This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Connor Hanrahan. Find him on Instagram at @hannerhansmh. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
It’s hard to leave the house, but there is such a good reason to. The natural world has so much to offer and yet we almost never go exploring because of our fears of the unknown. I mean, roughly half of US citizens don’t even own passports even though some of the most beautiful places on Earth are nowhere near our continent, let alone country. I know that not everybody has the spirit of Magellan, but surely we can think of more unique vacation spots than Cabo and Cancun, right?
Luckily, we definitely can. This article is going to run through some of our findings after scouring the map for hours on end simply for fun. These underrated vacation spots will introduce you to parts of the world you didn’t even know existed in places you’ve never heard of.
Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Manado is the capital city of North Sulawesi and its economic center. However, Manado is only on this list because of its central location between two beautiful natural experiences: Pulau Lehaga and Bunaken National Marine Park.
Pulau Lehaga (Lehaga Island) is a small unpopulated island off the coast of Serai at the northernmost point of Sulawesi. Because of its lack of residence, Lehaga is almost completely untouched by civilization besides day trips to and fro the island and some overnight camping. The surrounding reefs are rich with wildlife that make for an excellent snorkeling experience. A 90 minute boat ride is required to access the island, but this can be purchased at Serai for a measly $6.
South Eastern Asia is known for its scenic tropics and colorful ocean flora and fauna, but most of its western foot traffic runs through Bali, a southern island in Indonesia. Just the name “Bali” carries weight all throughout the Western hemisphere because almost everybody knows somebody who has been to Indonesia and almost all of those people have been to Bali. But, the coolest places to go in this fascinating archipelagic country are nowhere near the tourist hub.
Featuring over 300 species of coral and over 2000 species of fish, Bunaken National Park is the unsung wonder of Indonesia. Located just north of Manado, the park covers almost 1,000 square kilometers, 97% of which is marine. The beautiful teal waters can only be found in the south pacific and they’re incomparable to anything found in any other ocean. Anywhere in the park can be reached via tour boat for fewer than $20/person The park also features Manado Tua, an inactive volcanic island that rises just over 600 meters above the ocean’s surface.
Azores, Portugal
The Azores is an autonomous region of Portugal, composed of 9 islands, the largest and most populous of which being Ilha de Sao Miguel. The capital of Azores is Ponta Delgata, located centrally on the southern coast of Sao Miguel.
A combination of mild Mediterranean and subtropical climates keeps the island green year round, and regular rainfall ensures that plants, both natural and agricultural, thrive. The entire island is terrific for sightseeing. Between oceanside bluffs, botanic gardens, volcanic lakes, waterfalls, natural pools, caves, lighthouses, and more formally recognized scenic areas than one could possibly visit in one trip, the island is nothing short of a tourism mecca.
Another appreciable aspect of the island is a highway that circumnavigates the island, making for easy travel from wherever you are to wherever you want to be. It takes approximately 2 hours to travel across the island, with local villages and towns sprinkled around intermittently.
The main attraction on the island is the Caldeira Velha Natural Monument. It is one of five separate hot springs on the island, and is located inland between Lagoa and Ribeira Grande. Many travel blogs describe it as paradise and all the imagery aligns with that description. However, don’t bring a light colored bathing suit because the iron oxide in the water may dye it orange.
Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre, Italy
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Italy made this list with all its history and lore, but the existence of Rome, Florence, Genoa, Naples and Venice take all the glory from Cinque Terre National Park. Located near the northwestern saddle of Italy, Cinque Terre has five villages inside it: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.
Steep oceanside bluffs and ocean blue Mediterranean waters make the terrain around these villages gorgeous. Each of these fishing villages is built into the side of cliffs or on foothills lining the sea. They very much encompass something out of a movie, but are easily accessible for tourism and even daytime enjoyment, though there are numerous hotels in the majority of these villages. Monterosso al Mare relies on a tourism driven economy and is better catered toward the visitor experience than the others. Many of the villages offer boat trips out around the coast and the tiny unpopulated isles within eyeshot of the coast.
Further down the coast near Vernazza and Manarola, the mountains grow in width and further pinch the villages nearer to the sea, resulting in stunning cliffside architecture and a prominence in hiking as the preferred tourist activity. All five of these villages can be visited via daily boat trips out of Genoa.
US Virgin Islands
Okay, fine. You’ve probably heard of this one, but the US Virgin Islands are an absolute delight and you don’t even need a passport to go. They’re proximity to the Lesser Antilles means you get that nice teal, tropical water, making for amazing diving experiences and unforgettable beach days. There are three primary US Virgin Islands: St. Thomas (home to the capital, Charlotte Amalie), St. Croix, and St. John. Other islands are even just a short flight away if you are craving a little bit of change.
No passport is required to go to and from St. John, St. Croix, or St. Thomas, but proof of citizenship is required when departing the islands.
The Virgin Islands National Park is located on St. John, just a short boat ride east of St. Thomas. Cruz Bay and Coral Bay are located on the opposite side of the island from each other and are the most urban areas on the island, with the National Park situated between. Most of the coastline is built to accommodate resort needs and offers stunning views, terrific hotel experiences, and easy access to nature in the central part of the island.
What do you think? Would you ever want to visit these places? They’re all on my bucket list along with a few others that I’d love to share in another article. Let us know in the comments what your favorite underrated vacation spots below!
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