The history of Belize: Discovering a lost world

Stepping off the map and into the past in wild Belize

A lost world…

Stepping off the map and into the past in wild Belize

By Lyn Hughes

With a dramatic history, crowd-free Mayan ruins, diverse cultures and wildlife-packed forests, Lyn Hughes finds Belize a lost world just waiting to be explored…

The sound was eerie, almost primeval. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The loud roars were coming from different sides of the lagoon, as if two groups of something fearsome were trying to outdo each other.

Paddling in the half-light of pre-dawn, it was easy to imagine that we were canoeing past Jurassic Park and a dinosaur might stick its head through the tangle of trees any minute. I turned to our guide, Abdul. “Howlers?”

“Yes,” he confirmed. “Howler monkeys. The sound scares people if they don’t know what it is.”

We entered a tranquil channel and paused in awe as the golden orb of the sun came up over the reed-beds. As the roars of the monkeys faded, they were replaced by an explosion of birdsong and the gentle dip of the paddles.

Author Lyn Hughes canoeing at sunrise (Simon Chubb)

We were floating on the New River Lagoon in northern Belize, its largest body of fresh water. But despite this Central American country’s modest size (at around 23,000 sq km, it’s not much larger than Wales), just getting there had been be an adventure in itself.

I’d arrived by boat the previous day, a journey that took a little over an hour, having flown into Belize City that morning, then been driven to the appropriately named Landing Stage. Soon, we had left any sign of settlement behind, as the banks became increasingly lined with twittering trees and the only figures we encountered were the occasional fisherman.

Reaching the lagoon, the boat swung into the jetty at Lamanai Outpost Lodge, its thatched cabanas dotting the hillside. I headed for its hammocks, looking out across the water. It was hard to believe that one of the major sites of the Maya civilisation was just a short walk away, a lost world that, like the much of the Belize that its handful of visitors see, was still being rediscovered.

The city of Lamanai dates back to around 1500 BC and, at its peak, was said to have a population of perhaps 60,000, similar to that of Belize’s largest city today. However, there was a marked decline in the Maya civilisation by the 10th century AD, with several theories as to why: one being that there had been a severe drought. But Lamanai survived longer than many Maya centres, and its people were still here by the time the first Europeans arrived in the 16th century, possibly thanks to the city’s access to water.

After breakfast, we headed there, as Abdul explained that 733 different structures had been found in Lamanai, yet only six were partially excavated. We paused by a sabre tree, easily recognisable from the thorns on its bark. The Maya believe the tree links the underworld with the upper world, but there are many superstitions about it. Even today, some people will not chop one down because they believe bad spirits can rise up from the ground.

Mask Temple at Lamanai (Simon Chubb)

Mask Temple at Lamanai (Simon Chubb)

We started at the northern end of the site, stopping at the Mask Temple, so named for the two huge masks carved into its facade. Now covered in fibreglass (for their protection), these are the largest examples of their kind found in the Maya world. Originally built around 500 BC, the structure was added to over the years across five different phases, with staircases later built in front of the masks. Listening to Abdul, who’d spoken to archaeologists involved with the site, it was clear that much of what is known of the ancient civilisation here is still theory and speculation, yet as an ignorant Maya novice, I nearly strolled past the nearby ball court, once the heart of the city.

“This was a stadium!” announced Abdul, pointing to a grass alley flanked by two mounds. Here, the Maya played a game using a heavy rubber ball; it is believed that the idea was to keep it off the ground (i.e. underworld) without using your hands, and the game was won when the ball went through a hoop. The stakes were high, as it was used to choose sacrificial victims, though there are different theories as to whether it was the winner or loser who became the sacrifice.

The whole time we wandered through the site, we spotted two-dozen other visitors at most. Lamanai can be busy in the middle of the day, as tourists are brought in by boat from the coast and the cruise ships. But, either side of that time, it’s just you and the howler monkeys.

However, it is another creature that gave the site its name. ‘Lamanai’ roughly translates from the Mayan for ‘Place of the Crocodile’, with the area still known for its large number of crocs; around 400 have been tagged here in recent years. That evening, I joined a boat safari that crossed the lagoon, and as a spotlight was turned on, two eyes just above the waterline beamed back at us. The crocodile sank back under the surface and casually swam past the boat, its outline easy to make out in the clear, shallow water.

Howler monkey sitting in a tree (Shutterstock)

Howler monkey sitting in a tree (Shutterstock)

We scanned the trees and bushes, spotting a kinkajou (a tree-dwelling mammal) hanging upside down by its tail from a branch, while, in another tree, we saw two huge iguanas. We slowly chugged past herons, bitterns, kingfishers and fishing bats, all unconcerned by our presence. The entire scene was accompanied by a soundtrack of insects and the rattle-like call of the gloriously named Rio Grande leopard frog. As we stared up at the same stars the Maya would have seen 3,500 years ago, it felt like we were truly in the middle of nowhere.

“As we stared up at the same stars the Maya would have seen 3,500 years ago, it felt like we were truly in the middle of nowhere”

The natural world took centre stage at my next destination, too. Chaa Creek Lodge initially seemed rather sophisticated, with a swimming pool, spa and manicured lawns. But the floor-to-ceiling glass of my villa also looked out over the rainforest and, by exploring its grounds, I spotted huge butterflies, a toucan and what looked like a long-legged guinea pig, otherwise known as an agouti.

The keel-billed toucan is the national bird of Belize (Shutterstock)

The keel-billed toucan is the national bird of Belize (Shutterstock)

The next morning, as the sun rose above the hillside opposite, the deep-throated roar of a howler monkey penetrated the dawn chorus as if performing its own unique rendition of Salute to the Sun. It was my cue to head down to the waiting point for excursions, where several guests were assembling to cross Belize’s western border and visit the famous Maya site of Tikal in neighbouring Guatemala. They looked blank when I explained that I was going instead to a site in Belize called Caracol, around 150km to the south.

My guide and driver, Ricky, met me and we headed off in a 4WD on a sometimes bumpy three-hour journey along unpaved roads and the red sand tracks of the Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, before arriving at Caracol, deep in the forest. En route, Ricky had been filling me in on various theories about the history of the Maya. By the time we arrived, he had explained that their temples had been shaped like pyramids to replicate volcanoes, as the Maya believed that the gods lived within them, while cave systems were thought to be the entrance to the underworld, and so offerings were made at their mouths.

Ca’ana Temple in Belize (Simon Chubb)

Ca’ana Temple in Belize (Simon Chubb)

Caracol dates back to around 600 BC and grew to be a major city state, one of the largest in the Maya world in its day, bigger even than Tikal. It was incredible to think that it was only rediscovered in 1938 by a logger, and that much of it is has not been excavated. Ricky explained that, as the cities grew, large amounts of land were cleared and farmed. This deforestation, in turn, damaged the soil and caused drought. The ballcourts became bigger over time, as the need for more victims became more desperate. Eventually, even the rulers’ own children would be sacrificed.

We walked to Ca’ana temple, still the largest structure in Belize, and climbed to the top, where a team of archaeologists were at work. They had dug a hole down to another layer, and it was easy to see how the structure had been added to over the centuries. At the nearby Observatory, I was desperate for another visitor to come along, so that I could get them in a photo to show the scale of the buildings. But my only companions were the swallows swooping above. It was hard to believe we were in such a significant and beautiful ancient site, but practically had it to ourselves.

Caracol Temple and Archeological Reserve in Belize

Caracol Temple and Archeological Reserve (Shutterstock)

Ancient Mayan hieroglyphics in stone, from the ruins at Caracol, Belize (Shutterstock)

Caracol Temple and Archeological Reserve, Belize (Shutterstock)

The author travelled through the Pine Forest Nature Reserve (Shutterstock)

It was time to meet some modern day Maya. I flew south to Punta (Port) Gorda, and then transferred out to the Lodge at Big Falls. Owner Rob, a British expat, explained that not much Spanish was spoken down here in the Toledo District. Instead, English and Mayan languages were commonly used, as well as Creole on the coast.

I was picked up the next morning by guide Bruno, a German who runs both a tourism and a wood business. We drove through Maya villages of traditional thatch buildings, before pulling up at a plot of luxuriant trees and vegetation where a bright-eyed and energetic man in his late 50s greeted us.

Traditional Mayan farmhouse (Shutterstock)

Traditional Mayan farmhouse (Shutterstock)

When Eladio Pop started the farm, he used the usual slash-and- burn methods, but then saw another way: “The forest was disappearing, but I didn’t think it was the right thing. I took courage from the agouti. I wanted to bring back the forest for them and the other animals.”

Eladio strode up his hillside, stopping to point out various plants, all growing organically. He demonstrated how the stem of a palm can be made into a thread that could be used for making rope, clothes or baskets. Other plants had medicinal benefits, and he was growing turmeric to sell, as there was currently so much international demand for it.

But it was the cacao plant that got Eladio particularly passionate. He had already told us that he used the shells as compost.

“And if I get hungry, I just open a cacao pod,” he said, as he drove his machete into one. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the flesh inside was white. It was ripe and refreshing, a little like guava but with maybe a hint of chocolate.

I had already heard that the selling price of cacao was scant reward, especially given that it is so labour-intensive to farm, taking three years from planting to harvest. But Eladio stressed that cacao was an important crop to grow, not just for income but because it helped to save the forests. It needs semi-shade, so taller trees are the perfect solution, while wildlife helps to naturally propagate the seeds, giving locals a good reason to preserve both the forests and their wild residents.

We drove to his house, where cacao beans were fermenting in wooden casks covered in leaves. They would be in there for six days, whereupon they would be spread out to dry on large sheets for ten days or more. Following Eladio down the steps to an open kitchen, we were introduced to his oldest daughter, Adalia, who would show us how to make chocolate from the dried cacao.

Adalia explained that chocolate had originally been so revered among the ancient Maya that it was just for royalty; only later did it become the tipple of choice among all Maya looking for an energy boost. Women would make it for men when they came in tired from the fields, and mothers would drink it when they were nursing. If a man wanted the hand of a girl in marriage, he would leave gifts of cacao on the family’s doorstep.

Marriage talk out of the way, Adalia took us through the process of making chocolate. The cacao beans are roasted for half an hour, and then ground. She pulled out a traditional grinding stone and demonstrated how it was done: “You don’t need to go to the gym if you do this every day!” she smiled. I had a go and had to agree.

Adalia making traditional chocolate (Simon Chubb)

Adalia making traditional chocolate (Simon Chubb)

Eventually, through some amazing alchemy, oily liquid oozed from the ground beans and it turned into a rich paste, some of which we added a little honey to for sweetening and then spooned into small moulds to set. I tasted some she had made earlier, and expressed surprise that they showed no sign of melting, despite the midday heat. “That’s because they have no additives or sugar in them,” Adalia explained.

Meanwhile, Eladio’s wife had been cooking lunch, all from their own produce, including a spicy ‘slaw, yam and rice. “The jungle is like a supermarket; you can get your food, your housing and your medicine from it,” Eladio pointed out, just as the chocolates I had helped make were brought to the table.

This message was reinforced the next day when I visited another Maya family, who offered something called the ‘Living Maya Experience’. Chris and Nina have ten children and try to live and eat as naturally as possible.

“The Maya relied on the forest 100 per cent for food, shelter and medicine,” said Chris. “But too many now eat processed food. We show it is healthier not to.”

We were in a traditional building with an earthen floor and palm-thatched roof. At one end of the room was a selection of musical instruments, including a marimba, a large wooden xylophone integral to Maya music even today. There was also a selection of cedar-wood Maya drums of differing sizes. Chris explained that the Maya had used drums for communication over the centuries. While this had mostly died out, he was trying to revive it.

“You should see how the communities react when we produce the drums at events,” he smiled, just as a taxi arrived for me. “Where are you off to now?” he asked.

“Funnily enough, a drumming workshop!”, I replied.

Like the Maya, another indigenous group of people within Belize have a strong drumming heritage. The Garifuna people descend from a group of West Africans who survived a pair of shipwrecks off the Caribbean island of St Vincent in the 17th century. Having settled there, and intermarried with the Caribs and Arawaks, they ended up being forced out by the British in the late 18th century, and many eventually settled along the southern Belize coast, where they have their own flag, language and culture.

Back in the coastal town of Punta Gorda, its somnolent streets lined with pastel-coloured wooden houses, I pulled up outside one home to be met by a smiling dreadlocked figure. Ronald ‘Ray’ McDonald teaches drumming, and was a patient tutor as I fumbled through the various beats he demonstrated. Garifuna music has received many international accolades in recent years, with their artists combining traditional rhythms, such as paranda, with a more contemporary sound. The drumming was hypnotic and I was transported to a very different world than the Belize I had been exploring to date.

Garifuna people have a strong drumming heritage (Shutterstock)

Garifuna people have a strong drumming heritage (Shutterstock)

Back at the Lodge, where fireflies twinkled on the lawn, I swapped notes with the other guests on our discoveries of the day. One couple had been on an idyllic boat trip and seen manatees. Another had spent the day exploring Maya sites, stunned at the lack of visitors at them. I thought back to the vast ruins of Lamanai and Caracol; to the wildlife of the rivers and the forests; and to all the stories and traditions I’d heard and seen.

“You’re not going to tell anyone about this place, right?” they asked. Trust me, I won’t tell a soul.

Need to know

This article won the 2017 Caribbean Tourism Organisation Travel Feature of the Year Award.

The author travelled with Journey Latin America (journeylatinamerica.co.uk, 020 8600 1881). A 13-day holiday to Belize, staying at the Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Chaa Creek, The Lodge at Big Falls and Victoria House, includes flights from London, domestic flights, transfers, excursions and most meals.

For accommodation, Lamanai Outpost Lodge (lamanai.com) is next door to one of Belize’s top Maya sites. A choice of two activities per day are included in packages, and all are by water or on foot. It’s fantastic for bird watching and nature lovers.

An award-winning luxury ‘resort’ hotel, Chaa Creek (chaacreek.com) has a range of accommodation and activities, as well as its own 1.5 sq km nature reserve, which can be explored on horseback or foot.

A relaxed base for exploring the Toledo district and local culture, The Lodge at Big Falls (thelodgeatbigfalls.com) has a pool, great birding, river-tubing and kayaking. It is also close to the Maya site of Lubaantun, best known for the crystal skull that was ‘found’ here in the 1920s, in what is believed by many to be a hoax.

Victoria House (victoria-house.com) is a luxurious colonial-style boutique resort on Ambergris Caye with a beach, activities and fine service. It’s a good spot to end a trip.

For further information and inspiration on travelling in Belize, visit Belize Tourist Board.

Want to learn more about Belize? Take a look at our Wanderlust travel guide

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Central America trip planner: 4 of the most exciting routes

1. Jetting in

Best for: A taste of Central America

Route: Antigua (Guatemala) • Chichicastenango • Tikal • San Ignacio (Belize) • Lowland Belize • Ambergris Caye

Why do it? Because you want to pack all you can into 10 days without feeling rushed.

Two women are praying in front of Santo Tomás Chichicastenango (Shutterstock)

Short on time? Belize and Guatemala offer the best combination for a whistle-stop trip. And it won’t feel like a rush. Belize is tiny (packing jaguar-filled forests, coral cayes and wild wetlands into an area less than a third of the size of Scotland), while Guatemala has the pick of Central America’s romantic ruins and colourful markets.

Colonial street in Antigua, Guatemala (Shutterstock)

Begin with two nights in Guatemala’s old capital Antigua – whose atmospheric cobbled streets, Spanish balconies and 18th-century bell towers sit in the shadow of two fuming volcanoes.

Take a morning side trip to either Chichicastenango or Sololá village markets, where Mayan villagers pour in from the highlands to sell delicately embroidered huipil shirts, woven shawls and festival masks. Then fly to Tikal for those pyramid-top forest views (be sure to visit at dawn or sunset).

A monkey in Belize (Shutterstock)

It’s only a short two-hour hop across the border from Tikal into Belize. Travel with Adrenalin Tours, then base yourself at the Black Orchid resort (pick-ups are from San Ignacio), where there are wild howler monkeys in the hotel gardens, toucans in the trees and all Belize’s key attractions are within easy reach.

Black Orchid offer a huge choice of day trips throughout the country – from fly-fishing, diving or snorkelling on the Belize Cayes to boat trips to the remote Lamanai ruins, set in pristine rainforest on the shore of a crocodile- filled lagoon.Fly back from Belize City, or for a bit of Caribbean beach, add on a few extra nights in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye.

2. Passing through

On the way to Pacuare Lodge (Pacuare Lodge)

Best for: Wilderness and Mayan sites

Route: Pacuare Lodge (Costa Rica) • Tortuguero • Granada (Nicaragua) • Mombacho • León • Jiquilisco Biosphere Reserve (El Salvador) • Suchitoto • Antigua-Sololá (Guatemala) or Chichicastenango

Why do it? Because you have time to spare and want to see as much of the region as you can – on and off the beaten track.

Granada in Nicaragua (Shutterstock)

Prepare to get wet. The quickest way in to Pacuare jungle lodge in the Costa Rican rainforest is by whitewater raft – on a rushing river that cuts through a deep canyon in the heart of a pristine private reserve (bags take a dry route).

You’ll need two nights to take in the trails and abundant wildlife. Then transfer to the coast (around three hours) for two more days boating around the crocodile-filled rivers and turtle nesting beaches of Tortuguero NP.

Climb the steep stairs to the cathedral roof for a view over tumbling terracotta and streets of ochre and whitewash to Momotombo’s smoking cone. Then ascend the ash slopes of Cerro Negro itself for sunset vistas over an avenue of volcanoes extending into El Salvador.

Gulf of Fonseca from Conchagua Volcano (Shutterstock)

That country is a two-hour journey away – reached on a boat across the dolphin-filled Golfo de Fonseca, a vast bay dotted with tiny fishing villages. Jiquilisco at the northern end is protected as an internationally important wetland reserve.

After a night here, cut inland to Suchitoto, a pretty village near the Honduran border. You’ll pass the Mayan Pompeii – Joya de Cerén, a pre-Colombian village fossilised by volcanic ash over 1,400 years ago. Then make for Antigua in Guatemala – the most beautiful Spanish cathedral city in Central America – and the craft markets in Chichicastenango and Sololá.

3. The Maya world

The Grand Plaza in Tikal (Shutterstock)

Best for: Temples, ruined cities and modern Mayan culture

Route: Chan Chich (Belize) • San Ignacio • Tikal (Guatemala) • Lake Atitlán • Antigua • Suchitoto (El Salvador) • Joya de Cerén • Copán (Honduras)

Why do it? For a mix of the best Mayan sites, wildlife spots and stays in modern Maya villages.

A jaguar in the rain forest of Belize (Shutterstock)

A ruined Mayan city where guests can stay in comfort and see jaguars, spider monkeys and ocelots? It exists – at Chan Chich in the heart of El Petén, Belize and Central America’s largest forest.

You’ll need at least two days here, after which it’s a few hours’ drive to San Ignacio – where there are small Mayan ruins in the centre of town, and huge ruins a 90-minute drive away (by 4×4) to the east at Caracol. This vast pyramid-filled ruined city in the rainforest sees more toucans than tourist visits, making it one of the few major Mayan site you can have pretty much to yourself.

Lake Atitlán in Guatemala (Shutterstock)

Tikal, the most impressive of all Central America’s Mayan ruins, is across the Guatemalan border from San Ignacio. Fly from here to Lake Atitlán (via Quiché Airport), a shimmering blue volcanic lake ringed with mountains and dotted with modern Quiché Maya villages. Stay with a local family through Pure Tours, shop for colourful handicrafts in the local markets, and then leave for Antigua.

A carved face in Copán (Dreamstime)

Transfer from this small city to Suchitoto in El Salvador for Joya de Cerén, where you can take a long day trip or overnight stop to Copán across the border in Honduras.

With vast temples and corridors of rooms – as well as four-metre high stele slabs decorated with rather eerie, elongated faces of priest-kings, surrounded by a rococo filigree of swirling foliage and hieroglyphs – Copán is one of the most spectacular sites of all and a fitting end to a journey through the Maya World.

4. In the rainforest

A quetzal in flight (Shutterstock)

Best for: Wildlife, beaches and pristine reef

Route: Arenal (Costa Rica) • Monteverde • Corcovado NP • San Blas Islands (Panama)

Why do it? For Central America’s best wildlife watching with beautiful beaches and unspoilt reef thrown in.

A hanging bridge in the Monteverde Cloud Forest (Shutterstock)

It’s an easy three-hour drive from the airport in Costa Rica’s capital San José to Arenal – a perfectly conical volcano flowing with hot springs and shrouded in forest. Take two days to wander Mistico Park‘s canopy walkways to spot birds and monkeys, trek the trails to the myriad waterfalls and soak in the hot volcanic rivers.

A scenic two-hour journey then takes you from the volcano to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, where trees are covered in bromeliads, orchids and lichens. Opalescent resplendent quetzals float from branch to branch as silently as falling petals and margay cats pad along the mossy paths.

Sunset on a beach in Corcovado National Park (Shutterstock)

Allow at least a day before flying south (via Puntarenas Airport) to Bahía Drake for Corcovado National Park. This is perhaps the best location in Central America to see large mammals. Jaguar, puma, ocelot and endangered Baird’s tapir all live here, alongside metre-tall harpy eagles (which pluck sloths from trees).

Aim for around two days in Corcovado before spending the last part of your trip in Panama’s San Blas archipelago. These tiny Robinson Crusoe islets are fringed with pristine coral reef. Accommodation is simple and there’s little to do but snorkel, sunbathe and spend time with the local indigenous Kuna people.

Nowhere in the region has more pristine reef, whiter sand and starrier night skies. Bring a mosquito net, water bottle and plenty of insect repellent.

Plus… the writer’s own route

Sunset over Tikal (Shutterstock)

Some memories will never fade… Late afternoon. A path at Tikal in the Guatemalan rainforest.A shimmering-blue butterfly as big as a handkerchief floated out of the shadows into a beam of sunlight. Spider monkeys rustled in the tree canopy.

Looking up, I met their pebble-dark, peering eyes, as curious as a cat’s. The trail brightened ahead – opening onto a grassy square surrounded by towering stepped pyramids. Each was topped with a small platform, and a single cave-dark chamber decorated with an elaborately carved roof comb.

I followed the path behind one of the temples. It climbed steeply up the building’s back – which was covered in an Indiana Jones tangle of roots and vines. I pulled myself over a piece of ancient, tumbled masonry and hauled myself up. By the time I reached the top I was sweating, out of breath and transfixed by the view.

Scarlet macaws in Tikal (Shutterstock)

After the closeness of the forest, all was space and light on the temple top. I was above the canopy. The bright sun was buttery yellow and sinking over endless trees – which stretched green and semi-silhouetted to every horizon. A toucan perched a few feet away on a moss-covered kapok branch. A pair of scarlet macaws cawed and cooed and flew off in a clamour. An eagle soared.

As the sun fell it deepened into orange, then dropped red behind the tree line, leaking colour into the sky. The day thickened into tropical twilight. And a chorus of tree frogs and crickets serenaded a full moon, which rose to the north-east – yellow in a violet sky.

A local market in front of Santa Maria de Jesus, Guatemala (Shutterstock)

Central America floods my mind with memories. Dawn over the smoking volcanoes of central Nicaragua. Iridescent quetzals in Costa Rica’s misty cloud forests. Snorkelling over a stingray and turtle-filled sandy alley, cut like a valley in Belize’s barrier reef. I can hear the bustle of street markets and marimba music.

And smell roasting coffee, mango blossom, the heavy perfume of the rainforest, the copal-scented air in the mystical Mayan mountain temples…. And from far away they draw me back to Central America. Inevitably.

More Latin American trip planners:

South America: The ultimate trip planner

5 of the best routes through Peru

How to plan the perfect trip to Chile

The world is waiting: 38 trips the experts want you to take

1. Feel truly festive in Ethiopia

Celebrate Genna in Ethiopia (Shutterstock)

What? Swap Santa Claus for something quite different next January. Genna is Ethiopian Christmas, when white-robed pilgrims flock to churches and spiritual music fills the air. Witnessing these celebrations can be combined with Timkat (Epiphany), 12 days later: head to ancient Axum, where the original Ark of the Covenant is believed to be kept, to watch costumed high priests parade with a replica, while the city erupts in dancing, chanting and song.

The trip: A 16-day Festivals of Ethiopia small-group trip with Travel The Unknown costs from £3,795pp, excluding flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Rahul Aggarwal, Travel The Unknown

Go to:Travel The Unknown’s official website or call 020 7183 6371

2. Do it all in a day in South Africa

Admire the historic iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Shutterstock)

What? There might be better-known national parks in South Africa, but few can rival iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa’s first World Heritage site) for sheer diversity. In this lush, coastal reserve you can safari-drive to spot rhino, elephant, buffalo, antelope and more before picnicking on the sweeping golden sands of Cape Vidal beach, swimming in the surf and (during the June to December season) scanning for humpbacks migrating by offshore.

The trip: A 14-day South Africa: Off the Beaten Track tailor-made trip with TravelLocal costs from £1,780pp, excluding flights

Suggested by: Tom Stapleton, TravelLocal

Go to:TravelLocal’s official website or call 0117 325 7898

3. Hop the Dodecanese, Greece

Hop the Dodecanese for a fun island experience (Shutterstock)

What? Many Greece-lovers centre on the Cyclades, heads turned by Santorini. But head a little further east and you can find the same island-hopping fun in the lesser-visited Dodecanese. Use the main (and admittedly busy) islands of Kos and Rhodes as jumping-off points for exploring this cluster’s quieter outposts such as Symi, with its pretty port town, the quiet coves and crumbling Crusader castles of Leros and the pristine beaches of undeveloped Lipsi.

The trip: A seven-night Island hopping in the Dodecanese tailor-made trip with Sunvil costs from £750pp, including flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Rachel Jelley, Sunvil

Go to:Sunvil’s official website or call 020 8568 4499

4. W-walk the walk in Chile

Chile’s Torres del Paine is unmatched (Shutterstock)

What? Patagonia is the very definition of rugged wilderness, and exploring here is always an adventure. But it doesn’t have to be beardy-explorer tough: the W Trek, an exhilarating zig-zag that showcases the most iconic landscapes of Torres del Paine NP, remains at low altitude and is doable by anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, a willingness to camp amid lakes, glaciers and peaks, and a love of the truly great outdoors.

The trip: A 23-day Backroads of Patagonia small-group trip with Dragoman costs from £2,300pp, excluding flights

Suggested by: Charlie Hopkinson, Dragoman

Go to:Dragoman’s official website or call 01728 861133

5. Sip tea in the Golden Triangle, Thailand

Explore Thailand’s far north (Shutterstock)

What? The mountains of Thailand’s far north were once part of the ‘Golden Triangle’, notorious for war lords and drug caravans. Today, however, they’re better-known for their exceptional tea. Formosa oolong has replaced opium as the crop of choice; visit plantations to partake in tea-tasting ceremonies, marvel at the landscapes and meet the local people, from the traditional hilltribes to descendants of Chinese soldiers who fled here after the civil war.

The trip: A 14-day Hidden Thailand small-group trip with All Points East costs from £1,150pp, excluding flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Lesley Schofield, All Points East

Go to:All Points East’s official website or call 023 9225 8859

6. Trek to the wildest waterfall in Peru

Gocta Falls, Peru’s wild waterfall (Peru Safari)

What? Relatively few travellers choose to visit the north of Peru. Even fewer get around by self-drive 4WD. And fewer still hike out from the jungle village of Cocachimba at dawn, in order to stand below 780m Gocta Falls, one of the world’s highest, most magnificent and most remote cascades. It’s all worth it though, for wild adventures and the chance to traverse the pristine Chachapoyas cloud forest, which is alive with rare toucans, butterflies and hummingbirds.

The trip: A 16-night Cloud Warrior Tracks small-group trip with Peru Safari costs from £3,980pp, excluding flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Paul Boardman, Peru Safari

7. Take pictures of polar bears in Arctic Russia

Polar bears roam on Franz Josef Land (John Bozinov/Poseidon Expeditions)

What? Franz Josef Land is one of the far north’s most inaccessible reaches, an unpeopled wilderness teeming with life, from beluga and bowhead whales to harp seals and huge haul-outs of walrus. It’s also an excellent habitat for polar bears, many of which choose to den here. Exploring the surrounding sea ice on an expedition vessel, with an expert naturalist, a pro photographer and 24-hour daylight, provides the perfect opportunity to capture these creatures on camera.

The trip: A 13-day Unexplored Frontier cruise with Poseidon Expeditions costs from US$8,636pp, [£6,850] excluding flights.

Suggested by: Alex Prokopyeva, Poseidon Expeditions

Go to:Poseidon Expeditions official websiteor call 020 3369 0020

8. Make the ultimate road trip in California, USA

Dip down into Death Valley on your California road trip (Shutterstock)

What? Self-drives don’t get more glamorous: to explore the Golden State in your own set of wheels is to experience motoring at its most magnificent. Feel the freedom of the open road as you cruise alongside Pacific-slapped shores, pull over at sun-soaked vineyards, hairpin amid the High Sierra, dip down into Death Valley and mooch around like a superstar in the glitzy cities. Pore over a California road map with an expert to plan the drive that best suits you.

The trip: A 21-day California Explored tailor-made trip with Audley Travel costs from £3,835pp, including flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Adam Kemp, Audley Travel

Go to: Audley Travel’s official websiteor call 01993 220115

9. Kayak with dolphins in Cambodia

An irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River (Shutterstock)

What? Paddle through a rarely visited region of northern Cambodia to see river dolphins – without the noise of tourist boats. The pools of Kampi are home to the largest single concentration of these rare creatures on the river. Set in one of Asia’s most family-friendly destinations, you can combine dolphin paddles with gibbon tracking, elephant encounters and forest zip-lining too.

The trip: An 18-day Family Adventure in Cambodia tailor-made trip with Bamboo Travel costs from £3,150pp/£2,975pp adult/child, including flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Tim Milner, Bamboo Travel

Go to:Bamboo Travel’s official website or call 020 7720 9285

10. Observe from igloos in Arctic Finland

Views from an igloo in the Finnish Arctic (Ilkka Vayrynen/Best Served Scandinavia)

What? Watch the dance of the aurora borealis from the comfort of your bed. Stay in a heated, glass-roofed igloo in Levi, high in Finnish Lapland, and you can (with luck) spend all night gazing up at this spectacle. Days can be filled with snowmobiling and dog-sledding adventures, or ski-swooshing down alpine slopes.

The trip: A four-night Glass Igloos & Northern Lights tailor-made trip with Best Served Scandinavia costs from £925pp, including flights.

Suggested by: David Ward, Best Served Scandinavia

Go to:Best Served Scandinavia’s official website or call 020 7838 5903

11. Sleep on the reef in Queensland, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia (Shutterstock)

What? Enjoy a beaut of a day on the Great Barrier Reef – scanning for humpbacks, snorkelling vibrant coral, cruising in a semi-submarine – and then top it off with a night spent sleeping there: 39 nautical miles offshore, on a moored pontoon, are a handful of alfresco reefbeds. Raise a beer as the sun sets, gaze up at the stars, and drift off to the lap of waves.

The trip: A two-day Reefsleep Experience with Trailfinders costs from £362pp, excluding flights (can be added to any East Coast Australia itinerary).

Suggested by: Anna Trim, Trailfinders

Go to:Trailfinders official website or call 020 7368 1200

12. Try a glass of toddy in Kerala, India

Experience all Kerala has to offer (Shutterstock)

What? Kerala’s backwaters are a languid expanse of rice paddies, birds and traditional village life. And there’s no better way of tasting that life that popping to a toddy shop. Hop into a canoe in the warm light of late afternoon to pay a visit to one of these basic bars; learn about the history of this mild palm wine, and try a few samples as the sun goes down.

The trip: An eight-day Essence of Kerala small-group trip with TransIndus costs from £835pp, excluding flight.

Suggested by: Jess Millett, TransIndus

Go to:TransIndus official website or call 020 8566 3739

13. Live with the locals in Nepal

What? The best trips are those when you don’t simply pass through, you fully engage. And a great way to do that, and ensure you’re supporting local communities, is to spend quality time with the people. Enjoy a few days with a family in the historic old Nepalese town of Panauti and you can get hands on in the kitchen, help prepare a feast, join a volleyball game, visit the nearby monasteries and become a real part of the household.

The trip: A seven-day Local Living Nepal small-group trip with G Adventures costs from £429pp, excluding flights

Suggested by: Leah Whitfield, G Adventures

Go to:G Adventures official website or call 020 7313 6953

14. Hear glaciers heave in Argentina

The goliath Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina (Shutterstock)

What? The Perito Moreno is a goliath among glaciers: 30km long and, unlike most such masses of ice, still growing. It’s breathtaking to gaze at this sparkling blue-white wall from one of the viewing platforms; to hear the mass of ice creak, groan, calve and crash into the lagoon below is chilling indeed. This is the highlight of Los Glaciares National Park, and a must-stop on an overland tour of Patagonia.

The trip: A 10-day Patagonia Highlights small-group trip with Tucan Travel costs from £964pp (plus US$420 local payment), excluding flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Emma Nelson, Tucan Travel

15. Dine like a maharaja in India

Rawla Narlai (Cox & Kings)

What? Picture the scene: an ancient stone baori (stepwell), set within a mango grove and illuminated by the flicker of a hundred oil lamps – your destination for dinner. The stepwell is in the grounds of the Rawla Narlai, a former royal hunting lodge, and now a serene stop-off between dazzling Udaipur and Jodhpur. Stay a few nights to explore the surrounds: maybe a 4WD safari to search for leopards or a guided hike in the hills.

The trip: A 16-day Passage Through Rajasthan small-group trip with Cox & Kings costs from £2,595pp, including flights.

Suggested by: Jemma Laing, Cox & Kings

Go to:Cox & Kings official website or call 020 3642 0861

16. Stroll with samurai in Honshu, Japan

Nakasendo in Honshu, Japan (David Lovejoy/InsideJapan Tours)

What? Walk in the wake of bygone warriors: the Nakasendo was once a vital road linking Kyoto with Edo (now Tokyo), travelled by lords, merchants and samurai. Some scenic stretches of the trail remain, where it’s possible to hike via traditional farmhouses, tea plantations, larch forests, bamboo groves, mountain shrines and atmospheric post towns. Tread the very same stone slabs and get a real taste of ancient Japan, on foot.

The trip: An 11-night Walking the Nakasendo & Beyond small-group trip with InsideJapan Tours costs from £2,250pp, excluding flights

Suggested by: James Mundy, InsideJapan Tours

Go to:InsideJapan Tours official website or call 0177 244 3380

17. Live like a llanero in Colombia

Experience life like a llanero in Colombia (Juan Espinel/Imagine Travel)

What? Stretching across Colombia’s eastern plains, where animals far outnumber people, Los Llanos is home to one of the last authentic cowboy cultures in the Americas. Immerse yourself in this enduring lifestyle by riding out with the hardy llaneros: hack across the grasslands on horseback (looking out for an array of birds), try your hand at the lasso, learn traditional cattle-herding songs and gather around the campfire for joropo dancing and a cowboy feast.

The trip: A 15-night Wildlife of Colombia tailor-made trip with Imagine Travel costs from £4,700pp, including flights.

Suggested by: Suzie Slemeck, Imagine Travel

Go to:Imagine Travel’s official website or call 020 3131 5034

18. Peer into the Pope’s garden in Italy

A view of the Pope’s garden from above (Shutterstock)

What? Founded in the 13th century, the 23-hectare Vatican Gardens – a magical, manicured enclave of flowerbeds, fountains, winding paths and shady grottoes – comprises more than half of the world’s smallest country. With a special-access ticket you can tour them with an expert guide, discover their secret corners (such as Pope Francis’ favourite prayer spot) and drink in their cool, quiet calm before plunging back into the historic hubbub of Rome, just beyond.

The trip: A four-night Rome tailor-made trip with Abercrombie & Kent costs from £1,500pp, including flights.

Suggested by: James Treacy, Abercrombie & Kent

Go to:Abercrombie & Kent’s official website or call 01242 547760

19. Be awed by eagle hunters in Kyrgyzstan

An eagle hunter in Kyrgyzstan (Shutterstock)

What? The nomads of the Central Asian steppe have long been training golden eagles; to watch these horsemen hunt with their massive, majestic birds, before a backdrop of soaring mountains, is like travelling back millennia. This spectacle is just one highlight of a Silk Road odyssey that traces the region’s ancient trading routes, from Kyrgyzstan’s carpet weavers and caravanserais to Uzbekistan’s bustling bazaars and resplendent cities.

The trip: A 22-day Road to Samarkand small-group trip with Wendy Wu Tours costs from £4,690pp, including flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Wendy Wu, Wendy Wu Tours

Go to:Wendy Wu Tours official website or call 0808 239 3009

20. Eye aurora in autumn in Arctic Finland

Want to spot the Northern Lights? (Matt Robinson/Aurora Zone)

What? Many assume the Arctic is most dazzling during snow-slathered winter. But visit in autumn and you get two lots of colour: the Finnish ruska – turning of the leaves – bathes the wilderness in vibrant orange and gold, while, with nights darkening once more, the northern lights are more easily seen. Take a fall trip to the village of Saariselkä to sleep in a glass-roofed cabin and, perhaps, see the aurora reflected in as-yet unfrozen lakes.

The trip: A three-night Saariselkä: Autumn Lights tailor-made trip with The Aurora Zone costs from £625pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: Julia Farish, The Aurora Zone

Go to:The Aurora Zone’s official website or call 01670 785012

21. Go overland to Kathmandu in Europe & Asia

The ultimate overland trail to Nepal (Shutterstock)

What? Modern-day travellers can recreate the classic hippy trail, travelling from London to Kathmandu without a plane in sight. Board the train at St Pancras station, trundle across the continent – stopping at Brussels, Berlin, Warsaw, Kiev and Moscow along the way – before swapping to a truck in St Petersburg and heading off across the Caucasus, the ’Stans and the Tibetan plateau, bound for the Himalaya. Slow, big travel at its best.

The trip: A 98-day Exploratory London to Kathmandu: Ultimate Asia Overland trip with Oasis Overland costs from £5,875pp (plus $2,250 local payment), excluding flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Jamie May, Oasis Overland

Go to: Oasis Overland’s official websiteor call 01963 363400

22. See four islands on foot in the Azores

Explore the Azores, a mid-Atlantic archipelago (Shutterstock)

What? Time seems to move more slowly on Portugal’s mid-Atlantic archipelago, which makes walk-pace the perfect speed at which to explore. In a fortnight you can amble around four different islands, following trails amid dormant volcanoes, crater lakes and hot springs, via peaceful basalt beaches, vineyards tucked into lava flows and eruptions of vibrant hydrangeas. Don’t miss tucking into a traditional Cozido das Furnas, a feast cooked underground using geothermal heat.

The trip: A 14-night Charm of The Azores small-group trip with Ramblers Walking Holidays costs from £2,649, including flights.

Suggested by: Gemma Chase, Ramblers Walking Holidays

Go to:Ramblers Walking Holidays official website or call 01707 818377

23. Hike with huskies in Arctic Sweden

Dog sledding with huskies in Arctic Sweden (Shutterstock)

What? There’s no need for snow to feel the thrill of travel by husky power. Head out on a summer or autumn walk in Swedish Lapland with local mushers, with your own pack attached to you. As the dogs gently pull you along, learn about the mushing lifestyle, identify wildlife tracks, breathe in the fragrant forest and stop for a traditional fika coffee-and-cake break with unbeatable views.

The trip: A seven-night Local Lives: Arctic Sweden tailor-made trip with Discover the World costs from £2,992pp, including flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Georgina Hancock, Discover the World

Go to:Discover the World’s official website or call 01737 888413

24. Opt for island life in Croatia

Explore Croatia’s lesser-known islands (Shutterstock)

What? A designated nature park, the tiny Adriatic island of Lastovo was closed to foreigners during the Yugoslav years, and still sees few tourists. Discover how the locals live by spending a day at sea with a fisherman, visiting vineyards, sampling the local cheese and cycling, swimming and sailing around the secluded bays.

The trip: A five-day Croatia Retreat: Lastovo small-group trip with Intrepid Travel costs from £750pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: Nadia Walford, Intrepid Travel

Go to:Intrepid Travel’s official website or call 0808 274 5111

25. Camp on ice in Antarctica

Explore the White Continent (Shutterstock)

What? To feel like a proper polar explorer, spend a night under canvas on the White Continent. From the ice you can easily imagine how the pioneers felt: tug your kit to your campsite by sledge, watch the play of light on the mountains as you huddle into a cosy sleeping bag and then listen to the shifting of ice and the deafening silence.

The trip: A 33-day Semi-circumnavigation of Antarctica: from Ushuaia to Lyttelton with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises costs from £23,850pp, excluding international flights.

Suggested by: Silja Matthiesen, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Go to:Hapag-Lloyd Cruises official website or call 08000 513829

26. Glamp on a tropical isle in Belize

Glamp and get active in beautiful Belize (Belize Tourism Board)

What? Marooned off the mainland, Glover’s Reef Atoll is a privately owned and protected marine park with its own white sand, coconut palms and pristine coral, and a few safari-style tents right at the water’s edge. Step out of bed and straight onto the beach, to kayak and stand-up paddle amid the mangroves or swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear lagoon, looking for turtles and tropical fish.

The trip: An 11-day Active Belize tailor-made trip with Journey Latin America costs from £2,932pp, excluding flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Jenny Powles, Journey Latin America

Go to:Journey Latin America’s official website or call 020 8747 8315

27. Enjoy life on the lake in Finland

The idyllic Hotel & Spa Resort Järvisydän on Saimaa (Johannes Wilenius)

What? Think Huck Finn living, Finnish style… On Lake Saimaa, Finland’s largest lake, you can decamp to a stylish houseboat. Spend carefree days stand-up paddleboarding along the shores, steaming in your private sauna, exploring by wooden boat and looking out for rare ringed seals. For the most splendid isolation, recruit a captain to sail your whole houseboat across to a secluded island and spend a night moored even further away from it all.

The trip: A three-night Houseboat Adventure on Lake Saimaa tailor-made trip with Magnetic North Travel costs from £1,395pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: Laura Greenman, Magnetic North Travel

Go to:Magnetic North Travel’s official website or call 01664 400103

28. Drink wine with a winner in Georgia

Enjoy a Wanderlust mag-approved itinerary (Dreamstime)

What? Georgia is widely considered the birthplace of wine – viticulture has been practised here since 6,000 BC. And there’s no region more delicious for tasting than Kakheti, where traditional cellars and vineyards sit amid monasteries and mountains. The best way to find the best stories and producers is to travel with an expert – in this case, Wanderlust World Guide Awards winner Dario Ghirlanda, who’s devised an exclusive route for Wanderlust readers around his favourite Georgian spots, including the beautiful mountains of the Tusheti region.

The trip: An 11-day Wanderlust Journeys: Discover Georgia small-group trip with Wild Frontiers costs from £1,995pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: Michael Pullman, Wild Frontiers

Go to: Wild Frontiers official website or call020 8741 7390

29. Go offbeat for aardvarks in Botswana

An aardwolf in Botswana (Dani Free/Wildlife Worldwide)

What? A good guide’ll work their socks off to find the creatures you most want to spot. However, mention ‘aardvark’ and you’ll be met with a shake of the head… Such species gain near mythical status on reserves with high predator densities. But if you head to Botswana’s less-visited parks, on a mobile camping safari, it’s possible to see these elusive animals, as well as other oddities such as brown hyena and aardwolf.

The trip: A 12-day Botswana’s Rare Mammals small-group trip with Wildlife Worldwide costs from £4,995pp, including flights.

Suggested by: Dani Free, Wildlife Worldwide

Go to:Wildlife Worldwide’s official website or call 01962 302086

30. Break out in the Balkans in Serbia & Montenegro

The Bjelasica Mountains in northern Montenegro (Shutterstock)

What? Despite being so scenically and culturally rich, the peaks of Montenegro and Serbia still remain off the tourist trail. You don’t have to be a tough trekker, either: hikes in the Uvac canyon (where griffon vultures might be seen) and the shepherd-roamed pastures of the Bjelasica Mountains provide high drama without high exertion. An overnight monastery stay offers insight into Serbian Orthodox life, too.

The trip: A nine-day Through the Heart of the Balkans small-group trip with KE Adventure costs from £945pp, excluding flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Alexandra Greenwood, KE Adventure

Go to:KE Adventure’s official website or call 017687 73966

31. Meet locals on the Mekong in Vietnam

Enjoy slow rides along the Mekong Delta (Shutterstock)

What? Ride a slow boat along the waterways of the Mekong Delta and you’ll see all of life glide by: this is the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, lined with orchards, paddies and plantations, busy with floating markets, fishermen and sampan boats. Spending the night on a quiet island here with a local family gives you the chance to sample regional produce – from fresh fruit and sticky honey to coconut candy – as well as an introduction to warm Delta hospitality.

The trip: A 16-day Vietnam Adventure small-group trip with Exodus Travels costs from £1,949pp, including flights. When you subscribe to Wanderlust, you get a £50 voucher which you can use on this trip.

Suggested by: Hayley Georgiou, Exodus Travels

Go to:Exodus Travels official website or call 020 3131 2785

32. Plot the ultimate expedition in Antarctica

South Georgia’s colony of penguins (Shutterstock)

What? Why be content with just the White Continent? Get more from your Antarctic voyage by sailing the longer way down. Call in at the animal-abundant, history-soaked Falkland Islands. Then spend time on South Georgia, the ‘Galápagos of the Poles’, where there are seabirds and penguins in their millions. To turn the trip up to 11, add unique adventures: hikes in Shackleton’s footsteps, kayaking amid bergs and seals, a night camping on the Antarctic ice.

The trip: A 23-day Antarctica, Falklands, South Georgia: Ultimate Expedition cruise with Hurtigruten costs from £9,642pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: Jenni Lai, Hurtigruten

Go to:Hurtigruten’s official website or call 0203 603 7112

33. Drive into the wilds of Chile

A section of the Carretera Austral, Chile (Shutterstock)

What? The Carretera Austral is a king among roads. Stretching for 1,200km from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins, it cuts through rural Patagonia’s forests, mountains, glacial lakes and raging rivers, providing the wildest of drives. Hire your own wheels to go at your own pace and stop when you fancy; maybe concentrate on a section, so you have enough time to truly explore areas such as Pumalín (Chile’s largest private reserve) and General Carrera, the country’s biggest lake.

The trip: A 13-day Self-Drive the Carretera Austral tailor-made trip with Latin Routes costs from £2,499pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: Laura Radford, Latin Routes

Go to:Latin Routes official website or call 0208 546 6222

34. Track rhino on foot in Namibia

Rhino in Namibia (Llama Travel)

What? Black rhinos are critically endangered – but a sizeable number of them remain in ancient, arid Damaraland (one of the least populated parts of a lovely and populated country), so chances of finding them here are relatively high. Head out in a 4WD at dawn with an expert tracker; once rhinos have been spotted, hop out for the spine-tingling thrill of following them on foot, staying downwind and walking in silence as these great survivors roam the rugged wilds.

The trip: A 15-day Wildlife & Wilderness of Namibia small-group trip with Llama Travel costs from £2,699pp including flights.

Suggested by: Luca Newbold, Llama Travel

Go to:Llama Travel’s official website or call 0207 263 3000

35. Meet the tribe in Borneo

A view over Batang Ai, Borneo (Shutterstock)

What? The dense tropical rainforest of Batang Ai is home to one of the oldest Iban settlements in Sarawak, and visits here are eye-openers on the cultural life of this wild, jungly isle. Journey along the emerald-hued Engkari River on a longtail boat to reach a stilted Mengkak longhouse, tucked amid the trees, and spend time with the local tribe: watch people go about their daily lives, see them use their blowpipes, share a cup of rice wine or two.

The trip: A seven-night Best of Borneo tailor-made trip with Flight Centre costs from £2,919pp, including flights.

Suggested by: Alexandra Cronin, Flight Centre

Go to:Flight Centre’s official website or call 0808 250 0773

36. Be sociable on the Silk Road in Uzbekistan

Join our editor-in-chief Lyn in Samarkand and beyond (Shutterstock)

What? Following the Silk Road through Uzbekistan means marvelling at ancient cities – Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva. But it’s also about the people: meeting silk-paper makers, spice masters, market vendors, sheep farmers and rural villagers continuing their traditional ways of life amid the Uzbek lakes and mountains. Do all this with a group of like-minded travellers – Wanderlust founder Lyn Hughes is accompanying this exclusive trip which is sure to be very sociable and lots of fun.

The trip: A 10-day Discover Uzbekistan with Lyn Hughes small-group trip costs from £1,950pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: Lyn Hughes, Wanderlust Journeys

Go to: Wild Frontiers’ official website or call 020 8741 7390

37. Canoe into the Costa Rican jungle

The Costa Rican jungle awaits (Shutterstock)

What? Delve into more offbeat Costa Rica aboard a bamboo boat: a wild canoe ride into the forest will take you to the Bribri, a community living near the Panama border who have been living the same way for generations. Stay at the village in a simple palm-thatch cabaña and join the locals on walks through the banana plantations and swims in the river; also, learn to identify medicinal plants and make chocolate and share a traditional feast.

The trip: A 17-day Costa Rica tailor-made trip with Rickshaw Travel costs from £1,998pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: Emily Munford, Rickshaw Travel

Go to:Rickshaw Travel’s official website or call 01273 322398

38. Scale a secret summit in Myanmar (Burma)

The Buddha statue atop Nat Ma Taung, Myanmar (Shutterstock)

What? Nat Ma Taung (aka Mount Victoria) is a tantalising trekking prospect: an ‘ultra-prominent’ peak, soaring over 3,000m above Myanmar’s little-visited Chin State, conquered by few people. It’s an adventure just to get there, bouncing cross-country from Bagan, stopping off at Chin villages en route. The climb itself, in bird and botany-rich Nat Ma Taung National Park, is short, steep but spectacular; from the top, gaze out over lush montane forest to distant mountains.

The trip: A 15-day trip to Myanmar (Burma) including Nat Ma Taung starts from £2,911pp, excluding flights.

Suggested by: David Leck, Selective Asia PR

Go to:Selective Asia’s official website or call 01273 670001

P.S. When booking, don’t forget to tell the tour op you saw the trip in Wanderlust mag

New wildlife trips to take when you’re ready to travel

The winners of the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2020

Top emerging destinations to look out for

27 of our favourite recipes from around the world

Food plays an important part in our travels, reflecting the culture and history of different destinations, and helps to shape memories that can last a lifetime.

If you’re self-isolating or working from home because of the coronavirus pandemic, chances are you have more time on your hands than usual.

So, if you have a stocked-up kitchen, why not put it to good us by rustling up one of these flavourful recipes from all over the world? Time to keep your appetite for travel alive!

Skip to dessert, vegan &vegetarian optionsor search by region:

Africa
Asia
Europe
India
North America
Central and South America
South Pacific

Our top 3 recipes from Africa

1. Grilled marinated chicken brochettes

Grilled marinated chicken brochettes (Shutterstock)

With a rainbow-spectrum of spices brightening up the markets and the scent of grilled meats and veggies wafting through the air, Morocco is clearly a country obsessed with its food.

These grilled and marinated chicken brochettes are a favourite with the locals – and as soon as you’ve cooked them for yourself, you’ll see why.

Get the full recipe

2. St Helena’s famous fishcakes

St Helena is famous for its fishcakes (Shutterstock)

Unsurprisingly, for an island off the coast of Africa, many of St Helena’s dishes centre around fresh fish. Their tuna fishcakes in particular are a sought-after delicacy.

Get the full recipe

3. Ugali na maharage ya nazi

Ugali na maharage ya nazi: Tanzania’s national dish (Shutterstock)

Ugali Na Maharage Ya Nazi – or coconut soup – is the national dish of Tanzania.

More of a stew than a soup, this unusual dish of coconut and kidney beans will take you by pleasant surprise, and will certainly fill you up.

Get the full recipe

3 amazing recipes from Asia

1. Nasi goreng

Nasi goreng (Kristin Perers)

Has COVID-19 left your cupboards bare and your supermarket shelves even emptier? Then the national dish of Indonesia might just be your saviour.

Eleanor Ford’s take on the nasi goreng mixes spice, rice and whatever vegetables you have hanging around your kitchen into a smoky and comforting meal. Arguably the most delicious way to make the most of your leftovers.

Get the full recipe

2. Grilled kingfish in Thai green curry

Grilled kingfish in Thai green curry (Shutterstock)

How could we not include a recipe from Thailand?

The Asian country is a foodie haven, with food markets fighting for space on the busy streets of Bangkok, local restaurants serving up fresh fish, and almost every corner of Thailand bursting with flavour.

One of the most famous recipes (second, perhaps, only to the pad Thai) is the Thai green curry. It’s hard not to love the smooth, coconutty and soup-like dish.

Shake up the original recipe by using the curry to smother a kingfish. This is one you’ll certainly want to introduce to your weekly meal plan.

Get the full recipe

3. Taiwanese dumplings

Taiwanese dumplings (Shutterstock)

Little is more satisfying than eating a dumpling: dipping those parcels in soy sauce, biting through the soft shell, for the flavour of the inside to explode in your mouth.

These Taiwanese-inspired versions are stuffed with succulent pork, and will leave you craving seconds.

Get the full recipe

3 tasty recipes from Europe

1. Greek Sfakian pies

Greek Sfakian pies (Shutterstock)

Along with the pristine beaches, cobbled streets and its collection of islands, one of Greece’s main draws is its cuisine.

Treat yourself to a bite of authenticity with this traditional Greek pie, stuffed with goats cheese and drizzled with honey.

So delicious are these pies that the island of Crete throws a festival in honour of them each year.

Get the full recipe

2. Gazpacho with spiced crab toasts

Spice crab gazpacho (Moorish by Ben Tish, published by Bloomsbury)

A round up of world recipes would not be complete without gazpacho, and this twist on the dish from Ben Tish will certainly brighten up your summer meals.

Originating from Andalucia, this cold tomato soup will refresh your palate, and won’t leave your short on flavour.

Get the full recipe

3. Fettuccine al ragù

Fettuccine al ragù (Shutterstock)

The inventors of ice cream, pizza and pasta: how could Italy not have a starring role in a world recipe list?

We chose this fettuccine al ragù recipe not just because it’s so tasty, and goes great with a glass (or bottle!) of wine, but also because it contains a very important lesson.

How to cook pasta like an Italian. Apparently, not as easy as we all thought…

Get the full recipe

3 incredible Indian recipes

We know India should technically be in the Asia section, but so beloved and influential is Indian cuisine, that we thought it deserved a section all to itself…

1. Spicy scrambled eggs with tomatoes

Spicy scrambled eggs with tomatoes (Shutterstock)

Inspired by the Indian Himalaya, not only will this dish by Christine Manfield spice up your usual morning routine, it will also keep you satisfied until lunchtime.

It was, after all, whisked together to ensure hungry travellers would have enough fuel to spend the day climbing the Himalayan mountains.

Get the full recipe

2. Lamb dumpling curry

Mughlai kofta, or lamb dumpling curry (Shutterstock)

This lamb dumpling curry, featuring homemade koftas smothered in a yoghurt-based curry sauce is a comforting treat originating from rural India.

Get the full recipe

3. Indian-inspired mushrooms

Indian-inspired hot fried mushrooms (Shutterstock)

Fry up some mushrooms, coating them in garam masala, tumeric, chilli, ginger and of course garlic and you’ll have yourself a side-dish that really packs a punch.

Get the full recipe

3 lip-smacking recipes from North America

1. Mexican pozole stew

Pozole (Aracelli Paz)

Enrique Olvera’s pozole recipe is perfect for a dinner party. Rustle up this authentic Mexican dish, share around some tostadas and you’ll have a table of very full and very happy dinner guests.

Get the full recipe

2. Grandma’s southern-fried chicken

Grandma’s southern-fried chicken (Shutterstock)

When you think of the USA’s south, its famous fried chicken will likely spring to mind. But how do you get that crispy, distinctly-spiced texture at home?

Chef Sean Brock shares his secrets with us, to help you achieve that need-to-go-back-for-seconds flavour in your own kitchen.

Get the full recipe

3. San Antonio bean burger

San Antonio bean burger (Shutterstock)

A USA recipe list would not be complete without the iconic cheeseburger.

However, we’ve gone for a recipe with a twist, replacing the beef burger with a bean patty – a vegetarian option that still brings all the flavour and all the size of the classic American meal.

Get the full recipe

3 colourful recipes from South and Central America

1. Sere lasus with hudut

Sere lasus (Dreamstime)

Belize is a small island in Central America, and its Caribbean shoreline has a huge influence on its cuisine.

Belizean chef Sean Kuylen tells us how this coconutty fish broth celebrates the tropical nation’s history, culture and produce. He also shares his own recipe for this snapper fish soup…

Get the full recipe

2. Peruvian chicken and quinoa soup

Peruvian chicken soup (Shutterstock)

Spicy, hearty and packed with flavour, we are obsessed with the Peru-inspired recipe from The Hairy Bikers.

Not only is this broth full of natural goodness, it also keeps well, making it an easy mid-week meal that you can simply reheat.

Get the full recipe

3. Argentinian empanadas

Cheese and spinach empanadas (Shutterstock)

These Argentinian snacks are unbelievably moreish. If you’ve got time on your hands, then these empanadas will help you to fill it.

Making, folding and stuffing the pastry is no easy task, but one bite and you’ll realise it was well worth the effort.

Get the full recipe

Our 3 favourite recipes from the South Pacific

1. Quinoa mud cake

Quinoa mud cake (Shutterstock)

Not only does it look good, but it’s surprisingly good for you, too. This beautiful and tasty cake recipe comes from Sydney and pairs perfectly with a nice cup of tea.

Get the full recipe

2. Asparagus, snow pea and scallop salad

Asparagus, snow pea and scallop salad (Shutterstock)

This salad from New Zealand is perfect for the summer months. Asparagus and avocado are mixed with scallops and covered in a zesty dressing.

Can’t get your hands on scallops? Use prawns instead, or even bacon.

Get the full recipe

3. Coconut pavlova

Coconut pavlova (Shutterstock)

Pavlova is a favourite desert among New Zealanders. This recipe from Annabel Langbein makes a tasty summer treat.

Top it with kiwi fruit for that authentic New Zealand dessert experience.

Get the full recipe

3 delicious desserts from around the world

1. Turkish baklava

Turkish baklava (Shutterstock)

No Middle East-inspired dining experience would be complete without chewing on one of these sticky, sugary treats.

This traditional Turkish baklava recipe shares the secret of perfecting a stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth texture.

Get the full recipe

2. Mauritian tourte rodriguaise

A Mauritian-inspired papaya and coconut pie from the cookbook: The Island Kitchen (Yuki Sugiura)

Serve up a slice of paradise with coconut and papaya pie from Mauritius.

We love everything about this recipe from Selina Periampillai, from the jam-like filling and buttery pastry, to the playful palm-tree embossed across the top. This recipe will leave you dreaming of more tropical climes.

Get the full recipe

3. Noah’s Ark pudding

Noah’s Ark pudding

Another recipe from Turkey, and one that is believed to be the oldest in the world.

This syrupy porridge is covered in nuts, pulses and dried fruits and is inspired by the religious tale of Noah.

Something usually left out of the story is Noah’s cooking of a feast using the Ark’s leftovers.

Get the full recipe

3 tasty recipes from around the world for vegans and vegetarians

1. Kinpira yasai

Kinpira, a traditional Japanese dish often made with burdock root (Nassima Rothacker)

Brightly coloured crunchy vegetables, a generous drizzle of soy sauce and a bit of chilli to liven it up. This Japanese Vegan dish from Tim Anderson makes a perfect accompaniment to your main meal.

Get the full recipe

2. Vegan gyoza

Vegan gyoza (Nassima Rothacker)

Another meat-free recipe from Tim Anderson, inspired by Japan. This one takes time and patience, as there are several steps to making and folding each gyoza.

You might call them a tasty work of art.

Get the full recipe

3. Nohut piyazi

The Turkish Cookbook by Musa Dağdeviren Is published by Phaidon (Photograph by Toby Glanville)

The humble chickpea is a staple for vegans and vegetarians around the world as they are a great source of protein.

Spice them up with this Turkish street food recipe from Musa Dağdeviren. Traditionally, the chickpeas are cooked in lamb stock, but skip this step and you have a perfect and flavoursome vegan salad.

Get the full recipe

Looking for more ways to satisfy your wanderlust while you’re grounded?

Read these inspiring travel books

Listen to these top travel podcasts

Curl up with an issue of Wanderlust magazine

4 incredible and sustainable adventures to have in Belize

Travelling responsibly is easy in Belize, due to the country’s goal to become a world leader in sustainable tourism. With eco-lodges scattered across the pristine rainforest and along the unspoilt Caribbean coast, the highest population of jaguars on the planet and a whopping 28% of territory set aside to ensure the preservation of the flora and fauna, you’re in for a wild and responsible adventure. Here’s how to best enjoy all that bountiful Belize has to offer…

1. Spot jaguars in the wild

Spot jaguars in the wild in Belize (Shutterstock)

Head to south-central Belize to hike through over 500 sq km of lush, green rainforest that makes up the Cocksomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Set up in 1990, this is the world’s first wilderness sanctuary for jaguars. And with Belize boasting the biggest population of the big cats on the planet, you’ll be in the best possible place to spot them.

Take it slow on the nature trail, not just to increase your chances of seeing jaguar, but also for the opportunity to get an eyeful of the puma, ocelot, tapir and over 300 types of tropical birds that also call this neck of the woods home. At the end of the guided tour, cool off by plunging into one of the many emerald waterfalls splashed through the rainforest.

2. Enjoy snorkelling and diving

Enjoy snorkelling in Belize (Belize Tourist Board)

Belize’s blue worlds are just as well cared for as its green ones: strict protection plans are in place and single-use plastics are being phased out to ensure the marine life of the aquamarine waters can thrive now and in the future. And it’s working. The Belize Barrier Reef, for example, has been removed from the list of threatened World Heritage Sites, thanks to the island’s positive climate action. See the underwater haven for yourself by donning a snorkel mask and looking down at myriad fish, seahorses, turtles and even the odd manatee and nurse shark.

Snorkel off the coast of the Caye Caulker (Dreamstime)

Another of the country’s top snorkelling spots is Caye Caulker. So clear are the iridescent waters surrounding this island off the coast of Belize that you don’t even need to get your hair wet to see the marine life here. Float across the surface to see sharks, stingrays, turtles and eels less than two metres beneath you.

The Blue Hole is Belize’s holy grail of diving (Belize Tourist Board)

Just south of Caye Caulker lies Belize’s holy grail of diving – the Blue Hole. At 300 metres wide and 125 metres deep, this pool of azure water can be seen from space, and is unsurprisingly pockmarked with many top diving and snorkelling spots. A rainbow of tropical fish can be seen by snorkelling around the shallow edges, while diving in deeper allows you to swim between giant limestone stalactites while spying reef, nurse and blacktip sharks alongside the colourful and alien-like invertebrate life.

3. Go birdwatching in the forest

Belize is a birder’s paradise (Shutterstock)

It’s not just Belize’s waters that are brimming with life, its skies are, too, with over 500 species of birds flying over the country. One of the best places to spot them is in the Cayo District’s Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Trek past the rolling, granite hillsides, see trickling waterfalls, breathe in the scent of pine and keep your eyes to the skies to spy feathered treasures. Rare sights to look out for include the orange-breasted falcon and the impressive king vulture.

Swim at the bottom of Big Rock Falls (Shutterstock)

There’s more adventure to be had here: place your binoculars to one side to admire the clusters of orchids and ferns on the forest floors, enter the 20m mouth of the Rio Frio Cave or to swim at the bottom of the crashing 45m Big Rock Falls.

4. Explore the ancient Maya sites

Explore Caracol (Belize Tourist Board)

As well as its wildlife, Belize is also making fierce efforts to protect its history-rich temples, palaces and pyramids, left strewn across the country by the Maya civilisation. Make a beeline for the west of Belize, where it doesn’t take too much of an imagination to see how these vast structures were once home to some of the two million people of the Maya empire.

Climb the western edge of the Maya Mountains to gaze on the almost perfectly preserved steps of Caracol – the largest man-made monument in Belize. The nearby Xunantunich, or stone woman, breaking out of the surrounding greenery, is also worth exploring and offers great views of the sun-bleached pyramid of El Castillo. Had enough of hiking? Why not explore the archaeological sites on horseback?

However you spend your time in Belize, you’re bound to return home with memories that remain a long time, and the reassuring feeling that Belize will remain a protected, wild haven for even longer.

Secret Central America: Wanderlust readers reveal their hidden gems

Follow the flowers in El Salvador

The colourful houses of Apaneca, El Salvador (Shutterstock)

– Jillanne David

Discover a unique island lifestyle

Cayos Cochinos. All yours. (Shutterstock)

Don’t be put off by the news – Honduras is one of my favourite destinations, from visiting Pico Bonito NP (especially Jungle River Lodge) to diving in Utila.

Rent a private island in Cayos Cochinos – we had our own island complete with delicious food and unbeatable snorkelling for $100 (£82) per head!

– Marianne Thomson

The boat to Guna Yala (Shutterstock)

Take a trip with a local guide to the blissful Guna Yala islands in Panama, where you get the chance to meet the affable tribe who tell you how they run their society and tourism business to perfection.

A visit to El Valle afterwards is the perfect antidote to beach life with freshness and lush vegetation. Hire a car to get the most out of the country and take a trip down the Pacific Coast.

– Ann Furey

Take an Easter road trip from Guatemala to Belize

Semana Santa in Guatemala (Shutterstock)

– Melissa Niemandt

(Jenny Hughes)

– Jenny Hughes

Stay longer in Nicaragua

Horse-drawn cart in Granada (Shutterstock)

– Steve Brown

Local living and secret sights

Skeleton in Actun Tunichil Muknal (Shutterstock)

Take on a 45-minute hike through the jungle to the mouth of Actun Tunichil Muknal cave system, then swim through the darkness to climb the ladders.

You are rewarded with a museum: ancient pots, lots of finger bones, and a skull or two, all cemented to the floor with calcite.

Up another level, you’ll find a human skeleton preserved in its entirety, its creamy bones encrusted in frosted, crystal fragments.

– Deborah Gray

Garifuna troupe performs in Hopkins in Belize (Shutterstock)

Get to know the local communities in Belize. They are some of the friendliest people I have met on my travels.

Many people often just go to Caye Caulker, San Pedro and San Ignacio. Venture further south to Hopkins where you can learn more about the Garifuna culture, from their fortnightly drumming sessions.

Or you can head to one of the villages near Punta Gorda, where you can arrange a homestay with
a Mopan Maya family and experience daily village life.

– Nevine El-Sherbini

More Central American secrets:

Central America’s top 5 beaches

Guatemala’s Highlands top 5

7 of the best things to do in Honduras

2020’s greatest journeys: 8 brand new excursions to book now

1. Off-road through a hidden corner of Argentina

Salar de Arizaro, Argentina (Shutterstock)

Join Holiday Architects on its Northern Off-Road Adventure to explore a secret slice of northern Argentina via the only way possible: 4×4.

First, spend a couple of days wandering the storied corners and neighbourhoods of capital Buenos Aires before flying north, where the adventure really begins.

This remote region rewards you with a different landscape to savour every day, including the rugged Toro Gorge, lunching with shepherds at Antofalla, the sweeping salt flats of Salar de Arizaro, flamingo-filled Laguna Grande reserve (summer months only) and leafy vineyards of Cafayate.

It’s time to get there before others do…

Who?Holiday Architects (01242 253073)

When? September 2020 to May 2021

How long? 12 nights

How much? From £4,890 (including int’l flights)

2. Uncover Belize, a Central American gem

Glover’s Reef, Belize (Shutterstock)

From pristine coral reefs, to jungle rainforests and remote Mayan villages, Belize is an ideal active island getaway. Island Expeditions’ Epic Belize trip showcases the best of this compact Central American gem.

Your adventure starts in Bocawina National Park at a remote rainforest eco-lodge in the southern Maya Mountains. Travel south for a traditional meal in the Maya village of Santa Teresa and then kayak the rapids and canyons of the Moho River.

Enjoy a ‘bean to bar’ chocolate experience at a spice farm near the ancient Mayan ruins at Lubaantum, then head to Dangriga and board a boat to Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve. You’ll spend four nights at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, sea kayaking and snorkelling the azure blue waters.

Who?Island Expeditions (0800 404 9535)

When? Scheduled small group departures from February to April 2020

How long? Nine nights

How much? $2,999USD (£2,300) (excluding int’l flights)

3. Full of soul in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea (Shutterstock)

Japan’s getting all the attention lately, but South Korea deserves your love, too.

On The Dragon Trip’s South Korean Adventure, you’ll find out exactly why – one moment you’re getting lost among skyscrapers in neon-lit cities, then you find yourself gossiping with locals at a jimjilbang (traditional bathhouse).

The next morning, you could be sipping tea with Buddhist monks, before heading o to sample Korean barbecue. Expect visits to national parks and the demilitarised zone on the agenda, too, where you’ll get the chance to speak with a North Korean defector.

Who?The Dragon Trip (020 7157 9964)

When? Selected dates from March to October 2020

How long? 11 nights

How much? From £1,249 (excluding int’l flights)

4. Reach Corfu, Greece by train

Kalami Beach, Corfu (Shutterstock)

A week in the Mediterranean doesn’t always have to be a whistle-stop, two-hour flight away.

Sunvil’s Greece by Train trip champions slow travel and ensures the journey is just as important as the destination, starting at London King’s Cross station rather than an airport.

Ride the rails to the continent, where you can pause for a few days in Paris and Milan en route. Hop on the ferry from Bari to Corfu, where you’ll hole up in sleepy Kalami Bay.

There, embrace the relaxed vibe by watching the fishermen bring in their daily catch and pleasantly amble through quaint seaside villages.

Who?Sunvil (020 8758 4722)

When? Year-round

How long? Nine nights

How much? From £1,099 (including int’l travel)

5. Steam through desert wonders in Jordan

Wadi Rum, Jordan (Shutterstock)

Join Ffestiniog Travel on its Jordan: Steam, Petra & The Dead Sea tour for a historic ride on the rails.

The rose-coloured city of Petra, sweeping dunes of Wadi Rum and ripples of the Dead Sea need little introduction, but Jordan’s landscapes were made to be ogled from a train carriage.

Ride the final two working sections of the Hejaz railway, including one through the barren desert and sandstone arches surrounding Disah. Beef up your trip with visits to Greco-Roman Jerash, capital Amman and Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan, where it’s said Jesus was thought to be baptised.

Who? Ffestiniog Travel (01766 512400)

When? 2 November 2020

How long? Eight nights

How much? From £2,525 (including int’l flights)

6. Find fortune and glory in Oman

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman (Shutterstock)

Channel your inner Indiana Jones with Flight Centre’s Essential Oman adventure.

Snake your way through the souks of time-honoured capital Muscat, spy its crumbling Portuguese forts and be wowed by the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.

Break out of the city and head up into the Al Hajar Mountains for panoramas of Oman at its rugged best. Then spend a night in a Bedouin-style tent in the dunes at Wahiba Sands, concluding with hatching green turtles at Sur.

Who?Flight Centre (0808 239 3772)

When? Flexible

How long? Seven nights

How much? From £2,135 (including int’l flights)

7. Drive rings around Iceland

A puffin on Borgarfjörður Eystri, Iceland (Shutterstock)

On Audley Travel’s Around Iceland’s Ring Road tailored self-drive tour, you’ll explore places that sound straight out of a fairy tale.

Go for a dip in the geothermal waters of the Golden Circle’s Secret Lagoon, before heading to the Eastfjords and looking out for the queen of the elves in Borgarfjörður Eystri.

But you’ll also become immersed in local life as you weave your way through small coastal villages and traditional Icelandic turf homes to find inky-blue fjords and whales breaching the waters off Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Who?Audley Travel(01993 838431)

When? Flexible

How long? 12 nights

How much? From £4,390 (including int’l flights)

8. Touch the clouds in the USA

View of White Mountains National Park, New Hampshire (Shutterstock)

Ramblers Holidays’ White Mountains tour will take you up into the peaks of New Hampshire’s White Mountains to hike one of the Appalachian Trail’s most spectacular sections bagging peaks by day, and snoozing in remote huts by night.

It’s a challenging pace, but there’s still time for lake swimming and wildlife spotting. Then take a less hilly walk on the Freedom Trail in Boston.

Who? Ramblers Holidays (01707 331133)

When? 29 August and 12 September 2020

How long? 10 nights

How much? From £2,495 (including int’l flights)

10 of the UK’s best stargazing escapes

10 of the best new wildlife trips for 2024

Where is Dune: Part Two filmed?

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Come to Belize and…

…Head out on an adventure

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…Stroll among Maya magic

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…Witness the epic wildlife

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…Make a difference to the local communities

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Make it happen with Explore

With a dramatic history, crowd-free Mayan ruins, diverse cultures and wildlife-packed forests, Lyn Hughes finds Belize a lost world just waiting to be explored…

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“As we stared up at the same stars the Maya would have seen 3,500 years ago, it felt like we were truly in the middle of nowhere”

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Need to know

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Want to learn more about Belize? Take a look at our Wanderlust travel guide

Costa Rica

Belize

Belize vs Costa Rica on… wildlife

Belize vs Costa Rica on… outdoor adventures

Belize vs Costa Rica on… culture

Belize vs Costa Rica on… activities

Verdict

Keep exploring Central America:

1. Jetting in

Best for: A taste of Central America

2. Passing through

Best for: Wilderness and Mayan sites

3. The Maya world

Best for: Temples, ruined cities and modern Mayan culture

4. In the rainforest

Best for: Wildlife, beaches and pristine reef

Plus… the writer’s own route

More Latin American trip planners:

1. Feel truly festive in Ethiopia

2. Do it all in a day in South Africa

3. Hop the Dodecanese, Greece

4. W-walk the walk in Chile

5. Sip tea in the Golden Triangle, Thailand

6. Trek to the wildest waterfall in Peru

7. Take pictures of polar bears in Arctic Russia

8. Make the ultimate road trip in California, USA

9. Kayak with dolphins in Cambodia

10. Observe from igloos in Arctic Finland

11. Sleep on the reef in Queensland, Australia

12. Try a glass of toddy in Kerala, India

13. Live with the locals in Nepal

14. Hear glaciers heave in Argentina

15. Dine like a maharaja in India

16. Stroll with samurai in Honshu, Japan

17. Live like a llanero in Colombia

18. Peer into the Pope’s garden in Italy

19. Be awed by eagle hunters in Kyrgyzstan

20. Eye aurora in autumn in Arctic Finland

21. Go overland to Kathmandu in Europe & Asia

22. See four islands on foot in the Azores

23. Hike with huskies in Arctic Sweden

24. Opt for island life in Croatia

25. Camp on ice in Antarctica

26. Glamp on a tropical isle in Belize

27. Enjoy life on the lake in Finland