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10 Reasons Iceland Is a Hot Destination

January 11, 2019
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Iceland consists of an unforgiving landscape void of trees, whipped by wind and dotted with gushing geysers and bubbling hot springs.

Only 2% of the population is unemployed, the country has no army, they are pioneers in the use of geothermal energy for space heating. The nation has some of the globe’s lowest crime and highest life expectancy rates, and a long history of being named one of the happiest countries on the annual “World Happiness Report.”

Iceland is the Safest and Most Peaceful Country in the World

Are you thinking about going to Iceland? Here are some things about Iceland that you may have heard.

Here are 10 reasons you should visit Iceland!

Table of Contents
  1. There are no mosquitoes!
  2. The Northern Lights
  3. The Blue Lagoon
  4. Glaciers
  5. Volcanoes
  6. You can dive between continents
  7. Waterfalls
  8. Ice Caves
  9. Þingvellir National Park
  10. Everybody is Equal
  11. Everyone Speaks English
  12. Experience Iceland’s Unique Cuisine
  13. Iceland’s Capital City
  14. Iceland is one of the Happiest Countries in the World
  15. Adventure Trails

There are no mosquitoes!

Iceland is one of only two parts of the planet where the mosquitoes never set up, the other is being Antarctica. In places like New Caledonia, Seychelles and French Polynesia mosquitos exist, but the insects cannot carry the virus as it requires the blood of land-based mammals, which are absent in these places.

Northern Lights Photo credit: Tony Calvert / Flickr

The Northern Lights

The Aurora Borealis  is one of the main reasons travelers from all around the world venture themselves in the dark and cold nights of Iceland. But the reward of facing the extreme temperatures and strong winds is the possibility to appr

You can watch this natural spectacle on the outskirts of Reykjavík, but towards the north the lights can get more intense. the country becomes the best spot to view the full wonder of the Northern Lights. They are usually seen on the Jokulsarlon lagoon located in South Iceland. They are largely seen over the period from September to April.

Blue LagoonPhoto credit: Fabrice TRINITE / Flickr

The Blue Lagoon

This is the most famous attraction in Iceland. There are several hot pools in Iceland and its use of geothermal power, but this one is the total winner. The water is geothermal heated and it is warm all year round and definitely needs to be in your checklist.

The best way to visit the Blue Lagoon is by rental car. But if you do feel driving there, you can use this highly recommended tour from the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon. For current prices and more information, check their website here.

Glaciers Photo credit: N Blom / Flickr

Glaciers

The ancient glaciers of Iceland cover more than 10% of the country and include the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is one of the best sights in Iceland, where you see a chaotic ensemble of glacier chunks slowly floating their way out to sea. Volcanoes Photo credit: Andri Elfarsson / Flickr

Volcanoes

There are about 130 volcanic mountains, some active and some extinct. You can take an Icelandic super jeep or helicopter and tour the volcanic landscape of Iceland. A trip to see these landscapes is a trip into natural art. One of the highlights is Thrihnukagigur volcano – the last eruption occurred thousands of years ago. This is usually a journey 128 meters deep and allows you to explore the volcano inside of the cavern is stained with russet red scars and flashes of blackened indigo. You can check the tour prices operated by Inside the Volcano.

You can dive between continents

In Iceland and you will witness the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates living together in perfect harmony. You can dive between the North American and Eurasian continental tectonic plates! Waterfalls Photo credit: Guitar photographer / shutterstock

Waterfalls

The iconic Gullfoss waterfall is famed for its scale and beauty. The water stream is fed by the Langjökull glacier, second largest glacier in Iceland, and the power of water is breathtaking. Another of the major ones and a prominent tourist attraction is the Svartifoss waterfall. Make sure you also visit their tallest waterfalls, Glymur, and Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. Ice Caves in Iceland Photo credit: Giuseppe Milo / Flickr

Ice Caves

Iceland’s ice caves are among the most extraordinary and mesmerizing wonders of nature and can certainly be counted among the most breath-taking sights the world has to offer. Ice caves are natural phenomena that are formed in glaciers during winter. Most often they are formed by water running through or under the glacier and new caves are formed every year. Every cave is different and you never really know what you’ll get to see before you go in. There are knowledgeable guides that will take you on this epic journey under the blue ice.

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is a UNESCO Heritage site and it’s very important to the locals because of its historical and cultural background. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault. Thingvellir is a favourite stop among travellers along the Golden Circle route. t is the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.

Everybody is Equal

Based on Global Gender Gap Report, Iceland tops the list for being the country with the most gender equality in the world for the seventh straight year in a row. Iceland is often referred to as the most feminist place in the world.

Everyone Speaks English

If you are worried about travelling to a foreign country and not being able to speak to anyone, don’t you worry! In Iceland, almost everybody speaks English. All children are required to learn both English and Danish in elementary schools.

Experience Iceland’s Unique Cuisine

Iceland is known for its unique cuisine. In Iceland you can go to a restaurant and get amazingly fresh seafood that was caught earlier that day. Icelandic ingredients are known for being fresh, healthy and sustainable. Seafood and lamb stand out as mouthwatering entree items on many menus. They also have options that will cater to specialized diets. Here are suggestions for vegan restaurants in Reykjavik. Reykjavik Photo credit: imgur.com

Iceland’s Capital City

Reykjavik is Amazing. But Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik is a place that will lure you in with Viking-age history, world-class museums, a geothermal beach, inviting pubs and plenty of adventures for the entire family to enjoy. Reykjavik is also a great place for some live music and entertainment. The whole city of Reykjavík is made up of colourful houses, not just in one area, but all over the place!

Iceland is one of the Happiest Countries in the World

According the World Happiness Report, Iceland ranks third in the world for happiness. If you travel to Iceland, you will surely find some happy and friendly locals to talk to. The local Icelandic swimming pools are a great place to meet new people where you can have fun and interesting conversations with the locals.

Adventure Trails

Iceland is the perfect destination for adventure-loving travelers. The Laugavegur Hiking Trail is Iceland’s most famous hiking trail and truly one of the world’s most beautiful treks. The trail connects the Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk Nature Reserves and offers a variety of different landscapes along the way. Every day has different views with beautiful scenery of pristine nature with volcanic mountains, lava fields, glaciers, natural hot springs, black arctic deserts and lush forrested valleys.

When to travel to Iceland?

The pick season in Iceland is during summertime [May to September], with mild temperatures and fully booked hotels. During that time, the days are longer and you can enjoy beautiful moments in nature and outside. Iceland is a small country, to get around you can rent car and go explore it by yourself. Or you can book a tour and visit the waterfalls, geysers, volcanoes and glaciers. This country has some of the most spectacular sights in the world, with active volcanoes, breathtaking mountain scenery and calming geothermal springs.

Find out more interesting facts about Iceland

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Things Not to Do in Estonia

Top 10 Things Not to Do in Estonia

October 9, 2019
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Estonia isn’t so popular travel destination, compare to its neighbors like Sweden and Finland, but this small Baltic country has plenty to offer. This Northern Europe country borders the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. The more than 1,500 islands, lakes, old forests, and rocky beaches offer to its visitors a unique chance to experience a dynamic little country. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, it’s dotted with castles, churches and hilltop fortresses. Estonia has been rated by Lonely Planet as The best value destination in the world in 2016.

What Not to Do in Estonia

If you are planning to travel to this Baltic country, the following guide will help you to have a more pleasant experience. Here I’ll share a few things you need to know not to do if you travel to Estonia.

1. Avoid Speaking About USSR

It’s preferred not to speak about their history with the Soviet Union or USSR because of their bad memories about the time being part of it. Estonians are not very comfortable with being referred to as Eastern-Europeans.

2. Keep Your Voice Down

Do not raise your voice in a conversation. It is not nice.

3. You Can Get Harassed

Don’t be surprised if you get harassed. People traveling to Estonia have been warning that they may be a target of harassment. People who look or appear to be from a foreign country have been known to be targeted to be harassed for racial reasons.

4. Don’t Keep Your Shoes On

When you are entering a home in Estonian, don’t forget to take off your shoes when you step inside.

5. Don’t Expect a Salesman to Approach You in The Stores

One of the major social rights in Estonia is your freedom to choose and decide on your own. And because of that when you go in the stores, most of the time you have to ask what you are looking for and not to expect that the salesman will start a conversation with you or try to sell you something as in some other countries.

6. Don’t Ask Them if They Speak Russian

The absolutely worst thing is to ask Estonians that is Russian your language or speak Russian to them. Estonians are proud of their own language – Estonian.

However, most Estonians prefer to speak English.

Bicycles are not so used in Tallinn. There aren’t many roads for bicycles except in Pirita, you have to be careful if you are biking!

8. Don’t Forget to Wear Reflectors

If you decide to rent a bike and go for a ride after dark, don’t forget to wear small reflectors, especially during winter. The fine can range from $50 to $500 USD.

9. Don’t Drink Alcohol Outside

It is not allowed to drink alcohol outside, only at the bar area or at home. The age limit for alcohol and smoking is 18 years old. Usually, the rule, when shops can sell alcohol is from 9.00 to 22.00.

10. Don’t Expect Help When Traveling With Kids

If you are traveling on the streets and in public transport with children in pushchairs. The streets of old cities are cobbled making it difficult to push strollers or the public transportation stroller, buses have high stairs and this may make it difficult for you and don’t expect that people will help you.

If you want to learn more about what to do when visit Estonia check our post 10 reasons to visit Estonia.

If you have your own tips on what not do, when you visit Estonia, please share them in the comment below. I would love to hear about your experience.

reasons to visits Azores

11 Reasons Why You Should Visit the Azores in Portugal in 2019

September 10, 2019
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The Azores are a volcanic archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean. Belonging to their mother country, Portugal, the islands are not well known, and for that reason, it has never been a major vacation destination for the North American market. However, that’s all changing now. The region consists of 9 islands spread out to the west of Portugal, all of which offer unique features, activities, and cultures. The archipelago of the Azores was created from many volcanic eruptions. Today, there are still many hot springs bubbling up from beneath, creating natural thermal baths all over the island of São Miguel.

Some 28 percent of energy comes from renewable sources.

We’re providing 11 reasons to book your trip to the Azores

The Azores are close to both Europe and the US

The Azores comprise of nine volcanic islands, spread across 400 miles located in the north Atlantic ocean roughly one-third of the way to Europe and two thirds from America.
The archipelago of the Azores is located in the middle of the northern hemisphere of the Atlantic Ocean.

Hiking Trails Azores

Photo by Mads Schmidt on Unsplash

Hiking Trails

Some of the islands are covered by hills or mountains. The highest peak is Mount Pico, on the island of the same name; it’s a volcano of 2,351 meters (7,713 feet).
For centuries had been used many paths, which today have been restored and made accessible to all so that they can enjoy the landscape of the Azores. Each of these footpaths goes through exceptionally beautiful areas, linking almost all of the corners of each of the islands.

Dolphin Watching

Photo by Flavio Gasperini on Unsplash

Dolphin and Whale Watching

It is one of the best seasoned places for whale watching & wwimming with dolphins You can find several deep-sea species to swim next to the coastline, including sperm whales, several species of beaked whale, and dolphins. The Azores are currently one of the world’s largest whale sanctuaries.

The islands are in the migration routes of the whales that pass through. During the summer, Spotted dolphins are more common while blue whales can be easily spotted at the end of the winter.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Photo by Ferdinand Stöhr on Unsplash

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

There’s a nice balance between the population and its surrounding ecosystems. Some of the things you can do are visiting Angra do Heroismo city and the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, World Heritage listed by UNESCO, UN World Biosphere Reserves on Graciosa, Flores and Corvo islands.

Breathtaking Nature Azores

Photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash

Breathtaking Nature

It’s just breathtaking, untouchable nature. You have plenty of outdoor activities to choose from due to its rich in the breathtaking scenery with incredible hikes to volcanic rims, rolling hills, fabulous deserted black and white sand beaches, surfing, snorkeling.

azores portugal weather

Photo by Tiago Miguel Pereira on Unsplash

It Has Year-Round Perfect Weather

The Azores are characterized by their mild climate throughout the year. The average air temperature ranges between 13.6°C (minimum) and 22°C (maximum) throughout the whole year.
The climate of the islands is subtropical oceanic with a distinct possibility of rainfall at any time of the year and high levels of humidity.

The ocean water temperature in Azores ranges from 17°C (63°F) in the winter to 25°C (77° F) in the summer.

Amazing and affordable cuisine

Azorean cuisine, native to the Azores Islands, is a rich, hearty, peasant-based style of cooking with seafood flavors, spicy stews, sweet desserts and rich dairy products.

Waterfalls

Photo by Scott Walsh on Unsplash

Waterfalls

There are a few wonderfull waterfalls you can explore across the islands. Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau is a waterfall near Fajã Grande on the Azores island of Flores and it falls from a height of about 90 meters.

Salto do Cabrito hydroelectric plant in the middle of the Azores’ São Miguel island and has a waterfall with the same name.

The Aveiro Waterfall, on the southeast coast of the amazing Santa Maria Island, is considered by many as one of the most beautiful places of the Island.

Sightseeing is a major tourist attraction in Ponta Delgada. Here you will find breathtaking scenery of Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul.

A great place to visit is the Nordeste. You can find waterfalls, watermills, ethnography, gastronomy and landscape. It is a breathtaking view and is the highest part of the Island of Sao Miguel.

Geysers

Photo by Kelly McCrimmon on Unsplash

Geysers

There are almost three hundred volcanic cavities underground, including caves, ravines and cracks. In the sea, there are submarine geothermal springs. The volcanism of the archipelago impresses for its diversity and creates its own magnetism.

With the sponsorship of UNESCO, the Azores Geopark joined the European Network and Global Geoparks Network, which aims to promote and protect the geological heritage of the archipelago, by promoting the sustainable development of the Azores’ environmental, cultural and socio-economic.

Azores islands

Photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash

No mass tourism

Located between Europe and North America, the Azores are the perfect island getaway for those looking for a unique and beautiful destination.
The Azores checks all the boxes to become a trending destination for U.S. travelers.

Santa Maria presents white sand beaches and dry warmth. Terceira’s capital, Angra do Heroismo, reflects its trading port history dating back 500 years. Sao Miguel is the largest, most populated and greenest island. Flores delivers the ideal waterfalls.

The tourism in the Azores is growing but it is still not so popular destination when compared to other destinations popular with the outdoor adventure set. The total number of tourists who visited the Azores in 2017 is around 645,000.

Magnificent coastlines

Photo by Sylvain Cleymans on Unsplash

Magnificent coastlines

The Azores is not a beach destination but at Sao Miguel there are beaches like Minuvidda that are great for a suntan or spending hours in the Atlantic Ocean bathing. The beach offers an excellent opportunity for taking sunbaths and also for snorkeling and diving to enjoy undersea beauty.

The largest of the nine islands is São Miguel. Most of its coastline is very steep and rugged by virtue of its volcanic underpinnings. There are beaches scattered around the island’s shoreline, however, many at the mouths of small coastal streams where sediment has been delivered to the coast. The sand can be white or black sand beaches of volcanic origin, which can be found in the neighboring beaches.
They almost all consist of black sand from the weathering and breakdown of the island’s basaltic foundation.

Santa Maria presents white sand beaches and dry warmth. Terceira’s capital, Angra do Heroismo, reflects its trading port history dating back 500 years. Sao Miguel is the largest, most populated and greenest island. Flores delivers the ideal waterfalls

Want to learn more about Azures? Check our other posts:
Top 10 Things to Do in the Azores
11 Reasons Why You Should Visit the Azores in Portugal

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