A first timer's guide to the Panama rainforest

If you stand still long enough, Costa Rica’s flora and fauna has a way of making you feel like it’s closing in, threatening to drag you into the dense vegetation’s fold. It’s difficult to not linger when you see a busy chain of leafcutter ants crossing the trail or when you marvel at an ecosystem bursting with trees and vascular plants like angel’s trumpets, lipsticktrees, or—my favorite—wild sensitive plants, with leaves that curl and close when touched.

Southwest Airlines is already preparing for spring break next year with new flights to Belize, Los Cabos, and San Juan.

The outdoor industry, and all of the wild and thrilling careers within it, is an exciting arena to be a part of. As a seasoned travel and adventure writer, who has journeyed all over the planet to experience and write about exciting locales, I’ve been lucky enough to connect with folks who love to play in the outdoors: wilderness experts, naturalists from diverse destinations, and even surfing guides.

Carefree days lounging on the sand are a hallmark of an idyllic vacation for many travelers. But beaches themselves are a commodity, vulnerable to retreat that’s exacerbated by climate change. In fact, nearly half of the Earth’s sandy beaches could be extinct by 2100, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change.

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Tipping for services is a tricky part of traveling—and one that could cost you undue money (or some awkward encounters) if you don’t do your research. But it’s now easier than ever to find out how to tip in your next destination. One guide to tipping even lays it all out in one interactive map; bookmark it for those moments when you’re wondering how much to leave.

The best place in the U.S. to buy a vacation home is Sevierville, Tennessee, in the foothills north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That’s the lead finding of a new report from Vacasa, the major vacation home rental site. The report names the top 25 locations for buying a vacation home based on capitalization, or “cap rates,” which is a ratio of home cost and the income a property can produce by being rented out.

In this time of isolation, businesses and individuals around the world are sending out messages of hope. Discover, in photos, how we’re keeping our spirits up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Panama City Beach has over 27 miles of white sandy beach. And while that’s undeniably one of the main draws for anyone looking to visit, even people who prefer to stay sand free won’t run out of things to do in town. You can get in touch with nature at Camp Helen State Park, take a deep sea fishing charter trip, stroll along Pier Park boardwalk, and, of course, enjoy lots of delicious seafood at marina restaurants.

There’s only one place on Earth where you can see swimming iguanas, lava lizards, and giant tortoises: the Galápagos Islands. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978, the archipelago off the shore of South America is a must-visit destination for anyone with a passion for fauna and flora, and their protection. 97 percent of the land was designated as a national park in 1959, and over 51,000 square miles of ocean around the islands have been a protected marine reserve since 1986, making for a destination where you’re a guaranteed to be immersed in nature and observe unique wildlife.

Panama is famous for its canal (of course) and, increasingly, for its Old City. But there is much more to this Central American country than shipping and history – it’s also a tropical paradise to rival neighbouring Costa Rica. Here’s our list of the 10 best wildlife adventures in Panama.