Nosy Iranja, a tropical paradise off the northwest coast of Madagascar, is a must-visit destination for travelers seeking an untouched escape. Known for its stunning natural beauty, Nosy Iranja is actually composed of two islands, Nosy Iranja Be and Nosy Iranja Kely, connected by a striking sandbar that appears at low tide. Visitors can stroll across the white sands with crystal-clear turquoise waters on either side, creating an otherworldly experience of walking between two islands.
Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, and the eponymous park that surrounds it, are popular with South Island tourists, especially mountaineers and other adventurers. The only way in or out is State highway 80, which also happens to be one of the country's most scenic roads.
Mount Lavinia Beach is a well-known urban beach just south of Colombo, Sri Lanka, stretching along the Indian Ocean beside the coastal suburb of Mount Lavinia. Its broad sandy shoreline and easy access from the capital make it a popular place for swimming, walking, watching sunsets, and informal gatherings. The beach sits beside a long-established residential and hotel district, so its surroundings combine everyday city life with a distinctly coastal setting. Fishing boats and seafood restaurant
French Guiana, tucked between Brazil and Suriname on the northeast coast of South America, offers an unexpected blend of Amazonian wilderness, colonial intrigue, and French flair. As an overseas department of France, it uses the euro, speaks French, and has croissants alongside cassava bread at breakfast. Yet just beyond the cafés of Cayenne, vast rainforest stretches for hundreds of kilometers, home to rare wildlife, remote rivers, and Indigenous communities.
Port Moresby sits by the Coral Sea as Papua New Guinea’s capital and shows visitors a city of contrasts where glittering new buildings rise beside traditional villages built on stilts. One such place is Hanuabada, the original Motuan village, where roofs reach above water’s edge and everyday life still unfolds in Tok Pisin and local tongue.
Photo Credit: Photo by Rinaldo Wurglitsch from Wikimedia
For a small country, Ecuador has more varied climatic zones than anywhere in the world. From Salinas, a favorite beach resort on the southern coast, one can go in one day from tropical beaches to semi-arid desert to impenetrable Amazon basin rain forest to the spring-like high altiplano to the soaring snow-capped mountain peaks of the Andean Cordillera. The area around Salinas was once home to the ancient Mocha culture. Archeologists have discovered exquisite examples of pottery and jewelry in Mocha gravesites.
Other Popular Destinations in Ecuador
Quito
Situated on the equator and nestled beneath an imposing volcano, the rugged, sprawling, and vibrant city of Quito offers adventure galore. A South American gem and Ecuador’s capital, Quito combines the best of its Incan and Spanish influences in fascinating cultural attractions, and the city’s surrounding natural beauty will surely astound you.
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island is the beating heart of the Galápagos and is home to the largest town in the archipelago, Puerto Ayora, and a key access point for travelers exploring this unique region. But beyond its small port and shops, the island reveals a surprising range of ecosystems, from black lava shores to lush highlands where giant tortoises roam freely.