Izamal, located in the heart of Yucatán, stands out as a city where centuries of history are layered in plain sight. Known as the “City of Three Cultures,” it combines ancient Maya ruins, Spanish colonial architecture, and modern-day Yucatecan life. One of the most striking features of Izamal is its golden-yellow buildings, painted this distinctive color in honor of Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1993.
Merida was once the sprawling capital of the Mayan empire and the center of their universe. Merida is now the center of a cosmopolitan universe, built on Mayan heritage, and given a unique twist by French and Mediterranean immigrants. Days are spent exploring the city's many museums and equally fascinating shopping districts. At night, local music can be heard from just about every park in the city, inviting newcomers to enjoy a romantic and fun-filled evening.
Chiriquí, a province in western Panama, offers a striking variety of landscapes, from highland cloud forests to golden Pacific beaches. Bordered by Costa Rica to the west, it’s known for its rich agriculture, coffee plantations, and impressive volcano views. The capital city, David, serves as the main hub for travelers, but many of the region’s most memorable experiences are found in its rural towns, mountain valleys, and coastal areas.
Lake Maggiore, straddling the border of northern Italy and southern Switzerland, is the second-largest lake in Italy and one of the most scenically diverse. Surrounded by Alpine peaks and dotted with elegant towns, the lake has attracted visitors for centuries, including literary figures like Stendhal and Ernest Hemingway. The western shore is home to the Borromean Islands, a group of three small islands known for palaces, terraced gardens, and white peacocks that roam freely across the lawns.
Estes Park, Colorado, is a picturesque mountain town nestled at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. Known for its stunning natural beauty, it offers visitors a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. With over 300 miles of hiking trails, pristine alpine lakes, and breathtaking mountain vistas, Estes Park is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.
The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park. Animal lovers and safari enthusiasts know it as the place where the elephants congregate during winter's dry season and migrant birds are in full color during the wet summer months. The river itself is actually a section of the Cuando River, known as the Chobe from the seasonal lake Liambesi to its outflow at the Zambezi River.