10 Important Wetlands in the World

Wetlands are found in almost every region of the world and are considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems. They provide habitat for a great number of water and land species. They are also an important environment to many migratory bird species. Types of wetlands include swamps, bogs, marshes and estuaries. An overview of some the most important wetlands in the world.

10Camargue

The Camargue encompasses the Rhone River delta in the southeast of France. Approximately a third of the Camargue is either lakes or marshland. It is one of the best places in Europe for bird watching. Its brine ponds provide one of the few European habitats for the greater flamingo. It is also famous for the Camargue Bull and the Camargue Horse.

9Wasur National Park

Wasur National Park is a massive wetland region in the Indonesian province of Papua, on the island of New Guinea. Dubbed the Serengeti of Papua owing to its incredible biodiversity, Wasur National Park maintains a large number of rare animals and birds. The best place for spotting wildlife in Wasur National Park is Rawa Biru Lake, which is part of the wetlands. There are many water fowl species and migrant birds here along with cassowaries and wallabies. Unfortunately the park natural flooded grassland systems are threatened by the invasion of alien species such as water hyacinth and mimosa pigra.

8iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously known as Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park), is one of the most diverse region in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. iSimangaliso is well known for its extensive wetlands, sand dunes, beaches and coral reefs. Animals occurring on the park include elephants, leopard, black and white rhino, buffalo, and in the ocean, whales, dolphins, and marine turtles.

7Mekong Delta

The Mekong Delta is the region in southern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea. It is a very rich and lush area, covered with rice fields, that produces about half of the total of Vietnam’s agricultural output. Subsequently, life in the Mekong Delta revolves much around the river, and all the villages are often accessible by river rather than by road.

6Kakadu Wetlands

Kakadu National Park is a diverse park about half the size of Switzerland located in the Northern Territory of Australia. The park’s wetlands provide one of the best wildlife viewing opportunities. The freshwater and saltwater crocodiles sleep on the banks of the many rivers and billabongs for most of the day but can also be seen floating or swimming in the water. One of Kakadu’s best known landmarks is the Yellow Water billabong. Located near the small settlement of Cooinda, Yellow Water is home to crocodiles, wild horses, buffalo and other wildlife. The billabong, which floods to join other waterways during the tropical season, also attracts millions of migratory birds each year.

5Kerala backwaters

The Kerala backwaters are a chain of lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast in the Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers. The backwaters are home to many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds and animals such as otters and turtles. Today, houseboat tourism is the most popular activity in backwaters, with several large Kettuvallams (traditional rice boats, now converted into floating hotels)ply the waterways.

4Everglades

Located in the state of Florida, The Everglades are a vast, shallow, slow moving river of grass that extends from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. During the dry season it dries up except for the deeper places. The region is home to over twenty different kinds of birds and hundreds of other species. Many pets have escaped or been released into the Everglades from the surrounding urban areas. Native to southern Asia, the Burmese python is now competing with the American Alligator, the largest reptile in North America, for the top of the food chain. In 2009 agents removed more than 1,200 Burmese pythons from the Everglades National Park.

3Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the world’s great inland waterways. It is formed where the Okavango River empties onto a basin in the Kalahari Desert, where most of the water is lost to evaporation and transpiration instead of draining into the sea. The Okavango delta is famous for its wide variety of wildlife. Species include elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, crocodile, lion, cheetah, rhinoceros and zebra. The majority of the estimated 200,000 large mammals in and around the delta are not year round residents. They leave with the summer rains and make their way back as winter approaches.

2Sundarbans

The Sundarbans is the largest littoral mangrove belt in the world spreading across Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. The name Sundarban can be literally translated as “beautiful jungle” in the Bengali language. Several predators dwell in the labyrinth of channels, branches and roots that make up the region including about 500 Bengal tigers. Unlike in other habitats, here tigers live and swim among the mangrove islands, where they hunt prey such as the Chital deer and Wild boar. The tigers do also regularly attack and kill humans who venture into the forest. Some of the reptiles are predators too, including two species of crocodile, the Saltwater Crocodile and Mugger crocodile.

10 Wonderful African Islands

When mentioning an African holiday, most people will probably think of a safari tour, a visit to an ancient Egyptian monument or perhaps a trip to Cape Town or Marrakesh. However, Africa also has some amazing islands lying off its coasts. Madagascar, the 4th largest island in the world is the obvious one but there are also some smaller islands that are definitely worth a trip. These African islands have a fascinating history, unique wildlife and beaches that easily rival those of the Caribbean.

10Sao Tomé

São Tomé Island is the largest island of São Tomé and Príncipe, a Portuguese-speaking island nation straddling the Equator, off the western coast of Central Africa. Few tourists make it to the island so visitors can dive and snorkel in uncharted waters and explore the sleepy fishermen’s villages at their own, leisurely pace. Other activity options include going to a chocolate factory and enjoying some of the world’s best coffee.

9Sal

Sal is the most popular island of Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 African islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean. The island of Sal, which means salt in Portuguese, has become popular due to its nice sandy beaches. The main town is Santa Maria, where there are restaurants, bars, music and nightlife. Pastel shaded houses and shops line the streets.

8Mohéli

Mohéli, also known as Mwali, is the smallest of the three African islands which make up the nation of Comoros. It’s wild, undeveloped and sparsely populated with few modern amenities. It is also home to the only national park in the Comoros, Mohéli Marine Park and snorkelers looking for colorful coral reefs will not be disappointed. Sea turtles, dolphins and whales are all protected in the park.

7Nosy Be

The small island of Nosy Be is Madagascar’s premier tourist destination attracting thousands of tourists from across the globe year round. Although Nosy Be’s beaches don’t look as picture perfect as some other beaches in the Indian Ocean, they do win points for tranquility, clear turquoise water and excellent seafood restaurants serving seafood diner on the sand.

6Djerba

Djerba is the largest island of North Africa located off the coast of southern Tunisia. It boasts beautiful sandy beaches and a peaceful and silent countryside. It is one of the few remaining places in Tunisia where a Berber language is still spoken. The town of Ajim was the 1977 location of the Mos Eisley exterior scenes in the first Star Wars movie.

5Reunion

Reunion is a French overseas territory with a population of about 800,000 located east of Madagascar and south west of Mauritius, the nearest island. Swahili, Arab and Portuguese sailors all visited the island but it was the French who colonized the island in 1665. Reunion is similar to the island of Hawaii insofar as both are located above hotspots in the Earth’s crust. It’s highest volcano is Piton des Neiges at 3,070 meters (10,070 feet) above sea level.

4Lamu Island

Lamu Island is a part of the Lamu Archipelago of Kenya. Lamu Old Town, the main town on the island, is one of the oldest and best preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa. Made of coral stone and mangrove timber, the town features inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors. There are no roads on the island, just alleyways and trails, and therefore, there are few vehicles on the island.

3Mauritius

Mauritius is a small, multicultural island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and southeast of the Seychelles. Mauritius was an uninhabited island until the Dutch arrived in 1598. The Dutch left in 1710 due to tough climatic conditions. The French took their chances 5 years later only to surrender the island to the British in 1810. From then on, the island was renamed Mauritius and remained under British rule until it attained independence. Mauritius is well-known for having been the only known habitat of the dodo. This bird was an easy prey to settlers due to its weight and inability to fly, and vanished less than 80 years after the initial European colonization.

2Zanzibar

Zanzibar (also referred to as Unguja or Zanzibar Island) is the largest and most populated island of the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania. The African island has been for centuries an important trading center, a melting pot of African, Indian and Arab influences. Zanzibar’s major attraction is Stone Town, with its whitewashed, coral rag houses, charming shops, bazaars, mosques, squares and courtyards. Another big attraction are the beautiful white sandy beaches lapped by the turquoise sea.

1Praslin

Praslin is the second largest island of the Seychelles with a population of around 6,500 people. Once a hideaway for pirates and Arab merchants it is now a popular tourist destination with several hotels and resorts. It’s white sandy beaches such as Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette are among the most beautiful in the world. It also has substantial expanses of tropical forests with birds such as the endemic Seychelles Bulbul. The beautiful Vallée de Mai Nature Preserve is known for the unique coco de mer and vanilla orchids.

Best Caribbean Beaches From Around The World

The Caribbean Beaches are without a doubt among the best in the world. Beautiful beaches with soul-warming sun, crystal-clear waters and white or even pink sand. Selecting the best ones isn’t an easy task with so many beaches to choose from. But here’s our list of the best Caribbean beaches.

25Palm Beach

Palm Beach in Aruba features white sand and excellent swimming conditions in calm water. All up and down this beach are resorts, which makes the area more crowded than some other beaches on Aruba, but also provides a lot of amenities and services. All resorts open their amenities and grounds to the public, including equipment rentals.

24Orient Beach

Orient Beach is St. Martin’s flagship beach and is often referred to as the “French Riviera of the Caribbean”. This expansive one mile beach is home to numerous beach bar and restaurants, who offer various menus, from formal French to pizzas, burgers and local fare. Be forewarned, this beach is divided into two sections. The northern portion of the beach is referred to as the “prude side” while the southern section is referred to as the “nude side”.

23Punta Cana

The Punta Cana coastline of sandy white beaches is considered the major resort area in the Dominican Republic. The majority of the resorts are very large and spread out, like small cities. The nightlife inside the resorts is very lively with Las Vegas-style shows mostly from native artists. Other tourist attractions include water parks, shopping malls and golf courses.

22Horseshoe Bay

Although technically Bermuda is not a Caribbean Island it is in many ways Caribbean in spirit, so we’ve included it in our list of Best Caribbean Beaches. Horseshoe Bay is the most famous beach in Bermuda. A very popular tourist attraction, it lies on the main island’s south coast. The sand of the beach is very fine and displays a pink tint. Note that the weather here is not tropical but subtropical. It is quite warm from May until early October but then it is cool and rainy for much of the remainder of the year.

21Playa Paraiso

Playa Paraiso is located on Cayo Largo del Sur, a coral island belonging to Cuba. The beach, together with nearby Playa Sirena, is the most outstanding of the spectacular stretches of sand along the length of the island. Located on the more protected western end of Cayo largo, these are broad expanses of glistening, fine white sand, bordering the clear Caribbean Sea. There’s a simple beachside restaurant on Playa Paraíso, and not much else.

20Reduit Beach

For the most part, St. Lucian beaches are relatively short, but with five miles of white sand on Rodney Bay, Reduit Beach is the place for a long stroll by the shore and a swim in calm waters. One of the most popular beaches on the island, it is fronted by the Rex St. Lucian, Papillon and the Royal St. Lucian hotels. There are restaurants and vendors renting water sports equipment and lounge chairs.

19Sainte Anne Beach

Sainte-Anne is one of the most popular tourist towns in Guadeloupe and boasts one of best beaches in the country. The beach is ideal for snorkeling, scuba-diving, windsurfing or relaxing. Sainte Anne is also home to a French-language so you can work on your linguistic skills during your trip to this French-speaking island.

18Seven Mile Beach

The longest beach in Jamaica, Seven Mile Beach remains one of the island’s best. First developed in the 1960s, Seven Mile Beach is lined with resorts but maintains a touch of its free-love spirit with a number of designated areas for nude sunbathing. Harassment by vendors selling everything from hair-braiding to marijuana can be a negative at this beach, however.

17Shoal Bay

Anguilla’s most famous beach, Shoal Bay, has it all: a wide swath of soft sand over a mile long, an extensive selection of beach bars and restaurants, a comfortable collection of small beach resorts and an offshore reef that attracts snorkelers and divers. Just to confuse first-timers, there are three Shoal Bays: East, Upper and West. All have excellent beaches. East is the widest and most popular, Upper offers similar attractions on a smaller scale, and West is simply beach, water and private resorts.

16Palm Island

Palm Island in the Grenadines is a tiny island a mile from Union Island, and only accessible by boat. The island is currently home to a resort and about twenty private holiday residences. Since iguana hunting has been forbidden in 1999, Palm Island is home for thousands of them. Casuarina Beach is the prettiest of the five beaches on the island.

15Grace Bay

The 8 km (5 mile) long Grace Bay, with its brilliant white sand and shimmering turquoise waters is located on Providenciales, one of the islands of the Turks and Caicos. Grace Bay is where the majority of Provo’s hotels and resorts are located and where most of the tourism development is occurring although development here is still way behind most other Caribbean destinations. You’ll still find plenty of space on the most popular Turks Caicos beach.

14Placencia

A popular peninsula, Placencia has the best mainland beaches in Belize, plus some of the most amazing offshore coral cayes. The eastern side of the Placencia Peninsula is a long expanse of white sand beach. The western side is bounded by a long and narrow bay. The beautiful beaches together with the abundant, inexpensive accommodation, make it a great place to relax.

13Half Moon Bay

Perhaps Antigua’s most beautiful beach, Half Moon Bay stretches for nearly 1.5 km (1 mile) on the southeastern coast, a 5-minute drive from Freetown village. The Atlantic surf can be rough, but that doesn’t stop a stream of windsurfers, heading out beyond the reef. The coral reef also allows snorkeling close to the beach. Half Moon Bay is now a public park and ideal for a family outing.

12Pink Beach

Pink Beach, is Barbuda’s centerpiece beach. Nearly eight miles of deserted oceanfront stretches from Spanish Point to Palmetto Point, and the snorkeling is fabulous. The champagne color of the sand glows pink thanks to the crushed coral in the mix. It’s possible to stroll the beach for miles without seeing another soul.

11Los Roques

Los Roques Archipelago National Park was created in 1972 by the Venezuelan government to protect a marine ecosystem of exceptional beauty and ecological . It is the largest marine park in the Caribbean Sea. The almost untouched coral reefs host some of the most beautiful underwater fauna and flora of the Caribbean. The park has exceptionally beautiful beaches of white sand and multicolor, crystalline warm waters which make it a diving, sailing and fishing paradise.

10Varadero

Varadero is a relatively exclusive part of Cuba, abundant with private hotels, gorgeous beaches and the country’s only full golf course. The fantastic beaches with clear turquoise warm water makes this a popular package tour destination. Varadero is primarily visited by European, Latin American and Canadian tourists. The number of US. tourists visiting Varadero, although increasing, has been limited because of the restrictions that make it illegal for U.S. citizens to visit Cuba as tourists.

9Flamenco Beach

Located east of the Puerto Rican mainland, the island of Culebra is a popular weekend tourist destination for Puerto Ricans and Americans. Culebra has many beautiful beaches including Flamenco Beach (Playa Flamenco), which can be reached by shuttle buses from the ferry. The beach extends for a mile of white coral sand and is framed beautifully by arid tree-covered hills. The beach is protected as a Marine Wildlife Reserve.

8White Bay

Jost Van Dyke, the smallest of the four main islands of the British Virgin Islands, is home to some of the most picture perfect beaches in the Caribbean. The unspoilt White Bay Beach was a secret until recently but now some major publications are raving about it, and it has been selected as one of world’s top ten best beaches. The beach boasts calm, turquoise waters, and the sand is soft and white. Lush, green hills rise up behind the beach, capping off the splendid setting.

7Crane Beach

The Crane Beach is located along the south east coast of Barbados steps away from the Crane Hotel. It was named “one of the Ten Best Beaches in the world” by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. It is situated between protective rock outcroppings, making it a very secluded spot. The moderate waves make it excellent for body surfing and boogey boarding. It is everything a Caribbean beach should be, but with bigger waves and a stronger breeze.

6Les Salines

One of the best beaches in Martinique, Les Salines features miles of white sand and softly swaying palm trees. There are no shower or bath facilities available at Les Salines. However, there is plenty of space to set up and enjoy a long, relaxing day by the water with terrific panoramic scenery. Weekdays are the least busy times while on weekends the beach tends to fill up fast with families and can become quite crowded, especially in the afternoons.

5Grand Anse

Grenada is home to dozens of stunning beaches and the serene Grand Anse is one of the best. Known for its serene and calm conditions, Grand Anse is two miles of white sand, on the western side of the island, sheltered from high waves, strong currents and winds. The beach is one of the most famous Grenadian landmarks and is overlooked by some of the island’s best hotels and grand houses.

4Pink Sand Beach

Rated as one of the “Best Bahamas Beaches” by the likes of Fodors, Frommers and The Travel Channel, Harbour Island Bahamas is famous for its three and a half miles of picture perfect pink sand beaches. Warm clear ocean waters provide excellent diving, fishing and boating while outlying reefs provide safe swimming and snorkeling.

3The Baths

One of the Caribbean’s most famous beaches, The Baths are situated at the southern tip of Virgin Gorda, the third largest island of the British Virgin Islands. Huge granite boulders lie in piles on the beach, forming spectacular tunnels and grottoes that are open to the sea and flood at high tide. The sandy beaches are lined with tropical palms, adding to the dramatic effect.

2Englishman's Bay

Englishman’s Bay is a secluded beach on the leeward coast of Tobago. Although the bay does not draw the large numbers of beach-goers that Tobago’s western beaches do, it is considered as one of the island’s most beautiful. The beach itself is a classic crescent shape, capped by two heavily forested headlands. The sand starts immediately after the forest ends and is of a shallow to medium gradient and somewhat coarse grain. The waters are calm year-round and boast magnificent snorkeling and swimming.

1Trunk Bay

Trunk Bay is a National Park beach on St. John in the United States Virgin Islands. Rated as one the world’s most beautiful beaches by the National Geographic Society and among the best beaches in the Caribbean it attracts hordes of cruise ship passengers. Amenities on the beach include a snack bar, showers and restrooms, a lifeguard, and, most famously, an underwater trail for snorkeling its coral reef.

10 Best Luxury Resorts in the Maldives

Perhaps the ultimate luxury destination, the Maldives has become a synonym for paradise whether it is for honeymooners, sun worshipers or scuba divers. Aside from the capital Male, there are no hotels in the Maldives, only resorts. Most resorts take up their own island, so the ratio of beach to guests must be one of the best in the world.
This list presents the best luxury resorts in the Maldives, as rated by visitors. Resorts in the Maldives are not cheap even at the bottom end, and these luxury resorts definitely come at a price, but they do offer the best the Maldives has to offer. Our hotel tool compares 100+ travel sites for the best price so you might find a great deal for one of them.

10Soneva Gili Resort *****

The Soneva Gili Resort offers 45 luxurious over-water villas, including several villas that can only be reached by boat. Every villa has been designed and built with the utmost attention to detail. Each has its own private water garden and sun decks. The bathrooms have a separate shower accessed along an open-air walkway. Guests have the option to dine on the villa deck under moonlight and enjoy the sunset.

9Lily Beach Resort & Spa *****

The Lily Beach Resort & Spa offers piece, serenity and beautiful natural surroundings combined with excellent resort facilities. After an extensive renovation the resort was reopened in 2009 as an all-inclusive 5 star luxury resort.

8Naladhu Resort *****

Naladhu is a small Maldives Resort with just 19 villas. The villas feature lavish floor to ceiling glass sliding doors and a large living and bedroom area. Rooms are equipped with bathrooms that have their own outdoor area with both a rainshower and infinity edge terrazzo bathtub.

7Veligandu Island Resort ****

The Veligandu Island Resort is the only 4-star hotel on this list of luxury resorts in the Maldives. The designs of the resort’s architecture, right down to the final touches, are authentically Maldivian. The resort offers 76 rooms, including 54 Jacuzzi Water Villas, 10 Water Villas and 12 Jacuzzi Beach Villas.

6Mirihi Island Resort *****

Perhaps the most affordable on the best luxury resorts in the Maldives, The Mirihi Island Resort offers 36 villas that are equipped with the standard amenities of a 5 star-hotel. Blessed with white beaches, turquoise blue waters and one of the most amazing house-reefs, this is truly a great resort.

5Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa *****

The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa contains several thatch-roofed bungalows stretching over a pristine beach. The resort offers several swimming pools, water sports, restaurants, lounges, a library, and spa facilities. Many of the guest bungalows at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa offer glass floors for observation of the sea below. Each guest room boasts a balcony or terrace with views of the Indian Ocean.

4Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru *

The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru offers 44 acres of unspoiled wilderness in the heart of the Baa Atoll, the only UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. Snorkel with turtles, manta rays and whale sharks in one of the Maldives’s largest natural lagoons. Guest accommodation is in thatched beach villas and over-water villas. Resort facilities include 3 dining options, an infinity pool and a serene spa located on its own island.

3Taj Exotica Resort And Spa *****

Most of the Taj Exotica Resort And Spa’s luxurious villas are perched over the lagoon with nothing but blue ocean waters and glorious sunsets to block the view. All the villas are palm-thatched, and the interiors are designed in classic Maldivian style. The villas offer sun-decks, and some offer private plunge pools, outdoor showers, and verandas with day beds and private spa rooms.

2Baros Maldives *****

There are 75 wooden villas at the Baros Maldives Resort which are comfortably styled and all offer a variety of amenities. Guests of the hotel will have many amenities offered to them, including an on-site spa that offers Swedish massage, body wraps and tropical fruit facials, waterfall plunge pools, in-house restaurants and bars and scuba diving lessons.

1Cocoa Island Resort *****

Rated as the best luxury resort in the Maldives, Cocoa Island Resort is ideally located along crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and breath-taking sunsets. Most of the rooms are uniquely inspired by dhoni boats, the style of vessel used by local fishermen in the Maldives. They are adjoined by simple wooden walkways built above the shallow lagoon. The view from the wide platform bed is directly out to the ocean. The bathrooms share the horizon views.
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