‘I’ve visited 131 countries – one destination is the world’s most underrated’ | America | Travel

Globetrotting blogger Jordan Egbert, who jets off to all corners of the globe and shares his adventures on Instagram under the moniker Counting Countries, has hailed Guatemala as the planet’s most “underrated country.”

With a goal to tread through every nation on Earth, Jordan’s impressive passport flaunts stamps from 131 out of 195 countries so far.

In a gushing tribute to his latest destination, Guatemala, on his social media, Jordan has enthusiastically promoted the Central America gem as one of the globe’s hidden treasures.

Jordan took to Instagram to extol Guatemala’s virtues, posting: “This is one of the most underrated countries in the world in my opinion. It is beautiful, clean, affordable and has so many activities. This is GUATEMALA.”

Alongside breath-taking clips of his Guatemalan journey, Jordan sung the praises of this oft-overlooked locale, highlighting experiences like residing in an authentic hobbit village, trekking up stirring active volcanoes, and savouring some sublime fresh culinary delights, reports the Mirror.

Continuing, he raved: “This is Guatemala, the country of lush rainforests, Mayan ruins, and volcanoes everywhere. One of the best cities in the country is the mountain town of Antigua, it is close to a beautiful lake and the culture is rich. The food here is also fantastic.”

Diving into a standout moment from his travels, Jordan beamed about bedding down in a Lord of the Rings inspired hobbit hamlet with his family. He celebrated the experience, stating: “We stayed in a small hut, enjoyed tonnes of games and activities on the property, and of course, took in all of the amazing views.”

He enthused: “But the best part is getting up close and personal with the volcanoes, there are multiple active volcanoes that you can hike and can even see lava spewing out of them. We roasted marshmallows over the lava rocks and made delicious smores.”

Wrapping up his video, Jordan insisted that he “highly recommends” a trip to Guatemala and urged more travellers to include it on their must-visit lists.

Despite Jordan’s positive review, some followers remained sceptical, with one remarking: “not underrated. simply was not safe in previous decades.” Meanwhile, another wrote: “Very unsafe country, sadly.”

Contrastingly, several netizens echoed Jordan’s sentiments based on their visits, with one replying: “I spent three months there traveling the country in 2006. I loved it. A five day trek from Nebaj to Todos Santos was a highlight. I went back again in 2011 and had another great time with no problems.”

Would-be visitors to Guatemala should consult the latest guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) before setting off.

While most regions in Guatemala are generally safe for tourists, the FCDO currently suggests avoiding all but essential travel to certain areas, including Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista and La Democracia in Huehuetenango department, as well as places within 5km of the border with Mexico, extending from the Pacific Coast to the Gracias a Dios border crossing.