Forget Trump Here's Why The 'Shthole Countries' Should Be On Your Bucket List

Last week, President Trump referred to African nations as ‘shithole countries’, and spoke disparagingly about El Salvador and Haiti. During a discussion with US senators about immigration policy, the president used ‘racist’ language to describe these countries and expressed his frustration about immigrants coming from them to America.

We believe that these countries aren’t anything like the way President Trump describes, and are, in fact, full of beautiful locations we are desperate to visit. Below are some of the places on our bucket list.

Haiti

Citadelle Laferrière

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A stunning mountaintop fortress built after Haiti declared independence, this landmark is in fantastic condition and is an important symbol of strength and resistance for Haitians.

Gelee Beach

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The longest stretch of sand in the country, this beach is next to open pasture, which makes for a gorgeous vista. Fishing boats bob on the horizon and the sweet smell of coconut floats on the breeze as you tuck into your seafood lunch.

Saut-Mathurine

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You can swim in the pool of this huge waterfall. It’s surrounded by the kind of lush greenery that is typical of Haiti.

El Salvador

Tazumal

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First settled in 5,000 BC, you won’t want to miss a trip to these seriously impressive Mayan ruins. Many remain unexcavated, so you can dream about Mayan civilisation while imagining the structures beneath your feet.

Lake Ilopango

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This is one of the largest lakes in the country. It fills the crater of an extinct volcano, which is super cool. You can swim and dive to look for fish while surrounded by the glassy reflections of mountainous peaks.

Montecristo National Park

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A natural cloud forest, you can see pumas, anteaters and spider monkeys in this national park. It’s got everything from 2,418 metre (7,933 foot) peaks to 30 metre (98 foot) trees.

Africa

Casbah of Algiers, Algeria

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This location is made up of winding streets stuffed with mosques, palaces and homes, and is an unmissable attraction for any visitor. A UNESCO world heritage site, it is beautifully preserved and dates back to the Ottoman empire.

Victoria Falls, the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe

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The African name for this famous waterfall is Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘The Smoke that Thunders’, which refers to the incredible sound and spray from the water. It’s roughly twice the height of the Niagara Falls and is surrounded by a savannah home to lions, rhinos and hippos.

Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia

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A picturesque village on the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia, this location has inspired artists and writers for many years. Originally a religious site, it’s inspired the likes of Matisse and Simone de Beauvoir. The colour scheme of white and blue houses, along with the turquoise water, make it a sight to behold.

The Sahara desert

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This famous desert spans roughly 3.6 million square miles (9.4 million square kilometers), and reaches Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia. Visiting the largest desert in the world means slow, soulful camel journals, nighttime fires and experiencing the best view of the stars that the world has to offer.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

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If you’ve ever dreamed about seeing leopards, giraffe, lions, buffalo, rhinos and gazelles in their natural environment, this is where you need to be.

Marrakech souks, Morocco

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These markets have existed for more than a thousand years. You can find everything you could ever want to buy here, from metalwork and tapestries to clothes and spices.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.