When we think of national parks, we often picture the incredible landscapes protected by the National Park Service in the United States. But countries around the world have their own ways of protecting important natural and cultural places. Some are designated national parks, while others are protected areas, archaeological sites, or natural monuments. Regardless of their official designation, each one preserves something unique and worth experiencing.
Through our travels, we have been fortunate to visit national parks and protected areas across the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and the Pacific. Each one tells a different story—some through dramatic landscapes, some through wildlife, and others through thousands of years of human history.
Protected Places Around the World
- Why Visit Protected Places Around the World?
- Cave of Wonders (Cueva de las Maravillas) | Dominican Republic
- Arikok National Park | Aruba
- Prince Edward Island National Park | Canada
- Tel Megiddo National Park | Israel
- Tijuca National Park | Brazil
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs | Scotland
- Hohe Tauren National Park | Austria
- Cascade de Fautaua | French Polynesia
- Know Before You Go: Protected Places Around the World
At A Glance: Protected Places Around the World
- Countries & Territories: Dominican Republic, Aruba, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Austria, Scotland, French Polynesia
- Protected Places: national parks, natural monuments, and protected areas
- Experiences: caves, mountains, rainforests, waterfalls, archaeology, and coastlines
- Best For: nature lovers, history lovers, and international travelers
- Travel Style: exploring unique landscapes around the world
Why Visit Protected Places Around the World?
When we travel, we often seek out the places that reveal what makes a destination unique. Protected places are some of the best examples of this. They preserve not only incredible landscapes, but also the history, culture, and stories that connect people to a place.
Exploring these places around the world has shown us that there is no single definition of beauty. A national park might be a rainforest in the middle of a city, an ancient archaeological site, a dramatic mountain range, or a hidden cave beneath the ground. Each one offers a different glimpse into the natural and cultural treasures of our world.
Cave of Wonders (Cueva de las Maravillas) | Dominican Republic
When most people picture the Dominican Republic, they probably imagine beautiful beaches, turquoise water, and tropical landscapes. While those are certainly incredible parts of the island, some of the most fascinating discoveries are hidden beneath the surface.
The Cave of Wonders (Cueva de las Maravillas) is a protected natural area that takes visitors into a completely different world. Inside this underground cave system are incredible rock formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and evidence of the island’s earliest inhabitants. Ancient Taino people used the caves, leaving behind petroglyphs and drawings that offer a glimpse into the history and culture of the Caribbean before European arrival.
Walking through the cave felt like stepping into another time. The formations created by thousands of years of water and minerals were beautiful, but it was the connection to the people who came before that made this experience especially memorable.
This visit was a reminder that protected places are not only about mountains, forests, and coastlines. Sometimes they preserve the hidden stories beneath our feet.
Arikok National Park | Aruba
When many people picture Aruba, they imagine white sand beaches, turquoise water, and relaxing days along the Caribbean coast. While those beaches are certainly beautiful, the heart of Aruba can be found in a very different landscape.
Arikok National Park protects nearly 20% of the island and showcases the rugged, wild side of Aruba. Instead of tropical forests, visitors find a landscape shaped by wind, sun, and volcanic rock. The park is filled with desert-like scenery, towering cacti, hidden caves, natural pools, and dramatic coastal views.
Exploring Arikok was a reminder that every island has a story beyond the shoreline. The caves throughout the park preserve evidence of Aruba’s earliest inhabitants, including ancient drawings left by the island’s Indigenous people. The landscape itself tells the story of an island shaped by nature and time.
What makes Arikok special is the contrast. Just a short distance from the famous beaches is a completely different world—one filled with rugged trails, unique wildlife, and the raw beauty of the Caribbean.
Arikok National Park shows that some of the most memorable adventures happen when you leave the familiar path and discover what lies beyond the postcard view.
Prince Edward Island National Park | Canada
Located along the northern coast of Prince Edward Island, this national park protects some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in Canada’s Maritime provinces. With red sandstone cliffs, sandy beaches, dunes, and the endless rhythm of the ocean, this park captures the quiet beauty that makes island landscapes so special.
What stood out most was the peacefulness of the coastline. The changing colors of the cliffs against the blue water created a landscape that felt both rugged and welcoming. Walking along the shore, it was easy to understand why this area has inspired generations of visitors and artists.
Prince Edward Island National Park is a wonderful example of how national parks preserve more than just dramatic scenery. They protect the relationship between land and sea and allow visitors to slow down and appreciate the beauty of a place shaped by nature over time.
Tel Megiddo National Park | Israel
Some national parks protect incredible landscapes. Others protect something just as powerful—the stories of the people who came before us.
Tel Megiddo National Park is one of those places. Rising above the Jezreel Valley, this ancient archaeological site preserves thousands of years of human history. Because of its location along important ancient trade routes, Megiddo became a strategic city that was repeatedly built, destroyed, and rebuilt throughout history.
Walking through Megiddo felt like walking through layers of time. Beneath the ground are the remains of civilizations that lived, worked, and worshiped in this same place thousands of years ago. The archaeological discoveries reveal how people adapted to this landscape and how important this location was throughout history.
Visiting Tel Megiddo was a powerful reminder that protected places don’t only preserve natural wonders. They also preserve the stories, cultures, and civilizations that shaped our world.
Tijuca National Park | Brazil
One of the most surprising national parks we have visited is Tijuca National Park in Brazil. Located within the city of Rio de Janeiro, this protected rainforest feels like a world away from the busy streets and famous beaches below.
Tijuca is one of the largest urban forests in the world, making it a remarkable example of how nature and cities can exist side by side. The forest is filled with lush vegetation, waterfalls, wildlife, and incredible viewpoints overlooking Rio’s famous landscapes.
What makes this park so fascinating is its location. It is hard to imagine that such a dense tropical rainforest exists in the middle of one of the world’s most recognizable cities. The park provides a place where people can escape into nature while still being surrounded by urban life.
Tijuca National Park shows the importance of protecting natural spaces wherever they are—even when they exist in the middle of a bustling city.
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs | Scotland
There are some landscapes that feel like they belong in a storybook, and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is one of those places.
Located in the Scottish Highlands, this park is filled with mountains, forests, walking trails, and the peaceful waters of Loch Lomond. The combination of rugged landscapes and quiet beauty captures everything many travelers imagine when they dream of Scotland.
Exploring this area felt like stepping into the Scotland of legends and stories. The landscape invites visitors to slow down, wander, and simply take in the beauty around them.
What makes this national park special is not just one landmark, but the feeling it creates. It is a place where nature feels timeless—a reminder of how landscapes can shape the identity and imagination of an entire country.
Hohe Tauren National Park | Austria
Some places make you feel very small in the best possible way. Hohe Tauern National Park in Austria is one of those places.
Located in the Austrian Alps, Hohe Tauern is the largest national park in the Alps and protects some of Europe’s most dramatic mountain landscapes. Towering peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, alpine meadows, and clear mountain lakes create a landscape that feels almost unreal.
Visiting the Austrian Alps has always been a special experience for our family, and places like Hohe Tauern capture the magic that draws people to these mountains. The landscape changes with every turn—one moment you are surrounded by towering peaks, and the next you are looking across peaceful valleys filled with wildflowers and traditional villages.
The park protects not only incredible scenery but also the plants and animals that call this alpine environment home. It is a place where nature remains powerful and untamed, reminding visitors of the importance of preserving these landscapes for future generations.
Hohe Tauern National Park represents everything people imagine when they dream of the Alps: breathtaking mountains, peaceful valleys, and the feeling of standing somewhere much larger than yourself.
Cascade de Fautaua | French Polynesia
Tahiti is often associated with beautiful beaches and crystal-clear lagoons, but the island’s interior holds an entirely different kind of beauty.
The lush mountains of Tahiti are filled with waterfalls, tropical forests, and landscapes shaped by the island’s volcanic origins. Visiting Cascade de Fautaua offered a glimpse into this hidden side of the island—the side beyond the beaches.
Surrounded by tropical greenery and the sound of rushing water, the waterfall felt like a peaceful escape into nature. The dramatic contrast between the vibrant vegetation and towering mountains showed another reason why protecting these landscapes matters.
This experience was a reminder that paradise is not just found along the shoreline. Sometimes the most unforgettable places are found by following the road inland and discovering what lies beyond the view everyone expects.
Know Before You Go: Protected Places Around the World
- Protected places around the world have different designations depending on the country.
- Always check opening hours, permits, and local regulations before visiting.
- Some parks require reservations or guided tours.
- Weather and seasonal conditions can greatly impact your experience.
- Supporting protected places through entrance fees, tours, and responsible travel helps preserve them for future generations.
One of the greatest joys of traveling is discovering that the places that inspire us are not limited to one country, one landscape, or one type of experience. From underground caves and ancient cities to tropical forests, rugged coastlines, and towering mountain peaks, each of these protected places tells a unique story about the world we share.
What makes these destinations special is not just their beauty, but the reason they have been preserved. They protect the landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and histories that make each place unique. Standing in these places reminds us that there is something powerful about setting aside areas where nature and history can continue to exist for generations to come.
Exploring national parks and protected places around the world has shown us that wonder looks different everywhere. Sometimes it is found in a glacier-covered mountain peak, sometimes in the middle of a rainforest, and sometimes hidden beneath the earth. No matter where we find it, these places remind us how much there is still left to discover.
If you enjoyed this post, here are some others that you might be interested in:
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Thanks for coming along at this look of protected places around the world and what makes them so special. May you find incredible views, preserved history, and moments that remind you why we travel.
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U.S. Geological Landscapes: 5 Places That Tell the Natural History of the Earth
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Dominican Republic, Aruba, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Scotland, Austria, French Polynesia
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