Archives May 2023

At Lonely Planet, we love a dream trip. We are always looking for destinations that you can’t find anywhere else. And South America has countless opportunities for adventures that check an item off your bucket list. This year, head south and find towering glaciers, multi-night cruises along the Amazon and otherworldly deserts.

Still, craving more? That is why we have gathered eight of the dreamiest trips to take through this expansive continent. 

1. Trek into the Wilds of Patagonia in Chile and Argentina

When you’re on the road to nowhere at South America’s southern tip, keep going. There’s no reaching Patagonia in a hurry, whether you arrive bleary-eyed by plane, on a rumbling overnight bus or by choppy ferry. But it’s instantly worth it when you first see its toothy granite peaks, piercing blue lakes, booming glaciers and buff-colored steppe veined with silver rivers. Topping every Patagonia must-trek list is Torres del Paine and its much-raved-about, four-day, 50-mile (80km) ‘W’ hike. The masterstroke is the vast, iceberg-calving, crushed-meringue-like expanse of the Grey Glacier. These days, you can choose your level of comfort, from wind-pounded tent to refugio dorm bed to luxe lodge where you can round out a day’s hike over steaks and pisco sours.

For fewer crowds, sidestep peak season (November to February) or tackle the tougher, remoter, less-hyped eight- to 10-day ‘O’ circuit. Argentina lures intrepid folk to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares for challenging treks like the four-day, 40-mile (65km) Huemul Circuit, or you can embark on the long-distance Huella Andina, a 372-mile (600km) stomp across Northern Patagonia from Neuquén to Chubut, rounding up five national parks. Trek in Patagonia and you’ll curse the wicked winds and cruel climbs. But you’ll be back, bearing muddy boots, as there’s no place on Earth quite like it.

2. Journey down the Amazon in Brazil

In the roadless tracts of the Amazon, highways are made of water and oversized ferries are floating buses carrying people and produce from place to place. Begin in Manaus the epicenter for adventures into the jungle. Dozens of lodges lie within a half-day boat journey from the city, including riverside spots where the days are spent tracking monkeys, macaws and pink river dolphins, and the nights offer immersion in the wondrous cacophony of the rainforest’s nocturnal wildlife. It’s a slow, four-day journey to Belém aboard a triple-decked wooden vessel strung with hammocks. Along the way, there are several worthwhile places to break up the trip, including Santarém, which has a pleasant riverside promenade, leafy parks and open-sided restaurants serving up fresh fish from the Amazon. Just west of Santarém is Alter do Chão, a village fronting an astonishing lagoon complete with white-sand beaches and limpid waters ideal for snorkeling. The boat journey ends at Belém, a captivating city near the mouth of the river. By day, shoppers crowd into the vast belle epoque Ver-o-Peso Market, the stalls heaving with exotic Amazonian fruits, medicinal plants and the fresh catch of the day. In the evening, friends and couples gather at the open-air bars and eateries of shore-hugging Estação das Docas, the perfect spot to watch the sunset over Guajará Bay.

3. Live it up in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janiero has an idyllic setting for a metropolis. Wedged between forest-covered mountains and golden beaches, human life mixes with marmosets skittering through leafy parks and capybaras grazing along the shores of Lagoa, while street markets heave with exotic fruits. The wonders of the tropics seem deeply woven into the urban fabric here. When the sun is high overhead, there’s no better place to be than Ipanema Beach. Surfers jockey for space off rocky Arpoador as vendors wind through the bikini- and sunga (Speedo)-clad crowds proffering agua de coco (coconut water), cerveja (beer) and other cold drinks. Bronzed bodies are everywhere – kicking footballs, jogging along the water’s edge and cycling the promenade. In the evening, life takes a different form. Samba’s rapid rhythms draw revelers to Lapa’s dancehalls and a bohemian crowd heads for Santa Teresa’s hilltop cocktail lounges. With so much on offer, it’s no wonder Cariocas (locals) joke that “Deus é Brasileiro” (God is Brazilian) and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

4. Visit other worlds in the Atacama Desert in Chile

Steam spills from gurgling mud pools as a geyser blasts superheated water into the frosty air. The sun peaks over the mountains, bathing the geothermal field of El Tatio in golden light. Walking amid these sputtering features high in the Andes, it’s easy to feel like you’ve left Earth behind and landed on another planet. To the west, the wind creates artful, undulating patterns in the red-gold sand dunes of the aptly named Valle de Marte (Mars Valley). Nearby lie the dramatic multihued rock formations of the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) and shimmering salt lakes that seem as lifeless as the surrounding desert – until a flock of brilliant pink flamingos arrives to feed on brine shrimp and other microorganisms. These are just a few of the many astonishing landscapes of the Atacama, one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world – and the otherworldly wonders don’t end at sundown. With clear skies and little light pollution, the region is also renowned for stargazing.

5. Venture from the desert to the jungle in Colombia

Colombia’s 1000-mile Caribbean coastline is way more than just a string of palm-fringed beaches. Behind the strips of sand lies a mix of strident cultures, diverse ecosystems and molded-in-stone history. Flush up against the border with Venezuela, La Guajira stands at the northern tip of the South American continent. The scrubby landscapes, best navigated in an off-road vehicle, are inhabited by the Indigenous Wayuu people, known for their intricate weaving and forthright resistance to colonization. The coast’s biggest lure for first-time visitors is the well-preserved walled city of Cartagena, 249 miles to the west, its basic structure unaltered for centuries, and its charm and mystique unrivaled anywhere in the country. With intimate plazas and sturdy fortifications, the former trade port is an evocative place for lovers of history, romance and good food. You’ll find grittier and less crowded urban action in Santa Marta. The coast around Santa Marta is lush and humid, culminating in the small, forested swathe of Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, a paradise of meandering coastal trails leading to idyllic swimming spots. The city is used as a base for excursions into the misty mountains of Minca and the isolated trek-in ruins of Ciudad Perdida, a one-time citadel of the pre-Columbian Tayrona civilization. West again, past Cartagena, the coast is less touristy until you reach the Gulf of Urabá, beyond which lies the thin jungle-covered Darien Gap isthmus, where North and South America meet. 

6. See evolution in action on the Galápagos

The world has a lot to thank the Galápagos Islands for. Famously connected to Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution, these islands were never part of the South American mainland, meaning plants and animals here followed their own extraordinary paths. Tortoises, free of predators, became huge. Finches, lacking competition, sub-specialized into tool users (woodpecker finch), seed eaters (ground finch) and bloodsuckers (vampire finch), among others. Flightless cormorants dive like porpoises, and iguanas feed in the sea. The landscapes are just as unusual, varying from island to island. Younger islands like Isabela burst with volcanic activity, while central Santa Cruz features endangered scalesia forests. Older islands to the east include Española, whose flat-topped cliffs are home to colonies of waved albatross – a bird so massive it needs a runway to get aloft. While it’s impossible to see everything in one trip, on even a short cruise, the days are packed with once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from spotting blue-footed boobies in a mating dance to snorkeling over lava formations. 

Pro tip: Small (typically 16-passenger) cruise ships offer the best way to see the islands. Peruse a range of itineraries with Elsewhere.

7. Marvel at surreal Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia

Driving across the blinding white landscape, it’s easy to lose all sense of proportion. The horizon vanishes, and mirages form and then melt away on Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni – the largest salt flats on the planet. The surreal perspective only intensifies after a rainstorm, when a thin layer of water creates a mirror-like surface reflecting the sky overhead. Stepping out of the 4WD and across this otherworldly terrain is like walking on the clouds. Tours from the lofty town of Uyuni (elevation: a whopping 12,140ft/3700m) rumble out to the great sunbaked plains. Along the way, you’ll stop at a mountaintop emerging from a snow-white sea – or at least that’s what Isla Incahuasi resembles. This cactus-covered “island” is all that remains of an ancient volcano that was once surrounded by a prehistoric lake. By late afternoon, the blustery desert cold arrives along with a legendary sunset, as the sky and glass-like earth below light up in fiery colors.

Pro tip: Numerous companies offer tours (typically three-day circuits) from Uyuni. It’s worth paying extra for a reputable outfit.

8. Encounter ancient civilizations and Mythical Ruins in Peru

Peru’s incredible ruins showcase a rich tapestry of pre-Columbian cultures spread over five millennia. From fortified ridgelines in the Andes to mysterious geoglyphs in the Nazca Desert, the country is scattered with archaeological sites. The misty terraces that embellish the slopes of Machu Picchu are merely a gateway to less heralded but equally fascinating places. While none are quite as spectacular as the fabled “Lost City of the Incas”, many are significantly older, and most are a lot less crowded. The South is a good place to start. With Cuzco as your base, pitch northwest to the ruins and museums of the Sacred Valley. A special ticket, the boleto turístico, covers a dozen sites here, including magnificently terraced Pisac, megalithic Sacsayhuamán and geometrically aligned Ollantaytambo, famed for its aqueducts and fountains. Save time for the Lost City’s smaller sibling, Choquequirao. Sometimes referred to as a mini Machu Picchu, it’s more tranquil thanks to its relative isolation (it’s a four-day round-trip hike). Several sites are easily visited from Peru’s big cities. Pachacamac, 20 miles (31km) southeast of the capital, Lima, is an ancient citadel with adobe and stone palaces and temple pyramids. Chan Chan, on the coast just outside handsome Trujillo, is the Americas’ largest pre-Columbian town and the largest adobe city in the world. Branching off into remote valleys in the snowcapped Cordillera Blanca, you’ll have to endure long bus rides and thin air to feast your eyes upon Chavín de Huántar – it’s worth the effort, though.

In recent years, an increase in new arrivals has transformed Anchorage from a small town into a big city.

In fact, Anchorage – the largest city in Alaska – now accounts for 40 percent of the state’s total population, but that doesn’t mean the city has lost its unique charm. For locals, a quick errand in the city center can take hours because it’s pretty much required that you stop and greet anyone you recognize – which will be almost everyone.

Anchorage is a friendly and relatively safe place to visit, though its growing size means crime rates have also increased. While you’re unlikely to find yourself in trouble, treat Anchorage as you would any urban area and stay vigilant. But don’t let those big-city concerns distract you from what makes this a wonderful destination packed with fun things to do – the eccentric quirks, friendly people and laid-back style here are worth enjoying to the fullest. This is what you need to know about Anchorage before you go. 

1. You can visit Anchorage at any time of the year

There is never a bad time to visit Anchorage. (Well, you might try to avoid March, when all the snow melts into muddy puddles and the city is covered in a thick layer of dust.) In every season, visitors can find fun things to do.

Anchorage enjoys almost 23 hours of uninterrupted sunlight in the summer, which means midnight hikes, fishing and other outdoor activities. The fall is marked by the Alaska State Fair and is the last big hurrah before the snow arrives. In the winter months, you can expect to see the northern lights and the 10-day Fur Rendezvous celebration. April and May are considered the shoulder season, so you can score some fantastic deals on excursions and hotel stays.

Really, Anchorage is a choose-your-own-adventure destination that is jam-packed with ways to explore any time of year.

2. Anchorage is a gateway to some of Alaska’s best outdoor experiences

Almost uniquely among American cities, Anchorage is equal parts urban and untamed. Where else in the world can you fish for gigantic king salmon while surrounded by a bustling metropolis? How about seeing moose and bears stop traffic? In Anchorage, that’s just another ordinary day.

Three blocks away from the heart of downtown is the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Despite heavy bike and foot traffic, it is not uncommon to see moose, bears, cranes and eagles along the pavement. And that’s before you consider the range of easy day trips from Anchorage. Head 10 miles south of downtown, and you’ll find yourself in the region’s playground, the Chugach Mountains. Or take a scenic 30-mile drive north of town to traverse the breathtaking Hatcher Pass.

3. Leave the designer gear at home when visiting Anchorage

A wander around town will confirm that Anchorage is not exactly a fashion capital. You will rarely see a woman wearing a pair of heels and a designer dress, even on New Year’s Eve, opting instead for Salmon Sisters Xtratufs and a pair of Levis.

Men generally sport loose-fitting jeans or Carhartts, sneakers and some iteration of flannel. Even in the business realm, suits and even sport coats are mostly things of the past. So, unless your plans include fine dining at the Crow’s Nest or Seven Glaciers, you can leave your fancy clothes at home.

4. Learn how to speak like an Alaskan

Between 1970 and 1980, Anchorage enjoyed a major economic boom that attracted oil and railroad workers from all over the world. In response, locals began devising new words that would easily identify what came to be known as “outsiders.” This language is still used today, and – you guessed it – locals still use insider vocabulary to suss out visitors. Learning some of the following terms can help if you’re hoping to blend in:

• Cheechako: a newcomer to Alaska

• Sourdough: a long-time Alaskan

• Outside/outsider: any place that is not Alaska and anyone who was not born in Alaska

• Lower 48: the contiguous United States

• Termination dust: the first snowfall that sticks to the top of the mountains each year

• Quyana: “thank you” in the Indigenous Yup’ik language

• Snowmachine: nothing will out you faster, or upset a local more, quite like saying “snowmobile”

5. Staying safe in Anchorage and what to do in an emergency

Like any city, there are some places in Anchorage that visitors should probably steer clear of. Generally speaking, the Gambell Street intersection between E 12th Ave and E 16th Ave should be avoided if you are on foot. Additionally, 1st Ave and 3rd Ave should be skipped.

Should you find yourself in an unsavory situation, Anchorage’s Police Department is very responsive, as are the security at most bars. You can report sketchy behavior and other non-emergencies by calling 311, which triggers a public safety team to investigate. If you are out enjoying one of the city’s many bars and feel unsafe for any reason, tell a bartender or a member of security, and they will get help. As always, if you find yourself in an emergency, always call 911.

6. The dos and don’ts of interacting with Anchorage’s wildlife

New York City has its rats, and Alaska has mosquitos that will haunt your nightmares. Named the unofficial Alaska state bird, mosquitos here typically hunt in packs for any exposed flesh. The swarms are worst in the spring and early summer, and multiple bites can leave you with large, itchy rashes. To protect yourself, it’s always a good idea to carry heavy-duty DEET and several layers of clothing with you. Alaskans also condone the smooshing of as many mosquitos as you can get your hands (or fly swatter) on.

Anchorage is also home to larger wildlife. It is not uncommon to see a moose stop highway traffic or a bear rifling through a dumpster as eagles soar overhead. However, that does not mean that you should approach these animals, no matter how friendly they may seem. Moose are extremely dangerous and temperamental, especially when they have calves with them, and will charge you if they feel you are getting too close. A telling sign is twitching ears, which indicate that the moose is uncomfortable. The best thing to do in that situation is to back away slowly.

Similarly, bears are not to be trifled with – keep in mind that they can reach top speeds of 35mph and weigh up to 1500lbs. So, to snag those envy-worthy wildlife photos, you’d be better off (and a whole lot safer) visiting either the Alaska Zoo or the Wildlife Conservation Center.

7. Earthquakes can happen; here’s what to do

On November 30th, 2018, at 8:29am local time, Anchoragites were unpleasantly reminded of their proximity to the Pacific Plate as the city shook with a 7.0 earthquake. Though roads collapsed and buildings sustained significant damage, the city was back up and running within 48 hours. The reason? Earthquakes happen a lot in Alaska.

After the 9.2-magnitude earthquake in 1964, many of Anchorage’s buildings were rebuilt on rollers to minimize structural damage from future temblors. While this ultimately increases safety, finding yourself in one of these buildings can make even mild earthquakes feel unnerving. When this happens, the best thing to do is stay calm and remain in place, as most small quakes come and go quickly without causing damage.

In the unlucky event that there is a large earthquake while you’re visiting, remember the advice from the highest authorities: “Drop. Cover. Hold on.” The city will communicate emergency plans over the radio on 750 AM KFQD and on KTUU-TV Channel 2. Here’s what to do if you’re in Alaska during an earthquake:

• Drop to your knees and find the nearest sturdy table to crawl under.

• Cover your neck and head with one arm.

• Hold on to the table leg to make sure you stay covered and remain under the table until the shaking stops.

8. Know the difference between Anchorage’s hospitals

Accidents happen, especially in a place where outdoor activities are a way of life. In the unlucky instance that you need medical care, Anchorage has two public hospitals, Providence Medical Center and Alaska Regional Hospital. While you will receive excellent care at either hospital, there are some significant differences between the two.

Alaska Regional Hospital’s emergency department generally has very short wait times – you can even check out your predicted wait time on the homepage of the institution’s website. The downside is the reason for their short wait times: most locals prefer Providence.

As Alaska Regional is a for-profit hospital, they tend to charge more for basic services than Providence, and their debt forgiveness is minimal. If you anticipate needing a payment plan to pay your hospital bill, you might want to consider going to Providence. As a nonprofit, Providence offers debt forgiveness for qualifying patients.

9. There’s a cannabis dispensary on every block

Since recreational cannabis became legal in Alaska in 2017, dispensaries have begun popping up on every corner. Currently, there are over 40 dispensaries in Anchorage, with more on the way. Although cannabis consumption is widely accepted in the city, there are some important laws to be aware of before partaking. This is what you need to know about cannabis dispensaries in Anchorage.

• You must be 21 or older and have a valid form of ID to enter a dispensary.

• The possession limit is 1 ounce (28 grams) per person.

• Cannabis may not be consumed in public or on any public land.

• You can have cannabis and cannabis paraphernalia in your vehicle, but you may not drive under the influence.

• Law enforcement may base DUI arrests on observed impairment.

• If arrested for a DUI, you will face prison time, a fine and points off of your license.

• It is illegal to transport cannabis purchased in Alaska across state lines.

Glacier-fed rivers descend from the high alpine zone to lush green valleys, flowing past isolated yurt camps and turquoise mountain lakes. Above, the snow-capped peaks of the Tien Shan reach 7000m (22,965ft) and higher into the sky toward the inspiration of their celestial name: the Heavenly Mountains.

The views from mountain trails in Kyrgyzstan do not disappoint.

Most of the best hikes in this Central Asian nation meander up switchbacked passes and toward rushing rivers throughout the Tien Shan. In a country whose territory is 94% mountains, trekking in Kyrgyzstan is often the only way to access the wildest and most incredible landscapes.

Apart from Kyrgyzstan’s most-popular hiking routes, visitors will often feel like they’ve got these landscapes all to themselves: in most regions, you’ll see more shepherds than fellow travelers. And even the few truly busy paths have their rewards, as they lead to some of the most incredible mountain scenery in all of Central Asia – or the world, for that matter.

Read on to learn more about Kyrgyzstan’s incredible trails.

1. Ala-Köl Lake Loop

Best hike for stunning panoramas

46km (28.5 miles), 2094m (6870 ft) elevation gain, 2–3 days, moderate

No guide to trekking in Kyrgyzstan would be complete without mention of Ala-Köl, one of the most popular hikes in the country and one of the best mountain panoramas anywhere in the region.

The hike climbs gently through pastures along the Karakol River before turning sharply and steeply through a dense spruce forest toward the rocky alpine zone. From the western edge of Ala-Köl (an alpine lake), the trail climbs another 370m (1214ft) to 3900m-high (12,795ft) Ala-Köl Pass, opening a little more with every step into a spectacular 270° panorama.

Layered mountain ridges reach 5000m (16,404ft) and higher, though the shining Takyr-Tor glacier that feeds Ala-Köl dominates the scene. Descending quickly into the Keldike Valley, the route continues through forest cover to Altyn Arashan hot springs (great for a mid-hike soak) and onward to the town of Ak-Suu, near Karakol.

Trailhead: The Ala-Köl trek starts at the entrance gate to Karakol National Park, though private transport can typically drop hikers at the second bridge over the Karakol River, saving you around 7km (4½ miles) of road-walking.

2. Shatyly Viewpoint

Best short walk (and best sunrise) 

3.2km (2 miles), 177 meters (580 feet) elevation gain, 1 hour, easy

The low rays of the rising sun catch the tops of washboard hills running from the shore of Ysyk-Köl lake toward the snowy peaks of the Terskey Alatoo range behind. The short walk to Shatyly Viewpoint is a big payoff for small effort any time of day – but it really shines at dawn, as the light on the Tien Shan signals the start of a new day.

Trailhead: A 12km (7½-mile) dirt road out of Bökönbaev town runs up the Boz-Salkyn Valley to the Shatyly starting point. No public transport is available, so you’ll have to rely on a private driver and/or guide.

3. Ak-Suu Transverse

Best long-distance hike

109km (67.7 miles), 7155m (23,474ft) elevation gain, 7 days, moderate to challenging

The weeklong Ak-Suu Transverse adds two and three days onto each side of Ala-Köl, connecting the ecotourism hub of Jyrgalan to the red rocks of Jeti-Ögüz Valley over some of the country’s best trekking terrain. One to two passes per day leads hikers past lakes, waterfalls, the glaciated south face of exquisite Tashtanbek-Tor Bashi peak and over the panoramic pass to Ala-Köl.

Travelers wary of carrying a full pack over such distance and elevation can opt for room and board in a network of yurt camps opened in 2024 by Karakol-based Kyrgyz Life.

Trailhead: The Ak-Suu Transverse starts in Jyrgalan Valley and ends at Jeti-Ögüz resort, both of which are accessible by public transportation from the city of Karakol.

4. Shar Waterfall

Best waterfall hike

17km (10.5 miles), 822m (2697ft) elevation gain, 6–8 hours, moderate

Central Asia’s tallest waterfall plunges more than 400m (1312ft) down a stepped cliff face at the top of the Tuyuk Bogoshtu Valley in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region. Though just off the road to popular Köl-Suu lake, Shar is little-visited by trekkers – and on most days it’ll be just you and the shepherds enjoying the cold spray at the base of the falls.

The hike to Shar Waterfall is a straightforward, moderate climb along a forested slope, with the waterfall peeking occasionally through the trees. Eventually, the trail opens into a high cirque for the final 1½km (1 mile) to the base of the falls.

Trailhead: Start walking from a yurt camp at the end of the road 6km (3¾ miles) past Bash Kaindy village, near At-Bashi town. No public transport runs past the village, so either hike in or hire a private car.

5. Heights of Alay

Best multi-day loop hike

85km (52.8 miles), 4435m (14,550 ft) elevation gain, 5 days, moderate to challenging

Though in fact part of the Pamir-Alay rather than the Tien Shan, one of the top hikes in Kyrgyzstan’s southern regions climbs three passes in five to six days, capped by horizon-stretching views of the Peak Lenin massif, across the Alay Valley, from atop 4185m (13,370ft) Jiptik Pass. More moonscape than mountain meadow, the pass offers a sharp contrast with the green valleys at the trek’s lower elevations and the red rock walls of Kozho-Kelen village halfway through the trek.

If the hike seems too ambitious with a full pack, it’s possible to stay in yurt camps and guesthouses along the full route. Visit Alay and CBT Sary Mogol can arrange drivers, guides and pack horses, and prebook yurt stays along the route.

Trailhead: Both legs of the loop terminate in the Alay Valley around 20km (12½ miles) north of Sary-Mogol.

6. Sary-Chelek Lakes Loop

Best one-day loop hike

10.68km (6.63 miles), 440m (1444ft) elevation gain, 3 hours, easy

While 6km-long (3¾-mile-long) Sary-Chelek lake tends to steal the spotlight in the eponymous Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, the area is home to seven total mountain lakes tucked between rolling hills and (in the case of Kara-Kmysh lake) just across the next mountain ridges. The easy Sary-Chelek Lakes Loop takes in six of the seven, winding through fields of wildflowers in spring and the busy hay harvest in late summer. (It’s an easy one-day add-on to cross over that pass to number seven.)

In contrast with most of Kyrgyzstan’s best trekking, the sub-2000m (6562ft) elevation also gives the area a much longer trekking season and comparably warmer temperatures, making it an excellent shoulder-season hike in Kyrgyzstan.

Trailhead: The loop starts from the end of the road in Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, around 15km (9¼ miles) past the entrance in Arkyt village.

7. Boirok Grove

Best hike for fall foliage

6km (3.73 miles), 478m (1171ft) elevation gain, 2–3 hours, easy

A pretty but unremarkable stand of birch trees not far from Bishkek becomes a magnet for local hikers in late October as brilliant golden foliage fills the Boirok Valley. Walking in atop an open hillside, the hike provides wide views up the main valley of Ala-Archa National Park before dipping into Boirok and its spruce trees. Inside the grove, strips of white birch bark contrast starkly against the ground beneath a canopy of golden leaves.

This short and easy trek is a popular destination for weekend picnics; on weekend mornings or weekdays in fall, hikers will typically have it to themselves.

Trailhead: Public transportation travels between Bishkek and the village of Kashka Suu, from which a 1.25km (¾-mile) dirt road leads to the Boirok trailhead.

Top tips for trekking in Kyrgyzstan

• High-elevation hiking in Kyrgyzstan is best from July through September, when passes are largely open and weather is typically pleasant. Lower elevations are often accessible from mid-May through to mid-October – but be sure to inquire locally and pack for the chance of snow.

• Wild camping is allowed throughout the mountains, though you should stay aware of livestock-movement patterns or risk waking up amid a sea of sheep. Near yurts, beware of sheep dogs as they’re typically wary of strangers. In the rare event that a shepherd asks you to move elsewhere, just pack your gear and carry on a little further.

• Gear rental is reliably available in Bishkek, Karakol, Osh and Naryn. Since equipment quality and weight vary significantly, experienced long-distance hikers will prefer to rely on their own equipment from home. Still, prices track with quality, and it’s generally no problem to kit up for under $20 per day.

• While specialized dehydrated trekking meals are rare in Kyrgyzstan, local bazaars are a great place to stock up on locally harvested nuts and dried fruits for hiking snacks.

It isn’t hard to find a bit of respite from New York City’s clamor. Really.

Exquisite landscapes, tiny “pocket parks,” community gardens and many hundreds of acres of woods (really!) make up Gotham’s archipelago of over 1700 green spaces, all of which offer an alternative to the skyscrapers and crowds. 

Some famous NYC parks, such as Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Washington Square Park, are part of every must-visit New York City itinerary. Others, like Pelham Bay and Van Cortlandt, are off the beaten path and provide a welcoming respite from the Big Apple’s limitless energy. These green spaces are also some of the best free things to do in New York City, as all NYC parks are completely free to enter. 

While it’s tough to narrow it down, here are the best parks in New York City.

1. Central Park

Best for first-time NYC visitors

As New York City’s most famous park, locals and visitors from all over the world savor Central Park’s 843 acres of rolling meadows, boulder-studded outcroppings, elm-lined walkways, manicured gardens, multiple ponds and a reservoir. Drama lovers head to the Delacorte Theater each summer for alfresco Shakespeare performances, while Beatles fans pay tribute to John Lennon at Strawberry Fields. Kids meet sea lions at the Central Park Zoo and scamper on the giant Alice in Wonderland–inspired sculptures. And bird-watchers get lost in the wild-feeling Ramble and North Woods.

The park is a magnificent artwork in itself, shaped by the great Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the 19th century as a leisure space for all New Yorkers. To this day, the park offers whatever form of recreation you might be looking for, from tennis and roller skating to model-boat sailing or just sunbathing for hours.

Central Park is open daily from 6:00am to 1:00am. If you’re looking for a more immersive and informative visit, opt for Central Park Conservancy’s official daily tours. You can find a schedule and reserve a spot online. For a wider variety of excursions, use booking platforms such as GetYourGuide and Viator.  

If you visit only one park in NYC, make it this grande dame.

Want to really get to know Central Park? Explore some of its hidden corners

2. Brooklyn Bridge Park 

Best for skyline views of Lower Manhattan

Where piers and former industrial buildings once rotted, one of the city’s most beloved attractions has taken shape. This 85-acre park extends along a 1.3-mile bend on the East River, a once-barren stretch of shoreline that has been developed into a landscaped gem with jaw-dropping views of the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. There’s lots to see and do here, with playgrounds, walkways, ballfields and lawns galore – plus one of the city’s most enchanting carousels. There are also a few restaurants with seasonal outdoor seating.

3. Prospect Park

Best for picnics

Among Brooklyn’s necklace of wonderful green spaces, the crown jewel is the 585-acre Prospect Park. Its designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, considered it an improvement on their earlier New York project, Central Park – and between wandering its tree-fringed walkways and sighing under its ornamental bridges, you might agree. At the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, there is ice skating in winter and roller skating in summer.

Like its Manhattan cousin, Prospect Park looks like a natural wonder, yet it was entirely landscaped by humans. A long meadow on its west side is filled with dog walkers, athletes and barbecuers, depending on the season; a charming boathouse on the east side sits picturesquely on a lake. The neoclassical arches, sculptures and columns at the major entrances were later additions.

With Greenmarket every Saturday from 8am-2pm at Grand Army Plaza, it’s easy to grab picnic supplies and set up a blanket in the Long Meadow if the weather is pleasant. From early April to late October, stop by food festival Smorgasburg on Sundays to get your picnic wares. 

4. Hudson River Park 

Best for boating and sunset views

Covering 550 acres (400 of which are on the water) and running from the Battery at Manhattan’s southern tip to 59th St in Midtown, Hudson River Park is Manhattan’s wondrous side yard. The long riverside path is a great spot for cycling, running and strolling.

Several boathouses (including one in Chelsea near W 26th St and another in the West Village near Houston St) offer kayak rentals and longer excursions for more experienced paddlers. Families with kids have loads of options, including four playgrounds, a carousel (off W 22nd St), mini-golf and grassy piers for young legs to run free. And on sunny days, people gather to sunbathe on the lawns of Pier 45 (at Christopher St).

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5. Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Best for multicultural events

Since Queens might be the most international place on Earth, it’s fitting that the world’s biggest globe sits smack dab in the middle of its best-loved park. At 120ft high and weighing 380 tons, the stainless-steel Unisphere is indeed iconic. Yet it’s the people who fill the nearby fields and pathways that make Flushing Meadows Corona Park truly stand out.

Once the site of two World’s Fairs (in 1939 and 1964) and adjacent to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (home to the annual US Open) and Citi Field (home to baseball’s NY Mets), these 1225 acres today play host to soccer tournaments, food trucks, a wonderful art museum, family picnics and much more. Visit for a taste of why New York remains a truly global city.

6. Staten Island Greenbelt

Best for peace and solitude

Staten Island’s natural beauty has always delighted conservationists, with 19th-century figures as prominent as Henry David Thoreau and Frederick Law Olmsted celebrating the ecological richness of its hills. Decades later, hard work and passionate preservation efforts have resulted in the Staten Island Greenbelt, a contiguous series of wooded reserves that spans an astonishing 2800 acres.

For a few hours, you can leave the clamor of New York City behind as you listen for bird calls, look out for bullfrogs and experience nature in its elemental glory along the park’s family-friendly, color-coded hiking trails.

7. Battery Park

Best for history buffs 

At the very lower tip of Manhattan, this historic park has been a site of commerce, remembrance and recreation since the Dutch arrived in 1625 (establishing a defensive “battery” overlooking the harbor). Restored landscapes filled with native species and wildflowers lie in between a series of moving memorials, including those who died in the Korean War and members of the Merchant Mariners.

It’s also the site of the beguiling SeaGlass Carousel, the historic Castle Clinton and the gateway for ferries to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. (A warning: only one company, Statue City Cruises, sells tickets to the iconic monument. If you didn’t purchase them online, buy them at the ticket office in Castle Clinton. Don’t buy them on the street.)

8. Washington Square Park

Best for bohemian atmosphere

Neighborhood seniors share benches with MCs selling self-produced CDs. NYU undergrads dodge performance artists, feisty protesters and toddlers running toward the fountain. By the magnificent arch, musicians play, dogs scamper and the scent of weed lingers. If Greenwich Village contains all manner of colorful characters, Washington Square Park is where you’ll find them all strutting their stuff.

A gorgeous arch and historic row of townhouses along the park’s fringes speak to the site’s elegant past. The space has long embodied the mosaic of the Village’s bohemian vibe and has been a center for activism for many decades. 

And after years of renovations, it’s never looked better, with a big  playground, public restrooms, a dog run and the famous “mounds” now covered in artificial grass for children’s enjoyment. But it’s the blend of people that gives the park its soul. Park yourself on a bench for a few hours to soak it in.

9. Fort Greene Park

Best for athletic activities and recreation

Forts from the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 were retired by 1847 when this tract of land became Brooklyn’s first park – a measure that was championed by Walt Whitman, then editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 

By 1896, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Olmsted – designers of Central Park and Prospect Park – were resculpting its rugged expanse. Today, it’s popular for its lawns, tennis courts, ball fields, playground and dog run.

10. Van Cortlandt Park

Best for golfing (on the first public course)

North of the Bronx, this sprawling 1150-acre beauty combines bucolic pursuits you might not realize are available in New York City – like horseback riding, hiking and golf – with hundreds of acres of ballfields that draw cross-country runners, soccer leagues and an ever-growing community of cricketers.

Visit the Van Cortlandt House Museum for a taste of NYC’s plantation past (the park derives from the Van Cortlandt family’s vast holdings) – then take a wander or pedal down the Putnam Greenway, a former rail line that is especially beautiful in fall.  

11. Bryant Park

Best for holiday atmosphere

Coffee kiosks, alfresco chess games, summer film screenings and winter ice skating: it’s hard to believe that this leafy oasis was a crime-ridden hellscape known as “Needle Park” in the ’70s. Nestled behind the beaux-arts New York Public Library building and surrounded by vertiginous buildings, it offers the space New Yorkers need to slow down from the Midtown madness for a few minutes.

Among the park’s most whimsical attractions is the French-inspired, Brooklyn-made Le Carrousel. Frequent special events include alfresco summer movie nights, popular with post-work crowds lugging cheese-and-wine picnics.

In the holiday season, Bryant Park transforms into a winter wonderland with its European-inspired Winter Village, making it a must-do in NYC in December. With free ice skating, festive foods and drinks, and over 170 kiosks to shop from, it’s the perfect spot for getting in the holiday spirit. 

12. Riverside Park

Best for admiring the riverfront

This four-mile strip of greenery connects Upper West Siders to the shoreline of the Hudson. The park first took shape in the late 19th century following a plan by the omnipresent Frederick Law Olmstead, with swathes of green snaking along the ridge traced by Riverside Dr (the grand apartment buildings developed across from the park remain some of the city’s finest). In one of his first grand projects, master administrator Robert Moses redeveloped what had been waterside rail yards in the 1930s, adding a series of terraces (and a four-lane highway) to connect the park above to the shore below.

Today, playgrounds, tennis courts, sports fields and cycling paths draw residents of all ages and athletic preferences, while waterside benches allow the less active to admire the light on the river. Be sure to keep an eye out for some of the cutest maintenance workers you’ll ever see: a small herd of goats, seasonally deployed as weed whackers (or weed munchers?) in some of the park’s steeper patches.

13. Inwood Hill Park

Best for unspoiled nature

At Manhattan’s hilly northern tip, this 196-acre park is a wonderful contrast to the borough’s density. Inwood Hill Park is one of the few spaces in the city that has been truly untouched by development: on a hike through this urban forest, you’ll encounter caves, old-growth trees and maybe even a bald eagle. The lawns that ring the woods attract families and mellow residents in search of contemplation. On summer weekends, join locals who barbecue at designated grills.

14. Columbus Park

Best for a pit stop

Today, fiercely competitive mah-jongg masters, slow-motion tai-chi practitioners and friends gossiping over homemade dumplings fill this neighborhood park in Chinatown that was a major site in New York City history. In the 19th century, this was part of the infamous Five Points neighborhood, the city’s first tenement slums and the inspiration for Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York.

Aside from serving up an intriguing slice of multicultural life, this park’s other perk these days is its public bathroom, making it the perfect place for a pit stop.

15. High Line

Best for an urban escape

The recent addition to NYC’s green area landscape, the High Line has a different approach to a park experience. Opened in 2009 and inspired by the Parisian Promenade Plantée, it takes you above ground, quite literally. The linear park was born by transforming Central Railroad’s abandoned and forgotten West Side Line tracks into an urban oasis. The elevated line itself was a revitalization project constructed in 1929 to solve the problem of freight trains hitting people and cars on 10th Avenue (nicknamed “Death Avenue” at the time).

The High Line starts at 34th Street at Hudson Yards and snakes 1.45 miles into the Meatpacking District. Come here for the phenomenal vistas of Manhattan’s skyline, picnics in the heart of the busy city and lazy lounging on a sundeck with a Hudson River view. It doubles as an outdoor gallery showcasing many public contemporary art installations. With 8 million visitors annually, The High Line tends to get crowded during lunch and sunset, making late evenings and early mornings the ideal times to visit. Don’t miss the superb Renzo Piano-designed Whitney Museum of American Art at the southern end of the park.

16. Pelham Bay Park

Best for summer break

Officially NYC’s biggest park by size, Pelham Bay could fit three Central Parks with more than 2700 acres of area. This outdoor paradise is set in the northeast part of the Bronx hugging the Long Island Sound. There’s something liberating in escaping here from the overwhelming action of the city center. Hiking trails, bike routes and a quiet rocky coastline help rejuvenate. 

Pelham Bay also includes Orchard Beach, often called “New York Riviera” for its soft sands and long promenade. Volleyball, basketball and softball courts are at your disposal, along with two large picnic areas. There’s a lagoon in the park’s center for relaxing kayaking. During summer, it’s the ultimate New York City park hangout. 

Nature isn’t the only thing you’ll find at this sprawling park. Historic manor-set Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum is a beautiful example of 19th-century Greek Revival architecture. You can also try horseback riding at the Bronx Equestrian Center and play golf at New York’s only 36-hole course.

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