Coa Valley lies in northeastern Portugal near the Douro River, in a landscape shaped by steep hills, schist cliffs, vineyards, olive groves, and almond trees. The area is best known for its open-air prehistoric rock engravings, spread across the banks of the Coa River and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Aït Benhaddou, located in southern Morocco along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh, is one of the country’s most iconic historic sites. This fortified village, or ksar, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is admired for its striking earthen clay architecture that rises dramatically from the desert landscape.
The ancient region of Cappadocia lies in Central Anatolia, between the cities of Nevsehir, Kayseri and Nigde. Here, the traveler finds one of the most fantastic landscapes in the world. Wind and weather have eroded the soft volcanic rock with hundreds of strangely shaped pillars, cones and "fairy chimneys", often very tall, and in every shade from pink through yellow to russet browns.
Akhaltsikhe is a regional center in southern Georgia's Samtskhe-Javakheti region, situated in a broad valley along the Potskhovi River. The city is best known for Rabati, its hilltop fortress complex, but its identity extends into an older quarter of stone houses, religious buildings, and traditional streets. The name Akhaltsikhe means “new fortress,” reflecting the city's long association with its fortified center.
Photo Credit: Photo by Roberto Brambilla on Unsplash
Black vulture
Photo Credit: Photo by Roberto Brambilla on Unsplash
Iguana
Photo Credit: Photo by Roberto Brambilla on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Frank Eiffert on Unsplash
This Northern Costa Rica city is known for its volcanoes (both active and inactive), the Catholic church Ermita de La Agonía, and the Museo del Sabanero.
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.