All-white everything is the theme of Coco Tulum’s beach club, and we gotta say,this stylish hotel-turned-bar is one of the prettier venues in Mexico’s crowded Yucatán Peninsula. With the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea lapping at the white sand beach, it’s hard for Coco Tulum to look bad, but the team behind the recent refurbishment have really taken things to the next level. It’s still a little bit unpolished but that just adds to its charm, alongside a sense of sophistication and cool confidence.
Think hammocks, bean bags and deck chairs, rowsof hanging fairy lights, and an impressive range of signature cocktails. Plus, recognising a good thing, Coco Tulum has added to the number of its signature over-water swings, meaning there are more seats than they’ve ever had before. The mood is rather chilled-out here, and the music reflects that – so don’t expect any hardcore trance parties that rage into the night. That said, Coco Tulum know how to throw a pretty epic Sunday sesh, and they’re known to get quite lively so it’s best not to lock in plans for the next morning, just in case.
Yellow sand, salty water and summer beach vibes don’t exactly spring to mind when we think of New York City, but The Ramones were on to something when they decided to “hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach.” Nestled into the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens,this arty-vibe beach is growing in popularity, which makes a nibble and drinks at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club even more appealing. What started as a place for surfers to store their boards is now a beach club with a difference. Rockaway Beach Surf Club embraces the destination’s chilled-out urban beach vibe.
Welcomed by the phrase “Live. Surf. Die”, the club is devoted to the local neighbourhood and hosts a number of cultural and art events within its on-site gallery. Visitors to the club can chow down on some tacos with a side of chips (obviously!), while sipping a fresh watermelon juice or a delicious cocktail or two. It might not be quite the luxury poolside hangout you’d except of the term “beach club” but we’d be happy hitching the next ride to this NYC beachside hangout.
If global warming has taught us anything, it’s the realisation that some of the world’s most incredible natural wonders probably won’t be around for much longer. Which makes a voyage on the MV Skorpios III with Skorpios Cruises all the more important. The three-night Kaweskar route sets sail from Puerto Natales for the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, bypassing 15 glaciers, including Amalia, El Brujo, and Bernal, along with others located in the Fiordo Calvo area.
You’ll be able to admire the immense size of these melting marvels up close, and there’s also the option to sail through multi-coloured ice-floes on the smaller expedition boats. We don’t know how long these glaciers will last so we’d recommend taking this trip sooner rather than later.
With a reputation as the hottest party island in the world, you expect a certain level of unruliness when it comes to clubs in Ibiza. Tucked away on the sandy shores of Cala Nova, Aiyanna is a breath of fresh air. It’s significantly quieter than the party hotspots of Ibiza Town, Playa d’en Bossa and San Antonio, and refuels you with morning yoga and an on-site Airstream caravan serving fresh cold-pressed juices.
There’s a boho-meets-luxury aesthetic happening at Aiyanna, with natural colours and earthy textures dominating the landscape and creating some seriously zen vibes. But it’s fun too, with bright Guatemalan parasols adding vibrant pops of colour, oversized bean bags scattered throughout and strings of sparkling sequins cascading from the roof. Evening live music performances generally get the party started, and when night falls, Aiyanna really comes to life. Best of all though, there’s not a hint of exclusivity here. Foregoing a VIP zone, Aiyanna is access all areas, and that’s just how we like it.
Nicknamed the ‘grey ghost of the Himalayas’, your chances of seeing a snow leopard in the wild are pretty rare, but an expedition with Reef and Rainforest couldbe your ticket to catching a glimpse of these majestic animals. On the ‘In Search of the Snow Leopards of Ladakh’ tour, you’ll travel to the Hemis National Park and Ulley Valley in the Indian Himalayas.
Although their camouflaged coat makes them hard to see, this wild and rugged terrain is known for its increasing numbers of the vulnerable cats, which recently came close to extinction. If you’re really lucky you may also spot the Tibetan wolf, Tibetan fox, Eurasian lynx and an array of birdlife on your travels.
It’s one of the most beautiful places in Northern Ireland, yet few explore Lough Erne, a vibrant waterway rich in folklore in the Fermanagh Lakelands. Once a route of pilgrimage and plunder, today Erne Water Taxi takes punters for leisurely tours across the Lough’s glassy waters.
On a spacious and comfortable eight-seater vessel, you’ll explore the ruins of castles and monasteries, including Devenish Island, one of Ireland’s most significant monastic sights for its preserved sixth-century Augustinian monastery and twelfth-century round tower, and the striking stone cross on Inishmacsaint. You’ll learn the stories about the lives of the monks and Viking raiders while enjoying local cheeses and craft beers – it’s a fascinating look into Northern Ireland’s past.
Along the ancient paths of the infamous Silk Road lies the untouched beauty of Kazakhstan. Far from the tourist trail, these lands have remained a well-kept secret, none moreso than the mystical Lake Kaindy, which sits 2000 metres above sea level. In the early 1900s when a vicious earthquake struck and a limestone landslide ensued, the gorge became blocked and eventually water cascading down from the mountains above formed the 400-metre-long lake, swallowing dozens of Asian spruce trees along its banks.
Infused with limestone deposits, the water’s seemingly unnatural greenish-blue hues are punctured by stark white tree trunks, which are still standing tall, and cast eerie reflections in the glassy surface, while below leaves still cling to their branches, preserved by the lake’s cold temps. With multiple companies offering tours to Lake Kaindy and the breathtaking sights surrounding it, this forest is wellworth the hike.
Discover a side of Africa you may not be familiar with – one that’s devoid of lions and elephants – on an eye-opening tour through West Africa with Abercrombie & Kent. The 16-day West Africa: People Past & Present expedition explores the colourful nations of Ghana, Togo and Benin, which are renowned for sun-soaked beaches, lively colonial cities (there’s a strong European influence due to the gold and slave trades) and fascinating cultural rituals.
Highlights include attending a real-life voodoo ceremony and meeting a witch doctor in Togo, cruising Africa’s largest stilt fishing village in Benin, checking out Ghana’s Akwasidae Festival and meeting local artisans. It’s a charming insight into a version of Africa that doesn’t often make the brochure.
If you want non-stop action – hiking, kayaking, bike riding, whitewater rafting – G Adventures’ Argentina and Chile Multisport tour is designed to push you to your physical limits. For 20 days you’ll cycle through the vineyards of Mendoza, raft your way down rapids on the Chilean border and hike Aconcagua (the highest peak outside of the Himalayas), Glacier National Park and the renowned W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park. Phew!
Downtime comes in the form of wine and chocolate tastings, which you’ll have definitely earned, and a few free days to explore the local towns. Trust us when we tell you that time to recuperate will be much needed. This is one voyage that definitely isn’t for the faint of heart.
You’d be forgiven for thinking this expanse of red water was a mirage if you were travelling in any sort of altered state through Bolivia’s southwest altiplano. You’re not seeing things though. This shallow salt lake, covering 6,000 hectares, rests at about 4,250 metres above sea level and is a neighbour to the famous Salar de Uyuni. The unusual colour of the water comes from a surfeit of red algae and other microorganisms. White patches are also not a visual illusion – just massive borax deposits on the lake’s surface.
The other attractions at Laguna Colorada are the flamingos that can be seen wading in the shallows. One of the three species is the rare James’s flamingo – also known as the puna flamingo – which is native to the region but was thought extinct until a small population was discovered in 1956. While they’re still considered endangered, the abundant plankton in the water keeps them coming back in hefty numbers for food. They’re naturally white, by the way; it’s the algae that stains them this glorious shade of pink.
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