BEST OF THE WORLD

The joy of travel comes from the unexpected. And while the pandemic was just that, bringing journeys to a standstill, it’s certainly not quieted our curiosity. With the new year comes the promise of a return to travel, and we’re eager to get going. The editors of the 16 editions of National Geographic Traveller around the world have lined up 35 of the very best places our planet has to offer for 2021 and beyond: superlative destinations that speak of resilient communities, smart sustainability efforts and unforgettable experiences for post-pandemic explorations. The world is full of wonders — even if they’re hard to reach right now — so take this time to plot and plan your next journey and lay the foundation for that much-dreamed-about big trip

SUSTAINABILITY

From carbon-neutral cities in the making to destinations offering a blueprint for sustainable nature and wildlife tourism, these are the pick of the places that aim to safeguard our precious planet’s natural wonders

COSTA RICA

CELEBRATIONS FOR THE PIONEER OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

So, you want to escape? Imagine a country that’s one-quarter national park, a place where you could hike in a rainforest in the morning and surf tropical waves in the afternoon. Imagine an adventure Eden where sustainability was a strategy long before the world caught on, where jaguars prowl in the jungle, harpy eagles fly and Jesus Christ lizards walk on water before your eyes. That country is Costa Rica. 2021 is the bicentennial of its independence, an anniversary it aims to celebrate by becoming the world’s first carbon-neutral country. Already one of the greenest nations, conservation has been cultivated here since the 1970s, with drives to protect areas, close zoos and reverse deforestation.

For a deep immersion, plot a course for the Osa Peninsula at the tip of Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast; an astonishing 2.5% of the Earth’s biodiversity is squeezed into 0.001% of its surface area. This was one of the last frontiers to be inhabited in Costa Rica when the discovery of gold prompted a wave of migration in the 1930s. Today, the gold rush has gone, and much of the region is accessible only by boat, horse or hiking trail.