A North Island must-do: Rotorua’s Te Puia — powerful geysers, bubbling mud pools and sacred Maori crafts stir the senses and spirit with unforgettable warmth.

Lake Atitlán, forged in ancient volcanic fire, now cradles a shimmering lake that nourishes Mayan villages where coffee, chocolate, honey and creamy avocados are still made with ancestral care.

Nicknamed the “White City” for its baroque buildings carved from sillar — a luminous volcanic stone — Arequipa, Peru radiates a cozy, sunlit charm. Streets hum with live music, spicy aromas drift from bustling kitchens and tucked-away antique shops invite slow discoveries. Its lively historic center feels like a warm embrace, framed dramatically by four towering volcanoes that watch over the town.