Trying to pinpoint where the new cool place for backpackers to go is something of a mug’s game. By the time the rest of the world knows about the destination, the scene has generally moved on. But from Central America to the South Pacific, there are a few spots that have emerged in recent years – and it’s probably time to get there before they’re ruined.
Caye Caulker
Where? Belize, Central America
Ostensibly, people come to Caye Caulker to go out for diving and snorkelling on the world’s second biggest barrier reef. They want to swim with manatees, sharks and turtles.
But then once they’ve done that, people end up staying. The island is one of those places that seems to capture people from all over the world. Very few of the residents are actually from Caye Caulker in the first place – many are overseas arrivals that have found a place that fits their temperaments.
And the backpackers end up staying too. There’s a cruisey, international village-like atmosphere and people slowly amble down the main street past the brightly-coloured clapboard houses. A spirit of “no problem” prevails, and the chilled-out bars fill up night after night.
The island’s lack of sandy beaches saves it from the mass market (who tend to go north to Ambergris Caye), but the backpackers tend to end up staying for longer than they expected.
Adriatic Coast
Where? Albania
The rest of the world has long since discovered the one-time backpacker havens of Croatia and Montenegro, so the kids have moved further down to Albania.
The ‘Albanian Riviera’, as it is becoming known, is in the south of the country. It stretches roughly from the town of Vlore to the Greek border, and while it can be a bit of a trek to get to on a bus around bendy mountain roads, it is home to some of the most pristine, unspoilt beaches in Europe.
Drymades beach is a bit of a hotspot, and conjures up visions of South-East Asia before every man and his dog flew there with Jetstar.
It’s all about the beach bar scene, with some basic beach hut accommodation tucked away in the background. And, of course, given that Albania is Europe’s backward cousin, everything is remarkably cheap.
Vang Vieng
Where: Laos
With just about every inch of Thailand covered by white blokes in dreadlocks or rich girls ‘finding themselves’ whilst spending daddy’s trust fund, the South East Asian scene has moved on somewhat. Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia are soaking up the overspill, the truly adventurous are heading into Myanmar, and Laos has been up-and-coming for a while.
Luang Prabang and Vientiane are the two major destinations, but Vang Vieng has captured the laidback backpacker spirit.
It’s almost entirely a backpacker town. Most go for the chance to go tubing down the river, but there are enough hostels, internet cafes and bars to keep the small settlement interesting for a longer period.
Dodgy DVDs in the evening with a slice of ‘special’ pizza are the norm, although Vang Vieng is to Lao culture what Rove McManus is to hard-hitting political interview techniques.
Agnes Water/ Town of 1770
Where: Queensland, Australia
Australia’s own backpacker hotspot is one of those places that will inevitably turn into another circus like Byron Bay or be commandeered by the moneyed-up set like Noosa. So it’s time to enjoy the twin towns while they last.
On the coast between Bundaberg and Gladstone, Agnes Water and 1770 boast awesome beaches that – as yet – have no development along them. It’s just high-backed dunes and the odd tree. The Agnes Water beach is the most northerly surf beach on the east coast, while it’s possible to watch the sun set over the ocean from 1770 (it’s on a peninsula).
Throw in trips to the Great Barrier Reef, and a series of innovative tours (such as the Thundercat boat and Scooter-Roo chopper motorbike jaunts), and you’ve got enough to keep people entertained for a fair few days.
But it’s the laidback vibe that makes people stay longer than they anticipated. The area has a number of excellent hostels, the local population are ultra-friendly and there’s a bit of an alternative lifestyle ethic that seeps through.
This article was originally written for Ninemsn.
Copyright David Whitley
