Bahia Solano, Colombia

Bahía Solano is a municipality and town in the Chocó Department, Colombia. Bahia, as it is locally known, is an economic and touristic[unbalanced opinion] center of coastal Choco. Bahia is home to an airport as well as seaport, and along with daily flights to and from Medellin, Quibdo, Cali, and Bogota, there are bi-weekly ships that take passengers and cargo from Bahia to the port of Buenaventura.

The region around Bahia Solano is home to world class[unbalanced opinion] scuba diving and sport fishing, providing a plethora of marine activities to the traveller. Only 18 km away from Bahia Solano, is the stunning[unbalanced opinion] beach town of El Valle, Choco. Its beaches, rivers, waterfalls, and cultural diversity[unbalanced opinion] are but some of the attractions that make this village a must see[unbalanced opinion] on any Colombian travel list.

El Valle Almejal Beach is gaining the reputation[unbalanced opinion] as one of the premier surf breaks in Colombia. In addition, El Valle is the closest community to Ensenada de Utria National Park, located only 9 km down the beach.

Very often when travelling the old adage, ‘It’s not the destination, it’s the journey getting there’ holds true. For our recent trip to Bahía Solano, on Colombia’s secluded Pacific coast, this was partially the case. The route we took to get there was certainly interesting, yet the destination was also pretty impressive.

The trip from Nuquí to Bahía Solano took about ten hours, arriving at our destination before dawn on Tuesday. So while it may seem like a bit of an unnecessary long, marathon journey considering you can take a speed boat that gets you there much quicker from Buenaventura, we found it enjoyable. People may use the Spanish expression ‘vale la pena’ (‘worth the pain/effort’ or worthwhile) as regards the trip, but this is a bit erroneous as far as we’re concerned as there is no pain – it’s pleasant.

Even if you do find the boat ride uncomfortable because of sea sickness or whatever, you’ll soon forget all that when you get to Bahía Solano. This is an ideal place to ‘get away from it all’. Relax and unwind, away from the big city madness or work or whatever. Sea, sand and sun practically all to yourself.

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Balos Beach, Greece

You know you have found the just the right place when you walk into Balos Beach and meet its hospitable owners (Kyriako and his wife Anna). Guests are an extension of the family – the accommodation is your home away from home.

The famous lagoon of Balos is located approximately 56km northwest of Chania and 17km northwest of Kissamos, formed between the Cape Gramvousa and the small Cape Tigani. Balos is surely the mostly photographed beach in Crete, a very favorite subject of all tourist guides for Greece. It is no coincidence that Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Balos with their private yacht many years ago.

Balos is famous for its turquoise waters, the wild natural beauty and the beautiful exotic scenery. During the summer, Balos is visited by thousands of people, who arrive mostly by the ferries running from Kissamos port. If you do not like crowds, you’d better avoid to visit the beach in July and August. Also, a perfect idea is to arrive at Balos in the morning, before the boats arrive from Kissamos. These few hours of remoteness in such a heavenly place will remain etched in your memory forever.

The lagoon of Balos has white sand and exotic white, vivid blue and turquoise waters. The sea is very shallow and warm, ideal for young children. In many places the sand has a lovely pinkish color, because of millions of crushed shells. Beyond the rocks at the boundaries of the lagoon, the water is deeper and colder, ideal for a snorkeling. The lagoon and the wider area, with rare species of flora and fauna, are protected under the Natura 2000 program. Eleonora falcons, shags and cormorants nest in the caves of the area. Moreover, the area is a shelter for the protected monk seal and the sea turtle caretta caretta. Despite the protection, a primitive café and umbrellas have appeared on the beach in recent years. You can buy water from there and from the bars of the ferries.

Some drawbacks of the lagoon is that the seabed is muddy and the shallow waters facilitate the growth of microorganisms, which sometimes cause an unpleasant smell. Lastly, the locals say that the sea currents transfer rubbish or tar to Balos.

Balos can be accessed in three ways. The first and easiest way is to take the morning ferry from Kissamos (around 25 to 30 Euros). You'll have the chance to see the wild shores of Gramvousa and the marks from their lifting up for 6-9m after a strong earthquake in 365AD. If you're lucky, you might be accompanied by dolphins. Furthermore, the ferry will leave you for a swim in the exotic beach of Imeri Gramvousa islet, where you will see the old fortress and the wrecked ship.

If you do not want to come by boat and have a car (4x4) or motorbike, you can drive in the very bad dirt road, starting from Kaliviani and running along the Cape Gramvousa. After 10km the road stops, just over the lagoon. The panoramic view of Balos and the island of the Imeri Gramvousa is breathtaking. From there, you can walk in the 1km long path leading to the beach or, better, in heaven!

However, the most exciting way to access Balos is by trekking for three hours from Kaliviani, crossing the rough and dry landscape Gramvousa.

Do not forget to wear a hat and have plenty of water with you. If you come in Balos, you can visit the small chapel of Saint George located in Tigani. At Tigani, you could also visit the large cavern where many women and children were slaughtered during the Turkish massacres in 1825. The Christians were hidding in the cave, but the Turks soon discovered their shelter, thus killed them all. There is a commemorative sign at the site where the bones of the victims were found. Also, north of Balos, in Cape Korykon there are remains of the small Roman town of Agnio with the temple of Apollo. Today, there is the picturesque chapel of Agios Sostis.
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Cayo Paraiso, Dominican Republic

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Cayo Paraiso (Paradise Island) during your holiday in the Dominican Republic. Enjoy a day of pure relaxation as you soak up the sun on unspoilt beaches and snorkel in crystal clear turquoise lagoons. This is one of the most idyllic spots on the North coast.

Your day begins by travelling through lush tropical countryside to the small fishing village of Punta Rusia on the north west of the island. A speedboat will be waiting here to whisk you across the sparkling Caribbean waters to Cayo Paraiso, the Dominican Republic’s only coral island. This stunning natural sandbank is encircled by a spectacular coral reef, which offers some of the best snorkeling in the Dominican Republic. Spend time relaxing on powdery white sands and swimming in cystalline turquoise waters, whilst marvelling at the beautiful scenery all around you.

As its name suggests, Cayo Paraiso really is the epitome of paradise. Discover the Caribbean’s majestic undersea beauty as you snorkel amongst vibrant corals of all sizes, shapes and colours. An abundance of exotic marine species inhabit these warm tropical waters: the beauty and diversity will take your breath away. Watch schools of brightly-coloured exotic fish dart in and out of the reefs and look out for turtles, spotted eels, starfish, stingrays and many more exciting sea creatures on this unforgettable adventure.

The next part of the tour will introduce you to the beautiful Montecristi National Park (Parque Nacional Monte Cristi), located on the north-western tip of the Dominican Republic. Extending from the borders of Haiti to Punta Rucia in the Dominican Republic, this beautiful national park comprises coastal lagoons, beaches, sub-tropical dry forest, coral reefs and dense mangrove swamps, all of which are important habitats for indigenous flora and fauna.

The Dominican Republic encourages and supports eco-tourism as part of sustainable community development and Montecristi National Park is a prime example. The park is a haven for over 160 bird species, including flamingos, herons, brown pelicans, American oystercatchers and boobies, as well as reptiles such as lizards, crocodiles and sea turtles. Get your cameras ready for some wonderful photo opportunities of both the wildlife and landscapes.

One of the highlights of Montecristi is El Morro, a 900 ft high limestone mesa that towers over a beautiful sandy beach and clear turquoise waters. Several tiny offshore islands known as Los Siete Hermanos (The Seven Brothers) can also be viewed from this point. These picturesque cays are a haven for large sea turtles which come ashore here to lay their eggs every year.

A delicious picnic lunch will be served on a secluded beach before we make our way back to Puerta Plata. This excursion is a wonderful introduction to the Dominican Republic’s breathtaking natural beauty and wildlife.

Tour includes: boat tour, breakfast, snorkeling equipment, lunch and beverages.