Whether you want to explore Portugal or Iceland, hop into the driver’s seat and hit the road.
An iconic route, the one that leads from San Francisco down to Big Sur is the stuff dreams are made of. Highway 1 is a coastal cruise that sits on many people’s ultimate bucket-list, and allows you to take in the sights of some of California’s finest spots including the Golden Gate Bridge, Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf in the city. You can even take a trip to Alcatraz if you dare - before driving south to Santa Cruz, through Monterey and Carmel Valley and onto beautiful Big Sur. Check into the very romantic Alila Ventana Big Sur with its perfect bedrooms and jaw-dropping coastal views for the perfect place to snuggle up.
Fancy getting off the beaten track? Trail blazing Chile’s Carretera Austral, an epic highway linking northern and southern Patagonia is just the thing. A demanding route with great rewards: untouched wilderness far away from the usual tourist trail! The Ruta de los Parques connects 17 National Parks along a 1,700 mile route stretching from Chile’s Lake District, along the Carretera Austral and down to the Beagle Channel. One of the most iconic drives to date – taking in the unspoiled terrain, the icefields of the Exploradores Valley; the beautiful wilderness of Patagonia National Park, Chile’s newest National Park; glimpsing life in the small Patagonia town of Cochrane; driving through temperate rainforest to reach to coast at Caleta Tortel; and dramatic Lago General Carrera. Setting out from Coyhaique, a quick flight south of Santiago where you can pick up your 4WD, you’ll soon see you’re on the adventure of a lifetime.
Explore the lesser known side of the country hunting for port, Pastel de Nata and those fragrant pine forests. Taking in the views from the mountains to the coastline, starting in Porto, the UNESCO-listed historic city with heaps to offer culturally and gastronomically! Stop by Rua do Rosário for art galleries and studios and stay at the funky Rosa Et Al Townhouse with fabulous vintage 60s furniture and modern art aplenty. Head inland to the mountainous Beiras region for more authentic Portugal, sleeping at the laid back Villa Pedra where you can relax by the walled pool or go hiking in the Serra de Estrela. Down to the coastal roads to Peniche, an old fishing town with fantastic seafood restaurants and a pitstop in Areias do Seixo, an eco design hotel with dreamy romantic rooms. Then head down to cool Comporta. A real local coastal hotspot for designers and artists, it’s the ‘in’ place to be.