National Geographic names best destinations for 2019

From bio tortillas in Mexico City to the bizarre rocky formations in China, the magazine has revealed its annual suggestions for the Best Trips

If you still haven’t decided where to head in 2019, hesitate no more. Whether you are a nature lover or prefer lively cities and culture, National Geographic has you covered.

In the annual selections of Best Trips, the popular travel magazine has selected the best cities and natural landmarks, as well as places of culture and locations with the best potential of and adrenaline rush.

Mexico City, Mexico

“Our Best Trips issue features 28 destinations and experiences that can inspire us, change our perspectives and connect us with cultures, places and ideas that matter in the world,” says George Stone, National Geographic’s travel editor in chief.

“The issue is packed with spectacular National Geographic photography and is driven by our mission to explore, conserve, respect and engage with our planet.”

Mexico City has topped this year’s ranking for a rather peculiar reason — bio tortillas. While it is possible to get a hot fresh tortilla stuffed with various ingredients at any corner of the 22-million city, they are usually made out of processed corn flour. However, famous local chefs have begun to focus on preparing the iconic dish the traditional way enabling visitors to “digest” local culture in the appropriate form.

Peruvian Amazon, Peru

To embrace some of the last remaining sprawls of untouched nature, head to the Peruvian Amazon, number two on the National Geographic’s overall ranking. Peru has recently created a two-million-acre national park in the wildlife which is comparable in size to Yellowstone.

“We have low jungles, high jungles, cloud forests, flooded forests, vast swamps, waterfalls, jungle ruins, creepy isolated mountain peaks, and even the world’s largest documented thermal river — the Boiling River of the Amazon,” said Peruvian geothermal scientist and National Geographic’s explorer Andrés Ruzo.

Fanjingshan, China

As China is gaining popularity among tourists, and is also expected to become the most visited country on the planet by 2030, its perks couldn’t be missed on the list.

The country’s newest Unesco World Heritage site, Fanjingshan, is a hiker’s paradise. The sacred Buddhist site ranked third on the list and rewards visitors with “bizarre rock formations and above-the-clouds views of China’s Wuling mountain range”. The outstanding landscapes are also available for the lazier of us by a cable car.