Chiriquí, a province in western Panama, offers a striking variety of landscapes, from highland cloud forests to golden Pacific beaches. Bordered by Costa Rica to the west, it’s known for its rich agriculture, coffee plantations, and impressive volcano views. The capital city, David, serves as the main hub for travelers, but many of the region’s most memorable experiences are found in its rural towns, mountain valleys, and coastal areas.
Ubud lies in the uplands of central Bali and has long been regarded as the island’s cultural and spiritual heart. Historically a center for healing and royal patronage, the town developed around temples, palaces, and traditional villages that supported dance, painting, woodcarving, and ritual life.
Mijas, perched on the hillside above the Costa del Sol, blends centuries of Andalusian tradition with views that stretch across the Mediterranean. The whitewashed buildings of Mijas Pueblo reflect sunlight from narrow cobbled streets that wind through small plazas, each with its own fountain, chapel, or overlook. The town’s layout still follows Moorish-era planning, and remnants of the old wall (La Muralla) offer shaded walks lined with native plants and panoramic views over the coast.
Inveraray, a small town on the western shore of Loch Fyne in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, offers visitors a glimpse into 18th-century planning and Highland heritage. Built largely in the mid-1700s under the direction of the 3rd Duke of Argyll, the town features Georgian architecture, wide streets, and an unusual level of symmetry for a rural Scottish settlement. The main street, lined with whitewashed buildings, leads down to the loch’s edge, where fishing boats and leisure vessels come and go.
Esztergom is one of Hungary’s oldest and most historically significant towns, located along the Danube River just an hour north of Budapest. It was the country’s royal capital during the Middle Ages and the birthplace of its first king, Saint Stephen. Today, visitors are drawn to the Esztergom Basilica, the largest church in Hungary. Its dome rises over 70 meters high and offers panoramic views of the river, the surrounding hills, and neighboring Slovakia across the Mária Valéria Bridge.
Isabella Island is the largest of the Galapagos islands, on the western end of the archipelago. Shaped like a seahorse when viewed from above, Isabella is home to more wild tortoises than any other island, as well as a wide variety of other animal, bird and marine life.
On Isabella's west coast lies Tagus Cove, a natural protected harbor where centuries ago whalers safely spent the night and left their ships' signatures painted on the rocks. Near Elizabeth Bay, Moreno Point is a birdwatcher's delight. Further inland, visitors will find six volcanoes, five of which are still active and two that sit directly on the Equator. At the base of Alcedo Volcano is Urbina Bay, a perfect spot for snorkeling and home to the biggest land iguanas in the Galapagos.
To the north, located at the "mouth" of the island, is Punta Vicente Roca. Although it's a marine-only site (meaning it can only be accessed via dinghy or SCUBA diving), the formation nonetheless draws plenty of visitors eager to see its spectacular sea life - penguins, seahorses, sea turtles, sunfish, and more.