The iconic Joshua Tree has been around for two million years but its future is uncertain with scientists warning that it could disappear by the end of the century.
Joshua Trees on the arid desert of Joshua Tree National Park. Image by Getty
The fragile desert ecosystem of Joshua Tree National Park has never looked more vulnerable. After a government shutdown in January reduced the park’s workforce to a handful of non-essential personnel, the park was left exposed to unmonitored visitors and vandals. What they left behind was significant scarring to the desert soil and long-term damage to the landscape that could take about 300 years to repair. And now a study in the journal Ecosphere – from scientists at the University of California, Riverside – has added more woe by revealing that the park’s namesake trees are in danger of dying out from climate change.
A rock has been vandalized with graffiti in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los AngelesTimes via Getty
Scientists from UC Riverside wanted to confirm earlier studies that predicted that Joshua trees (which aren’t actually trees but yucca plants) could be extinct by 2021. Headed by plant ecologist Dr Lynn Sweet, the team surveyed 4000 trees in the park and using various methods, discovered that the Joshua tree could only be saved if immediate and radical action is taken now. That means if gas emissions are seriously restricted and summer temperatures are limited to an increase of 5.4°F (3°C), about 19% of the tree habitat would survive after the year 2070.
The Joshua Tree National Park will be enlarged under new legislation. Image: Gary C. Tognoni/Shutterstock
On the flip side, if no climate action is taken, the park would only retain 0.02% of its Joshua tree habitat, meaning that it will pretty much disappear by 2070. It’s worth noting that the Joshua tree has been around since the Pleistocene epoch and has outlived the mastodon, sabre-tooth tiger and woolly mammoth. Now it could disappear because of climate change caused by human activity.
“The fate of these unusual, amazing trees is in all of our hands,” Dr Sweet said in a statement. “Their numbers will decline, but how much depends on us.”
Clear starry nights over Joshua Tree. Image by Getty Images/Matthew Micah Wright
Many organisations are working to safeguard the future of the Joshua tree and the surrounding Mojave Desert ecosystem such as the Mojave Desert Trust (MDT), Earthwatch and the Joshua Tree National Park Association. Their work is exhaustive and ongoing but absolutely necessary, more so now than ever before. As MDT’s executive director, Geary Hund, tells Lonely Planet: “We are acquiring pristine desert habitat, including in wildlife corridors, to ensure animals and plants can move in response to a changing climate. This means moving up in elevation or north in latitude. We also grow native plants for restoration projects, and our seed bank with its over 500 collections is an insurance policy for the future of the Mojave Desert, protecting against climate change, fire, and drought.”
You can always support any of the above organisations through donations or by volunteering.
There are many unique dining experiences available to food-loving travellers nowadays, but one brand new offering is really teasing imaginations and taste buds. Launched by The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the gourmet experience sees guests venturing 60 ft underground to a cenote (a water-filled limestone sinkhole created by the collapse of an underground cavern) to wine and dine.
Guests can dine in the Chukum Cenote 60 ft underground. Image by The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera May
The experience begins with a private tour of the 130-ft cavern at Chukum Cenote, where guests will see its countless stalagmites and stalactites and take a dip in the crystal-clear underground waters. Following that, Maître Cuisinier de France Michel Mustiere, Culinary Director of Velas Resorts, will present a three-course gourmet lunch curated based on personal preference. Highlights of the dining experience include cheese and charcuterie, duck terrine and, for dessert, handmade truffles. The lunch will be accompanied by a tasting of ancestral drinks like bacanora, sotol, tuxca, and pox. Guests will learn how these ancestral recipes came to be and how they are being reinvented and reintroduced to a modern palate with cocktail recipes.
The stalactites of Chukum Cenote. Image by The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera May
“The experience is unique because our guests have the ability to have a gourmet meal and ancestral drink tasting in one of the destination’s relatively undiscovered cenotes. A significant part of Mayan culture, cenotes are found throughout the Yucatán. Over 6000 cenotes exist, but many that are the most beautiful are often the most visited. The Chukum Cenote will be completely private to our guests for their leisure,” a representative of The AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya told Lonely Planet Travel News.
Available for up to eight people, the Gourmet Cenote Experience costs US$7000 and includes transportation to the cenote, taxes and gratuity. Nightly resort rates start at $434.
More information is available at the official Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Mexico website.
The people of Ethiopia have planted approximately 353 million trees in a 12-hour period, as part of a national initiative to fight the effects of deforestation and climate change.
Ethiopia smashed a tree-planting record to fight climate change. Image: Image: Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images
On July 28, people all around the East African country came out in force to plant the trees. The minister of innovation and technology, Dr Getahun Mekuria, tweeted estimates of the number of trees planted throughout the day, with the final total being 353 million. Around 3.5 million trees were planted around the country’s capital, Addis Ababa, while the province of Oromia planted approximately 211 million saplings. The previous world record for the most trees planted in one day was 50 million in India in 2016.
Children took part in a national tree-planting drive in Ethiopia. Image: Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images
UN figures put Ethiopia’s forest coverage at just 4% in the 2000s, while it stood at 35% a century earlier. The record-breaking event is part of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s “Green Legacy” initiative, which aims to reforest large swathes of the land. In an attempt to counteract the effects of deforestation, logging, land clearances and climate change in the country, the Ethiopian Government is encouraging every citizen to plant at least 40 seedlings to grow 4 billion trees by the end of the rainy season in October.
Young Ethiopians take part in a national tree-planting drive in Addis Ababa. Image: Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images
The effects of climate change have affected Ethiopia, and it is prone to extreme weather events such as droughts and flooding. According to the World Wildlife Find, deforestation is responsible for more than 15% of global greenhouse gases. Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as a carbon sink. They soak up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be free in the atmosphere and contribute to ongoing changes in climate patterns, which is why the Ethiopian initiative is such a welcome one.
How does one judge the success of a holiday in the modern world? The variety of new experiences undertaken? The amount of quality time spent with loved ones? Perhaps the frequency of life-changing moments?
Instagram is hiding fields. Image by Matteo Colombo/Getty Images
No, of course, it is by the number of likes garnered by your holiday Instagram posts. But soon we may all have to find another way to quantify the worth of our travel memories (and, indeed, ourselves), as the company has rolled out an update to the app that will hide the total number of likes posts on the platform receive.
The photo-sharing app began the trial, which will hide the total number of ‘likes’ a user’s photo has amassed to everyone but them, to test groups in Canada in May, and has now expanded the update to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Ireland, Italy and Brazil. The move is an attempt to stop users seeing the platform as something of a popularity competition, with Mia Garlick, Facebook Australia and New Zealand director of policy saying in a statement, “We hope this test will remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive, so you can focus on sharing the things you love.”
Rooftop pools are just one of the many things that look good on Instagram. Image by Orbon Alija/Getty Images
It’s no secret that the photo-sharing app has had an enormous impact on the world of travel, with one survey finding that over 40% of travellers polled between the ages of 18 and 33 choose holiday destinations based on how ‘Instagrammable’ they are.
This desire to upload interesting, and therefore ‘likeable,’ pics, has sent travellers venturing to remote Australian boat houses, temples in Bali and even waste dumps in Siberia – sometimes putting themselves at risk in the process. The phenomenon has also spurred a number of Insta-focused industries, with tour operators providing professional photographers to snap pics of travellers on city breaks and one hotel in Zürich providing an ‘Instagram sitter service’ where a member of staff mans guest’s accounts during their stay.
But without the instant gratification of knowing the number of ‘likes’ images have received on the platform, it is possible the scope for such activities may diminish. There is no information about how long the trial period is set to last and whether these changes will take effect permanently. In the meantime, if you’re travelling to one of the countries trialling the new format, you’ll have to make up your own mind on how beautiful that sunset looks, rather than leaving it to your followers to decide.
A vintage bus tour through a forest in Glacier National Park.
With burnout recently classified as an occupational phenomenon and data indicating that time spent in nature makes people more healthy and happy, it’s a good time to consider a sabbatical – and between the soaring mountains, the lush alpine meadows, and the crystal-clear lakes, there aren’t many places better suited for a break than Glacier National Park.
Amble is now accepting applications for the fall program in Glacier National Park. Image by Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock
This fall, if you’re a weary creative—a visual designer or illustrator, product designer, e-commerce and marketing expert, content strategist, photographer, digital project manager, or a maker of any kind – Amble wants to whisk you away to Montana for some R&R. The company organizes month-long destination sabbaticals in jaw-dropping locales, linking skilled professionals to artistic opportunities and reasonably-priced accommodations, and applications are now open for this fall’s edition of the program.
The company is looking for creatives—think: designers, illustrators, photographers, and the like—to work on projects to benefit the host conservancy. Image by Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock
In conjunction with Glacier National Park Conservancy and Parks Project (the park’s non-profit fundraising partner and an official partner of the National Parks Foundation, respectively), Amble is looking for self-starters to work on independent projects to benefit the nature reserve. But in a complete 180 from the norms of the working world, candidates are only expected to dedicate a third of their time to their projects – they can spend the rest however they’d like.
With only 18 hours of project work required per work, participants will have plenty of time for activities, like taking a vintage bus tour through the park’s forest. Image by SNEHIT/Shutterstock
For crafters especially, it’s an exciting opportunity to make a lasting mark. Those chosen to collaborate with Parks Project will create an artefact that represents their park experience – be it pottery, jewelry, screen-printing, or textiles – to be reproduced and sold as part of the Meet the Makers series.
Mt Sinopah provides ample hiking opportunities and inspiration alike. Image by Carol Polich/Lonely Planet
Participants will stay in employee housing in Hungry Horse, Montana, on a one-acre plot of land overlooking the Flathead River, just ten minutes by car to the West Glacier park entrance. It’s rural living in cozy accommodations, with private rooms and shared communal spaces, spotty Wi-Fi, and occasionally, the unexpected surprises that go hand in hand with life in the wilderness.
Program fees range from US$1600 (€1437) for a shared room to US$2000 (€1796) for a private room; private apartments are also available for US$2800 (€2515). For more information and to apply, visit amblethere.com.
Summer may be halfway finished, but New York City’s free programming rolls on.
Overlooking the East River, in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, the borough’s Books Beneath the Bridge series started in July and runs through 12 August, featuring readings, discussions, and signings from a selection of singular authors. From illustrators and poets to music writers and memoirists, each Monday-night lineup is curated by a different indie bookstore in Brooklyn.
Not only does the lit series offer bookworms the chance to see some stellar authors firsthand, it’s also a great place to take in the sunset. Image by Julienne Schaer
On 29 July, Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene will bring three authors to the podium at Pier 1 Granite Prospect: Franny Choi (Soft Science), Willie Perdomo (The Crazy Bunch), and Jennie Xie (Eye Level). Dumbo’s Powerhouse Arena will welcome Marcy Dermansky and Julia Phillips on 5 August, when they’ll read from Very Nice and Disappearing Earth, respectively, and the series wraps on 12 August, with readings from translator Damion Searls, courtesy of Park Slope’s Community Bookstore.
Poet Thiahera Nurse took to the podium in 2016. Image by Julienne Schaer
So far this season, Red Hook’s Freebird Books brought When Brooklyn Was Queer author Hugh Ryan to the park; the next week, at the behest of Carroll Gardens’ Books are Magic, Susannah Cahalan read from her bestselling memoir The Great Pretender, followed by Karen Abbott with an excerpt from The Ghosts of Eden Park. The week after that, thunderstorms forced Greenpoint’s WORD Bookstores to move indoors for readings from Pitchfork’s Jenn Pelly and Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield.
The literary series is part of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s free public programming, and it’s drawn more than 6000 people since its inception in 2012. The Conservancy is also responsible for one of the park’s most popular programs—the Movies with a View series, now in its 20th year—but it offers a slate of less publicized activities as well, from arts and culture to recreation to education. The season includes theatrical productions, dance classes, live music, and public art—not to mention stargazing, a Hindu Lamp Ceremony, and performances from Gibney Dance and the MET Opera.
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s skyline views can’t be beat. Image by Etienne Frossard
On the more active end of the spectrum, the Conservancy runs fishing clinics, basketball clinics, and a walk-up kayaking program from May to September, alongside free outdoor fitness classes like Sunset Yoga and Hip Hop Dance Aerobics. There are even volunteer opportunities, like gardening, coastal cleanup, and a teen-oriented environmental-science program.
A honeymoon may be the perfect get-out-of-jail-free card with your boss that lets you take a longer vacation than usual, but sometimes life gets in the way and that epic trip just has to wait. That needn’t mean giving up on the idea altogether, though.
Consider a ‘minimoon’ – an abbreviated version of your ultimate getaway. If you’re short on time but big on ideas, this could be the trip for you.
Escape the wedding madness at Las Coloradas, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Why take a minimoon?
There are several reasons why a minimoon might work best for you. Some spouses-to-be plan a short getaway before the wedding. This growing trend in some parts of the world is like a palate cleanser in advance of the big day: you’ve worked really hard to plan the ceremony and the party, and want to step back and find your Zen before saying ‘I do’. The more classic reason for condensing your time away is that it’s simply not possible to take a long trip right after the nuptials – perhaps work commitments are biting, or you’ve got kids. In cases such as this, a minimoon can become the main event or, for some, the stopgap before a more traditional honeymoon further down the road.
Why not get back to nature on your minimoon?
Where, how long and how far?
Typically, a minimoon could be anything from a weekend to a week away. When planning your trip, consider following this simple rule: the number of hours you travel should not be greater than the number of days of your trip. So, for a four-day trip, for example, you should ostensibly book a flight no longer than four hours. This equation essentially safeguards against two things: crippling jet lag and spending too much time of your short trip travelling. Ask yourself the following two questions when deciding what destination will work best for your trip:
Is my destination of choice different enough from where I live and my everyday life that I’ll feel the full effect of travel’s magic?
Is my destination of choice different enough from my ‘real’ honeymoon down the road (should you be planning one) that it will feel like a special trip in itself?
Treat yourselves to a room with a view, at the very least
Where to stay
For some travellers, a minimoon is the only way to climb up to the next price bracket. By shortening a stay, a dream hotel may suddenly come into reach. If there’s a super-special resort on your Pinterest board, now’s the time to book it! In general, time is extra valuable on a minimoon so it’s best to stick to one accommodation and avoid additional hours wasted on transferring hotels and falling into that awkward post-check-out/pre-check-in vacuum between 11am and 2pm. Travellers wanting two stripes to their minimoon (beach and city, say) should target a destination that offers both, like Cartagena in Colombia or Lisbon in Portugal, rather than moving between two stops on one trip.
‘We get to have spa treatments after this hike, right?’
Itinerary tips
Like a regular honeymoon, an itinerary for a shorter foray should read like a story. The action should gradually crescendo – you’ve just left the hectic rhythm of your life behind and need a moment to click into vacation mode. The middle of the trip functions like the meat of the sandwich. Get out there and explore, do everything on your checklist (leaving room for serendipity, of course) and joke about needing a vacation from the vacation. Then, push the brakes as you approach the end of the trip.
The last piece of the itinerary – even if it’s just one day – is the happy ending. Does the hotel have a spa? Great – soothe those walking legs in the jacuzzi. Is there an incredible restaurant around the corner? Wonderful – enjoy a long, luxurious dinner. This is the time to remember the trip’s raison d’être: celebrating each other. The last slice of the vacation should leave you feeling refreshed and poised to return home to brag to your friends.
The happy couple making memories in Denver, Colorado
Lonely Planet staff stories
Denver, three days – Natalie Nicolson, Senior PR and Communications Manager
My husband and I rented a Volkswagen van for our wedding and were planning on a big road trip down the California coast to New Mexico, but since we wanted to spend more time with relatives in town, we opted for a quick, easy trip instead, to unwind together for a few days post-wedding.
We got an inexpensive flight from Oakland to Denver, where we had never been, and had a great time taking in the city: staying in a high-rise apartment, hiking near Red Rocks Amphitheater, going on a brewery tour through LoDo and RiNo neighborhoods, listening to live music, and lots and lots of eating. One of the (surprisingly romantic) highlights of the trip was the Denver Museum of Nature and Science with its stunning views of downtown and the mountains beyond.
Paris, four days – Helen Elfer, Content Sources Manager
We weren’t planning to take a proper honeymoon any time soon, but wanted a short break to relax after all the wedding excitement. Our friends had come to London for our wedding from NYC and Shanghai, and it seemed such a missed opportunity to not be able to spend a decent amount of time with them when they’d travelled so far, so we arranged to all meet in Paris a few days later.
I guess it’s not very traditional to bring four friends and baby along on a honeymoon! We strolled round Belleville to check out the street art and hit up any bars we could find with ‘coupe de champagne’ on Happy Hour special offer. We had heaps of fun and it definitely helped soften the post-wedding comedown.
Cities aren’t always the most romantic places – tropical islands tend to trump traffic jams and sunshine always beats smog. But choose wisely and chances are you’ll fall in love all over again, while finding a place in your heart for a certain city.
Our Lonely Planet Locals have shared all their best moves when it comes to courting in their hometowns. So what are you waiting for? Sweep your partner off their feet on one of these romantic city breaks.
Marble monuments take on an ethereal quality in fading light
Explore Washington, DC, the capital city of romance
With all the soapboxing going on in the USA’s capital, you might assume there’s not much time for romance. But Washington, DC is a genteel city of flowery parks, arched bridges, waterfront walks and cosy restaurants, offering lovebirds plenty of options.
On sunny days, purchase supplies at the Wharf’s Taylor Gourmet, then hop the dinghy to Hains Point for a waterside picnic. Watch the sunset from Arlington’s sky-high Observation Deck, then sip wine at Artechouse and play with digital forms and colour in a super-cool interactive room.
Splash the cash: Book dinner for two at the ultra-romantic Inn at Little Washington just outside the city.
Cheap date? Stroll hand-in-hand at dusk around the National Mall, as white marble monuments begin to glow in the dwindling light.
Lonely Planet Local Barbara Noe Kennedy is a freelance writer focusing on destinations, art, culture, food and adventure around the world. Follow her on Twitter @BNKennedy10.
Make grand plans in the even grander Plaza de España
Stroll around Seville with your media naranja (other half)
Renowned as Spain’s most romantic city, Seville’s year-round sunshine means you can always be outside – it’s dripping with pretty plazas, jasmine-scented patios and rooftop bars with killer views to kiss to. Try the Hotel Doña Maria terrace bar at sunset, looking onto the Giralda tower.
In summer, nothing can beat a moonlit outdoor concert in the Alcazar palace gardens for romance, while a fun daytime option is to hire a rowing boat on the canal at stunning Plaza de España with its tiled bridges. And who can resist the flaming passion of a live flamenco show?
Splash the cash: Hire an electric boat, complete with bar, for your own private river trip.
Cheap date? Rise up above the rooftops at Las Setas for the best panoramic vistas in town.
Lonely Planet LocalFiona Flores Watson met her media naranja in Seville. She lives there with him and their children, and is still as enamoured as ever by its charms. Follow her on Instagram @seville_writer.
Woo your amour in Morocco
Make hearts race in the red city of Marrakesh
Magical light, hundreds of romantic riads and an Arabian Nights ambiance make Marrakesh a perfect spot for amorous adventure. Snag a table for two in the nearby Agafay Desert and watch the sun set before tucking in to a candlelit dinner. Wish upon a star before retreating to your tent for the night, waking up for the sunrise.
Glamping not your style? Choose a luxury riad and plan an early-morning wake up call to watch the first rays illuminate the Atlas Mountains during a hot-air balloon ride organised by Ciel d’Afrique.
Splash the cash: Try a couple’s hammam treatment at the Royal Mansour. This spot is owned by the king of Morocco, so you know you’ll be treated like royalty.
Cheap date? Pick out some fresh-cut flowers at the marché aux fleurs (flower market) before asking the florist to whip them up into a bouquet, which shouldn’t set you back more than Dh100 (USD $11).
Lonely Planet Local Mandy Sinclair is a Marrakesh-based writer and owner of Tasting Marrakech food and cultural tours. Follow her on Instagram @MandyinMorocco.
Enjoy cocktails and castles in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has great restaurants, peaceful gardens and snug pubs. Views stretch out to the Firth of Forth, across to Fife and down through atmospheric alleyways. Above it all, bang in the centre of the city, looms a castle on a crag. Scotland’s strollable capital could hardly fail to set hearts fluttering.
Visitors can admire the views from windswept Arthur’s Seat or the Gothic Scott Monument, or promenade in Princes Street Gardens. Bramble hides beneath a dry cleaners and offers some of the city’s best cocktails and the Old Town is great for atmospheric pubs.
Splash the cash: The historic, candlelit Witchery offers Edinburgh’s classic high-end dining experience.
Cheap date? Stroll along the rather lovely Water of Leith, which takes in arty Stockbridge and dockside Leith – finish your walk with a lip-smacking fish supper from Pierinos.
James Smart spent 10 years in Edinburgh and is a regular visitor with his girlfriend.
Pulses will be racing for more than one reason on a scenic flight for two
Find love in the air in Vancouver
Vancouverites are at least as in love with the great outdoors as they are with each other. But gooey-eyed locals know exactly how to combine their passions. Hire a tandem from Spokes Bicycle Rentals to scope out picnic spots along the seawall or gaze lovingly at the sunset – and each other – from Stanley Park’s Third Beach.
Rainy day? Commune with the resident lovebirds inside Bloedel Conservatory’s tropical dome or take a couples’ culinary class at Dirty Apron Cooking School. For a grand finale, hop a ferry to Bowen Island, hike up Mount Gardner and pop the question overlooking a heart-stopping ocean panorama.
Splash the cash: Let your love soar on a breathtaking scenic float plane tour with Harbour Air.
Cheap date? Read romantic books together in the lofty new roof garden at downtown’s Vancouver Public Library – A Room with a View recommended.
John Lee is Lonely Planet’s Vancouver Local and a prolific, award-winning travel writer. Follow him on Twitter @johnleewriter.
On a budget? Ride bikes around Beijing with your beau
Woo like the locals do in Beijing – over spicy food and karaoke
In romance terms, seductive Shanghai twirls on the dance floor as Beijing props up the bar, munching sunflower seeds and checking its phone. But there are ways to woo in China’s prim and proper capital.
Local couples spice things up with a romantic repast of malatang, all his/her favourite things speared on sticks and daubed, salaciously, in spicy sesame goo. As dusk turns to dark, one serenades the other, KTV (karaoke) microphone in hand, before catching a Didi (China’s Uber) to an imperial beauty spot. A stroll at Houhai Lake, perhaps, selfies on Yinding Bridge under the moon, and a big plastic beaker of sweet bubble tea – with one straw. That’s amore, Beijing-style.
Splash the cash: Book a suite at the Rosewood Hotel, with floor-to-ceiling views of the CCTV Tower and your own private butler to serve up the champers.
Cheap date? Ride bicycles through the Forbidden City forecourt after dark.
Tom O’Malley is a Lonely Planet Local based in Beijing. Follow him on Instagram @owally.
See Paris from a different perspective with your partner
Take to the water in Paris
A classic city break destination for couples, the romanticised French capital is even more captivating when viewed from the water. From its dock near the Eiffel Tower, celebrated chef Alain Ducasse’s new ‘floating restaurant’ Ducasse sur Seine serves gourmet lunch and dinner menus at white-clothed tables while you glide through Paris’ heart. Canauxrama cruises along charming Canal St-Martin pass through double locks, swing bridges and an underground section.
In the city’s two sprawling forests, recreate a scene from an impressionist painting by hiring a rowboat on Lac Daumesnil in the eastern Bois de Vincennes, or Lac Inférieur in the western Bois de Boulogne.
Splash the cash: Take to the skies! Scenic Helipass helicopter flights over Paris land near the Château de Versailles.
Cheap date? Stroll the Seine’s riverbanks and islands including the Île aux Cygnes and the Île de la Cité’s aromatic flower market Marché aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II.
Catherine Le Nevez is a long-time Lonely Planet writer and Local based in Paris.
Eat seafood with your sweetheart in La Punta, Lima
Fall in love with Lima’s lesser-known romantic hideouts
Romantic energy hovers over Lima like a sweetheart smog. Head to the fisherman’s dock in the Chorrillos district, where boatmen will row you and your other half across the sea for a small fee. Afterwards, select fish fresh from the market and create your own version of Peru’s star plate: ceviche.
Further north, La Punta feels like a well-kept secret. A tranquil peninsula in Lima’s port town Callao, a romantic culture grew here when Italian immigrants arrived in the early 20th century, resulting in intimate and artisanal eateries like Taller Razeto. The garden patio is a fine place to twirl pasta, catch a sunset and enjoy the company you’re in.
Splash the cash: Book a table for two at seafood restaurant La Rosa Nautica, and enjoy sunset views of Lima’s skyline.
Cheap date: Wander through Parque El Olivar, an olive grove old enough to make any couple feel young again (some trees have stood here for 400 years).
Unexpectedly, Lonely Planet Local Agnes Rivera found love in Lima before falling in love with the city itself.
Lovebirds can enjoy culture and coastline in Perth
Go on a creative date with a mix of beats and beaches in Perth
With its sun-kissed climate and river-to-sea location, Perth is an outdoorsy city – but it’s also an underground music hotbed. Toe tappers, wow your date by entering a red telephone box and descending to the Jazz Cellar’s speakeasy or take a picnic to Fremantle Arts Centre on Sundays for free courtyard tunes (October to March).
Nature lovers should hit secluded Bennion Beach for sunset-over-sea gazing with a bottle of local bubbles wedged in the sand, or seek out the riverside Coombe Reserve in Mosman Park to amp up the romantic vibe.
Splash the cash: Take a private chopper from Hillarys Boat Harbour to Rottnest Island, combining aerial eye candy with an intimate picnic at local’s fave, Fay’s Bay.
Cheap date? Drive to the top of Kalamunda’s Zig Zag Scenic Drive for romantic views of twinkling city lights.
Lonely Planet Local Fleur Bainger fell head over heels for Western Australia more than a decade ago, and continues to be wooed by its natural beauty and evolving personality. Follow her on Instagram @fleurbainger.
Wine and dine and wind up at a romantic hotel in Mexico’s capital
Sleep under the stars in Mexico City
Mexico City might not seem like the most romantic city at first glance, but peel back the layers and beneath its gritty exterior you’ll find passion around every corner. Start the evening with a cocktail at a little table in the back of the dimly lit Limantour in Roma Norte. Then enjoy a meal in the intimate dining room at Lorea; opt for the drinks pairing for a truly extravagant experience.
End your night at the city’s most romantic hotel, La Valise Hotel. Book yourself into the Terraza room and you can quite literally have your bed on the balcony beneath the stars. It doesn’t get more romantic than that.
