Quetzaltenango, often called Xela by locals, is Guatemala’s second-largest city and a hub of indigenous culture, colonial history, and highland landscapes. Surrounded by volcanoes, including the towering Santa María, the city sits at over 7,600 feet above sea level, giving it a crisp mountain climate that contrasts with the country’s tropical lowlands.

Saudi Arabia is revealing chapters long unseen by tourists. Al-Ula is home to Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the kingdom and hosts to ancient Nabatean tombs carved in sandstone cliffs. Nearby, the mirrored Maraya Concert Hall reflects the desert sky, its design both unexpected and elegant amid the sands. Visitors can wander through narrow canyons, step inside rock-hewn facades, and feel the weight of ancient civilizations still echoing across the dunes.

Bacalar sits on the tranquil shores of Laguna de Bacalar in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, and has been a meeting place for people and cultures for centuries. Its name comes from the ancient Maya phrase Sian Ka’an Bakhalal, meaning “where the sky is born,” a reminder of how deeply this place figures in regional history and identity.

Cat Island, one of the more unspoiled Out Islands of The Bahamas, is a destination that feels worlds away from the busier resort hubs. Stretching about 50 miles long, the island is lined with pink-sand beaches, rolling green hills, and quiet fishing villages where time seems to stand still.

Bikini Atoll, a remote ring of islands in the Marshall Islands, is one of the most sought-after wreck diving locations in the world. These underwater sites are preserved in a time capsule-like state, providing a rare look at history submerged in a silent world of coral and marine life.