Koh Phangan is famous for its wild Haad Rin full moon parties. A welcoming expat community of healers has established up an enclave on a particular stretch of coastline a 10-minute skiff ride away.
The Mayans called Lake Atitlan where the rainbow begins. Huxley called it the world's most beautiful lake. Few lakes match Atitlan's drama. Three volcanoes encircle the deepest lake in Central America.
Many lists of the most beautiful places in Mexico include Bacalar. But it's also a lot more than that. For the Mayans, this place was very important because it had seven "mystical" lakes. It is on the Yucatan Peninsula, not far from the border with Belize.
Tulum is a one-hour bus journey from Bacalar's mysterious lakes. Tulum, on the Caribbean coast, is more laid-back than Cancun, Acapulco, or Playa Del Carmen. The Yucatan Peninsula contains around 6,000 cenotes.
Ometepe looks like it could be just what you need if you want to rest and relax and see beautiful nature at the same time. The island is incredibly beautiful. It was formed by two volcanoes and rises dramatically from Lake Nicaragua.
Australia is huge, and the Blue Mountains are one of many places to put things in perspective. The Blue Mountains, an hour from Sydney, provide hundreds of hiking paths, camping, and glamping sites.