Tortuguero, located on Costa Rica’s remote northern Caribbean coast, is a destination unlike any other in the country. Accessible only by boat or small aircraft, this coastal village sits between the Caribbean Sea and a network of freshwater canals. Its name, meaning "place of turtles," comes from the thousands of sea turtles that arrive annually to lay their eggs on its beaches, including green, leatherback, and hawksbill turtles.

Timbavati Private Nature Reserve lies in South Africa’s northeastern Lowveld, directly alongside Kruger National Park. Covering about 556 square kilometres, it forms part of the larger Greater Kruger landscape, where fences between participating reserves and Kruger have been removed to allow wildlife to move freely. The reserve contains a mixture of savanna, woodland, seasonal rivers, and rocky areas shaped by ancient granite and gneiss formations.

Who would have thought, back in the tumultuous coup and counter coup days of the 1970s, that Burkina Faso would become the cultural darling of West Africa? Unlikely as it seems, Burkina Faso has become the Utah of West Africa, hosting a biennial film festival that rivals the Sundance Film Festival for cultural clout. When it's not hosting film festivals, it's busy organizing its other biennial cultural festival.

With its captivating blend of ancient history, sun-drenched beaches, and vibrant Andalusian culture, Cádiz, Spain, stands as one of Europe’s oldest continually inhabited cities. Founded over 3,000 years ago by the Phoenicians, this coastal gem in southern Spain offers a rich tapestry of historical sites and modern charms. The old city of Cádiz is a labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets, whitewashed houses, and hidden plazas that evoke the city’s Moorish past.

Cartagena is a port city on Spain’s southeastern Mediterranean coast, in the Region of Murcia, where a sheltered harbor is surrounded by hills and historic neighborhoods. Its strategic position has made it an important maritime center for successive civilizations, leaving an unusually rich archaeological and architectural landscape. The modern city combines a busy waterfront with a compact historic center, where Roman remains stand alongside military buildings and modernist architecture.