Florianópolis is the capital of Santa Catarina and occupies most of Santa Catarina Island, with another part of the city on the mainland. Known locally as Floripa, it is shaped by a long coastline of beaches, lagoons, dunes, forests, and rocky hills. The island has more than 40 beaches, ranging from open Atlantic shores to sheltered bays and calm waters. Lagoa da Conceição lies near the center of the island and connects several distinct areas of the city.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area lies about 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, where the Mojave Desert rises into sandstone cliffs, rugged mountains, and broad desert valleys. Nevada’s first National Conservation Area, it covers nearly 198,000 acres and provides a sharp contrast to the developed landscape of Las Vegas. The area is best known for its red and cream-colored rock formations, especially the Calico Hills and the Red Rock escarpment.
Caracas, (ke-rä´kes), located in Northern Venezuela, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela. An extremely cosmopolitan city, it is a major industrial center, shipping through the nearby Caribbean port of La Guaira.
The city of Macau, located on the Pearl River Delta, is a destination where centuries of history meet modern vibrancy. Once a Portuguese colony, its streets still carry the marks of European influence: ornate churches, tiled plazas, and pastel façades sit alongside traditional Chinese temples and narrow alleyways filled with shops and markets.
The largest virgin tract of rainforest in Australia (and the second largest in the world), this lush, tropical World Heritage area is a living testimonial to the ancient rainforests which once covered the earth's surface. Cool forest streams, primitive rainforests, stunning mountain scenery and abundant wildlife - a naturalists and bird watchers paradise.
Photo Credit: Photo by Geoff Gallice from Wikimedia
A tributary of the Amazon, the Napo River (Río Napo) originates in the east Andes mountains. It flows east through Ecuador, then southeast into Peru, where it joins the larger river roughly 50 miles downstream from Iquitos.
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.