Iquique, perched between the Pacific Ocean and the sweeping sand dunes of the Atacama Desert, offers more than just sun and surf. This coastal city in northern Chile is a duty-free port, drawing visitors with its unique blend of high-end shopping, historic districts, and adrenaline-filled adventures. Whether wandering along the palm-lined Baquedano Boulevard or gliding down the towering sand dunes on a sandboard, Iquique surprises at every turn.

Set along the edge of the Anti-Atlas and the northern reaches of the desert, Tata offers a landscape shaped by sun, stone, and water. The town sits within a wide oasis valley, where palm groves stretch across the land in sharp contrast to the surrounding dry hills. Life here depends on careful use of water, and visitors quickly notice how every field and garden is planned with purpose. The result is a setting that feels both remote and deeply connected to the land.

Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, grew from a modest colonial port into a city shaped by trade, migration, and independence.

A beautiful baroque town with richly decorated baroque churches and a charming Main Square with a decorative wrought-iron cross.

Swakopmund, on Namibia’s Atlantic coast, is a town where desert meets ocean in striking contrast. Founded by German colonists in the late 19th century, its streets are lined with colonial-era buildings painted in pastel colors, giving the town a distinctly European feel.