Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital of the island of La Palma, one of the seven Canary Islands. Although often forgotten in favor of the similarly named Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it is a compact and colorful colonial town well worth a visit. Swimming, paragliding, and hiking and some of the most popular daytime activities, while stargazing is a favorite pastime after the sun goes down.
Akaroa is a small seaside settlement on Banks Peninsula in Canterbury, built around a sheltered harbour formed within an ancient volcanic landscape. Its streets contain French-inspired names, colonial buildings, cafés, and cottages, giving the town a distinctive character within New Zealand. The surrounding peninsula is shaped by steep volcanic hills, sheltered bays, farmland, and winding coastal roads.
Mount Rainier National Park is centered on Mount Rainier, a massive glaciated volcano rising above the forests and valleys of Washington’s Cascade Range. The mountain dominates the surrounding landscape, with glaciers, snowfields, alpine meadows, old-growth forests, rivers, and waterfalls extending across the park. Its varied elevations create distinct environments, from dense lowland forest to open subalpine terrain and rugged alpine slopes.
The Kenai Peninsula extends southwest from Anchorage into the Gulf of Alaska and is one of south-central Alaska’s most varied regions. Its landscape includes the Kenai Mountains, coastal forests, glaciers, broad river valleys, lakes, and a long shoreline along both Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska. Communities such as Kenai, Soldotna, Seward, Homer, and Cooper Landing serve different parts of the peninsula, while the Kenai River and numerous smaller waterways connect the interior to the coast.
This charming island town acts as a gateway to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal National Park. Known for its brilliantly colored buildings, visitors can spend numerous hours relaxing in restaurants, cafes, and pubs, savoring the flavors of Mayan and Spanish-influenced dishes. Surrounded by Lake Peten Itza and vibrant rainforest, water sports and nature ventures are a must!