The capital of Malaysia is a city of contrasts. In is a melting-pot of different communities such as Indians, Chinese and Malays, as well as other immigrant nationalities who arrived in Kuala Lumpur after industrialization. The icon of the city, which stands out from the rest of the buildings, are the Petronas towers, which once were the highest in the world and from where the best views are obtained. A few meters away is another of the most visited viewpoints. It is the Menara Kuala Lumpur, a communications tower whose base is an activity center for children. Both buildings are located in Gran Jalan Ampang, the district where most of the large hotel chains, restaurants and stores are concentrated. Malaysia was a colony of Great Britain until 1957, the day in which the great square of Dataran Merdeka replaced the Anglo-Saxon flag with that of the country as a symbol of independence. Some of the architectural gems of the city are the old railway station, which combines Islamic, Moorish, Gothic and Greek art; as well as Masjid Negara mosques, where non-Muslims are asked to cover themselves with a tunic, and Masjid Jamek, located in the center. The multiculturalism of Kuala Lumpur can be enjoyed in the different neighborhoods that make up the city. One of the most visited is Chinatown, where there are numerous markets of clothing, antiques, technology and furniture, selling products at a good price. It is also possible to find beauty salons and to try Ichthyotherapy, the so-called fish pedicures. Kuala Lumpur is one of the essential stops on a trip to Malaysia. Not only for its airport, where international flights arrive, but also for its cosmopolitan charm and buzzing atmosphere.

Kuala Lumpur

A dreamy holiday paradise,&nbsp;Bali&nbsp;is the westernmost island in the&nbsp;Lesser Sundas, an island-group in&nbsp;<a title="Indonesia" href="https://www.exoticca.net/asia/southeast-asia/indonesia">Indonesia</a>. Attracting travelers from across the globe,&nbsp;Bali&nbsp;stands out for its&nbsp;Hindu&nbsp;culture, excellent arts heritage and paradise beaches, as well as its reputation for having some of the world&rsquo;s most beautiful resorts and hotels, making it perfect for a tropical escape like no other.&nbsp;
A&nbsp;holiday to Bali&nbsp;consistently tops the charts of bucket-list destinations and this modestly sized island encompasses lush rainforests, vibrant cities, highland sanctuaries, and rugged&nbsp;Indian Ocean&nbsp;coastlines. The capital and largest city,&nbsp;Denpasar&nbsp;is the gateway from where most&nbsp;Balinese&nbsp;adventures begin.&nbsp;Ubud&nbsp;is the cultural heart of the island and a favorite of those who travel to&nbsp;Bali.&nbsp;
Here, a rich arts scene, bohemian vibes, lush hillside rice paddies, and countless monuments, temples and markets attract creative types from around world.&nbsp;Seminyak,&nbsp;Nusa Dua,&nbsp;Kuta,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Jimbaran&nbsp;are just a handful of the island's most-loved beach destinations, where sunset views, idyllic beaches, and a year-round holiday atmosphere ensure the perfect setting for an unforgettable holiday, honeymoon or family getaway. A&nbsp;tour of Bali&nbsp;is all about exploring the distinct traditions of&nbsp;Balinese Hinduism, spending laid-back afternoons soaking up the sunshine on the beach and exploring the wildlife of the rich highlands.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Highlights of Bali</h2>
There are simply so many things to see in&nbsp;Bali, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The sheer number of&nbsp;Hindu&nbsp;temples, picturesque beaches, and curious cultural attractions form a dizzying array of things to do, but a few favorite sights stand out.&nbsp;Uluwatu Temple&nbsp;is one of&nbsp;Bali&rsquo;s&nbsp;&lsquo;spiritual pillars&rsquo; and a favorite place to watch the sunset.
&nbsp;Set on a cliff overlooking the&nbsp;Indian Ocean,&nbsp;Uluwatu Temple&nbsp;is one of the most authentic places on the island to get in touch with your spiritual side. Another unmissable highlight is the&nbsp;Taman Saraswati Temple, also known as&nbsp;Ubud Water Palace. Set amongst tranquil ponds, adorned with lilypads, this temple is known for its evening dance performances, which take place every night.
If you&rsquo;re a wildlife lover, you cannot miss a visit to the Monkey Forest of Ubud&nbsp;during a trip to&nbsp;Bali. Home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques, these adorable monkeys have free reign amongst the verdant trees and sacred temples on the site. It&rsquo;s a magical place and the perfect destination to get up close to&nbsp;Bali&rsquo;s most famous residents.&nbsp;
When it comes to natural wonders, aside from the beautiful, rugged coastline and picture-perfect rice terraces,&nbsp;Mount Batur&nbsp;stands out as a must-see sight on a&nbsp;Bali&nbsp;tour. An active volcano,&nbsp;Mount Batur&nbsp;rises&nbsp;1717 meters&nbsp;from the waters of&nbsp;Lake Batur.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s possible to hike to the summit and many choose to set off in the early hours to catch the sunrise from the peak. If you&rsquo;re curious about&nbsp;Balinese&nbsp;culture, head to&nbsp;Batuan Village, for an authentic look at historic&nbsp;Bali, complete with traditional houses and architecture. The village is inhabited by craftsmen and artists who work diligently to continue the artistic traditions of their ancestors.&nbsp;

Bali

An island of impressive beauty, incredible landscapes and spectacular volcanoes like Bromo, near to Probolinggo, from where you can enjoy the marvellous sunrises. Ijen, another well known volcano, houses a sulphur mine in its crater and you can even see the miners working from the summit. It is also home to the most important temples in Indonesia like the Brodobudur Buddhist temple and Prambanan, the biggest Hindu temple in Java.

Java

One of the world&rsquo;s most famous natural wonders,&nbsp;Ha Long Bay&nbsp;is an otherworldly landscape of limestone karsts suspended on misty waters and is situated in northern&nbsp;Vietnam,&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Gulf of Tonkin. 1,600&nbsp;islands and islets conspire to create a magical landscape, full of unique and surprising natural phenomena for visitors to explore. A&nbsp;cruise on Ha Long Bay&nbsp;has long been a mainstay of any&nbsp;tour of Vietnam&nbsp;and is easily accessible from the capital of&nbsp;Hanoi.
Grottoes, caves and rugged beaches are excellent fodder for groups of canoeists, whilst holiday-makers tend to soak up the sunset onboard one of the traditional&nbsp;junk&nbsp;boats, preferably with a cocktail in hand. Such is&nbsp;Ha Long Bay&rsquo;s&nbsp;appeal, it is often filled with cruise ships, but thankfully the&nbsp;600&nbsp;square mile&nbsp;site is large enough for everyone to find their own slice of bay bliss.&nbsp;500 million years&nbsp;of oceanic activity has formed this unique landscape and nature lovers can search out the endemic flora and fauna that flourish on the islets of&nbsp;Ha Long Bay.
Fishing communities live on the bay in four different villages, some of which consist of quaint floating houses and huts. An overnight cruise is the best way to experience&nbsp;Ha Long Bay&nbsp;and see the changing landscapes and karst shadows as the sun rises and falls. Most overnight cruises on&nbsp;Ha Long Bay&nbsp;include island-hopping activities, kayaking, and food onboard. Translated as the &lsquo;Bay of Descending Dragons&rsquo;,&nbsp;visiting Ha Long Bay&nbsp;is sure to be a highlight of any&nbsp;tour of Vietnam.
&nbsp;
<h2>Things to see in Ha Long Bay</h2>
If you can bear to tear yourself away from the sunny deck of your&nbsp;junk cruise, there are many&nbsp;things to see in Ha Long Bay.&nbsp;Bon Hon Island&nbsp;is one of the more frequent stops for cruise ships on&nbsp;Ha Long Bay&nbsp;as it&rsquo;s home to a number of interesting caves, such as&nbsp;Virgin Cave, home to a shrine dedicated to a legendary love-sick young woman who is said to have died there. After fishermen found her body, legend has it that they created a shrine in her memory inside the cave and the story has lived on ever since.
Aside from the mysterious legacy of the cave, its stalactites and stalagmites cast beautiful shadows over the cavern walls, making for a particularly fascinating landscape.&nbsp;Dan Be Island&nbsp;is another of the most popular&nbsp;sights around Ha Long Bay.&nbsp;This island is famed for its swimming and snorkeling opportunities due to its coral-filled grottoes and inland lakes. The grottoes can only be reached by rowing boat or canoe during low tide. To discover the wildlife of this beautiful part of&nbsp;Vietnam, a trip to&nbsp;Cat Ba Island&nbsp;is a must-visit and highlight of any&nbsp;Ha Long Bay Cruise.
The&nbsp;Cat Ba archipelago&nbsp;makes up most of the south of&nbsp;Ha Long Bay&nbsp;and the largest island of&nbsp;Cat Ba&nbsp;is home to a number of hiking trails as well as the endangered&nbsp;white-headed langur. If you&rsquo;d rather get to know the locals you can also visit the floating villages of&nbsp;Ha Long Bay: Cua Van, Vung Vien, Cang Dam,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ba Hong.&nbsp;Here, you can gain some insight into life on the bay and admire the ingenious floating homes and fishing techniques of the locals. Other&nbsp;things to do in Ha Long Bay&nbsp;include kayaking and snorkeling tours, which enable you to explore more freely than you can onboard a cruise ship.

Halong Bay

The capital of Vietnam and a city which perfectly fuses the ancient and the modern, Hanoi is situated in the north of the country and acts as a commercial and cultural centre of northern Vietnam. Like any Southeast Asian metropolis, Hanoi comes complete with the ceaseless motorbikes traffic and cacophony of car horns, but with the added warm hospitality which gets travellers hooked on Vietnam and makes it such a charming city to explore.
Capital of Imperial Vietnam for almost 800 years, visiting Hanoi is key to understanding the history of the nation as it&rsquo;s home to a great number of historic pagodas, temples and monuments, which serve to showcase the traditions and heritage of Vietnam to curious visitors. A truly &lsquo;east-meets-west&rsquo; city, here traditional Vietnamese values are blended with a continental French flair. The oldest part of the city, where most tours of Hanoi are based, is composed of four districts: Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem, Da Dinh and Dong Da, where you&rsquo;ll find the faded elegance of French colonial architecture, bustling market streets and the majority of the capitals sightseeing attractions.
Arguably the best destination in Vietnam to sample the flavours of the national cuisine, Hanoi is well known for its delicious street food. Search out the most authentic Pho by following the locals or grab a takeaway baguette and have a picnic beside the West Lake whilst watching the local fishermen at sunset.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>What to see in Hanoi</h2>
There are countless things to see in Hanoi, making it one of Vietnam&rsquo;s most popular tourist destinations. Perhaps the most famous monument in the city is the One Pillar Pagoda, a historic Buddhist temple, built in the 2nd-century. As the name suggests, this ancient pagoda stands on one pillar, surrounded by a picturesque ornamental pond. The second of Hanoi&rsquo;s most iconic temples is actually located outside of the city but is nonetheless worth visiting if you travel to Hanoi. The perfect destination for a day trip from Hanoi, the Perfume Pagoda is built into the limestone cliffs of Huong Tich. A must-see for anyone interested in Buddhism, visitors and pilgrims alike flock to this unique temple complex in large numbers as it&rsquo;s thought that visiting the temple brings good luck!&nbsp;
Anyone with an interest in Vietnamese history will surely visit Ho Chi Minh&rsquo;s Mausoleum if they visit Hanoi. The final resting place of the Vietnamese revolutionary leader, this imposing, collonaded mausoleum is located in the centre of Ba Dinh Square. Surrounded by exotic gardens, this poignant monument is one of the most popular things to see in Hanoi and visitors are even able to pay their respects to the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh himself, housed inside a glass box within the central hall of the mausoleum building.
Other highlights of a tour of Hanoi include the Temple of Literature, Vietnam&rsquo;s first university, which has stood in the same spot for almost 1000 years and Ngoc Son Temple, a charming 18th-century temple, situated on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake. The same lake is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the old town. At the heart of Hanoi, Hoan Kiem Lake is always busy with locals and visitors alike, taking an evening stroll around the lake, practising tai-chi in the morning sunshine or simply spending quality time with their families. The lake is famously home to large softshell turtles, although sightings are very rare. The area around the lake is where you&rsquo;re likely to see traditional Water Puppet Shows, one of the quintessential things to do in Hanoi. Don&rsquo;t miss out on your chance to enjoy this age-old traditional Vietnamese art form.&nbsp;

Hanoi

Previously known as Saigon and situated in the south of the country, this is the largest and most populated city in Vietnam. The city boasts beautiful French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually crowded with people and traffic. The perfect opportunity to compare cosmopolitan life with that in our own country.

Ho Chi Minh

Bangkok

The most photographed archaeological monument in the country was constructed by Suryavarman II to honour the god Vishnu and, in time, become his own mausoleum. Its five towers symbolise the centre of the universe for Hindus. It is surrounded by walls and a moat which reflects the sunset and was once full of crocodiles.

Angkor Wat

A pleasant, manageable-sized city despite being the capital of Cambodia. The city is full of French-style residences in the vicinity of the Mekong river. The Royal Palace is also worth the visit, not to mention the Silver Pagoda, covered by 5,000 tiles which reflect the sun.

Phnom Penh

An attractive spot due to its gardens, river walkway, boulevards, pagodas and palaces. Due to the large amount of tourists, it can be an expensive place and whilst US dollars are widely accepted in this area, everything will be cheaper when paid for in the local currency: the Riel.

Siem Reap

5 Country Southeast Asian Discovery

Located 76 km from Bangkok., Ayutthaya is an essential stop on a tour of the north of Thailand or an ideal day trip if your only destination is the capital.
It was founded in the year 1350 by the first monarch of the Uthong dynasty. Its delimitation by the confluence of the rivers Lopburi, Pa Sak and Chao Phraya, turn it into a strategic fluvial island protected from possible sieges. In the 14th century, in its heyday as the center of political and commercial power, it contained around 1 million inhabitants and 500 temples, but in 1767, after 33 kings had reigned, it was invaded, razed and burned by the Burmese army. Major Taksin moved the capital to the ancient city of Thonburi,on the west bank of the River Chao Phraya in what is today, Bangkok, and he then became known as King RamaI.
The Ayutthaya Historical Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, includes the ruins of temples and stone palaces that were part of the city while it was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam.
It is popular to tour the city on a motorcycle, bike, tuk-tuk or on foot, but since the sights are spread around the city, the distance between makes it more advisable to use any of the vehicles mentioned.
Among the archaeological sites that are part of the historical site there are temples such as the Wat Phra Sri Samphet, which was part of the destroyed Grand Palace and exhibits three chedis Bells which contain the ashes of three kings; the Wat Phra Mongkol Bopith, next to the previous one, which houses one of the largest Buddhas in the country and Wat Yai Chaya Mongkhol,which features a great stupa of 62 metres in height and a huge Reclining Buddha, clothed in a yellow coat and dozens of small Buddhas, arranged in a row in order to protect the temple. There is also Wat Chaiwatthanaram, further away from the rest and in a fantastic state of preservation, with a certain resemblance to the Angkor Wat of Cambodia, built in a Khmer style; Wat Maha That or Temple of the Buddha Head, the most internationally known for the famous decapitated head of Buddha enclosed between the roots of a fig tree. Some theories attribute this strange sight to the years of abandonment or to an attempted robbery; Wat Ratchaburana, with two huge towers and a crypt; Wat Lokayasutharam Sutha, which without much relevance in its architectural concept for the state of its foundations, stands out for the colossal Reclining Buddha of 42 by 8 metres; and Wat Phanam Choeng, with a beautiful statue of Buddha sitting 19 metres high from whose eyes, the legend says, tears flowed on the day of the devastation of the city.
The Bang Pa In Summer Palace, located on the banks of the Chao Phraya in a small village a few kilometres south of the historic park, is open to the public since the royal family uses it very sporadically. Built in 1632 and remodeled in 1889, the complex reflects a certain European influence and encompasses spacious and well-tended green areas with curious shrubs arranged in the shape of an elephant, a Chinese-style royal palace, a throne room, the royal residence, the Ho Withun Thasana and the Divine Seat of Personal Liberty, a beautiful pavilion sits in the middle of the pond.
In the new city of Ayutthaya you can visit the National Museum of Chao Sam Phraya, a modern exhibition that houses 2,400 pieces found among the ruins of the old city and unearthed during excavations such as sculptures, paintings, doors, panels, ceramics or jewelry.
A building located at the foot of the river, which contrasts with the Siamese aesthetic, is the Catholic Church of San Jos&eacute;, the first place of worship of the mission, founded in the seventeenth century by French missonaries on land granted by the king.
If you want to witness the hustle and bustle of the city, you can visit the floating market on the outskirts Klong Sa Bua for a pleasant ride through the canals in traditional canoes, surrounded by the ancient Kingdom of Siam or immerse yourself in the fun atmosphere of the night markets of Haw Raw on the banks of Chao Phraya or Bang Lan, where it is possible to buy a wide variety of items and enjoy good food thanks to the wide range of cuisine.
Ayutthaya is an essential destination to visit to understand the history of Thailand. Here you can witness the country&rsquo;s immense history and immerse yourself in the history and culture of a great kingdom. A holiday to Thailand is incomplete without contemplating the wonder of these ancient temples and ruins.

Ayutthaya

The biggest city in the north of Thailand. Also known as the Rose of the North, is for many the most important city in cultural terms and one of the most beautiful thanks to the nature of its surroundings, which are home to some of the most beautiful mountains in the country. Chiang Mai boasts over 300 Buddhist temples and is an exceptional opportunity to experience the most authentic Thai culture.

Chiang Mai

Lopburi is the capital of the province of the same name. It is situated 150 kilometres northeast of Bangkok and is considered to be one of the oldest cities in the country. Its long history dates back to the Dvaravati period, over 1000 years ago, when it was known as Lavo. Nowadays this city is famous for the high density of apes that live there, so much so that one of its most important temples is known as &amp;ldquo, The Monkey Temple.

Lopburi

Sukhothai Historical Park is formed and enclosed in a walled area of around four square kilometres. There are at least another twenty temples which can be visited, with a great many more which are ruined. It is almost mandatory to rent a bicycle in order to truly discover the magnificent landscapes.

Sukhotai

Temples & Treasures of South East Asia

Situated in southeast&nbsp;England,&nbsp;on the&nbsp;River Thames,&nbsp;London&nbsp;is the beating heart of the&nbsp;United Kingdom,&nbsp;a non-stop city famed throughout the world for its global influence on the arts, culture, politics and fashion.&nbsp;London&nbsp;is whatever you want it to be. You can truly find anything you&rsquo;re looking for in this vibrant city. To&nbsp;travel to London&nbsp;is to uncover a city with an ancient history and a forward-thinking outlook. An innovative place at the forefront of global trends, a&nbsp;trip to London&nbsp;should be on everyone's bucket list.&nbsp;
Whether you love the romance of the&nbsp;Royal Family&nbsp;and want to see&nbsp;Buckingham Palace&nbsp;or you&rsquo;re pulled to the capital by its amazing museums and galleries, you could spend a lifetime exploring London and never get bored! With architecture ranging from&nbsp;Victorian-era&nbsp;bridges to medieval castles and cloud-reaching skyscrapers, the city&rsquo;s skyline is as diverse as the city itself.
Truly a cosmopolitan metropolis, you&rsquo;ll find influences from around the world in&nbsp;London. Every nation is represented here, and this melting pot fusion of cultures is what makes London such an enchanting travel destination. Founded by the&nbsp;Romans,&nbsp;the ancient core of the city is known as&nbsp;&lsquo;The City of London&rsquo;, a one-square-mile area at the heart of&nbsp;London. Here, you can still see the ancient remnants of the old city walls beside the&nbsp;Museum of London, just one of the countless free museums&rsquo; visitors can enjoy on a&nbsp;trip to London.&nbsp;
Despite its ancient heritage,&nbsp;London&nbsp;is a city of the future. Take its vast&nbsp;underground tube&nbsp;system, connecting the furthest suburbs with the centre of the city and helping visitors zip between sights with minimal effort. The famous&nbsp;Shard, the tallest building in western&nbsp;Europe, is just another testament to London&rsquo;s innovative culture, whilst an ever-evolving range of modern art galleries keep culture lovers entertained until their heart&rsquo;s content.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re more attracted to the traditional sides of the city,&nbsp;London&nbsp;never forgets its roots. Stroll down&nbsp;Victorian-era&nbsp;streets, illuminated by street lamps, and you can easily feel like you&rsquo;ve stepped back in time to the days of &lsquo;Jack the Ripper&rsquo;. Find yourself a cosy,&nbsp;old-world pub&nbsp;and sit down with a&nbsp;pint&nbsp;by a roaring fire and you&rsquo;ll soon experience that nostalgic romance that&nbsp;London&nbsp;offers in abundance.&nbsp;
A shoppers paradise, take your pick of famous shopping roads. Maybe it&rsquo;s the flamboyant&nbsp;Carnaby Street&nbsp;that takes your eye? Or&nbsp;Oxford Street,&nbsp;one of the world&rsquo;s most popular shopping streets. If you&rsquo;re looking for something a little more high-end then take a stroll down historic&nbsp;Bond Street&nbsp;or admire the diamond jewellers of&nbsp;Hatton Garden. Next, head to&nbsp;Covent Garden Market&nbsp;and stop to watch the street performers along the way. If you want to shop like a local, grab a bite at&nbsp;Borough Market, pick up some blooms at&nbsp;Colombia Street Market&nbsp;or head to&nbsp;Brick Lane, for the best vintage shopping and Indian restaurants.&nbsp;
After a day of sightseeing and shopping, it&rsquo;s time to experience&nbsp;London&rsquo;s&nbsp;legendary nightlife. Not only will you find some of the world&rsquo;s best restaurants, as well as eateries serving food from every corner of the world but London boasts some of the most exciting bars and clubs you can imagine. From underground jazz clubs, such as legendary&nbsp;Ronnie Scotts, to gravity-defying rooftop bars, where you can sip a cocktail whilst watching the glittering city lights.&nbsp;
This might be one of the busiest cities on earth, but you&rsquo;ll find plenty of green spaces to escape the hustle and bustle of rush hour. From the royal parks of&nbsp;St. James and Green Park,&nbsp;in the shadow of&nbsp;Buckingham Palace, to vast&nbsp;Battersea Park&nbsp;and&nbsp;Hyde Park,&nbsp;known for its&nbsp;&lsquo;Speakers Corner&rsquo;,&nbsp;London&nbsp;is rich in outdoor spaces. Anyone with an interest in plants cannot miss a visit to Kew Gardens, a world-renowned botanical garden in the far reaches of west London.
<h2 dir="ltr">Things to see in London</h2>
A city of such size and significance, there are limitless&nbsp;things to see in London. Of course, when it comes to sightseeing highlights,&nbsp;Buckingham Palace&nbsp;is top of the list. Anyone with an interest in the&nbsp;British Royal Family&nbsp;will dream of visiting&nbsp;Buckingham Palace, the official residence of&nbsp;Queen Elizabeth II. Situated at the end of the&nbsp;Mall, which begins at&nbsp;Trafalgar Square,&nbsp;Buckingham Palace&nbsp;is one of the most historically important sights in&nbsp;London.&nbsp;Here, you can watch the famous&nbsp;&lsquo;Changing of the Guards&rsquo;&nbsp;and even enjoy a tour of the interior of the palace, but only when the&nbsp;Queen&nbsp;is not at home!&nbsp;Buckingham Palace&nbsp;also has vast, beautiful gardens and a visit is sure to be a highlight of any&nbsp;tour of London.
To experience the city from a different perspective, visiting&nbsp;South Bank&nbsp;is one of the best&nbsp;things to do in London.&nbsp;Weaving along the south side of the&nbsp;River Thames,&nbsp;South Bank&nbsp;is home to some of the capitals most interesting sights. After crossing the bridge at&nbsp;Charing Cross&nbsp;you can walk along the riverside from&nbsp;Waterloo&nbsp;all the way to&nbsp;London Bridge&nbsp;and experience an array of sights along the way. From the&nbsp;London Eye, pass by the&nbsp;South Bank Arts Centre, watch the skateboarders at&nbsp;South Bank Skatepark&nbsp;and continue past the historic&nbsp;OXO Tower&nbsp;until you reach the&nbsp;Tate Modern, one of London&rsquo;s most famous galleries. After a quick free visit, why not carry on your scenic stroll past the&nbsp;Millenium Bridge&nbsp;for amazing views of&nbsp;St. Pauls Cathedral.&nbsp;Shakespeares Globe, City&nbsp;Hall&nbsp;and&nbsp;Tower Bridge&nbsp;are other highlights of a stroll along with the iconic&nbsp;South Bank, an unmissable thing to do if you&nbsp;travel to London!
Perhaps one of the most famous junctions in the world, a&nbsp;vacation to London&nbsp;is incomplete without visiting&nbsp;Picadilly Circus, in the heart of&nbsp;west London. As well as the iconic neon signs and London buses, nearby sights include the fabulous&nbsp;Ritz Hotel, Shaftesbury Avenue, known for its theatres, and&nbsp;Leicester Square, the site of many red-carpet movie premiers. Once you&rsquo;ve captured your coveted photo at&nbsp;Picadilly Circus,&nbsp;nearby&nbsp;Soho&nbsp;is a great place for a bite to eat or a night of bar-hopping.&nbsp;&nbsp;
A symbol of the city,&nbsp;Big Ben&nbsp;is another of the best&nbsp;things to see in London. This star attraction was completed in&nbsp;1859, and at the time it was the most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. Standing&nbsp;316 feet&nbsp;above the&nbsp;Houses of Parliament,&nbsp;on the north bank of the&nbsp;River Thames,&nbsp;Big Ben&nbsp;is actually the nickname for the largest bell within the tower. In fact, the clock tower is officially named after the Queen:&nbsp;Elizabeth Tower.&nbsp;Nearby, the&nbsp;Houses of Parliament&nbsp;and&nbsp;Westminster Abbey&nbsp;are other important landmarks to explore on a&nbsp;tour of London.
London&nbsp;is well known for its collection of world-famous museums, most of which are free to the public! Perhaps the best museum in London, if not the world, is the&nbsp;British Museum, home to two million years of human culture and history. Some of the most amazing relics on earth are housed within this vast, neo-Classical style building, situated in the&nbsp;Bloomsbury&nbsp;area. The collection is vast, ranging from&nbsp;Ancient Egyptian mummies&nbsp;to&nbsp;Renaissance sculptures.&nbsp;Its permanent collection includes some eight million works, making it one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of human history on the planet. Highlights include the amazing&nbsp;Rosetta Stone, the&nbsp;Elgin Marbles&nbsp;and the remnants of the&nbsp;Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world! If you want to see some of the most valuable treasures in the world, be sure to spend some time in the&nbsp;British Museum&nbsp;if you&nbsp;visit London.
&nbsp;

London

Paris, the so-called&nbsp;&lsquo;City of Light&rsquo;&nbsp;is the capital of&nbsp;France&nbsp;and a major global city. Covering more than&nbsp;105 square kilometres&nbsp;of north-central&nbsp;France,&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;sits on the&nbsp;River Seine&nbsp;and is famed for its arts, fashion, cuisine and culture. As the second most visited destination in the world, the old saying&nbsp;&lsquo;Paris is always a good idea&rsquo;,&nbsp;still rings true today! If you visit&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll be greeted by an abundance of world-renowned galleries, museums, monuments, landmarks and high-end shops. You could never get tired of exploring&nbsp;Paris.
Paris&nbsp;has long been a centre of&nbsp;French&nbsp;politics and culture, rising to prominence at the end of the&nbsp;12th-century.&nbsp;It was famously the centre stage of the&nbsp;French Revolution&nbsp;in the late&nbsp;18th-century. In later years,&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;gained a reputation as an artistic hub, with creatives such as&nbsp;Picasso, Matisse, Hemingway&nbsp;and&nbsp;Marcel Proust&nbsp;spending time in the city to inspire their masterpieces in the&nbsp;19th&nbsp;and&nbsp;20th centuries. Perhaps the best place to soak up this creative ambience during a trip to&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;is in the historical district, located beside the&nbsp;River Seine&nbsp;and designated as a&nbsp;UNESCO World Heritage Site.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The&nbsp;&lsquo;City of Light&rsquo; has captured the imagination of countless romantics over the centuries and is a favourite destination for honeymooners and couples. Whether you&rsquo;re taking a short city break to&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;or are planning a longer stay, the sheer number of sights are sure to keep your schedule very busy! The&nbsp;Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower&nbsp;and the fabulous&nbsp;Champs Elysse&nbsp;are just a few of the bucket-list attractions you&rsquo;ll see on a tour of&nbsp;Paris, but simply wandering along the lively&nbsp;Rue de Rivoli&nbsp;or enjoying a sunny afternoon in the green spaces that line the&nbsp;L&rsquo;Esplanade des Invalides&nbsp;will let you experience&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;like a local.
You can visit&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;at any time of year, but the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are best as you&rsquo;ll avoid the crowds that descend on the capital during the balmy summer months. Also, these are the cheapest times of year to travel to&nbsp;Paris.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What to see in Paris</h2>
It&rsquo;s difficult to know where to begin when planning a tour of&nbsp;Paris,&nbsp;but there are certainly some unmissable sights that must be included in your itinerary.&nbsp;
Whether you&rsquo;re an art aficionado or just a casual viewer, the&nbsp;Louvre&nbsp;is a must-see if you travel to&nbsp;Paris. The largest art museum in the world, the galleries of this inspiring museum are home to masterpieces ranging from the&nbsp;Mona Lisa&nbsp;and&nbsp;Venus of Milo&nbsp;to works by legendary artists such as&nbsp;Delacroix&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rembrandt, to name just a few. The museum is also home to a vast array of&nbsp;Egyptian antiquities.&nbsp;The galleries are housed within the majestic&nbsp;Louvre Palace, it&rsquo;s most recognisable feature being the glass&nbsp;Louvre Pyramid, which stands in the central courtyard. Visiting the&nbsp;Louvre&nbsp;is always at the top of the list of things to see in&nbsp;Paris,&nbsp;so be sure to make plenty of time to soak up its vast collection.&nbsp;
Another emblem of the city is&nbsp;Notre Dame Cathedral, currently under renovation since the tragic fire of&nbsp;2019, which caused terrible damage to this national landmark. This remarkable work of medieval ecclesiastical architecture is one of the most famous cathedral buildings in the world. Sat on a natural river island on the banks of the&nbsp;Seine,&nbsp;Norte Dame&nbsp;is easily recognisable by its two imposing towers, where the fictional&nbsp;Hunchback of Norte Dame&nbsp;famously lived, and its Gothic facade. Until restoration works are completed, visitors can only access the underground crypts of the cathedral and not the interior, but its worldwide acclaim means it is still a worthwhile stop on a tour of&nbsp;Paris.
Of all the showstopping sights in&nbsp;Paris,&nbsp;there is nothing quite like the famous&nbsp;Moulin Rouge, a cabaret venue, crowned by an illuminated red windmill, the backdrop to many a tourist photo! Founded in&nbsp;1889, the original building burnt down in&nbsp;1915, but the reconstructed building still operates as a musical entertainment venue today, where visitors can relive the romance of old&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;and enjoy watching the&nbsp;&lsquo;can-can&rsquo;&nbsp;dance at its birthplace!
A trip to&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;is incomplete without visiting the most famous landmark in the entire city, if not the entire world: the&nbsp;Eiffel Tower! Standing tall above the verdant&nbsp;Champ de Mars, the&nbsp;Eiffel Tower&nbsp;is instantly recognisable by its wrought-iron lattice towers and twinkling lights come nightfall. At&nbsp;324 metres&nbsp;tall it is the tallest structure in the city and if you visit the&nbsp;Eiffel Tower&nbsp;you can explore three different observations levels. The first two levels even have restaurants for dining with an unforgettable view! Originally constructed to act as an extravagant entrance to the&nbsp;1889 World Fair,&nbsp;today, tourists and Parisians alike still hold the&nbsp;Eiffel Tower&nbsp;close to their hearts.&nbsp;
Perhaps the city&rsquo;s most notable avenue, it&rsquo;s impossible to visit&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;without passing down the&nbsp;Champs-&Eacute;lys&eacute;es.&nbsp;Known for its luxury shops, theatres and restaurants, the&nbsp;Champs-&Eacute;lys&eacute;es&nbsp;is the&nbsp;Paris&nbsp;you see in the movies. This almost 2-kilometre long avenue leads you to the unforgettable&nbsp;Arc de Triomphe, another must-see sight on a tour of&nbsp;Paris, notable for its role as the finish line of the annual&nbsp;Tour de France&nbsp;cycling race.
Finally, nestled within the historic neighbourhood of&nbsp;Montmarte, atop a hill known as&nbsp;butte Montmarte, is the spellbinding&nbsp;Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, one of&nbsp;Paris&rsquo;&nbsp;premier landmarks. Completed in&nbsp;1914, it is the second most visited religious monument in the city, after beloved&nbsp;Norte Dame, and is home to a huge mosaic, which covers the interior ceiling apse. If you want one of the best views of the city, be sure to climb up to the top of the central dome, where you can enjoy breathtaking views across the entire&nbsp;&lsquo;City of Light&rsquo;.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Paris

The most populated city in Italy and the fourth most populated in the European Union. It is known as the Eternal City. Over the course of its history, which goes back some three thousand years, its power reached the whole of the Mediterranean and indeed much of Europe. As capital of the Roman Empire, it constituted one of the first great metropolises of humanity, the centre of one of the most important ancient civilisations. It influenced the society, culture, language, literature, art, architecture, philosophy, religion, law and ethics of the centuries that followed. It is the city with the greatest concentration of historical sites and artefacts in the world, its historic centre marked by the perimeters of its ancient walls, overlapping the footprints of three years, is Rome's expression of historical, artistic and cultural heritage in the western European world. Rome is the geographical heart of Roman Catholicism and the only city in the world which has a foreign state within it: the enclave of the Vatican City, a Papal State controlled by the incumbent pope.

Rome

Venice is a city situated in the northeast of Italy. It is the capital of the Veneto region and the Province of Venice. Its historical centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is situated on the biggest ensemble of islands in the Venetian Lagoon in the northern Adriatic sea. The city is constructed on an archipelago of 118 small islands which are connected by 455 bridges, if we include the islands of Murano and Burano. To reach Venice from land, is only possible by crossing the Bridge of Liberty, which leads from the neighbouring city of Mestre to the Piazzale Roma square in the city. The city centre is traffic free, apart from the gondolas that navigate the network of canals that separate the islands, making this an entirely pedestrian city. The canals of the city create a lattice of streets that spread from the Grand Canal, the main water thoroughfare through which a multitude of boats, great and small, pass through every day, the best known being the famous gondolas.

Venice

Barcelona might not be the capital of&nbsp;Spain, but it&rsquo;s one of the country&rsquo;s most popular travel destinations. A vibrant metropolis in the northeastern region of&nbsp;Catalonia,&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;has a distinct culture, an artistic atmosphere and plenty of sights! A coastal city, with kilometres of sandy beaches, a&nbsp;trip to Barcelona&nbsp;is sure to delight you with its spectacular nightlife, wow-factor architecture and laid-back vibe. Around every corner, you&rsquo;ll encounter the creative heart in this youthful city, where modern art museums rub shoulders with centuries-old city walls.&nbsp;
At the heart of&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;is&nbsp;La Rambla, a kilometre long street that stretches from&nbsp;Plaza Catalunya&nbsp;to&nbsp;Port Vell. From here, the rest of the city stretches out in an organised grid system, making navigating the city a breeze. Each neighbourhood in&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;has a distinct vibe. Head to&nbsp;Gracia&nbsp;for bohemian cafes and artisan shops, enjoy the upmarket feel of&nbsp;Eixample&nbsp;or the old-world charms of&nbsp;Barceloneta,&nbsp;an old fishing village behind the beachfront.&nbsp;
Barcelona&rsquo;s history stretches back to&nbsp;Roman times,&nbsp;but it&rsquo;s best known for its&nbsp;modernista&nbsp;architecture and the works of&nbsp;Antoni Gaudi,&nbsp;many of which are&nbsp;UNESCO World Heritage sites.&nbsp;From soaring surrealist cathedrals to abstract houses and decorative gardens, the cityscape is sure to surprise you if you&nbsp;travel to Barcelona.&nbsp;Furthermore, medieval streets and churches, ultra-modern skyscrapers and minimalist buildings can also be found in this eclectic city. The most modern parts of the city are a result of the&nbsp;1999 Summer Olympics, which were held in the city and propelled it into worldwide fame.&nbsp;
If you&nbsp;visit Barcelona&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll find it a delightful city to explore. The city is set across a grid system and Barcelona&rsquo;s&nbsp;metro&nbsp;is large and efficient, whisking you throughout the city and connecting all the major landmarks.&nbsp;City breaks to Barcelona&nbsp;are particularly popular. A dynamic city where you can see some of the world&rsquo;s most iconic architecture, experience&nbsp;Catalan&nbsp;culture&nbsp;and then kick back on the beach, a&nbsp;trip to Barcelona&nbsp;is always a good idea!
<h2 dir="ltr">Things to see in Barcelona</h2>
There is such a wide range of things to see in&nbsp;Barcelona, it&rsquo;s no wonder it&rsquo;s one of Europe&rsquo;s most popular tourist destinations. Of all the stand out sights,&nbsp;Gaudi&rsquo;s&nbsp;otherwordly architecture is amongst the best things to see in&nbsp;Barcelona. From the soaring spires of&nbsp;La Sagrada Familia Cathedral,&nbsp;where&nbsp;Gaudi&nbsp;himself is buried, to the colourful mosaics of&nbsp;Park Guell, Gaudi&rsquo;s masterpieces are the symbols of&nbsp;Barcelona.&nbsp;Casa Mila&nbsp;and&nbsp;Casa Batllo, both located on the major avenue&nbsp;Passeig de Gracia,&nbsp;are two further&nbsp;Gaudi&nbsp;works to captivate your imagination if you&nbsp;travel to Barcelona.&nbsp;
At the opposite end of the city from&nbsp;Park Guell&nbsp;is&nbsp;Montjuic,&nbsp;a flat hilltop offering sweeping views across the city. Here you&rsquo;ll find many of Barcelona&rsquo;s treasures, from the impressive&nbsp;Palau Nacional,&nbsp;home to the&nbsp;National Art Gallery of Catalonia&nbsp;and the amazing&nbsp;Magic Fountain,&nbsp;which wows visitors with a light and sound extravaganza every evening in the summer.&nbsp;Montjuic Hill&nbsp;also encompasses the&nbsp;Olympic complex, the&nbsp;Palau Sant Jordi Stadium, a&nbsp;Botanical Garden&nbsp;and a&nbsp;public swimming pool&nbsp;overlooking an unforgettable panorama of&nbsp;Barcelona.&nbsp;Furthermore, the historic&nbsp;Montjuic Fortress, dating back to the&nbsp;17th-century, is located at the peak of the hill.
In contrast to the glamorous sights of&nbsp;Montjuic, to experience the artistic heart of&nbsp;Barcelona,&nbsp;be sure to visit the neighbourhood of&nbsp;El Raval,&nbsp;on the southern side of&nbsp;La Rambla&nbsp;Street. Here you&rsquo;ll find plentiful street art and the famous&nbsp;MACBA modern art gallery, known both for its impressive art collection and for the&nbsp;skateboarding&nbsp;community that practice in the square outside the gallery.&nbsp;El Raval&nbsp;also boasts a wide range of trendy and unique restaurants, showcasing the diversity of the city and countless boutique shops and artisan workshops. It is also the heart of&nbsp;Barcelona&rsquo;s nightlife.&nbsp;
If you travel to Barcelona&nbsp;in the search for the most atmospheric plaza to enjoy a sundown drink, head to the famous&nbsp;Placa Reial,&nbsp;at the heart of the&nbsp;Barri Gothic&nbsp;neighbourhood. With its&nbsp;Gaudi-designed lamposts, palm trees and pretty fountain,&nbsp;Placa Reial&nbsp;is one of the most popular&nbsp;places to visit in Barcelona. Lying just off of&nbsp;La Rambla,&nbsp;the square is home to countless restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Here you can sit on a cafe terrace, people watch and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;whilst watching the numerous street performers or musicians. A must-visit highlight if you choose a&nbsp;vacation to Barcelona.&nbsp;
Craving green space during your&nbsp;trip to Barcelona? Then it&rsquo;s time to discover the vast&nbsp;Parc de la Cuitadella,&nbsp;a stone&rsquo;s throw away from the impressive&nbsp;Arc de Triomphe&nbsp;monument. A green oasis in the heart of the city, on a Sunday afternoon the locals flock to this park to unwind in the sunshine, play music or practice sports. The park is decorated with an array of interesting sculptures, but the highlight is the wonderful &lsquo;Cascada&rsquo;&nbsp;waterfall, one of the earliest works of&nbsp;Antoni Gaudi.&nbsp;Within the park, you&rsquo;ll also find&nbsp;Barcelona Zoo,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Catalan Parliament&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Castle of the Three Dragon, home to a zoological museum.&nbsp;
Finally, if you&rsquo;re a foodie, one of the best&nbsp;things to do in Barcelona&nbsp;is to visit&nbsp;La Boqueria Market, one of the most famous food markets on earth! Situated in the&nbsp;Old Town, just off of&nbsp;La Rambla,&nbsp;this large public market showcases the diversity of&nbsp;Catalan and Spanish cuisine&nbsp;with its array of fresh produce. First mentioned way back in the&nbsp;13th-century,&nbsp;La Boqueria&nbsp;has long been at the heart of&nbsp;Barcelona&nbsp;and its rainbow-coloured displays of fruit and vegetables make it a dream destination for photographers. Loved by locals and tourists alike, visiting&nbsp;La Boqueria&nbsp;is a highlight of any&nbsp;Barcelona tour.&nbsp;

Barcelona

The capital and largest city in Spain, Madrid is situated almost directly in the centre of the country, on the River Manzanares. It is located in the autonomous community of the same name, bordered by the regions of Castile &amp; Leon, Asturias and Castilla&ndash;La Mancha. 
This city, known for its significance to the thriving Spanish art scene, is the third largest city in the European Union after London and Paris. It is revered as somewhat of a place of &lsquo;pilgrimage&rsquo; for artists and art-lovers due to its world-class galleries such as the Museo del Prado and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, home to both Spanish and international masterpieces.
Many choose to enjoy a city break in Madrid to experience the legendary nightlife. Thousands of bars and restaurants, to suit all tastes and musical persuasions stay, open way into the early hours, with visitors often surprised at the infectious energy of Madrid&rsquo;s post-midnight streets, even on weeknights!
Madrid has a metro system, numerous city parks and plenty of plazas, but its beautiful architecture takes centre stage, composed on an eclectic mix of classical mansions and villas alongside modern structures, such as the CaixaForum Museum. Its gastronomic prowess is yet another reason a holiday to Madrid needs to be on your travel list, with many restaurants pushing the boundaries of modern Spanish cuisine.&nbsp;
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<h2>What to see in Madrid</h2>
Like any capital city, Madrid is home to heaps of important and unmissable sights, it can be hard to determine where to start. The Plaza Mayor, in the centre of the city, is a good place to begin, with a number of cafes and restaurants sat under the arches of its bordering buildings. It&rsquo;s the perfect place to people-watch and to enjoy a cool drink on a hot summers day.
If you can&rsquo;t help but admire the Spanish fashion-sense during your trip to Madrid, then head to the Gran Via, the city&rsquo;s most famous shopping street with both high-end and high-street shops to help you replicate the Spanish flair for fashion in no time. For a touch of culture, as well as the most famous art museums, mentioned above, the Fine Arts Circle is at the cutting-edge of Madrid&rsquo;s creative scene and is one of the most important private cultural centres in Europe. 
If you find yourself yearning for somewhere to enjoy the fabulous Spanish weather, explore the 19th-century El Retiro Park, complete with a boating lake, fountains and sculptures, it&rsquo;s a true highlight of the city and a little oasis amidst the metropolis.&nbsp;

Madrid

European Capitals & Cultural Charms

The&nbsp;Ecuadorian Amazon&nbsp;is an area of dense rainforest and is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Known as the &lsquo;Oriente&rsquo;,&nbsp;a&nbsp;trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon&nbsp;is the chance to encounter more than&nbsp;300&nbsp;species of mammal,&nbsp;800&nbsp;species of fish and&nbsp;350&nbsp;species of reptile. Lying to the east of the Andes and occupying more than&nbsp;one-third&nbsp;of the total area of&nbsp;Ecuador,&nbsp;visiting the&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;is sure to be an unforgettable highlight of any&nbsp;Ecuador tour.
A great base for adventures into the&nbsp;Ecuadorian Amazon&nbsp;is the town of&nbsp;Tena. Nestled in the Amazon rainforest,&nbsp;Tena, nicknamed the &lsquo;Cinnamon Capital&rsquo;, is situated in Ecuador&rsquo;s northern province of&nbsp;Napo.&nbsp;Sitting in the rainforested foothills of the&nbsp;Andes,&nbsp;Tena&nbsp;is an attractive city, with good tourist infrastructure and plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy, from white-water rafting on the surrounding rivers to wildlife spotting in the jungle.&nbsp;
Of course, this city is best known as the&nbsp;gateway to the Amazon rainforest, and those who&nbsp;travel to Tena&nbsp;can spend time in one of the local&nbsp;eco-lodges&nbsp;and immerse themselves in the incredible wildlife and untouched nature of this region.&nbsp;
Trips to Tena&nbsp;are popular with backpackers and wildlife lovers alike, as the city is well connected by bus and road links to&nbsp;Quito&nbsp;and other major destinations in&nbsp;Ecuador.&nbsp;In fact, the journey to&nbsp;Tena from Quito&nbsp;is only&nbsp;3.5-hours&nbsp;by car and includes a spectacular route over the&nbsp;4000-metre high Papallacta Pass.
The&nbsp;Ecuadorian Amazon&nbsp;is also the base for a number of reforestation initiatives and has become well-known as an eco-tourism destination, making it an interesting place to visit for anyone passionate about wildlife and the environment. Furthermore,&nbsp;travel to the Amazon&nbsp;offers the chance to get to know indigenous cultures and explore the untamed beauty of&nbsp;Ecuador.
<h2 dir="ltr">Things to do in the Amazon</h2>
If you take a&nbsp;trip to the Amazon&nbsp;in&nbsp;Ecuador,&nbsp;one of the best things to do is to stay at a&nbsp;nature lodge&nbsp;where you can experience the biodiversity of this region first-hand. A variety of jungle lodges are within easy reach of both&nbsp;Tena&nbsp;and&nbsp;El Coca, both conveniently situated on the&nbsp;Napo River. Rainforest lodges often organise exciting activities such as nature walks and boat trips to explore the unique environment and spot the local wildlife.&nbsp;
If you are staying in&nbsp;Tena, you cannot miss the opportunity to go&nbsp;rafting&nbsp;and&nbsp;kayaking.&nbsp;The city is well known for the impressive rapids of its surrounding rivers. A large variety of waterways offer rafting and kayaking opportunities for all levels. One of the most popular destinations for rafting tours is the&nbsp;Jatunyacu River,&nbsp;a tributary of the&nbsp;Amazon River,&nbsp;where you can enjoy an array of fun and beginner-friendly rapids.
To discover some of the local wildlife without heading deep into the rainforest, be sure to visit&nbsp;Parque Amazonico La Isla, one of the best&nbsp;things to do in Tena.&nbsp;A botanical garden located on an island on the&nbsp;Tena River,&nbsp;this city park plays host to all kinds of Amazonian wildlife such as tapirs, monkeys and exotic birds. Be sure to stop and appreciate the tropical flower and plant life too!
If you really want to immerse yourself in the immense biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest, be sure to visit Yasuni National Park. This 9,820 square kilometre reserve is thought to be the most biodiverse place on the planet! Considered part of the &lsquo;core Amazon&rsquo;, Yasuni National Park is an &lsquo;untouchable zone&rsquo;, designated to protect both indigenous peoples and wildlife. For the ultimate Amazon experience in Ecuador, Yasuni National Park is undoubtedly the best place to visit.
Finally, another of the&nbsp;best things to see in the Amazon&nbsp;is the&nbsp;Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve. Located east of the city, this band of tropical wetlands is considered one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth. Situated on the&nbsp;Napo River,&nbsp;the reserve was established in&nbsp;1986&nbsp;as a centre for field research and education. A number of well-kept trails guide you through pristine primary rainforest and the reserve is a popular day-trip destination for visitors to the&nbsp;Ecuadorian Amazon.&nbsp;

Amazon

The Galapagos Islands, whose official name is the Archipelago de Col&oacute;n, constitutes a province of Ecuador and is located 1000 km off the mainland coast, in the Pacific Ocean. The group are formed of a set of thirteen islands of volcanic origin and more than a hundred islets and rocky outcrops. It is the second largest archipelago in the world and with more volcanic activity than Hawaii. The Galapagos is a Natural World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. They are known to be the center of the observations and studies of Darwin's for the development of his "Theory of Evolution".
 Its exotic landscapes do not resemble other islands of the Pacific, on the contrary, they are rather arid, with huge lava fields, rock formations, cactus forests and volcanic cones. And this is exactly where its exoticism lies, in its uninhabited and naked aspect that seems like it is from another time and from another planet. Under the sea, there are underground craters and coral reefs, where an extraordinary biological diversity is present. So much so they are also considered one of the seven underwater wonders of the world and one of the most fascinating places in the planet to perform deep sea diving.
 The Galapagos can be reached by air from Quito or Guayaquil. Only four of its islands are inhabited, the town of Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island is the main human settlement. Other minor settlements are Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Crist&oacute;bal, Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island and Puerto Velasco on Floreana Island.
 The lava beds of the Island of San Crist&oacute;bal are like "a petrified sea at the height of the storm", according to the famous naturalist. Its tourist points are Playa Ochoa, Puerto Grande, Le&oacute;n Dormido, Isla Lobos, Puerto Chino, Galapaguera from Cerro Colorado, El Progreso, the Interpretation Center, Cerro Tijeretas, Mann Beach, Punta Carola and La Lober&iacute;a.
 In Isabela, the largest island, you can see an identical landscape. On the way to the volcano Sierra Negra, the vegetation disappears little by little and the magma of recent times floods the horizon along with plenty of large cacti. The equatorial line crosses the north of the island.
 The main airport is on Baltra Island, whose most famous attraction is the 150-meter water channel that separates it from Santa Cruz Island and where sea lions, birds and endemic species live together.
 Bartolome Island has some of the most beautiful landscapes of the archipelago which consist of an extinct volcano 100 meters just off the coast of Santiago Island and a variety of volcanic formations in red, orange, green, black and bright. Pinnacle Rock and the twin bays, separated by an isthmus, are popular with travelers. In the Plaza Islands and the channel that separates the North Island from the South, the turquoise waters contrast with the black lava of the banks. Plaza South is one of the smallest in the Galapagos, but in spite of its size it is the richest of all and some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the archipelago live there. Seeing land iguanas, that often remain in the shade of the cactus, is guaranteed as well as swallow-tailed gulls who nest on the cliffs.
 Its geological past of almost 5 million years has given it a spectacular and unique landscape and has made it home to two thousand endemic species. This is one of the most exciting places for scientists and biologists due to its rich fauna and flora. 220 species of endemic plants have been counted, 399 natives and 119 introduced, transported by the wind, the sea, or the birds that emigrated from the continent. In the animal world, sea lions, dolphins, Darwin finches, cormorants, giant tortoises, land and marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, frigates, seahorses, pelicans, blue-footed boobies and red-legged, albatross and whale and hammerhead sharks constitute the enormous diversity that lives in this exclusive environment.
 Traveling to the Galapagos Islands encourages you to strengthen the bond between man and nature and to look into each other's eyes with respect and admiration. The islands are a very unique place, and when you discover them, it is hard to forget your experiences there.

Galapagos Islands

Guayaquil is the largest and most populated city in Ecuador and is located on the banks of the Guayas River, which flows to the Pacific Ocean through an estuary called "Estero Salado".
Right in the centre are the famous streets of Clemente Bail&eacute;n and Chimborazo, where the Seminario Park is located, in which huge and harmless iguanas roam wild. It houses an equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar and in front of the garden area is the Cathedral of Guayaquil, a beautiful neo-Gothic building rebuilt in stone after the great fire.
On the banks of the river, the 2.5 km long Malec&oacute;n Sim&oacute;n Bol&iacute;var, known as the Malec&oacute;n 2000, allows for peaceful river-side strolls. It is one of the most successful urban projects in America and an icon of the city. Guayaquil locals stroll along the promenade and it is also the departure point for boats that sail down the river to enjoy the local landscapes.
This urban park, full of nature, history, tradition, modernism and beauty, has many tourist attractions such as manicured gardens, artificial lagoons, fountains, viewpoints, quays, squares, museums, cinemas, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, food courts, play areas and historical monuments such as the Hemiciclo de La Rotonda, a monument that commemorates the meeting between Sim&oacute;n Bol&iacute;var and Jos&eacute; de San Mart&iacute;n; a Clock Tower, 30 meters high, which an octagonal base and a huge Byzantine-style dome that is one of the most famous and photographed buildings in the city; the Palacio de Cristal, a convention and exhibition center located in the Plaza de la Integraci&oacute;n, the Obelisk to the Glorious Aurora and the statue of the politician Olmedo.
A few meters from the Malec&oacute;n 2000 and on the banks of the river on a hill, is the emblematic historic district of Cerro de Santa Ana, a very special neighbourhood with a colonial appearance, narrow cobblestone streets and wooden houses of different colours. Behind the statue of the founder Francisco de Orellana, there are 444 steps that connect the base of the hill with the top in a route that concentrates a variety of restaurants, cafes, art galleries and craft shops. Above you get one of the best views of the city and you can visit the Lighthouse, the Chapel of the Virgin of Mercy and the Naval Museum. At the foot of the hill, Las Pe&ntilde;as neighbourhood is the most iconic of Guayaquil, where we can appreciate the colonial air in its old, elegant and colourful wooden houses with French-style balconies. In its most emblematic street, the narrow paved road Numa Pompilio Llona, art galleries and live music venues permeate the place with a captivating bohemian air. Next to Las Pe&ntilde;as is Puerto Santa Ana with its own Malecon and modern commercial and office buildings.
Travel to Guayaquil to discover the economic centre and feel the constant renewal of Ecuador. Guayaquil is warm, cosmopolitan, colourful, modern and dynamic. It has as been baptised "the Jewel of Ecuador" and &ldquo;the Pearl of the Pacific".
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Guayaquil

"Light of America&rdquo; is one of the names that have been assigned to Quito. The capital of the Republic of Ecuador was founded in the sixteenth century on an ancient Inca city. It has the largest and best preserved historic center in Latin America, enough reasons to be proclaimed the first Cultural Heritage Humanity Site in history along with Poland&rsquo;s Krakow.
 Quito is full of churches, monasteries, colonial buildings, squares, convents, museums, theaters and narrow, steep cobbled streets. The Spanish influence has left dozens of temples in the old town, modest in their facades and immense inside for the materials and details. Three of them stand out considerably: the Church of San Francisco, the oldest, called the "Escorial of the New World" because of its size; The Company of Jesus, one of the most important baroque expressions of the continent whose interior is covered with sheets of gold leaf; and the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the largest neo-Gothic architecture on the continent, whose curious gargoyles not only represent mythological beings, but also endemic fauna.
 The neighborhood of La Ronda is the most emblematic of Quito and in its main artery, Juan Dios Morales street was known as La Ronda street, you can still breathe the bohemian, cultural and artistic air of yesteryear and listen to live music and taste the famous canelazos or delicious empanadas on sale in every restaurant. Another of the most important roads is that of the &lsquo;Six Crosses&rsquo;, which runs through the entire colonial area. Its name refers to the stone crosses that were placed in the atriums of each church as a popular altar.
 The Plaza Grande or Plaza de la Independencia houses the Palacio de Carondelet or Palace Presidential, the Municipal and Archbishop's Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral. In the middle of it and surrounded by gardens, stands the monument to Independence, a cry for freedom. The Plaza Foch in the neighborhood of La Mariscal, constitutes "the zone of farra" or the center of the entertainment and evening entertainment in Quito where you can enjoy "la pachanga" dancing in bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
 Quito is located at 2800 meters above sea level. At 3000 meters above sea level, on the hill of Panecillo, stands the sculpture of the Virgin of Quito, 30 meters high and built with 7400 pieces of aluminum. From its vantage point, you can get the best views of the city, both the old town and the modern area, as well as the suburban neighborhoods that climb the slopes of the mountains that surround the city. Thus, delimiting the city is the Casitagua volcano to the north, the Falla de Quito to the east, the eastern slopes of the Pichincha, belonging to the Cordillera de los Andes, to the west and the Atacazo volcano to the south.
 Another attraction of the city is the cable car, which climbs from 2950 meters to 4053 meters in just 10 minutes to the slopes of Pichincha from whose natural terrace the viewer can be captivated. The surrounding parks are an important part of the urban life of the locals, who come on weekends as a family to enjoy the endemic wildlife. Popular parks include Itchimb&iacute;a, Gu&aacute;pulo, Metropolitano, El Ejido and La Carolina.
&nbsp;

Quito

Are you going to Buenos Aires? Good choice! The capital of Argentina is a city of contrasts, known for its vibrant cultural life, but also for its football fans. Don't miss the&nbsp;Asado&nbsp;(barbecued meat), the&nbsp;dulce de leche, the Plaza de Mayo or the Mafalda monument.&nbsp;
<h2>What to see in Buenos Aires</h2>
<h2>Plaza de Mayo</h2>
The Plaza de Mayo is the most significant place in the country's political life. Every Thursday, the mothers of the Plaza de Mayo meet here, still demanding information about the children they lost during the dictatorship. The most important buildings in Buenos Aires' administrative life are located in the Plaza: the Casa Rosada, the National Bank and the Metropolitan Cathedral, among others.
<h2>The Casa Rosada, seat of Argentine political power</h2>
You can visit the Houses of Parliament in London, and the White House in Washington and the equivalent in Buenos Aires is the Casa Rosada. Some of its interior rooms are open to the public, as well as the Patio of Palm Trees.
<h2>San Telmo Market in Plaza Dorrego</h2>
If you decide to visit Buenos Aires and take a walk around the San Telmo neighborhood, don't miss the market in Plaza Dorrego, livened up by the living statues and street musicians. This area, which was once inhabited by people from the Argentine upper middle class, was abandoned after the yellow fever epidemic that devastated the city. Many of its palaces were left in ruins and the neighborhood was about to be demolished, but the appearance of the antique market saved it. Besides finding antiques and all manner of curios, it is the perfect place to have a coffee.&nbsp;
<h2>Statue of Mafalda</h2>
Sitting on a bench in San Telmo is one of the most famous girls in Argentina. You will identify her by her dark bushy hair and her red dress, although the sculpture is made of bronze. Just don't go near her with soup. It's better to take her a burning political question to get a witty answer in reply. There are few travelers who do not have their picture taken with cartoonist and comedian Quino's most famous character.
<h2>Pasaje Caminito in La Boca</h2>
The La Boca neighborhood is one of the most popular among those who travel to Buenos Aires. You'll recognize it by its modest and brightly colored houses. The most visited and photographed street is the Pasaje Caminito, the birthplace of the tango of the same name: Caminito. If you want to see how real professionals perform this dance, oozing with character and sensuality, this is the perfect place. You won't have to enter any premises either. You're more than likely to run into street dancers.&nbsp;
<h2>Caf&eacute; Tortoni, a place with plenty of history</h2>
Caf&eacute; Tortoni was founded in 1858, making it one of the oldest in the city. The cultural equivalent of Madrid's Caf&eacute; Gij&oacute;n, it was a meeting place for Argentine intellectuals in the first half of the 20th century. It was said that the caf&eacute; was notable for its hospitality, meaning that the drinks were cheap; this attracted the artists and writers of the day, who were no closer to financial stability than any of their kind at any time or place.
<h2>Parque 3 de Febrero</h2>
The Parque 3 de febrero is actually a group of parks that are also called Bosques de Palermo, because they are located in this Buenos Aires district. They form a real urban oasis, occupying an area of forty hectares dotted with artificial lakes and with a zoo, a botanical garden, a planetarium and an impressive white bridge that is one of the most popular attractions among those who choose to visit Buenos Aires.&nbsp;
<h2>La Bombonera</h2>
If you like football, and even if it is not your favorite sport, you must have heard of one of the most famous teams in Buenos Aires and in all of Argentina: Club Atl&eacute;tico Boca Juniors. Its stadium, La Bombonera, is one of the world's temples pf football; or at least that's how the legendary player, Maradona, described it.&nbsp;
<h2>The Obelisk of Buenos Aires</h2>
This obelisk, almost 70 meters high, was built to commemorate the city's birthday, its fourth centenary to be precise. This took place in 1936. You can see it in Plaza de la Rep&uacute;blica, but only from below. The only way to reach the highest point is by a ship's ladder, a feat within the scope of very few.&nbsp;
<h2>Subte and&nbsp;Alfajores</h2>
If you're going to travel to Buenos Aires there are two things you should know. The first is that the best way to move around the city is the metro, which is known as Subte. It has six lines and the tickets are very cheap. Just watch out for pickpockets.
And secondly, you mustn't miss the city's traditional sweet confection:&nbsp;alfajores. These consist of two cookies, usually sandwiched with&nbsp;dulce de leche&nbsp;or honey.&nbsp;

Buenos Aires

Situated between the Argentinian province of Misiones and the Brazilian province of Parana, the Iguazu Falls are one of the most visited natural attractions in the country. There are a total of 275 falls, the majority of which are situated in Argentina. The highest is the Devil's Throat, at 80 meters. There are a series of walkways from Puerto Canoas which allow observation of the falls, as well as the option to take various excursions and boat trips. The local fauna us another great attraction of Iguazu. Over 450 species of birds have been sighted here plus 80 mammals including the jaguar and anteater. Iguazu Falls National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984 and was chosen for the New7Wonders project as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
<h2>What to see at Iguaz&uacute; Falls</h2>
Argentina is a country of immense natural wealth. To the south, Patagonia has the Perito Moreno glacier, one of the most famous in the world, and with good reason. And to the north, on the border with Paraguay and Brazil, in the park of the same name, is the most impressive group of waterfalls on the planet. An authentic wonder of the world that you can only see if you decide to visit the Iguaz&uacute; Falls.
<h2>Getting to the Iguaz&uacute; Falls</h2>
The truth is that it rains almost all year round in this region, although there is more rain in summer. Of course, this is also the time of year when the rivers carry the most water and the waterfalls are at their most impressive. Between May and September, the low season in Iguaz&uacute;, the temperature is cooler, the rains are a little less frequent and there are fewer tourists. So we recommend that you visit the Iguaz&uacute; Falls at this time of year. But don't worry if you can't. The area is so beautiful that it will never let you down.
<h2>Visiting the falls: from Argentina or Brazil?</h2>
The Iguaz&uacute; River is a natural border that separates Argentina from Brazil and the Iguaz&uacute; Falls can be visited from both countries. Ideally, you should see them from both sides, which requires you to set aside a couple of days in your schedule. Walkways have been erected on both banks to allow you to approach the most impressive area safely.
Whichever country you choose, the approach to the Iguazu Falls is very similar, requiring a walk from the area to the north of the falls. You'll be walking among the local flora and fauna along the whole route and there'll be many opportunities to savor the views.&nbsp;
The most seasoned travelers recommend that you see the falls from the Brazilian side and explore the landscape from the Argentine one.
If this isn't enough for you, we recommend the following:
<h3>The triple border marker</h3>
The city of Puerto Iguaz&uacute; has a monument that marks the triple border shared by Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. It is a viewpoint from where you can see how the Iguaz&uacute; river meets the Paran&aacute; river.&nbsp;
Nearby there is a craft market that is perfect for buying gifts and souvenirs.&nbsp;
<h2>The Devil's Throat</h2>
Part of your Iguaz&uacute; Falls travel plans will undoubtedly be to visit the Garganta del Diablo, or Devil's Throat, which is where most travelers go. This is the most spectacular waterfall in the area and possibly on the planet.&nbsp;
The waterfall is u-shaped and the water plummets into the void from a height of more than 80 meters. The waterfalls with such awesome force that the impact creates a mist that prevents you from seeing the bottom. And if you find the sights incredible, the thunderous noise is even more so.&nbsp;
<h3>A different perspective on the falls</h3>
Seeing the waterfall from above is most common, but you can also see it below. Believe it or not, you can get under the jets of water. There's no shower more natural than that. Keep your camera safe!
<h2>The hummingbird garden in Puerto Iguaz&uacute;</h2>
After being practically in the jungle this garden may seem almost tame, but bird lovers will adore it. There are more than 15 species of hummingbird here. The only birds capable of staying in one place while flying!
If you visit the garden during the breeding season you will see fewer birds, but it's still worth it.&nbsp;
<h2>The Wanda Mines</h2>
It's a good idea to visit the Iguaz&uacute; Falls, especially if you have time to visit the surroundings. The Wanda Mines are a little more than 50 km from Puerto Iguaz&uacute;. Set aside some time to see them and learn more about how precious stones are formed. This is an open-air mine that the owners of the land discovered by chance and which is open to visits. Topazes, amethysts and quartz crystals are mined here.&nbsp;
<h2>The ruins of San Ignacio Min&iacute;</h2>
A little further on, about 300 km from Puerto Iguaz&uacute;, are the ruins of San Ignacio Min&iacute;. It will take you a few hours to get there, but the time is worth it. A well-preserved 17th-century Jesuit mission awaits you, an official World Heritage Site. Most of the mission walls are still standing. And you can see a door with side columns. The surrounding landscape will help you to get an idea of the missionaries' way of life, which was not particularly close to how it is portrayed in films.

Iguazu Falls, Argentinian side

An enesemble of waterfalls located on the river Iguazu, situated between the Argentinian province of Misiones and the Brazilian province of Parana. It is entirely contained in protected areas, the Argentinian sector in the Iguazu National Park, and the Brazilian sector in the Igua&ccedil;, u National Park. They have been named as ons of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. They are formed of 275 falls, 80% of which are on the Argentinian side. Another sight is the fall with the largest water flow and, at a height of 80 metres, also the largest: The Devil's Throat, which can be witnessed in all its majesty from a height of 50 metres, thanks to the viewpoint walkways from Puerto Canoas,, accessible by the rainforest ecological train service.

Iguazu Falls, Brazilian side

Founded as San Sebastian del Rio de Enero, now commonly referred to simply as Rio, is a Brazilian city and municipality, capital of Rio de Janeiro state, located in southeast Brazil. It is the second most populated city in Brazil, attracts the most international tourism in the country and is the first Olympic city in South America. It was the capital of the kingdom of Portugal between 1807 and 1822 and the capital of the Empire of Brazil since 1822, when the nation declared its independence from Portugal and conserved this status until the construction of Brasilia, in 1960. It is one of the main economic, cultural and financial centres of the country, and is known worldwide for its cultural icons and landscapes, such as the Sugarloaf Mountain, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, the Maracana stadium, and Tijuca National Park, the biggest urban forest in the world, amongst others.

Rio de Janeiro

Ancient Incan capital conquered by Pizarro, Cuzco today is an active city of colonial buildings surrounded by reminders of this splendid civilisation. For example, the Santo Domingo cathedral is built on the stone of the Incan Casas del Sol, some of the walls are even still visible. This is the classic departure point for trips to Machu Picchu.
<h2>What to see in Cuzco</h2>
You may be passing through Cuzco because you want to see Machu Pichu. However, at Exoticca we recommend that you pay attention to the city as well. This is a place with a wealth of history and great beauty. There is a reason it was the capital of the Inca Empire and a strategic hub during the Spanish colonial period. The combination of both cultures is a feature that will provide a constant source of delight.
<h3>Travel to Cuzco and discover its heart: Plaza de Armas</h3>
When you see the Plaza de Armas for the first time, it won't occur to you that it was originally a swamp. The Incas installed drainage, dried it out and made it their administrative centre. The Spanish colonisers built their churches and buildings on top of former palaces and today it is a place to have coffee.
The Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus are outstanding places to visit. The latter was built in a beautiful baroque style and houses a golden pulpit and four cedar altars.
<h3>San Blas district</h3>
The city's oldest church is the one that gives its name to one of its most charming districts. San Blas is a place to lose yourself amid steep cobbled streets full of interesting nooks and crannies. Don't miss the colonial-era buildings and take advantage of the walk to buy your Cuzco souvenirs here. If possible, in one of the craft workshops. When you reach the highest part of the district you'll be able to soak up one of the city's most beautiful views. And, if it gets late and you are in San Blas after dark, take advantage and have a pisco sour cocktail.
<h3>Calle Loreto and the twelve-angled stone</h3>
Calle Loreto is one of those places where the contrast between the pre-Columbian Inca culture and the colonial culture is best appreciated. The lower sections of the buildings consist of walls of Inca origin, yet they support buildings of colonial architecture.
The best known place in Cuzco meanwhile is the twelve-angled stone, very near Calle Loreto. You'll find it in Calle Hatun. This stone is remarkable for its workmanship.
<h3>San Pedro Market</h3>
The developer of the most famous structure in Paris, the Eiffel Tower, also built the Mercado de San Pedro, or Central Market of Cuzco. Inside, you can buy Peruvian food and local handicrafts. We recommend that you try the fruit: it's absolutely delicious.&nbsp;
<h3>The temple of Qorikancha&nbsp;</h3>
The temple of Qorikancha is an Inca construction dedicated to the sun god, and at one time it was the most important place of worship of the Inca civilization. Its enormous blocks of rock, which are joined together without the use of mortar, have been preserved. In the past, they formed walls covered with sheets of gold that marked the limits of the enclosures of the various buildings of the complex, since the temple of Qorikancha was not a single building, but a real religious complex that housed the temple of the stars, the moon and, of course, the sun.
<h3>Sacsayhuam&aacute;n</h3>
To reach the ruins of the Sacsayhuam&aacute;n fortress, one must walk about forty minutes to the north of the city. It's well worth the walk. In fact, it would be unforgivable to travel to Cuzco and not visit this complex, which dates back to the 15th century, when Pachacutec commissioned its construction. The three superimposed platforms, made up of gigantic blocks of stones similar to those of Qorikancha, have been preserved to this day. They exhibit images carved by the Incas
Don't miss the Sun Gate.
<h3>Tambomachay, Pukapukara, Qenqo and the White Christ</h3>
No list of archaeological sites would be complete without mentioning Tambomachay, Pukapukara and Qenqo. All three of them would be more than enough reason to travel to Cuzco on their own, but we recommend that you don't miss a single one.
Tambomachay, which lies 8 km from the city, is a place where water was worshipped. There is a complex system of aqueducts and canals here.&nbsp;Pukapukara is only a five-minute walk from Tambomachay. It is known as the Red Fortress, and you can still see the remains of the walls and inner quarters.&nbsp;Qenqo is further away. It contains the remains of a religious complex with the ruins of an amphitheatre, an underground hall, a canal and two religious columns.
The White Christ is an 8-metre-high statue near Qenqo. From here you can walk to the centre of Cuzco on a descending walk that will reveal beautiful views of the city.
Our recommendation is that you do the whole route on foot so that you can appreciate the surrounding landscape, but you can also take a bus or combi.

Cuzco

Founded by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro, Plaza Mayor and the surrounding old town retain their colonial feeling. In this square you will find the cathedral, one of the most fascinating examples of baroque architecture in America and home to Pizarro&rsquo;s tomb. Nowadays, the home town of Nobel prize winner Nobel Mario Vargas Llosa has positioned itself firmly as the gastronomical mecca of Latin America.
<h2>What to see in Lima&nbsp;</h2>
There are many charming places and monuments in the capital of Peru that you might not have expected to find here. Walking around its streets, visiting its churches and tasting its food are just three of the things you can do if you decide to visit Lima.&nbsp;
<h3>Main square or Plaza de Armas</h3>
If you've decided to travel to Lima, you mustn't miss its nerve centre: Plaza de Armas. This is one of the most photographed sightseeing places in the city. Here you'll find the archbishop's palace, the government palace and the equestrian statue of Francisco Pizarro. Some of these buildings are open to visitors, but if you don't feel like going in, don't worry: just seeing the beauty of their facades is rewarding in its own right.&nbsp;
<h3>Lima Cathedral</h3>
Religious tourism is not a major feature of Peru, but Lima Cathedral is an exception. The building combines different architectural styles. Thus, the fa&ccedil;ade is a clear representation of the Renaissance style with plateresque additions that merge into a clear neoclassical style when it comes to the towers.
You shouldn't miss the representation of the star-filled sky in the interior.&nbsp;
<h3>Government Palace</h3>
The Government palace has become a reason to travel to Lima in its own right. It is located in the Plaza de Armas and its neo-baroque facade will immediately attract your attention. Make sure this does not distract you from the side fa&ccedil;ade, decorated in neo-colonial style and also demanding admiration. Although this palace is now the seat of the Peruvian government, it harbours much more history. Eminent figures such as Francisco Pizarro dwelt within its walls. As well as several presidents of Peru.
<h3>Municipal Theatre of Lima</h3>
If you're looking for a really old and impressive building, head for the theatre in Lima. It was built in 1915, but it was razed to the ground in a fire in 1998. Its restoration in 2008 included upgrades, while respecting its original style. Today it is in full use and is part of the active cultural life of Lima.
<h3>San Francisco Monastery</h3>
You are surely aware of the catacombs of Paris, but did you know that there are also catacombs under the Monastery of San Francisco in Lima? They form part of the country's historical heritage and it is estimated that they are home to the remains of more than twenty thousand people. When you visit them, you'll be surprised by the state of conservation of the place. Contrary to what you may expect, it is not at all sinister but rather a place of contemplation.
On the surface you'll find a monumental complex that includes a basilica, a convent and two other buildings of religious character: the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude and the Church of the Miracle. This is one of the most majestic and yet charming spots in Lima.&nbsp;
<h3>Malec&oacute;n de Miraflores: spectacular views</h3>
You'll find the Malec&oacute;n esplanade towards the end of the Miraflores district. A perfect walk to get to know this beautiful city. As you proceed you'll discover various parks and gardens where you can enjoy the perfect climate and the tranquillity of a city that lives in close contact with the sea.&nbsp;
And if the walk is beautiful, the five kilometres of the Malec&oacute;n are just as good. Do the walk and you'll reach the cliffs of the Costa Verde and their incomparable views.
<h3>The Park of Love</h3>
Among the great range of parks and gardens in Lima, the Parque del Amor, or Park of Love, is notable for housing Victor Delfin's famous sculpture "The Kiss". It shows a couple kissing passionately on a platform facing the sea. Visiting Lima can be a bit overwhelming, so stop in the shade of its trees and catch your breath before continuing.
<h3>Larcomar, the first pit stop</h3>
Not everything involves fresh air and parks in Lima. The city also has popular shopping malls, such as the Larcomar Shopping Centre. It's the perfect place to get your strength back with a "Pisco Sour", or a typical Peruvian&nbsp;ceviche. But be prepared to spend your time here in the company of crowds. Larcomar is not only big, but also very popular.
<h3>Huaca Pucllana&nbsp;</h3>
Travelling to Lima and missing the archaeological centre of Huaca Pucllana would be unforgivable.
Note its truncated pyramid and the many adjoining courtyards and buildings. The entire complex was built in adobe and filled in with pebbles. The visit is very interesting and instructive, thanks to the restoration work that began in the 1980s and continues to this day.&nbsp;
<h3>Bridge of Sighs</h3>
Lima is, as we have already mentioned, a city that lives in contact with the sea. Its beaches and its&nbsp;malecones&nbsp;prove it. To bid farewell to this beautiful capital, come to the Bridge of Sighs at sunset. You'll have an unforgettable image of the ocean imprinted on your retina that will stay with you forever.

Lima

An ancient&nbsp;Incan&nbsp;citadel and top of most travelers&nbsp;bucket-list, Machu Picchu&nbsp;is an awe-inspiring sight and a must-see for all intrepid travelers. Perched at&nbsp;2,430 meters&nbsp;in the eastern mountains of&nbsp;Peru,&nbsp;Macchu Picchu&nbsp;has enchanted all who have made the journey to see its ancient ruins since its rediscovery in&nbsp;1911.&nbsp;
Constructed in a classical&nbsp;Inca&nbsp;style the monument is a protected&nbsp;UNESCO World Heritage Site&nbsp;and a major attraction for all who choose to&nbsp;<a title="travel to Peru" href="https://www.exoticca.net/america/south-america/peru" target="_blank">travel to Peru</a>.&nbsp;As the world&rsquo;s most recognizable icon of the&nbsp;Inca&nbsp;civilization,&nbsp;Machu Picchu&nbsp;dates back to around&nbsp;1450&nbsp;and is nestled between breathtaking mountain peaks, making for spectacular views and photo opportunities for those on a&nbsp;tour of Machu Picchu.
&nbsp;As well as its amazing backdrop, there are three main structures to explore within the site itself:&nbsp;Intihuatana, a ritual stone sculpture, the&nbsp;Temple of the Sun&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Room of Three Windows.&nbsp;There are also hundreds of man-made terraces, historically used for complex farming techniques, and a charming population of native&nbsp;llamas.&nbsp;
There are different options on how to&nbsp;travel to Machu Picchu, but the most accessible and popular route is to take the scenic train from&nbsp;Cuzco&nbsp;or the&nbsp;Sacred Valley&nbsp;to&nbsp;Aguas Calientes,&nbsp;the nearest town to the monument. From here, you can reach the entrance either on foot or by an array of transport services available in the town.&nbsp;
Alternatively, the most intrepid travelers might opt to trek the&nbsp;Inca Trail. The full&nbsp;Inca Trail&nbsp;can take four to five days of moderate trekking to complete, although shorter and one-day options are also available to enable everyone to feel the accomplishment of completing the hike to&nbsp;Machu Picchu.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Significance of Machu Picchu</h2>
Machu Picchu&nbsp;is one of the most popular destinations for travelers on a&nbsp;trip to Peru, although many visitors know little about the history and significance of this ancient monument. By uncovering some of the theories about why&nbsp;Machu Picchu&nbsp;was built, travelers might find their visit an even more eye-opening experience.&nbsp;
On the most part,&nbsp;Machu Picchu&nbsp;was unknown to anyone outside of the region until&nbsp;1911, when American archaeologist,&nbsp;Hiram Bingham,&nbsp;discovered and consequently shared this secret of the&nbsp;Incas&nbsp;with the rest of the world. Led by the locals, the archaeologist unearthed the so-called &lsquo;Lost City of the Incas&rsquo;&nbsp;and proceeded to excavate the site whilst forming theories about its curious history.&nbsp;Bingham&nbsp;later published a book outlining his theories on the history of the site, inspiring globe-trotters from around the world to&nbsp;travel to Machu Picchu.
Macchu Picchu&nbsp;is thought to have been constructed around&nbsp;1450, at the height of the powerful&nbsp;Inca Empire.&nbsp;It is suspected that the site was completely abandoned just&nbsp;80&nbsp;years after its construction,&nbsp;sparking enthusiastic debate about the original purpose of this mysterious monument.&nbsp;
The most widely accepted theory suggests that&nbsp;Machu Picchu&nbsp;served as a&nbsp;royal estate&nbsp;for&nbsp;Inca&nbsp;kings during the hot summer months due to its cool, high-altitude climate. The structure of the monument reveals a three-class structure, with different buildings appropriate for housing both royalty, nobles, and servants. Complex irrigation systems and farming terraces also point to the monument once functioning as a self-sufficient hilltop retreat. On the other hand, some believe that the monument was built to serve a spiritual purpose as a center for important religious ceremonies.&nbsp;
The&nbsp;Incas&nbsp;worshipped the sun, due to its life-giving properties, and&nbsp;Macchu Picchu&nbsp;and its buildings are in direct alignment with the surrounding mountains that frame, perfectly, the sun rises and sunsets during equinoxes and solstices, which would have been important, spiritual events for&nbsp;Inca&nbsp;society.
&nbsp;A final theory to keep in mind if you&nbsp;visit Machu Picchu&nbsp;is that the sheer height at which the monument was built suggests it held immense value to the&nbsp;Inca&nbsp;civilization. It&rsquo;s speculated that&nbsp;Machu Picchu&nbsp;was the final stop on a grueling pilgrimage route, beginning in&nbsp;Cuzco&nbsp;and culminating at the peak of the monument. If you trek the&nbsp;Inca Trail,&nbsp;you can surely sympathize with these ancient&nbsp;Inca&nbsp;pilgrims.

Machu Picchu

The Sacred Valley, nestled in the Peruvian Andes, is one of the country&rsquo;s most rewarding travel destinations, owing to it&rsquo;s mysterious Inca ruins, breathtaking scenery, and charming colonial towns and villages. Relics of Peru&rsquo;s Inca heritage are scattered throughout the bowl-shaped landscape of the Sacred Valley and it&rsquo;s proximity to both the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco and the bucket-list ruined citadel of Machu Picchu makes it ones of the country&rsquo;s most popular tourist destinations.
Gladly, the Sacred Valley&rsquo;s popularity has not detracted from its natural beauty or intruded on its pockets of untouched Inca culture. Here, you can get lost in the labyrinthine streets of Ollantaytambo, where typical Inca streets are still trodden by traditionally-dressed locals, or quad-bike across the sweeping valley to the curious Maras Salt Mines or Moray Terraces, the result of some pretty ingenious experiments by the valley&rsquo;s original Inca inhabitants. Spend a few days in the Sacred Valley and you&rsquo;ll soon be bowled over by the traditional local culture, landscapes and living history of this magical place. A trip to the Sacred Valley is a great choice for adrenalin junkies, who are in for a treat as bungee jumping, rock-climbing, and rafting on the Urubamba River are all up for grabs in this beautiful part of Peru.
&nbsp;
<h2>Things to see in the Sacred Valley</h2>
There are simply so many things to see in the Sacred Valley, it can be hard to get your head around planning an itinerary. It&rsquo;s highly recommended to get yourself a &lsquo;boleto turistico&rsquo;, a ticket which grants access to a range of ruins, sites, and museums in and around the Sacred Valley and Cuzco. A standard ticket is valid for 10 consecutive days. If you choose an organized tour of the Sacred Valley, this will probably be taken care of for you, but nevertheless, it&rsquo;s good to know some of the top sights in the Sacred Valley in order to plan out your trip to Peru.
Standing above the Urubamba River, on top of a mountain are the magnificent Pisac Ruins. A 2-hour hiking trail links the ruins with the colonial town of Pisac, and although the hike may be a little grueling at this altitude, you&rsquo;ll be greatly rewarded by a well-preserved selection of Inca ruins which easily compete with Machu Picchu in terms of size and complexity. Probably built as a defense system, the sweeping stone terraces, buildings, and circular look-outs will take your breath away, as well as the staggering views across the Sacred Valley. Even higher in altitude than Cuzco lies the charming little town of Chinchero, home to Inca architecture and a lively local market. Chinchero is well-known as a center of Peruvian textiles.
The local weaving center offers demonstrations and workshops to visitors, who can purchase the finished articles at bargain prices. The Salt Mines of Maras are perhaps the Sacred Valley&rsquo;s most curious attraction. These salt mines, in use since pre-Inca times, are an ingenious invention, as well as being incredibly photogenic. Families in the local communities are each assigned one of the salt ponds and harvest salt once the sun has evaporated the spring water from the pond. You can even purchase Maras salt in the local souvenir shops! If you travel to the Sacred Valley hoping to get to know the locals, you can&rsquo;t miss out on visiting Ollantaytambo, dubbed the &lsquo;only living Inca town&rsquo;.
Dating from the 15th-century and once an important royal estate of a powerful Inca emperor, today it tempts travelers to explore its archaeological sites and meet the locals, many of whom wear traditional dress and live in ancient Inca dwellings. A fortress, terraces, and plaza, dating back to Inca times, can also be found in Ollantaytambo. Finally, a tour of the Sacred Valley would be incomplete without visiting Pisac Market, the best place in the valley to experience vibrant Quechua culture. If you visit Pisac Market on a Sunday, you&rsquo;ll see local communities from around the Andes gathering to sell their produce and buy supplies. You&rsquo;ll also find plenty of stalls selling Andean textiles and souvenirs, such as cozy ponchos, a must for keeping warm at altitude.&nbsp;

Sacred Valley

Ultimate South American Odyssey 

Stretching across more than 10,000 square metres and considered one of the best wildlife reserves in the world, Chobe National Park is famed for its huge herds of elephants and biological diversity. Located in the far north of Botswana, the park is home to the mighty Chobe River, which supports the thriving ecosystem and a rich variety of bird and wildlife. River cruises on the Chobe are one of the best ways to spot the wildlife, who every morning and evening congregate on the river banks to enjoy the glistening waters. Elephants bathe in herds in the river whilst other wildlife such as monkeys, lions, leopards, hyenas and the rare oribi antelope compete for the spoils of the rich marshlands surrounding the river. The park is home to at least 440 bird species.
The Chobe National park is at the heart of Botswana&rsquo;s tourism industry, welcoming safari groups who stay in the several lodges within the park. Although most tour groups will focus on the abundant Serondela area which encompasses the Chobe Riverfront and is the sure bet for sighting wildlife, there are 3 other parts of the park that showcase the diversity of its landscapes and provide visitors with more authentic experiences. The Linyanti Marsh area is the best for sighting big cats and hippos, whereas the Savuti Marsh area, once a large inland lake that dried up due to tectonic movement, is home to large game in the dry season and phenomenal birdlife in the wetter seasons. Between these marshes lies an arid hinterland, which is often overlooked by visitors but is the best choice for sighting the rare Eland antelopes.
Declared the 1st National Park of Botswana in 1968, Chobe&rsquo;s first human inhabitants were descendants of San Bushmen, a nomadic hunter-gatherer tribe whose existence can be seen in a variety of rock paintings found on hills throughout the park. These people hunted, foraged and lived in this vast land, moving with the seasons, but once the area was declared a nature reserve, they were slowly moved outside of the park&rsquo;s borders as hunting was no longer allowed. By 1975, all human settlements had left the park and the ecosystem has flourished naturally ever since.

Chobe National Park

Known locally as &lsquo;the smoke that thunders&rsquo;, the Victoria Falls is Zimbabwe&rsquo;s most iconic natural sight and one of the most famous attractions in all of Africa. Situated on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, on the mighty Zambezi River, a trip to Victoria Falls has long been a bucket-list favourite. With a length of more than one kilometre, Victoria Falls is considered one of the largest waterfalls in the world.&nbsp;
Named in 1855 after Queen Victoria by the famous Scottish explorer David Livingstone, the falls are a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site formed of an inconceivably beautiful wall of falling water. Although panoramic views can be enjoyed from both sides of the border, the Zimbabwean side is the most popular vantage point due to its excellent visitor facilities, accommodations and well-placed viewing platforms.&nbsp;
Since its discovery, visitors from all over the world have travelled to Victoria Falls to soak up the spectacle and listen exhilarating crash of the thundering water. As well as watching the dazzling cascades, more adventurous travellers can opt to bathe in the so-called &lsquo;Devil&rsquo;s Pool&rsquo;, situated on the Zambian side of the border. This natural pool, only accessible at certain times of the year depending on the water levels, allows visitors to bathe in the waters at the top of Victoria Falls, mere inches from the crashing cascades.
There are plenty of things to do in Victoria Falls aside from admiring the falls themselves. A number of wildlife and nature reserves, such as the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the Victoria Falls National Park are home to rich ecosystems of native wildlife, so you can easily combine a trip to the Victoria Falls with an exciting safari if you wish.

Victoria Falls

In the northeast of Namibia and on a plain stretching 22270 square km, you can find&nbsp;Etosha National Park.
The&nbsp;Etosha National Park&nbsp;is one of the best and most important game reserves in Southern Africa. Its name means "the great white place" because of a large amount of carbonate that is concentrated on the surface of the land. The landscape is varied from depressions to grasslands, herbaceous meadows and various types of savannah.
It is home to 350 varieties of birds, 110 of reptiles, 16 species of amphibians, 1 species of fish and 114 species of mammals, such as lions, elephants, giraffes, jumping gazelles, oryx, impalas, leopards, hyenas, foxes, jackals, mongooses, badgers, pangolins, warthogs, zebras or wildebeest among many others. It also houses the largest population of cheetahs and black rhinoceros in the continent, the latter unfortunately in danger of extinction.
The fauna is characterized by the mopane that constitutes 80% of the trees and whose leaves in the shape of a butterfly are a delicious snack for elephants, giraffes and rhinos. The acacia is the second species in importance along with the red bush, the tamboti, and the moringa.
The park has four entrances, to the south the main one whose name is Andersson Gate, to the east the Von Lindequist Gate, to the west the Galton Gate and to the north the Nehale Iya Mpingana Gate. There are four camps where visitors can spend the night: Okakuejo, Namutoni, Halali and Onkoshi, in each of which there are ponds where animals go to drink during the dry season, from May to October, a time in which the landscape is arid and dusty. A dozen more water wells or "pans", both natural and artificial, are dispersed in the 350 km of tourist routes between camps, constituting the best places for the sighting the animals from their viewpoints, both day and night, since they are all illuminated.
Other interesting places in the park are the Haunted Forest with ghost-like trees of African moringa; the Fischer depression where the Omuramba Owambo river flows and the Etosha lookout.

Etosha National Park

From south to north, from the Orange River on the border with South Africa to the Kunene River on the border with Angola, the oldest desert on the planet is over 55 million years old, the largest in Africa and the fourth largest in the world. With a width of between 80 and 200 km, it extends 2000 km along the west side of the country, parallel to the Atlantic coast and its natural limit is marked a vast mountain range. Its 80000 square km no doubt justify its name which means "enormous" in the Nama language.
In the south of the Namib Desert is the Naukluft National Park, which with an extension of 50000 square km is the largest in Africa. It has sporadic rains and low temperatures in winter. It shelters the Naukluft mountain range, a narrow ravine with peaks of up to 2000 m height molded by rain giving rise to steep cliffs and reservoirs, many of them underground.
96 km from the entrance to the park is the Sossusvlei Valley, more than 300 km long and 140 km wide. "Vlei" means marsh and is referred to as a "tray or pan of salt", in reference to the dry salt that covers the valley floor, which is surrounded by impressive sand dunes. These giant dunes of fine sand owe their striking red color to the land of the Kalahari that drags the Orange River into the sea mixing it with its iron particles, returned to the coast by the underwater current Benguela and the wind that blows inland. The iron in the sand is oxidized, so the older the dune, the brighter its color.
In constant movement by the wind, with its explosive colors that go from other to red and the constant lights and shadows resulting from the positioning of the sun throughout the day, this place gives a landscape is a real magnet for lovers of photography. Flying over the area in a hot air balloon or plane is an unforgettable activity that is offered to tourists. 2 km from Sossusvlei is Deadvlei, an area of the reserve where there are several "vleis" or dried lagoons with a cracked layer of white clay in the bottom, the result of evaporation and which are surrounded by the red dunes characteristic of the Namib. Above those stand blackened trees with ghostly postures, some up to 900 years old, mummified by dehydration and whose lack of moisture prevents their decomposition.
This place represents one of the most famous images of the country. The Sesriem Canyon, 1500 meters long and 50 meters high and excavated by the erosion of the Tsauchab River, and is another desert area included in the park that enjoys water all year round, being the refuge of many animals in the hottest hours of the day. Its name means "six belts", referring to the number of belts that had to be tied the first explorers to collect the water from the bottom with a bucket. Within the park, 42 km south of Walvis Bay is the port of Sandwich, where there is a lagoon considered a bird watching sanctuary, being home to some 50000 birds in summer and 20,000 in winter, including spectacular flocks of flamingos.
Curious species live in the adverse ecosystem of the Namib, some endemics such as the toktokkie beetle, the shovel-nosed lizard, Grant's golden mole that has no eyes and the Welwitschia mirabilis, a thick-stemmed plant with two leaves that can live up to two thousand years. You can also see mountain zebras, oryx, gazelles, antelopes, elephants, ostriches, jackals, hyenas, wild horses, lions and giraffes.

Namib Desert

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Swakopmund&nbsp;is a coastal city founded in 1892 and was the main port for the German colony until 1915. Located in the west of Namibia, 360 km separates it from the capital and 33 km from Walvis Bay and it has 44,000 inhabitants.
A portion of Germany but in the middle of Africa. This could describe the second city of the country, with its colonial architecture of colourful wooden facades, well-kept streets full of palm trees, a huge beach with its promenade, restaurants, cafes, terraces, art galleries and museums.
The most representative buildings are the prison, Altes Gefaengnis, the Woermannhau where the military museum is, the old hospital, the residence of the President, the former hotel Hohenzollern, the aquarium and the local history museum.
Swakopmund&nbsp;is the first resort in the country and the preferred holiday destination for Namibians, especially for lovers of extreme sports such as parasailing, sandboarding or sand skiing, diving, in addition to panoramic flights over the desert, deep sea fishing and horseback riding.
Swakopmund&nbsp;is an essential urban centre to visit on a trip to Namibia. Thanks to a marked German essence and a great jovial atmosphere, the visitor is always seduced by this small town nestled between the Atlantic coast and the immensity of the desert.
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Swakopmund

Located in the centre of the country,&nbsp;Windhoek&nbsp;is the capital of Namibia and has a population of 280000 inhabitants.
In its ordered grid pattern, the German aesthetic is combined with the African environment and the Central European legacy merges with the heart of Africa, echoing its varied traditions and lifestyles.
90 percent of the population is Christian, which is why the Lutheran church of Christ is the most symbolic building in the city. Its neo-Romanesque style and its refined modernist elements, give it a coquettish and fine appearance, as well as its neighbour, the Cathedral of Santa Mar&iacute;a, which is flanked by two towers.
In front of the first is the Reiterdenkmal or "monument to the knight", which is a large equestrian statue of granite representing a German knight of the colonial era. Next to it are the beautiful gardens of the Parliament and beyond is the Parliament itself.
The Alte Feste is the oldest building in the city. This fort was built by the Germans around 1890 to house the colonial military troops. Today it is part of the National Museum of Namibia, a highly recommended museum.
The main road, Independence Avenue, crosses the entire city. In it is the Post Street Mall, a modern shopping centre with shops of all kinds and on the way out the city, the travelling African vendors offer their jewellery and elaborate handicrafts such as tribal masks on their market stalls. On this road, you can find the Zoo Park, a meeting place for families who want to enjoy a quiet environment.
Katutura means in Herero "The place where no one can live" and is the neighbourhood that was displaced by the black population during apartheid in the 50s. It is the most traditional African area and also the most genuine and lively. It's the life, the colour and the soul of&nbsp;Windhoek. The businesses are varied, from markets to hairdressers and craft shops.
Local delights can be savoured in the city's many restaurants, such as exotic meats like kudu, springbok, oryx or ostrich served with beer brewed in accordance with the law of purity or "Reinheitsgebot" in German, which dates back to the 16th century and established only three ingredients to be used in beer brewing: water, barley and hops.
Visiting the capital of Namibia is a welcome discovery. Its clean environment, relaxed pace, the friendliness of its people and the multi-ethnic atmosphere makes it unique.

Windhoek

South Africa&rsquo;s&nbsp;oldest city,&nbsp;Cape Town,&nbsp;&nbsp;sits on the&nbsp;southwestern&nbsp;coast of the country, on the&nbsp;Cape Peninsula. It is famed for being an extremely diverse city, and a paradise of contrasts, from sandy beaches, popular with surfers from around the world, to a colorful city center, in the shadow of the iconic&nbsp;Table Mountain, and not to mention the&nbsp;Cape Wineland, filled with verdant vineyards. Nicknamed the &lsquo;Mother City&rsquo;,&nbsp;Cape Town&nbsp;is the legislative capital of&nbsp;South Africa&nbsp;and is famed for its multiculturalism. The city successfully showcases itself as a destination of expatriates and immigrants from around the world, and its abundant restaurants, cultural sights, and neighborhoods reflect this. In recent years, it has topped lists of the best places to visit in the world and was crowned&nbsp;World Design Capital&nbsp;in&nbsp;2014.&nbsp;A&nbsp;holiday to Cape Town&nbsp;is an unmissable adventure into a world of contrasts, both in landscapes and atmosphere. Due to its location, in the&nbsp;Southern Hemisphere, the city enjoys warm and dry summers between&nbsp;December&nbsp;and&nbsp;March.
 
<h2>History of Cape Town</h2>
Cape Town&nbsp;first came into existence when it was developed as a supply station for the&nbsp;Dutch East India&nbsp;company in the mid-17th&nbsp;century, and as a result,&nbsp;European&nbsp;settlers began to build a community on the site of the modern-day metropolis. Due to its importance and growth, it soon became the economic and cultural capital of the&nbsp;Cape Colony, the name given to the&nbsp;Dutch&nbsp;and later&nbsp;British&nbsp;colonies on the&nbsp;Cape Peninsula.&nbsp;The region was a central stage for conflicts such as the&nbsp;Boer Wars&nbsp;in the late&nbsp;19th&nbsp;and early&nbsp;20th centuries&nbsp;and the later&nbsp;20th century&nbsp;saw&nbsp;Cape Town&nbsp;become a focal point for the struggles of the&nbsp;anti-apartheid&nbsp;movement.&nbsp;Robben Island, located&nbsp;10 kilometers&nbsp;off of the coast of the city&rsquo;s&nbsp;Table Bay, was famously the island-prison where&nbsp;Nelson Mandela, the&nbsp;South African&nbsp;anti-apartheid&nbsp;revolutionary and politician, was imprisoned. Furthermore,&nbsp;Cape Town&rsquo;s&nbsp;City Hall&nbsp;was the place where, after his release,&nbsp;Mandela&nbsp;made his first speech. Nowadays, the city is considered to have the highest rate of equality in&nbsp;South Africa, a source of pride for&nbsp;Cape Town&rsquo;s&nbsp;locals.
 
<h2>Sights in Cape Town</h2>
Cape Town&nbsp;offers visitors a wide array of sights and places of interest, owing to its unique geography and variety of natural attractions. In the city center itself, known as the&nbsp;City Bowl&nbsp;and the area between&nbsp;Table Bay&nbsp;and the surrounding mountains, you can find the quaint&nbsp;V&amp;A Waterfront, a complex of shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and leisure facilities, situated on the harbor-front. The city center also boasts a wonderful mix of architecture, although the most characteristic buildings in the city are those demonstrating the&nbsp;Cape Dutch&nbsp;style of architecture, a mixture of&nbsp;Dutch, German, French&nbsp;and&nbsp;Indonesian&nbsp;styles. Perhaps the most characteristic sight in the city is&nbsp;Table Mountain,&nbsp;where visitors can opt to trek up the trails to the peak or ride the revolving cable-cars up to the flat summit for spectacular views. The surrounding&nbsp;Table Mountain National Park, where designated nature reserves protect the unique biodiversity of the area, which boasts over&nbsp;2000 plant&nbsp;species, encourages further exploration. The city&rsquo;s&nbsp;Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden&nbsp;is another highlight for visitors looking to immerse themselves in nature.&nbsp;Robben&nbsp;Island&nbsp;stands out as an important attraction for visitors on a&nbsp;tour of Cape Town, for its historical significance. Visitors can take a regular boat service from&nbsp;Table Bay&nbsp;to the island where they can visit the cells where former political prisoners such as&nbsp;Nelson Mandela&nbsp;were held. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, filled with shops, restaurants, and museums, the dreamy&nbsp;Atlantic Seaboard&nbsp;neighborhoods are an upmarket residential area along the coast, with a multitude of mansions and houses overlooking the ocean, making it the perfect place for a peaceful stroll. It is here that you can find&nbsp;Clifton Beach, perhaps&nbsp;South Africa&rsquo;s&nbsp;most famous beach, where holidaymakers and locals alike bask in the sunshine of the summer months. Other notable beaches include&nbsp;Boulders Beach, home to a penguin colony and&nbsp;Muizenberg Beach, a true paradise for surfers, lined with colorful huts.
A&nbsp;trip to Cape Town&nbsp;will immerse you in a city filled with history and culture, situated in a privileged position between the ocean and the vast natural environment of the peninsula. From&nbsp;shark-cage diving&nbsp;to visiting the iconic&nbsp;Cape Point, where the&nbsp;Atlantic&nbsp;and&nbsp;Indian Oceans&nbsp;meet, the metropolis of&nbsp;Cape Town&nbsp;is an unmissable and fascinating destination.

Cape Town

South Africa&rsquo;s largest city, Johannesburg is a cultural melting-pot and an excellent starting point for further discovery and tours of South Africa. Trendy neighbourhoods, such as stylish Maboneng, have sprung up in recent years amidst the urban sprawl, offering travellers an accessible glimpse into the vibrancy and diversity of modern South African culture. On the other hand, Johannesburg&rsquo;s suburbs, such as famous Soweto, are also filled with cultural insights and stories of the nations eventful history.
Despite the city&rsquo;s questionable reputation in recent decades, &lsquo;Joburg&rsquo;, as it&rsquo;s known locally, is looking towards the future with optimism. Walls adorned with community murals, charismatic street vendors and an eclectic, international food scene make a trip to Johannesburg a highlight of any holiday to South Africa. In fact, foodies are sure to fall for Johannesburg&rsquo;s food scene, perhaps the best in the country. Representing the diversity of the city, it&rsquo;s exceptionally cosmopolitan, meaning traditional South African food is surprisingly challenging to find.
Instead, eat your way through the different neighbourhoods and you&rsquo;ll be rewarded with cuisines ranging from Turkish to Indian, Ethiopian and Asian, to name only a few. The best time to visit Johannesburg is during the sunny winter months between May and August when temperatures are mild yet pleasant. Joburg&rsquo;s skyline is dominated by the huge Hillbrow Tower, which makes a handy landmark to help you keep your bearings whilst sightseeing in the city centre.
Johannesburg&rsquo;s plentiful museums and galleries, such as the Johannesburg Art Gallery, are sure to satisfy culture-vultures, whilst the abundance of live music venues and seemingly impromptu parties in the city&rsquo;s bars and restaurants makes it one of South Africa&rsquo;s most fun-loving destinations.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h3>What to see in Johannesburg</h3>
Due to its size and diversity, there are countless things to see in Johannesburg, depending on your interests and travel style. Longing to experience the city&rsquo;s youthful spirit? Head to the university neighbourhood of Braamfontein on a Saturday morning to browse the lively food market, busy with local students and a great place to savour the flavours of modern South Africa.
If you&rsquo;re keen to learn more about the nations turbulent history, look no further than the Apartheid Museum and Mandela Family Museum, both situated closeby to the suburb of Soweto, in the shadow of the mural-laden Orlando Towers. Other things to do in Johannesburg include visiting Nelson Mandela Square, situated in the upmarket, touristic neighbourhood of Sandton. This elegant square is home to a huge statue of the anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela and a selection of cafes and restaurants from which you can enjoy the views. Constitution Hill, a former prison complex and living museum, is another must-see on a trip to Johannesburg.
One of South Africa&rsquo;s most important historical sites, it bears testament to the nation&rsquo;s turbulent past. Gold Reef City, an amusement park, might not be an obvious choice for visitors to Johannesburg, but holds a sightseeing secret in the form of a fascinating underground mine. The underground mine tours on offer here provide an interesting look into South Africa&rsquo;s gold rush. If you visit Johannesburg you can also enjoy a number of hop-on-hop-off bus tours and group walking tours, both informative and safe options for exploring the heart of the city and its diverse neighbourhoods.&nbsp;

Johannesburg

The largest game reserve in South Africa. As if its 20,000 km2 were not enough, the Kruger continues its span into the neighbouring country of Mozambique, forming an outstanding collection. The Kruger National Park is especially well known for its lion population.

Extended trips in Multi-country tours