Move over Banff and Glacier National Park — this Rocky Mountain bolthole has it all

In the Rocky Mountains between the big-ticket national parks of Glacier in the US and Banff in Canada, Waterton Lakes enjoys less celebrity and less traffic than its esteemed neighbors. Yet this spectacular pocket of the Rockies has international pedigree. Inaugurated in 1895 as one of the world’s first national parks, it has since been recognized by Unesco as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site. To add to its uniqueness, Waterton was conjoined with Glacier in 1932 to form America’s first International Peace Park, symbolizing the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

With its small town and handsome heritage hotel surrounded by chiseled mountains and a long navigable lake, Waterton is, in many ways, a microcosm of the larger Rocky Mountain parks to the north. But with all its sights stuffed into a compact 505 sq km (195 sq miles), its wilderness is refreshingly accessible. A rugged trail network emanates directly from Waterton’s town and more than 800 wildflower species dot its brawny backcountry, along with bears, cougars and ungulates.

When to go: Jun-Sep; July and August offer the best weather and the most recreational opportunities, but also draw over half the annual visitors. Late spring is good for migratory birds and waterfalls. Early fall brings golden foliage, quiet trails and slightly cheaper accommodations.

In the Oaxaca clouds lies a pre-Columbian city to rival Chichén Itzá

Though it bears a strong resemblance to Chichén Itzá, Mexico’s hilltop complex of Monte Albán pre-dates its Yucatán cousin by 750 years and receives just a fifth of the visitors. Set high above Oaxaca City, it was built by the Zapotecs around 500 BCE but eventually faded into slow obscurity until Leopoldo Batres began excavations in 1902, discovering a trove of important gold and striking pyramids. Alongside Chichén Itzá and the pre-Aztec Teotihuacan ruins outside Mexico City, Monte Albán is one of the most important pre-Columbian archaeological treasures of Mesoamerica.

The site’s strategic hilltop location puts it level with the clouds above Oaxaca’s Central Valleys, and as visitors stroll the grounds they can ponder the astronomical observations made from the site centuries ago. The Zapotec god of rain, Cocijo, was the main deity worshipped here, perhaps because the 400m (1312ft) elevation gives the perfect vantage on any storm clouds moving in. Come on a weekday and it can feel like a place where time has collapsed, far from the busy city below.

When to go: Oct–Nov; October marks the start of the dry season, with ideal temperatures and clear skies. Time your trip right (in the lead-up to November 1-2), and you can view the local Day of the Dead altars in Oaxaca City during your stay.

Where old gold-mining communities are reviving trails for adventurers.

Speeding downhill, your shoulders skimming the trunks of giant trees and the wheels of your bike bouncing over rocks and roots, it’s impossible to take your eyes off the trail ahead. But pull over occasionally to appreciate your surroundings among ponderosa pines or red fir trees, blue jays hopping from branch to branch, the only sound a river churning with snowmelt below. And there won’t be another soul in sight.

This is because you’re in the Lost Sierra, a triangle of 2591m (8500ft) peaks and glacial lakes roughly between the towns of Quincy, Graeagle and Downieville, a four-hour drive northeast from San Francisco. The closest comparison in California’s northern Sierra Nevada is Lake Tahoe nearby, but the Lost Sierra has none of that region’s visitor traffic. You don’t need to ride a bike to discover the Lost Sierra, either. The region is threaded with trails pioneered by gold miners 170 years ago but newly restored for hikers, horse riders and off-road motorcyclists by local groups determined to put the Lost Sierra back on the map.

When to go: May-Oct; Higher trails may still be snow-bound in early June, although lower elevations are open all year. Ever-shorter winters bring snow, perfect for snowmobiles and snowshoeing. Fishing season is from April to November. Fire season gets longer each year.

Taíno culture and river adventures in the mountains of Puerto Rico.

Tourists flock to Puerto Rico’s beaches but the island’s cultural heartbeat lies folded into the mountains of Utuado. Once home to the Taíno, the Indigenous people who inhabited much of the Caribbean before European contact, this lush area is a place for nature adventures and unique rentals. While only 1.5 hours from San Juan, tourists who base themselves here will find an emphasis on wellness and scenic tropical views reminiscent of Bali’s Ubud.

Utuado is one of the least populated areas of Puerto Rico. Peace and quiet reign – instead of the sounds of pumping nightlife, guests are serenaded by the dusk-induced song of coquís, small native tree frogs. Utuado feels secluded and mystical, providing a portal back in time through impeccably preserved petroglyphs at Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Caribbean. To get there requires navigating winding, narrow roads but those who make the effort are rewarded with a connection to Puerto Rico’s ancestral pulse.

When to go: Mid-Dec—Mar; Avoid hurricane season (June to November) and visit when the weather is cool and dry. This will allow for hiking and nature exploration with less chance of downpours, and maximize the odds of sunshine.

Modified From Lonely Planet