Funafuti Atoll, the capital of Tuvalu, is a narrow strip of land wrapped around a brilliant turquoise lagoon that stretches over 20 kilometers across. Despite being just 600 meters at its widest point, Funafuti is the heartbeat of the country, where government buildings, homes, schools, and the island’s only airport all coexist along sandy roads lined with coconut trees.
This small cruise port is located in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula south of Playa del Carmen, near Belize. It is famous for Chacchoben, a breathtaking set of Mayan ruins. The port has a new and modern shopping mall and the central plaza has saltwater pools and 'swim-up' style bars for tourists to enjoy.
Set high in the Khumbu Valley, Pheriche offers a quiet yet striking stop along the route toward Mount Everest. Surrounded by wide landscapes and rugged peaks, this small settlement sits in a windswept valley where the air is crisp and the views stretch for miles. Unlike busier stops along the trail, Pheriche gives travelers space to pause, adjust to the altitude, and take in the scale of the Himalayas without distraction.
Staniel Cay is a small island in the Exuma Cays of The Bahamas, surrounded by clear shallow waters, coral reefs, sandy beaches, and numerous nearby cays. The island covers less than two square miles and has a small Bahamian village on its western shore. Its position makes it a useful base for exploring the surrounding Exumas by boat, while a local airstrip provides another way to reach the island.
Jena is surrounded by limestone slopes about 400 m high, botanical and geological features ,amongst which are 40 types of orchids. Jena is also famous for the Optical Museum.
Photo Credit: Photo by Sterling Lanier on Unsplash
A relatively recent addition to Costa Rica's list of national parks is Tenorio Volcano National Park, home to its namesake Tenorio Volcano as well as its taller sister, Miravalles Volcano, also the highest mountain in the Guanacaste Mountains.
The unique combination of this rugged volcanic landscape, combined with the surrounding tropic forests set the stage for a variety of hot springs, geysers, bubbling mud pools, and the one-of-a-kind Rio Celeste, famous for its sky blue color. It's also an ideal habitat for endangered felines, such as ocelots and the jaguars, and a diverse bird population.
Other Popular Destinations in Costa Rica
San Josè
San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and is located in the province of San Jose, which is in the Central Valley. The city is surrounded by high green mountains. There are numerous museums as well as art galleries, theaters, exhibitions, parks and garden in the city. All regions in Costa Rica are accessible from the capital city of San Jose, which makes its an ideal starting point for touring the country.
Monteverde
Monteverde, located in the Tilarán Mountains of northwestern Costa Rica, is known for its cloud forests, winding trails, and biodiversity that has drawn researchers and travelers for decades. The area was settled in the 1950s by Quakers from the United States who were looking for a peaceful place to raise dairy cattle. They also played a major role in preserving the local ecosystem, helping to establish the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in 1972.