St Lucia is a small coastal town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, positioned beside the St Lucia Estuary and within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The town is surrounded by a landscape of wetlands, coastal forests, grasslands, dunes, lakes, and the Indian Ocean. Its location makes it a base for exploring one of South Africa’s most diverse protected areas, where freshwater and marine environments occur close together.
Telč, a charming town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, enchants visitors with its well-preserved Renaissance architecture and picturesque surroundings. The town's central attraction is its beautifully preserved Historic Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its colorful facades and quaint medieval charm.
St Ouen is a rural parish on the northwestern side of Jersey, occupying much of the island’s largest bay and a broad area of open countryside. Its landscape is defined by long beaches, dunes, heathland, fields, and a rugged Atlantic coastline. St Ouen’s Bay stretches for about eight kilometres and is closely associated with Jersey’s surfing tradition, while the parish’s inland lanes lead through farmland and small settlements.
Samana sits on a peninsula along the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, shaped by seafaring history and a strong Afro-Caribbean cultural presence.
Beaverton is a city in northwestern Oregon, located just west of Portland in the Tualatin Valley. The community combines a developed urban center with wetlands, creeks, parks, and areas of remaining farmland. Its position between the Coast Range and the Portland metropolitan area has made Beaverton both a residential community and an important employment center.
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrew Turner from Wikimedia
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrew Turner from Wikimedia
Named after the Italian city of Genoa, Genovesa Island is a dormant volcano in the Galápagos Islands. Its nickname, Bird Island, stems from the large and diverse bird population including storm petrels, red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and more.
Its unique horseshoe shape is the result of the eruption of a shield volcano followed by the collapse of one side of the caldera wall. This formed Darwin Bay and its surrounding cliffs, home to many of the afore-mentioned birds. Lake Arcturus, a salt-water crater lake, lies at the center of the island.
Adventurous visitors can also climb up Prince Philip's Steps, also known as El Barranco. This steep, rocky path leads to a marvelous viewpoint at the top of 82-foot cliffs but its initial incline can be daunting.
Other Popular Destinations in Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
Off the coast of Ecuador, the iconic and biodiverse Galápagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin’s nineteenth-century research expeditions on HMS Beagle, beckon you. This glittering archipelago, surrounded by vivid turquoise waves, abounds with stunning beaches and spectacular wildlife, perfect for the adventurous traveler.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil, Ecuador, is a vibrant port city and a frequent starting point for cruises to the Galapagos Islands.