Naturally the best way to explore this watery region, the most popular canoe trail is 80 km and stretches all the way from Shannon bridge in County Offaly to the twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina on the Clare-Tipperary border. Lovers of wildlife won't want to miss this opportunity to get so close to nature. If time is on your side, stop off for a hearty pub lunch along the way.

At just over 430 metres high, Pico do Castelo feels a little different from the island’s other viewpoints. It’s greener, quieter, and layered with history. The summit is dotted with conifers, a rare sight on an otherwise dry island. A cannon and the remains of a 16th-century fortress, built to protect the population from pirate attacks, mark its past as a defensive lookout. You can reach the top either as part of the PR2 hiking trail or by tackling the short, steep climb from Vereda do Pico do Facho, which takes about 15–20 minutes on foot. The payoff is a wide view over much of Porto Santo, and on clear days, even Madeira on the horizon.

Renowned as one of the greatest zoos in the world, the San Diego Zoo houses over 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies. It also features a vast botanical collection with over 700,000 exotic plants. As a pioneer in the open-air, cageless concept that replicates natural habitats, the zoo offers a unique experience for animal and nature lovers alike.

Just east of Ha Long Bay is Bai Tu Long Bay. Both of these places share many of the same geological characteristics, the exception being that Bai Tu Long is a bit of a hidden gem and has a lot fewer tourists. This is what makes Bai Tu Long such an interesting alternative to northeastern Vietnam's most popular destination. With limestone karst islands just as impressive as those in Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long doesn't have as many grottos but is equally beautiful.