The Quetzal (Guatemala’s national bird) is both elusive and ubiquitous – Elusive because you’re lucky to see one in the wild, and ubiquitous because the word itself is everywhere. You can visit the town of Quetzaltenango (the second most populous city of Guatemala), drink a Quetzalteca (a popular alcoholic beverage) and pay for it in Quetzals (the national currency). Guatemala has about 20 different ethnic groups and the Mayans are still a large part of the population. Mayan communities remain in the Highlands, and they continue to sell their colorful woven goods at markets like the one in Chichicastenango. Traces of their civilization can be seen in the ruins of Tikal, ruins as mysterious as the seemingly bottomless and perfectly blue Lake Atitlán. Other highlights in Guatemala include easy-to-love Antigua, known for its history of great language schools and the Afro-Caribbean communities on the east coast.

Highlights:

Made from fermented sugar cane juice, the Quetzalteca is a national booze with quite a kick – don’t miss it!

Head to the markets of Chichicastenango on Thurdsays and Sundays to buy traditional Mayan textiles

Don’t miss Lake Atitlán, a volcanic lake, surrounded by small towns that are popular with backpackers and soul-searchers. Party in Panajachel or meditate in San Marcos.

Best time to visit: May to November
Student Airfare: $318 Miami to Guatemala City RT
7 Nights in a hostel: $84
Exchange Rate: 1.00 USD = 7.70340 GTQ

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Student Traveler articles on Guatemala:
Study Abroad: Boston University, Augsburg College, Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, University of the Valley of Guatemala Work Abroad: TEFL International, LEAPNow, Habitat for Humanity,
Volunteer Abroad: Cross Cultural Solutions, United Planet, Global Vision International, Earthwatch Institute, Global Crossroad, Volunteers for Peace, Global Vision International, Volunteers for International Partnership, Global Citizens Network, LEAPNow, Cultural Embrace, Experiential Learning International, Amerispan, First Step World, Volunteer Adventures, Celas Maya, Cooperative for Education, LIFE School, Guatemala Youth Rescue Center, Casa Xelaju, Common Hope, Travellers Worldwide, Educacion para Todos,
Adventure: Tucan Travel, Intrepid Travel, Duende Tours, GAP Adventures

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Panama

Known as “Crossroads of the Americas,” Panama bridges North and South America, and the Panama Canal acts as a gateway between the east and west coasts.  With the Pacific on the west and the Caribbean on the east, Panama is a great spot for all things aquatic. Sport fishing charters are a major tourist draw and its easy to find a local to take you offshore for tuna, sailfish, marlin and Fly fishing trips.

Both coasts offer beautiful beaches (either on the mainland or one of the many surrounding islands) with glassy water, white sand, and coral reefs for scuba and snorkeling trips. Of course, you’ve got your standard selection of wave runners, kayaks,  and jetskiis available for rent up and down both coasts.
Additionally, Panama has a modern international banking sector, with more than 150 banks from 35 countries, and a large expat community as well.  It is estimated that there are 25,000 expats from the US alone. In Panama City, be sure to check out Casco Viejo and Panama Viejo, the historic city and the ruins of the old city.  And don’t forget to check out the Panama Canal!
Highlights:
Hit either coast for sand, sun, and maybe some fishing.
Catch a cab to the Miraflores locks so see boats navigate the Panama Canal.
Take a stroll down the Amador Causeway to one of the islands for a drink, and stop along the way to snap a picture of the best view of Panama City.
Best time to visit: December to April
Student Airfare:  $499 New York to Panama City RT
7 Nights in a hostel: $70
Exchange Rate:  1.00 USD = 1.00 PAB (They also accept USD)

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Student Traveler articles on Panama:

Study Abroad: The Scholarship, School for International Training, Spanish Abroad, Seamester, University of Minnesota, Morris, Florida State University, Conservation through Research Education and Action, ProArtInternational, Rainforest and Reef, Townson University, Amerispan Study Abroad, El Paraiso Spanish School Work Abroad: TEFL International, Costa Rica and Panama Vacations, International Doorways  Volunteer Abroad: Global Vision International, Community Collaborations International, Volunteers for Peace, Amigos de las Americas, Eco Circuitos Panama, El Paraiso Spanish School,

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Peru

Peru is best known for Machu Picchu, and no trip to the country is complete without a visit to the “Lost City of the Incas.” But today’s sun-worshippers also know that you don’t need to hike the Inca trail and see the ancient sundials or pray to Inti (the sun god) to catch some rays.  Peru has almost as many miles of coast (approximately 1,500) as varieties of potato (over 2,000). The north coast offers lovely gems like Punta Sal and Máncora, close to the equator and therefore almost always warm. Some even insist these northern waters served as inspiration for Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Surfers of all levels, ranging from beginners to “kamikaze” frequent spots like Punta Rocas, Chicama, and Pico Alto. Peru is also home to 11 separate eco-regions, including the rare cold ocean current and equatorial dry forest. In the span of a few days, you can walk through steamy Amazon rainforests or put that new alpaca sweater to use in the Cordillera Blanca. If you want to jet around Peru or all of South America, LAN airlines can be a great value, as well. Everything seems to go through Lima anyway, so if Peru wasn’t in your initial plans, it likely will be at some point. Wherever you go in Peru, the terrain may change, but one thing will follow you wherever you go— the lilting sound of the pan flute.

•    Put your boots and stamina to the test on the Inca trail or alternative trails through the Andes
•    Test your pattern recognition skills while studying the Nazca lines and develop your own theory for why they were created
•    See glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca (but hurry up, they’re melting)
•    Hike Colca Canyon
•    River raft in the Urubamba Valley or on the Río Chili
•    Walk on the floating islands of Uros, made entirely of reeds
•    Stay with a local family on Lake Titicaca
•    Visit the colonial buildings, monasteries, and churches in Arequipa
•    Conduct a search for the best Pisco sour. For you non drinkers, test out a few types of corn juice called chicha
•    Eat ceviche and bar hop in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima
•    See the hand-made canoes, or Caballitos de Totora, once made by the pre-Inca Mochicas and Chimus

What it would cost (traveling this June): Airfare from Los Angeles $742, 7 nights in a hostel in Cusco $63 Exchange Rate $1 US = 2.8 Peru Nuevos Soles

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Canada
There is a lot of room to move in Canada. And there aren’t a lot of people (compared to the U.S.). So you can have it’s mountain ranges, spectacular wilderness, and diverse metropolitan city centers at your fingertips, aye.
Canada is the second largest country by area in the world, and it shares longest undefended border in the world with the United States. With so much land mass, its easy to see why Canada’s different provinces are so diverse.
Montreal and it’s French influences are a world apart from Toronto. Yellowknife in the far north was made famous over the summer by the History Channel’s Ice Road Truckers documentary TV show, but we really can’t recommend those frozen highways as tourist destinations.
Heading west, Canada’s Pacific Coast culture is still it’s own world, with little snow (unless you are snowboarding the Cascade Mountains), and plenty of life around the water in Vancouver.
If you’re the outdoorsy type, there is plenty of untouched landscape to keep you occupied.  In Alberta, check out Banff National Park, Elk Island, and Jasper. In British Columbia, you’ve got cool names like Yoho, Kootenay, and Mount Revelstoke.

Highlights:

Don’t miss the the bar scene on Crescent Street in Montreal.
Visit the beautifully manicured Victoria and the Butchart Gardens.
Grab your board and hit the Cascade Mountains!  Keep an eye out for Ski in-Ski out hostels too!
Head to Lake Louise in Alberta, also known as the “Hiking Capital of Canada”
Best time to visit: March to May
Student Airfare:  $266 New York to Montreal RT
7 Nights in a hostel: $130.06
Exchange Rate: 1.00 USD = 0.975012 CAD

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Student Traveler articles on Canada:

Study Abroad: Syracuse University, University of Toronto, National Outdoor Leadership School, Sea Education Association, Amerispan, Cooperative Center for Study Abroad, Wilfrid Laurier University, International ESL Gateways, West Island College International - Class Afloat, Semester at Sea, College Consortium International Studies, State University New York, University of Miami, International Honors Program, Algonquin College, Cambridge International College of Canada, University College of the Fraser Valley
in Canada, Earthquest Canada, Globe Runner, Professional Development Institute of Tourism, Canada, Arcadia University Work Abroad: BUNAC, TEFL International, Caribou Crossing Trading Post, Next Aupair Internationa, Vamos a Canada, ABC Nannies Canada, Wish Vancouver Recruit, Nannies on Call, Oxford Seminars, Eurolingua Institute Volunteer Abroad: Earthwatch Institute, Global Citizens Network, Cowichan River Lodge,   Adventure: Moose Travel Network, National Outdoor Leadership School, Global Choices

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Vietnam
Vietnam has an abundance of sights for the adventurous traveler with some spare time to explore. Not surprisingly, it’s all about the water here. There are overnight junk boat trips in Halong Bay, dragon boat tours on the Perfume River, floating markets and even water puppetry. If water just isn’t your element, scoot around town in a cyclo (think rickshaw) or take a train through the country. You can even hire a Jeep for a ride through the jungle to see tribal villages.

The Vietnamese also celebrate a number of interesting holidays like Tet (the Vietnamese New Year) and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Visitors here have the freedom to go off the beaten path or stay in self-contained tourist areas. There’s also the freedom to try, say, bird’s nest soup or just go with the pho. No matter what you do, you’re sure to have an adventure and a good time in Vietnam.

Highlights:

East birds nest soup! And if it doesn’t offend your sensibilities, try dog meat which is considered a local delicacy in the Hanoi area.

Visit the Capital City of Hanoi and visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum

Get away from it all at the Mui Ne beach resorts

Best time to visit: March to April
Student Airfare:  $1,037 Los Angeles to Hanoi RT
7 Nights in a hostel: $42
Exchange Rate: 1.00 USD = 16,033.50 VND

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Study Abroad: Semester at Sea, Center for Study Abroad, SUNY Brockport, CET Academic Programs, Eastern Michigan University, Seamester, Townson University, Pacific Challenge, CIEE, Temple University, School for International Training, St. John’s University, Culture Studies, Suffolk University, Center for Study Abroad Work Abroad: TEFL International, TEFL Job Placement, Language Corps, Bridge TEFL, TEFL Institute, Volunteer Abroad: Volunteering Solutions, Travel to Teach, I to I, Youth International, Global Crossroad, Experiental Learning International, Global Youth Opportunity, Pacific Discovery

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South Korea

South Korea has drawn travelers for many years who want to teach English in another country. Those opportunities have only gotten better, since South Korea’s cost of living is so low you can live like a king on $30,000 a year. But work is not the only thing that draws travelers to South Korea. The food is delicious (Korean Barbeques are springing up in the States from Los Angeles to New York), the nightlife is bustling, and Karaoke lovers will be in paradise! Of course, South Korea still has some problems with its brother to the North. North and South Korea have had decades of tension, but don’t let that deter you from adding the South to your itenerary. In fact, recent meetings between the two countries seems to have had a positive effect on north and south relations.

It’s worth hopping on an organized tour to get a glimpse of Panmunjeom, a strange village on the old battlefront of the Korean War.  While a truce was signed here in 1953, peace was never agreed to and technically, the north and south are still at war.  While the area is called the Demilitarized Zone, both sides are guarded, and the border remains the most heavily armed in the world.

Of course, you’ll want to see Seoul, and stop by the Gyeongbok-gung, Deoksu-gung, and some of the many palaces as well as Mount Inwang, Seoul’s most famous shamanist shrine.

Highlights:

Check out the big city bustle of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and a mixture of ancient temples and modern skyscrapers.

Join an organized tour for a visit to Panmunjeom and the heavily armed Demilitarized Zone.

Don’t miss the Karaoke and the great food, no matter where you are!

Best time to visit: April to May
Student Airfare:  $737 Los Angeles to Seoul
7 Nights in a hostel: $87.78
Exchange Rate: 1.00 USD = 918.471 KRW

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Student Traveler articles on South Korea

Study Abroad: CIEE, University Studies Abroad Consortium, New York Film Academy, State University of New York, State University of NJ Rutgers, Suffolk University, University of Miami, SUNY Stony Brook, Loyola Marymount University, Florida State University, Semester at Sea, School for International Training, Youth for Understanding, Harvard Summer School Study Abroad, Northern Arizona University Work Abroad: Park English, TEFL International, I to I, ESL Job Network, OK Recruiting, Global Crossroad, Canadians with Seoul, Teach Anywhere, Jun Inc, TEFL Job Placement

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Hungary

Hungary boasts of one of the world’s most beautiful capital cities:  Budapest. The city is referred to as the “Pearl of the Danube”, whose wonderful panorama is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Hungary is a place with 2000-year-old Roman ruins and 400-year-old Turkish monuments found side-by-side, not to mention beautiful churches from the Romanesque.
Visitors still visit one of hundreds of therapeutic mineral springs gush up from the depths, helping many thousands to recover their health,
And there is also the Hungarian folk art and the horse shows which introduce the lifestyle and traditions of the “puszta” (Great Hungarian Plain) attract tens of thousands. Courtesy of the Hungarian National Tourist Office.

Highlights: Check out the Sziget Festival each August in Budapest, Get a massage in a medival hospital at the Gellert Hotel in Budapest

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Student Traveler articles on Hungary:

Study Abroad: CIEE, Academic Programs International, American Institute for Foreign Study, Global Learning Semesters, New York Film Academy, Florida State University, Central European Education, College International, Youth for Understanding Work Abroad: Central European Teaching Program, Volunteers for Peace, I to I, TEFL Job Placement

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Singapore

Singapore is known for its economic might, modernity and cleanliness (at one time, chewing gum was banned). “The Lion City” is a dizzying mixture of Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and English cultures but, luckily, very well organized. Besides the usual Chinatown, there’s an Arab Quarter, a Little India and even a Sultan Plaza. This mélange of cultures makes for some tasty cuisine and a happening festival season. After a few Singapore Slings at the legendary Raffles Hotel, you’ll be ready to test out your “Singlish” or try your hand at one of the country’s brand new casinos. Except here, “Singapore” isn’t a celeb-owned restaurant in Vegas serving posh, fusion food. In hygienic Singapore, you can eat your fish head curry on the street with no reservations.

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Study Abroad: Syracuse University, Seamester, WISE Abroad, AsiaLearn, EnrolHub, Work Abroad: TEFL International, Volunteer Abroad:

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Thailand
Thailand looks a lot like Peter Pan’s “Neverland”, an endless playground almost unreal in its beauty.  Whether you’re sporting North Face or toting Louis Vuitton, nearly everyone can live like a king here.  With fantastic outdoor adventures and gorgeous temples, you won’t easily get bored here. A trip to Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital city is a must, but don’t plan to stay too long.  There is certainly a lot to see, but the coastal beaches and islands are where you’ll find some real Thai treats.

If your MO is more kick back than Thai kickboxing, book a beach bungalow right on the white sand, get a massage and you’ll be as relaxed as the Reclining Buddha in no time. Backpackers will love the country’s low prices and nightlife as spicy as its cuisine, especially the full moon beach parties.  Head to Ko Pha Ngan or Haad Rin during any full moon and you’ll be in for one of the wildest parties of your life.

Sleeping in jungle tree houses? Cruising around on a bamboo raft? Watching an elephant polo tournament? Thailand may just have everything imaginable.

Highlights:

Howl at the moon with revelers from all over the world at the monthly Full moon parties at Ko Pha Ngan or Haad Rin.

Get lost in the bustle of Bangkok, Thailand’s hectic capital.

Find a beach and lounge – have a drink, a massage, and feel pampered, even with the tightest budget.

Head to backpacker hotspot, Ko Phi Phi where The Beach was filmed.

Best time to visit: February to May
Student Airfare:  $936 Los Angeles to Bangkok RT
7 Nights in a hostel: $69.23
Exchange Rate: 1.00 USD = 31.5011 THB

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Student Traveler articles on Thailand:
Study Abroad: World Endeavors, Jacksonville University, Center for Cultural Interchange, Experiment in International Living, SUNY Brockport, International Partnership Service Learning, Semester at Sea, CIEE, Institute for Cultural Ecology, University Studies Abroad Consortium, Lexia, Seamester, AFS Intercultural Programs,   Knowledge Exchange Institute, Eastern Michigan University, The Scholarship, Pacific Challenge, University of Minnesota Work Abroad: Global Service Corps, CIEE, TEFL International, Language Corps, GeoVisions, I to I, World Endeavors, Bridge TEFL, Travel to Teach, Open Mind Projects Volunteer Abroad: Cross Cultural Solutions, United Planet, GeoVisions, Projects Abroad, Global Crossroad

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Mozambique
Once an Arab trading center and then a Portuguese possession, Mozambique isn’t quite like any other African nation. Its wildlife is no exception, and many of the country’s treasures lie under the sea.  With 1,500 miles of Indian Ocean coast, soft sand beaches and amazing coral reefs, there’s plenty here to get your feet wet. Take this opportunity to check out the affordable scuba diving, go marlin fishing, swim with whale sharks or try to spot an endangered sea cow. Back on land, you’ll find stretches of golden savanna, fertile river valleys and plenty of exotic birds to keep your camera busy. Every province has something different to offer- like Maputo for its proximity to South Africa and famous Elephant Reserve or Niassa for its tropical lake, which pours into Malawi.  Mozambique’s fusion of cultures also produces some rare dishes like curried crab.  It’s almost too easy but, yes, Mozambique is truly unique.

Highlights:

Go island-hopping in the Bazaruto Archipelago, and check out the underwater marine park and great diving – be wary of bank-breaking resorts.

Tofo Beach is a better destination for budget backpackers looking for a beach and a dive shop. Excellent diving and affordable accommodation.

Check out the elephant reserve in Maputo.

Best time to visit: April to September
Student Airfare:  $2,074 New York to Maputo
7 Nights in a hostel:  $57.19
Exchange Rate:  1.00 USD = 25.7300 MZN

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Study Abroad: Eduardo Mondlane University Maputo, Instituto Superior Politécnico e Universitário, Universidade Católica de Moçambique Work Abroad: TEFL International, International Doorways  Volunteer Abroad: United Planet, African Impact, Volunteer Adventures, Volunteers for Peace, Right to Play, Quest Overseas, Blue Ventures Adventure: Pathfinders, Yomps, I to I, African EduTrails, Africa Travel Co

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