The Buggiest Places on Earth: Why You Should Travel to Them and How You Can

High res-DAY 01_CRAGHOPPERS_SHOT 03_2707_FLATDon’t let bugs ruin the trip of a lifetime.

If you’ve spent anytime in the tropics, you may have learned the hard way that when you’re staying in an open air room, mosquito nets are, in fact, essential. All it takes is waking up one morning to a face full of bug bites to realize that there’s no shame in hanging a net over your bed.

In the spirit of combating things like bugs and not letting minor difficulties hold you back from exploring epic places around the world, here are some of the most fascinating and buggiest places you’ll find—and just the right gear to get you through.

Recife, Brazil

Recife is a growing city where old meets new.
Recife is a growing city where old meets new.

Marinelson Almeida – Traveling t

Dubbed a "seaside splendor" by Lonely Planet, Recife is exactly the vibrant, beach-lined city you’d imagine it to be when you think of a bustling coastal locale in fiery Brazil. For those who like to experience the racing pulse of a cultural city—think a popular market and botanical gardens—alongside their intake of turquoise seas, Recife delivers. The city has colonial architecture nestled among towering highrises and is bursting at the seams with culinary experiences galore.

Gear: While the city certainly had a bout with the Zika virus, a little thoughtful prevention goes a long way, and investing in this lightweight NosiLife Pro Shirt is one way to do it. One of Craghoppers’ innovative Insect Shield® pieces, the NosiLife Pro is washable like anything else, but includes a permethrin treatment that remains effective through 70 washes. This repellent is a-ok to have on your skin and keeps mosquitoes at a distance, even protecting the uncovered parts of your body.

El Sunzal, El Salvador

The Elgin Hoody has an inner zip guard behind the zipper and elastic around the cuffs, hem, and hood to keep bugs out.
The Elgin Hoody has an inner zip guard behind the zipper and elastic around the cuffs, hem, and hood to keep bugs out.

Photo courtesy of Craghoppers

If you’re a fan of splashing around on small ocean ripples or riding waves, El Salvador should be on your list. While there’s plenty of surfing along the country’s Pacific coast, Sunzal is one of the best. It’s less frequented because of its well-known reputation as a mosquito haven, but we think that’s the perfect reason to go: you’ll avoid the crowds and have this classic point break with peeling rights all to yourself.

Gear: When you’re on your way to the water for dawn patrol or after a stellar sunset session, toss on an Elgin Hoody to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

Las Pozas, Mexico

The sculpture garden in the jungle of Las Pozas is worth a trip.
The sculpture garden in the jungle of Las Pozas is worth a trip.

Rod Waddington

Stonehenge isn’t the only place to go to experience some historic architecture in the great outdoors. Las Pozas is home to a unique sculpture garden, crafted by the surrealist architect Edward James sometime in the 1940s. Not far from the country’s eclectic capital, and smack in the middle of the Mexican jungle, James’ work inspires locals and visitors alike. Take the bug-filled journey and see the hidden designs for yourself.

Gear: When you’re trekking through a place like the jungle, it’s important to not only cover your arms, but your legs, too. Try these NosiLife Pro Trousers: they’re lightweight and have an RFID pocket to protect your wallet and passport while traveling.

Parc National Ranomafana, Madagascar

The Davenport Vest has 20 pockets, but still maintains a sleek shape.
The Davenport Vest has 20 pockets, but still maintains a sleek shape.

Photo courtesy of Craghoppers

Consisting of well over 41,000 hectares of lush and lovely tropical rainforest, the Parc National Ranomafana is an incredibly biodiverse stretch of an ecosystem. Ranomafana has been expertly preserved since 1991 and is home to the Centre ValBio research station, designed to help us learn as much as possible from the uniqueness of the life in the park. In addition to coming across several varieties of lemur, a battle with the bugs is certainly ahead (hello rainforest!), unless you blockade yourself in the super chic eco-lodge near the entrance and never go outside.

Gear: Because everyone knows that roaming a rainforest requires some accessories, try this Davenport Vest on for size. I’ll keep the bugs away and it's 20 pockets give you plenty of extra storage for water, cameras, and the like.

Taman Negara, Malaysia

Taman Negara is known as the world’s oldest rainforest.
Taman Negara is known as the world’s oldest rainforest.

Mohd Fahmi Mohd Azmi

Tucked into the Titiwangsa Mountains, Taman Negara (which simply means "national park" in Malay) began as King George V National Park in late 1938. Clocking in at about 130 million years, Taman Negara is said to be the oldest deciduous forest in the world. Trekking around this special spot, which is accessible by a six-hour bus and boat combo from Kuala Lumpur, could reveal things like Malayan tigers, Indian elephants, and an incredible variety of birds.

Gear: When it comes to the right clothing, whether you’re on the jungle trail or between bus and boat, this classic adventure shirt (also of the Insect Shield® variety) will not only keep you cool and safe from the bugs, but looking good while you’re at it.

Manú National Park, Peru

The NL Todd shirt offers insect protection and a little style, too.
The NL Todd shirt offers insect protection and a little style, too.

Photo courtesy of Craghoppers

Found in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, Manú National Park is still largely inaccessible by road (you’ll need to take a boat to get to it). Including over 15,000 plant species and ranging in elevation from 150 meters to 4,200 meters above sea level, this park has an amazing array of ecological diversity. Of course the bugs will be out in full force too, but that’s half the battle (and half the reward).

Gear: This NosiLife Todd shirt will give you the protection and breathability you need throughout all heights of the park as well as the at-a-distance protection that the Insect Shield® series is known for, without sacrificing the style that many outdoor shirts lack.

Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.

Featured image provided by Photo courtesy of Craghoppers