A 20-minute boat ride from Cancún lies the small island of Isla Mujeres with its laid-back Caribbean ambiance, tiny streets lined with stalls, and street cafés in pastel-colored houses. Golf carts and mopeds dominate the streets, and although the island is only 5 miles long and half a mile wide, it still offers plenty of things to do and see. Everything from a beautiful palm-fringed white beach on the north coast to a dramatic rocky shoreline on the eastern side to a sea turtle sanctuary and the remains of a Mayan temple at the southern tip. If you're into adventure, then you should visit the Garrafon Reef Park & Beach Club, where you can go zip-lining, snorkeling, and kayaking. Lastly, a must-visit for nature and wildlife lovers is a tour to Isla Contoy, a nature reserve only inhabited by a few biologists and restricted to 200 visitors per day.

Abu Dhalouf is located on the west of Madinat Ash Shamal and seems to be almost part of it. It’s a quiet town but has one of Qatar’s nicest parks. Abu Dhalouf Park is one of Qatar’s nicest parks. It has something for everyone to do from little ones to adults. The park is lush green and is filled with trees, hedges and colourful flowers. There are two play areas where the children can have fun and play games while the adults set up a picnic. It’s a lovely spot that opens onto a beach with shallow waters so the little children can also enjoy the water. The views here are fantastic and if you’re in Madinat Ash Shamal, this park is not to be missed.

The Museo Extremeño e Iberoamericano de Arte Contemporáneo (MEIAC) is a fantastic museum and cultural space that transcends borders, connecting Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American artists, highlighting those from the Extremadura region.

Wizard Beach on Bastimentos Island offers swimming in certain areas, diving at Dolphin Rock, snorkeling and surfing. This beach is good for learning to surf as there are no rocks, and the waves aren’t high.