WHEELS OF FORTUNE

Recently I was reading a Huffington Post article about overrated travel destinations, and the author suggested ditching Costa Rica for Hawaii because “the roads are better, things are a little tidier, most people speak English…the food is actually interesting and they have really great umbrella cocktails.”

No disrespect for Hawaii (I’ve never been), but I don’t agree that it should supplant Costa Rica on anyone’s travel itinerary just because it’s easier to navigate. Our adventures on Costa Rica’s crappy roads—including nearly squashing some pedestrians and being pushed backwards up an incline by a helpful group of Ticos—were some of my favorite memories from our trip around the country. Not because we enjoy complications (although everything running smoothly doesn’t make for nearly as good a story), but because the nature of our escapades was uniquely Costa Rican.

Perhaps that’s the difference between touring and traveling: Tourists try to minimize uncertainty with a regimented schedule and cultural encounters distilled through English-speaking guides, while travelers embrace the unknown—mishaps and all—as part of an authentic experience. All I know is that sitting on the beach with a bottle of Imperial and a bowl of ceviche is significantly more pleasurable after you’ve faced a few bumps in the road.