For a small country, Ecuador has more varied climatic zones than anywhere in the world. From Salinas, a favorite beach resort on the southern coast, one can go in one day from tropical beaches to semi-arid desert to impenetrable Amazon basin rain forest to the spring-like high altiplano to the soaring snow-capped mountain peaks of the Andean Cordillera. The area around Salinas was once home to the ancient Mocha culture. Archeologists have discovered exquisite examples of pottery and jewelry i

Tarascon, on the east bank of the Rhone River, is best known for its medieval appearance and historical edifices. Collegiate Sainte-Marthe (St Martha's Collegiate Church) was built in the 12th century in honor of the city's patron saint, St. Martha. Nearby, the castle of King René stands right on the banks of the Rhône.

Wuxi is an industrial and resort city located along the Da Yunha (Grand Canal). Settled some 3,000 years ago, it has long been known for its silk production. Today, Wuxi is still known for its silk industry, which has been revitalized since 1949, as well as for its high technology industries. It is also the center of a rich agricultural area.

Ankazobe is a rural town in central Madagascar, located in the Analamanga region northwest of Antananarivo. The surrounding landscape consists of rolling highlands, open grasslands, rice fields, and scattered areas of forest. Its elevated setting gives the area a cooler climate than much of the island's lowland regions. Ankazobe is also part of a broader agricultural zone where farming and livestock keeping shape the countryside.

Baltra is a small island in Ecuador’s Galápagos archipelago, located just north of Santa Cruz Island. Although it has limited permanent settlement and little vegetation compared to other islands in the region, Baltra plays an important role as one of the main transportation gateways to the Galápagos.