As a perpetual traveller, you start to become a bit of a snob. Well, in my case, you become a massive snob. Questions that would tickle you silly by other travellers, when you first travelled, start to become irritating. For example, any time I tell people what I do for a living the first question is: “What’s your favourite country to travel to?”. I know, I know, you’re just trying to make conversation, but I wouldn’t walk into a house with octuplets and ask them which kid is their favourite, would I? Ok, maybe I would. But that’s not my point.
Thus, I’ve decided to get this all in writing. Below you’ll find a list of all the countries I’ve been. They’re listed and ranked from my favourite country to my least favourite country to travel. Now, just a quick reminder to people out there, this is a travel related post. I’m not against certain countries, or people out there. Don’t cry if your country is at the bottom of the list. You should also remember that this isn’t my recommendation for the best country to travel to, it’s my personal favourite country to travel. Also, I reserve the right to change the list and its order at any time. Furthermore, this will be an on-going post; each time I visit a new country, I’ll be placing it on this list. And from time to time, when I miss a certain destination, I might just move it up a couple spots.
Ok, without further ado, this is my ranking of my favourite countries to travel:
1) USA
As a Canadian, writing this feels strange. However, there are few places in the world with the diversity of the US. Actually, there’s nowhere in the world with the diversity of the US. From Alaska to Hawaii to Utah, there is such a range. Some of my favourite travel memories were in the USA, and there is still plenty in that country I have yet to experience. For that reason, the US is my favourite country to travel, and one of the best countries to travel to in general.
Havasu , Arizona
2) Mauritania
I’m sure this is a bit of a surprise too. However, of all the countries I travelled in Africa my experience in Mauritania sticks out the most strongly. I mean seriously, where else in the world can you stow away on an iron ore train travelling deep into the desert, passing by camels? Also, Mauritania had perhaps the friendliest people in Africa, and that says a lot!
3) Colombia
Oh Colombia. Nowhere on this planet have I felt more at home than in Colombia. As far as travel is concerned, Colombia has plenty to do and see. However, what makes Colombia special to me is the welcoming feeling you have throughout the country. This is the one country I long to return to the most, and I wonder if it will always be that way.
4) Namibia
My trip into Namibia was recent so maybe it feels more dramatic than it really was. However, I absolutely loved the country. Warm, friendly people, and such a wide range of things to do and see. Etosha National Park is amazing for wildlife, and then you can’t really beat the landscapes of Sossusvlei and area. The best part? Namibia is totally affordable. For now, it’s my 4th favourite country in the world to travel.
5) Sierra Leone
I was a bit nervous entering Sierra Leone. All I knew about it was blood diamonds, and war. What I found instead was a beautiful swath of rain forest, very friendly people, and some of the nicest beaches in all of Africa. There is so much potential for tourism in Sierra Leone. I hope someday it achieves it. Right now, Sierra Leone might not be the best country to travel for beginners, but an improvement in infrastructure could easily propel its global tourism appeal.
Sierra Leone
6) Peru
Peru is where my travel journalism career really started and, really, it’s the perfect place to do so. In Peru, there are jungles, deserts, mountains, and everything in between. Toss in the history, traditions, and sites like Machu Picchu, and it’s no wonder Peru is one of the busiest destinations on the planet. For travellers of all kind, Peru is one of the best countries to travel to in the world. I’d love to get back to Peru someday, and I’m sure I will.
7) Guatemala
Guatemala has a bit of a strange hold on me. There’s nothing really about it that jumps out at me, but still it always lingers in my travel memories. Maybe it’s thanks to the time I slept on the top of one of the pyramids of Tikal, or any of the mornings in Anigua that I woke up before dawn to photography, but regardless, I’ve always had fond memories of Guatemala.
8) Bolivia
Though visited by the backpacker crowd, Bolivia is still very under-rated as a travel destination. Like Peru, Bolivia has a really wide range of things for people to see. For me, both Death Road mountain biking and visiting the Salt Flats in Uyuni rank among my favourite travel experiences of all-time.
9) Canada
Home sweet home. The truth is that aside from the west side of Canada, I haven’t spent nearly enough time at home. Still, I’d rate the west coast of British Columbia as one of my top 3 favourite places on the planet, and parts of my home province of Alberta are stunning as well. As I explore Canada a bit more, it could definitely move up on this list. I can’t imagine too many countries in the world that are better to travel to.
10) Ecuador
Sure, I got robbed of all my camera gear the last time I was there, but I still love Ecuador. The Galapagos are a top 5 experience for me. Also, places like Tena, Banos, and Canoa are great destinations as well. I’ve been to Ecuador 6 times now, and I’d go back a 7th in a heartbeat. It’s one of my top 10 favourite countries to travel, but how long will it hold on?
The Galapagos Islands
11) Brazil
I travelled Brazil from bottom to top and there wasn’t a single place I disliked. The Pantanal is one of the best wildlife viewing destinations on the planet, for starters. Of course you’ve got the carnival parties and the beaches. But you’ve also got the history of places like Salvador de Bahia and Belo Horizonte.
12) Belize
The thing I love about Belize is that even though it’s home to perfect waters and brilliant sands, there hasn’t been a massive invasion of resorts like just north in Mexico. Places like Caye Caulker are still “owned” by the backpackers, and hopefully it will stay that way. I still need to go back and skydive over the Blue Hole, that’s definitely on my bucket list.
13) Burkina Faso
In many ways, Burkina Faso surprised the hell out of me. When I travelled through Burkina, I found lots of great tourism activities and an infrastructure to handle it. The “country of honest men” was one of the easiest countries in all of Africa for me to travel through. Toss in some incredible mosques and history, and you’ve got yourself my 3rd favourite African country to travel.
14) South Africa
Honestly, I didn’t think that much of travelling to South Africa before arriving. I had plenty of other African countries on my list I’d have rather checked off first. However, when I arrived in South Africa, I realized how brilliant this country really is. There’s no wonder it’s so visited. When I rolled my scooter into Cape Town, I felt that comfortable feeling ever traveller looks for in a destination. I haven’t spent much time here, so expect this place to rise or fall on the list. At the moment, it’s got such a hold on me, I’m thinking of moving here semi-permanently.
15) Portugal
Portugal is one of the places I think I could probably live. It’s got a really nice climate for almost the entire year, friendly people, and a diverse multicultural population. It feels like everyone is welcome in Portugal. To top things off, it’s maybe the most photogenic country I’ve ever been. However, it was missing something to hold me, who knows what that could have been.
Portugal
16) Argentina
Argentina was a tough country for me to place. I love the Argentine culture. I love mate, asado, and their crazy verison of Castellano. But at the same time, I felt like something has been missing from my Argentinean experience. Still, the diversity of Argentina with its winelands, waterfalls, glaciers, cities, and Tierra del Fuego makes it one of the most diverse destinations in the world, and that alone is hard to ignore.
17) Mali
Oh, what to make of Mali. Though I spent 3 months in Mali, yet it still holds so much mystery to me. The fact there was a war going on meant that I could really only visit the southern portion of the country. What I found there were friendly people, incredible landscapes, and sites like Djenne which are out of this world. I’d love to get back to Mali someday, and push it higher on this list.
18) Japan
Japan should be higher on this list. In many ways, it was one of the great inspirations of my life. I travelled there when I was just 13 years old and spent a summer living on Hokkaido Island with a local family. The reason it’s not higher is because I think I need to see it with fresh eyes now. Someday soon, I’ll return.
19) Chile
Oh Chile, you are so strange. From the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, Chile is such a wild stretch of the earth. There are some incredible natural sights throughout Chile, and cities like Valparaiso and Santiago grow on you too. The people of Chile are fun and friendly, but boy is their style of clothing and hair dramatically strange.
20) Spain
I really enjoyed Spain. I did. However, there was also something a little bit strange to my Spanish experience. I guess maybe it just wasn’t I expected it to be. Still, if you’re looking for vibrant cities, Spain is a great place to check in.
Spain
21) Nicaragua
Nicaragua changed my life. As a lost 20-year old, I found myself reading its history in a Lonely Planet guidebook as I travelled by bus from Costa Rica. I couldn’t believe the things that happened. I was so engaged by the history that for the next 5 years of my life I dove into the history and politics of Latin America. If there was no Nicaragua, I’d likely be off coaching basketball at some Canadian high school right now.
22) Scotland
My taste of Scotland was short, but sweet. I absolutely loved Glasgow, and enjoyed Edinburgh as well. However, the fact that I really only had a week means Scotland is a little lower on the list of my favourite countries to travel. Someday I’ll visit its rural areas and give it a chance to move up on this list.
23) Switzerland
Much like Scotland, my time in Switzerland was too brief to place higher on the list, but it gets high grades for potential. I was just in Bern and Adelboden Lenk skiing, but I loved what I saw. The people were friendly enough, the cities have character and the natural setting is stunning. I’ll be back here in the fall to give it a chance to move up.
24) Zambia
Zambia was my reward at the end of my scooter journey, and has a special place in my heart alone. I really enjoyed the Livingstone area and had a great time basing myself there for nearly a month. I’d love to get back to Zambia and explore more of the eastern portion of the country as well.
25) Ghana
Ghana was basically exactly what I expected it to be. There are loads of things to do in the country. There are castles, beaches, safaris, and some ancient empires to reflect on. At the same time though, Ghana has the potential to be better, and better to tourists. For that, it’s my #25 favourite country to travel.
Ghana
26) Jamaica
In the next couple years, I’m going to return to the Caribbean and travel it some more. The only experiences I have in Jamaica are that of the luxury style. It means that though you get a taste of the local culture, you are mostly guarded from it. Any time I set foot in Jamaica I wanted to dive into the local vibes, but only had my appetite whet. With some crazy adventures like Rick’s cliff diving, Jamaica has the potential to be near the top of this list, I think, I just need a chance to explore it more independently.
27) Botswana
It’s probably not really fair to have Botswana this high considering I was only in the country for 2 days. However, my trip to Chobe National Park was my first ever real Southern African safari and for that it will always hold a massive place in my memory bank. There’s a chance I’ll be returning in August, so it could move up… or down.
28) Costa Rica
Costa Rica was the first place I ever backpacked. As a 20-year old I wandered into this country just before the tourism boom happened. If I would have written this list a couple years ago, Costa Rica would have likely landed in 1st. However, after returning to Costa Rica a couple years ago, I realized that it’s too tame for me now. Sure, there’s some amazing natural settings, but there’s also a lack of cultural resilience, and almost a fake “pura vida” game being played with tourists instead. I will always love Costa Rica, but just as a friend.
29) France
I expected to love London and I didn’t. I expected to hate Paris, and I didn’t. Paris for me was such a brilliant experience. An off the beaten path traveller like myself usually hates these places, but Paris is one of my favourite cities in the world. Moreover, the French Riviera is one of the most beautiful places on the planet, although it’s very expensive.
30) Ireland
Ireland was one of those countries I thought I’d fall in love with, but wasn’t really that inspired by. Now, I take full blame for this based on where I decided to go. I was only really in Dublin and Howth. I should have gone to the smaller destinations and tasted “true Ireland”. I’ll be back in October, so hopefully I get to move Ireland up the list of favourite countries to travel.
Ireland
31) Italy
Like almost all of the European destinations on the list, I haven’t had the chance to spend enough time in Italy to really put it any higher. I was really only in Rome, aside from an hour in Milan where I was treated like a peasant from the 6th century. I did love Rome though, and I’d love to check out more of “real” Italy as well.
32) Monaco
I feel like Monaco is one of those places you need money to really enjoy. Its setting is beautiful and there are some incredible sights, but I just want to sit at a poker table wearing a tux and a monocle. Until that happens, Monaco will remain in the bottom half of my favourite countries in the world to travel.
33) Venezuela
Venezuela is frustrating. On one hand, it has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire world, and some incredible sights. On the other hand, it can be quite dangerous for a foreigner. Kidnappings and armed robberies are a common place. Moreover, with all the protectionist laws, especially when it comes to currency, it can be a hard place for a foreigner to be. I hope Venezuela changes the way Colombia has; I’d love to go back.
34) Cote d’Ivoire
A really great country really, and the people might have the best sense of humour I’ve ever encountered. Seeing the stilt dancers was one of the top travel experiences of my life. Still, I feel like Cote d’Ivoire could offer much more than it’s giving. It’s like a son not living up to his potential. Then again, they’re still quite fresh off of war.
35) Panama
Panama is a country that would have featured lower on my list had I not re-visited it. However, I love what Panama City has become. Sure, it’s more modern and dare I say “American”, but it’s also full of music and light. My recent trip across the Darien Gap too put Panama up on the list.
Panama
36) Guinea
How frustrating is Guinea? It is naturally one of the most beautiful countries in all of Africa. It has some of the most welcoming and friendly people in the world. But yet the government, the military and the police make it a tough place for tourists. Truth is, you’re not even allowed to take photos in the country without permission. I only dream things improve in Guinea, for the sake of its beautiful people.
37) Mexico
I’m probably not giving Mexico a fair shake on this list. Part of my reason for putting it so low has nothing to do with Mexico at all but rather the people that visit it, and the places I’ve been. Any time I’ve gotten “local” in Mexico I’ve loved it. However, places like Cancun and Playa del Carmen to a lesser extent, just annoy the free traveller in me. I don’t like being hassled. No I don’t want to buy your stupid necklace, I’m on the beach tanning my ass, leave me alone. Mexico is a great country to travel to, but just not for me.
38) Northern Ireland
I can’t in good conscious put Northern Ireland higher on this list. Though I liked Belfast, and am intoxicated by the history, I just didn’t get enough of it to formulate a true opinion. I’ll come back later and update you.
39) Congo
Nowhere in Africa did I get as warm a welcome as in Congo. When people would see me driving through, they would wave with one hand and then the second, as if the first alone wasn’t enough. Still with so little for tourists to do in Congo, though, it’s place on this list is limited.
40) Haiti
As far as experience goes, Haiti was one of the best of my life. However, don’t think I’m going to plan another holiday in Haiti. It’s a frustrating country. It’s essentially occupied by NGOs and the UN claiming to be helping, but doing little to improve the situation on the ground. It’s a painful country to be in for too long.
Haiti
41) The Gambia
I have to believe that tourism in The Gambia will jump soon. There are lots of easy opportunities for tourists here including beaches and wildlife. The beauty too is that all are within an hour or so drive. However, I was annoyed by Gambia. I was hassled constantly by hustlers and people trying to sell things. There are bumsters everywhere as well, and they certainly don’t make the experience any more pleasant; well, that is unless you’re a desperately lonely 65-year old Dutch woman that is.
42) Guyana
Guyana is another one of the countries that will fall into the category of “nice, but lacking.” It has all the potential to be a tourism destination, and no will or organization to get it there. Between Kaiteur Falls and the North Rupununi, Guyana should be drawing much higher tourism numbers.
43) Cameroon
I laugh almost every time the word Cameroon comes spilling out of my mouth. I loved the country, but man did it ever get the best of me. Between crashing my scooter, scaling a massive mountain, and dealing with visas in Yaoundé, I nearly curled up under a rock and slept until it went away. Still, the people are beautiful and the sights are very worthy. If it wasn’t so hard on me, it’d likely be up in the top 15.
44) Uruguay
Uruguay was hard for me to place on this list. I like its character and I like the people as well. But I was there for a couple weeks and felt like I had seen enough and was ready to move on. I wasn’t really inspired to dig deeper. It does, however, have the best meat in South America. Yeah, I said it Argentina.
45) Benin
I can’t say anything bad about Benin, it was cool. I met rastas on the coast, voodoo priests on the interior, and businessmen in the capital. I explored the Dahomey Empire and was blown away by it. But, having only spent a week in the country means it only left a tiny scratch on my travelling feet. I’d like to go back, and visit the National Parks in the north. So there’s hope for Benin to climb yet.
Benin
46) Honduras
Hmmm, Honduras. It’s like the country stuck in the middle. Guatemala to the north and both Costa Rica and Nicaragua to the south have thriving tourism markets, but Honduras is still slow. Aside from Copan and the Caribbean islands, there’s not a lot of draw to Honduras at the moment. A lot of it, of course, has to do with the safety issue. Honduras has some of the most violent cities in the world. People just don’t feel very safe in Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula, and for good reason.
47) Senegal
Senegal and I have a love hate relationship. I loved the coast around Saint-Louis. I also loved Ile de Goree. What I didn’t love was the aggressive nature of sales people in Dakar and Ziguinchor. I couldn’t walk 5 feet without being hassled by people who didn’t understand the word no. Senegal was cool, but tense.
48) England
Ok people of England, I’m sorry. I know you’re below Haiti, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and others on my list of my favourite countries to travel, but let’s be honest, you’re a little dull aren’t you? Some of my best friends are Brits, and I love the people, but everything is a little grey and bland in England to me, and I like light. I’ll never forget watching the girls of Manchester glowing of fake tan orange and thinking, “I wish I were in Colombia.” I used to dream of living in England, now I’m so spoiled I couldn’t imagine it.
49) Grand Cayman
Like any Caribbean Island I spent time at, I visited Grand Cayman in luxury. As such, I didn’t get to taste the real Caribbean flavour. I want to go back to the Caribbean and really immerse myself in the culture to see what it’s really like. For now, Grand Cayman finds itself near the bottom of the pile.
50) Nigeria
Stress is the name of the game in Nigeria. If there were more consistent electricity in the country I’d say Nigeria ran on stress, but they’ve got enough stress to power the world if they could harness it for electrical current. Crazy drivers, frantic sales people, and a go-go-go attitude defines Nigeria. Still, the people in Nigeria were amazing to me and I did enjoy my time there. I did, however, breathe a massive sigh of relief when I finally left.
Nigeria
51) Suriname
Suriname might be one of the most culturally diverse places in the world per square km. Everything from Dutch to Portuguese to African languages are spoken here. It’s incredible. However, there’s little for tourists to do or see.
52) Western Sahara
I was only in Western Sahara for a couple days, most of which were spent on the bland desert looking at horizons that never ended. However, the coast was beautiful and the potential for kite-surfing is some of the best in the world.
53) Morocco
For me, Morocco has been the most frustrating place I’ve ever been. There is such a deep and dramatic history here, and the sights are out of this world. However, you can’t really allow yourself to enjoy them as Moroccan “guides” are likely the most aggressive in the world. Never in my life have I ever wanted to punch so many people in the face. I hope that a tamer sales strategy makes its way to Morocco soon, because I’d love to go back and be hassled a little less.
54) Paraguay
It’s funny. Paraguay was exactly what I needed it to be when I went: an escape. I got away from all the tourist crowds I’d been following around South America, got to Paraguay and was alone. The funny thing, however, is that one you get there you realize why there’s no tourists, there’s nothing for them to do. I enjoyed my time wasting days away drinking beers with locals by the side of the road in towns like Concepcion and Asunción, but I can’t really think of a reason to return. Oh, except for the girls, God were they beautiful in Paraguay.
55) Liberia
I have no ill-will for Liberia, it was ok to me. However, it’s not exactly a tourism destination. Unless they every get Sapo National Park cleaned up, I see no reason to go back. Liberia is certainly not among one of the best countries to travel to.
Liberia
56) Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau kicked my ass. I crashed a pedal bike and then got a nasty bit of malaria. All in a week’s work as a travel journalist, I suppose. That being said, I’d like to go back with some more money and get out and see the surfing hippos.
57) Togo
Why is Togo so low on the list? See above. I got malaria for my second time in Togo. The only real thing I did in Togo was lay in bed trying to get over the mosquito carried virus. I wish I had energy to party at the beach bars, but I was in bed in a pool of sweat instead. It’s my #57 favourite country to travel, and I spent the entire time in a pool of sweat with malaria. That says more about the countries below it on the list than it does about Togo, doesn’t it.
58) Gabon
The only reason that Gabon isn’t at the very bottom of this list is because I loved driving on their twisting, turning, empty roads. The people ruined it for me. For the most part, they were arrogant, apathetic and unwilling to lend a hand. They seemed to look down on me. Gabon has more potential than any country in Central Africa to draw tourists, but it doesn’t care. If you’re going to get treated the way I did in Gabon, I’d just say skip it.
59) Egypt
Egypt pretty much falls under the same lines as Morocco. Aggressive people who don’t try to sell, they try to scam. There are so many amazing sights in Egypt, but they are all either clouded by the smog of Cairo or the pushy vendors. You have to get well off the tourist trail, or protected by a legion of guards to get the most out of Egypt.
60) El Salvador
I honestly don’t remember much of El Salvador except for the food, which was my favourite in Central America, and the garbage. Throughout the countryside, there was garbage everywhere. In San Salvador, the median was built with garbage. The people too weren’t the most welcoming. Still, it’s been nearly 10 years since I was there and I’ve heard lots of nice things recently, so maybe I need to go back.
El Salvador
61) DR Congo
How the DRC is not at the bottom of the list says a lot about French Guinana. I was basically abused at every turn in Kinshasa. I hated it there. I felt threatened there. I was paranoid there. Earlier though, I felt very lucky to have the helping hand of a lady in Bas-Congo save me from my third stint with malaria, and I actually kind of liked Lubumbashi. I’d go back to Lubumbashi, but you’d have to pay me handsomely to go back to Kinshasa.
62) French Guiana
Ugh, what can I say? French Guiana is not meant for travellers. Little to no public transportation, over-price everything, and under French control? Disaster. I didn’t hate French Guiana, and I liked the people, food, and music. But I wouldn’t go back, not the way it is anyways.
// ]]>