San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin was founded in 1902 as a Temple of the Jodo Shinshu Nishi Hongwanji sect of Buddhism. Located in downtown San Jose, Betsuin attracts countless visitors each year who are drawn to the Temple’s interminable beauty. Ornate altars, ponds and gardens make Betsuin that much more transcendent and its meditative peace resonates with everyone regardless of creed or background. Ikebana flower arranging classes are held, as well as Judo training and Japanese language programs.

Sitting high up on Mesa Vouno, Ancient Thera has the kind of views that make the hike worth it. The ruins stretch along a ridge above Kamari and Perissa, with bits of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine history still visible—temples, bathhouses, homes, even an old theatre. You can drive most of the way from Kamari (steep road), or hike up from Perissa if you’re up for a long, hot climb (around 2 hours). Bring water, wear shoes with grip, and go early if you want to avoid the heat.

Once the first free settlement in the Americas, founded by those who escaped slavery during the colonial period, the town of San Basilio de Palenque still stands today, and with it the unique culture of its inhabitants. A portion of the population still speaks palenquero, a creole tongue that emerged from a mix of several European and African languages, now used almost exclusively in San Basilio de Palenque. Music and dance occupy a place of paramount importance in residents' lives, with the Drums and Cultural Expressions Festival held annually in October. The palenque cuisine deserves a separate mention — a culinary tradition upheld by inhabitants of a small Colombian village has garnered international acclaim, with a cookbook written in the town receiving the highest prize at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in 2014. If your schedule happens to be too tight for a dedicated day trip (which earns our highest recommendation), try some of the tropical fruit sold by palenqueras in downtown Cartagena. The village was named Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005.

With a length of just under a mile, El Cardón is a small rocky island off the coast of Corinto. It was once the home of Rubén Darío, Nicaraguan poet whose poems do not lack depictions of this small paradise. Today, the only sign of man is the iconic white lighthouse, so anyone visiting by boat will mostly encounter unspoilt nature, with the backdrop of crashing waves and squawking seagulls.