Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
Ask the experts
Whether exploring Mayan sites in remote Central America, searching for pelicans on Greek lakes or discovering nature on a city break in Bratislava – our experts share their travel tips
Go off-grid to find wild wonders and ruins with our experts’ top tips
TRAVELLING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK IN CENTRAL AMERICA
QWe’re going to north-east Guatemala to see the ancient ruins of Tikal and thinking of crossing into western Belize to explore Caracol while in the area. Do you know of other offbeat sites we could visit while we’re over the border?
Julia Bradford, via email A
It’s definitely worth spending longer in Belize. There’s plenty to see in this intriguing Central American country, especially hidden away in the western jungly mountains. Caracol, Belize’s largest Maya city (and with fewer visitors than Tikal) is a good choice, but you should also head north to the Maya ruins at Xunantunich, accessed via a hand-cranked ferry. Combine a visit with canoeing on the remote Macal River, scanning for wildlife such as the keel-billed toucan (Belize’s national bird), and checking in to rustic rainforest lodges.
If you’ve a desire to travel even further off-grid, the barely-inhabited hills of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve are also a good place – seek out Thousand-foot Falls (actually 1,600ft [485m] tall), explore the wild terrain by mountain bike and on foot, and check out the Río Frio area, riddled with caves.
However, for the most thrilling subterranean adventure, book a trip to the cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal: trek through the jungle, wade and swim inside, then clamber deep into the dark chambers, once used for Maya sacrifices – a human skeleton, cloaked in calcite crystals, can still be seen sparkling on the ground.
Sarah Baxter
CROSSING GREECE IN SEARCH OF PELICANS
QI’m visiting the Prespa Lakes in Greece as I hear it’s a good destination for birdwatching, especially pelicans. Where is a convenient base to travel out of? Hyunju Lee, via email A
Prespa Lakes National Park consists of two freshwater lakes nestled in the mountainous northwest corner of Greece. The largest lake, Megali Prespa, is shared between Greece, Albania and North Macedonia and is fringed with Byzantine relics. Mikri Prespa Lake – smaller, shallower and separated from Megali by a thin natural causeway – is lined by reed beds and is the focus of most aquatic birdlife.
The lakes hold one of the largest Dalmatian pelican breeding colonies
in the world, and is also home to the great white pelican, squacco heron, pygmy cormorant and little bittern. Take an evening boat trip to enjoy the pelican spectacle. Late spring is best with various herons, egrets, terns and crakes, and the scarce ferruginous duck breeds here.
Diverse habitats circle the lakes, from wet and alpine meadows, to bean cultivated farmland and pine forests. On a hike, keep an eye out for skulking warblers and raptors.
Fly into Thessaloniki and drive the three-hour journey to Agios Germanos or Psarades village, close to the lakes. Both make an ideal base, and have good rustic tavernas and accommodation. Rebecca Nason
A WILD TIME IN SLOVAKIA
QOn a long-ish weekend in Bratislava, I also want to see a bit of nature and wildlife. How easy is it to get out of the city?
Penelope Bates, via email A
The Slovakian capital is very well placed for hills, rivers and wetlands, and it’s easy to travel by public transport or by bike.
The Little Carpathians mountain range runs north from the Danube river on the western edge of the city, and their southern end is protected by the Bratislava Forest Park (Bratislavský Lesopark). It’s thickly forested with beech and oak and criss-crossed with trails, most notably the European E8 trail along the ridge towards the Polish border (and on to Istanbul). Wildlife include roe, fallow and red deer, wild boar and red squirrel, and over 50 species of birds including saker falcons and honey buzzards; you may see salamanders after rain.
There are various access points, including Lesopark (bus 43 from the Železná Studienka station) and Potočná, or head up to the Kamzík TV tower (bus 203 to Koliba then walk, or bus 144 at peak times) and follow the ridge route northwards.
Tim Burford