Category Adventure Travel

Wedged between Brazil and Argentina is a country no bigger than the US state of California – with the largely inaccessible Gran Chaco region accounting for about 60% of its land mass. Perhaps that’s why even ambitious travelers often overlook Paraguay. (It doesn’t help that there’s no dedicated Lonely Planet guide to the country.)

Yet visitors who do make it to this subtropical, landlocked South American country find ample rewards: quirky cities, rich cultural sites and natural beauty. And no chance of overtourism.

If you’re among the many who have never been, here’s what you need to know before your visit to Paraguay.

Paraguay is one of the best countries to visit next year. See our full list of Best in Travel 2025 winners.

When should I go to Paraguay?

Most areas of Paraguay have a subtropical climate, so expect hot, humid and rainy conditions year-round. Temperatures are especially high during the South American summer months (December through February), with rain more likely during winter months (June through September). Unlike countries with high numbers of tourists, high and low seasons aren’t really a thing in Paraguay, and prices remain largely affordable, with few seasonal price bumps, no matter what time of year you choose to visit.

How much time should I spend in Paraguay?

Since much of the west of the country is inaccessible, top destinations in the east are relatively close together. Yet public-transportation options are limited (see below). If you’re only interested in a few top sites and a city or two, count in a week-long visit. If you’re interested in seeing all of the top destinations across Paraguay – such as touring the Itaipu dam, visiting Jesuit missions and exploring the country’s parks and waterfalls – allow at least two weeks. If you also plan to do ambitious hiking and camping, and/or spend time exploring more-remote areas such as the Chaco region, add on additional days.

Is it easy to get in and around Paraguay?

International flights land at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in the capital of Asunción. But a flight isn’t required to get here: since Paraguay is part of the so-called Tri-Border Region, overland crossings are available and easy to and from southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Once in Paraguay, you’ll find that cities are walkable and taxi services readily available. Short- and long-distance buses traverse Paraguay – but don’t expect comfort or ease of booking, especially if your Spanish is not strong. Consider renting a vehicle for travel between destinations: many major international rental companies have vehicles for hire from the international airport in Asunción. Local car rental companies also exist.

Top things to do in Paraguay

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Go chasing waterfalls

In a country crisscrossed by water channels, Paraguay has some dazzling waterfalls, including Monday Falls, and national parks with waterfalls within their borders. Ñacunday National Park, for example, is home to the Ñacunday Waterfall as well as a few short trails and a basic camping area near the falls.

Take a dam tour

One of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams and power plants is located in Paraguay (all that water!). Located on the mighty Paraná River and shared with Brazil, the Itaipu Binacional Hydroelectric Center provides all of the electricity needed within Paraguay. Free guided tours are offered to the public, which include a visit to the massive dam. Time it just right and you might see the enormous floodgates open, a dramatic event that only happens a few times each year.

Explore the missions route

Jesuit missionaries had a short but pivotal presence in Paraguay, where they established a string of seven missions, each anchored by a church and a settlement. The remains of these missions are today collectively protected as a UNESCO site. Visiting these sites – which include Jesús de Tavarangüe and La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná – conveys both the architectural and engineering prowess of the Jesuits, as well as their quest to convert locals to Christianity. La Santísima Trinidad  (the Holy Trinity), for example, sprawls over nearly 20 acres and is anchored by an enormous church where visitors can still see what remains of elaborate decorative elements.

Enjoy tasty Asian food (really!)

In the 20th century, immigrants from China, South Korea and Japan began arriving in Paraguay in sizable numbers – thankfully bringing their cuisines with them. Today, you can find many restaurants serving Asian food in Paraguay’s largest cities, and even in smaller towns. Hiroshima is an enormous institution favored by locals looking for quality Japanese food in Encarnación. Head to Sawasdee in Asunción for satisfying Thai and Indian dishes.

My favorite thing to do in Paraguay

Give the capital its due. While there are plenty of natural and cultural areas to explore in Paraguay, its capital Asunción (enticingly nicknamed the “World’s Capital of Friendship”) deserves some of your travel time as well. The city of 2 million is filled with a range of hotels, craft-beer producers and a growing roster of notable restaurants. Museums and street art add to a creative flair, with a youthful population and an entrepreneurial spirit giving the city a major up-and-coming vibe.

Hotel Bristol in central Asunción is a budget winner offering more than most at this price point. Diners will find creative dishes from a talented chef/sommelier couple at Pakuri. And Museo del Barro offers a well-curated mix of contemporary, colonial and European art (including paintings by Matisse and a Monet); pottery and textiles from around Paraguay; and many examples of the larger-than-life work of artist Ricardo Migliorisi (who was born in Asunción).

I found so much to see and do in Asunción that I extended my stay in the city.

How much money do I need for Paraguay?

Generally speaking, prices at hotels, restaurants, national parks, museums and other destinations and attractions are quite affordable because they are set with the locals’ limited budgets rather than tourist dollars in mind. Though credit cards may be accepted, it’s best to have local currency on hand at all times. Like its neighbors, the Paraguayan economy and currency (called the guarani) is subject to sometimes dramatic fluctuations, affecting prices.

• Basic private room for two: 180,000–250,000 guarani (US$23–32)

• Simple two-course set lunch: 30,000–40,000 guarani (US$4–5) per person

More tips for enjoying Paraguay

Be ready to speak some Spanish

While some English is spoken in Paraguay, it’s nowhere near as common as it is in better-touristed South American countries. If your language skills are limited, bring a phrase book or brush up on your Spanish before you travel here. You will likely hear Paraguayans speaking Guarani (or a mix of Spanish and Guarani) – an Indigenous language that is proudly maintained as the country’s second official language.

Stay alert

Like most border towns, gritty and bustling Ciudad del Este is a bit rough around the edges. Pack your common sense and remain aware of your surroundings. And don’t be surprised to see guns: on more than one occasion, I witnessed uniformed men as well as locals openly carrying firearms.

Pack for hot and wet weather

The weather in Paraguay is likely to be hot, humid, and rainy no matter when or where you visit – so pack accordingly. While shorts, short-sleeve shirts and even tank tops are worn by locals, short-shorts or any other type of revealing clothing is best left at home.

Stretching from the Eastern Plains to the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is rightly famous for its breathtaking landscapes. Crossing this rugged state will take you past soaring mountains, sun-drenched plains, red rock mesas and high-altitude deserts – all of which look especially fetching through a car or RV windshield.

Fans of road trips are in for a treat. In between extraordinary vistas, tempting stops invite you to pull over – charming Colorado towns, scenic lakes, unexpected historic sites and outdoor recreation opportunities of every kind, including some fabulous hikes. And endless miles of well-maintained Scenic and Historic Byways provide easy access to the state’s diverse attractions.

Do some planning to make sure you catch Colorado at the best time of year, then grab your keys and pull onto the highway… Here are the best road trips in Colorado.

1. Over Independence Pass

Best for road-trippers in a rush

Twin Lakes–Aspen; 27 miles

The ribbon of road between the historic township of Twin Lakes and the swanky mountain town of Aspen forms the backbone of one of Colorado’s most epic drives. Along this part of the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway, the vistas are cinematic in scale. Swatches of snow are often visible along the ridges, just below the knife edge of peaks, and tundra vegetation flourishes at the top of the pass. Peaking at 12,095ft, you’ll be on the edge of the Continental Divide, facing views like real-life IMAX moments.

The pass is closed in the winter, from October to May, but for the rest of the year, the drive is short and sweet – and we recommend taking your time. Check out Twin Lakes Reservoir, an angler’s and paddleboarder’s dream. The lakeshore is dotted with historic ruins, including the remains of Interlaken, once Colorado’s largest resort, built in 1879.

And don’t miss dropping into Independence near Aspen – a ghost town dotted with weathered wood cabins. This was the first mining site in the Roaring Fork Valley, and it offers an evocative window back in time.

Detour: For added endorphins, go for a hike on 14,440ft Mt Elbert. This is one of the “easier” fourteeners in the state but start your hike early to make it to the summit and back in one day.

2. Top of the Rockies

Best for big mountain views

Minturn–Aspen; 115 miles

If you liked the drive over Independence Pass, extend the journey to take in the rest of this Scenic Byway. One of the highest roads in the US, the route seldom drops below 9000ft as it follows the mountaintops. You’ll go through three spectacular mountain passes, cross the Continental Divide, take in two Colorado giants – Mt Elbert and 14,428ft Mt Massive – and roll through historic towns in central Colorado.

And if outdoor recreation is your thing, the route passes through three National Forests offering countless opportunities to hike, climb, fish and ski. Not bad for a single day’s drive! Along the way, tiny Minturn is big on small-town charm, while historic Leadville offers the chance to learn all about Colorado’s rags-to-riches mining beginnings at the National Mining Hall of Fame.

Twin Lakes, meanwhile, offers the chance to wander through a historic mining camp that once produced gold, silver and other metals. At the end of the tour is Aspen, one of the state’s poshest and most cultured mountain towns – and a must-visit, even if you don’t consider yourself part of the Aspen set.

Planning Tip: In the summer, from June to September, pick up provisions to munch on the drive at Minturn’s bustling farmers market (the kids can pet goats while you shop).

3. Trail Ridge Rd across the Continental Divide

Best for tundra scenery

Estes Park–Grand Lake; 47 miles

Rocky Mountain National Park’s signature drive, the Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuously paved through-road in North America, climbing to 12,183ft. It follows the same path that generations of Ute, Arapaho and Apache people used as a trade route to traverse Milner Pass, crossing the Continental Divide.

Expect outrageous views of snow-capped peaks, meandering streams, tight switchbacks across the Continental Divide, high-country meadows, wildflowers galore and (with luck) some Rocky Mountain wildlife. Be sure to stop at some of the countless turnoffs to explore tundra trails or, at the very least, take selfies from the top of the world. Note that the road is closed by snow from October to May.

Planning Tip: For a short but steep leg stretch, walk the mile-long Alpine Ridge Trail, for giddying views of the Never Summer Mountains.

4. Peak to Peak Hwy

Best year-round road trip

Estes Park–Nederland; 42 miles

Colorado’s first Scenic Byway, the Peak to Peak Hwy is a year-round hit, winding past towering mountains such as 14,255ft Longs Peak and lush alpine valleys, plus a handful of appealing one-horse towns. The road is especially stunning in the fall, when the mountains become a quilt of gold, yellow and orange. This season also brings bugling elks searching for mates and carloads of leaf-peepers.

Set aside a couple of hours for the drive. Before leaving Estes Park, follow the riverwalk or take a spooky ghost tour of the historic Stanley Hotel, reputedly the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining. Along the route, consider stopping in Ward, a former boom town and bohemian magnet that has settled into an artfully ramshackle state of disrepair, or Peaceful Valley, notable for its little onion-domed church perched on a hillside. At the end, stroll through Nederland, a hippie holdout known for its quirky shops and colorful cafes.

Planning Tip: Loads of hikes are possible in the national forests and wilderness areas along the route, including trails around Arapaho Peak, Roosevelt Peak and Indian Peak.

5. Santa Fe Trail

Best for history

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site–Trinidad; 116 miles

History buffs will love this day-long drive along the Santa Fe Trail, the Old West’s first wagon “highway,” which once extended all the way from Missouri to New Mexico. Views of sun-drenched prairies and wheat fields, sugar-beet farms and railroad yards unfurl on this wide-open two-lane highway, providing a rich mix of history and uplifting backcountry scenery.

The route’s signature sight is the phenomenal Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, set beside the Arkansas River. Perched on the erstwhile US-Mexico border, the fort marked a cultural crossroads where Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Mexican and American traders met, mingled and coexisted.

While initially built for trade, the fort was later seized by the US Army – the start of a military presence that remains strong in Colorado to this day. Trade declined as thousands of settlers poured into the frontier following the Louisiana Purchase and a notorious cholera epidemic that greatly affected the region’s Indigenous communities.

In nearby Comanche National Grassland, homestead ruins and original wheel ruts from wagons on the Santa Fe Trail are still visible. Take time to check out the town of Trinidad, too – tucked into a chimney-top mesa, the town was once an important stop on the Santa Fe Trail.

Detour: Another highlight of the Comanche National Grassland is Picketwire Dinosaur Tracksite, the largest documented dinosaur track site in North America. You can see more than 1500 dinosaur footprints, but you’ll need to book a 4WD tour or hike to reach the site.

6. The Hwy of Legends

Best for mining memories

Trinidad–Walsenburg; 82 miles

Steeped in mining folklore and Native American legends, the sleepy towns and majestic mountain passes of the Hwy of Legends provide a beautiful detour from the I-25 throughway, linking Denver to cities to the north and south. You’ll pass through some of southeastern Colorado’s most glorious countryside; budget two hours to drive the route, more if you stop to take in the sights.

Historic Trinidad is one of the shining stars of the route. Its Main Street was an important stop on the Santa Fe Trail, and the spot where Mother Jones later led marches with striking miners. The Trinidad History Museum offers an excellent primer on the town’s backstory.

Standing like forgotten sentinels along the road, you’ll spy rows and rows of coal ovens in Cokedale, which once produced coke for the steel industry. Also stop in Cuchara for its views of the Spanish Peaks and the Great Dikes that jut from meadows to mountains, and La Veta, where there are more churches than paved roads.

This being Colorado, there are plenty of recreational activities to enjoy as well. The Cucharas River offers terrific fishing, while the hiking in the Spanish Peaks Wilderness is some of the best in the state.

7. Trail of the Ancients

Best for Indigenous culture

Mesa Verde National Park–Ute Mountain Tribal Park; 116 miles

The Trail of the Ancients is the only National Scenic Byway dedicated to archaeology. This beautiful and eye-opening route winds through the canyons, mountains and plains once inhabited by Ancestral Puebloans and later nomadic Navajo, Apache and Ute people. Though the route covers just 116 miles, the sites it passes are fascinating and worth lingering over, making this a good multi-day trip.

Mesa Verde National Park is the crown jewel of the route, home to over 5000 archaeological sites, including 600 Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings – a guided ranger tour is highly recommended. Just north, the Anasazi Heritage Center has interesting films, hands-on exhibits and artifacts dating to 400 CE.

Elsewhere, the Canyon of the Ancients and Hovenweep National Monument are Ancestral Puebloan treasures that have been largely left alone and are perfect for DIY exploration. And Ute Mountain Tribal Park houses a number of lesser-known cliff dwellings.

Planning Tip: If you visit Ute Mountain Tribal Park, petroglyphs and shards of Native American pottery can seen scattered over the site, but an official guide must accompany all visitors.

Boasting both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, Central America is blessed with incredible dive and snorkel sites. From Belize’s famed Blue Hole to the vibrant and colorful reefs dotted around Costa Rica, there’s something here for every interest and skill set.

The marine life is at another level too. Whale sharks silently move through the waves, sea turtles paddle along next to you and beautifully colored fish surround you as you explore – one visit will never be enough.

A decent dive shop can supply all equipment, but if you have them, bring your mask and snorkel, a lightweight rash vest and reef-friendly sunscreen – and don’t forget your underwater camera. These are our favorite snorkel and scuba spots in Central America.

When is the best time to snorkel and dive in Central America?

Central America is a year-round snorkel and scuba destination, but conditions depend on the country, the season (rainy or dry) and whether you’re on the Pacific or Caribbean coast.

For a more tranquil – and cheaper – experience, avoid the region’s high season from December to April. But if there’s something specific you’re diving to see, you’ll have a fixed window.

1. Caye Caulker, Belize

In pocket-sized Belize, the Caribbean-sun-drenched Caye Caulker makes the perfect jumping-off point for some of the world’s best diving and snorkeling.

Head south to the iconic Blue Hole Natural Monument at Lighthouse Reef, a marine sinkhole around 122m (400ft) deep and 300m (984ft) wide. Made famous by Jacques Cousteau, its mysterious depths and stalactite-studded caves still draw a crowd.

Or try Turneffe Atoll, a biodiverse mix of mangroves, lagoons and coral reefs, with snorkel and dive sites for all levels. Keep your eyes peeled for the endemic white spotted toadfish.

Getting there: It’s a 45-minute journey by ferry from Belize City.

2. Parque Nacional Coiba, Panama

In the not-so-distant past, Coiba – the American Pacific’s largest island – was home to around 3000 inmates. Today, along with some smaller islands, it’s a UNESCO-protected national marine park, and part of a project with Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador to safeguard key migratory corridors.

Certified divers of all levels can swim with whitetip reef sharks, devil rays, turtles and a host of multicolored fish. You can often spot giant mantas and whale sharks, as well as humpback whales from July to September.

Getting there: To access the park, you’ll need to book through a dive shop, such as the Panama Dive Center in the surf spot of Santa Catalina. It’s a 75-minute boat ride to Isla Coiba.

3. Bocas del Toro, Panama

A string of laid-back Caribbean islands and islets, Bocas del Toro is not only a backpacker party hub – it’s also home to some of Panama’s best snorkeling, with gin-clear water and colorful coral.

The protected reefs of Admiral Bay are perfect for snorkeling, and at Hospital Point, beyond the shallows on the northern tip of Isla Solarte, there’s a deep reef wall that’s ideal for night dives.

For a different view, mangrove snorkeling gets you up close to a tangle of algae-covered roots, vibrant sea sponges and juvenile fish darting around their nursery.

Getting there: It’s a 45-minute flight from Panama City to the capital of Bocas, Isla Colón, or around 11 hours by bus and ferry.

4. Bay Islands, Honduras

Washed by warm, clear water, the backpacker haunt of Utila – the smallest of the three main Bay Islands – is a great budget-friendly scuba destination, with no shortage of dive shops and must-dive sites. And you can spot whale sharks here year-round, whether you’re a beginner or a budding divemaster.

In Roatán, there’s world-class snorkeling just off West Bay’s white-sand beach, while Mary’s Place tempts snorkelers to its shallows to spot eagle rays and sea turtles, and experienced divers to its vertical reef walls.

Getting there: Take a ferry from La Ceiba or an international flight direct to Roatán.

5. Parque Nacional Cahuita, Costa Rica

Cahuita National Park’s underwater playground is home to more than 120 species of evocatively named fish – jewel fish, frogfish, butterflyfish – flitting around 35 types of equally exotic coral, such as elkhorn, brain and leather – and that’s not forgetting the lobsters, urchins and moray eels.

Its pristine waters have been awarded Costa Rica’s Ecological Blue Flag, and you can get up close to loggerhead, leatherback and hawksbill turtles during nesting season from March to October.

Getting there: The park is around 47km (29 miles) south of Puerto Limón; use Puerto Viejo or Cahuita as a base.

6. Isla del Coco, Costa Rica

Jurassic Park meets Jacques Cousteau at the volcanic Cocos Island, some 550km (341 miles) off Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline. The French oceanographer dubbed this UNESCO World Heritage Site the most beautiful island in the world, and it also served as inspiration for the 1993 dinosaur film’s fictitious Isla Nublar.

This underwater spectacle is for experienced divers only, and it’s expensive to get there. But you’ll be rewarded by schools of hammerhead sharks (at their peak between June and October) and countless whitetip sharks, rays and whale sharks.

Getting there: Book an eight-to-ten-day live-aboard trip from the port city of Puntarenas, with companies such as Aggressor Adventures and Undersea Hunter.

7. Little Corn Island, Nicaragua

Most of Little Corn’s 20 or so budget-friendly dive sites are a short boat trip from its powder-soft beaches. Reefs are generally shallow – no wall dives here – but forests of elkhorn and staghorn coral teem with kaleidoscopic fish.

For more experienced divers, the Tarpon Channel is the place to spot hammerhead sharks, and Blowing Rock, around 60 minutes away, will blow your mind. This spiky rock pinnacle emerging from the sea is a favorite hangout of reef sharks, rays, barracuda and more.

Getting there: Fly from Managua to Big Corn Island and take the twice-daily, 30-minute public boat to Little Corn.

8. Lago de Atitlán, Guatemala

Watched over by three active volcanoes, shimmering Lake Atitlán makes an unusual dive destination. But what Central America’s deepest lake – it reaches depths of 340m (1115ft) – lacks in technicolor fish, it makes up for with otherworldly lava formations, sunken villages, petrified trees and hydrothermal vents.

ATI Divers in Santa Cruz La Laguna is the lake’s long-standing dive shop. As well as fun dives and PADI certifications, they offer a one-day Altitude Specialty Course.

Getting there: Take the chicken or shuttle bus from Guatemala City or Antigua to Panajachel, then ride 10 minutes on a public boat to Santa Cruz.

Forming a delightful trio lying just off the coast of South America, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao (affectionately known as the ABC Islands) appeal to sun-seeking travelers from all over the world.

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much to differentiate these three Dutch-affiliated islands. Yet while they do share some elements of culture and geography (and sun!), each one has its own personality, and distinct opportunities to suit different travelers’ interests.

Whether you’re into underwater adventures, lazing on the beach or exploring Caribbean culture, read on to find out which one of the three is the right match for you.

Bonaire is best for scuba diving and underwater exploration

While both Aruba and Curaçao offer diving and snorkeling experiences, the tiny island of Bonaire is well known throughout the global diving community for its world-class reef system, considered one of the healthiest in the Caribbean.

And while that superlative is enough to justify booking a ticket, there’s another bonus: the diving here is also some of the most accessible, with spectacular sites sitting only a few meters offshore.

Bonaire is ringed by its National Marine Park, 6700 hectares (16,550 acres) of protected waters featuring 85 separate dive sites, many of them accessible simply by walking into the water. These sites are marked by yellow stones placed along the main roads that trace the circumference of the island – and each one yields a unique underwater experience.

Curaçao has the edge on culture

The largest of the three islands and the only one that has major industries besides tourism, Curaçao acts as the de facto art-and-culture center of the ABC Islands. Here, you’ll find art and history museums, galleries, music venues and a bustling capital city that doubles as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you’re interested in history, the Kura Hulanda Museum tells the important but tragic story of the history of enslaved people in Curaçao and the Caribbean – a must-see to understand the island’s past and present.

Art lovers can spend a whole afternoon at Landhuis Bloemhof, a contemporary-art museum featuring sculptures, installations and even an entire gallery made out of thorns. Those interested in culture outside of museums shouldn’t miss the restaurants and bars of Pietermaai, or the expansive street art in Otrobanda.

Aruba has the most pleasant weather

While all three islands are sunny places largely out of the path of Caribbean hurricanes, Aruba wins the award for best weather thanks to the balmy trade winds that constantly sweep through.

These winds have shaped the island’s geology and even its flora – just look at those wind-bent Fofoti trees – and have a lovely cooling effect, relieving you from the hot sun that beats down the vast majority of the year.

That said, the sun’s rays are intense even with the cool breeze, so always layer on the SPF. Yet as the sun starts to set and that breeze flutters across the island, you really do see why it’s called paradise.

Aruba and Bonaire both have fantastic water sports 

It’s tough to pick a winner for this one, so we are calling a tie: both Aruba and Bonaire are known for their kitesurfing, windsurfing and diving scenes. Which means adrenaline seekers will be well positioned for a great trip on either island.

Aruba hosts the Hi-Winds Caribbean Championship every year, which features kitesurfing, windsurfing, paddle-boarding, kitefoiling and mountain-biking categories, and draws spectators from around the world.

Bonaire has a huge windsurfing scene at Sorobon on Lac Bay and kitesurfing on its southwestern shore, and plays host to an annual international sailing regatta.

Curaçao has the the best beaches

All three islands are great destinations for anyone in need of a dose of vitamin D – yet both Aruba and Bonaire’s coastlines are largely rocky.

If you want a plethora of picturesque sandy beaches to choose from, Curaçao is your destination: the island features a series of pristine beaches hemmed in by dramatic limestone and coral stone cliffs, each one offering activities for any type of traveler.

Families will love the gorgeous crescent known as Grote Knip and won’t be left wanting for amenities, while those looking for a little more peace and quiet will love Klein Knip and Playa Lagun.

Adrenaline seekers will enjoy the cliff jumping at Playa Forti, while those looking for a little bit of luxury will find themselves right at home at the beach clubs of Jan Thiel and Papagayo.

Aruba has a superior party scene 

Looking to blow off some steam, island-style? Aruba’s lively resort area offers option after option for beachside revelry – stylish lounges, energetic clubs, piano bars, casinos…you name it.

Most venues can be found along the coastline in Oranjestad or slightly further north in Palm Beach. This whole area buzzes throughout the day – and come nightfall, it takes on a festive, genial vibe.

Honorable mention for this category goes to Curaçao. The nightlife options in Willemstad have a local vibe and are plenty of fun.

Bonaire lets you get off the beaten track

The outlier when it comes to tourist traffic, humble Bonaire will surprise and delight those willing to make the extra effort to hop over to its rocky shores.

While the island is no secret in diving and snorkeling circles, it remains a quiet, friendly place to visit, as big resorts and mass tourism have (happily) yet to take over any part of the island.

Kralendijk and Rincón offer small-town vibes. And don’t be surprised if you get whisked into an impromptu sightseeing tour with a local: Bonarians are proud of their nature and culture, and it shows in their hospitality and their collective land stewardship.

A rocky, remote, formerly uninhabited island located off the coast of western Africa that belongs to Portugal, Madeira seems to relish in the extreme. Home to hardly a flat patch of land, otherworldly black pebble beaches and high-altitude trails (even the local wine is a result of challenging conditions), there’s little that’s typical or ho-hum about Madeira.  

It’s a lot to take in, and so to help you navigate this world, we’ve put together a list of the 10 best things to do on Madeira. 

1. Ride a cable car

Madeira’s rugged terrain has led to some of the world’s most astonishing infrastructure. It’s thought that the island is home to more than 150 tunnels, and even the airport runway is essentially a bridge. But one of the most unique ways to get around Madeira is via cable cars, known locally as teleféricos. 

Originally, cable cars served as a way to shift goods from some of Madeira’s more isolated coastal communities inland. Today, they serve mainly to shift tourists. There are seven cable cars on Madeira, and one of the more dramatic is the Teleférico das Achadas da Cruz in Porto Moniz, said to be the steepest in Europe. The Teleférico Rocha do Navio in the north of the island, being renovated at press time, packs some utterly astounding views of the Rocha do Navio Nature Reserve. And the cable car at Praia de Garajau is an easily accessible option that escorts visitors to a handsome black pebble beach.

2. Eat espetada 

Madeira’s signature dish is espetada, chunks of beef that have been seasoned with coarse salt, garlic and crushed bay leaves, skewered (traditionally on bay leaf branches) and grilled over coals. The centerpiece is absolutely delicious, but we also love the sides: milho frito, deep-fried cubes of polenta and bolo de caco, a type of flatbread that’s slathered with garlic butter. To serve, the espetadas are suspended on nifty devices, and pros know to position their bolo de caco below the hanging skewer so as not to lose out on any of those delicious dripping juices. 

Madeira’s most famous espetada restaurants are located in and around the town of Câmara de Lobos. Viola is our favorite, and serves local beef on bay leaf skewers, as well as vinho seco, a tasty locally-made wine. O Polar is inexpensive and casual, while Santo António is probably the most upscale-feeling option.

Planning tip: If you’re based in Funchal, Câmara de Lobos is 10km away – an easy taxi ride. 

3. Hike a levada or vereda

Centuries ago, locals on Madeira needed a way to shift water from the fecund northern half of the island to the arid southern half. To do so, they built a series of aqueducts called levadas, and today there is an estimated 2500km of canals across the island. For maintenance purposes, the levadas are paralleled by walking paths, many of which have become destinations in their own right. Every day, hundreds of visitors and locals hike the levada paths, many of which pass through stunning forests and amazing vistas alike. Classic levada hikes include Levada do Furado (PR 10), which passes through a UNESCO-protected Laurisilva forest, or Levada do Risco (PR 6.1), which leads to various waterfalls.

The island is also home to more general trails, known as veredas, some of which pass through even more rugged territory. Vereda do Arieiro (PR 1) literally reaches cloud level and is thought to have some of Madeira’s most impressive views, while Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço skirts the coast – a rarity in this rugged landscape.

Planning tip: Madeira’s mild climate means that levadas and veredas can be tackled at just about any time of year.

4. Taste Madeira wine

Around 500 years ago, Portuguese explorers found that fortifying (that is, adding additional alcohol to stop the fermentation process) Madeira’s wine and exposing barrels of it to hot conditions on long boat journeys actually made it taste better (not to mention more shelf stable), and Madeira wine was invented.

Although we may think of Madeira wine as sweet or dessert wine, in terms of sweetness, it runs the gamut, with some options at the relatively dry end of the spectrum. All of the island’s seven houses offer tastings, which also typically offer a tour of the facilities – often in incredibly atmospheric centuries-old cellars. Blandy’s, with cellars in the middle of Funchal, is the most accessible, while we’re huge fans of the brilliantly balanced (that is, more acidic-leaning) wines made by Barbeito, northwest of Câmara de Lobos. 

5. Swim in a natural pool

Millenia ago, molten lava flowing into the Atlantic resulted in formations that today conveniently function as self-contained swimming spots. Some of these piscinas naturais, as they’re known on the island, retain this natural feel while others are supplemented with man-made infrastructure. 

The most famous – and most built out – are the natural pools at Porto Moniz, on the island’s northwestern corner. For something more rugged, head to the pools at Seixal, also located on the island’s northern coast. 

6. Take in contemporary art and fantastical gardens at Monte Palace Tropical Gardens

In 1987, controversial Portuguese millionaire and native of Madeira José Berardo took over a former hotel and its grounds and turned it into one of the country’s most delightful contemporary art museums. 

Located north of Funchal, and most conveniently reached via cable car, Monte Palace spans 70,000 sq meters on a sloping, jungly hillside. A handful of structures house works by domestic names such as Joana Vasconcelos but also international artists such as Willem de Kooning. These are quite possibly outshone by the grounds, which are a fantasy of fountains, themed gardens, tropical greenery and flowers, and Portugal’s history told in the form of hand-painted tiles.

Detour: One way to descend from Monte is via wicker sleds piloted by drivers, a tradition that dates back more than a century.

7. Take a trip to Porto Santo

Madeira is part of an archipelago, the only other inhabited island of which is Porto Santo. Reached by a 2.5-hour ferry ride (or a hop in an airplane) from Funchal, the island has an arid, low-slung, almost desert island vibe, a strong contrast with that of its neighbor. 

Most people are drawn to Porto Santo’s 7.5km-long golden sand beach – considered one of the best in “Europe.” The island also has some worthwhile trails, delicious food and beautiful vistas. Despite the lack of water, Porto Santo has its own unique legacy of winemaking, with grape varietals not seen elsewhere in Portugal. 

Planning tip: Porto Santo is a popular destination for domestic tourists during the summer; arrive outside of this season and you’ll have the island to yourself.

8. Travel back in time at the Convento de Santa Clara

Madeira’s convents were regarded as safe havens for the daughters of the nobility – strictly closed-off places where they wouldn’t be exposed to the dangers of the outside world. Convento de Santa Clara, in Funchal, functioned as such for four centuries, until a recent renovation opened its doors to the public. 

Inside, you’ll find ancient religious art, a recreation of a nun’s cell, hauntingly beautiful choirs and other spaces that were closed off to the outside world for centuries.

Detour: If exploring old residences is your thing, tack on visits to the nearby Museu da Quinta das Cruzes and Casa-Museu Frederico de Freitas, both homes formerly belonging to Madeira’s wealthy class.

9. Sample Madeira’s cocktails

On mainland Portugal, the cocktail is a relatively elusive thing. On Madeira, it’s part of life, and the island is home to a variety of indigenous, occasionally wacky, mixed drinks. 

The most famous of these is undoubtedly poncha, locally-distilled white rum, citrus juice and sugar and/or honey whipped together via a wooden whisk-like tool. Served in tiny glasses, it may not look like much and it goes down easy, but the poncha packs a disproportionate punch. Other local cocktails include the pé de cabra, a combination of red wine, cocoa powder and stout that somehow works; the Nikita, beer, pineapple and ice cream blitzed in a blender; and the cortado, a combination of hot barley “coffee,” sweet Madeira wine, sugar and lemon peel drunk in the colder mountainous inland parts of the island.

Planning tip: Serra de Água, practically smack-dab in the middle of the island, is home to several poncha bars; Taberna da Poncha is probably the most famous of the lot.

10. Visit the weekend market at Santo António da Serra

Funchal’s Mercado dos Lavradores gets all the press – and is worth a visit – but our pick for the island’s best market is the weekend-only Mercado Agrícola Santo António da Serra.

Located in the island’s western half, the small morning market is a gathering place for local farmers who bring an astounding array of produce, in particular tropical fruit, in addition to vegetables, grains, flowers, honey and other items. The market is unique in that it also functions as a social center, with many of the stalls doubling as bars or casual restaurants. Order a drink – a glass of locally-produced cider or poncha (see below) – and you’ll receive a dentinho, a free snack.

Detour: If you have your own wheels, continue 3km north to Miradouro da Portela, a viewpoint from where you can gaze over a dramatic slice of the island’s northern half. 

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.  

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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.

Keep planning your trip to NYC:

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The sun set on Monday, November 18, in towns and cities within 23.5º of the North Pole for the last time until 2025. This phenomenon, known as Polar Night, plunges the top of the globe into a nearly perpetual night until January 22, 2025.

While it’s romantic to envision cozy light-filled homes buried in snow under sparkling stars for months on end, this isn’t a completely accurate image. This region in the Arctic Circle experiences something called “civil twilight,” in which the sky will turn varying shades of azure and light purple, allowing people to see more normally for a few hours every day. North America’s northernmost town, Utqiaġvik, Alaska (formerly known as Barrow), experiences civil twilight for roughly 3 hours on the winter solstice and up to 6 hours closer to the first and last day of Polar Night. 

But places like Longyearbyen on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, which are even farther north, the civil twilight is much shorter. Not too long ago, Lonely Planet’s Social Media Director, Deepa Lakshmin interviewed Longyearbyen local, Celia Blomdahl about what life was like so far north. 

“You’ll see a super cozy city, people drinking coffee all day long and chilling,” Celia told Deepa. She said if you love nighttime, you should go, but be warned – you won’t see much else. 

Polar Night is a wonderful time to travel to these northern destinations if you want to experience the most intense Northern Lights, particularly this year. Scientists are saying that the level of solar activity is currently the highest it’s been in about 20 years. 

But you don’t have to go all the way to the Arctic Circle to experience a mostly dark day and incredible Northern Lights. Slightly lower in latitude and reachable via the Aurora Winter Train, Fairbanks, Alaska, is situated just close enough to the Arctic Circle that you’ll get to enjoy the hygge of a mostly dark day and a strong chance of seeing the Northern Lights.