Brazil
Brazil is as big as the entire European continent so no wonder it has many attractions. But most of the tourists, usually visit only Rio de Janeiro - and although Rio is beautiful indeed, I prefer other destinations way more.
We've visited Brazil from the South to the North - from the adventure in the Amazon jungle, to the blue caves of the National Park in Chapada Diamantina, the cities of Recife and Salvador, coral reefs of Porto de Galinhas, sand dunes of Lencois Maranhenses, historical towns of Minas Gerais, paradise beaches of Paraty and the wonderful Iguaçu falls.
To find out more about all those, pretty much unknown places without any western tourist, have a look at the posts about Brazil below:
Olinda is an amazingly beautiful and brightly colorful town located north from the Recife metropolitan area in Brazil. The region is famous for its paradise beaches with coral reef pools (see my post here). But apart from the natural wonders, you can also find such architectural gems as the little town of Olinda here. Although Olinda receives many tourists, hardly ever any of them is from abroad. People know only about Rio when asked about Brazil. And there's so much to discover! Take a look at the beautiful photos from Olinda and don't miss it during your trip in the north of Brazil.
Chapada Diamantina National Park in Brazil turned out to be an amazing and unique off the beaten path destination - it offers what nature's got best! Caves, waterfalls, jungle and incredibly picturesque Table Mountains. It's everything that an adventurous person would love. In this post I'll focus on the mountains - I'll show you what they are like and what's the easiest way to get there.
The city of Sao Luis is usually not included in the itinerary of foreign visitors coming to Brazil. It's completely off the beaten path and yet it can offer some beautiful, although neglected historical buildings in the city center and world class, unique natural phenomenon you can find nearby - the spectacular sand dunes of Lencois Maranhenses. It was actually Lencois Maranhenses (take a look at my post about it) that brought us to Sao Luis. We also met some friends that we had known before and who lived in Sao Luis now. Thanks to this, we had a chance to explore this unknown city deeper.
Recife is one of the largest and most important cities in the northern part of Brazil. It's the capital of Pernambuco state which, although offers amazing natural and cultural attractions, is pretty unknown to an ordinary visitor from abroad. I hadn't had any expectations about Recife, thinking it's another big city filled tightly with the forest of high-rise buildings. Even though we were only passing through Recife, having no plans to stay there longer, it surprised us in a nice way - especially the old historical center and the beautiful waterfront.
Chapada Diamantina National Park is perfect for those who love wild, untouched nature and off the beaten path places with virtually no tourists. Besides the world's class wonders such as spectacular caves with clear blue waters where you can swim as well as table mountains covered with cactuses and succulents, Chapada Diamantina offers in no way less impressive rivers and waterfalls. During our 3-day stay in this beautiful National Park, we had a chance to explore quite a lot, however, there's so much more to see and in this post you'll see only a fraction of what you can expect. Nevertheless, those 3 days were more than enough to fall in love with Chapada Diamantina!
The 4th, last part of the series of articles about The Amazon will be dedicated to all those who visit the city of Manaus and don't have too much time to spend in the jungle itself (or prefer an easier way to explore the area). And even those who have experienced the amazing adventure in the rain forest will be surprised how many things you can see around Manaus during just a one day trip. We were! You'll have a chance to see a native, local tribe, houses on water, beautiful lake covered with water lilies with plenty of wild birds and curious little monkeys. But the best highlight of the trip is swimming with pink dolphins!
The Amazon region is mainly known for adventurous tours exploring the wildlife, jungle treks and river boat/canoe trips. Literally nobody would come here to enjoy the city life. However, the capital of the Amazonas state in Brazil, although located right in the middle of the world's largest rain forest, is a real metropolis with over 2 million inhabitants. The city is basically isolated from the rest of the country which preserves the original culture of the native tribes and gives it the unique touch. And, of course it is the starting point and gateway to the rest of the truly exciting area of the Amazon in Brazil.
Right in the place where the borders of three countries (Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay) meet, lies a true natural gem for all those who love adventure and breathtaking scenery. Iguaçu Falls are righteously placed among the greatest and most spectacular waterfalls on the planet. They can easily compete with the famous Niagara Falls or Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe. What is absolutely amazing about Iguaçu Falls is the fact that it's less commercialized than Niagara and you are literally surrounded by the miles of rain forests in the center of the national park. There are around 275 falls and cascades within the area creating nature's unforgettable spectacle that cannot be missed while visiting Brazil or Argentina!
Lençóis is a little, charming town in the middle of a large Natural Reserve - Chapada Diamantina National Park in the northern part of Brazil. Usually not visited by western tourists (in contrast to Rio de Janeiro), Chapada Diamantina is a proof that Brazil has much more to offer than Copacabana Beach. To get there, it is easy to catch a bus from the beautiful city of Salvador in Bahia. And then, Lençóis is usually the first step to visiting the vast swathes of The National Park. This cozy, quiet town with cobblestone streets and colonial architecture is as enjoyable as the spectacular highlights of the area: Blue Caves, waterfalls and magnificent table mountains. Especially after dark, when you can sit down in one of the restaurants or bars when you're back from the adventurous trips in the area.
After spending all day canoeing down the rivers and streams of The Brazilian Amazon rainforest, piranha fishing and getting caught in the torrential rain (click here to read a full article about it), it's time to venture into the wild jungle. 2 days and nights in a dense forest - forget about even a simple hut, bed to sleep, running water or any other basic blessings of modern civilization. Out of around 20 people who were staying in the Amazon - only 5 decided to take a risk and join the jungle tour! And, although it's not comfortable in any way, I would definitely recommend it! Not everyday you have a chance to experience real wilderness!
Chapada Diamantina (literally "Diamond Plateau") National Park is not nearly as famous as the coastal parts of Brazil. However, it's not less impressive. Deep inland, surrounded by table mountains, semi-deserts, canyons, gorges and ravines, the region hides one of the most beautiful caves in the world. Two of them - "Blue Pool" and "Enchanted Pool" - are filled with crystal clear, intensively blue waters. The other, "Torrinha Cave", one of the biggest and most impressive in Brazil boasts with huge chambers full of cave formations and to walk it through takes around 2 hours.
Around 60 kilometers (37 miles) south from Recife, the capital of Pernambuco state in Brazil, lies the beach town of Porto de Galinhas. The beach nearby is believed to be one of the country's most beautiful - this is obviously because the numerous pools shaped naturally by sea waters among the stunning coral reefs that surrounds the coast.
Porto de Galinhas is very popular in terms of tourism, however mainly with Brazilians. When I was there, I didn't encounter any foreigners who usually, when traveling to Brazil go only to Rio de Janeiro. Also, very rarely people spoke English. This situation might change however after the 2014 FIFA world cup as Recife is one of the cities hosting the games.
When we travel we always have expectations about the place we want to see. Sometimes it surprises us, sometimes disappoints. However, very often we come across something completely unexpected, something unusual. It was the same for me when I traveled to Porto de Galinhas in Brazil. I was planning to visit the beautiful crystal clear beaches and swim in natural pools with the coral reef full of colorful fish.
And during one of the evenings, when I was walking down one of the town's streets, I noticed some street performers playing with fire. Luckily, I had a camera and a tripod with me and the following photos are the result:
If you are searching for a relaxing, quiet vacation with five start hotels, swimming pools and great comfort, then definitely don't go to the Amazon. Although it is possible to stay in a highly luxurious resort where even some celebrities stay for an astronomical amount of money, I believe that the Amazon is not about comfort. It's about experiencing the raw nature.
This trip was one of those that I enjoyed the most even if it was an organized tour by a travel agency. People who travel to the Amazon are usually very down to Earth and easy going, not afraid to "get dirty", I met some cool friends there. And, it was one of the best adventures of my life.
Strictly speaking, Lencois Maranhenses is not an actual desert, however when you are there, walking among the smooth white dunes without any vegetation, you can't help it but feel like you are in some place like Sahara. Only the color of sand is a bit different. What is really strange is that this National Park is located in the tropical rain forest climate, surrounded by the sea from one side and by lush green woodlands from the other. Nevertheless, it's not this fact that attracts thousands of tourists to visit Lencois Maranhenses from Brazil and all over the world. During the rainy season, starting from February, the gaps between the dunes become filled with rainwater creating unusual, spotty landscape, especially amazing seen from an airplane.
The Bird Park (Parque Das Aves in Portugese), located in the town of Foz do Iguacu, near the famous Iguacu Falls right on the border between the three nations: Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay is a great attraction itself. It's set within the 16 hectares (40 acres) area of sub-tropical rain forest and provides shelter for around a thousand birds (150 species) as well as butterflies and reptiles from both all South America and other exotic places. The park is privately owned and very well maintained. It was opened in 1994.
Rio de Janeiro is known in Brazil as "Cidade Maravilhosa" - the wonderful city. Without any doubt it is wonderful. The introduction is probably unnecessary as Rio is one of the best known cities in the world. I had only three days to visit this city and for sure it wasn't enough. But anyway, I had a chance to take a glimpse of the most important places a visitor should see. And it was a great experience.
However, my first impression after arriving at Rio de Janeiro International Airport was a surprise that the terminal was so small. It reminded more of a domestic airport rather than international one. For such a famous place, I had expected something much bigger. There is one little coffee shop, and even in the departure terminal there is only a cafe - bar and a few shops with souvenirs at astronomical prices.
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Many of the visitors coming to southern Poland and Krakow region end up in Zakopane - the little town located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Some hike (or take a horse cart ride) up the easy and quite boring trail to the most famous landmark in Polish mountains - Morskie Oko lake which is undoubtedly picturesque and beautiful, but so overcrowded that it can get really irritating.
In this post, I'll try to encourage you to leave Morskie Oko behind and venture into the real, wild beauty of the area. As usual, the most attractive and stunning views are awaiting those who are brave enough to take a risk and explore something beyond the beaten path. I've already described the trek to Dolina Pieciu Stawow which is way nicer than the one to Morskie Oko and now it's time to write about my favorite trail in the Tatras - to Swinica peak via the less known Dolina Gasienicowa (Gasienicowa Valley) and Zawrat saddle. This trail features not one but several crystal clear lakes of different shapes and colors, spectacular views - incomparable with those on the way to Morskie Oko and it's perfect for those who love adventure and adrenaline rush!
On the second day of the extraordinarily beautiful trek to Poon Hill, we left the cozy village of Ulleri at sunrise and headed uphill towards another village - Ghorepani. Ghorepani is located at the elevation of 2750 meters and it differs from other towns with the distinctive blue roofs and houses. It is also a gateway to the most important point of the trek - Poon Hill (around 3200 meters above sea level) which offers a spectacular, 360 degree view of the Annapurna range in the Himalayas. Especially stunning in March/April when all the wild rhododendrons blossom and cover the mountainous valleys in bright red colors.
Lake Kaindy in southern Kazakhstan is one of the newest and most unique natural wonders on our planet. Although literally unknown in the West, if it was located in any European country, it would be its best tourist attraction. Especially beautiful in the fall (autumn), Lake Kaindy boasts not only exceptionally attractive blue color of water and snowy rocky mountains surrounding it but also the unique, silver trunks of dead spruce sticking out of the lake's surface. The "flooded forest" is indeed one of the natural landmarks of Kazakhstan. It all creates a fairy-tale like scenery, not seen anywhere else.
You might have seen photos of the gargantuan hole in the middle of the desert spewing out flames and a beam of light out of its core high up into the night sky while watching National Geographic or some documentary on the weirdest places on Earth. Although the Darvaza Crater has got quite large exposure in the media, it still remains very rarely visited by ordinary tourists. Central Asia is an extremely interesting place both naturally and historically. However, travelers almost always skip it choosing the popular beaches in Southeast Asia. Come to Darvaza and you'll feel as if you were teleported to Mars - it's a unique, outlandish and eerie experience that cannot be compared to anything else you've seen before.
While watching one of the Hollywood apocalyptic films or playing computer games - have you ever thought that a real ghost town is closer than you think? It is actually located in the center of Europe - in Ukraine. 110 kilometers (70 miles) from the country's capital - Kiev, very close to the border with Belarus. A visit to Pripyat is an extraordinary experience - something you most probably have never seen and will never see. It is completely different from the usual sight seeing tours. In this post I am presenting a gallery of photos of this ghost town literally abandoned overnight thirty years ago.
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2015 was a year full of adventure, surprises and amazing opportunities to discover even more of great and off the beaten path places. Just like a year ago, based on my own experience (I've been to all the countries described below), I'd like to present my list of destinations to visit in 2016 (click here to see the post from 2015). As usual, it will be different than most of such lists released by meainstream travel magazines. Instead of repeating all the well known places, I'd like you to get inspired and explore new adventurous and exciting spots. It has probably never even come to your mind that you could visit some of them and you'll surely get shocked when you learn where those amazing wonders actually are located!
The Shipwreck Beach (also called Navagio) on the Greek island - Zakynthos is the most beautiful beach I have seen. It's claimed to be the most beautiful - and I agree. After visiting numerous beaches in other, also way more exotic destinations (like Brazil, Thailand, Italy, Mauritius, Georgia, India, Croatia, Albania, Spain, Portugal), I have yet to discover a place that would enchant me as much as Navagio Beach. But there is a flaw in this perfection. The beach is indeed the most beautiful in the world, granted that it's viewed from the edge of the cliff that surrounds it. Looked at from the sea level, it looses its charm. However, most of the tour agencies offering a trip to the beach arrive there by boat and in this case you will not see it as it is on the postcards or leaflets - from above. It's also impossible to climb the steep rocky cliff from the beach. So what's the solution if you want to admire the famous view from the top?
One of the most important religious sites in Myanmar, seemingly defying the law of gravity - Golden Rock Temple (Kyaiktio or Kyaikhteeyoe Pagoda), although quite famous, is surprisingly not as touristy as the other destinations in the country - Bagan, Mandalay or Yangon. There are good and bad sides to it. The good thing is that the authenticity of the place is still preserved (unlike the temples in Thailand) and you'll see many more locals than foreigners around. The bad thing - to get there without an expensive, privately run tour or a taxi is pretty complicated, the bus schedules are not clear and the level of English among the Burmese is very low. And... to be honest, the site is one of those that look absolutely spectacular in the photos, a bit less so in real life. Having said that, the whole journey was a great adventure, definitely worth the effort and it left some priceless memories in my mind.
It might be a bit strange to see a post about a spa on a blog that describes mainly an active way of traveling and discovering some forgotten and unknown places where few even think of visiting. But Blue Lagoon in Iceland is different. It's an amazing proof how human engineering and nature can cooperate perfectly. It's not an ordinary, boring spa with swimming pools and massages. The Blue Lagoon is one of those experiences that, I think, everyone should try at least once in life. Especially after exploring some of the marvelous sites of Iceland - an outlandish island on the periphery of Europe.
The very south corner of Albania - the country which is still a black spot on the touristic map of Europe offers, in my opinion, the best beaches in the entire old continent: white sand, tropical color of the clearest possible seas, the exoticism of the area and most friendly locals. Most of the very few individual foreign tourists who get to the beach village of Ksamil arrive by ferry from the neighboring, overcrowded by tourists Greek island - Corfu. I followed the same route. And, I really thought that Corfu is amazing until I set foot in Albania's shore. My jaw literally dropped. I immediately felt as if I was transferred to one of the tropical, paradise-like postcard spots. It's a mystery to me how this exceptionally beautiful piece of land lacks any recognition among foreigners. But maybe it's better this way!
The main attraction of Lencois Maranhenses is of course the endless dunes which I described in the previous post. However, the second day of our trip in the region was no less exciting. The Pequenos Lencois which literally means "little Lencois" can also boast beautiful dunes filled with temporary lakes, rain forest rivers abundant with wildlife, golden beaches and tiny villages. And what's best, it's pretty much off the beaten path and you'll see very few tourists here.