Maipo is a rural area south of Santiago in Chile's Metropolitan Region, centered on the Maipo River and the agricultural communities of the Maipo Valley. The landscape combines vineyards, orchards, farmland, and foothills that rise toward the Andes. The area is particularly associated with wine production, especially Cabernet Sauvignon and other red varieties grown in the valley's warm, dry climate.
Lagos sits on the southern edge of Portugal’s Algarve where a lively old port town meets wide Atlantic skies. Just a short stroll from the heart of town, the coast drops away into a spectacle at Ponta da Piedade, where golden sandstone cliffs rise out of the Atlantic and have been shaped into stacks, natural arches and grottoes over millennia. At the top, the Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse watches over this dramatic shoreline and offers a great backdrop for photos as the sun sets into the ocean.
Aceh is a province at the northern tip of Sumatra, with Banda Aceh as its capital and a coastline facing the Andaman Sea, Malacca Strait, and Indian Ocean. Its identity is strongly shaped by Islam, local adat traditions, and a long history of sultanates and maritime trade. Banda Aceh’s Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is one of the province’s best-known landmarks, while the Aceh Tsunami Museum documents the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami and its lasting impact on local communities.
Crazy Horse Memorial stands in the Black Hills of South Dakota, between Custer and Hill City, where a massive mountain carving is being created to honor the Lakota leader Crazy Horse and the cultures of Native American peoples. The sculpture is cut directly into Thunderhead Mountain and is designed to depict Crazy Horse on horseback, pointing toward his ancestral lands
Most people visit Gallipoli for the chilling, contemplative sites of Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. To honor the 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives at battle here, this peninsula was made into a National Park.
On South Plaza Island, sea lions breed all along the low lying northern coast. These sheer cliffs are home for swallow-tail gulls and the beautiful red billed tropic birds. The landscape is dominated by optunia cactus trees. A look under each tree reveals a land iguana patiently waiting for a succulent cactus pad to fall.
Other Popular Destinations in Ecuador
Quito
Situated on the equator and nestled beneath an imposing volcano, the rugged, sprawling, and vibrant city of Quito offers adventure galore. A South American gem and Ecuador’s capital, Quito combines the best of its Incan and Spanish influences in fascinating cultural attractions, and the city’s surrounding natural beauty will surely astound you.
Galapagos Islands
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.