Aceh is a province at the northern tip of Sumatra, with Banda Aceh as its capital and a coastline facing the Andaman Sea, Malacca Strait, and Indian Ocean. Its identity is strongly shaped by Islam, local adat traditions, and a long history of sultanates and maritime trade. Banda Aceh’s Baiturrahman Grand Mosque is one of the province’s best-known landmarks, while the Aceh Tsunami Museum documents the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami and its lasting impact on local communities.
Jambiani is a coastal village on Zanzibar’s southeastern shore, facing the Indian Ocean along a long stretch of white sand and shallow turquoise water. The village extends along the coast between Paje and Makunduchi, with traditional homes, small guesthouses, fishing areas, and local businesses spread between the beach and inland fields.
Auyuittuq National Park is a vast protected landscape on southeastern Baffin Island in Nunavut, extending between the communities of Pangnirtung and Qikiqtarjuaq. Its name means “land that never melts” in Inuktitut, reflecting the park's extensive ice and snow. Towering granite peaks, deep fjords, glaciers, rivers, and tundra dominate the landscape, while the Penny Ice Cap covers a large section of the interior.
Patmos, a gem in the Aegean Sea, is steeped in history and spirituality, offering a serene escape for travelers seeking both tranquility and rich cultural experiences. Known as the "Island of the Apocalypse," Patmos is famously where Saint John the Theologian wrote the Book of Revelation. Visitors can explore the sacred Cave of the Apocalypse, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the saint is said to have received his visions.
Thanks to the implementation of a coastal highway in the 1980s and the government's subsequent infrastructure investments, Natal is now the largest city in Brazil's Rio Grande do Norte. Visitors are drawn to its beautiful beaches, white sand dunes and a diverse cultural experience. The city also lays claim to having some of the cleanest air on the continent as well as the world's largest cashew tree, the Cajueiro de Pirangi, which produces roughly 70,000 nuts annually.
Photo Credit: Photo by Efraín Arcadia O'Connor on Unsplash
San Blas is a small, western coastal town in the Mexican state of Nayarit. It is located about 100 miles north of Puerto Vallarta.
Other Popular Destinations in Nayarit
Nuevo Vallarta
Nuevo Vallarta, located along the Bahía de Banderas in the state of Nayarit, is a coastal destination known for its wide, sandy beaches and marina-lined canals. Originally developed as a tourism project in the late 20th century, it has grown into a well-organized resort area with luxury hotels, golf courses, and waterfront condos. Unlike older beach towns with colonial roots, Nuevo Vallarta was designed from the start to offer modern comfort while being surrounded by natural landscapes.