Five destinations in Europe are among the top ten sustainable places to travel to in 2024, according to Lonely Planet.
21.12.2023 - 08:37 / nationalgeographic.com
“Trust the grip,” my canyoning guide, Filipe Ferreira from Madeira Adventure Kingdom, tells me, more than once. Still, I step slowly. Rushing freshwater sluices past my extra-grippy boots and over smooth boulders, before plunging over a 40ft drop, which I’m expected to rappel down. I look back up the canyon in the direction we came from, but there’s no turning back.
“It’s not like football, where you can decide you don’t want to play anymore,” Filipe had explained on the short ride from Madeira’s capital Funchal to the Ribeira das Cales trail in the Funchal Ecological Park. “Once you start, you must continue.”
A verdant, mountainous Portuguese archipelago with a year-round temperate climate, Madeira is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Canyoning is possible in any season and most trails are easy to reach. What’s more, its volcanic terrain of fern-lined waterfalls, natural slides and green-tinged lagoons comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes, making canyoning accessible for beginners and fun for professionals.
A native Madeiran, Filipe has been a guide with Madeira Adventure Kingdom for 12 years, leading everyone from grandmothers to toddlers (including his daughter on his back). The company coordinates group and private trips all over the island, according to ability. But for this adventure, it’s just Filipe and myself.
Starting on the Pico do Arieiro mountain, at about 1,800m, the Ribeira das Cales trail is a Class 1, meaning it’s perfect for beginners. In a scarlet red wetsuit, Filipe looks like Spider-Man as he bounces off the canyon’s dewy walls with sprightly ease. He doesn’t even have to look where to step in the shin-high water, shimmering silver in the September sun.
Along the way, he pauses to point out splashing trout and sour-sweet blueberries that line the trail, occasionally popping a few in his mouth. Virtually vibrating with positive energy, he’s exactly the kind of guide a first-time canyoneer could want.
It takes us under two hours to descend, making our way down five waterfalls, several slides and a few low jumps. Pretty pools, which Filipe calls his “spas”, are peppered throughout. These quickly become my favourite part when he allows me to pause, float on my back and listen to the water as I look up at the sky. But now I need to get down that 40ft waterfall, the biggest on the trail.
“Sometimes,” Filipe marvels, “people are so scared that they don’t listen.” I try to focus as he explains how the ropes work. He points out the safety features: the strong anchors on the rock and a second rope that keeps us secure, even if we let go of our own.
I lean back, trusting the equipment, trusting the grip. I’m facing the waterfall, which helps because I don’t have to look down. Slowly, I move
Five destinations in Europe are among the top ten sustainable places to travel to in 2024, according to Lonely Planet.
Indonesia’s legendary Nihi Sumba resort provides an immersion into its island surroundings through a newly enhanced wellness program.
Gaddings Dam was built as a mill pond in about 1833, when the Industrial Revolution positioned West Yorkshire and the north of England as the centre of the developed world’s cotton-spinning and weaving mills. It sits above the market town of Todmorden, out of sight on the moor of Langfield Common, with a sandy beach that claims to be the highest in England.
They can act inadvertently witty, comically clumsy, laughingly foolish or simply truly funny. But are they aware of it? Do wild animals have a sense of humor? Or are humans the only species to possess that characteristic?
Measuring in at over 180,000 square kilometers, North Dakota serves as one of the least-densely populated states in all of North America—and all of that wide open space leaves plenty of room for wildlife to roam. Across the iconic Theodore Roosevelt National Park, massive herds of American bison and pronghorn can be encountered all throughout the year, while fascinating resident and migratory bird species make North Dakota a particularly underrated destination for seasoned birders. As you plan your next road trip across the Great Plains, be sure to save some room on the itinerary for a nature-focused voyage across the dazzling landscapes of the Peace Garden State.
Mexico, with its geographic and cultural diversity, offers a variety of options to appreciate the fleeting beauty of sunrises and sunsets.
The city of Boston is equipped with a wealth of historic neighborhoods, with districts ranging from the dazzling Back Bay to the ultra-Italian North End—but the Bay State charm doesn’t end once you hit the edge of the waterfront. East of the city’s coastline, the waters of Boston Harbor are peppered with idyllic islands, many of which sport fascinating forts and scenic landscapes. During the warmer months, visitors are welcome to hop on a ferry and explore the region, but in the dead of winter, there’s one fascinating event that’s particularly suited for both local and visiting birders.
Immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of Alaska and witness the awe-inspiring power of its apex predators with Bearviewinginalaska.com exclusive bear watch tours.
Ice slams into the brine. An avalanche follows like poured powdered sugar. A wave breaks with the boom of cannon fire. Moving to the safety of more remote waters, we survey the trauma from afar. The glacier growls once again.
Step into the cramped hall of Jordan’s Souk el-Khodra, the Amman Vegetable Market, and the aroma is the first thing you notice. Certainly, the colors are dazzling – the bright green of raw chickpeas, deep purple of sumac, golden turmeric, and dozens more vibrant provisions decorate brimful tables. Meanwhile, the ambient haggling in Jordanian Arabic provides a melodic soundtrack.
Located in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, Riyadh, the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia, stands as a testament to the region’s rich tapestry of culture, history, and modernity.
Nathan Phillips Square is the heart of downtown Toronto with a lively yet laid-back atmosphere. The newly transformed Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, across the street from the main square, has a similar sense of vivacity and easygoing sophistication. On a recent trip, there was a humming bustle of locals and travelers alike in the inviting lobby, which recently had a modern makeover. With cozy lounge areas, flexible gathering spaces, and artistic nods to Toronto, the hotel is the ideal resting point for business and leisure travelers who want to stay near the city’s main attractions and gathering points.