The Isle of Mull off the west coast of Scotland is a popular holiday destination for people from across the world. Whilst some folk come for a day trip, many spend anything from a couple of days to several weeks enjoying island hospitality and exploring the wonderful scenery and wildlife of Mull and its neighbouring islands. Mull and Iona have a good range of accommodation from bed and breakfasts to self catering cottages to hotels. There are a number of excellent places to eat offering local produce and the local whiskey must be sampled. Most of the island has single track roads so do check out tips on the best way to drive on these roads before you go.

There are many places to explore on Mull and its surrounding islands and plenty of wildlife, including the magnificent sea eagles, to be seen. Most of the accommodation providers will help people decide what they wish to see and suggests wildlife trips that can be taken. For shorter breaks people often choose to stay in a bed and breakfast where they have the added benefit of their hosts’ local knowledge and experience. For those wanting the independence of self-catering information packs are often provided. There is also a Visit Scotland Tourist Information Centre in Craignure.

Most people come here by car and will need information about the ferries between Mull and the mainland as well as how to drive on single track roads (always use the passing spaces to allow approaching vehicles to pass and overtaking if the vehicle behind you would like to pass; and always stay to the left hand side even if that means stopping opposite a passing space). Should folk want to leave their cars behind it is possible, with some planning, to get around the island using public transport. For the more energetic visitors bicycles can be hired to explore the island.

Tobermory is a thriving village and is often referred to as the capital of Mull. There are many bed and breakfasts and other types of accommodation to choose from and plenty of choice for eating out. The village has an excellent arts centre called An Tobar and the Mull Theatre which attracts touring theatre companies as well as putting on their own productions. Tobermory also boasts a small but excellent museum which, along with the Ross of Mull Historical Centre based in Bunessan, offers useful information for people wanting to research their family history. There is the Tobermory Distillery and a range of different shops to visit also.

Renowned for its abundant wildlife, national parks, green tropical rain forest and the birds of Costa Rica has 28 national parks. With this in mind, the big question on everyones lips is where they should go? A popular option is Tortuguero.

Tortuguero National Park, named after various species of sea turtles that go there to nest between February and October, has become one of the favorite destinations of Costa Rica ecotourism. Hawksbill, stupid and Pacific Green turtles nest on the 22-mile stretch of white sandy beaches from July to October, while the leatherback turtle, the world’s largest marine turtle, nest between February and July. Leatherback turtles do not have a hard shell and are usually fed from a jellyfish, which they found deep in the sea.

You can find in the town of Tortuguero Dr. Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge and the local visitors center. There are a variety of conservation projects taking place in this country, and this includes a turtle-tagging is done by wildlife protection for the Conservation of Caribbean companies.

There are three park station: Cuatro Esquinas Headquarters, Sector Jalova Station and Station Aguas Frias. For scenery and wildlife parks there are stations along the route.

In the park there are various hotels including: Turtle Beach Lodge, Mawamba Lodge, Pachira Lodge, Ilan-Ilan Hotel and Hotel Manatus. A stay in one of hotels including meals and lodging, but the national park entrance fees and tours, such as night tours hatching sea turtles, is an additional cost. There is also the option of camping at the headquarters of Cuatro Esquinas, located in the town of Tortuguero.

Galapagos sea lion is probably the most famous and easily viewed. Friendly and used to people, it is common to see sea lions basking in the sun a pleasant, lying on a wall or bench in the city as if it is completely natural.

Apart from the Galapagos sea lion, Galapagos fur seals there, endemic to the islands. Galapagos fur seals are much smaller than sea lions and will be visible with easy access to deep water on rocky cliffs. The waters around the island also is home to many species of whales:, Minke Bryde, Humpback, Sperm and shortfin pilot whale. In addition Orca, bottle-nosed dolphins and common can be seen.

There are few land mammals here compared to the amount of land birds in the Galapagos: the three species of rodents and two species of bats. This is because mammals can not survive long without water and so many native animals are blown to the islands in and among the floating vegetation, sweeping out from the mainland by flooding rivers, did not survive the journey more than 600 miles. Instead it is a reptile that survived the trip, explaining a large number of those who still inhabit the island.

Galapagos Islands are easily accessible by plane from Guayaquil and Quito airport, international, and thus can easily be combined with a trip to mainland Ecuador or indeed other parts of South America.