nature
Ranking the greenest countries in the world
The greenest country in the world is Switzerland according to the latest data analysis from the 2018 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). The 2018 Environmental Performance Index evaluates and ranks 180 countries on 24 performance indicators across ten categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality. The aim is to gauge, at a national scale, how close countries are to meeting the environmental policy goals outlined in the United Nations 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. The EPI builds on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), formally adopted in September 2015. The two main objectives of the report are to assess how 180 countries protect their ecosystems and human health. The post Ranked: most sustainable countrie...
The travel that changed me: Miriam Lancewood
Miriam Lancewood has not lived a conventional life. She and her husband Peter spent seven years in the wilderness of New Zealand. They survived by hunting wild animals and foraging while sleeping in a tent and cooking on an open fire. Since then, she has walked across Europe and written three books. Wherever she finds herself, Miriam is most content living a simple life, unfettered by society's norms. The post The travel that changed me: Miriam Lancewood appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Tips for visiting Tikal in Guatemala: 11 dos and don’ts
Our essential tips for visiting Tikal, the most fantastical Maya ruins in all of Central America Mexico’s Chichén Itzá may be a world wonder and receive far more visitors, but there are few ancient ruins more atmospheric, romantic and impressive than Tikal in Guatemala. These UNESCO-listed Maya ruins are truly unique. Towering above the steamy rainforest, the The post Tips for visiting Tikal in Guatemala: 11 dos and don’ts appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
8 best day trips from Panama City, Panama
Situated on a small peninsula on the Pacific Coast, Panama City is Central America's most attractive and cosmopolitan capital. The city has an impressive skyline replete with sleek skyscrapers and glitzy shopping malls, a charming old town in the UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo and best of all, the city is a superb gateway to the country's top attractions. The post 8 best day trips from Panama City, Panama appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Ranked: America’s most dog-friendly national parks
From accessible trails and pet-friendly campsites to kennel services and wildlife safety, these are America’s most dog-friendly national parks Many of America’s national parks have strict policies in place for bringing along your dog – and for good reason. Some parks are home to dangerous trails, sensitive ecosystems, extreme weather or wild animals – from porcupines to The post Ranked: America’s most dog-friendly national parks appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
8 day trips from San Salvador in El Salvador
As the smallest and most densely populated of the seven Central American countries, it's hardly surprising that El Salvador packs a lot into its borders. With a verdant tropical interior, charming colonial towns and superb surfing on its coast, El Salvador is arguably a microcosm of wider Latin America. And considering many of the country's best assets – hiking, hills and coffee – stem from its fiery geology, it's easy to see why the country is known as the 'Land of Volcanoes'. The post 8 day trips from San Salvador in El Salvador appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Things to do on Ambergris Caye: La Isla Bonita
The largest island in Belize is also the country's most popular tourist destination – and for good reason. La Isla Bonita, as it's affectionately known, is perfectly positioned just a short distance from arguably the country's greatest asset: the Belize Barrier Reef. The post Things to do on Ambergris Caye: La Isla Bonita appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Visiting Pamukkale: tips to know before you go
Pamukkale, though Turkey’s most popular attraction by numbers, is barely known outside its country borders. It’s the iconic architecture of Istanbul and the cave dwellings of Cappadocia that steal the spotlight, but Pamukkale with its cascading travertine terraces deserves attention as well. Sweeping limestone cliffs of a blinding white hue rise above pools of powder blue. Petrified stakes of limestone hang from chalky roots – like in Superman’s fortress of solitude or a Tim Burton nightmare if his nightmares were good. The post Visiting Pamukkale: tips to know before you go appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
5 days in 2023 when all US national parks are free
Put these dates in your diaries. Over 400 US national parks are free to visit on five days this year Visiting one of America’s iconic national parks is always a great idea and it’s even sweeter when it’s free. The National Park Service (NPS) has announced five days in 2023 when entrance fees will be waived at every site around the USA. Calin Tatu/Shutterstock Zion National Park usually charges a fee There are over 400 NPS-managed sites across the US representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the unincorporated territories of American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The list includes all 63 national parks as well as hundreds of other units such as national monuments, historic sites, preserves, reserves, rivers, parkways and recreation areas. “National ...
How to visit Río Lagartos: a complete guide
Our guide on how to visit Río Lagartos, Mexico’s Biosphere Reserve home to flamingos, crocodiles and a not-so-pink lake When 16th-century Spanish explorers first arrived on the northern shores of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, they found a mangrove-lined estuary which they named Río de Los Lagartos – the river of the lizards. Now a UNESCO biosphere reserve, the coastal lagoons feature a network of smaller estuaries, mangroves, marshes and savannahs that are home to over 500 species of vertebrates, several of them endangered. Thanks to conservation efforts, species numbers have stabilised recently as harmful agriculture activities using ‘slash and burn’ methods have been reduced. Atlas & Boots The waterfront town of Río Lagartos The wetlands, along with the sleepy fishing town of the...
11 best things to do in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
From the world’s longest zipline to desert bedouin camps, these are the best things to do in Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, is an intriguing blend of the modern world and old Arabia. Unlike its neighbouring emirates, overdevelopment is yet to engulf Ras Al Khaimah, more commonly known as RAK. This, along with its sandy coast and craggy interior, makes it a beguiling Middle East destination. Meaning ‘headland of the tent’, Ras Al Khaimah is located in the northeastern part of the UAE, bordering Musandam, an exclave of Oman. Its position between the Persian Gulf and the Hajar Mountains reveals a range of landscapes from dramatic hilltop forts and dusty rose-red ridges to wind-hewn deserts and a glittering coastline of sandy beaches and mangrove...
Self-drive Uganda: 7 routes to suit every itinerary
From three-day jaunts to two-week tours, these self-drive Uganda routes are crammed with bucket-list views Here at Atlas & Boots, some of our best memories were made while we were watching wildlife. One of our favourite experiences was our self-drive safari through Nambia, which offered close encounters with lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and more zebras than we could count. The 17-day trip stuck a fine balance of organised tour and independent travel. We didn’t have to concern ourselves with logistics – that was all taken care of – but still enjoyed the flexibility that comes with the open road. Gunter Nuyts/Shutterstock A self-drive safari in Uganda offers flexibility We are keen to return to the continent – next time to East Africa – to explore the savannahs and jungles o...
