3 Different Takes on Indian Adventure Tourism

Located in South Asia, India is the world’s second-largest country by population as well as its largest democracy.  Renowned for its linguistic and religious diversity, its colorful history, and its increasingly important role in an ever-globalizing world, India is also putting itself on the map as a popular destination for adventure tourism.

Lake Roopkund, India

Because of its size and geographical diversity, India offers a wide variety of options for vacationers seeking an exciting adventure in an exotic land.  Let’s take a look at just a few of the locations throughout this magical country that are growing ever-more popular with a unique class of tourists who want more from their vacation destinations:

Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India

1. Uttarakhand

This northern state is situated in the heart of the Himalaya Mountains and is renowned for its natural beauty and peaceful nature.  Its mountainous topography makes it ideal for hikers, rock climbers, and skiers.  Uttarakhand is home to the infamous Roopkund, a trekking destination where, during the summer months, a vast number of human skeletons can be seen beneath the thawed lake water.

2. Rajasthan

Located along India’s western border, this massive state is home to the equally gigantic Thar Desert—one of the largest in the world.  For those who fancy a visit to this culturally- and geographically-isolated locale, there might be no better way to do it than on the back of a camel, taking a true Rajasthan-style safari.  No matter your price range or preferred travel style, there’s an option for you—from simple backpacker accommodations to posh and luxurious desert treks, Rajasthan has it all.

3. Goa

Goa, India

This tiny southwestern state is by far India’s richest, with a GDP over two times the country’s average.  If your idea of an Indian vacation includes cultural immersion and historic sites but you prefer beaches to the mountains or the desert, this is your place.  Options for adventure tourism in Goa abound—from water sports to scuba diving to fishing to hiking, there is bound to be an activity in Goa that piques your interest.  Once again, the tourism industry in Goa caters to visitors of many price ranges, and whether you’re looking at hostel dormitories or upscale hotel rooms there is a space in Goa for you.

Before You Go... 

Pick up our India map. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a point of interest (POI), city point, and/or latitude and longitude, with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car.

The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. This installable map is compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units .

It's like having your own personal travel guide with you on your trip!

Screen Capture from our India GPS Map

Screen Capture from our India GPS Map

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3 Incredible Adventures in Costa Rica

Arenal Zip Line

Costa Rica is the most visited Central American country. Partly this is because it is considered one of the safest and most stable countries in the region, but primarily it is due to the extensive range of incredible adventure activities in stunning locations. We're listing our top 3 things to do in Costa Rica to inspire you to visit and explore this wondrous country. Each of these can easily be found using our Costa Rica GPS Map.

1. Ride the Sky Trek

Sky Trek is one of the most amazing zip line experiences in the world, and possibly the longest. Nine zip line cables take you 3 kilometers in two hours through the jungle, over Arenal Lake, and past Arenal Volcano. You will begin your journey by taking the Sky Tram to the top, so you will have magnificent views of your surroundings on the way up and zip lining down. Extend your trip with two additional options. Sky Walk is a combination of suspension bridges (up to 1,000 feet long) and trails that take you above the cloud forest. Sky River Drift adds 3 zip lines, a free style jump to the river, and a 3.7 kilometer raft descent.

Rio Celeste

2. Swim the Rio Celeste

Legend has it that after He finished painting the sky, God cleaned off his paintbrush in the Rio Celeste. The color of the water could certainly give that impression. Located in the Tenorio Volcano National Park, the Rio Celeste is off the beaten path for most visitors to Costa Rica. Depending on your hiking speed and weather, the trip from the Park entrance to the Rio Celeste waterfall will take 45-90 minutes of tough hiking, and it's worth every step. Once you arrive at the falls, take a few moments to dip your feet in the water, jump off a nearby rock, or just go for a swim. Once you've cooled off, you can head upstream to find the spot where crystal clear water combines with volcanic minerals to produce the incredible blue waters of the river. Along the way, stop off and visit one of the many hot springs. The hike from this confluence back to the Park entrance is about an hour and a half.

Bahia Drake

3. Drake Bay Adventures

Drake Bay is a great destination for those travelers seeking a combination of adventure and escape from the more touristy locations. In Drake Bay you can find it all: kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, sport fishing, bird-watching, or walks on the beach. Drake Bay is an excellent jumping off point for visits to Punta Río Claro National Wildlife Refuge or the Campanario Biological Reserve. Or you can head over to Cano Island for a variety of activities, including snorkeling, visiting the Caño Island Biological Reserve, examining mysterious pre-Columbian artifacts, or catching a glimpse of Ridley sea turtles laying their eggs.

Whether you follow our suggestions or create your own adventures, Costa Rica is the place to go for great adventure, beautiful scenery, and getting away from it all.

Learn more about Costa Rica, including other Top Destinations, Major Cities, hotels, and restaurants in our Costa Rica Travel Guide.

Before You Go... 

Pick up our Costa Rica map. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a point of interest (POI), city point, and/or latitude and longitude, with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car.

The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. This installable map is compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units .

It's like having your own personal travel guide with you on your trip!

A screen capture from our Costa Rica GPS Map

A screen capture from our Costa Rica GPS Map

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

You can also connect with us on Google Plus, see our travel guide pictures on Pinterest, and view some of our videos on YouTube.

Hiking Peru's Inca Trail

The 4-day Trek is the Experience of a Lifetime

We've been hitting the Caribbean pretty hard this week on our blog, so we thought we'd take a break and head inland to Peru.

Picture of Machu Picchu, by GPSTravelMaps

At 39 kilometers (~24 miles), the Inca Trail may not seem like much of a four day hike, but considering that it winds it's way through the Andes and up and over three passes of nearly 4,200 meters, it more than earns it's nickname, "The Inca Trial." It's not all grueling climbs though. Hikers cross and follow beautiful rivers, look down on cloud forests, and view amazing vistas. Oh, and don't forget visiting the several amazing ruins you'll see along the way, culminating with Machu Picchu.

The Incas were one of the most amazing pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas. Machu Picchu is a testament to their power, ingenuity, and technology. The city is believed to have been built around 1450 AD and abandoned in 1572 AD. The Spanish conquistadors never found this site, and consequently it is considered to be one of the most intact Incan cultural sites. Yale professor Hiram Bingham was led to Machu Picchu by an 11 year old Quechua boy and Bingham spent several years excavating the site. He unfortunately also removed thousands of artifacts. But the beauty and majesty of Machu Picchu is still available for all to see.

Before You Go...

Pick up our Peru map. To our knowledge, this is the only map of the entire country of Peru with topographic detail of the Sacred Valley available for your GPS. The contours are spaced 100 meters apart for the region of Machu Picchu and Cusco, allowing you to view the terrain while exploring Cusco and Machu Picchu or while hiking the Inca Trail if it is on your itinerary.

In addition to the contours of this region, other geographic features are included in the map: park boundaries for the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu, as well as the Sacsayhuaman ruins outside of Cusco; the Inca Trail is displayed within the map so you can chart your progress while hiking; national and local roads with road names and labels; rivers and streams; lakes; airports; campsites; and many more!

A screen capture from our Peru GPS Map.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

You can also connect with us on Google Plus, see our travel guide pictures on Pinterest, and view some of our videos on YouTube.