A few hours by plane from one climate to another, lazing on a heavenly beach, wandering in the most beautiful museums in the world or hiking in the heart of a resplendent nature, all opportunities are good to discover the world. The moments we are going through are undoubtedly for many people the opportunity to dream of a beautiful future trip, to reach a big and hectic metropolis, an island that benefits from a more than generous sunshine or a region of the world full of surprises. Here are 3 destinations to choose from in order to escape from everyday life, fill up with energy and come back with sweet memories
New York, strolling through an electric metropolis..
New York often appears among the top destinations to visit in the world, and one can only understand why this city has so much to offer. The height of its buildings, its emblematic districts with a unique atmosphere, its overflowing cultural offer, its shops and the energy released at every street corner transport travellers into a kind of temporal rift of all desires and where the possibilities are infinite. Once you set foot in The Big Apple, you're in the mood for the "must-see", travel through Manhattan to reach Time Square, join the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock to enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramas in the world, then go and photograph the Flatiron Building, one of the first buildings built in the world, in 1902. Moreover, to visit many of the city's must-see places, it is strongly recommended to opt for a New York pass. After a moment spent going from site to site and marvelling, a break in a coffee shop is a must to savour a cupcake, a cookie or a cheesecake which will inevitably have a different flavour than at home. Then it's time to reach the Brooklyn Bridge to get away from the Manhattan buildings, never getting tired of the view.
Later, museums opened their doors: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the MoMA and the Guggenheim offer the opportunity to admire works by the world's greatest artists. The American Museum of National History and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum are other places to learn more about the history of the city that never sleeps. The rest of the stay continues with a few moments of relaxation in Central Park or on the beach at Coney Island. Grand Ferry Park, a tiny waterfront park in Williamsburg, is a recommended place to escape the hustle and bustle, but always with a sensational view
The West Indies, heading for sunny destinations
The vast archipelago of the West Indies is an ideal destination for a relaxing break at any time of the year. Among the various islands ready to welcome travellers in need of sun, Martinique and Guadeloupe. French territories, they offer breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and a culture in which it is pleasant to immerse yourself during your stay.
The best way to discover Martinique is still to rent a car, as with Thrifty Antilles. This avoids wasting time on public transport and makes it easy to travel around the island. 180 km of trails allow you to discover the coastline, to go deep into the heart of the tropical vegetation and also to climb Mount Pelée. Walking in Martinique means enjoying a great diversity of landscapes and atmospheres. For swimming in translucent waters, reading in the shade of a palm tree or enjoying a cocktail on the terrace of a seaside bar, head for the beach of Les Salines or Sainte-Anne and its countless creeks. Martinique has the sweet nickname of the Isle of Flowers, and a stroll in the splendid botanical garden of Balata is a great opportunity to realize it.
In Guadeloupe, what could be better than to start with a stop at Deshaies, a small fishing village surrounded by high wooded hills. The Caribbean-style wooden houses and its botanical garden are attractions not to be missed. The architecture continues with Pointe-à-Pitre and its superb colonial houses. The city is also an opportunity to browse the markets, stop for a ti-punch and then enjoy the Creole cuisine with its inimitable flavours. In terms of nature, what can we say except that each place in the Guadeloupe archipelago has its own beauty? The Route de la Traversée allows expeditions into the tropical forest, to meet the fauna, flora and refreshing waterfalls. From a stroll towards the active volcano of La Soufrière after having crossed a preserved primary forest, one reaches the Pointe de la Grande-Vigie and its steep cliffs whipped by a raging sea. The sea, which one never tires of in Guadeloupe, to swim in real lagoons and explore the exceptional depths. In Sainte-Anne, at the Grande Anse and during a trip to the peaceful Marie-Galante, paradise opens wide its doors in Guadeloupe
Chiapas, a region of varied treasures in Mexico
Located in the south of Mexico on the border with Guatemala, Chiapas is a state with a unique and strong culture. There is so much to say about this region and its richness, starting with its emblematic cities and villages. A stroll through San Cristobal de las Casas leads to the colourful buildings with colonial architecture typical of Mexico, and to streets that abound with shops, cafes and restaurants. In the surrounding area, you can't miss the indigenous villages, to meet the locals as in the municipality of San Juan de Chamula and to see the people embroidering and weaving threads of a thousand colors, as in Zinacantán.
Chiapas is also diving into the heart of the Mayan culture, visiting the archaeological area of Palenque, one of the most important Mayan cities in all Mesoamerica in the Classical era. The remains of the pyramids are exceptional there, as well as the surrounding lush forest where it is not uncommon to see monkeys howling in the distance. Monkeys that also inhabit the ancient Mayan city of Calakmul, a more isolated, less crowded, but equally magical place from a historical and architectural point of view.
I mean, how can we not talk about the beauty of nature in Chiapas. The Cañon del Sumidero, a UNESCO classified site that can be visited by boat, reveals steep cliffs and spectacular wildlife. A scenic route also offers superb views of the gorge. Chiapas also has abundant turquoise water and impressive waterfalls for swimming. Las 3 Tzimoleras and those of Agua Azul are among the most beautiful. Without forgetting to mention the Rio Santo Domingo in Las Nubes, where the turquoise water also offers a charming contrast with the green of the lush forest. Speaking of forest, why not end up by crossing the Selva Lacandona. On the border with Guatemala, far from everything, the hikes are punctuated by contact with the local populations descended from the Mayas and the observation of trees, flowers and birds, including the unmistakable toucan
