Adventure starts when we step out of our comfort zone and try new things. So why travel to well-known destinations when you can find your dose of nature and outdoor adventure on less-trodden ground?
To help you save on travel expenses and spend more time exploring the great outdoors this summer, we’ve poured over our data and scoured our search engine results to bring you affordable alternatives to our most popular nature destinations, where exciting new experiences await. And, we’re letting you in on two “curveball” places that will surely be the next nature and outdoor travel hotspots.
Disclaimer: The following alternative nature destinations have lower average flight prices for July and August 2023 at the time of publication. Prices will vary.
Top alternative nature destinations
- Montreal, Canada
- Taman Negara National Park, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Acatenango, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, Ecuador
- Playa Venao, Panama
- Pantelleria, Italy
- Morecambe, UK
Like Toronto? Try Montreal
Best for: urban parks
When it comes to nature and adventure in urban settings, Montreal comes out on top, with 21 large parks and more than a thousand smaller ones throughout its boroughs. Start at Mount Royal Park, or “the mountain” to locals. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the man responsible for New York City’s Central Park, it sits high atop Montreal, rewarding visitors with unparalleled views of the city and surrounding landscape from two lookout spots: Belvédère Kondiaronk and Belvédère Camillien-Houde. Head to Lac aux Castors (Beaver Lake) for a boat ride or to lounge on the grassy meadows, where you’ll likely catch tam-tam drummers or discover endless walking and biking trails, with leafy trees offering shade from the sun.
The Lachine Canal is an excellent spot for biking, with scenic views of the city and its parks and green spaces. Continue your cycling ride toward the St. Lawrence River, where you can paddleboard or kayak, or detour to nearby Verdun Beach for a quick dip.
Insider tip: You might be surprised to learn that Montreal is a popular river surfing destination, and among the city’s favorite surf spots is Vague à Guy, particularly for those just dipping their toes in the sport.
Like Taal Volcano in Manila? Try Taman Negara National Park in Kuala Lumpur
Best for: tropical rainforest adventures
Spread over 1,677 square miles, Taman Negara National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. The highlight here is undoubtedly the canopy walkway that lifts visitors 100 feet above the ground. First built for researchers, the suspended paths, made up of 10 bridge sections, stretch over 1,600 feet, from which visitors can keep an eye out for rhinoceros hornbill, Asian fairy-bluebird, and the yellow-vented flowerpecker.
On the ground, camouflage hides along the Tenor and Keniam trails allow you to observe reindeer, tapir, and wild boar. Get wet rapid shooting in a wood boat on the Tembeling River or trekking to the Four Steps Waterfall. Then crawl through underground tunnels to explore the park’s vast cave system. Take a boat cruise to Lata Berkoh, where you can feed and touch kelah fish. For seasoned adventurers, hiking to the highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia, Gunung Tahan, is a once-in-lifetime treat.
Insider tip: The park provides tours of the aborigine villages (Kampung Orang Asli) for a glimpse into the simple life of the people for whom this lush tropical paradise is home.
Like Paracas National Reserve in Lima? Try Acatenango in Guatemala City
Best for: intrepid explorers
It’s no walk in the park, but those that scale Acatenango are privy to one of the most remarkable sights — the Fuego Volcano spewing red lava to light up the Sacatepéquez valley — to say nothing of the immense sense of achievement.
The two-day adventure challenge starts traversing over eight miles of terrain, ranging from green farmland and dense cloud forests to pine woods and black volcanic soil, with changing temperatures and wild camping, to reach the 13,044 feet summit. Thankfully the trek down is less demanding.
Insider tip: Hiking guides are not mandatory, but the ascent is challenging, so the safest way to do it is to book a tour in Antigua or Guatemala City. And make sure you do your due diligence in choosing a tour company and securing the appropriate gear and supplies.
Like Parque Nacional El Boquerón in San Salvador? Try Parque Nacional Cotopaxi in Ecuador
Best for: active volcano hikes
Located inside the Cotopaxi National Park on the outskirts of Quito, the Cotopaxi volcano is considered the world’s highest continuously active volcano. And there are lots of things to see and do below the 19,347-foot summit. Take in the view of the Andean mountain range and the inactive Rumiñahui volcano at the tranquil Limpiopungo lagoon. You can even see the park on horseback or bike and perhaps spot red brocket deer, llamas, rabbits, and wild horses. If you’re lucky, you might also cross paths with pumas, Andean bears, foxes, and the elusive Andean condor, Ecuador’s national bird.
To reach Cotopaxi’s summit, climbers must be accompanied by a certified mountaineering guide, but you can still ascend to the base camp at Refugio José Rivas on your own and be rewarded with intimate views of this stunning volcano.
Insider tip: Stay at the Hacienda Los Mortiños, where every single room has panoramic views of the Cotopaxi Volcano.
Like Sao Paulo? Try Playa Venao
Best for: surfing in the wild
If there was ever such a thing as a surfer’s paradise, Playa Venao is it. But we’d be remiss not to mention all the other adventures to be had here. Start with an excursion to Isla Iguana, a wildlife refuge and popular snorkeling and diving site, whose waters in the summer months are populated by humpback whales, while its beaches teem with sea turtles hatching. Explore the jungle area of Cañas while kayaking or paddle boarding through a mangrove forest. Or see it flying through a canopy of trees on a zip line. Hike the La Cascada trail, where you might encounter howler monkeys hanging from the trees.
And for a small beach town tucked away on the Pacific coast of Panama’s Azuero Peninsula, Playa Venao has an impressive number of yoga and wellness centers, as well as eco-spas, to help you relax after a day of tropical adventure.
Insider tip: You won’t find any high-rise resorts or sprawling hotels here; instead, the area is dotted with beachfront eco-lodges that still offer guests 4-star amenities, like on-site restaurants and spa treatments. Eco Venoa Lodge is a great example. On the other hand, the Selina hostel chain, with its colorful Instagrammable beachside cabanas and facilities, is a popular choice for young surfers and digital nomads.
Curveball alternative nature and outdoor destinations
Pantelleria, Italy
Just when you think Italy doesn’t have any more magical islands to see, you discover Pantelleria, a remote island between Sicily and Tunisia. The dramatic coastline is marked by cliffs, underwater caves, and pools carved from lava rocks, while inland treasures include UNESCO World Heritage-recognized agriculture practices and ancient ruins. Tap into the restorative powers of nature by soaking in algae-rich thermal waters at Gadir, sunbathing on flat lava rocks at Balata dei Turchi, and going on hikes to Lago di Venere, a lake within a volcano at the foot of Montagna Grande, where on a clear day you can see far as Africa. The local cuisine blends Arabic and European influences, with dishes like Pantelleria pesto (fresh tomatoes, garlic basil, and chilies), cous cous Pantesco (a mix of local vegetables and fish), and ciaki ciuka (a take on shakshuka featuring the island’s prized capers). Complete your meal with Pantelleria’s sweet Moscato and Passito wines made from the local Zibibbo grape.
Morecambe, UK
In 2013, Sam Jordison and Dan Kieran, authors of Crap Towns — a rough guide of where not to go in Britain — named the once-popular resort town of Morecambe one of the top 50 worst places to live in the UK. The town, located in Morecambe Bay on the Irish Sea, indeed fell on hard times in the past. But in recent years, there’s been a great interest in its revival. The city is seeing major improvements to its lovely promenade and Art Deco buildings, with the iconic Midland Hotel being a prime example of those efforts. The town now hosts fun events, such as Vintage by the Sea, a wonderfully playful festival celebrating all things vintage. However, Morecambe’s most anticipated event is the Eden Project (set to open in 2026), which “re-imagines Morecambe as a seaside resort for the 21st century.” It will feature a host of indoor and outdoor spaces and experiences aimed at reconnecting communities and people with nature. In the meantime, come check out the charged energy of a place on the edge of great change. While there, try the potted shrimps, visit the Morecambe Heritage Centre, and throw back a few pints before the crowds arrive, and you can say, “I saw it first.”
Looking for more alternative nature destinations?
Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” search is a great tool to help discover new nature destinations while saving big on flights and hotels. Type in “everywhere” as your destination, and we’ll show you a whole host of undiscovered travel gems. Use the search with specific dates, or for even more savings, select “whole month” on the desktop or “anytime” in the app.
