San Pedro de Atacama, a small town in northern Chile, sits at over 2,400 meters above sea level in one of the most geologically diverse areas on Earth. Surrounded by volcanoes, salt flats, geysers, and ancient lava flows, it has long served as a gateway to the Atacama Desert. This desert is the driest non-polar place in the world, where some weather stations have never recorded rainfall.
Mývatn is a lake and surrounding region in North Iceland, known for its shallow waters, numerous small islands, volcanic formations, and rich birdlife. The lake covers about 37 square kilometers and is part of an internationally important wetland together with the Laxá River. The surrounding landscape was shaped by volcanic activity, creating a mixture of lava fields, craters, geothermal areas, and wetlands within a relatively compact area.
Arikok National Park, covering nearly 20% of Aruba, is a striking showcase of the island’s rugged landscapes, cultural history, and biodiversity. Unlike the postcard image of Aruba’s white-sand beaches, Arikok reveals a wilder side, with windswept hills, desert-like terrain, and dramatic limestone cliffs meeting the sea.
Gogasheni is a small mountain village in Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti region, situated in the rugged landscape of the Javakheti highlands. The settlement lies near the shores of Lake Paravani, Georgia’s largest lake, and is surrounded by broad upland fields, volcanic hills, and open grassland.
St. Julians was originally a tiny fishing village, built round a small bay. It has retained most of its charm, thanks to some sympathetic restoration. Overlooking the bay is Spinola Palace, built in 1688. Today St Julians provides some of the best restaurants, like the San Giuliano and Barracuda, overlooking the Bay, popular with locals and visitors alike. It gets quite busy over the weekends and during the peak season, making parking a problem. However, public transport is frequent and nearby Paceville and St George's Bay within walking distance. The Westin Dragonara Resort, Malta, is also located on a peninsula in St. Julians, Malta's premier tourist destination.
Other Popular Destinations in Malta
Valleta
Malta’s ornate and vibrant capital, Valletta, dazzles travelers with its abundance of historical landmarks and striking architecture. This island jewel off the coast of Italy remains a popular destination for Mediterranean cruises. From central St. George’s Square, to sixteenth-century Casa Rocca Piccola, to the Siege Bell War Memorial, Valletta has no shortage of monuments detailing the city’s long history.
Sliema
Sliema is a coastal town on Malta’s northeastern shore, facing Valletta across Marsamxett Harbour. Once a small fishing community, it has developed into one of Malta’s main residential, commercial, and waterfront areas. The coastline is lined with apartment buildings, hotels, cafés, shops, and a long promenade that follows the rocky shore toward neighboring St Julian’s. Views across the water include Valletta’s fortified skyline, the domes and bastions of the historic capital, and the entrances