In today’s digital era, you can share pictures across the globe instantly. Snap a photo, share it online or text it to friends and voila. So easy right? With this rise of insta-sharing, the traditional art of post card sending has seen a drastic decline. Post cards used to be prominently displayed on the sidewalks in front of souvenir shops …
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After our experiences in crossing the Mexico and Belize borders, we had a lot of questions about how the Guatemala Honduras Border crossing compared. The vast majority of tourists traveling to Honduras never pass through the mainland, while we were traveling exclusively from the Rio Dulce area in Guatemala to Copán Ruinas. In Honduras, Roatán and Útila are far more …
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Festival International de Louisiane returns to downtown Lafayette, Louisiana for its 40th anniversary, April 22–26, 2026, bringing together more than 45 live music acts across five outdoor stages for one of the largest free international music festivals in the United States. From Louisiana zydeco and Cajun French traditions to world music spanning Mali, Cuba, South Africa, Jamaica, Peru, Scotland, South …
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Planning to head from south from Belize towards Guatemala? Or perhaps you are heading northly through Belize? Even to Mexico? Traveling to and fro between Guatemala and Belize is a common undertaking for travelers, especially among the backpacker communities. Guatemala shares Belize’s largest stretch of border. Although a large majority of the Belize Guatemala border is covered by thick brush …
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Of all of the places that I’ve traveled, Belize is one of the most unique. In this context, when I say unique I don’t necessarily mean that I liked everything about it. It’s quirky; it’s unexpected; and it was surprising in a lot of ways. Belize has an incredibly small population If you have never looked, the population of Belize …
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If you are looking for a warm escape, then you may have heard of the village beach community called Placencia, Belize. Perhaps you are looking for relaxing beaches or maybe even an excursion to see the black howler monkeys. As you do your research into Placencia, we’ve written this article to try and give you some first hand perspective from …
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Looking to escape the winter? Or perhaps, work remotely from somewhere while you get your diving certificate. But as a remote worker you know, that working remotely has its challenges. With access to the internet, distance is no longer the factor, well as long as you do in fact have the internet. Enter, the digital nomad’s dilemma. So what is …
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If you are planning to cross the border from Mexico into Belize via the Subteniente López (near Chetumal) and Santa Elena crossing then you are probably wondering what it is like to cross the border. Is there a tax to leave Quintana Roo? Does a corruption scandal exist in that border crossing? Will the border agents request a bribe? Is …
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New here? This is the 2026 recap. For the full history, the vejigantes, and what the carnival is about, see our complete guide: Carnaval Ponceño: The Complete Guide. Carnaval Ponceño 2026, the 168th edition, ran Thursday, February 12 through Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in downtown Ponce. The whole week was dedicated to the centennial of Catalino “Tite” Curet Alonso under …
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The time has come. The schedule is made, the 2026 Yauco National Coffee Festival will take place from February 22nd to March 1st. The Yauco Coffee Festival, known locally as Festival Nacional del Café de Yauco Freddie León Maldonado will kick off its 51st annual event honoring the coffee harvest on the morning of February 22nd. 2026 Yauco Coffee Festival …
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New here? This is the 2026 logistics post. For the full history, traditions, and what SanSe is about, see our complete guide: SanSe: The Complete Guide to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. Looking for 2027? Head this way to find out more. SanSe 2026 ran Thursday, January 15 through Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Old San Juan. Juanes …
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Looking for this year’s festival? This is the 2025 recap. For the full history and what the festival is about, see our complete guide: Festival Nacional Indígena: The Complete Guide. For the current edition, see our 2026 post, or look back at the 2024 and 2023 editions. The 55th Festival Nacional Indígena ran Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 23, …
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The Festival Nacional del Café de Yauco is an annual festival held in the town of Yauco, Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican coffee festival honors the region’s tradition of coffee cultivation, which has been a staple in its economy since the 19th century. It is significant both as a celebration of a key agricultural industry and as a showcase of …
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A Town Built by Coffee and Corsicans Yauco wears its history on its streets. Walk through Yauco Pueblo, the town’s historic center, and you pass mansion after mansion built by the families who made this the coffee capital of Puerto Rico. The story behind them is what makes them worth more than a glance: in the 19th century, waves of …
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New here? This is the 2025 recap. For the full history, the vejigantes, and what the carnival is about, see our complete guide: Carnaval Ponceño: The Complete Guide. Carnaval Ponceño 2025 ran Thursday, February 27 through Tuesday, March 4, 2025, on Plaza Las Delicias in downtown Ponce. Six nights: the Baile de Máscaras to open, the Entrada del Rey Momo, …
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Looking for this year’s festival? This is the 2025 recap. For the full history and what the festival is about, see our complete guide: Yauco National Coffee Festival. For the current edition, see our 2026 post. The 50th Festival Nacional del Café Freddie León Maldonado ran Sunday, February 23 through Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Yauco. A milestone year for …
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New here? This is the 2025 recap. For the full history, traditions, and what SanSe is about, see our complete guide: SanSe: The Complete Guide to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. SanSe 2025 ran Thursday, January 16 through Sunday, January 19, 2025, across four plazas of Old San Juan. Carlos Vives closed Saturday night at the Quinto Centenario. …
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Looking for this year’s festival? This is the 2024 recap. For the full history and what the festival is about, see our complete guide: Festival Nacional Indígena: The Complete Guide. For the current edition, see our 2026 post, or read our 2025 and 2023 recaps. The 54th Festival Nacional Indígena ran Friday, November 15 through Sunday, November 17, 2024, in …
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Looking for this year’s festival? This is the 2024 recap. For the full history and what the festival is about, see our complete guide: Yauco National Coffee Festival. For the current edition, see our 2026 post. The 49th Festival Nacional del Café Freddie León Maldonado ran Sunday, February 25 through Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Yauco, under the theme “Nuestro …
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Yauco, Puerto Rico, might be a town that you have never heard of but in terms of Puerto Rican history it has quite the sleepy legacy. Presently, known as the “El Pueblo del Café“, or the town of coffee, Yauco was once the Taíno capital of the island prior to the arrival of the Spanish. Led by chief Agüeybana, and …
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New here? This is the 2024 recap. For the full history, the vejigantes, and what the carnival is about, see our complete guide: Carnaval Ponceño: The Complete Guide. Carnaval Ponceño 2024 marked 166 years of history and stretched across nine days, from the Aires de Carnaval salsa nights starting Monday, February 5 to the Entierro de la Sardina on Tuesday, …
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New here? This is the 2024 recap. For the full history, traditions, and what SanSe is about, see our complete guide: SanSe: The Complete Guide to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. SanSe 2024 ran the third weekend of January 2024, Thursday the 18th through Sunday the 21st, across five plazas of Old San Juan plus the Comunidad La …
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Looking for this year’s festival? This is the 2023 recap. For the full history and what the festival is about, see our complete guide: Festival Nacional Indígena: The Complete Guide. For the current edition, see our 2026 post, or look back at 2024 and 2025. The 53rd Festival Nacional Indígena ran Friday, November 17 through Sunday, November 19, 2023, at …
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Looking for this year’s festival? This is the 2023 recap. For the full history and what the festival is about, see our complete guide: Yauco National Coffee Festival. For the current edition, see our 2026 post. The 48th Festival Nacional del Café Freddie León Maldonado ran Sunday, February 26 through Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Yauco. The edition was framed …
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New here? This is the 2023 recap. For the full history, the vejigantes, and what the carnival is about, see our complete guide: Carnaval Ponceño: The Complete Guide. Carnaval Ponceño 2023 ran Thursday, February 16 through Tuesday, February 21, 2023, in downtown Ponce. Six nights on and around Plaza Las Delicias: the Baile de Máscaras to open, the Entrada del …
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It all started thousands of years ago. No one knows exactly where Hairy Chicken originated from, or if there was even an origin. In some ways, Hairy Chicken can be thought of the Indian Chuck Norris. Hairy Chicken is elusive, powerful and legendary. The legend of Hairy Chicken originates from deep within the eastern region of India, from the times …
Read More »New here? This is the 2020 recap. For the full history, traditions, and what SanSe is about, see our complete guide: SanSe: The Complete Guide to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. SanSe 2020 ran Wednesday, January 15 through Sunday, January 19, 2020, and it was a double milestone: the festival’s 50th edition, and the opening act for San …
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If you ever have a long layover in Hong Kong and are wondering if it is worth visting the city, do it! It doesn’t matter if you have a 12, 8, or even just 6 hour layover in Hong Kong, it can likely be a cool experience for you. Anything less than that would be difficult, but not impossible. Recently …
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Looking for this year’s festival? This is the 2019 recap. For the full history and what the festival is about, see our complete guide: Yauco National Coffee Festival. For the current edition, see our 2026 post. The 2019 Festival Nacional del Café ran Sunday, February 24 through Sunday, March 3, 2019, in Yauco, Puerto Rico. Nine days built around the …
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Over the holiday break between 2018-2019 I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Panamá and Colombia. It was my second time in Central/South America as I had previously visited Ecuador for 10 days, spent a brief few days in Costa Rica, and lived in the Caribbean in Puerto Rico for about a year. This trip to Colombia …
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New here? This is the 2019 recap. For the full history, traditions, and what SanSe is about, see our complete guide: SanSe: The Complete Guide to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. SanSe 2019 ran Wednesday, January 16 through Sunday, January 20, 2019, across four plazas of Old San Juan, with additional programming at La Perla, the Teatro Tapia, …
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This year I had the opportunity to attend the San Inazio festival in Boise, Idaho. San Inazio is an annual festival celebrating the Basque culture and it is hosted by the Basque diaspora in Idaho. The San Inazio festival takes place each July and attracts thousands of visitors both from the old country and USA. There are multiple events each …
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Lafayette is a bustling city in the heart of southwest Louisiana that defies the norms of middle America. Known locally as a “little-big town” and once you arrive, you will understand why. It has the energy and ambition of a bigger city, yet everywhere you turn there are signs of tradition. Family recipes have been passed down for generations. Lifestyles …
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Lake Martin Breaux Bridge (Louisiana) (Picture gallery below) Lake Martin is a place that I have included both in my things to do in Louisiana and things to do in Lafayette. Lake Martin is a swamp-lake located in Breaux Bridge, just a short drive from downtown Lafayette. If I am not mistaken, the Lake was originally formed hundreds of years …
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Inside a Louisiana Style Crawfish Boil Crawfishin’ it’s a Cajun thing The Cajun people have made a name for themselves in recent years. For a long time, Louisiana, thanks to Cajun and other creole cuisines, has developed its reputation for being home to some of the most flavorful food in America. Chefs from all around come to south Louisiana to …
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TLDR — Is Megabus Worth It in 2026? Megabus is a budget intercity bus service running across more than 500 cities in the United States, Canada, and now Mexico. I’ve ridden it many times on both sides of the Atlantic, and my verdict hasn’t really changed in over a decade: if you book early and travel light, it’s one of …
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New York is a city well-known for its glamour, grandiose streets, and rapid pace of life. However, once one gets past the constant bustle of the city, you start to notice other things that make New York unique. Outside of its attractions and endless events, one can find some of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods that are compiled of the various …
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A review of the budget airline Ryanair Can you really get a €5 flight in Europe? What’s the catch with Ryanair anyway? When I tell people back home that I’ve taken a flight in Europe for less than $20 the reaction is usually quite similar: disbelief and shock. Americans typically expect there to be a strong correlation between price and …
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Catalina Island is part of the group of islands just off the coast of Los Angeles called the Channels. Catalina is a famed weekend getaway from LA as the ferry to the island takes only about 1 hour. Originally home to the Tongva people, the island was colonized by the Spanish, then passed ownership multiple times before becoming part of …
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Stuff to do in Burlington Vermont Vermont is a quiet state tucked away in the historic New England region of the United States. People who visit Burlington will be surprised to find it is filled with beautiful scenery and landscape. Vermont has some mountains and great hiking venues, and it makes the perfect destination for a person looking to see …
Read More »The Long Beach Bayou Festival just completed its 32nd annual event paying celebrating the Louisiana Cajun culture with music, food, and the ‘laissez les bons temps rouler’ attitude. Learn more about the Cajun way of life here: http://www.backpackingdiplomacy.com/3… Being from Louisiana, I was quite surprised to learn about a Cajun festival in Long Beach. Even more interesting was that it …
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Diversity. It’s a word that lots of cities claim, but few actually achieve. There are definitely plenty of cosmopolitan cities, but none seem to capture the essence of the world in a city like New York City. As Jovanotti put it in his song New York for Life, “There’s no place where you can find a piece of every place, …
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Want to see an alligator in Louisiana? Perhaps even hold a baby alligator? Louisiana alligators are an integral part of the ecosystem and frankly Louisiana just wouldn’t be the same without them. When planning your visit to Louisiana seeing an alligator is one of the top things to do! Where is the best place to find one? It depends. It depends …
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Holi Lafayette has become one of the most anticipated annual events. In preparation for Holi festival 2018, here’s a tribute video to the Lafayette Holi in Louisiana. Are you prepared to party this spring? In the last few years the adoption of Holi in America has become increasingly widespread. While there are many imitations, few festivals seem to capture the …
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Recently, completing my article of things to do in Ecuador in 10 days. I thought it would be helpful to add some travel tips and advice for Ecuador as well. Ecuador was my first visit to South America; hopefully the first of many. I’ve been to other LATAM areas such as Mexico, Costa Rica, and lived in on the Caribbean …
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Backpacking Diplomacy by Andy A blog dedicated to sharing world culture, travel tips and building community.