Nicaragua offers travelers a look into centuries of layered history set against striking natural backdrops. Visitors can tour the baroque-style Granada Cathedral, take a boat ride through Las Isletas (a chain of small, volcanic islands in Lake Nicaragua), or climb the bell tower of Iglesia La Merced for sweeping city views.
Located on the west bank of the Nile, Dendera is home to the famous Dendera Temple Complex, one of the best-preserved ancient Egyptian temples. The Temple of Hathor features impressive reliefs and intricate carvings that draw visitors interested in Egyptology and ancient history.
Varanasi sits along the sacred Ganges River in northern India as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is a place where daily life and rituals flow together on the long stone steps called ghats that reach down to the water. Visitors often rise early for a sunrise boat ride, watching as light spreads across the river and pilgrims make gentle offerings to the water.
Saint-Benoît is a commune on the eastern side of Réunion, a French island in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Facing the sea and extending inland toward the volcanic highlands, it lies in one of the island’s wetter regions, where frequent rainfall supports dense vegetation and productive farmland.
The Orkney Islands sit just off the northern coast of Scotland. This group of around seventy islands offers wide horizons, quiet roads, and coastlines shaped by wind and waves where visitors often arrive expecting rugged scenery and leave talking about the sense of space from the long beaches to the steep cliffs and sea stacks rising straight from the water. One striking example is the Old Man of Hoy, a tall sea stack that draws photographers and climbers alike.
In the central highlands of Mexico lies a rich city, with a culture as colorful as its past. Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, may be best known for its tequila, mariachis and the hat dance, all part of its celebrations. The downtown area is dominated by a huge public square, the Plaza del la Liberacion. Guadalahara's most impressive historical sights are found along this square, as well as museums tracing Mexico's long history.
The downtown area is a showcase of alternating architectural styles and quaint shops and markets, including the Mercado Libertad, among the biggest markets in the Western Hemisphere. Check out the local music festivals in Independence Square, or the dance floor of any nightclub! Established artists like Jose Clemente Orozco also left their mark on the city in huge murals that display the drama and tragedy of Mexico's history.
Nature lovers don't need to venture far to find sights. One of Mexico's most impressive natural wonders in only a short drive away at Mirador park. Here the Rio Santiago and Rio Verde Rivers crash down a 1,970 foot gorge into a dozen cascading waterfalls.
Other Popular Destinations in Jalisco
Puerto Vallarta
Nestled on the glittering shores of Bahía de Banderas and bordered by mountains to the east, Puerto Vallarta is a vibrant resort town bustling with tourists. You'll still find the traditional whitewashed houses with red-tile roofs, vivid bougainvillea, cobblestone streets, and colorful fishing boats. Puerto Vallarta is sure to charm you on your next visit to this Mexican paradise!
Punta Mita
Punta Mita is located in the pristine State of Nayarit 40 miles northwest of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, on the northwest point of Bahia de Banderas, the Bay of Flags. The beaches (playas) are the most beautiful and pristine in the entire Bahia de Banderas, Bay of Flags, possibly all of Mexico. Share the magic, come visit the point of simple pleasures.