Located in the Madre de Dios region of southeastern Peru, Tambopata is a protected area where visitors can experience the Amazon rainforest in its rawest form. The Tambopata National Reserve spans over 270,000 hectares and is home to an estimated 1,200 butterfly species, 600 bird species, and hundreds of tree varieties. One of its most famous residents is the jaguar, though sightings are rare. More common encounters include red howler monkeys, capybaras, and giant river otters.

Istanbul is a city built on layers of empire. Spanning two continents, it was once the capital of three major empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Visitors walking through the Sultanahmet district can witness this timeline firsthand, from the Roman-era Hippodrome to the Byzantine mosaics of Hagia Sophia, and the towering minarets of the Blue Mosque. At nearby Topkapi Palace, rooms still display the jeweled swords, ceremonial robes, and handwritten Qurans once used by Ottoman sultans.

The dazzling capital of the Czech Republic, the explorable Prague has fittingly been nicknamed "the City of a Hundred Spires." Halved by the Vltava River and notable for architecture Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic, visitors will find much to take in here.

Udawalawe National Park, located in southern Sri Lanka, is one of the country’s best places to see wild elephants in their natural environment. Established in 1972, the park protects an important watershed area around the Udawalawe Reservoir and provides a sanctuary for hundreds of elephants, which can often be seen roaming in herds across the open grasslands.

Nosara, on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, is a laid-back coastal town known for its strong connection to wellness, nature, and surf culture. Unlike some of the country’s busier resorts, Nosara has kept development low-key, with no large beachfront hotels and a community that values sustainability.