La Digue, the fourth-largest island in the Seychelles, offers a quintessential tropical paradise experience. Known for its idyllic beaches and charming laid-back atmosphere, La Digue is a haven for nature lovers and those seeking a serene escape. The island’s most iconic beach, Anse Source d'Argent, is renowned for its stunning granite boulders and crystal-clear waters, making it one of the most photographed beaches in the world.
Barca d'Alva sits quietly along the Douro River, right at Portugal’s eastern border with Spain. Once the final stop on the historic Douro railway line, this riverside village remains relatively untouched by mass tourism. The surrounding landscape filled with terraced vineyards, olive groves, and almond trees form part of the UNESCO-listed Alto Douro Wine Region.
McMurdo is distinctive not only for its scientific role but also for the unusual scale of daily life in Antarctica. The station has a power plant, medical facilities, dining services, workshops, communications systems, and specialized vehicles used to support research in extreme conditions. Nearby Scott Base, operated by New Zealand, provides another important Antarctic research presence on Ross Island. McMurdo also supports flights and overland journeys to remote parts of the continent.
Pushkar, a small town in the state of Rajasthan, India, is a unique blend of spirituality, culture, and natural beauty. Nestled around the serene Pushkar Lake, this holy town is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, home to the rare Brahma Temple, one of the very few in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma, the creator god in Hinduism. The temple's striking architecture, with its red spire and intricate marble carvings, draws thousands of devotees and curious travelers alike.
Suchitoto, located in the Cuscatlán department of El Salvador, is a hilltop town known for its cobblestone streets and scenic views of Lake Suchitlán. Once an important center for indigo production, the town still celebrates its dye-making history through artisan workshops where visitors can learn to create textiles using natural indigo. The name “Suchitoto” comes from the Nahuatl language and means “place of flowers and birds,” a nod to the area’s diverse birdlife and surrounding vegetation.
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrea Huls Pareja on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrea Huls Pareja on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrea Huls Pareja on Unsplash
Photo Credit: Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
Santa Cruz is in stark contrast to La Paz. Climate is tropical and altitude is only 1,250 feet. It is on the eastern lowland side of the Andes mountain range and one of the gateways to Bolivia's jungle area. Trinidad is the other. Much of Bolivia's natural resources, including agricultural products, are found in this area. Although Santa Cruz has grown tremendously some parts of downtown still retain a look of an Old West frontier town. Carnival is an especially happy time to be in Santa Cruz.
Other Popular Destinations in Bolivia
La Paz
La Paz, Bolivia’s seat of government, is one of the world’s highest capital cities, dramatically set in a deep canyon carved by the Choqueyapu River. Founded in 1548 atop an important Indigenous settlement, the city has long been a crossroads of Andean cultures, colonial history, and modern political life.
Uyuni
Uyuni, in southwestern Bolivia, is best known as the gateway to the world’s largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni. Once a humble railway town, Uyuni has grown into a base for travelers drawn to this surreal landscape, where an ancient dried-up lake has left behind a vast expanse of glistening salt crust.