North America Travel Guides & Countries | CoraTravels

Continental overview

North America

7 countries · 26 guides · Top regions: Caribbean, Central America, North America

Discover the authentic stories and cultural insights that locals across North America share with CoraTravels. Explore the countries, popular travel styles, and standout guides that make this continent unique.

Countries in North America

Browse 7 countries guides like a local.

🇦🇼 Aruba

Experience authentic Aruba beyond resort beaches and cruise ship ports. From 'One Happy Island' philosophy shaping genuine local positivity, to four-language daily life switching between Papiamento, Dutch, English, and Spanish, baseball obsession producing MLB stars, eternal summer at 82°F year-round, divi-divi trees bent by trade winds, and multicultural tolerance blending Caribbean soul with Dutch colonial heritage - discover Aruba through eyes of Arubans who embrace island time, celebrate diversity, and consider family beach Sundays sacred tradition.

1 featured cities · Average budget level 3

🇨🇦 Canada

Experience authentic Canada beyond maple syrup stereotypes and Rocky Mountain postcards. From prairie hospitality that welcomes strangers with genuine warmth, to French-English linguistic tensions, hockey obsession transcending sport, multicultural mosaic reshaping national identity, Tim Hortons rituals, and wilderness that shapes character - discover Canada through eyes of Canadians who apologize excessively, endure extreme winters with pride, and navigate vast distances defining continental perspective.

1 featured cities · Average budget level 3

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

Experience authentic Costa Rica beyond zip-lines and all-inclusive resorts. From ticos' pura vida philosophy that's life approach not tourist slogan, to gallo pinto breakfast rituals, no-army peace tradition, and conservation obsession making tiny country biodiversity champion - discover Costa Rica through locals who abolished military and chose nature over industry.

1 featured cities · Average budget level 2

🇸🇻 El Salvador

Experience authentic El Salvador beyond headlines: pupusa culture, Pacific surf breaks (El Tunco, El Zonte), crater lakes, and volcano hikes that can start within an hour of the capital. From coffee highlands and weekend market towns to the history of San Salvador and the UNESCO site Joya de Cerén, this is Central America at its most compact and surprisingly diverse.

1 featured cities · Average budget level 1

🇯🇲 Jamaica

Experience authentic Jamaica beyond Montego Bay's all-inclusive resorts and Negril's seven-mile beach. From Kingston's Trench Town where reggae was born to Port Antonio's untouched jungles and Blue Mountain coffee plantations, discover Jamaica through people who invented 'irie' philosophy, transformed sound system culture into global phenomenon, and built Caribbean's most vibrant music scene from colonial oppression, African heritage, and unbreakable island spirit.

1 featured cities · Average budget level 2

🇲🇽 Mexico

Experience authentic Mexico beyond Cancún's resorts and Tulum's Instagram spots. From Oaxaca's indigenous markets to Guadalajara's mariachi culture and [Mexico City's vibrant neighborhoods](/guides/mexico-city-cultural-giant-creative-capital), discover Mexico through the warmth of locals who understand that 'mi casa es su casa' isn't just a saying - it's a way of life.

1 featured cities · Average budget level 1

🇺🇸 United States

Experience authentic America beyond Hollywood glamor and New York skyscrapers. From Southern BBQ pitmasters perfecting their craft over generations to Midwest 'Minnesota Nice' small talk with strangers, discover the United States through eyes of people who live by 'hustle culture' productivity obsession, invented tailgating as sacred pre-game ritual, and built fifty distinct state identities from immigrant melting pot mythology, optimistic individualism, and the eternally evolving American Dream.

2 featured cities · Average budget level 2

Popular travel styles

Trending themes locals say define North America right now.

Local guides for North America

Hand-picked destination notes to help you experience North America like a true local.

Featured destinations

Popular local notes to get you started.

Oranjestad, Aruba Aruba

Oranjestad, Caribbean

Oranjestad: One Happy Island's Caribbean Soul

Dutch Colonial Meets Caribbean: Architecture painted in bold pastel yellows, pinks, and blues that look like a rainbow sneezed on the island - locals take pride in these Curaçao-style buildings tha…

Halifax, Canada Canada

Halifax, North America

Halifax: Maritime Soul & Donair Dreams

Bluenoser Identity: Locals proudly call themselves Bluenosers (not after the famous schooner—the schooner was named after them). The term dates back to the late 18th century, and you'll see it inco…

Kitchener, Canada Canada

Kitchener, North America

Kitchener: Tech Hub Meets Oktoberfest & Mennonite Heritage

The Berlin Identity Crisis: Kitchener was originally named Berlin due to its strong German heritage, but was renamed in 1916 during World War I after British Field Marshal Lord Kitchener - locals s…

Saskatoon, Canada Canada

Saskatoon, North America

Saskatoon: Prairie City River Soul

The Only Perogies Drive-Thru in the World: Baba's Homestyle Pierogies operates the planet's only drive-through pierogi window, producing 6,000-15,000 hand-made perogies daily during holidays - loca…

Winnipeg, Canada Canada

Winnipeg, North America

Winnipeg: Heart of the Continent

Winterpeg Reality: Locals proudly embrace winter extremes of -35°C, with indoor skywalk systems (like Minneapolis) connecting downtown buildings so you can work all day without going outside. The P…

Liberia, Costa Rica Costa Rica

Liberia, Central America

Liberia: White City, Cowboy Gateway to Guanacaste

Gateway City Syndrome: Tourists rush through to beaches (Tamarindo 1 hour, Papagayo 30 minutes), locals watch airport crowds vanish immediately, underrated city dismissed as layover stop. White Cit…

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica Costa Rica

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Central America

Puerto Viejo: Caribbean Soul & Jungle Rhythms

Two Puerto Viejos Problem: Costa Rica has two towns named Puerto Viejo - this one (de Talamanca) on the Caribbean coast, and Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí in the mountains. Locals have stories of confu…

San José, Costa Rica Costa Rica

San José, Central Valley

San José: Central Valley Hub Beyond Gateway Status

Gateway Reputation: Tourists rush through to beaches, locals live actual lives here, capital dismissed unfairly as dangerous layover city. No Military Legacy: National Museum in former military bar…

San Salvador, El Salvador El Salvador

San Salvador, Central America

San Salvador: Pupusa Capital & Volcano Renaissance

Bitcoin Legal Tender: El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 - you can technically pay for pupusas with cryptocurrency, though most locals still prefer cash a…

Kingston, Jamaica Jamaica

Kingston, Caribbean

Kingston: Reggae Heartbeat & Caribbean Soul

Jamaican Time: Expect flexibility with schedules - 'soon come' means anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours, locals embrace relaxed timekeeping. Sound System Culture: Massive outdoor speaker systems b…

Cancún, Mexico Mexico

Cancún, North America

Cancún: Caribbean Playground with Mayan Soul

Dual Personality: Hotel Zone is tourist central while El Centro (downtown) is where actual Cancún lives - two completely different cities separated by 20 minutes. Invented Paradise: Cancún didn't e…

Mexico City, Mexico Mexico

Mexico City, North America

Mexico City: Cultural Giant & Creative Capital

Altitude Reality Check: 7,350 feet elevation means you'll get winded walking up stairs - locals carry small oxygen cans in their bags. Earthquake Drills on the 19th: Monthly citywide earthquake sim…

Playa del Carmen, Mexico Mexico

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo

Playa del Carmen: Riviera Maya's Expat Paradise Meets Tourist Invasion

Gringo-fication Complete: Locals (Mexican workers) outnumbered by tourists and expats, Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue) international shopping mall not Mexican town. Expat Bubble Thick: English everywhe…

Querétaro, Mexico Mexico

Querétaro, North America

Querétaro: Colonial Baroque & Wine Country

UNESCO Center Without Tourist Mobs: One of Mexico's best-preserved colonial cities gets overlooked by tourists rushing to San Miguel de Allende - locals love the peaceful streets. Professional Mour…

Tulum, Mexico Mexico

Tulum, Quintana Roo

Tulum: Bohemian Chic Wellness Paradise or Performative Eco-Posturing?

Performative Eco-Consciousness: 'No shoes, no shirt, no problem' while flying private jets, locals (workers) laugh at wealthy pretending sustainability, greenwashing capital of world. Cenote Cultur…

Austin, United States United States

Austin, Texas

Austin: Keep Austin Weird - A Dying Dream Crushed by Tech Transplants

California Invasion: Tech workers fleeing Bay Area pricing out locals, natives bitter about transplants, 'Don't California my Texas' bumper stickers everywhere. Keep Austin Weird Irony: [Slogan coi…

Battle Creek, United States United States

Battle Creek, North America

Battle Creek: Cereal City - Where Health Food Pioneer Spirit Meets Midwest Charm

Cereal City Identity: Battle Creek is the birthplace of breakfast cereal - locals are genuinely proud that Kellogg's invented corn flakes here in 1894, and cereal history permeates everything from …

Cincinnati, United States United States

Cincinnati, North America

Cincinnati: Queen City Chili & Charm

The Chili Debate Is Real: Nowhere else on earth will you find people arguing so passionately about chili served over spaghetti. The Skyline vs. Gold Star rivalry has divided families, ended friends…

Dallas, United States United States

Dallas, North America

Dallas: Big D, BBQ & Cowboy Culture

Everything's Bigger Philosophy: Locals genuinely believe everything should be supersized - from 64oz fountain drinks to pickup trucks that dwarf European cars, portion sizes that could feed a famil…

Denver, United States United States

Denver, North America

Denver: Mile High Mountain Casual - Where 300 Days of Sunshine Meet Craft Beer Culture

Mile High Adjustment: At exactly 5,280 feet (one mile) above sea level, Denver's altitude hits visitors hard - locals recommend drinking twice as much water as normal and taking it easy the first 4…

Des Moines, United States United States

Des Moines, North America

Des Moines: Heartland Fair Capital

Beggar's Night, Not Halloween: Des Moines kids trick-or-treat on October 30, not Halloween. They're required to tell jokes at each door to earn candy – a local tradition that confuses transplants e…

Honolulu, United States United States

Honolulu, North America

Honolulu: Aloha Spirit & Surf Soul

No Shoes Indoors: Wearing shoes in someone's home is practically a crime in Hawaiʻi. Locals leave slippers (flip-flops) at the doorstep without question - this borrowed Japanese custom fits perfect…

Memphis, United States United States

Memphis, North America

Memphis: Blues, BBQ & River Soul

"Memphis, Memphis" Identity: Locals insist they're from "Memphis, Memphis" not "Memphis, Tennessee" - this city has its own soul that sets it apart from the rest of the state, with its own culture …

New Orleans, United States United States

New Orleans, North America

New Orleans: Jazz, Gumbo & Second Lines

Second Line Culture: Spontaneous parades with brass bands - locals join in, tourists watch. Drive-Thru Daiquiri: Frozen cocktails in drive-thru windows - perfectly legal, locals do it daily. Cemete…

New York City, United States United States

New York City, North America

New York City: Beyond Times Square

Neighborhood Pride: Locals identify by their neighborhood first, not just 'New Yorker'. Subway Culture: Locals navigate the subway instinctively, know every line and transfer. Food Obsession: Local…

Ogden, United States United States

Ogden, North America

Ogden: Mountain Junction & Wild West Soul

Al Capone's Quote Lives On: Historic 25th Street was so wild in the 1920s that Al Capone allegedly said "Ogden is too wild a town for me" - locals embrace this gritty railroad heritage with pride. …

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