to our highlights page for Zimbabwe

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Country Review: Malawi
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Malawi
Weeks Spent	1.5
Safety
Cost	(Fun on the cheap!)
MNC Star Rating	(Good fun but missing the "Wow")
Summary	A quiet little country, with nice people and a sleepy atmosphere.
We Liked	Paddling from village to fishing village on Lake Malawi
We Didn't Like	Trying to teach computer skills and finding our students didn't turn up!
Top Tip	Malawi is cheap, friendly and has lovely beaches if that type of holiday appeals.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Malawi

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Country Review: Rwanda
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Rwanda
Weeks Spent	1
Safety
Cost	(Top-end for travelers)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	Small, with great facilities and beautiful nature, the main reasons to visit are the last remaining mountain gorillas.
We Liked	Seeing the country rebuild Getting up-close and personal with 800lb mountain gorillas!
We Didn't Like	Horrifying memorials to the genocide
Top Tip	Rwanda has a great infrastructure so is easy to get around. The main sites can be viewed in as little as a week.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Rwanda

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Country Review: D.R. Congo
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	D.R. Congo
Weeks Spent	0
Safety
Cost	-
MNC Star Rating	-
Summary	One of the great, mysterious destinations. With Civil War flaring again, it was not safe to visit here.
We Liked	We got to the border with Congo and saw across a lake to its beckoning shoreline
We Didn't Like	Recent murders across the border dissuaded us from popping in
Top Tip	When safe, gorilla trekking is much cheaper in DRC.
Details	Go to our highlights page for D.R. Congo

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Country Review: Uganda
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Uganda
Weeks Spent	7.5
Safety
Cost	(Fun on the cheap!)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	A fertile country with wonderful scenery, pygmy tribes and a war-torn north.
We Liked	Lending our business skills to an environmental health project Visiting a pygmy tribe Cooking food at our apartment after a year of eating out Visiting a refugee camp
We Didn't Like	Terrible pollution in Kampala - the worst we've seen anywhere
Top Tip	The source of the Nile has amazing white water rafting. A new dam will soon ruin this forever, so get down there adrenaline-fiends!
Details	Go to our highlights page for Uganda

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Country Review: Kenya
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Kenya
Weeks Spent	2
Safety
Cost	(Mid-range travel)
MNC Star Rating	(Unique cultural and adventure experiences)
Summary	Large, with diverse and colourful tribes and ecosystems, Kenya is the perfect introduction to East Africa.
We Liked	Wonderful people wherever we went Meeting a cheetah
We Didn't Like	The threat of bandit attack on northern desert roads The risk of robbery in Nairobi (a.k.a. Nairobbery)
Top Tip	If timed correctly, trips to catch the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara are cheaper than Serengeti trips in neighbouring Tanzania.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Kenya

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Country Review: Tanzania
Continent	Africa	click for larger image
Country	Tanzania
Weeks Spent	3
Safety
Cost	(Top-end for travelers)
MNC Star Rating	(Amazing excursions - Must return)
Summary	A peace-loving country that has successfully integrated Muslim and Christian cultures, Tanzania has the world famous Serengeti, lovely beaches and an Arabic-influenced coastline.
We Liked	Wonderful Muslim hospitality Watching big cats in the Serengeti with our friends, Robert and Angie
We Didn't Like	Bone-crushing bus rides in the west of the country - only for the hardiest travellers
Top Tip	Get off the Serengeti / Zanzibar tourist route at the Ushambara mountains and trek to a homestay to experience local culture.
Details	Go to our highlights page for Tanzania