Hi there JFC-ers,

In today’s edition of “There goes Katy down a rabbit hole,” we’re visiting Panama. The one with the canal, not the confusingly-named city in Florida.

Having been to Costa Rica last year and absolutely loving it, I’m keen to return to Central America some day in the not too distant future. There’s nothing quite like hearing birdsong echoing out across a misty cloud-forest canopy, or drinking in a volcano-filled vista while sipping on a seriously strong coffee made from local beans.

Costa Rica has made a name for itself off the back of its unrivalled nature, sustainable practices, and safety. But it turns out, neighbouring Panama may not be so far behind — but with the bonus of fewer visitors vying for the chance to spot an elusive quetzal.

Sounds pretty good, right? If you’ve ever been to Panama, I’d love to hear about your experiences! Can it really hold a candle to captivating Costa Rica?

As always, just hit ‘Reply’ to share your stories.

Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

Written by Olivia

San Diego native Olivia left home two years ago to live on the road, but she always ends up back on the West Coast. When she's not hiking through the desert or the woods, she can usually be found exploring her current city and scoping out the best bars and coffee shops.

The USA’s 47th state has a pretty compelling nickname: The Land of Enchantment. You’ll see it on license plates and souvenirs across New Mexico, and it certainly makes a big promise.

But here’s the thing… this place fully delivers on that title. I came to New Mexico with admittedly high expectations, and wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. From local heritage to natural beauty, here are five reasons that this state earns its nickname fair and square!

1. It has a unique mix of cultures.

New Mexico has been under a few different jurisdictions. It’s the ancestral home of numerous indigenous groups, primarily Pueblo tribes. In the last 500 years, it’s been Spanish, Mexican, and American territory. 

All these cultures still shape the region today. It’s one of the few places in the US where the local indigenous culture feels highly visible and respected. It’s also got deeper roots to Spain than most of the region, as it was once a vital part of the empire. Like other Southwestern states, its Mexican heritage runs strong, and there’s still evidence of Wild West American history.

You can observe these cultures running together in many aspects of life: the variety of cuisine, the mix of folk art, the emphasis on spirituality, and the preponderance of adobe-style homes. While every US state is a bit of a melting pot, it’s rarely as apparent as in New Mexico.

2. The arts are a big deal.

Artists flock to New Mexico. Georgia O’Keeffe is the most famous — she bought two ranches in Abiquiú and spent about 40 years painting, hiking, and kayaking around the area, so any fans of her later work will definitely recognize the scenery around here. You can tour her ranch, or check out her art at the O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe (just one of the state’s many excellent art museums).

But truly, the artistic history of this region is ancient. The Puebloan tribes have lived on this land for millennia, and much of the evidence they left behind is in the form of art. In addition to the ancient petroglyphs dotted around the state, you can also get up close and inspect ancient pottery in plenty of museums. 

And that legacy lives on! Peruse the main thoroughfares in any city, and you might notice that the vast majority of local shops are dedicated to art. You can grab the modern versions of pottery styles that were developed right where you’re standing, thousands of years ago. In O’Keeffe’s footsteps, you’ll also find gallery after gallery of gorgeous landscape paintings.

If you’re a painter, a potter, a collector, or just a big art nerd, you’ll never run out of work to admire in New Mexico.

3. It’s full of natural wonders.

Every state in the Southwest gets major bragging rights on beauty, but New Mexico might take the cake when it comes to looking like another planet. The (aptly named) White Sands, for example, could be mistaken for a frozen wasteland from the right angle. And no photo of Carlsbad Caverns could ever do it justice — it’s a whole underground world, complete with trippy rock formations and crystal pools.

The areas outside the National Parks are also pretty stunning. Between Shiprock, the Badlands, and the Valles Caldera (which you'll find atop a dormant supervolcano) you could film an entire Star Wars movie solely in New Mexico.

Every drive through this state is a feast for the eyes, from the mountains to the desert. The Chihuahuan is littered with green and gold cliffsides, with soaptree yucca poking up from the earth. Look out for roadrunners (the state bird) and herds of pronghorns.

4. Its cities are seriously cool (and underrated).

Keep an eye on Albuquerque — I have a feeling that moving here from out of state is going to become very trendy very soon. There are some rough edges to its reputation, but I think those will be sanded down quickly as people realize what a gem it can be.

For starters, ‘Burque has a bit of a hipster bent to it! Nob Hill, for example, is lush with craft cocktail bars, funky coffee shops, and cute boutiques. Excellent food can be found all over town, from taco trucks to the glamorous (and high altitude) TEN 3. And despite all the hip dives, it’s still one of the cheapest cities I’ve spent time in. 

Santa Fe can’t boast the same low pricing, but makes up for it in beauty. Those arts I mentioned earlier? Absolutely king in Santa Fe. Walking around town is like walking through an open-air gallery. While it may be the state capital (and fairly famous), it still retains a quirky small town vibe. It feels a little like being let in on a secret — a little pocket of escapism in the steppe.

Finally, further up the road, you’ll find Taos. Here you'll find similar art and architecture, plus the Taos Pueblo: a traditional indigenous community that's been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years.

Winter sports enthusiasts might also recognize this city's name. Despite being best-known for its desert, New Mexico also has some of the most popular slopes in the country up at the Taos Ski Valley.

5. The people are super nice.

Last but not least, New Mexicans are some of the friendliest folks you’ll meet on the road! It’s never hard to strike up a conversation with a stranger, if they don’t start one first. It's pretty laid-back, and everyone can come as they are. 

So if I’ve sold you on visiting the Land of Enchantment today, rest assured that the local culture will welcome you with open arms :-)

Answered by Larissa

Larissa is an Aussie expat from Sydney who only sometimes misses the beach. Currently based in London, she’s now working on ticking as many European cities (and brunch spots) off her travel list as possible.

Hello! I’ve just come back from a 10-day trip visiting Tokyo and Kyoto which (of course) I travelled between via the Shinkansen. I’m a train lover through-and-through, and spotting Mount Fuji outside my train window on a beautifully clear day was one of the highlights of my trip! 

When you start researching the cheapest way to use the trains, it can be tricky to figure out whether Japan’s JR pass is worth the money, because it does cost a pretty penny upfront. I’ve done a little research for you to try and help with your current conundrum!

For reference, a 7-day rail pass is 50,000 JPY (£265) and a 14-day rail pass is 80,000 JPY (£425). It allows you unlimited travel on Shinkansen (high-speed bullet trains) and JR lines (regional inter-city train lines), although the NOZOMI and MIZUHO lines are only partially covered. It doesn’t include subway lines, trams or private railways (but it does include some buses), so you’ll likely still need to load up a Suica card to get around Tokyo, for example. 

Confused? Me too. Working out exactly what is covered can be tough, so I’d definitely recommend comparing your travel plans against the exceptions listed on this page.

I’ll start off by saying that if your itinerary only includes a couple of cities (like mine did), it’s almost definitely your best bet to just buy single tickets for each leg. You can buy these in advance online if you’re tight on time and need to catch a specific train, or you can rock up at the station and buy your ticket from a machine. We were flexible when travelling in between Tokyo and Kyoto (and back), so this was the best bet for us. 

Our tickets cost us about £75 per person each way, although we may have been able to save money by booking in advance. You can check individual ticket prices here.

By using JR’s Fare Calculator, I can see that is reflected in the price – apparently for that journey I would have been out of pocket 21,000 JPY (£110) if I had bought the 7-day JR pass. Definitely glad I just bought the individual tickets! 

To use the Fare Calculator, you need to add your itinerary by station, and then you’ll see will whether or not you’ll be saving money by buying a JR pass, or spending more. If you see ‘add this amount to save’, that’s when you know you’re better buying individual tickets. It does seem like this feature is a little buggy, and it might time out – here is an alternative. 

I’ve inputted various itineraries, and I think that buying the JR pass is only really worth it if you’re travelling: 

• To more than 10 stations in between Hiroshima and Tokyo in a 7-day period (you’ll need to travel even more if you’re considering a 14 or 21-day pass.) 
  
  
• To a far-away city like Sapporo, since the individual ticket may cost more than the JR pass.

Ultimately, this tells me that it doesn’t make sense to buy a JR pass unless you’re doing a lot of travelling, or you’re planning on going to the far-flung corners of the country which are more expensive to reach. 

If the JR Pass does make sense for you, you can buy it online up to 3 months in advance. You will then receive a voucher that can be exchanged for the physical pass once you arrive. Top tip from our colleague Drew: make sure you have your passport and a print-out of the voucher handy — both are absolutely necessary for getting your pass issued.

Hopefully you’ve now got a better idea of what will suit you, and I’ve managed to help you get your head around the intricacies of the JR pass a little. Have a great time in Japan, it’s a wonderful country to explore! 

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across web this week.

• As much as we love wandering off the beaten path, tourists on the island of Tenerife have proven it’s not always the best idea. After taking off-road detours and manhandling rocks, they’ve earned a thorough telling-off from local environmentalist groups.
• It’s time to swap the super soakers for hairdryers as Thailand dries off after a wild few days of Songkran water fights. The real winners, though, are those who managed to bag a free Moo Deng plushy!
• “Chicken or pasta?”— the classic in-flight question that haunts us all. Well, your answer might change after you read this recent survey that ranked food from nine of the most popular airlines in the UK. You’ll never guess which airlines came last…
• And finally, over at Thiruvananthapuram Airport (say that 5 times fast), planes made way for something a whole lot holier than birds on the runway — a centuries-old Hindu procession. For a few hours, passengers had to sit tight while all aircraft were halted to allow the passing of temple idols, golden chariots, and even an elephant or two.