Ibiza’s size – just 45km by 25km – belies its diversity. Famed for its party scene, many imagine the entire island to resemble San Antonio; capital of nightclub culture and home to the bulk of large Ibiza hotels and bars. But a short boat ride out of San Antonio harbour takes you to a different world and the peaceful Cala d’Hort.  This romantic little bay offers spectacular views of towering cliffs behind and the mystical island of Es Vedrá just across the sea.  Few islands have as many legends attached to them as this volcanic rock, which is claimed to be the birthplace of Hannibal, the tip of Atlantis and a sacrificial altar for the goddess Tanit.

Head east from here and you reach Ibiza town, the island’s capital.  The town is home to the ancient Punic necropolis Puig des Molins, which has been listed by UNESCO for its historical importance.  Criss-crossed by winding cobbled streets that are lined with quaint little restaurants, Dalt Vila – the old town – offers some superb dining and is the perfect place to sample local seafood.  This is particularly handy if you’re making the long climb to the 14^th century cathedral of Santa Maria d’Eivissa at the top of the hill.

Figueretas, just outside Ibiza town, is home to some of the quietest coastal hotels in Ibiza, making it an ideal base for a relaxing stay. On Wednesday mornings, a boat arrives at a small jetty jutting out from the town’s beach and transports passengers up Ibiza’s east coast to Es Cana.  Here you get to experience the island’s original hippy market, Punta Arabi, where you can browse stalls to the sound of tabla drums and sitars, and perhaps leave with a henna tattoo to commemorate your visit.

It’s easy to dodge Ibiza’s revelry in favour of a peaceful sight-seeing break on this gorgeous Balearic Island if you want to relax and unwind.  But one of the most exciting things about Ibiza is its diversity, from pretty beaches in the south to leafy almond groves in the north, with world-famous nightclubs in between.  So if you’re looking for a holiday that offers everything, this pint-sized Balearic gem really is the perfect destination.

This post is part of a monthly Spanish Series sponsored by www.hotels4u.com, where you’ll find plenty of Ibiza hotels, suitable for all tastes and budgets.

Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

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One Great Reason to Visit Ibiza

One great reason to visit this travel destination is it really has something for everyone!

Ibiza!

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During a wet, steamy October visit to Elephanta Island and after disembarking from the boat trip from ‘ Gateway of India’ Mumbai, we were welcomed by a group of local women. They modeled for the visitors charging 2 rupees for a photo and more if they could get it! This photo was taken before a further 10-20 ladies came rushing over trying to get in the photo shoot to claim their 2 rupees.

Magnetic Island is one of my favourite travel destinations having visited there twice now. It’s the perfect destination for a relaxing family holiday in Queensland. Both times we stayed at Arcadia by pretty Alma Bay where it’s an easy 5mins walk to the beach. One thing we notice about visiting during May, is it’s off-peak and very peaceful but more than that, there are sensational sunsets like these to enjoy.

Isola Bella

Situated in northern Italy and not far from the Swiss border, Lake Maggiore or more commonly known by the locals at Lago Maggiore, has much to offer as a spectacular travel destination. The lake and surrounding area make it a popular summer destination, attracting visitors from all over.

A number of islands are dotted throughout the lake, with Isola Bella being one of the more significant. The island forms part of the Borromean Islands and has been occupied since well before 1632 by inhabitants of a tiny fishing village. However, during 1632 the construction of the monumental Baroque ‘Palazzo Borromeo’ commenced by Count Carlo III. The Palace contains priceless furniture, tapestries and art collections. The terraced gardens are an excellent example of a seventeenth century “Italian garden”. Isola Bella is easily accessed from the lakeside town of Stresa.

Rick Steves’ Italy 2010 with map

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One Great Reason to Visit Lake Maggiore

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the utterly romantic location of Isola Bella and the Palazzo Borromeo.

Lake Maggiore – Italy

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Present Day Camusfearna

Sandaig and the ‘Bay of Alder’ is a very remote destination found on the Isle of Tiree, off the west coast of Scotland. Here writer Gavin Maxwell lived with his beloved otters. Guest writer Jean from the Netherlands shares his dream, travel destination and fondness for the author with TravelTipsPlus.com.

Some places are more special than others. The most special #dream #travel destination for me is Gavin Maxwell’s (1914-1969) ‘Bay of Alder’ in Scotland. It’s the remote place where Maxwell lived for almost 20 years. The place where he wrote his books, took care of his otters, planned his travels and licked his new wounds.

Camusfearna during the 1950s

Sandaig, Bay of Alder (in gaellic ‘Camusfearna’) in 1950 to the right and top photo, of present day Camusfearna.

I have read all Gavin Maxwell’s books. I have also read all the books that talk about him and his life. His father and grandfather were also authors and I’ve read some of their books also! To be short, I’m very fond of Gavin Maxwell. Here is a quote by him (1959) that I would like to share:

“It is October, and I have been for six unbroken months at Camusfearna. The stags are roaring on the slopes of Skye across the Sound, and yesterday the wild swans passed flying southwards low over a lead-grey sea. The ring of tide-wrack round the bay is piled with fallen leaves borne down the burn, and before a chill sea wind they are blown racing and scurrying up the sands. The summer, with its wild roses and smooth blue seas lapping white beaches, is over; the flower of the heather is dead and the scarlet rowan berries fallen. Beyond are the brief twilit days of winter, when the waterfall will thunder white over flat rocks whose surface was hot to bare feet under summer suns, and the cold, salt-wet wind will rattle the window and moan in the chimney. This year I shall not be there to see and hear these things; home is for me as yet a fortress from which to essay raid and foray, an embattled position behind whose walls one may retire to lick new wounds and plan fresh journeys to father horizons. Yet while there is time there is the certainty of return.”

Edal the Otter's Grave

My three favourite Gavin Maxwell books: G. Maxwell, ‘Ring of Bright Water’. G. Maxwell, ‘The House of Elrig’. Douglas Botting, ‘Gavin Maxwell, A Life’.

One day in the month of May I will walk with a rucksack from Inverness to Sandaig. Accompanied with rain, wind and sun. At the end of the journey I’ll find Edal’s monument at Camusfearna. It’s the exact place where once Gavin’s writing table stood. The house was burnt to the ground in January 1968 and Otter ‘Edal’ perished in the fire.

RING OF BRIGHT WATER – Gavin Maxwell

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One Great Reason to Visit Sandaig

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the very remote location accompanied with wild otters once in a while.

Wings of Wild Swans

Contemporary folk song. Inspired by the Scottish Highlands. Lyrics inspired by a line in Gavin Maxwell’s ‘Ring of Bright Water’. Photographed at Sandaig where, as Camusfearna, Gavin made his home.

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Granada Architecture

Granada is the fourth largest city of Nicaragua and was established by the Spanish during 1524 as a showpiece. It was built in recognition of its Spanish namesake, Granada. Granada lies on the shores of Lake Nicaragua but is only a mere 70km from the shores of the Pacific Ocean. The rich, Spanish colonial heritage, can be seen in its architecture and layout. Granada is commonly referred to as the “Gran Sultana del Gran Lago”, the Great Sultan of the Great Lake.

Granada is an ‘off the beaten track’ travel destination but well worth a visit for its colonial heritage and beautiful architecture that can be enjoyed here. Granada is built around its main square, the Parque Central, and represents the city’s cultural, social and economic hub. Around the Parque Central you will find Granada’s cathedral, City Hall, banks, cultural centres, as well as a collection of small shops and stalls selling traditional food and handicrafts.

Lake Nicaragua with its warm climate makes it rich in tropical flora and fauna and is home to the only species of freshwater shark. A volcanic chain cuts right through the lake forming many beautiful islands that attract many to the area to enjoy a range of outdoor and water activities. A ferry service connects Granada to neighbouring cities on the lake.

Lonely Planet – Nicaragua (Country Guide)

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One Great Reason to Visit Granada

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to enjoy the beautiful architecture of Spanish-heritage displayed throughout the city.

Granada, Nicaragua

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Medlands Beach

Great Barrier Island is located 90 km from Auckland on the east coast of New Zealand. Angela Pearse spent a weekend on the island courtesy of Tourism Auckland and Sealink ferries.

Visiting Great Barrier Island is like winding back the hands of time. The 800 or so islanders generate their electricity by wind, solar, battery or diesel power. There is no main water supply or street lighting. Mail is infrequent and supplies of fresh food such as bread and grocery items are shipped over on the ferry.

But it is this back-to-basics lifestyle and untouched natural landscape which makes Great Barrier Island such a special travel destination. On our trip we met some locals who are passionate about “The Barrier”.

In Port Fitzroy on the west side of the island, Sven Stellin extracts manuka and kanuka oil and makes products, such as mosquito spray, balms, soaps and essential oils. He gives visitors a first-hand look into the process of extraction and a chance to buy Barrier Gold products.

Also at Port Fitzroy is Glenfern Sanctuary run by Tony Bouzaid. Glenfern is a 150 acre reserve where endangered species such as the rare black petrel, brown teal duck and North Island Robins can live safely from predators. Tony’s guided walk takes you through the sanctuary, which has elevated boardwalks through native forest and a suspension bridge into a 600 year old kauri tree. A ride in Tony’s Unimog, a 4WD all terrain army vehicle, is included in the walk.

Solar Panel House

The largest settlement in Great Barrier Island is at Tryphena Harbour in the south west of the island where the ferry docks. It has a good selection of accommodation including:

There are eight camping grounds on Great Barrier Island, with some situated a short distance from pristine white sand beaches. Medlands Beach and neighbouring Okupu Bay on the east coast are particularly beautiful and it is not uncommon to see dolphins there in the warmer months.

Other top notch accommodations include Mt Saint Paul Lodge at Medlands Beach and Great Barrier Lodge at Whangaparapara Harbour on the west, which has self-contained cottages and backpacker cabins.

Currach Irish Pub, Mt Saint Paul Lodge and Great Barrier Lodge

Sealink ferries and Fly My Sky

You can reach ‘The Barrier’, as it is affectionately known, by a relaxing four and half hour Sealink ferry ride (with onboard café + two movie theatres) or a 35 minute chartered Fly My Sky flight from Auckland Domestic Airport.

New Zealand (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

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One Great Reason to Visit Great Barrier Island

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for the more than 100 kms of walking tracks. One of the most popular is Kaitoke Hot Springs. Reached by a gentle meandering bush walk, Kaitoke Hot Springs has a series of natural pools for bathing and is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a hard day of sight-seeing on the island.

Great Barrier Island

Great Barrier Island from Dave Woodard on Vimeo.

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Easter Island

Known as ‘Rapa Nui’ by the indigenous community and otherwise known as ‘Easter Island’, is situated some 3,700km west of the mainland of South America in the Pacific Ocean. This isolated position makes it quite a trek for most visitors. Those that do make the effort to visit the 117sq km island, are greeted with a host of wonders making it an exceptional travel destination.

Easter Island was first discovered by Europeans back in 1722 on Easter Sunday, hence the name of the island. However, inhabitants date back to an estimated 300 CE. This is when it was thought the large statues known as “moai”, were carved and erected by the Polynesian community. Scattered around Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater, are 397 moai in various stages of completion. The Rapa Nui National Park gained inscription as a World Heritage site with UNESCO during 1995.

Lonely Planet Travel Guide – Chile & Easter Island

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One Great Reason to Visit Easter Island

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to view this unique, isolated landscape and monolithic statues.

David Attenborough Explains Easter Island

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Lake Titicaca

Located between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is one of the most fascinating lakes in the world. It is situated at a very high altitude (some 3800 meters above sea level) in the Andes Mountains making it one of the highest navigable lake in the world and the largest (by volume) in South America. The lake is largely fed by rainfall and melting snow from both the glaciers and mountains.

The Floating Islands

Copacabana is the main Bolivian town and travel destination on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Copacana is the most important religious sanctuary of Bolivia and attracts numerous pilgrims throughout the year. Its dominated by the impressive moorish style cathedral dating back to 1605. From here you can catch a boat tour to Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) which is the birthplace of the sun in Inca mythology.

A cluster of smaller islands known as the ‘Floating Islands’ can be visited from Peru’s Puno. These islands are made from layers of the buoyant ‘totora reeds’. Today several hundred people still populate the islands.

Global Treasures – LAKE TITICACA DVD

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One Great Reason to Visit Lake Titicaca

One great reason to visit Lake Titicaca is for the abundance of cultural experiences between both Bolivia and Peru. It offers spectacular lake scenery flanked by the Andes Mountains.

Lake Titicaca

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Lakeside Guest Houses

With a well balanced tropical climate it offers perfect conditions for a vast population of flora and fauna. The area has always attracted many migratory birds such as the heron, Siberian stork, teak and egret. The establishment of the 14 acre ‘Bird Sanctuary’ allows this to continue in a protected environment and is now a popular tourist spot.

A great way to really experience what the area has to offer is to hire a motor boat or better still, if the budget allows, a houseboat and stay out on the lakes for a couple of nights.

The Rough Guide to Kerala

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One Great Reason to Visit Kumarakom

One great reason to visit Kumarakom is for the beautiful waterways and if the budget allows, to stay upon one of the houseboats.

Kumarakom, Kerala

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