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.
This island in the Gulf of Thailand is known for white sand beaches, lush national parks, and night markets packed with fresh seafood. Visitors can spend mornings snorkeling, afternoons exploring temples, and evenings tasting local fish sauce, one of the island’s specialties.
Heron Island is a true coral cay right on the Great Barrier Reef. Here you can swim straight off the beach to an endless garden of coral where the waters are literally teeming with beautifully coloured fish and marine life.
Bocas del Toro, an enchanting archipelago on Panama’s Caribbean coast, is a paradise where vibrant culture meets unspoiled natural beauty. Renowned for its stunning islands, turquoise waters, and lively atmosphere, Bocas del Toro offers an adventure for every type of traveler. The archipelago’s main hub, Bocas Town, is located on Isla Colón and is the perfect starting point to explore the area’s many delights, from world-class surfing at Bluff Beach to snorkeling and diving in the kaleidoscopic
Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, located in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, is one of the country’s most renowned private game reserves. Sharing an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, it offers visitors a chance to see Africa’s iconic wildlife in an environment that feels both wild and exclusive. The reserve is particularly famous for its sightings of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) often spotted during guided game drives at dawn and dusk.
Kalbarri is a coastal town, set alongside the Murchison River. The coastline around Kalbarri is wonderful and has quite a history, with several shipwrecks along the shore. There is a fabulous cycle path along the coastline and coastal clifftops, including Eagle Gorge, Natural Bridge, Pot Alley, Rainbow Valley and Red Bluff. There is also fantastic surf at Jakes Corner.
To find out more about the history of Kalbarri head to the unique Riverside Recollections, which offers a host of information and memorabilia. There are also other attractions including the lovely Rainbow Jungle, featuring a number of birds.
From Kalbarri you should definitely head into the Kalbarri National Park, which features an array of beautiful gorges along the Murchison River and plenty of bushwalking trails. Two of the main gorges include the Loop and the Z-Bend, with two fabulous lookouts being at Hawks Head and Ross Graham. The Kalbarri National Park has added beauty during the Spring, when the Wildflowers are out.