Wild Kingdoms
Expedition cruising’s latest golden child, Western Australia’s Kimberley, delivers on natural marvels (a horizontal waterfall!) and up-close wildlife. Read about a recent adventure in the region below, along with next year’s must-watch cruise-ship debuts and packing picks from Mexico City-based fashion designer Olivia Villanti. Australia’s Kimberley Is Worth the Cruise An expedition cruise reveals the region’s billion-year-old landscapes. First light gradually illuminated the sandstone cliff, uncovering one sedimentary stratum after another like a geological striptease. Saffron, gold, brown, cream, and pink layers mingled in the gnarled crag above our boat on the King George River, revealing how unrelenting natural forces have shaped Australia’s Kimberley region for some 1.8 billion years. READ MORE The 19 Most Exciting New Cruise Ships Setting Sail Next Year Arriving in March, AmaWaterways’ 24th ship on Europe’s rivers, the 152-passenger AmaSofia, upholds the line’s wellness focus with morning fitness classes and bicycles for onshore explorations. Following its first spring on the Rhine, the AmaSofia will transit to the Danube, sailing from Vilshofen, Germany, to Budapest, stopping for excursions to Mozart’s former stomping grounds in Linz, Austria, and the Weissenkirchen fortress that once held Richard the Lionheart. Departures: Multiple dates, June 14 through December 27, 2026. READ MORE Where Next: The Ten Best Places to Go in 2026 Every year, we check in with Virtuoso advisors and our contributors around the world to hear more about the best places to go in the year ahead (and why). Trips that prioritize cultural immersion are hot, according to the just-released Virtuoso Luxe Report – a survey of more than 2,400 Virtuoso advisors around the world – as are getaways that put food or adventure first. READ MORE What (and Where) to Eat in Morocco A love affair with Moroccan food begins even before the first taste: Fragrant souks brimming with saffron, cinnamon, and ras el hanout. Roadside citrus groves on coastal northern drives. That first, perfectly overwhelming hit of cumin as a chef lifts the lid of a warm tagine. A centuries-deep blend of Amazigh, Arabian, Andalusian, Jewish, and Mediterranean influences has helped shape Morocco’s culinary identity, a complex mélange of flavors and cooking styles that’s led to hundreds of signature dishes, from hearty, chickpea-studded stews to fresh oysters served with locally grown limes. READ MORE Get to Know Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE’s “Nature Emirate” The United Arab Emirates doesn’t skimp on glitzy grandeur, but it’s also rich in some of the region’s most stunning natural beauty. On the Arabian Peninsula’s east coast and just over half the size of Rhode Island, small but mighty Ras Al Khaimah beckons travelers with golden sand dunes, rugged mountains, and 40 miles of coastline – all within an hour’s drive of each other. The “nature emirate,” as it’s known, also teems with deep Emirati culture and captivating ancient sites. READ MORE The Red Sea Destination Celebrates Its Biodiversity Even before it first welcomed travelers in 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea destination has been charting new frontiers in ecotourism: The 10,000-square-mile region along the northwest coast encourages visitors to not only travel consciously but also become active participants in the area’s natural preservation. With all its resorts targeting LEED Platinum certification, The Red Sea prioritizes carbon neutrality and plans to deliver a net conservation benefit by 2040. READ MORE Olivia Villanti, founder of Mexico City’s Chava Studio , shares what she’s been loving lately. Packing: My True Botanicals hand cream – a gift from a friend and great for dry skin. My little Parker Thatch pouch holds miscellaneous things such as my passport and baggage stickers, and doubles as a clutch at my destination. Watching: The Juan Gabriel documentary on Netflix. He’s an icon in Mexico, and this shows why his music connects with people on such a human level. Shopping: My friend Esteban Caicedo’s line, Azotea , manufactured here in Mexico. His aesthetic is so fun and chic. It’s (finally) official – your Apple Wallet can now store U.S. passports and driver’s licenses. Coming soon: a gorgeous new way to arrive at the Amalfi Coast. The FIFA World Cup draw is this weekend – where will your team be playing next year? Intrepid Travel just partnered with outfitter REI on a series of adventure-focused trips. We’re picking up A Killer Wedding , a thriller set in Ireland, for our next vacation read. Ready to travel? Let’s go. Connect Request A Quote
Nature Reigns at This Private-Island Resort in Panama
Thrill-chasing Just off Panama’s Pacific coast, Islas Secas is a 32-guest island hideaway where the catch of the day makes it to the dinner table, and scuba trips reveal octopus, barracuda, and the occasional whale shark. Virtuoso, The Magazine managing editor Justin Paul recently visited the private-island resort – his story on the action-packed escape is below. Plus: What it’s like on a personalized wellness retreat to SHA Mexico, and the hotels we love in the Turks and Caicos. READ MORE Nature Reigns at Panama’s Islas Secas For years, Panama has been tipped as Costa Rica’s scruffier adventure-travel neighbor on the cusp. Nature and outdoor activities abound on both its Caribbean and Pacific coasts, but except for a handful of expedition cruises, access required a hardy road-trip approach, a patchwork of local boat charters, and a willingness to trade creature comforts for the privileges of its reefs, remote islands, and rainforest jungle. READ MORE I Went to a Wellness Clinic in Mexico to Get My Health Optimized When I arrive at the wellness retreat just outside Cancún, I’m not sure what to make of the immersive experience awaiting me over the next four days. The SHA complex, with its airy, spiraling design subtly echoing the double helix of human DNA, seems to hint that every detail has some biological purpose. I’d come for the “rebalance and energize” program meant to clear my head and power up my cells, but the daily schedule is packed tighter than my carry-on. READ MORE The Best Luxury Resorts in the Turks and Caicos When I first visited the Turks and Caicos in 1996 (I’ve been back several times since), you could look up and down Grace Bay Beach’s three-mile expanse and see no footprints but your own – just swaths of sand as fine and white as confectioner’s sugar, and gin-clear, impossibly blue water stretching to the sky. The sweep that was once my secret may now be lined with swanky resorts, but it remains as beautiful as ever. READ MORE An Art and Food Lover’s Guide to Barcelona Picasso in the late nineteenth century, the avant-garde chefs redefining Spanish cuisine today – Barcelona has long been a muse for creatives. While Spain’s sunny seaside city lures travelers in the summer with its beachfront promenade and late nights in architectural-wonder-packed neighborhoods, peak season isn’t the only time to soak up the Catalonian capital’s cultural and culinary prowess. READ MORE Alejandro Gallegos, general manager of Mexico City’s Alexander Hotel , shares what he’s been loving lately. Packing: Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones and my Brooklinen silk eye mask Reading: Hospitality Design and Monocle 's travel section . Both offer thoughtful perspectives on global trends and design-forward experiences. Watching: The Bear – an intense, beautifully shot series that captures the energy, emotion, and exacting standards behind culinary operations. As someone in hospitality, it’s as inspiring as it is authentic. Dreaming of: Kyoto. Pioneering researcher Jane Goodall , a leader in environmental stewardship, passed away this week. LA28 ticket sales are coming . MoMA’s first bookstore just opened in Seoul. Cuyana dropped new colors for its beloved travel jewelry cases (and don’t forget to pack some travel-size jewelry cleaner !). A retrospective of artist Nancy Holt’s large-scale Sun Tunnels is now on display in New York City. Ready to travel? Let’s go. Connect Request A Quote
What We Learned at Virtuoso Travel Week 2025
This August, Virtuoso Travel Week once again transformed Las Vegas into the global capital of luxury travel. More than 4,800 travel advisors, hoteliers, tour operators, cruise executives, and destination representatives gathered for a whirlwind of meetings, panels, announcements, parties, impromptu confabs, and a glittery gala night celebrating Virtuoso, The Magazine’s 25th anniversary. READ MORE 11 of This Year’s Splashiest New Hotels Call it a hot take, but that first flop onto a crisp hotel bed after the suitcases have been stowed might be a contender for the best moment of any trip. The next best thing: a yuzu-scented soak in a hinoki-wood bathtub (or maybe it’s afternoon tea on a terrace looking out at Bangkok’s skyscrapers). This year, new hotels are popping up in choice enclaves around the world, from Tokyo’s Shibaura to the Entertainment District in Toronto. READ MORE These Southwest U.S. Via Ferratas Rival Europe’s Alpine Classics By the time I reached the aptly named “Main Event” – a 200-foot cliffside traverse midway through Colorado’s mile-and-a-half-long Telluride Via Ferrata – I was still finding my rhythm. Wearing a climbing harness rigged with Y-shaped lanyards and locking carabiners, I clipped onto safety cables that were present along some sections of the route. Strategically placed iron rungs – via ferrata means “iron way” in Italian – offered just enough cues to follow upward, even if some ledges barely had room for a toe tip. Fortunately, my guide kept me focused. READ MORE One of Mexico’s Best Resorts Is About to Debut a Fresh New Look Arriving at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal is nothing short of cinematic. Travelers get to the 112-room cliffside resort via the iconic Dos Mares tunnel. Halfway along the nearly 1,000-foot-long passage, which cuts through the mountains and is illuminated by chandeliers hanging from its arched stone ceilings, the buzz from Cabo San Lucas’ lively downtown fades, and guests emerge at a serene beachside retreat where the Pacific collides with the Sea of Cortés. READ MORE Request A Quote
