Lake Atitlán's volcanic crater lake formed 84,000 years ago but today it's the livelihood for 12 Mayan villages producing all varieties of coffee, chocolate, honey and local produce like avocados.

Cloud forests, butterfly farms and chocolate bars, Mindo is truly a gem. A village in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador, this rich landscape is part of the Mindo-Nambillo Reserve and is packed with unique bird species, delicate orchids and cascading waterfalls.