Many people don’t travel because they want to be comfortable. Instead, they travel to explore new places and see strange sights, such as unusual landscapes, bizarre colors, or unique underground tunnel systems. These people stop at some point during their travels to think, “Is this really happening?”
The following eight travel destinations offer visitors an experience that goes beyond what you find on a typical postcard. These places provide an opportunity to challenge your senses, turn your expectations upside down, and satisfy your curiosity in an unexpected way.
Rio Celeste is one of the most unique rivers in the world and can be found in a tropical national park located deep within Costa Rica. The color of the water is so vivid that it looks like something out of a science fiction movie. The brilliant blue of the water occurs naturally because of the two mineral-rich streams that converge at this location, resulting in an extraordinary glow.
You can find Rio Celeste by hiking through the rain forest for about one hour. Although this hike can be physically tiring and sweaty, it’s definitely worth it when you reach the base of the waterfall and this magical illuminated river.
Punaluʻu Beach is not your ordinary sandy beach covered with warm golden sand. Instead, Punaluʻu Beach has large amounts of black volcanic sand. This volcanic sand has been created over millions of years after lava flowed from volcanoes that were located nearby.
Overall, Punaluʻu Beach offers visitors a totally different beach experience than most other beaches in the world.
Sea turtles can be found at this location. To see them resting on the dark beach gives you an amazing opportunity to feel like you are living in a National Geographic moment you did not expect to get.
Stargazing in Cape Town:
South Africa has in Cape Town a historic Observatory located in a nondescript area that has been studying the southern sky since the 1800s and is sometimes open for the public to visit.
On certain nights, you can join the astronomers and look at the stars and planets through their powerful telescopes. It’s a powerful reminder that you can find stunningly beautiful things even in the heart of a busy city; you just need to know where to look!
Ancient Underground stories in Malta:
Ancient Catacombs are an original adventure in Malta. The St. Paul’s Catacombs are an extensive maze of underground chambers where the Romans conducted religious and funerary rites.
Walking the hollow stone corridors is fascinating and eerie and has a deep sense of antiquity; it feels like entering into a forgotten chapter of man’s history.
Hiking but still having a view of the city (Seoul, South Korea):
Bukhansan Mountain in Seoul is a stunning example of how nature and mega cities can live together and thrive.
At the top, the site has a view of the capital city of South Korea with skyscrapers in one direction and nature untouched in the other direction.
View Watching with Bears the Safety of a Tour Guide (Finland).
Tourists in Finland can safely watch wild brown bears in nature. A tour guide brings guests to huts built specifically for observing the animals in a quiet, unobtrusive manner.
The prolonged daylight hours of summer in the Arctic region give tourists the best chance of seeing bears while they forage for food and prepare for hibernation to escape the cold winters. Seeing a bear in its own environment is both exhilarating and an experience one would not expect to see in their own home.
When the Ocean Starts to Glow (New Zealand).
The beaches at Tindalls Bay and Matakatia Bay glow at night with blue waves from the bioluminescent plankton that glow when disturbed. Walking barefoot on a glowing beach under a starry sky feels like something only found in old fairy tales, as nature has the ability to create something so beautiful that no one could ever dream of it.
Dining Under the Earth (Canada).
The Bonnechere Caves in Canada offer visitors an underground adventure. The caves were formed thousands of years ago by the rain dissolving through rock and contain intricate layers of minerals and winding passages, giving visitors the opportunity to see the remains of ancient marine life.
A cozy underground restaurant owned and operated by a local family will finish off your cave expedition perfectly. It provides an additional opportunity to enjoy a meal below ground level after an adventure in the cave.
Remember that travel does not always have to involve visiting well-known sites or taking beautiful photos. Many times, your travels will bring you to different locations filled with bizarre colours, dark beaches, quiet tunnels, luminous waters and spontaneous moments unscripted or unlike any other.
If you are someone who enjoys adventures, your trip will consist of not only the location but the journey. These locations hold the history of many explorers waiting for the next visitor to begin their own story.
