Lifou is the largest of the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia and is known for its raised coral landscape, clear lagoons, and forested interior. Unlike Grande Terre, Lifou has no high mountain range, but its limestone plateau reaches enough elevation to create cliffs, caves, and elevated coastal viewpoints.

Ballestas Islands are a group of rocky islands off the coast of Paracas in Peru’s Ica Region, within the marine ecosystem influenced by the cold Humboldt Current. The islands consist of North, Central, and South Ballestas and are protected as part of the National Reserve System of Islands, Islets and Guano Points. Their steep rock faces, arches, caves, and eroded formations rise directly from the Pacific Ocean. The islands are best known for their concentration of marine wildlife.

Frederiksted is a historic coastal town on the western end of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, set beside a deep-water bay and a long waterfront. Pastel-colored buildings, palm-lined streets, the Frederiksted Pier, and nearby beaches give the town a distinctly maritime setting. The compact community is closely associated with Fort Frederik, a red-brick Danish fort overlooking the harbor.

Jamestown is the capital and main settlement of St. Helena, a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. The town lies in a narrow valley opening onto the sea, with steep volcanic cliffs rising on both sides and historic buildings lining the main streets. Its compact centre contains many surviving structures associated with the island’s East India Company heritage, reflecting Jamestown’s former role as an important mid-Atlantic port.

Carlsbad is the gateway to the famous Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Carlsbad offers a variety of outdoor recreation, and its location on the Pecos River opens the door to great fun on the water. This friendly small city is a wonderful place to visit.