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About Us

North, Central and South America

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Country editors: North, South and Central America

Matt Scott - USA Editor
I work and study part time; often both get interrupted when I get itchy feet. While I’m in the UK I spend most of my time working to save up for my next trip; when I’m away I try and work my way down my extensive ‘Things to do Before I Die’ list
(I think you have to try everything at least once so it’s quite a long list).

I love travelling and writing, occasionally I get paid to do one or the other but if I can find someone who wants to pay me to do both at once I’ll be set for life.

Countries visited

Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eire, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Jordan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway, Romania, Russia, Sweden, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Turkey, USA.

Unusual experiences

1. Deciding it will be a good idea to get a full time job and give up travelling (I lasted about a month).

Top five tips

1. Before you go; listen to what your friends, family, colleagues and peers have to say; ignore them and only do what you really want. Go where you want to, because you want to. Don’t get that job in accounting when you really want to go to Fiji; accounting can wait (so can Fiji but it won’t be as much fun with two kids, your second wife and only half your own teeth).
2. Get lost: not following a map or guide book can be the best way of really getting to know a city and finding those undiscovered places (please don’t follow this advice if you are hopeless at getting yourself found again).
3. Get a job; every country has some kind of voluntary scheme for travellers to become involved in; even if it’s just for a few days you can get to know some locals and do more than just add your tourist dollars to the community.
4. Take dental floss; a length makes a great washing line, it’s strong enough to hold together your rucksack should it break (also good for wetsuits), buy the minty stuff and it can work as a breath mint (or rather breath floss), it works as a cheese cutter (vital for when your travelling) and if you’re desperate it can also be good for dental hygiene.
5. Follow your instincts; there are lots of people trying to scam, rip off, rob, steal (and worse) from travellers. There are also lots of people who want to make sure you love their country and make you feel welcome there. There is no way to tell the difference until it’s too late, but if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. When someone does go out of their way to make you feel welcome; make sure to make it up to them in an appropriate way (money can sometimes offend but gifts are always a safe bet).

Vicki Crabb - Guatemala Editor
Hi! My name is Vicki, I am 22 years-old, I love travelling and have been lucky enough to visit places not only as a backpacker but also with my family. I am off again soon before my next bout of study commences and this time I will be visiting Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands before arriving home. It is a tried and tested route, but one which I need to experience!

I like to push myself to the limit and meet different people so have taken part in placements and independent travel. I took part in a three month expedition to Belize with Trekforce last summer and still have mosquito bite scars to prove it!!

Countries visited

Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, France, Grand Cayman, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Spain, US Virgin Islands, USA.

Adventure sports

I am not actually a huge fan of adventure sports, being a bit of a wimp when it comes to heights. However I have done things such as power boating, white water rafting, rock climbing and SCUBA diving.

Unusual experiences

1. Ran up the Rocky steps in Philadelphia whilst singing Eye of the Tiger.
2. Climbed a live, smoking, lava encrusted volcano and looked over the craters edge in Guatemala.
3. Asked a policeman to see the map in his hat whilst very drunk and underage in America... not a good plan...
4. Fell out of a top bunk on to a marble floor and broke my cheek bone whilst on holiday and had a fantastic black eye but a not so great headache.
5. Fed Stingrays squid whilst diving and had them suck my hand.
6. Got bitten by a spider in the USA which then got infected and had to have antibiotics. I now have a scar on my leg.

Top five tips

1. Check the Expiry Date of your credit card before leaving. Seems simple enough, but I was stupid and forgot only to realise it had expired two days after I left home. Luckily I was due home in two days and had taken enough cash/traveller’s cheques with me. Not worth the hassle!
2. Keep a Diary. It is so easy to forget the amazing things you done and it also fills in long journeys.
3. Use Gaffer Tape. Wonderful stuff. Put over the top of suncream/shampoos etc whilst travelling - I have never had a leakage so far. Also handy for breakages and preventing blisters.
4. Pack Lightly. Been said before and I will say it again. Just imagine carrying your rucksack on a two mile walk to the bus station in 40 degree heat - you will wish then you hadn’t bought ten t-shirts when you only wear two!
5. Moisturise! Bit girly but well worth it to keep your fantastic tan around longer than a week upon returning home. Plus there should be no embarrassing flaky skin and air con won’t wither your skin to the appearance of a prune!

Gabi Cross - Honduran Editor
Hi, I'm Gabi, I'm 25 and have spent the last 3 years (pre gapyear.com) travelling! I went to Oz straight after uni, followed the typical backpacker trail (East Coast) and met my boyfriend Chris on a white water rafting trip on the Tully River. He was my Guide (very corny, I know). In order to stay together we worked two summer rafting seasons in Switzerland and a season in Honduras. Currently I'm applying for a residency visa for Australia. I can't wait to move to the land of Chris, beer, mozzies, sun, relaxation, swimming pools, and beautiful scenery.

Countries visited

America, Australia, Austria, Caribbean, Corsica, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Wales.

Unusual experiences

1. I’ve ‘bagged’ a few people after they’d fallen out of the raft into freezing cold Swiss glacial water. This involved me throwing a bag of rope, them grabbing the end, and me pulling them to the shore and safety!
2. Fell 4 metres off a cliff whilst mountain biking. I landed in a bunch of stinging nettles; hit my face on a well-positioned tree (!) - which gave me a squashed nose and black eyes - and dislocated my thumb! Luckily it’s all healed now.
3. Picked 40 ticks of each leg whilst in Honduras.
4. Had my toenail removed in a Honduran 'hospital' after I banged it and it got infected.
5. Been hydrospeeding (one of the worst adventure water sports I've ever taken part in).
6. Been canyoning and got wedged between a rock and a tree - stupid big life jacket.

Top five tips

1. Take a pillow case and sleeping bag liner when staying in hostels. Sometimes the provided bed linen can look a little bit worst for wear...
2. Never listen when people you meet on your travels say ‘don’t bother going there because it’s crap’. People view places with different eyes - check it out for yourself and gather your own opinions.
3. Be confident on planes - don’t let your neighbour hog the armrest.
4. And clean your teeth when you’re flying - there’s nothing worse than sitting next to someone with bad breath on a 13 hour flight. Phewee!
5. Don’t put a light bulb in your back pocket...

Phew! Made it! A safe landing after my epic 1hr hang glide

A Guatemalan food and bits n' bobs market

Livi Ruffle - Canada Editor
It is a universally acknowledged fact that I am an oddball, and it's a talent I've perfected. My ultimate aim is to die and go to Heaven, but in the meantime I mess with computers, find any excuse to jump on a plane, think deeply about sentence structure and tell mathematical jokes that naturally, no-one else gets! Annoying things include illogical reasoning, people not doing the washing-up, and temperatures below -30C...

My motto is "having the right to do something does not mean you are right in doing it." Wise words indeed, from GK Chesterton.

Countries visited

Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malaysia Malta, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore Spain, USA, Vatican City, Wales.

Unusual experiences

1. I’ve lived in a convent.
2. I’ve skated on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.
3. I’ve gathered a collection of Missals in different languages.
4. I’ve been offered a "modelling contract" (read - a door into child prostitution) when I was 5.

Top five tips

1. Always take a book!
2. Make the effort to speak the language - it gives you a real insight into the culture.
3. Don't be afraid to be alone.
4. Think outside the box and poo-poo the hoardes - use your gap to do something worthwhile, something that YOU really want to do.
5. Did I mention you should take a book?

Richard Arghiris - Mexico Editor
Hi, I'm Richard, a writer and freelance journalist. I had my first travel experiences when I crossed the US by bus at aged 18. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to work, travel and live in a few different countries - mostly in Europe and Central America. I’m basically a restless soul, and I never stay put for too long. My real passion in life is writing, which has kept me good company over the years. I am an avid reader and am particularly fascinated by anthropology and shamanism. I also feel strongly about the environment, social justice and the dangerous direction our leaders are taking us. My ultimate goal is self-sufficiency. Nothing would beat relaxing on my own patch, enjoying home-grown, tropical fruit.

Countries visited

Austria, Germany, Holland, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, United States, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama.

Unusual experiences

1. Sleeping next to five Honduran workmen in a dilapidated shed... in a forest on top of a mountain.
2. Drinking mezcal from a plastic petrol tank with a group of random Mexicans.
3. Living in a tent for 10 weeks while working as a chef in Amsterdam.
4. Partaking in a Native American sweat-lodge ceremony.
5. Working as a croupier on a run-down Israeli cruise-ship.

Top five tips

1. Listen to your gut.
2. Keep an open mind.
3. Get off the beaten track regularly.
4. Learn as much as you can about the countries you visit.
5. Be sensitive to local values and beliefs.

Lorraine Bridges - Chile Editor
Hi, my name’s Lorraine, and I am Gapyear.com’s Chile Editor. My passions in life are my friends and family, the natural world, writing, and of course travel. For me travelling is looking beyond my world, learning about myself and feeling part of a global community that shares the same needs, fears and dreams. The places I have been to and the people I have met inspire me to put pen to paper and lend their soul a voice.

If I could have one wish it would be that everyone could be less afraid to reach out to those around them.

Countries visited

Austria, Canada, Chile, Dubai, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, USA.

Unusual experiences

1. Bathed naked in a glacial lake.
2. Bathed naked in a bath full of naked Africans (bit of theme).
3. Drank fresh sheep’s blood.
4. Climbed onto the roof of someone’s house to get a better view of the sunrise.
5. Gone iceberg hopping.

Top five tips

1. Choose your travelling partner carefully - even your best mate might have different views on how to travel.
2. Smile - and don’t be afraid to ask people if you can tag along.
3. Keep a diary (you will never remember all those little things you did).
4. Don’t over-plan your trip, leave yourself a little lee way- you never know what might come up.
5. Travelling is about taking risks but don’t be an easy target - use common sense.

Helen Duriez - Argentina Editor
Hi, I’m Helen Duriez and I've just spent the last five months backpacking around South America by myself. (Girls: Independent travel is not as hard or scary as it sounds. Do it.) I discovered my itchy feet when I left home to study maths at the York uni. Time and funds kept me wandering around the UK and Europe and much fun was had, most notably in Paris, Dublin and Glasgow. I was then finally able to realise a childhood dream and spent three months on a working cattle ranch in NE Argentina. My walking boots then took me around the rest of Argie, as well as Chile, Brazil and Uruguay for an incredibly enlightening gap year.

Countries visited

France, Spain, Ireland, USA, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay

Unusual experiences

1. Touring the sights of Dublin. Not very unusual I hear you cry. Try doing it dressed as a pantomime horse! A charity fundraiser like no other, my friends and I endured backache, sore feet, heat stroke, hangovers and an infuriating singing leprechaun called Seamus in the name of Lord Taverner’s.
2. Chocolate pizza! I kid you not. At an all-you-can-eat buffet in Foz do Iquaçu, Brazil - also on offer was banana and cinnamon pizza and a bean flan. Good food takes on a whole new meaning when you travel.
3. Swimming with and feeding stingrays in Florida. A bit different from the obligatory dolphins and oh so cool.
4. Assisting with the artificial insemination of horses and cattle whilst working in Argentina. Even by backpacker’s standards, that’s something a bit different to put on the CV!
5. Meeting the Boca Juniors JUNIOR football team on my flight from Buenos Aires to Toronto. I don’t even like football, but the lads were sweet and all my male friends jealous!

Top five tips

1. Your passport and tourist visa are your most valuable possessions. Keep them safe! Memorise your passport number for an easy life (EVERYONE from the hostel receptionist to the bus driver will want to know it) then keep your documents and valuables locked up safely in your hostel. If you want to take ID for a night out, a UK driving license normally works and is more expendable when you’re travelling.

2. Travel light! It’s worth checking the economic situation of your chosen country before you get there - chances are you’ll be able to buy the same bottle of shampoo at your destination at a third of the price, thus saving you a few pounds out of your backpack and your purse.

3. A tube of good antiseptic cream in your first aid kit is a lifesaver for the independent traveller, no matter what the Red Cross says. The best ones will relieve sunburn, insect bites and blisters, as well as standard cuts and scratches.

4. Customs officers in some countries are not as scrupulous as those in the UK, so lock up your luggage if possible. If not, you may find it searched and 'dangerous' items removed in your absence. These have been known to include penknives, earrings and toiletries...

5. People can make or break a place. A beautiful place is nothing without the people that live there, so always try your hardest to get immersed in the local culture. Not speaking the language is not an excuse to avoid local cuisine, learning a dance or playing with local children. Carry some photos of home with you - that way your newfound friends can learn about your culture too.