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    Eight great places to see beyond the sea

    Chart a course for an extraordinary coastal experience in places combining life on the water with culture, nature, and history.

    The angler's ultimate dream is fly fishing inside the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest reef globally.

    Photograph Courtesy Costa Sunglasses
    ByMaryellen Kennedy Duckett
    Published May 30, 2019
    This content was brought to you by our partner It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic or its editorial staff.

    Hopkins, Belize

    Hopkins moves to the irresistible drum and shaka (rattle) beats of the Garífuna, descendants of Carib Indians and West Africans who escaped shipwrecked slave ships and found refuge in coastal Belize.

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    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Left:

    There are over 9 waterfalls in Hopkins, Belize. Visiting these should be at the top of any traveler's list.

    Right:

    Drumming lessons and dancing are at the foundation of the Garifuna culture in Belize.

    Photographs Courtesy Costa Sunglasses

    Take a deep dive into Garifuna culture by taking drumming lessons and trying hudut, a savory fish and coconut stew dish and served with mashed plantains. Explore the flats where you can fly fish for bonefish, permit, tarpon, and other hard-pulling fish in the expansive saltwater flats inside the Belize Barrier Reef.

    Playa Herradura, Costa Rica

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    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Left:

    Kick back and watch the sunset along the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica after a long day of exploration.

    Right:

    With temperate climate, unique culture, and abundant water activities, Costa Rica is an ideal location to enjoy adventures of all kinds.

    Photographs Courtesy Costa Sunglasses

    With world-class sport fishing, volcanic black-sand beaches, and easy access to jungle canopy ziplining adventures, Playa Herradura is a best-of-Costa Rica paradise on the central Pacific coast. Catch and release monster marlin at Los Sueños Resort and Marina, host of the Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown, the world’s ultimate competitive billfishing tournament series. Spot Howler, white-faced, and Titi monkeys on a rainforest hike through wildlife-rich Manuel Antonio Park.

    The Whitsundays, Queensland, Australia

    Great Barrier Reef Australia
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    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.
    Left:

    From the Great Barrier Reef to Australia's Whitsundays, unique adventures and scenery is around every turn.

    Photograph by David Doubilet, National Geographic
    Right: Sailing near the Whitsundays, Australia, is an adventurer's dream.
    Photograph by David P. Hilss, Getty

    Make The Whitsundays, 74 idyllic islands in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, the launch pad for a big-as-Australia adventure. Captain your own boat and follow the Whitsunday Sea Trail to learn more about the Ngaro people who have called these islands home for 9,000 years. Go snorkeling or diving in the reef by day and sleep on the reef at night on a Cruise Whitsundays ReefSleep. Take a scenic helicopter flight over the reef and land at world-famous Whitehaven Beach to stroll on the powder-soft sand.

    Moloka’i, Hawaii

    Kalaupapa Hawaii hiking
    A hiker makes her way down the 3-½ mile, 26-switchback descent on the Kalaupapa sea cliff trail to Kalaupapa National Historical Park.
    Photograph by Mark Edward Harris, Getty
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    Often called the most ‘Hawaiian’ of the islands, Moloka’i is Hawaii at its no-frills and largely undeveloped best. Native traditions and sheer cliffs—the tallest measuring 3,600 to 3,900 feet—run deep on the island, best known for its former leprosy (Hansen’s disease) colony preserved as Kalaupapa National Historical Park. The isolated park and Moloka’i’s other edge-of-the-world places, such as remote Papohaku Beach, offer the increasingly rare opportunity to experience a slice of Hawaii far off the well-trod tourist path.

    Chiloé, Chile

    Church in Chiloe
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    Stilt houses in Chiloe islands
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    Left: Colorful wooden churches dot the landscape on Chiloé Island, Chile. The designs are a blend of European and indigenous cultural traditions of using wooden architecture.
    Photograph by Hugo Brizard, Shutterstock
    Right: Traditional houses known as palafitos sit on stilts in the city of Castro, Chile.
    Photograph by Jose L. Stephens, Shutterstock

    Sail back in time to Chile’s isolated Chiloe archipelago located off the southern mainland. Colonized by Spain in the mid 16th century, Chiloe is rich in tradition, myth, rolling green hills, and shallow wetlands and estuaries, the latter teeming with penguins, black-necked swans, Chilean flamingoes, and other birdlife. Photograph the colorful wooden palafitos(houses built on stilts) and some of the equally vibrant Churches of Chiloé, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    Baa Atoll, Maldives

    Baa Atoll Maldives Beach

    The Maldives are a water-lover's paradise. White sand beaches and a plethora of luxury resorts make this a dream location.

    Photograph by Robert Harding, National Geographic
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    The Maldives, an Indian Ocean nation of 26 natural atolls and nearly 1,200 islands, takes life on the water to the next level. With 99 percent of the area covered by sea, days seamlessly unfold in, on, and over the water. Wake up in a Baa Atoll overwater bungalow and plunge right into amazing aquatic adventures like piloting an underwater scooter, flyboarding above the waves, or night fishing under the stars in a traditional Maldivian dhoni(wooden boat).

    Ischia, Italy

    Ischia Italy aerial
    From scuba-diving, wine-tasting, and stunning scenery, Ischia, Italy, offers travelers a myriad of activities.
    Photograph by Alxpin, Getty Images
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    Still a bit of a best-kept secret, the volcanic island of Ischia offers postcard-perfect Bay of Naples scenery without the crowds of neighboring Capri. Located 20 miles off the coast and easily accessible by high-speed ferry, mountainous Ischia is dotted with charming fishing villages, vineyards, whitewashed houses, cobbled lanes, and its most-famous natural feature: more than 100 thermal springs. Go snorkeling or diving to see the volcanic vents surrounding the island. Then, soak in Ischia’s wellness history—dating back to Roman times—in an outdoor thermal pool.

    Diani Beach, Kenya

    Diani Beach Kenya

    This slice of tropical paradise is a unique gem along the Indian Ocean. Camels rides are a common site along this beach for the less adventurous traveler.

    Photograph by Design Pics, Inc
    Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

    The camels regularly seen strolling on the sand and the endangered Angolan black-and-white colobus monkeys spotted in the treetops are obvious clues that Diani Beach is a world away from ordinary. Nestled between sea and forest on Kenya’s southeastern Indian Ocean coast, Diani offers pristine surf and sand plus rare cultural finds, such as the 16th-century, coral-stone Kongo Mosque, believed to be one of the oldest in East Africa. Explore the area’s wild side on a day trip to nearby Shimba Hills National Reserve, home to large numbers of African elephants.



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