travel here not there

Here Not There

By: andrew nelson.

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Let’s face it. These days, many of the world’s most beloved places have become expensive and overcrowded, making their celebrated allure that much harder to enjoy. But fear not: Here Not There helps you create a more robust, off-the-beaten path vacation by revealing 100 alternative destinations to the standard travel playbook – as well as expert tips on when to visit, where to eat, what to see, and where to stay.

In this beautifully illustrated guide, you’ll find smart and surprising itinerary recommendations for new destinations including: · A trip to Quito, Ecuador instead of Lima, Peru for iconic architecture and top-notch South American cuisine. · A road trip along West Virginia’s byways instead of New England’s highways for brilliant autumn colors. · A romantic rendezvous to Lecce, Italy, instead of mega-touristed Florence for art, wine, and artifacts. · A hiking excursion in Chile’s Lake District instead of England’s for an unexpected natural wonder. · A theater-infused visit to Cleveland, Ohio, where the performances match the levels of New York City’s Broadway · A tour of Portugal’s Azores, rather than the Hawaiian islands ,for flora, fauna, and underwater adventures · A water-filled excursion through New York’s Thousand Islands instead of a cruise down Germany’s Rhine River · A trip to Detroit to find Art Deco skyscrapers (and even a beach in Motown) that rival those of Miami.

Both surprising and inspiring, Here Not There offers readers a chance to think beyond our typical borders and discover undreamt of destinations.

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Design a truly unique vacation with 100 intriguing alternatives to more predictable, expensive and overcrowded destinations. These days, many of the world's most beloved places have become expensive and overcrowded, making their celebrated allure that much harder to enjoy. National Geographic's Here Not There helps you create a more robust, off-the-beaten path vacation by revealing 100 alternative destinations to the standard travel playbook—as well as expert tips on when to visit, where to eat, what to see and where to stay. Both surprising and inspiring, Here Not There offers readers a chance to think beyond our typical borders and discover undreamed-of destinations.

• In this surprising collection of lively travel itineraries, youll find authentic, unexpected and rewarding destinations of a lifetime to add to your bucket list, including: 

A trip to Quito, Ecuador, instead of Lima, Peru, for iconic architecture and top-notch South American cuisine

A road trip along West Virginia's byways instead of New England's highways for brilliant autumn colors

A romantic rendezvous to Lecce, Italy, instead of mega-touristed Florence for art, wine and artifacts

A hiking excursion in Chile's Lake District instead of England’s for an unexpected natural wonder

A theater-infused visit to Cleveland, Ohio, where the performances match the levels of New York City's Broadway

A tour of Portugal's Azores, rather than the Hawaiian islands, for flora, fauna and underwater adventures

A water-filled excursion through New York's Thousand Islands instead of a cruise down Germany's Rhine River

A trip to Detroit to find Art Deco skyscrapers (and even a beach in Motown) that rival those of Miami

• Written by Andrew Nelson
• Published by Disney Press
• 9 1/10'' H x 7 1/10'' W
• Printed in U.S.A.

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Go Here, Not There: Low-Crowd Alternatives to Top Outdoor Getaways

The second-city travel trend is helping alleviate pressure on the world’s most overtouristed urban centers. Here’s how it could help crowded outdoor escapes, too.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

For urban travelers, second-city tourism means skipping a country’s most iconic city to enjoy a destination that’s still impressive yet less trodden. Think: Chicago instead of New York City, or Manchester, England, instead of London. This concept easily translates to outdoor getaways, as well; just swap less visited but equally stunning locations in nature for the jam-packed ones.

It may sound simple, but prioritizing less visited getaways can drive serious results for at-capacity destinations. The trend is also increasingly important as crowds ravage the world’s best-known outdoor destinations . We’re not suggesting you avoid popular places forever, as they’re iconic for good reason. But if and when you do choose to visit them, lower your impact by going in the off- or shoulder seasons. (Follow our responsible national-parks travel guide for more low-impact travel tips.)

If you’re already game to head off the beaten path while helping to curb overtourism, we’ve got you covered. Here are eight of the best domestic and international “second escapes” that will offer you an epic outdoor experience and give nature’s most overrun destinations a well-deserved break.

Instead of Arches National Park, Visit Rattlesnake Canyon

Thanks to Utah’s  successful “Mighty Five” national-parks campaign , Moab reached its tourism tipping point well before the pandemic—and the gateway town’s throngs haven’t diminished , particularly at Arches National Park .

Your alternative? A lesser-known but equally mesmerizing arch-dotted haven just two hours away: Colorado’s Rattlesnake Canyon .

This western Colorado escape, located within 120,000-acre McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, is home to the second-largest concentration of arches in the U.S. The rough terrain surrounding these otherworldly wonders naturally limits guests—sandstone arches are accessible by either a rugged 4×4 drive or a 15-mile round-trip hike , so the crowd-free views are a well-earned reward—but the bites and blends here in Colorado’s wine country  are additional post-adventure bonuses.

Instead of Hawaii, Visit the U.S. Virgin Islands

Hawaiian communities are begging travelers to stay home —to the point that Maui County’s mayor  asked airlines to pause flights last summer . Give Hawaii a break and find those island vibes elsewhere, and without leaving the country, by booking a trip to the Caribbean’s palm-dotted U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), where your tourism dollars are needed.

Tourism accounts for 60 percent of the USVI’s gross domestic product, and for the past five years, the territory has  struggled with plummeting traveler numbers due to hurricanes and COVID-19. Is it the same travel experience as Hawaii? Of course not. The destinations are located in two different bodies of water, and the USVI are a fraction of Hawaii’s size. But these islands, islets, and cays don’t skimp on adventure—particularly St. John , where Virgin Islands National Park offers hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling.

Instead of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Visit Monongahela National Forest

Many U.S. national parks reached peak capacity during the pandemic, but few take the cake like our country’s most visited park: Great Smoky Mountains. This getaway welcomed a whopping 14.1 million visitors in 2021—a 50 percent increase over the past decade.

Instead of adding to the congestion, hit the trail at another Appalachian getaway: West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest, which sees roughly one million annual visitors . Its 900,000-acre red spruce–northern hardwood forest is a reforestation success story ; logging and wildfires obliterated the ecologically diverse region until the early 1900s, when conservationists stepped in. Now its undulating green hills and rocky outcroppings mirror America’s most-loved park, as does its scenic backpacking potential .

Instead of Grand Teton National Park, Visit Sawtooth National Recreation Area

There’s a reason travelers flock to Grand Teton’s trailheads: the Wyoming park’s jagged peaks are among America’s most picturesque hiking backdrops. But the national park and its gateway town, Jackson, have been struggling with overtourism throughout the pandemic. The ramifications, from traffic jams to trash and human feces on the trails, are becoming unsustainable.

You can help by swapping Grand Teton with a trip to admire the equally amazing fangs of Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains. The 756,000-acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area , just two and a half hours east of Boise, boasts 700 miles of trails, 40 peaks above 10,000 feet elevation, and campgrounds galore. Compared to Grand Teton’s 3.5 million annual visitors , Sawtooth Mountains’ 1.3 million  visitors feel like nothing.

Instead of Torres Del Paine National Park, Visit Sierra Baguales

Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park is a staple on adventure bucket lists. The soaring granite massifs and aquamarine lakes dotting its famed W- and O-circuit backpacking routes are as dramatic as landscapes get. However, some fear that the park’s scenic drama could lead to its demise. Like many of America’s popular national parks, overcrowding has left Torres del Paine with everything from trash on the trails to trampled flora.

Pandemic travel closures gave the park a much needed break, and you can continue easing the ecosystem’s burden by visiting a virtually unknown Patagonia getaway on the border of neighboring Argentina: Sierra Baguales. This wild frontier, described by guides as the outback of Chile, is new to the tourism game. It’s a patchwork of privately owned estancias that only recently opened their vast, unspoiled terrain to trekkers. Agencies like W Circuit Patagonia work with estancia owners to lead crowd-free excursions that feature the peaks of Torres del Paine on the horizon and offer hikers glimpses of wildlife like guanaco and condor, which outnumber visitors at least five to one.

Instead of the Golden Circle, Drive the Diamond Circle

Few destinations are as synonymous with overtourism as Iceland, which saw visitor numbers skyrocket to 2.5 million (more than eight times the population) at its 2018 peak. The capital city of Reykjavík has been  described as  turning into Disneyland, with soaring rental costs decreasing the quality of life for local residents. The overtourism effects have also spread to the Golden Circle, a scenery-packed road-trip route near Reykjavík, where popular destinations like Unesco World Heritage site Thingvellir National Park and the Gullfoss waterfall have struggled with issues like  trampled vegetation , visitor management, and  trailside defecation .

Iceland tourism representatives attribute the problems not to widespread overtourism but to overcrowding in specific areas, like the Golden Circle. Venture beyond the main tourist track, though, and surreal, crowd-free scenery awaits.

One of the best Golden Circle alternatives is the Diamond Circle in Iceland’s vast, mountainous north. This new loop, completed in 2020, is a wild, 160-mile journey that starts in Iceland’s largest northern city, Akureyri (five hours by car from Reykjavík), and weaves by fishing villages, lava fields, hot springs, waterfalls, and snow-dusted mountains.

Instead of Masai Mara National Reserve, Safari Through Ruaha National Park

With wildebeest-migration sightings and an impressive concentration of Africa’s famed big-five animals (rhino, leopard, lion, elephant, and buffalo), it’s easy to see why Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve is on the radar of so many. But it may have topped too many bucket lists. Experts worry that  safari crowds in Masai Mara are actually hurting the animals now, with evidence that vehicle traffic is disrupting natural wildlife patterns .

The good news: There’s a jaw-dropping and secret alternative over in Tanzania, and we’re not talking about the Serengeti. Southern Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park , a 7,800-square-mile wildlife haven and one of the largest national parks in East Africa, is well off the tourist track. You won’t see crowds, but you will see elephants, zebras, lions, giraffes, gazelles, crocodiles, and hippos.

Ruaha offers just a handful of overnight accommodations. You can stay at one of Tanzania National Parks Authority’s public campsites, or hit up one of the region’s newest offerings:  Asilia’s Usangu Expedition Camp , a small, conservation-focused glamping resort set to open this summer, where guests join scientists for imperative hands-on research that will inform the area’s future conservation strategies.

Instead of Mount Everest Base Camp, Hike to Gokyo Valley

While fewer than a thousand climbers attempt to reach Everest’s summit each year, tens of thousands hike to Everest Base Camp, on the south side of the mountain. The hordes mean that you’re unlikely to experience much solitude during the gorgeous multi-day trek through the foothills of Nepal, and it’s impossible to escape the constant buzz of helicopters evacuating people along the route.

For an alternative that promises Everest views sans Everest congestion, try Nepal’s Gokyo and Renjo La route . According to adventure outfitter World Expeditions , fewer than 10 percent of the region’s trekkers hike up Gokyo Valley. This two-week expedition includes many of the signature Base Camp trek experiences: a flight to Lukla and views of earth’s tallest peak, with scenery like glaciers, azure lakes, and monasteries along the way.

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Here Not There

100 Unexpected Travel Destinations

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These 9 destination dupes feel like the real deal

Whether another Taj Mahal or a stand-in for the Grand Canyon, these lesser known sites rival bucket-list attractions.

Have you ever visited a bucket-list destination—the Eiffel Tower in Paris , Yellowstone National Park —only to find that a million other travelers had the same idea on the same day? Overtourism is real, and while it shouldn’t keep you from seeing some of the world’s classic landmarks, it’s what inspired the new National Geographic book Here Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel Destinations , out April 2, 2024. The book provides alternatives for dozens of popular destinations—but with some of the same history, culture, or natural wonder, and without the high costs and crowds. Here are nine picks.

Dupe for Napa Valley: Western Cape, South Africa

Near Cape Town, South African viticultural regions such as Stellenbosch and the Swartland are, like California’s Napa Valley, warmed by a Mediterranean climate and awash with rows of vines. Amid dramatic mountains and rolling hills, visitors find wineries pouring shiraz, chenin blanc, and pinot noir. In Franschhoek, open-air Wine Trams offer hop-on, hop-off transport between tasting rooms. Or decamp and decant at Babylonstoren , a working farm with a vineyard, ornamental gardens, and plush guest suites.

( Why this little known California wine region might be the next Napa .)

Dupe for Iceland: Western Colorado  

In Colorado , the 800-mile Historic Hot Springs Loop in the Rocky Mountains leads to the sort of volcanic landscapes and hot springs you might find in Iceland (home to social media darling the Blue Lagoon). Indigenous Ute and Arapaho peoples have long bathed in Colorado’s mineral pools for their reputed restorative powers. Contemporary wellness seekers can take the steamy plunge at spa hotels such as Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort and Pagosa Hot Springs or natural spots including Nathan’s Hippy Dip Hot Spring .

Dupe for Angkor Wat: Borobudur, Indonesia

Pre-COVID pandemic, the monumental ruins of Cambodia ’s 12th-century Angkor Wat temples received more than six million tourists a year. But you can visit the lesser known remains of another vanished civilization at Borobudur Temple , on Indonesia ’s island of Java. Built in the eighth century as a Buddhist sacred site, it consists of a great, three-tiered stupa (constructed with two million stones) surrounded by 72 smaller, bell-shaped shrines. The best time to visit? At sunrise or sunset, when the stones glow orange and pink against the surrounding mountains.

Dupe for Scandinavia: Tasmania

The northern lights of Scandinavian countries draw the crowds, but for a glimpse of the subtler southern lights (aurora australis), go to Tasmania, Australia ’s southernmost state. Come in the winter (June-August) for the best chance of spotting the luminous phenomenon amid the island’s diverse ecosystems, from temperate rainforests to snowy mountain ranges. Head to a national park like Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair or Tasman National Park , where dark skies promote aurora and star gazing.

( Why the northern lights are showing up in unexpected places .)

Dupe for the Grand Canyon: Letchworth State Park, New York

The forested shale and sandstone cliffs of western New York’ s Letchworth State Park tower as high as 600 feet above the banks of the Genesee River, giving the area the nickname “Grand Canyon of the East.” The gorge draws about a million visitors a year to the narrow 14,350-acre park. (The Grand Canyon saw 4.5 million tourists in 2023.) Letchworth has 50 waterfalls and 66 miles of hiking paths, including the popular seven-mile Gorge Trail and a one-mile Autism Nature Trail , the first of its kind in the U.S. Overnight at the Glen Iris Inn , with guestrooms in a 19th-century mansion, or at one of the 81 campsites scattered around the park.

Dupe for Maine: Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick

Grand Manan is a New Brunswick island in the Bay of Fundy that boasts lighthouses, quaint towns, and lobster rolls—without neighboring Maine ’s summer crowds. Reachable by a 90-minute ferry ride from Blacks Harbor, Grand Manan has a cultural heritage that includes the Passamaquoddy people, 1800s French traders, and British loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. Today the serene island is popular for coastal hikes, kayaking, and spotting whales, dolphins, and 360 bird species, including puffins, loons, and warblers.

( See Canada’s top natural wonders, from icebergs to the world’s highest tides .)

Dupe for the Taj Mahal: Bibi Ka Maqbara, Aurangabad, India

In the Indian state of Agra, up to eight million people a year visit the Taj Mahal , the grand 1631 marble mausoleum Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned for his beloved wife, who died young. About a six-hour drive south, the Bibi Ka Maqbara is another domed marble tomb, built three decades later by Jahan’s son, who was also widowed early. Nicknamed “the poor man’s Taj” due to its smaller size and humbler building materials (stone and plaster), the Bibi still impresses with its charbagh (Mughal garden representing paradise), reflective pools, and enclosed mosque.

Dupe for Croatia: Montenegro

Croatia ’s Dalmatian Coast is world famous for its pretty coastline and historic architecture. It’s also famous for summer hordes, which is why savvy Europeans end up in Montenegro next door. The small country’s Adriatic coastline is dotted with picturesque medieval towns and beach resorts. Particularly charming villages include Budva and Kotor, with their orange-tiled roofs, twisting streets, and ages-old churches.

Dupe for Lake Como: Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Lacking Lake Como’s celebrity prices, but with a similarly memorable mountain-and-water setting, Guatemala ’s Lake Atitlán sits in an enormous volcanic caldera formed 84,000 years ago. It’s fringed by small Mayan-speaking towns and dominated by the escarpments of three volcanoes (one still active). Travelers climb trails to the volcanic peaks, kayak, or explore lakeside villages by water taxi. Top stops include hippie-cool San Marcos, for yoga studios and probiotic eateries, or Santa Catarina Palopó, for colorful murals based on the designs of traditional huipil   blouses woven by local women.  

Related Topics

• OVERTOURISM
• CULTURAL TOURISM
• HISTORIC SITES
• NATIONAL PARKS
• DARK-SKY PRESERVES

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Here Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel Destinations Hardcover – April 2 2024

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• A trip to Quito, Ecuador, instead of Lima, Peru, for iconic architecture and top-notch South American cuisine.
• A road trip along West Virginia’s byways instead of New England’s highways for brilliant autumn colors.
• A romantic rendezvous to Lecce, Italy, instead of mega-touristed Florence for art, wine, and artifacts.
• A hiking excursion in Chile’s Lake District instead of England’s for an unexpected natural wonder.
• A theater-infused visit to Cleveland, Ohio, where the performances match the levels of New York City’s Broadway.
• A tour of Portugal’s Azores, rather than the Hawaiian islands, for flora, fauna, and underwater adventures.
• A water-filled excursion through New York’s Thousand Islands instead of a cruise down Germany’s Rhine River.
• A trip to Detroit to find Art Deco skyscrapers (and even a beach in Motown) that rival those of Miami.
• Print length 352 pages
• Language English
• Publisher National Geographic
• Publication date April 2 2024
• Dimensions 19.05 x 2.67 x 23.93 cm
• ISBN-10 1426222580
• ISBN-13 978-1426222580
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ National Geographic (April 2 2024)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1426222580
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1426222580
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.12 kg
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 19.05 x 2.67 x 23.93 cm
• #77 in Pictorial Travel Guides
• #301 in Travelogues & Travel Essays
• #388 in Travel Writing

About the author

Andrew nelson.

An enthusiastic explorer whose writes frequently for National Geographic Travel and outlets like the Wall Street Journal, Nelson enjoys uncovering the overlooked nooks and crannies of familiar destinations and discovering new ones--a passion that's taken him to six continents and all 50 states. His association with National Geographic spans two decades, and Nelson remains a strong proponent for local tourism, currently teaching a class at the College of Charleston on the meaning and importance of place. Previously he served as visiting professor at Loyola University New Orleans School of Mass Communication. Nelson is a graduate of Syracuse University and received a Masters in Journalism from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He also co-founded the computer gaming company CyberFlix and wrote the best-selling game Titanic: Adventure Out of Time. A fan of walkable cities, he has lived in London, New York, San Francisco, New Orleans and, most recently, Charleston.

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Here Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel Destinations

• A trip to Quito, Ecuador, instead of Lima, Peru, for iconic architecture and top-notch South American cuisine.
• A road trip along West Virginia's byways instead of New England's highways for brilliant autumn colors.
• A romantic rendezvous to Lecce, Italy, instead of mega-touristed Florence for art, wine, and artifacts.
• A hiking excursion in Chile's Lake District instead of England's for an unexpected natural wonder.
• A theater-infused visit to Cleveland, Ohio, where the performances match the levels of New York City's Broadway.
• A tour of Portugal's Azores, rather than the Hawaiian islands, for flora, fauna, and underwater adventures.
• A water-filled excursion through New York's Thousand Islands instead of a cruise down Germany's Rhine River.
• A trip to Detroit to find Art Deco skyscrapers (and even a beach in Motown) that rival those of Miami.

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Go here, not there: Overlooked European islands you need to visit

Editor's Note

Destination dupes are one of the biggest travel trends of 2024 . Some tourist hotspots experienced a surge of interest since pandemic restrictions were lifted. So, it's nice to find lesser-known alternatives that offer similar landscapes, vibes or cultural cachets without the hefty price tags or crowds.

Thanks to the Taylor Swift frenzy set to sweep the continent starting in May, Germany's Euro 2024 football championship in June and the Paris Olympics in July, summer travel to Europe is poised to be a pricey experience.

Unfortunately, for families with children in school, peak summer travel is often the only option for a sunny getaway. That's where destination dupes and undiscovered gems offer a perfect stand-in.

Most people think of Greece and immediately book a trip to Santorini or Mykonos. Others head straight for Mallorca or Ibiza when planning a Spanish island escape. However, Europe has hundreds of islands that are perfect alternatives to more tried and tested destinations.

Our take on "go here, not there" isn't written to discourage you from visiting the most touristy islands. Rather, the goal is to flag more affordable, underrated alternatives (in addition to) the more popular spots.

So, in lieu of those package holiday magnets, here are some of Europe's lesser-known islands you should consider visiting for this year's summer escape.

Instead of Ibiza, consider Formentera in Spain

If you want to experience the Spanish sunshine in a luxurious, hip way, consider visiting Ibiza's blissed-out little sister Formentera. You'll still find cool bars, beautiful beaches and delicious restaurants — all without the frantic party vibe of Ibiza. Instead, Formentera has a decidedly boho-chic ambience for those who are mostly done with the raging party scene but still want to experience sexy Spanish coastlines, cocktail in hand.

Daytime activities include exploring the island — which is relatively flat — on bike. (The island boasts more than 62 miles of bike trails.) You can also visit some of the most gorgeous beaches in Europe, including the famous crystal waters of Ses Illetes and the hidden beach cove Calo des Mort. Evenings are for admiring the sunset and bar-hopping in the village of Es Pujols.

Related: 9 quirky destinations in Europe you have to see to believe

The good news about visiting Formentera is that you don't have to skip Ibiza entirely. You can spend a bit of time in Ibiza, then take a 30- to 40-minute ferry over to the paradisiacal island.

Instead of Santorini, consider Paros in Greece

While Santorini's whitewashed, blue-domed buildings and magnificent sunsets are a call to the island, it can be crowded and often expensive — especially during the high season (summer). Paros, which is also home to whitewashed villages and stunning shorelines, is a solid alternative.

Much like Santorini, Paros attracts foodies and wine lovers in equal measure, as the island is home to thousands of acres of vineyards. Be sure to sample local wines, which are mainly white Monemvasia blends and red Mantilaria varietals. You also indulge your taste buds with fresh mizithra cheese, honey, roasted locally caught mackerel and even a special Greek-style pumpkin pie.

You won't have to skip Santorini entirely if you want to visit Paros; the ferry between the islands takes a few hours. Or, you can fly to Paros Airport (PAS) from Athens in about 45 minutes.

Instead of Capri, consider Ischia in Italy

Capri is the quintessential Italian island: weep-worthy scenery, delicious food and stylish visitors. But Capri, like many popular Italian locations, is often overflowing with tourists during the warmer months and is overly expensive compared to other Italian coastal destinations. For a real Italian experience, head to Ischia, another island in the Gulf of Naples popular among Italian visitors.

If you're traveling with a family, kids will love medieval Aragonese Castle, which juts off of Ischia onto its very own little island. Ischia is also known for its special thermal waters. The whole family can enjoy the mineral properties of the volcanic waters at Poseidon, a collection of baths overlooking the sea. Couples may prefer the Negombo thermal baths, which are built into natural rock and have more of a private feel.

Getting to Ischia takes around an hour on the hydrofoil from Naples . For a real, local Italian adventure, combine a trip to Ischia with a few days in the city of Naples; there, you can explore castles, eat pizza and wander the hilly Spanish Quarter. Just watch out for zooming motorbikes.

Instead of Madeira, consider the Berlengas Islands in Portugal

Madeira is popular with international tourists, especially U.K. visitors searching for winter sun . However, the Berlengas off the coast of Peniche (one of Europe's famed surfer hubs) are lesser-known islands that are wild and mostly uninhabited. The islands are considered a natural reserve and are protected spaces for a number of bird species and marine animals.

The most popular of the islands is Berlenga Grande, which is about 5 miles off the coast and is reachable by boat in 45 minutes. The scenery from the boat is simply breathtaking — admire the island's rocky cliffs and tranquil coves as you go. The island's remote feel and undisturbed nature really make it seem like a secret paradise.

Related: 11 best hotels for a beach holiday in Portugal

Daytrips allow visitors to spend time swimming, snorkeling and exploring caves, but don't visit if there's even a glimpse of bad weather on the horizon. Large storms tend to plague these parts — one reason why divers can see a number of shipwrecks near Berlenga Grande. And those with motion sickness beware: The boat ride can be rocky, even in optimal weather conditions.

Instead of Tenerife, consider La Gomera in Spain's Canary Islands

Tenerife is one of the largest and most popular Canary Islands . Its volcanic beaches and lively dining and nightlife scene are a call to travelers seeking warm temperatures and year-round vitamin D. La Gomera, a short ferry ride away from Tenerife, is a natural paradise offering incredible hikes and gorgeous scenery. It's less touristy and perhaps even more beautiful than some of the more populated Canaries.

With more than 150 hiking trails — many of which are within the island's unique Laurisilva forest in Garajonay National Park — the island is ideal for anyone looking to trade the busy city for lush greenery. La Gomera also features black sand volcanic beaches and is home to the famous Organos rock monument, named for its dripping rocks that resemble an organ. With restaurants featuring farm-fresh cuisine and local volcanic wines, visitors can not only explore nature but also the best of local Canarian gastronomy.

A trip to La Gomera is best combined with visits to other Canary Islands. The ferry from Tenerife to La Gomera takes less than an hour, and it is possible to bring a car along, too. Or, you can fly to the main airport, La Gomera Airport (GMZ), from Tenerife or Gran Canaria .

Instead of Hvar, consider Rab in Croatia

Hvar's famed party scene and gorgeous beaches make it one of Croatia 's best hot spots to visit — especially if you're seeking sun and sea after a visit to the walled, medieval city of Dubrovnik.

But Rab is on a whole other level when it comes to island beauty. It features classic Croatian red-roofed buildings, 30-plus beaches and numerous bike trails for those wanting to get some exercise on their next sunny escape.

Rab is best suited to active travelers since it offers many activities, such as sailing, trekking, cycling, diving, snorkeling, climbing and fishing. From sandy beach coves to wooded forests to rocky canyons, the geological contrasts this island features are especially beautiful. The north is rocky and dry, and the west side of the island is lush and green.

While it only takes a 15-minute ferry to reach Rab by boat from the mainland, its location off the more northern coast of Croatia makes it slightly more time-consuming to reach. Consider including a stop here during a Croatian road trip from a hub like Zagreb.

Instead of Porquerolles, consider Houat and Hoedic in France

Part of the Iles d'Hyeres archipelago, Porquerolles is a popular summer vacation spot for visitors heading to the Cote d'Azur, especially since it's only a 10-minute boat ride from the French mainland. But for a more local and really off-the-beaten-path French island adventure, visit Houat and Hoedic, two small islands off the westerly Quiberon Peninsula.

Beyond their main Breton villages, these islands are delightfully exotic and uninhabited (think: breezy beaches, wooded paths and the ruins of old forts). Explore the larger of the two islands, Houat, on foot or by bike; you'll discover a destination that's ideal for communing with nature. For an even more tranquil escape, make your way to Hoedic, a tiny island with nearly 5 miles of hiking and walking trails. It is a truly great place to get out and explore.

Arrive by boat from the mainland in less than an hour from the Quiberon Peninsula. The closest airport is Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE). You could combine a visit to these islands with time spent checking out castles and sipping wine in the Loire Valley. Win-win.

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Go Here, Not There: Undiscovered Places To Visit Now

Go Here, Not There: Undiscovered Places to Visit Now

The world is full of exotic destinations ; people are constantly visiting many of the same cities where crowds can seem endless. Luckily for the  audacious traveler , Earth still has many  lesser-known  and underexplored towns, villages, mountains, and parks that offer some of nature's finest. What hidden gems lack in crowds and size they make up for with stunning architecture, rich history, bustling local culture, lively and  adventure opportunities . Visit spots you don't hear much about because they are home to some  postcard-perfect  and well-preserved natural wonders .

Greek Islands: Corfu and Crete, NOT Mykonos and Santorini

Mykonos and Santorini are stunning islands but they also attract lots of crowds. Corfu's rich multi-cultural heritage, historic monuments, stunning natural landscape, and crystal clear seas, make it one of the most cosmopolitan Mediterranean destinations luring more and more visitors , according to Visit Greece . Crete, the largest island in Greece, has similar attributes. Locations that are worth your time are Chania for its imposing White Mountains, Rethymno for spectacular beaches and Heraklion for its extraordinary archaeological treasures .

Cambodia: Koh Rong, NOT Angkor Thom

Koh Rong is the second largest island in Cambodia. Explore the four small villages on this little slice of heaven and interesting bungalows for a unique beach experience . The Survivor season 31 and 32 of the American reality game was filmed in Koh Rong as also years ago the French "Survivor" television program Koh Lanta. Some are beginning to call it "the new Thailand."

Australia: Margaret River and Mooloolaba, NOT Torquay or Byron Bay

Mooloolaba is a resort town that is commonly visited by tourists. It is home to Mooloolaba Beach, a  clean beach  with pure white sand . Swimmers, surfers, jet skiers, body boarders, and snorkelers flock to this beach for its beautiful waters. You must check out Lake Cave and Mammoth Cave in Margaret River. Relax on Gnarabup Beach, go on a nature and wildlife tour, go on a day hike, go surfing and even try horseback riding on the beach. For the ultimate adventure , take a ship to the Barren Island Volcano, which is currently active.

Africa: Namibia and Mnemba Island, Tanzania, NOT South Africa or Seychelles

Namibia is "perhaps the most beautiful country on the African continent," Lee Abbamonte , the youngest American to visit every country, says. "The desert scenery is unmatched by anything I've seen." It's primitive and overshadowed by neighboring South Africa but a  great still-hidden gem . Mnemba, just of the north east coast of Zanzibar, is a destination for barefoot luxury – you can snorkel straight off the beach and onto pristine reef.

Europe: Finland and Norway, NOT France and Italy

Finland is you destination for mind-blowing colors and the most breathtaking sights of the magnificent Norther Lights. The country also has many very cool cabins – as locals focus a lot on spending time outdoors – where you can stay and reconnect with nature. Norway has all of that as well, plus a local currency that has lost 27.8 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar, making it a cheap destination for Americans . Explore the fjords. The rugged scenery and massive inlets are magnificent.

Morocco: Essaouira and Erg Chebbi, NOT Marrakech and Casablanca

Most people are interested in Marrakech as a  destination that won't break the bank . For a more relaxed pace of life,  untouched by tourism  sands, consider going to the charming coastal town of Essaouria, which is often recommended for  surfing in Morocco . Erg Chebbi, another off the gri destination, is stunning, especially at sunrise and sunset. You can ride camels, drive around in a jeep, build your own camp for the night and visit the deserted places.

Caribbean Islands: Barbuda and Canouan, NOT Saint Marten and Antigua

Canouan Island is where you'll find some of the most gorgeous beaches in the Caribbean. All shores on this island located in the heart of The Grenadines  absolutely stunning even though they don't get as much attention as those in Saint Marteen. You feel like you are in a private world surrounded by the superb sea of the southern Antilles. Escape the crowded Antigua and come to its 62-square miles sister, Barbuda.  Honeymooners like it  because it's  very secluded . The 17-Mile Beach will take your breath away. Visit the Frigate Bird Sanctuary and the Darby Cave, an incredible sinkhole with ancient cave drawings.

California: Santa Barbara, NOT Santa Monica

The seaside city claims the perfect mixture of festive and laid-back settings, a  weather that is always just right , and educational cultural establishments. Nights are filled with partying and relaxation. You will  find  the crowds you're looking – from wild and rowdy to the more calm and sophisticated. Go to The Neighborhood for a typical Santa Barbara bar experience; visit The Velvet Jones or The James Joyce for some of the  best live music and cocktails ; and explore wine country with various tours.

Oregon: Bend, NOT Portland

Bend is among the most incredible mountain towns for summer . Hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, rock climbing—you name it, you'll likely find it there. Head up into the Cascades for some incredible mountain biking (almost 300 miles of singletrack) or dip your paddle into the Deschutes River for a wild and refreshing ride. After your adventures, check out one of the many summer events, concerts or festivals or enjoy the thriving food and drink scene.

Jiuzhaigou Valley, China, NOT Hong Kong

Skip the busy and chaotic Hong Kong and go on an adventurous escape to Jiuzhaigou Valley. The nature reserve and national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising a series of diverse forest ecosystems. Its outstanding landscapes are predominantly fascinating because of their series of narrow conic karst land forms and mighty waterfalls . About 140 bird species live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plant and animal species.

New Zealand: Wanaka and Napier, NOT Queenstown

The coastal city of Napier is becoming known for its Art Deco 1930's architecture and local wines. IN Wanaka, enjoy  cross-country skiing , snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing and dog sled tours. After you explore the mountain, head to the Mt Aspiring National Park for spectacular views of waterfalls, rainforests and valleys. Towering peaks dip into lush valleys as alpine lakes, rivers and glaciers dot the landscape, Wanaka is awesome in the summer , too. Take in the views by sky diving or paragliding.

The Himalayas: Pangong Tso Lake, NOT Meru Peak

The lake is 83 miles long and extends from India to China. Pangong Tso is one of the largest brackish lakes in Asia, according to Ladakh Travel Guide. The azure blue waters and shaky lakeshore , surrounded by hills and snow peaks, are also known among locals as the Hollow Lake. There is a limited choice to stay around and near Pangong Tso. Nearby Lukung offers camping facilities in Eco huts. Basic accommodation is available in Spangmik, the only hotel offering luxury tents and rooms.

Rangiroa and Cook Islands, NOT Bora Bora

It looks like an infinite inlet. That's probably because it's the second largest in the world. Rangiroa is a string of coral encompassing a luminous turquoise and jade-green lagoon. It's also one of the world's  best diving locations . You should go to Rangiroa if you are after  great shark sightings . Cook Islands are often called the secret of the Pacific. Tourists go there for fresh pure air to wade into the cool, calm, blue lagoons, and to explore the untouched charm of the 15 stunning islands. Go on eco cycle tours or quad bike adventure tours, try mountain trekking, and party like a local on the Raro Pub Crawl Party Bus.

Peru: Rainbow Mountains and Colca Canyon, NOT Machu Picchu

Peru may be best known for the ruins of Machu Picchu but those seeking adventure should take a detour and head to Colca Canyon. The second deepest canyon in the world—almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon—Colca boasts colorful views, a profound history and seemingly endless trails that allow you to take it all in. The Ausangate Mountain of the Peruvian Andes is one of the most superb geologic wonder in the world. Its colors range from turquoise to lavender to maroon and gold. It doesn't get as many visitors as it deserves because the hike there is very long and strenuous.

Washington: San Juan Islands, NOT Seattle

The archipelago is known for its rural Pacific Northwest landscapes and wildlife. The San Juan Islands are one of the world's best whale watching spots. The majestic killer whales live in there year round, which makes this  the perfect vacation  escape for both nature-lovers and adventure-seekers alike . The four main islands – San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island and Shaw Island – are where you go in the state to feel a smooth islands vibe and to spend long hours of enjoying nature.

Norway: Svalbard, NOT Pulpit Rock

Svalbard is one of the most secluded adventure destinations in the world . The islands are called "the realm of the polar bear," according to Visit Norway. They are located in the  Arctic Ocean , halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Adventurers will find  unspoiled wilderness , unique wildlife, charming old mining towns, and thousands of polar bears. Just over 3,000 people live in Svalbard.

Turkey: Ölüdeniz, NOT Bodrum

The small resort village is by a lavish national park . The stunning beach destination is becoming known among international tourist so go soon before crowds becomes a problem and ruin its unspoiled charm . Paragliding is a very popular adventure there, so make sure you make time for it. Boat tours and day cruises around the village's bays and islands are also thrilling.

Comino, Malta, NOT Capri, Italy

This tiny and tranquil isle only has a handful of residents and is mostly visited by tourists going there on a day trip. Hiking across the island and camping under the stars are favorite more adventurous activities. Comino, which is just over 2 square miles big, is classified as a wildlife sanctuary, according to Malta Uncovered. It is like true heaven on Earth for snorkelers, divers, windsurfers and ramblers.

Palawan, NOT Palau

If you're looking for a mixture of adventure and tranquility you have found your destination. Palawan is full of amazing landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and a vast marine life. If you travel to the Philippines, you must go on a 5-day expedition to fully  explore the amazing island , especially if you are  with your significant other . Palawan is one of the last unsettled places in the South Pacific, which makes it all the more exotic.

Laguna Colorado, Bolivia, NOT Lake Titicaca

Laguna Colorada is often  referred  to as the Red Lagoon of Bolivia. The lake is a shallow salt lake at an altitude of 14,000 feet within Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. Dotted with white islands of massive borax deposits, the nearly 15,000-acre salt lake is less than 3 feet deep. The pink-reddish color is due to a variety of algae. Most of the  surrounding landscape  is desert rocks and salt deposits. The  iconic salt flats  of Salar De Uyuni are not far.

Mongolia, NOT Thailand

"A place still in its infancy with tourism but mature in scenery and natural beauty," Abbamonte says. "It's only  a matter of time before the world catches on  and they start building luxury resorts in the Gobi Desert!" How many people have you heard saying they  want to live a Nomadic life in rural Mongolia  for a week? You can also go on a  cycling tour  around the county that includes nine nights of wild camping. Bike across wide, open steppe, into expansive mountain scenery and through larch and pine forests.

Faroe Islands, NOT Iceland

The Faroe Islands are one of the coolest off the beaten path places you can visit . The charming village of Gasadalur Village is so remote that it is in danger of depopulation. A tunnel was built in 2004 through the mountains to connect it to the main road network. Until then the only two ways to get there were hiking over the mountain terrain that rises over 2,000 feet or climbing up the cliff face from a ship. Gasadalur is surrounded by lavish mountains. The nearby waterfall is the  most photographed attraction .

Cuba: Baracoa, NOT Havana

Baracoa was Cuba's first settlement and capital. It is fairly undiscovered because of it remote location on the northeastern corner of the island. Avid travelers will appreciate the unspoiled colonial charm of the village, which is surrounded by secluded beaches and a rainforest. You'll see from there a famous local landmark – the table-topped hill called El Yunque.

Italy Segreta

The italian culture magazine, summer: go here, not there, our advice skip the amalfi coast entirely.

There’s a reason why, of all the places in the world, so many people continuously choose to come to Italy to spend their summers. The geographical diversity of this relatively small country means that it has no shortage of breathtaking Blue Flag beaches, charming towns, cultural sites, and volcanic peaks to explore–and, you can even do it all in one trip. But why is it that some places get all the attention, and others don’t? Sometimes, it feels like somebody just arbitrarily pointed at a map and declared Capri or Portofino as the “most” beautiful. But is that really true? And in today’s golden age of overtourism, how much does natural beauty still make up for swarming crowds and sky-high prices? If you ask us, there are better options out there…

Go to Cilento, Not Amalfi

Shimmering turquoise waters, beaches tucked into limestone coves, rolling green hills, and so many UNESCO World Heritage sites we’ve all but lost count, Cilento has everything Amalfi has, except for the crowds. If what you’re after for your Amalfi holiday is the scenery, sunbathing opportunities, and sea so clear you can see to the bottom, then Cilento might be an interesting option. Paestum and Velia archeological parks boast incredibly preserved Greek ruins dating back to the 5th and 6th Centuries B.C.E. Due to being less developed, this region is also a mecca for agriculture, and therefore, has incredible food to sample and interesting producers to visit–white figs, mozzarella preserved with myrtle, and of course, wine and olive oil. Cilento is also an easy, two-and-a-half hour train journey from Naples. 

If however, what you’re looking for from Amalfi is the glitz and glam of it all, Cilento is not your spot. The region doesn’t have much by way of nightlife, and transport between towns can be tricky if you don’t have a car.

Go to Ischia, Not Capri

Both of these islands located in the Gulf of Naples are incredibly beautiful–there is no arguing about that. Capri’s beauty has made her the diamond of the season , and she has been since the 1960s. This popularity also means that the tiny island is very, very crowded–especially during high season–and very, very expensive. Roughly 20,000 tourists crowd Capri’s 10 square kilometers every day in summertime. On the other hand, Ischia, which is about four times the size of Capri and no less striking, receives about ⅔ of that throughout the year. A large percentage of those visitors are Italian families who come here to spend the summer, and have been doing so for generations. Really, the numbers speak for themselves–for a more local, tranquil getaway with the same jaw-dropping volcanic scenery, and revitalizing natural thermal baths , choose Ischia .

If you do go to Capri though, might we recommend our local’s guide to Capri ? If you’re going to go, you have to do it right.

Go to Lago Maggiore, Not Como

Once upon a time, George Clooney bought a house in Como. And since then, it seems like everybody and their mother (let’s be honest, all our moms have a thing for Clooney) want to go there. As a result, it’s been built up with a real resort feel–think manicured golf courses, private sports clubs, and Michelin-starred restaurants–and it’ll cost you. Lago Maggiore , on the other hand, still has a pristine feel to it, with its crisp waters, alpine air, and shared border with some of the most picturesque towns in Switzerland, but is somehow still more slightly under the radar. And there is no shortage of Michelin-starred dining there too, either.

Go to Sestri Levante, Not Portofino or Cinque Terre

Our favorite spot to sun and sea on the Ligurian Riviera, Sestri Levante–despite being a stone’s throw away from both Portofino and the towns that make up Cinque Terre –has remained off the tourist radar. We’re not sure why, but we’re grateful for it. The former fishing village is built on a peninsula that divides its beach into “two seas”: the Baia di Silenzio on one side and the Baia delle Favole on the other, both fringed by pastel-colored houses painted with trompe l’oeil windows and plenty of places to have fresh-caught seafood without breaking the bank. It’s also a very close day trip distance from Portofino , so you can go see what all the fuss is about without having to pay double for your accommodations. And, if you do head over to the glitzy town, it’s very much worth going beyond the Piazzetta to explore some of the more forward-thinking food projects that have cropped up in recent years .

Go to Santa Maria di Leuca, Not Gallipoli

Bracketing the tip of the Salento peninsula, Santa Maria di Leuca and Gallipoli are in many ways twin flames. Both enchanting, romantic, and brimming with history, you can’t go wrong anywhere you go in this region. But, Gallipoli is predictably over-touristed, especially by younger contingents who are drawn to the area’s clubbing scene. Santa Maria di Leuca has our hearts instead for the way that the fuchsia bougainvillea, white walls, and blue sea make it look like somebody boosted the saturation of the whole town. Come for the white sand beaches, stay for the centurion olive trees, secret inlets, and ruins that dot the landscape.

Go to Province of Arezzo, Not Val d’Orcia

Val d’Orcia was built in the ideal of Renaissance architecture and aesthetic, replete with maze-like gardens, cypress tree-lined streets, and geometrically perfect piazzas. But, as much as Renaissance-era art and architecture are impressive, this time period gets a lot of airtime in Italy. Arezzo, also buried within the green hills of Tuscany, is a collage of Etruscan, Medieval, and Renaissance buildings, speaking to many layers of history in the region. The surrounding countryside is lush and less trodden than elsewhere in Tuscany, and you’ll find idyllic agriturismos and incredible producers of wine, olive oils, and cheese to visit, without overpaying– our favorite spot to stay in the region is Le Caviere , a thoughtfully-curated agriturismo with an olive orchard and working farm, which has inspired more than one guest to move to this region permanently.

You’ll get a sneak peak at our new issues, first access to exclusive Italy Segreta experiences and retreats, and secrets on all the people, places and things we’re obsessed with.

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The Maya Train Will Get You to All of Yucatán’s Best Spots. But Not Yet.

In December, the train began running on its first route through Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. On a five-day journey a few months later, the author encountered enthusiasm, and scheduling hiccups.

By Elisabeth Malkin

Elisabeth Malkin has been visiting the Yucatán Peninsula for three decades.

I stepped off the platform at the gleaming new Maxcanú train station, eager to see the magnificent Maya archaeological site of Uxmal. All I needed was a taxi to take me there, a trip of about 30 miles away.

There are no taxis, said the stationmaster, as we stood on the polished limestone floors of the high-ceilinged station, which was cool and breezy despite the brilliant late-morning sun outside. And I was the third person in two weeks to get off at Maxcanú expecting to reach Uxmal, he said.

I was midway through a five-day trip to explore the brand-new Maya Train and several of its destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico . Designed to run 965 miles (1,554 kilometers) around a loop of 34 stations when completed, the train will whisk passengers in cool comfort through colonial cities, archaeological sites, splashy resorts and tropical forests.

Now I was stunned. Wrangling a taxi has never been a problem in Mexico. But the drivers gathered in the main square of Maxcanú offered only beat-up vans that hopscotch through small towns, where I might or might not find a taxi to Uxmal. The next van was leaving in 45 minutes.

Yucatán’s layers of history have long held me spellbound. During earlier car trips, I have clambered up deserted Maya temples and palaces, stepped into the cool naves of massive 16th-century churches and visited restored haciendas, testaments of the ostentation — and hardship — of the peninsula’s 19th-century plantation economy. Traveling by train, I thought, would allow me to steep myself in more of that history.

But as I found in Maxcanú, a train won’t necessarily get you to where you want to go.

During my February trip, I traveled on the only route then available, an east-west leg that opened in December and runs from Cancún to Mérida, and then south through the port city of Campeche to the Maya site of Palenque (a short route between Cancún and Playa del Carmen opened last month, with three trains a day). I encountered scheduling confusion, unfinished stations and a dearth of trains — just two operating daily each way between Cancún and Campeche, and only one to Palenque. Overnight sleepers and special dining trains seem years away.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador considers the Maya Train his showcase development project, and wants to inaugurate the rest of the train before he leaves office on October 1. Based on my experience, that goal seems elusive.

A $29-billion route through the jungle

I started my journey in Cancún, where in the pre-dawn gloom the station hovered like a glowing spaceship. An attendant scanned the ticket I had bought online and a half-dozen more pointed me toward my tourist-class car, which was about a quarter full. I planned to go to Campeche, about 300 miles away, stopping once each day. At 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) an hour, the train covers the route in about six hours, the same as a car. (When construction is complete, the train’s speed should increase to 160 kilometers an hour.)

The car’s wide windows looked out at a wall of low jungle. The blue-green seats were comfortable and there was ample space between the rows. I bought a very good cappuccino at the snack bar, but declined the plastic-wrapped sandwiches. The rest of the merchandise was fruit cups, milk boxes and junk food.

The train will ultimately cost much more than the $29 billion budgeted so far, and it’s not the first time ambitious planners have alighted on the region. Cancún was once a tiny fishing village, selected half a century ago as a tourist hub. Last year 10 million international tourists flew into its airport, more than the airports of Mexico City, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta combined.

But uncontrolled growth has stressed the Caribbean coast’s fragile environment. The Maya Train, scientists warn , will push those problems south, threatening the area’s water supply, its unique system of underground limestone caves and its vast nature reserves.

Mr. López Obrador has charged ahead, handing the train over to the military , and arguing that it will spread Cancún’s wealth and attract new visitors. Mexico received more than 42 million overseas tourists last year and they spent almost $31 billion .

Local governments see an opportunity. “The train will allow people to disperse throughout the peninsula,” said Michelle Fridman, the tourism secretary for Yucatán state, which promotes dozens of attractions far beyond highlights like Mérida and Chichén Itzá .

Now that the train is operating, transport companies will begin to connect stations with lesser-known sites nearby, she said.

It’s fair to ask whether the train is the most effective way to develop the peninsula’s tourism. Tour companies already run trips to many sites from major cities, which are well served by buses. Driving a rental car through most of the area is considered safe , according to U.S. State Department travel guidance .

Route of Mexico’s Maya Train

Canceled trip.

It took two hours (and one time-zone change) to reach Valladolid, a colonial city of handsome streets and ancient churches, where I bought the rest of my tickets at the station. A tourist-class ticket from Cancún to Valladolid costs 472 pesos (around $28) for foreigners and 355 pesos (around $21) for Mexicans. First class, with wider seats, costs 755.50 pesos and 566.50 pesos, and discounts are available for older travelers and residents of the five states along the train’s route. (A first-class bus from downtown Cancún to Valladolid costs between 222 and 344 pesos, depending on the time of day, and takes half an hour longer.)

It was impossible to run the new Maya Train tracks into dense city centers and the Valladolid station, like the rest, was outside the urban core. A waiting bus took disembarking passengers downtown, a 15-minute ride for 35 pesos.

That day I toured Ek Balam , the site of a ninth-century Maya kingdom that is dominated by a 100-foot palace distinguished by a facade of carvings depicting winged warriors, stylized animal features and geometric patterns bordered by giant fangs. Admission to the site includes entry to the X-Canché cenote, one of thousands of limestone sinkholes that were sacred to the Maya.

Later that afternoon, I was wandering through the Museum of Ethnic Clothing, a private collection of traditional dress, embroidery and hats, when a WhatsApp message from the ticket office blinked on my phone. My train scheduled for the following day was canceled.

I decided to deal with the problem in the morning and enjoy the city. As I wandered past the antique shops and boutique hotels of the elegant Calzada de los Frailes, it was clear that Valladolid’s tourism, and the infrastructure to handle it, was well established. The Maya Train is simply an alternative way to reach a city that tourists discovered years ago.

‘We’re on the Tren Maya!’

In the morning, I found that my train had not been canceled, but the station for which I had a ticket, Tixkokob, was closed. I got off instead one stop earlier at Izamal, known for its ocher streets and the giant Franciscan convent of San Antonio de Padua, built atop the ruins of a pyramid.

During the 90-minute ride, I heard widespread enthusiasm among fellow travelers who expressed a willingness to give the train time to work out the kinks. “We’re an experiment,” said Oliva Escobedo Ochoa, 64, who was vacationing from her home in central Mexico.

Leticia Iliassich, 57, who is Mexican, was traveling with her Croatian husband along with relatives from Mexico and Croatia. They had initially been scheduled on an earlier train to Mérida that had been canceled. “We knew that it was a new project,” she said. “We don’t mind.”

The group had already sent a video to friends declaring, “We’re on the Tren Maya!”

At the Izamal station I hitched a 15-minute ride into the town center with a man who had asked me to take his photo alongside the train and his father. From there I negotiated a taxi to Hacienda San Lorenzo Aké, a working hacienda that still turns the fiber from an agave plant called henequén into coarse rope. Global demand for henequén, known as Yucatán’s “green gold,” brought fantastic wealth to the region in the mid-19th century, speckling the peninsula with more than 1,000 haciendas. ( Many are now sumptuous hotels.)

Where geometry, nature and the divine merge

It was during my third day that I found myself stuck in Maxcanú, after a 90-minute train ride from Izamal. The stationmaster, an army captain, offered me a ride to Uxmal, just as he had to the stranded tourists before me.

Eying Uxmal’s 4 p.m. final ticket sale, I accepted.

My situation made it clear just how distant the Maya Train’s promises are for tourists seeking to explore more of Yucatán. In time, that will change, said Ms. Fridman, the tourism secretary. “The idea is to have more hotels along the train line,” she said. “That will happen little by little.”

But Uxmal , among the most stunning of the Maya sites, made up for the inconvenience. Uxmal’s grand buildings are faced with intricate decorative masks as well as friezes in which geometry, nature and the divine merge. New plaques at each structure offer detailed information in English and Spanish, part of the government’s investment in improving displays at Maya sites for the train project.

Most tourists either take day trips by car or bus to Uxmal from Mérida or stay at one of three nearby hotels. As I finished dinner at my hotel, the dining room began to fill up: 47 Polish tourists had arrived.

Panama hats and a cramped van

My plan for the day was to go by taxi to Bécal, a town where Panama hats are woven in limestone caves to keep the fibers soft, and then pick up the afternoon train in nearby Calkiní for the port city of Campeche.

But I spent so much time watching the hat-making demonstration and then fitting my new hat and buying gifts that we set off with little time to reach the station. To my chagrin, I missed the train, the last one of the day.

On Calkiní’s central square, I found a van that was leaving for Campeche. Cost: 65 pesos. Time: about 1 hour and 20 minutes, similar to what I would have spent on the train. Of course, I was trapped in a cramped seat and had to listen to the driver’s choice of sentimental ballads, but I was dropped off in downtown Campeche, close to my hotel.

The next day, I toured the Museum of Maya Archaeology , an expertly curated collection that included haunting jade funeral masks, glyphs and delicate ceramic figures.

José Madrigal, 45, an engineer from Fremont, Calif., was trying to make Maya pottery interesting for his twin sons. The boys had just turned 5 and their birthday present had been a ride on the Maya Train. “They love trains,” Mr. Madrigal said. Then the family moved on, keeping up a brisk clip through the museum. They had another train to catch.

Should you take the train?

Yes, if you are traveling between larger stations. The train also offers a way to get to Palenque, which is harder to reach and has roads with security concerns. Travelers can stow bicycles on board.

To see train times, check the destinations on the website . You cannot buy tickets online more than a week in advance. But when you finally board, the ride is smooth — and the coffee is excellent.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

How Heathrow airport strikes could threaten your bank holiday travel plans

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Strikes will take charge of Heathrow Airport next month, threatening travel during the Early May Bank Holiday .

Planes could be grounded and flights delayed or cancelled at the busiest airport in London .

Two separate rounds of industrial action are planned from the beginning of May.

In 2023, Heathrow handled almost 80 million (79,180,434) passengers, also making it  one of the busiest  in the world.

This is everything you need to know if you are planning to travel from Heathrow during this period.

What strikes are planned at Heathrow Airport?

The  Heathrow Border Force workers are striking  between April 29 and May 2, and that involves the UK Border Force offices working on passport control across all four Heathrow terminals.

Refuelers working for Aviation Fuel Services (AFS) are to take industrial action for 72 hours beginning on Saturday, May 4.

Previously, a strike had been scheduled between April 11 and 14, but it was called off a week before it was due to begin as PCS (the Public and Commercial Services Union) were waiting for the Home Office to ‘demonstrate they are genuinely seeking a resolution,’ according the organisation’s general secretary Fran Heathcote.

They are responsible for refuelling aircraft at Heathrow from 35 airlines including Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Emirates, Air France, Japan Airlines, Bulgaria Air and Rwanda Air.

It is a Bank Holiday weekend – one of the busiest travelling weekends of the year.

Another strike will take place for almost a week, from Tuesday, May 7, to Monday, May 13.

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This is due to a separate dispute involving members of Unite the union who work in passenger services and security.

Why are border control staff striking?

Heathrow Border Force workers are striking over changes to their working conditions, PCS trade union revealed earlier in April.

The strike will see more than 300 of its members walk out over an issue with the new rostering system, which PSC representatives claim ‘would have a detrimental effect on all the current staff and leave nearly 250 without a job on passport control, including many with disabilities or caring responsibilities.’

Unite also confirmed that, between May 7 and May 13, almost 800 workers will walk out over plans to outsource hundreds of roles in an effort to cut costs.

‘There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted,’ a spokesperson for Heathrow previously told Reuters.

‘To confirm, we have robust contingency plans in place for each of these individual areas and anticipate no impact on passenger journey.’

Heathrow said the airport’s reorganisation would see all passenger-facing security sourced in-house, with small trolley operations and passenger logistics teams transferred to third-party suppliers (who already work with the airport).

Why are refuelling staff striking?

Refuelers say their employer imposed drastic cuts to the terms and conditions of new staff recruited since January 2024.

Unite accused AFS, a joint venture between oil and gas companies, of ‘bully-boy tactics’, saying it is attacking the ‘most vulnerable new staff’ in its workplace by offering them reduced pension and sickness benefits.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘AFS is behaving appallingly by attacking the T&Cs of new members of staff – those it views as the easiest to intimidate.

‘But Unite will not stand for such bully-boy tactics and we will be backing our members in their fight for improved pensions and sick pay for all staff.’

Another 800 of Unite members are planning to strike later in May due to what the union called ‘deplorable action’ from the airport’s management.

The union said workers in passenger services, who assist travellers to catch connecting flights, trolley operations, and security guards will have their jobs outsourced by June.

Ms Graham vowed to give striking staff ‘unrelenting support’, adding: ‘Heathrow Airport’s actions are deplorable.

‘It is raking in massive profits for the bosses while trying to squeeze every last penny out of its workforce.’

What impact will the industrial action have on flights?

Border Force staff mostly only check arrivals at UK airports, so the greatest impact will be on people landing from abroad.

Regarind the refuelling strike, Unite says the strike action ‘will inevitably cause widespread disruption across the airport, leading to delays and disruption’.

Though it isn’t clear what plans the Home Office has for dealing with potential staff shortages, during the last walk-out in December 2022, military personnel and civil servant volunteers were trained up to replace Border Force staff and deal with delays.

If passengers do experience delays to their flight as a result, they won’t be able to access compensation as the issue is beyond the airlines’ control.

However, the airline will need to provide frequent updates and, if needed, an alternative flight, as well as meals and accommodation during the delays.

What is Heathrow Airport’s response?

Heathrow Airport is working on contingencies with AFS to manage any potential disruption during the Early May Bank Holiday.

It said it has ‘robust’ measures planned, adding that passengers can book flights from Heathrow with confidence.

Regarding the industrial action planned by staff in passenger services, a spokesperson said: ‘We are reorganising our operations to deliver better results for our customers.

‘There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted.

‘Unite’s threats of potential industrial action are unnecessary, and customers can be reassured that we will keep the airport operating smoothly, just like we have in the past.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

MORE : You can buy a basement flat in South London for just £5k — but you’ll need a shovel

MORE : Here’s what the Heathrow Border Force strike could mean for your flight

MORE : ‘River’ of liquid spills from plane toilet mid-flight and flows down aisle

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April 22, 2024 - Protests at Columbia and other schools escalate

Matt Egan, Alicia Wallace and Chandelis Duster

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology says it is 'determining next steps'

From CNN's Jillian Sykes

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued a statement Monday regarding tents on its campus.

"MIT officials are aware of the tents, and are determining next steps with a focus on ensuring campus is physically safe and fully functioning. MIT Police were on scene throughout the night and will continue to be present."

Robert Kraft says he is willing to support The Kraft Center at the university

From CNN's Chandelis Duster

Robert Kraft, billionaire owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots and backer of Columbia University, on Monday said he is still willing to support The Kraft Center at the school that supports Jewish students, calling it “a haven of safety.”

Kraft, an alumnus of the university, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead” that he loves the school and “we have to have accountability.”

“There are both professors and students within the university who say things that I think cross the line and there should be accountability. I believe in free speech. Say whatever you want but pay the consequences. And don't have your face covered. I don't think that should be allowed,” he said.  

“I can’t believe in New York City at Columbia University Jewish students are afraid to go to classes in the United States of America in 2024. It’s amazing to me and horrible,” Kraft also said.

Asked where he drew the line at Columbia University regarding both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protests and what he finds objectionable, he said “there is a lack of education on the situation” happening in the Middle East. 

“I’m concerned about America and what’s going on in this country. And to keep it open and free for all people of all backgrounds to do as they wish,” he said.

Asked if he has confidence in Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, he said he thinks she is “very well intentioned” and said “we have to look at what goes on with faculty.”

Columbia faculty stage walk-out in solidarity with students

From CNN's John Towfighi

Hundreds of people gathered on Low Plaza Monday afternoon as Columbia University faculty delivered speeches in support of the student protesters who were suspended and arrested Thursday.

Faculty who spoke denounced university president Minouche Shafik’s decision to authorize the New York Police Department to remove protesters from campus and demanded all legal and disciplinary charges be dismissed and expunged from students' records.

Faculty held signs that read, “Hands off our students,” and “End student suspensions now.” Some faculty donned their academic regalia and wore sashes that read, “We support students.”

Speeches were met with cheers and claps from the crowd, as well as chants for Shafik to resign.

Christopher Brown, a professor of history, said, “I’m here because I am so concerned about what is happening at this university, with where we are now and with where we are going. Thursday April 18, 2024, will be remembered as a shameful day in Columbia history.”

“The president’s decision to send riot police to pick up peaceful protesters on our campus was unprecedented, unjustified, disproportionate, divisive and dangerous,” Brown said.

US Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose daughter Isra Hirsi was among the protesters arrested Thursday , posted on X that while she’s glad to see faculty demonstrate in solidarity with students, she wants the protests to focus on Gaza.

"On Thursday, Columbia arrested and suspended its students who were peacefully protesting and have now ignited a nationwide Gaza Solidarity movement. This is more than the students hoped for and I am glad to see this type of solidarity. But to be clear, this about the genocide in Gaza and the attention has to remain on that," Omar wrote.

NYC Mayor condemns "vile" and "disgusting" rhetoric at college campuses

From CNN's Alicia Wallace

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday condemned “vile” and “disgusting” rhetoric being used at campuses such as Columbia University, where students are holding protests over the Israel-Hamas War.

Adams told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he supports First Amendment rights but said law enforcement officials are on the ready if any of that speech goes too far or if there’s an imminent threat to people or property.

"That is one of the fundamental rights we hold dear as Americans: The right to protest," Adams said on CNN's "The Lead." "What we have seen playing out on many of our college campuses, and particularly Columbia University, is hate. We’re seeing vile language being used."

Adams noted that he can feel the "duality of this moment" and how the events of the past six months are weighing heavily on Jewish and Palestinian New Yorkers. He added that the police escorts of Jewish students through campus were reminiscent of the Army soldiers who escorted nine Black students into a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, nearly 67 years ago.

"There is no place for hate in this city," he said.

New York Police Department officers have a “large presence” surrounding Columbia but have remained off the campus grounds at the request of the school’s administration, NYPD deputy commissioners said earlier on Monday.

Adams told Tapper that the NYPD’s commissioner of legal matter is monitoring the protests for any speech that violates law. Additionally, police officers will take "appropriate action" and go on private property if there’s an "imminent threat."

Protesters gather at The New School in New York City

From CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald

Protesters have gathered at The New School, located near the Chelsea area of the New York City borough of Manhattan.

An encampment of four tents was set up in the lobby of the building that houses auditoriums, a cafeteria and a library. Roughly 75 students, and other people who have The New School IDs, gathered inside the building.

"Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not stop, we will not rest," was repeatedly chanted. 

Outside the building, protesters from the school, as well as outsiders, joined in chants from the sidewalk.

There is a stark difference between the inside and outside of Columbia University's campus

From CNN's Ramishah Maruf

There’s a stark difference between the inside of Columbia University's campus and the outside, where there are protesters gathered on the street. 

The encampment is only open to those affiliated with campus. Only those with a Columbia ID can enter the campus gates. Inside the encampment, programs include teach-ins, poetry readings and film screenings. Some students are quietly finishing assignments, while others are painting posters.

Elsewhere around campus, students are eating and completing assignments. Many students take graduation pictures at this time, and some are in graduation gowns walking down Broadway. Risers are set up for an upcoming commencement ceremony.

Other students are holding large American flags underneath Butler Library.

But the students can still hear the tension that is taking place yards away at the university gates. There is a gathering of pro-Palestinian protesters, who in the early afternoon were chanting “I believe that we will win” and “Long Live the Intifada.” There was a smaller group of pro-Israeli protesters, who chanted back “Down with Hamas” and “Victory to Israel.” A line of New York Police officers were monitoring the street.

What it's like inside the Columbia University encampment

The inside of the encampment is quiet – most of the noise comes from protestors outside the gates of Columbia University's campus, who are chanting “I believe that we will win” and “Long live the Intifada."

It was a sunny day on campus, and in one corner, students were painting posters. One person strummed a stringed instrument, and other students are reading books or on their laptops finishing assignments. Others have donated provisions, ranging from a table of snacks to hygiene products. There was also a pile of blankets.

“We’ve just been trying to keep students mobilized and keep pushing for divestment,” Dalia, a first-year student at Columbia College, told CNN. “We are a very mobilized student body and a very unified student body. Hundreds of people have been in and out of the encampment.”

CNN agreed not to publish her surname due to safety concerns.

She said the students at the campus “refuse to be complicit in the genocide, the apartheid, and the occupation of Palestine.”

There are strict community guidelines for the encampment. One rule says not to share names or details of anyone met in camp, and asking for permission before photographing or taking video.

The encampment is filled with dozens and dozens of tents, from students to neighboring Barnard College staff. Today’s encampment program included an Earth Day performance, poetry reading and a Dabka lesson, a traditional dance from the Arab region. Prior program events included dance performances from different cultures.

Democratic House members tour Columbia campus

Democratic Reps. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Dan Goldman of New York and Kathy Manning of North Carolina, who are all Jewish, spoke at a news conference Monday after touring Columbia University’s campus. 

"We saw it firsthand as we walked past the encampments on the university's main lawn full of protesters spewing incendiary antisemitic hate and vitriol. Many aren't even Columbia students I've been told. Their campaign of intimidation is sickening and shocking and as the White House said yesterday, ‘echoes the rhetoric of Hamas terrorists,'" Gottheimer said. 

He also criticized Columbia University leadership, saying, “toothless combinations from administrators aren't going to stop the anarchy we’re seeing.”

“The only way to do it is with deeds, not words,” Gottheimer said. “Colleges have a legal obligation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to provide students, including Jews and Muslims, a school environment free from discrimination and harassment based on race color or national origin. Yet just feet from here, Jewish students are being verbally and even physically assaulted.”

Gottheimer continued, “To the administrators of Columbia and beyond, here are our demands: Stop the double talk and start acting now. Discipline harassers, restore civility on this campus, encourage peaceful constructive dialogue.”

He also gave a message for students: “While the leadership of Columbia may be failing you, we will not. We will do everything in our power to keep you safe and do everything in Washington we can to make sure that you feel welcome at this university or any university across the United States of America. And Columbia University, if they don't follow through, will pay the price.”

Goldman said he was "encouraged" the Columbia University president issued guidelines about additional security, calling it a "very important first step" and criticized what is happening on campus.

"That is unacceptable for a university, that is unacceptable for an academic institution. There is no question that everyone has a First Amendment right to speak out in this country and that must be preserved," Goldman said. "But a university and all universities have an obligation to maintain the safety and security of their students from all backgrounds."

Manning said university leadership should "do more to keep Jewish students safe and to re-establish an atmosphere in which all students can learn, study and participate safely in campus life."

"Columbia must also move forward with its promised efforts to teach its students and its faculty about the nature and history and dangers of antisemitism. It must ensure that Columbia professors are not encouraging and spreading antisemitism," Manning said.

"I call on the US Department of Education and the US Department of Justice to work with the White House to ensure that all universities take steps necessary to keep Jewish students and faculty safe. I also call on Congress to enact legislation to implement the steps outlined in the US national strategy to counter antisemitism, to address the scourge of antisemitism which is a threat to the foundations of our democracy," she said.

President Joe Biden condemns antisemitism on campus

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

President Joe Biden decried antisemitic protests around college campuses Monday and said his administration was working to combat anti-Jewish hatred.

"I condemn the antisemitic protests, that’s why I’ve set up a program to deal with that," Biden said when questioned about the events at Columbia University in New York.

"I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians," he said, without expanding upon what he meant.

Biden was speaking after an Earth Day event in Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia.

When asked whether Columbia's president should resign, Biden appeared to mishear: "I didn’t know that. I'll have to find out more," he said.

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Train strikes in May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

Rail lines are set for disruption in the week following the first May bank holiday as train drivers at 16 rail companies strike on different days.

Thursday 25 April 2024 10:29, UK

Train drivers will stage a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans in May, causing disruption to the rail network.

The strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from 7 to 9 May.

Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when.

Rail strike dates

Tuesday 7 May

Strikes will affect c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Wednesday 8 May

Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thursday 9 May

Strikes will affect LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Overtime ban dates

From Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May union members will not work overtime.

Overtime bans, an action short of a strike, means some services may not be running or may be reduced as drivers refuse to work their rest days.

People are advised to check before they travel, as some areas may have no service.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

How do strikes and overtime bans affect services?

Strikes tend to mean services on lines where members are participating are extremely affected or cancelled entirely, whereas overtime bans often lead to reduced services.

Are there strikes on the Tube too?

There have been regular strikes on London Underground too recently, and while there aren't any planned walkouts for drivers, customer service managers are set to walk out on Friday 26 April in a dispute over terms and conditions.

There will also be an overtime ban for the customer service managers on the following days:

Monday 29 April

Tuesday 30 April

Wednesday 1 May

Tuesday 2 May

Wednesday 3 May

Thursday 4 May

Friday 5 May

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) says the action by its members is likely to cause Tube stations to close at the last minute, including on the Saturday following the strike (27 April), while TfL has said on its website "some stations may need to close at short notice".

Despite the warning, a TfL spokesperson has said they aren't expecting significant disruption.

This action follows strike action taken by the same workers on 10 April, which the TSSA said had a "real impact" with "many stations shut at short notice".

They say they are "extremely concerned" about TfL's 'Stations Changes' proposals.

"We have made it clear that our union will not accept the continued threats to our members' roles, locations, terms, and conditions to stand unchallenged," a TSSA spokesperson said.

"We will continue to take sustained action until London Underground is prepared to negotiate with us in good faith."

Commenting on the impending strikes, a TfL spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that TSSA is continuing with this strike action following a consultation process.

"While we don't expect this action will cause significant disruption, we urge TSSA to continue to work with us to help find a resolution.

"There are no planned job losses as part of these vital changes which will improve the service we provide to customers at our stations."

How can I stay in the loop?

You can use the National Rail's journey planner to see when trains are running.

Be sure to check it close to when you plan to travel, as it will be updated regularly.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Why are the strikes still happening?

Aslef rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying it is way below inflation, and is linked to changes in terms and conditions.

Aslef said train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.

The union said after its members voted overwhelmingly in February to continue taking industrial action, it asked the train operating companies to hold talks.

General secretary Mick Whelan said the year-old pay offer of 4% and another 4% was "dead in the water".

Related Topics

• London Underground
• Rail strikes

For Earth Day 2024, experts are spreading optimism – not doom. Here's why.

Climate change may still be an existential threat to humanity, but as Earth Day 2024 rolls around on Monday, some of the people most concerned about the planet aren't peddling doom – they're spreading optimism.

There's plenty to feel good about , they say: Huge strides towards fighting climate change , decades of work that have led to other environmental disasters being averted – and the reality that hope can help fuel the actions needed to keep tackling the climate crisis.

“People assume that in the 50 years since the first Earth Day we’ve made no progress. That we’re in a worse position now than we were in the 1970s, that there’s no point to environmental action,” said Hannah Ritchie, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom who studies sustainability in relation to climate change.

Quite the opposite is true. Climate-friendly advances that would have seemed impossible even 10 years ago are now commonplace. And three times in the past 50 years humanity has faced – and fixed – massive, man-made global environmental issues.

This Earth Day, some climate scientists think climate change could be added to the list.

That reality is still a long way off , but we've made more progress than you might think. It's as if humanity has to climb the world’s tallest mountain, said Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist of The Nature Conservancy and a distinguished professor of climate science at Texas Tech University.

Wind and solar power are the cheapest electricity on the planet. Heat pumps come up in most heating and cooling discussions. Electric cars are now mainstream.

Monday brings even more funding for climate-friendly causes, with the Biden administration announcing $7 billion in grants to provide solar power to over 900,000 homes in low-income and disadvantaged communities. The White House said the president’s actions would save more than $350 million in electricity costs annually – roughly $400 per household – over the next 25 years.

“It's like climbing the world's tallest mountain," Hayhoe said. "You walk and walk and you climb and climb and the top seems like it's never getting closer. But when you turn around, you realize how far you've come.”

Even Al Gore , former senator and vice president who famously began warning Americans about global warming in 1981, feels a little positive.

In March, he acknowledged to USA TODAY that things aren’t moving fast enough but said, “We’re gaining on this, we’re gaining momentum and soon we'll be gaining on the crisis itself.”

Three huge climate wins in 50 years

Humanity has already had some amazing wins when it comes to other big, seemingly intractable environmental issues.

Take DDT, a pesticide originally seen as a miracle in the fight against mosquitoes and other vermin when it was first introduced in the 1940s. It wasn't until the late 1950s that scientists connected the dots between declining bird populations and the new wonder chemical. DDT thinned eggshells so that nesting mothers crushed their own babies – leading many species, including the bald eagle , to the brink of extinction.

But DDT was banned in 1972 and by 2007 bald eagles had made such a comeback they were removed from the Endangered Species list.

Or look up at the sky and ponder the ozone layer that protects us from ultraviolet radiation. In the early 1980s scientists first saw that a hole had developed in that critically protective layer of the atmosphere. Without it, fields would burn and the outdoors would be unsurvivable. Despite the costs and the immensity of the problem, nations around the world signed the Montreal Protocol, phasing out the chlorofluorocarbons that caused the hole. Today, the ozone is repairing itself and is expected to return to 1980 levels by 2060.

Then there was acid rain , the byproduct of burning sulfur-laced coal. Beginning in the 1950s, it killed forests and life in lakes and streams across broad swaths of the northeast, with public awareness of its dangers growing in the 1970s. The Clean Air Act of 1990 helped limit sulfur emissions and levels began to fall.

Global CO2 emissions could peak next year

It's important to remember that history when considering the grim news about carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere, the root cause of global warming.

Last year they hit the highest point in human history, 420 parts per million. That’s up from 280 parts per million before the Industrial Revolution. In that time, global temperatures have risen by about 2 degrees.

But there’s something else happening that doesn’t get as much notice but is very hopeful. Experts – including the International Energy Agency – say that global carbon dioxide emissions will probably peak next year and certainly by 2030, using a scenario based on current policy settings.

That means 2023 was very likely the year with the highest greenhouse gas emissions ever and the numbers will only go down from here.

While that won’t make up for all the CO2 that has been pumped into the Earth’s atmosphere since the mid-1700s, it’s an important milestone and shows how the energy shift is already well underway.

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“The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide and it’s unstoppable,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said last year . “It’s not a question of ‘if’, it’s just a matter of ‘how soon.’”

That said, current emission levels are a third higher than they needed to be to limit global warming to 2.7 degrees . So global per capita emissions still must come down significantly. But progress is being made, progress that's not always apparent to the general public, said Ritchie.

Clean energy is now the cheapest energy

That progress is being aided by more good news. Clean energy, from solar and wind, has gotten very cheap much faster than many climate experts ever hoped.

“The world is fundamentally in a different place from what it was in 1970. Even just a decade ago we were in a completely different position,” said Ritchie, whose book "Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet," came out in January.

Today, solar, wind and battery power are dramatically less expensive than they were even 10 years ago. In 2023, electricity from wind and solar was significantly less expensive than from coal, nuclear and natural gas.

The unsubsidized cost of wind power has dropped  66% since 2009 , while the cost of unsubsidized solar has fallen 84%, according to an analysis by  Lazard , a financial advisory firm that publishes annual estimates of the total cost of producing electricity.

Even five years ago, Ritchie said she was quite pessimistic because the costs for clean energy were so high. That doesn’t worry her anymore.

“We’ve seen this really dramatic change,” she said. “Solar and wind have gone from being the most expensive energy technologies by far to being cheaper than fossil fuels. That’s a fundamental shift and will change the speed at which we move toward low carbon technologies.”

The shift in cost is moving so quickly it’s hard even for experts to keep up.

“If you’re looking at data that even from just a few years ago you’re really behind,” said Ritchie.

These shifts aren’t just happening in the United States, but worldwide. While China is still the largest single global carbon emitter and is still building coal-fired power plants, it’s also moving extremely quickly into renewables.

New solar, wind and hydroelectric power in China accounted for 59% of the world’s new renewable in 2023, according to S&P Global.

“Last year alone, China deployed as much solar as the United States has in its entire history,” said Ritchie.

The International Energy Agency also says demand for oil, coal and gas will peak by 2030 as the number of electric vehicles on the road globally increases and China continues to move towards wind and solar.

That prediction is based on the current policies of the nations of the world.

That’s still too high to keep to the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the rise in average global temperatures.

But Hayhoe points out that when the first National Climate Assessment was issued in 2000, the estimate was that we could be heading to as much as a 7.2 to 9 degree increase by the end of the century. Today, the predictions are that 4.8 degree warmer world by the end of the century. "And that number goes down with every new step we take up the mountain," she said.

There’s hope on the horizon

Ritchie says the work necessary to fix climate change can seem overwhelming but it’s actually not as bad as it might seem. "The solutions overlap, so in tackling one problem you're making others better at the same time," she said.

Keeping this front and center can be hard. The same voices that have been denying climate change for decades now have added what’s known as doomerism to their toolbox – saying it’s too late and there’s no hope.

Even those who are overwhelmed by climate change can be frozen into inaction, said Hayhoe.

“We have people who are so panicked that they descend into this very unhelpful doomerism,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gore is also among those in awe of the progress humanity has made.

“If you had said years ago (that) in the year 2023 80% of all the new electricity generation installed worldwide is going to be solar and wind, I would have said ‘Wow. That's great!’ But that's what happened last year. If somebody had said 20% of all new vehicles sold worldwide would be electric vehicles, wow that's incredible as well,” he told USA TODAY in March .

“I often cite the famous saying from the late economist Rudy Dornbusch who said things take longer ‘than you think they will, but then they happen faster than you thought they could,'” he said.

Contributing: Michael Collins, USA TODAY