Buenos Aires – The Paris of South America

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is a vibrant metropolis that combines European elegance with Latin flavor. The city is known for its impressive architecture, cultural events and vibrant nightlife. Stroll along wide avenues and cobblestone streets, admiring grand buildings and historic districts such as San Telmo and La Boca. The colorful Caminito Street Museum and the famous Casa Rosada presidential palace await you here.

Enjoy the city’s passion for tango: sultry dance halls invite locals and visitors to witness this romantic art form. Gastronomes will enjoy the city’s culinary scene, where traditional parillas (steakhouses) serve succulent cuts of beef and upscale restaurants offer a combination of gourmet dishes. The city’s numerous parks, such as Bosques de Palermo, provide a respite from the greenery, and the thriving art scene, with museums like MALBA, showcases Latin American creativity in all its glory.

Iguazu Falls are a thunderous natural wonder

Located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, the Iguazu Falls are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Spanning 2.7 kilometers and with 275 separate cascades, the falls create a spectacular sight. The surrounding Iguazu National Park offers a variety of flora and fauna, including colorful birds and capuchin monkeys, enhancing this unique ecological experience.

Pathways and viewing platforms, such as Devil’s Throat, allow visitors to get a closer look at the roaring waters. For the adventurous, a boat ride offers a breathtaking view from the riverbank. In addition to the falls, the park’s subtropical rainforest invites you on guided tours to learn about native plants and wildlife, providing a deep dive into this natural wonder.

Patagonia is a majestic land of glaciers and mountains

Argentine Patagonia is a vast region of spectacular scenery, from crystal clear lakes to snow-capped peaks. Los Glaciares National Park is the jewel in its crown, home to the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier, a massive ice formation that is one of the few glaciers in the world that is still advancing. The park offers boat tours and hiking opportunities to admire close-up views of the glacier wall and its spectacular ice chipping events.

Further south, the rugged beauty of Tierra del Fuego awaits explorers. Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, serves as the gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park and the starting point for expeditions to Antarctica. Adventure activities abound here, from hiking and skiing to cruises through the Beagle Strait to see sea lions, penguins and dolphins. Patagonia’s unspoiled nature is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, promising an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam has long been a symbol of freedom and inclusivity. Since day one, when the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, Amsterdam has remained a hub for the LGBTQ community. The city, known for its canals, museums and nightlife, hosts a huge Pride parade every year.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is not only great architecture and beaches, but it is also a warmly welcoming city for LGBTQ tourists. Barcelona Pride is not only about the architectural wonders of Antoni Gaudi, but also about the variety of cultural events, bars and clubs. Barcelona Pride in Barcelona is one of the most colorful in Europe.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin is one of the most progressive and liberal cities in Europe. LGBTQ+ communities are firmly established here, and the city’s streets have witnessed many historic events to protect the rights of sexual minorities. It’s easy to find places to socialize and have fun, as well as walk through historic neighborhoods and learn about the city’s role in the fight for equality.

Sydney, Australia

Sydney is not only one of Australia’s most beautiful cities, but also a place that is always supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. Sydney’s Pride Parade is one of the largest in the world, and Visak Festival is becoming a vibrant symbol of openness and inclusivity.

San Francisco, USA

San Francisco is rightly considered the capital of American gay culture. With its history dating back to the 1960s, the city continues to be a place for open expression of identity and equality. Walking down Gay Street, participating in Pride parades and a host of themed events will make your stay unforgettable.

These destinations will not only provide a comfortable travel experience, but will also help deepen your understanding of the culture and historical context in which the LGBTQ community has defended its rights. Traveling through these cities, you will feel free and equal anywhere in the world.

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Chichen Itza MexicoThe ancient city and pyramids of Chichen Itza is located on the Yucatan Peninsula, 205 km from the famous resort of Cancun and 120 km from Mérida. Chichen Itza is one of the most popular and most visited attractions on the Yucatan Peninsula. Almost all tourists who came on vacation in Mexico, in Cancun, consider it their duty to visit the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza, so there are always a lot of people here. It is desirable to arrive at the opening, then there is a chance to walk around the complex alone

How to get to the pyramids of Chichen Itza, Mexico

By bus. From Cancun, from Mérida there are buses of the company ADO. The cost of a ticket Cancun – Chichen Itza 80 – 140 pesos (depending on the class of bus). Travel time is 3-4 hours. The cost of the ticket Mérida – Chichen Itza 50-80 pesos, travel time 1.45 – 2.5 hours. You can buy an organized excursion to Chichen Itza, group or individual. The excursion can be booked at any hotel or arranged in advance with an individual guide.

By rental car. In my opinion, this is the best way to get to Chichen Itza. On the way you can see other sights.

Mode of operation and cost of visiting the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza

The Chichen Itza complex is open to the public from 8:00 to 17:00. The evening light show takes place at 19:00 in winter and at 20:00 in summer.
Chichen Itza ticket cost: a ticket to Chichen Itza consists of two parts – a 125 peso ticket and a 57 peso ticket, totaling 182 pesos ($14.5). These are the most expensive pyramids we’ve been to in Mexico Parking near Chichen Itza is also paid – 22 pesos (just under $2).

We knew that we should come to Chichen Itza as early as possible, so we left the hotel in Cancun at 6:30 am! We drove to Chichen Itza on the toll road to save time. Passage, on the toll road Cancun – Chichen Itza is not cheap: we paid twice, the first time 251 pesos, the second time 61 pesos, a total of 312 pesos (almost 25 dollars!!!)…. and for what? For a little less than 200 kilometers of travel. These 200 km we traveled for 3 hours, I do not know how people manage to pass them in 2 hours? We didn’t break any rules, we didn’t exceed the speed limit, we stopped once at a gas station for 5 minutes.

We arrived at the entrance to the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza at 9:30 am. There were already cars of independent travelers in the parking lot, but not as many as I thought. We bought tickets, immediately the guides started pestering us, but of course we refused them. At the entrance to the complex there is a toilet (free), souvenir stores, cafes.

The first thing that catches your eye when entering the archaeological zone is the main attraction of Chichen Itza – the pyramid of Kukulkan (or El Castillo, translated from Spanish as “the castle”).

This nine-tiered pyramid, 24 meters high, on top of which there is a temple where sacrifices were performed. The pyramid of Kukulkan is symmetrical, has four staircases. And each staircase consists of 91 steps. If quantity of steps 91 multiply on quantity of ladders 4 and add one (the top platform), we receive number 365 – number of days in a year!

The pyramid of Kukulkan is also known as the pyramid of the Feathered Serpent. Every year, in days of equinoxes, March 20 and September 21 to the pyramid of Kukulkan a lot of people come to look at one very interesting phenomenon: approximately at 3 o’clock in the afternoon the sun illuminates the main staircase of a pyramid so that shadows – triangles together similar to a tail of a snake are formed, in process of movement of the sun triangles go out and form the effect of a snake crawling down.

By the way, you can watch this spectacle at the evening light show.

We walk a little further and get to the Temple of Warriors, in front of which are a number of columns depicting Toltec warriors.

Group of a thousand columns

In general, in this part of the archaeological area of Chichen Itza is quite crowded and quiet. And the sun does not bake, it is pleasant to walk or rest under the crown of trees. Attracts the attention of the field for playing ball. It is one of the largest fields on the territory of the complex, its length is 166 meters, width is 68 meters, height of the walls is 12m. At a height of 8m stone rings are fixed. Mayan Indians played ball here. The game was called “pot-ta-pok”, they played with a rubber ball, which weighed about 4 kg and it could be beaten only with the hip. It is assumed that the game ended with a sacrifice.

On the pyramid of Kukulkan and on other ruins it is impossible to climb. They say, earlier it was possible to rise on a pyramid, but then this business forbade. Either someone fell from the pyramid, or they are just afraid that the pyramid will spoil and collapse…That’s why the walk around the complex of Chichen Itza took us not so much time – only two hours. When we headed for the exit, about 11:30, crowds of tourists began to pull up in front of us.

Local vendors have already set up their stalls with souvenirs. By the way, you can buy souvenirs here not expensive. Much cheaper than in Cancun. Here they sell a lot of interesting masks, which we did not meet anywhere else during our further traveling in Mexico. Later we regretted that we did not buy anything from souvenirs near Chichen Itza. If you need souvenirs – buy them here and be sure to bargain!

Souvenirs in Chichen Itza are for all tastes and cheaper than in Cancun

You can spend the night near the Chichen Itza complex in one of the hotels. Choose to your taste and enjoy your vacation. At the same time you can visit the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza twice: during the day to see the sights, and in the evening come to see the evening light and music show, for which you do not need to buy a separate ticket, the cost is already included in the day tickets.

Super 5 star hotels:

• Hacienda Chichen Resort and Yaxkin Spa (5 stars)
• Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows (5 stars)
• The Lodge at Chichen Itza (5 stars)

And two simpler hotels (3 stars):

• Hotel Dolores Alba Chichen Itza
• Hotel Chichen Itza

We did not spend the night near the pyramids of Chichen Itza, and went on, ahead of us was waiting for an interesting busy program, so subscribe to the newsletter of the site to be notified about new articles in the blog!

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The Cuban residence of Ernest Hemingway

In one of the suburban districts of Havana there is a house-museum of the world-famous writer Ernest Hemingway. The building itself is hidden in a large cozy garden. It is the only house of the writer that is outside the territory of the United States. The walls of the building have witnessed Hemingway’s hard work on many works, including “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “The Old Man and the Sea.” The museum staff has been careful not to make any changes to the interior or exterior of the house. Inside the park there are 4 pedestals where Hemingway’s hunting dogs are buried, and in one pavilion you can find his boat.

Cuba’s historic landmark is a 17th century fortress

Seven kilometers from the city of Santiago de Cuba, an ancient fortress that guarded the entrance to the bay many years ago is located on a rock. A deep moat has been dug around Castillo del Moro, surrounded by powerful walls with many secret passages. The mechanisms are perfectly preserved despite the rapid flight of time. You can visit an unusual excursion, where you can see a real torture chamber. In it through a hatch in the floor to meet the roaring water element threw prisoners and slaves. At the foot of the fortress you can visit the restaurant of the same name, which will surprise you not only with delicious local cuisine, but also with the sea panorama.

Alejandro de Humboldt National Park

Quite popular and world-famous national park is located in the eastern part of the republic, it stands out for its uniqueness among the other islands of tropical latitudes. The reserve is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can find a large number of endemic species of flora and fauna. The reserve surprises with its impressive size and unusual natural landscapes.

In the park you get the feeling that you are in the real tropicsIn the park you get the feeling that you are in the real tropics

Beautiful building of the Museum of the Revolution in Havana

Havana’s Museum of the Revolution occupies the building of the former presidential palace and is the most important and popular among Cuba’s three hundred museums. Inside you can see more than nine thousand different exhibits that are dedicated to the history of the Cuban Revolution. Among them there are many quite rare and valuable items. Tourists come here to see not only the expositions concerning the events of 1950-1960, but also a magnificent monument of history and architecture, built in the style of neoclassicism.

Perhaps Cuba’s most recognizable landmark is the Capitol building in Havana

The Capitol is one of Liberty Island’s most famous and popular tourist attractions and is one of the most impressive buildings in Latin America. This place is quite colorful and distinctive, albeit similar to Washington’s Capitol and St. Peter’s Cathedral. Many tourists first of all get acquainted with this architectural monument, erected in the best traditions of the Renaissance. No tourist program or excursion in Cuba can not do without a visit to the Capitol.

Today Cuba is ready to surprise tourists with the world’s best beaches, rich culture and history, architectural monuments that capture the colonial past, energetic salsa from skillful street dancers, top-level diving, sugar cane and infused rum. The country pleases with a mild climate and a multitude of tourist destinations. That is why Liberty Island is gaining rabid popularity, attracting thousands of people from all over the world with its carefree and uniqueness.

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It is truly a unique phenomenon that is mesmerizing. These six locations in Canada are some of the best places in the world to observe this spectacular natural phenomenon.

Whitehorse, Yukon

The Yukon is Canada’s smallest territory and has a small population, but it is the most marvelous and ideal place to see the Northern Lights.

Go to Whitehorse during the winter months, when the nights are very long and you can watch the natural wonder for a long time. There are many special tours here that also include Spa vacations, hot springs, remote trips to yurts and secluded lodges.

La – Ronge, Saskatchewan

Head to the prairie wilderness of Northern Saskatchewan, where you’ll find some of the darkest skies in North America. A large number of tours depart from the town of La Ronge.

Mancho Lake State Park

British Columbia offers you a great option for observing the northern lights. The glow is reflected in the calm waters of Mancho Lake, and a cabin in the northern Rocky Mountains is a great place to travel any time of year.

Fort McMurray, Alberta

Because Fort McMurray is located in the auroral zone (the place where the aurora borealis mostly occurs), it is a hot spot for tourists. There are plenty of excursions and expeditions waiting for you here.

Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

Rankin Inlet, population 2,865, is located on the northwest shore of Hudson Bay. Northern Canada is one of the most remote places in Canada and it’s also very cold. The Northern Lights adorn the gloomy days of winter with streaks of colorful light.

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories are the eastern neighbor of the Yukon. In the winter, tourists have a 90 percent chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

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Here we break down the various “whats,” “wheres,” and “whens” of classic U.S. travel – what to do to make your trip the best it can be; where to go for different types of scenery, geography, or experiences; when to see certain regions at their best.

Best routes

Route 66

The perception of Mother Road as a playground for life-affirming road trips probably exceeds the reality of the vacation. First, it’s awfully long – 2,448 miles from its starting point in Chicago to its California terminus on the beach in Santa Monica; it would take you at least two weeks to cover every mile. Second, the eight states it crosses have distinct neighborhoods that – with humble apologies to Oklahoma and Kansas – can be flat and impersonal. Third, it’s more memory than reflected fact on a map; Route 66 has existed as a series of “other” interconnected freeways since its official number was removed from the U.S. highway system in 1985. But as a slice of the American soul, it still radiates drama and discovery, especially if you confine yourself to the four desert states (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California) that frame the western half of the route.

State Route 1

The ribbon of asphalt that hugs 656 miles of California’s Pacific Coast is so famous that it’s odd to call it anything other than “Highway 1.” But whatever its official name, this winding wonder should be on every traveler’s to-do list. You don’t have to drive all of it to get the gist of it. The southernmost stretch to Dana Point will have you idling in heavy Los Angeles traffic; as you approach Leggett, which is on the opposite end of the road, you might want something noisier than the forested quiet of northern California. But stick to the “greatest hits” section (485 miles from San Francisco to Long Beach via Monterey, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, and Malibu), and you won’t go wrong: cliffs rise on one side and the ocean on the other.

US Route 160

There is a mathematical symmetry in the way Arizona claims a precise 160 miles of the 1,465-mile U.S. Route 160 that crosses it from northeast to southwest. By themselves, those 160 miles aren’t particularly dramatic, they cut across a barren landscape of dust and dirt; the American West at its most colossal, an air of desolation punctuated only by the occasional gas station or two-horse settlement. But it’s the places that complete the journey that make this road worth the drive. Monument Valley, located 20 miles north of Kaenta, near the northeast corner of the state; the northeast corner itself belongs to the Four Corners Monument, where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet. The masterpiece, however, is 75 miles from Tuba City, the western terminus of Route 160. The Grand Canyon, timeless in its grandeur.

Blue Ridge Parkway

While the diverse mountain ranges of the West – particularly the rugged barrier of the Rocky Mountains – have endless appeal for photography, the other side of the American landscape also has its peaks and photogenic aura. A prime example is the Appalachian Mountains, stretching northeast from Alabama to Maine before crossing the border into Canada. Within is a series of foothills, each worthy of a visitor’s attention – the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, the broader Blue Ridge Mountains, which also extend through the Carolinas and Virginia. Here, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the hero of the road trip, stretching 469 miles between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee) and the equally forested Shenandoah National Park (Virginia). It offers great recreation in the spring and summer, but it looks best in the fall when the “fire” breaks out.

Lake Michigan loop

Lake Michigan isn’t the largest of the five Great Lakes, but it’s the easiest to bypass entirely; it’s the only member of the quintet that skirts the Canadian border to set up completely on American soil. Of course, “easiest” requires a certain amount of skill. Circumnavigating around Lake Michigan is no easy task. It’s 900 miles and – if you want to sightsee at a leisurely pace – two weeks on the road. But in the meantime, the lake’s scenery, at least outside the cities along the coast (Chicago in Illinois, Milwaukee and Green Bay in Wisconsin), has the simplicity of rural America, with its orchards, sand dunes and small-town liveliness, most notably on Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula and the refined version of Michigan that forms the eastern side of the lake. Meanwhile, the Straits of Mackinac is a joy: the place where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet under a classic suspension bridge.

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