Destinations

North America

Cuba

Cuba is a country in the Caribbean, occupying its own large island, as well as smaller nearby islands. The country's position just off the coast of Florida and near neighboring Caribbean islands has produced a highly unique nation. In famous Havana or elsewhere around the island, strains of...

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean country that borders Haiti to the west on the island of Hispaniola. It is well-known for its beaches, resorts, and golf courses. Its landscape includes rainforest, savannah, and highlands, as well as Pico Duarte, the Caribbean's tallest peak. In its Zona...

Mexico

Mexico is a Hispanic country in North America. The festive culture celebrates a mix of "Indian" (precolonial) traditions, Spanish customs, and modern American influence. The Spanish language and the Catholic church play large roles in society. A sensuous blend of food, music, and color lend...

Europe

Poland

Poland has a rich, often tragic, history, but has emerged as a great, modern society since the fall of Communism. Highly urbanized, Poland has adopted many Western elements of society, but maintains much of the Eastern culture of its past. Poland spent much of the 1990s developing its economy...

Latvia

One of the most recent additions to the European Union is Latvia. Much like Bulgaria, and several of the other newest EU members, the country is an undiscovered jewel that is just waiting to be polished. Long hidden behind the veil of Communism, and overshadowed by the presence of the Soviet...

Portugal

Portugal is located on the western side of the Iberian Peninsula, with two Atlantic Ocean archipelagos. Despite its small size, it has a diverse range of landforms and climates between the Atlantic coast and the mountains. There are several ancient sites in Portugal, as well as relics from the...

Asia

Cambodia

Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country with low-lying plains, the Mekong Delta, mountains, and a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. Its capital, Phnom Penh, is home to the art deco Central Market, the magnificent Royal Palace, and the historical and archaeological exhibitions of the National...

India

One of the more mysterious countries on the planet, and one that boasts some of the most drastic differences in lifestyle between poverty-stricken and the rich, is India. The seventh largest country in the world with over 1 billion people living in its territories, making it second only to China...

Uzbekistan

Nestled in the heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is a land of intrigue, steeped in a rich tapestry of history, culture, and transformation. With its ancient cities, vibrant traditions, and evolving modernity, Uzbekistan captures the imagination of travelers and scholars alike. This essay...

Latin America

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a small Central American country. This country's history, climates, flora, and fauna are as diverse as its landscapes, which range from rainforests to dry tropical and temperate forests, volcanoes to Caribbean and Pacific beaches, high mountains, and marshy lowlands. Costa Rica is...

Colombia

Colombia is a large South American country. Sitting on the northwestern corner of the continent, the Hispanic culture has a distinct identity. Ranging from rugged mountains to beaches and jungle, the diverse country produces coffee while enjoying relaxed social attitudes, even in the face of...

Brazil

Officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, it is the largest country in South America and the world's fifth largest country. Brazil has a coastline of over 7,491 kilometers and wondrous beaches! Brazil has a dense and complex system of rivers, one of the world's most extensive, with eight...

Africa

South Africa

The world's largest producer of gold, and one of the most influential countries in African politics, South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent, and is one of the most diverse African countries to be found. With 11 different official languages and a completely diversified...

Egypt

Arguably one of the most talked-about and visited countries in the world when it comes to tourists, Egypt stands out as the birthplace of one of the earliest civilizations. Today the country is known for her many pyramids, the Sphinx, the Nile River, and for the various mummies, temples, and...

Cameroon

Cameroon (French: Cameroun) is a Central African republic. Cameroon, while not the largest nation in Africa, is in several respects as big as the continent itself. Western tourism is uncommon, but the majority of visitors to the country are from Europe (predominantly Belgium). Cameroon is a...

Oceania

New Zealand

New Zealand (Mori: Aotearoa) is a nation of breathtaking and varied natural beauty, with jagged mountains, rolling pasture land, steep fiords, pristine trout-filled lakes, roaring rivers, scenic beaches, and active volcanic zones. These islands form a distinct bioregion that is home to...

Australia

As the only country in the world that (arguably) qualifies as a continent, the wide expanses and low population of Australia make it a nature lovers dream. The lush forests of Tasmania, imposing cliffs of Ayers rock and grape-growing district of Barossa all offer inland splendor, but the most...