Gosier, the largest tourist area, has the works - casino, resort hotels, scalloped sandy coves and an original village center which has managed to retain its local character.
Opatija, located on Croatia’s Kvarner Bay, has been drawing visitors since the 19th century, when Austro-Hungarian aristocrats built grand villas along its Adriatic shoreline. Today, many of those same buildings still stand with some restored as luxury hotels and others preserved as cultural landmarks. The town’s most recognizable structure, Villa Angiolina, opened in 1844 and marked the start of Opatija’s rise as a fashionable seaside resort.
Prizren, nestled in the picturesque valley of the Sharr Mountains in Kosovo, is a city where history and culture converge in a remarkably scenic setting. Known for its well-preserved Ottoman architecture, Prizren offers a rich tapestry of historical sites, including the iconic Sinan Pasha Mosque and the ancient Kaljaja Fortress, which overlooks the city from its commanding hilltop.
Sullivan Bay, located on the eastern shore of Santiago Island in Ecuador’s Galápagos archipelago, offers a landscape that feels almost otherworldly at first glance. Instead of lush greenery, visitors are greeted by wide stretches of hardened lava. These black, rippled fields tell a story written in fire, where molten rock once flowed freely before cooling into intricate patterns that can still be traced today.
Akumal is THE perfect place in the area to go snorkeling. You might even see a happy sea turtle in its natural habitat since this beach is a sanctuary.
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Whale
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Iguana
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Photo Credit: Photo by Dylan Shaw on Unsplash
Galapagos Tortoise
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Photo Credit: Photo by Sofia on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by The Official CTBTO Photostream on Wikimedia
Photo Credit: Photo by The Official CTBTO Photostream on Wikimedia
Photo Credit: Photo by The Official CTBTO Photostream on Wikimedia
Albatross in flight
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A male Magnificent Frigatebird
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrew Turneron Wikimedia
Photo Credit: Photo by Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo, NOAA Corps. Wikimedia
Galapagos Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis urinator
Photo Credit: Photo by Judy Gallagher from Wikimedia
Galápagos lava lizard
Photo Credit: Photo by Peter Wilto from Wikimedia
Swallow-tailed Gulls
Photo Credit: Photo by suecan1 from Wikimedia
Off the coast of Ecuador, the iconic and biodiverse Galápagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin’s nineteenth-century research expeditions on HMS Beagle, beckon you. This glittering archipelago, surrounded by vivid turquoise waves, abounds with stunning beaches and spectacular wildlife, perfect for the adventurous traveler.
A popular destination for South American cruises, you’ll find plenty to see and do on each island. Sea lions, iguanas, blue-footed boobies, penguins, and the infamous Galápagos tortoises are just a few of the many indigenous wildlife that make these islands home. Favorite spots for animal watching include Tortuga Bay, Reserva El Chato (a tortoise reserve), and Parque Nacional Galápagos. Venture to San Cristóbal Island and Isabela Island for the archipelago’s best snorkeling or trek up the Sierra Negra volcano, the only Galápagos volcano accessible to hikers, for panoramic island views. Unwind in the island’s picturesque towns, including Puerto Ayora and Puerto Villamil, and be sure to sample authentic Ecuadorian cuisine and fresh seafood dishes.
Discover your next adventure in the Galápagos Islands!