What's the quickest way to realize how truly amazing our planet is? Simple:
Visit the world's greatest national parks. We're thankful that governments
around the world have set aside these amazing tracts of pristine wilderness, and
with the help of the tips and photos from over 1 million travelers on minube,
we've found the very best stretches of untouched nature for your bucket list.
From the plains of Africa to the desert isles of the Caribbean, here are the 35
most amazing national parks on Earth!
1.) Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica -- In the
middle of the dense Costa Rican rainforest, there's a rumbling active volcano
(yes, you can actually see the lava pouring down the sides), surrounded by hot
springs, fauna-filled forests, and plenty of hidden waterfalls. Ask anyone who's
been to Arenal and they'll tell you: It's paradise. (Photo by Blake Burton)
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Arenal Volcano National Park
2.) Iguazu National Park, Argentina/Brazil -- The Iguazu
National Park on the Argentina/Brazil border is easily the most amazing
waterfall park on Earth. Whether you prefer to cool off in the clouds of mist or
enjoy the over 2000 species of plants, strolling the walkways around this
roaring, watery wonderland is an experience you'll never forget. (Photo by Lucio
Sassi)
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Iguazu National Park .
3.) Yosemite National Park, USA - There are few sights more
breathtaking than pulling up to Yosemite's Tunnel Overlook in spring when the
wildflowers are in bloom and the scenic falls are at their fullest. Whether you
opt for crystalline lakes, pine forests, or snowy peaks, Yosemite National Park
guarantees postcard-worthy views in all directions. (Photo by Daniel H.
Garcia)
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Yosemite National Park.
4.) Etosha National Park, Namibia -- Africa has plenty of
amazing national parks, but none combine such a variety of landscapes and
wildlife as Namibia's Etosha National Park. Not only can you catch a glimpse of
giraffes, zebras, and leopards at the park's watering holes, but you can also
explore over 2,000 ancient rock paintings. (Photo by Gabriel Orgaz)
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Etosha National Park.
5.) Banff National Park, Canada -- Take one hike through
Alberta's Banff National Park and you'll understand why it's the crown jewel of
the Canadian Rockies: pristine mountain lakes, massive glaciers, towering peaks,
moose, bear... it's like finding the very best of North American wilderness all
in one beautiful package. (Photo by Sergio Lanza Casado)
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Banff National Park.
6.) Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, Panama -- Too
often, we think of national parks as mountains and fjords, but what about those
made of reefs, desert islands, and amazing beaches? That's the case at Panama's
Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, an authentic paradise of mangroves, sandy
isles, and over 10,000 species of plants and animals. (Photo by Naxos)
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Panama.
7.) Krka National Park, Croatia -- Lush forests,
jaw-dropping waterfalls, 15th-century monasteries... yup, that's Krka National
Park. It may not be the biggest or most famous park in Croatia, but there are
few things that compare to taking a summer swim in the famous Skradinski Buk
falls. (Photo by Danilo Veccia)
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Krka National Park.
8.) Grand Canyon National Park, USA -- I don't think we'd
ruffle too many feathers in saying that Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park is
easily the most spectacular park in the U.S. Countless travelers agree: sitting
on the rim of the canyon and contemplating the park's vast expanse is a moving
and life-changing experience. (Photo by Daniel H. Garcia)
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Grand Canyon National Park.
9.) Tulum National Park, Mexico -- Just a short hour from
Playa del Carmen, travelers will find over 1,500 acres of ancient Mayan ruins
and paradisaical beaches that are home to nesting turtles. Don't forget to
explore the rich sea life and mangroves of the stunning Sian Ka'an Biosphere
Reserve nearby. (Photo by Tibor Mester)
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Tulum .
10.) Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park, China -- To say that
Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park is magical is to sell it short. Standing amid
the five-colored lakes, clear blue sky, and vibrant evergreen forests is amazing
on its own, but try to visit in the autumn to experience an extra explosion of
color. (Photo by Cliff Fawcett)
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Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park.
11.) Göreme National Park, Turkey -- The rock homes and
fairy chimneys of Cappadocia's Göreme National Park are a bucket list staple the
world over. Aside from possessing one of the world's most singular landscapes,
Göreme National Park is also home to ancient Byzantine cave frescoes and even
underground cities! (Photo by Maria)
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Göreme National Park.
12.) Pantanal Matogrossense, Brazil -- The vast Pantanal
Matogrossense National Park is part of one of the world's largest tropical
wetlands, and one of the richest ecosystems found anywhere outside of the
Amazon. The best part? The park is massive and you can truly see Brazil's
mammals, reptiles, and birds in their element. (Photo by Sandra Carrillo)
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Pantanal Matogrossense National Park.
13.) Cinque Terre, Italy -- The Cinque Terre National Park
in Liguria, Italy has it all: scenic and colorful villages, boar-filled forests,
amazing hiking trails, sandy beaches...and it's all located on the Italian
Riviera! There are truly few places on Earth that blend culture and nature as
seamlessly (and beautifully) as Cinque Terre. (Photo by Elzunia1)
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Cinque Terre National Park.
14.) Yellowstone National Park, USA -- Yellowstone National
Park is a land of superlatives. The world's first natural park, the continent's
largest volcanic area, and home to the world's largest herd of free-roaming
bison. Yes, from its famous geysers to its mirror-like lakes and amazing
wildlife, Yellowstone National Park encapsulates the very best of the American
west. (Photo by Ramsey Walcher)
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Yellowstone National Park
15.) Snowdonia National Park, Wales, UK -- The Snowdonia
National Park in Wales is a rugged land of craggy mountains, scenic lakes, and a
truly one-of-a-kind local culture. It's a place to enjoy some of the best
mountain biking in Europe (if not the world) before settling down to enjoy the
castles, festivals, and charming villages of this unique Welsh-speaking land.
(Photo by Alf Bailey)
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Snowdonia National Park.
16.) Jasper National Park, Canada -- While many associate
the Canadian Rockies with Banff, Jasper National Park is actually a larger,
wilder, and (according to many) richer national park. The solution? See both!
After visiting Banff, take the spectacular Icefields Parkway up to see Jasper's
incredible woods, glaciers, and wildlife. (Photo by Naxos)
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Jasper National Park.
17.) Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela -- If you ever get
the urge to live out your Robinson Crusoe daydreams, Los Roques is definitely
the place. This protected park is made up of over 300 uninhabited islands, all
surrounded by crystal-blue water, coral reefs, and some of the best diving and
snorkel spots in the world. (Photo by Naxos)
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Los Roques Archipelago.
18.) Torres del Paine National Park, Chile -- Torres del
Paine is a breathtaking expanse of wilderness in the Chilean Patagonia topped
off by the iconic Cuernos del Paine peaks. While the hiking and views are
beautiful in their own right, seeing the immense glaciers of the Southern
Patagonia Ice Field extend towards the horizon is an experience that hasn't its
equal. (Photo by Carlos Solinis)
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Torres del Paine National Park.
19.) Chitwan National Park, Nepal -- Outside of Africa,
there are few parks that offer the variety of large, exotic animals as Nepal's
Chitwan National Park: rhinos, cloud leopards, monkeys, and one of the highest
concentrations of Bengal tigers in the world. Can you imagine a better place for
your first safari? (Photo by Olance)
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Chitwan National Park.
20.) Fiordland National Park, New Zealand -- Fiordland
National Park on the South Island of New Zealand is one of the most rugged,
stunning, and, well, EPIC places in the world! To kayak through the silent
fjords amid towering peaks and rushing waterfalls is the definition of a
life-changing adventure. (Photo by Flechi)
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New Zealand.
21.) Namib-Naukluft National Park, Namibia -- Few things can
prepare you for the sunrise over an endless sea of sand, especially when you're
atop a 50 million year-old sand dune the size of a skyscraper! Don't forget to
spend a morning exploring the legendary Dune 45, a surreal place immediately
recognizable from dozens of Hollywood films. (Photo by Araceli Aranda)
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Namib-Naukluft National Park.
22.) Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia -- Simply put,
the Plitvice Lakes are spectacular. 16 emerald and turquoise lakes connected
with dozens and dozens of scenic waterfalls ranging from the turbulent to the
trickling. The only downside to exploring this park is that you'll have the
fight the continuous urge to dive in! (Photo by Isadora Costa)
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Plitvice Lakes National Park.
23.) Komodo National Park, Indonesia -- As you can probably
guess, Indonesia's Komodo National Park is the premier place to see world's
largest lizard: the Komodo dragon. Beyond just admiring these mighty reptiles,
the park is also home to world-class scuba diving, hidden beaches, and
everything from savannah to cloud forests. (Photo by Leo&Vero)
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Komodo National Park.
24.) Guilin and Lijang River National Park, China -- The
misty karst landscapes of China's Guilin and Lijang River National Park offer
one of the most dreamy, evocative panoramas on Earth. The best plan? Take a lazy
float down the Li River and enjoy the striking peaks, friendly fisherman, and
small riverside villages. (Photo by Juanjo Fontanet)
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Li River.
25.) Canaima National Park, Venezuela -- While Venezuela's
Canaima National Park is most famous for being the home to Angel Falls, the
natural splendor certainly doesn't stop there. The park is also home to vast
lagoons, dense jungles, wetlands, and gigantic, otherworldly plateaus like the
famous Mt. Roraima. (Photo by David R. Luna)
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Canaima National Park.
26.) Tobago Cays Marine Park, St. Vincent & the Grenadines --
Tobago Cays is a pristine archipelago of 5 islands that's a veritable
underwater Garden of Eden. From snorkeling with turtles and rays to sprawling on
a white sand beach without a soul in sight, it's no wonder that Tobago Cays is
one of the Caribbean's most popular eco-tourism destinations. (Photo by Cali
Day)
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Tobago Cays .
27.) Serengeti National Park, Tanzania -- The Serengeti
National Park is one of the reining kings of African national parks. Known for
its annual wildebeest migrations, the single largest animal migration on Earth,
the Serengeti National Park is one of the few places on earth that can truly be
considered a sanctuary for the great animals of Africa. (Photo by Alfonso N.
Tappero)
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Serengeti National Park.
28.) The Everglades, USA -- At first glance, the Everglades
can be intimidating. It's a vast wetland covering a massive chunk of southern
Florida, but with a little grit and an airboat, travelers can discover one of
the continent's greatest wildlife refuges, full of crocodiles, deer, migratory
birds, and unforgettable sunsets. (Photo by Victor Gomez)
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Everglades National Park .
29.) Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia -- There are
two ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef: by sea and by sky. With its
unparalleled diversity of marine life, the Great Barrier Reef is obviously a
snorkel and scuba heaven, but for the less aquatically-inclined, you can also
opt to see the beautiful colors and coral formations from a plane. (Photo by
Gonzalo Moreno)
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Australia.
30.) Jostedalsbreen National Park, Norway -- Oh Norway... a
land of epic fjords, scenic villages, and, of course, amazing natural parks, the
most stunning of which is the Jostedalsbreen National Park, home of the famous
Briskdal Glacier. Just imagine climbing by glacial lakes and churning waterfalls
to come upon a massive blue glacier cascading down the mountain. Priceless!
(Photo by Alfonso N. Tappero)
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Norway.
31.) Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania -- Mt. Kilimanjaro
has the fame of being the highest mountain in Africa and the dream of avid
climbers everywhere. The Kilimanjaro National Park is most famous among trekkers
looking to challenge themselves on the peak, but the views and wildlife in the
surrounding grasslands makes the trip worthwhile for the rest of us! (Photo by
Esteban Atilano)
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Kilimanjaro National Park.
32.) Tayrona National Park, Colombia -- Columbia's Tayrona
National Park is a strip of virgin jungle nestled between the mountains and the
Caribbean sea where you can spot monkeys playing in the trees, snorkel among
some of the country's best coral reefs, or simply find a dreamy spot to hang up
your hammock and soak it all in. (Photo by Murci3lago)
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Tayrona National Park.
33.) Kruger National Park, South Africa -- The Kruger
National Park is an unbelievably big (over 7,000 square miles!) nature reserve
in South Africa and, with more species of large mammals than any other African
game reserve, arguably the top safari destination in the world. What else can we
say? It's a must!
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Kruger
National Park.
34.) Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina -- Few sights
are as imposing or awe-inspiring as laying eyes on the Perito Moreno Glacier,
the hulking glacier and centerpiece of Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park.
To cruise on the water and see football field sized chunks of ice come crashing
into the water is truly a humbling sight. (Photo by Juan C. Abatedaga)
Click here to see more photos of the
Los Glaciares National Park.
35.) Galapagos National Park, Ecuador -- The Galapagos
National Park off the coast of Ecuador is home to one of the world's most
interesting and unique ecosystems. Whether you come to marvel at the giant
tortoises and iguanas or swim around the coral reefs, Galapagos National Park is
a natural gem that must be experienced in your lifetime. (Photo by Juanjo
Fontanet)
Click here for more photo of
Galapagos National Park
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