From hidden gem to …

Each one of us has a different idea of what to look at when travelling, but I think one concept is similar to almost everyone who packs a suitcase and takes a plane somewhere: the idea that what we are visiting is somehow new, yet to be discovered by the masses, not yet a touristic spot per say.

What for one is a hidden gem for others is already a beaten track!

Now the interesting part is, what does each of us considers beaten track / off the beaten track is quite subjective, and usually is “cool” to say a place is the first rather than the second — it gives yourself an aura of adventurous and trend setter. I fall into that category many times, although I can say that I honestly try to be truthful in my opinion. Paris is amazing with tourists or no tourists, and some sights are to be be seen / visited either way (the Musée d’Orsay for instance).

When backpacking, the will to find hidden gems is stronger…is part of the whole culture and you want to live it. Has time goes by, it’s harder and harder to find and preserve these places but luckily they keep “popping out”. Some rules apply:

• If it’s to easy to get there, it’s already broken;
• If to many people talk about it, it’s already in the circuit;
• If you wait too long before the first time you heard a whisper about it and the moment you go, you’ll arrive too late!

The way I see it, we can see the progression of off beaten track to beaten track places in the following way:

First: some travellers try to go somewhere not much heard off or stumble upon it by hearing about it on a “word to mouth” basis, while travelling. If the place is considered worthwhile, this is the true hidden gem — example: Chapada Diamantina in the state of Salvador in Brasil. Was very close to going there a few months ago, but went to Floripa instead.

Second: the place makes it to some travel blogues and chapters of travel guides of nearby places — the off-beaten track status has arrived. Example: the island of Flores in Indonesia. Luckily, I went to this one!

Third: backpacker go to place. The spot is on the travel guides, travellers know about it before going and without needing much research. However, the place is still the easiest to reach. The cheaper flights don’t got there, and you might need an extra week to get there, a week you don’t manage to schedule in your yearly vacation limited days. Bocas del Toro in Panamá could fit here quite well, although I like to think about it has a 2,5!

I call these places “must go to despite off!

Forth: beaten track / barbarians have arrived. Sorry about the pejorative connotation I embed in my text regarding the vibe around touristic hot spots, but the way these places usually lose all the identity that made them interesting in the first place, until the only thing left to experience is what can’t be brought down — like the Eiffel tower? — and event then…

I call these places “must go to despite off!” The remaining ones are out of scope for me to talk about : )

For my next post: how can a 2 week Holliday make your year worthwhile?