If you Travel, Here are some of the most colorful places to go:
TIME TO THINK OF TRAVELING, AND Fodor’s HAS COME UP WITH THE BEST COLLECTION OF THE MOST COLORFUL DESTINATIONS I HAVE SEEN. IF YOU ARE A PHOTOGRAPHER, YOU HAVE TO PUT THESE ON YOUR LIST OF PLACES TO GO:
The world’s most beautiful river and its kaleidoscopic riverbed, which runs the gamut of shades from sunshine yellow to blood red, can be found in La Macarena, Colombia. For the full technicolor experience, visit between July and November, but beware that a Caño Cristales excursion will be pretty out of reach for most budget backpackers, thanks to the limited and monopolized (read: not cheap) accessibility. © By VarnaK/Shutterstock
Almost entirely overlooked by travelers for years, Peru’s Vinicunca mountain (better known by the title Rainbow Mountain) is experiencing a color-driven surge in tourism of late, principally fueled by snap-happy visitors who couldn’t care less about hiking, but really want a photo against Vinicunca’s picture-perfect backdrop. Can you blame them? © Blunker | Dreamstime.com
The Asian answer to Peru’s Vinicunca, China’s Zhangye Danxia mountains are like a multicolored barcode come to life, with seemingly unreal pinstripes making up the copper, blue, and yellow hues of the rocky peaks. While some clever photo editing software has likely enhanced the vibrancy (and the reputation) of the region over the years, Zhangye Danxia’s naturally colorful presence is undeniable. © suronin/Shutterstock
Arguably the principal tourist attraction of the tourism industry’s current darling, Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is likely high on your bucket list. Bandwagons aside, it’s easy to understand the appeal of these ice blue yet deceptively toasty waters, which allegedly have curative properties. © Buurserstraat386 | Dreamstime.com
The Indonesian region of Java is home to one of the most peculiar natural phenomena in the world – a volcano with blue lava. Well, sort of. While many outlets claim the lava itself takes on the unearthly blue hue, the azure glow of Kawah Ijen’s flowing magma river actually comes about thanks to the simultaneous release and combustion of incredibly high levels of toxic sulphuric gas. © By N_Sakarin/Shutterstock
The Australian version of Mexico’s pink lake is also a salty natural phenomenon regularly confused for its Latin American counterpart. Don’t be deceived though, as the rose-toned Lake Hillier is an entirely separate entity, although arguably even trickier to reach. One of the only ways to get there is by helicopter, but once you’ve touched down, you are allowed to take a dip in these fuchsia waters. © matteo_it/Shutterstock
Nevada’s impressive Fly Geyser (recently bought by Burning Man, because, of course) is perhaps the only entry that’s not strictly natural in origin. Rather, it was a man-made accident gone right, which left the world with a rainbow-colored rock that you’d be forgiven for thinking was photoshopped. Spoiler: it’s not, but it is located on private property, so get used to ogling it through a screen. © Berzina | Dreamstime.com
On the uninhabited island of Budelli, in Sardinia’s Maddalena archipelago, lies one of the coolest beaches known to (wo)man. And we’re not talking temperature wise. As Italian speakers might already have guessed, the spiaggia rosa is actually a pink sand beach which owes its candyfloss color to tiny coral fragments that have infiltrated the coastline over the years. © Mike Carballo/Shutterstock
Trypophobics will want to steer well clear of this holier-than-a-slice-of-Edam Canadian lake, dotted as it is with multicolored summertime mineral deposits, which change shade slightly from year to year. When it’s not been a veritably colorful tourist attraction though, Kliluk is also a site of traditional medicine for the First Nation Okanagan Syilx people. © Shahnoorhabib | Dreamstime.
Japan’s Kawachi Wisteria Gardens are tucked away in the hills of the Fukuoka Prefecture and bloom in popularity during the biannual peak times of April-May and autumn’s so-called “maple leaf season.” Sweeping the purple spectrum, from practically white to rich plum, the overall look of the Wisteria Gardens and their iconic covered walkways is actually one of a calming periwinkle. © Faer Out/Shutterstock
For a trippy experience that’ll have you thinking you’re either hallucinating or in a Tim Burton film, pay a visit to the Rainbow Eucalyptus Groves in Mindanao, The Philippines. Here you’ll find a bizarre variety of tree which, as it sheds its bark, reveals a lime green interior that ultimately matures into rich blues, purples, and maroons, leaving behind a real-life candy cane of color. © tkunited/Shutterstock
THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD. ALL WE NEED IS TIME. MAY WE BE INSPIRED TO GO SEARCH AROUND US FOR THE BEAUTY THERE MAY BE.
