The long version.
The reels are the 30-second cut. This is everything that didn’t fit: where I stayed, what it cost, what I’d skip. Grouped by country and then by city.
China
Leshan, China
Shenzhen, China
Hong Kong to Shenzhen Visa: Who Walks Through, Who Pays at the Border, and Who Has to Plan Ahead
Visa-free list, 240-hour transit, the 5-day port visa and the Indian passport answer: how every passport gets into Shenzhen from Hong Kong in 2026.
#shenzhen#china#hong-kong#visa#border-crossing
Things to Do in Shenzhen: The City Beyond the Electronics Markets
Shenzhen beyond the electronics cliché: OCT-LOFT, Nantou Ancient City, Dafen's painters, the Free Sky deck, and honest takes on the theme parks.
#shenzhen#china#things-to-do#guangdong#city-guide
Hong Kong to Shenzhen Day Trip: Border, Visas and What's Worth Crossing For
China's visa rules changed and most guides are out of date. The 2026 breakdown of visas, border crossings, apps to install first, and what Shenzhen is actually worth crossing for.
#shenzhen#china#hong-kong#day-trip#border-crossing
Best Restaurants in Shenzhen: Urban Villages, Chaoshan Beef and Cheap Dim Sum
The best restaurants in Shenzhen are not Cantonese and not in malls: Chaoshan beef hotpot, urban village kitchens, and dim sum at half Hong Kong prices.
#shenzhen#china#where-to-eat#food-guide#guangdong
Where to Stay in Shenzhen: A District-by-District Guide
Which Shenzhen district to book, from Futian CBD to Shekou, with honest trade-offs on border access, food, metro lines and price.
#shenzhen#china#where-to-stay#guangdong#city-guide
Huangguoshu, China
Chengdu, China
Things to Do in Chengdu: Teahouses, Pandas and the Day-Trip Menu
How to spend 2-4 days in Chengdu: People's Park teahouses, the panda base at opening, Leshan's Giant Buddha, Sanxingdui's bronze masks and the food between.
#chengdu#china#sichuan#things-to-do#day-trips
Where to Stay in Chengdu: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Guide
Which part of Chengdu to book, from Taikoo Li to the Kuanzhai alleys, with honest trade-offs on price, noise, metro access and food.
#chengdu#china#where-to-stay#sichuan#city-guide
Guiyang, China
Things to Do in Guiyang: Waterfalls, Macaques and the Sour-Fish Nights
How to spend 2-4 days in Guiyang: Huangguoshu Waterfall, Qianling Park's macaques, Qingyan Ancient Town, Tianhetan's caves and where the night markets are.
#guiyang#china#guizhou#things-to-do#day-trips
Where to Stay in Guiyang: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Guide
Which part of Guiyang to book, from the Nanming riverside to Guanshanhu, with honest trade-offs on price, food, metro access and day-trip logistics.
#guiyang#china#where-to-stay#guizhou#city-guide
Xijiang, China
Colombia
Salento, Colombia
Things to Do in Salento: Cocora Valley, Coffee Farms, Tejo and the Town Itself
Every Salento day, planned honestly: Cocora Valley logistics and fees, 2026 coffee farm tour prices, tejo nights, the food scene and day-trip advice.
#salento#colombia#things-to-do#cocora-valley#coffee-region
Salento or Filandia: Which Coffee Town Should You Sleep In?
Salento or Filandia? An honest 2026 comparison of Colombia's two coffee towns: crowds, prices, food, Cocora access and which one deserves your nights.
#salento#filandia#colombia#coffee-region#comparison
Where to Stay in Salento: Town, Coffee Finca or Filandia
Salento town or a coffee finca? An honest 2026 guide to the zones, the after-dark transport problem, real coffee tour prices and Filandia.
#salento#colombia#where-to-stay#coffee-region#filandia
Filandia, Colombia
Jardin, Colombia
Medellin, Colombia
Things to Do in Medellín: Comuna 13, Guatapé and the City's Real Menu
The Medellín days worth planning: an honest Comuna 13 take, the Guatapé day trip by bus or tour, Metrocable rides, football nights and coffee farms.
#medellin#colombia#things-to-do#guatape#comuna-13
Where to Eat in Medellín: Laureles, Envigado and the $4 Lunch
A Medellín food guide organized by neighborhood, from the $4 menú del día in Laureles to Envigado's bandeja paisa and whether El Cielo's $138 tasting menu is worth it.
#medellin#colombia#food#laureles#where-to-eat
Where to Stay in Medellín: El Poblado, Laureles and the Local Picks
Which Medellín neighborhood to book, from El Poblado and Laureles to Envigado and Sabaneta, with honest 2026 notes on noise, nightlife, safety and metro access.
#medellin#colombia#where-to-stay#el-poblado#laureles
Cartagena, Colombia
Things to Do in Cartagena: Islands, Sunsets and the Getsemaní Streets
The Cartagena tours worth booking: Rosario Islands and Tierra Bomba beach clubs compared, sunset sails, walking tours, San Felipe, cooking classes and the mud volcano.
#cartagena#colombia#things-to-do#tours#caribbean
Where to Stay in Cartagena: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Guide
Which part of Cartagena to book, from the walled city to Getsemaní and Bocagrande, with honest trade-offs on noise, heat, price and food.
#cartagena#colombia#where-to-stay#caribbean#city-guide
Mexico
Bacalar, Mexico
Bacalar or Tulum: Where Your Quintana Roo Nights Are Better Spent
Bacalar or Tulum? An honest 2026 comparison: sargassum-free lagoon vs beach, prices, crowds, cenotes and ruins, plus the route that fits both in one trip.
#bacalar#tulum#mexico#quintana-roo#comparison
Things to Do in Bacalar: Boat Tours, Sunrise Kayaks and the Stromatolites
How to spend your days on the Lagoon of Seven Colors: sailboat vs pontoon tours, sunrise kayaks, Los Rápidos, Cenote Azul, and the rules that protect the stromatolites.
#bacalar#mexico#things-to-do#quintana-roo#lagoon
Where to Stay in Bacalar: Lagoon-Front, Town, and the Quiet Shores
Which part of Bacalar to book on the Lagoon of Seven Colors, from waterfront hotels with swim docks to the budget town center and the quiet south shore.
#bacalar#mexico#where-to-stay#quintana-roo#lagoon
Mahahual, Mexico
Peru
Lima, Peru
Miraflores or Barranco: Where Should You Actually Sleep in Lima?
Miraflores or Barranco? An honest 2026 comparison of Lima's coastal rivals: night safety, food, nightlife, hotel prices and the walk between them.
#lima#peru#miraflores#barranco#comparison
Where to Stay in Lima: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Guide
Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro or Centro? Where to base yourself in Lima, with honest trade-offs on safety, nightlife, traffic and the food.
#lima#peru#where-to-stay#food-travel#city-guide
