Before state Route 62 was built, there was seamless 95-mile-long habitat connectivity between the San Bernardino and Little San Bernardino mountain ranges, extending from the I-10 south of Joshua Tree National Park to the I-15 near the Cajon Pass. Now, plans for two new wildlife crossings across the highway aim to bring back some of that connectivity, while potentially saving a local population on the brink of extinction in the process.
We were taught when to harvest agave, how to care for the soil, and how much we could ask of the forest. Today, that small-scale tradition exists alongside a global boom that has transformed mezcal into a major industry dominated by international brands. As mezcal has spread to bars around the world, so has its footprint on the land.
Financial strangulation, as he put it, is the latest weapon in the government's escalating effort to clear the way for expanded mining and oil development in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. Months earlier, officials had temporarily frozen the accounts of several of Ecuador's most prominent environmental defenders, including Tapia, citing investigations into unjust private enrichment and financing terrorism.
The pavilion is recognized as the first building in Mexico constructed using cross-laminated timber (CLT). This system replaces conventional concrete and steel structures with mass timber, reducing the carbon footprint of the construction process. CLT panels are composed of layered wood elements arranged in alternating directions, creating structural stability while enabling prefabrication and efficient assembly.
For 2025, there was good news and bad news: overall, these areas were visited 323 million times over the course of the year. That's the good news; the bad news is that this figure was down ever so slightly - specifically, 2.7% - from a record-setting 2024.
According to color psychology, this soothing shade helps decrease stress and improve focus-and travelers can reap these much-deserved benefits in lush landscapes around the world. Here are 10 of the greenest places on earth, which combine serenity with unforgettable adventures.
The intimate nature of small group travel strikes the perfect balance between structured guidance and personal freedom, allowing you to experience Costa Rica's wonders while connecting with like-minded adventurers. You'll gain access to local insights that guidebooks miss, share transportation costs, and enjoy the camaraderie of others who appreciate the same natural wonders you do.
The 12-cabin cruiser Pure Amazon is Abercrombie & Kent's first voyage on these waters and is part of the brand's Sanctuary collection, which will also include the soon-to-launch riverboat After 25 years in Peru, the company is setting out to not just join a tradition but redefine smart river travel with design-led interiors that evoke a boutique hotel and with five-course dinners paired with Peruvian small-batch wines.
The idea that hiking trails are a tool for conservation is based on a simple premise: people protect what they know. That requires making conservation areas accessible. There's no point telling people you only protect what you know, if you don't give them the tools to know. The trail is this tool. People who hike, people who camp, these people often become defenders of the environment.
The humble tortilla is an iconic food staple in Mexico. Everyone eats them, regardless of age or income. The ingredients for the tortilla I was frying in this photo have been fermented to include probiotics and prebiotics for gut health. My research focuses on developing such fermented nutraceuticals - nutritious products with pharmaceutical benefits - to help improve people's metabolic health and combat the malnutrition prevalent in some of Mexico's poorest communities.
Researchers have detected rising temperatures, bubbling gases and unusual sulfur formations inside Mexico's El Chichón volcano, also known as Chichonal. The changes were recorded by scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) during monitoring between June and December 2025. The volcano last erupted in 1982, killing at least 2,000 people in one of Mexico's deadliest volcanic disasters. Scientists observed elevated heat, shifting crater-lake chemistry, and gas emissions including hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, which can be hazardous in high concentrations.
As a child, Michelle Serrano would take trips to Boca Chica with her grandmother. From her home in Brownsville, the drive ran east through Texas wetlands and countryside before landing on miles of beach, stretching far down the Gulf Coast just above the U.S.-Mexico border. They'd spend the day there, swimming, laying out - which didn't cost anything, unlike at South Padre Island to the north. For them, it was the peoples' beach.
Traveller check into hotels for easy access to historical Mayan sites and the cenotes beyond, with ambles through colourful squares and late, balmy nights digesting feasts over tequila tipples. Between cultural excursions and natural wonders, however, there's much to be said for the artisans in these parts. From crafted perfumes to handmade chocolates, these are the gifts and trinkets to make space for in your luggage.
The Andes Cordillera is full of incredible sights, unique ecosystems, and unforgettable experiences. I believe there's something here for everyone, from vibrant cities to towering volcanic peaks.
The government of Baja California Sur, home to popular tourism spots like Los Cabos, announced the Embrace It fee - a mandatory tax for visitors over 12 who stay in the country for more than 24 hours - in June. And now, as of January, the price has increased from 470 Mexican pesos (about $25) to 488 pesos (about $28).
In the small town of Chipaya, everything is dry. Only a few people walk along the sandy streets, and many houses look abandoned some secured with a padlock. The wind is so strong that it forces you to close your eyes. Chipaya lies on Bolivia's Altiplano, 35 miles from the Chilean border. The vast plateau, nearly 4,000 metres above sea level, feels almost empty of people and animals, its solitude framed by snow-capped volcanoes. It raises the question: can anybody possibly live here?
I grew up in San Andres Tzirondaro, a Purepecha community on the shores of Lake Patzcuaro in the Mexican state of Michoacan. My childhood was shaped by water, forests and music. The lake fed us. The forest protected us. In the afternoons, people gathered in the local square while bands passed through playing pirekua, our traditional music. That way of life is now under threat as our land is extracted for profit.
Quintana Roo is consistently Mexico's most-visited state. Travelers flock here for blue waters rich in snorkeling and dive sites, powder-soft sands, ancient Maya cities cocooned by jungle, and a proliferation of rowdy bars, clubs, and all-inclusive resorts. But as millions of sun-hungry travelers pack their bags for Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum this winter, remember there are still pockets of secluded paradise to be found and cherished along Mexico's Caribbean coastline.
As one of the most protected national parks in the world, the Galápagos Islands are full of incredible wildlife that are not afraid of humans and will come in closer contact with you than is possible in most other natural places in the world. You can experience a variety of landscapes in a small space, from lush highlands full of tortoises to moon-like volcanic rock covered in piles of iguanas.
