The post Covid-19 American travel bucket list for passionate travelers

If you’re a passionate traveler, you’ve probably found it hard to stay at home during the COVID-19 lockdown. Staying at the same place for months, around the same people can feel so boring if you’re used to change.

Fortunately, authorities in many places have started to lift travelling restrictions, making it a bit easier for all of us to visit different places. Wouldn’t you like to wake up in a new place and enjoy the best adventures and experiences that are a world away from your everyday routine?

With so many beautiful places to see, inspiring destinations to visit and different experiences to enjoy, the world is definitely worth exploring.

So, what are you waiting for? If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, this travel bucket list for post Covid-19 travel is inviting you to scratch it off.

Divided into three main regions, the vast and beautiful American continent has always been a source of inspiration and awe for travelers. 

Whether you are drawn to lush selvatic environments, tranquil blue lakes, stunning national parks, urban life or deafening waterfalls, you’ll find somewhere worth visiting!

Going on an epic road trip      

Road tripping is magical and especially convenient in this post-lockdown travel scenario as it makes it easier to keep social distance.

If you live in the US, it’s the epitome of American adventure and a great way to explore in depth some of the most beautiful areas in the country. It’s also one of the ways of travelling that can be more easily adapted to different travel styles and budgets and you can easily combine more or less luxurious accommodation facilities for overnight stays and more or less excursions to make your trip budget-friendly.

If you need to rent a car, rental agencies have stepped up their post-pandemic safety policies. Besides, purchasing a car rental damage insurance policy gives you the coverage you need for a super safe trip! 

If you have some weeks to spare, you can start your trip in New York City and drive westwards to San Francisco with multiple stops along the way or you can drive along any of the emblematic road trips routes in the US such as Route 66.

Talking about Route 66, it’s probably the best road trip in America. It starts in Chicago and ends at Santa Monica Pier and takes you across the country and through some historic, interesting and exciting places along the way. Drivers can expect to take around two weeks to complete the whole road trip but it can take you longer depending on the stops you make and how much time you spend in them.

Apart from the stunning and cosmopolitan city of Chicago and the lovely views of the ocean and the Californian coast from Santa Monica Pier, these are another highlights you won’t want to miss: the second largest rocking chair in Fanning, the quirky Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino or the Cadillac Ranch art piece.

Hike the Inca Trail and admire Machu Picchu

The ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-go destination for adventures seekers. Built on top of a flat-topped mountain ridge 600 years ago, it was originally an Inca stronghold that was abandoned during the Spanish conquest of Peru. 

The citadel is mesmerizing and an engineering wonder. It was discovered in 1911, and most of its architectural wonders are still intact. The hike up the hills is beautiful and adventure itself and Machu Picchu looks gorgeous from the Inca Trail lookout point.

Travelers usually start their journey in Cusco and hike the Inca Trail for five days or take a train from Cusco. 

Visit the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, in Arizona, is not only one of the most visited tourist sites in the world but also a breathtaking place to see. It’s 227 miles long and 18 miles wide and it’s one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Carved into the earth by the Colorado River over thousands of years, its impressive rock formations, vast size and ever-changing colours are absolutely mind-blowing! 

Hiking the trails of the northern rim allows travelers to admire the rich natural life of the area although most people limit their visit to the breathtaking views from the southern rim as it hosts most of the infrastructure of the area, historic ruins and Native American artifacts.

Amongst the most popular viewpoints we can mention: Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio, Yavapai Observation Station or Mather Point. The Grand Canyon Skywalk, a bridge situated 720 feet above the canyon floor, offers a stunning view of the cliffs and rock formations in the site.

There are multiple ways in which you can enjoy the Grand Canyon: hiking its various trails, camping or in a helicopter ride over it! 

Cross the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The Salar de Uyuni is a flat salt desert in the southwestern corner of Bolivia. It used to be a lake! During the wet season, the shallow water that collects acts as a mirror of the sky magically reflecting the clouds.

In the dry season, travelers are invited to walk or drive across it. If you’re driving, it’s a great idea to book a group or private tour and make sure you have enough supplies, food, warm clothing, fuel,  a map and oxygen tanks just in case you get lost or it gets late at night.

It’s a favorite destination amongst photographers and it’s a great spot to share on Instagram. It’s one of those places that can easily take your breath away with its vast extension of pristine white salt and the pin drop silence. 

Located at an altitude of almost 12 thousand feet and covering more than four thousand square miles, it’s the largest salt flat in the world. The central Incahuasi Island is probably the best stop where to admire this otherworldly landscape and its fairly barren ecosystem, except for about 80 species of birds and thousands of pink flamingos that come in November.

The salt is highly rich in lithium, being one of the highest reserves of this mineral in the world. 

Get drenched at the Niagara or the Iguazu Falls

The American continent is home to two of the most fascinating and wettening waterfalls in the world: the Niagara Falls in the border between the United States and Canada and the Iguazu Falls, located in the province of Misiones, in the NE of Argentina, in the border with Brazil and Paraguay. 

Visiting either (or both!) of them is a great experience that should be in anyone’s travel bucket list through the American continent. 

You’ll love everything about Niagara Falls! One of the best ways to have an up close encounter with it is by riding the iconic Maid of the Mist. There are many walking trails that make it easier to see the different attractions in the area. If you use the Rainbow Bridge, you’ll find it super easy to see the US and the Canadian side of the falls.

In South America, the incredible Iguazu Falls stand out. They make up the largest system of waterfalls in the world and they are a breathtaking view indeed. Its more than 200 cascades can reach a dizzying height of eight metres.

You can get excellent views from the Argentine or Brazilian side and there are many hiking trails at different heights that make it easier not only to see the cascades but also the wonderful tropical natural life around you. Adventure seekers can hop on an inflatable raft that takes you directly under the exhilarating falls!

The majestic Atacama Desert, the stunningly beautiful Torres del Paine National Park, the naturally rich Galapagos Islands, the intriguing stone figures in Eastern Island, the deep blue hole in Belize or the wild Amazon Jungle are only a few of the wonders that are also usually found in any travel bucket list. But if you are an urban creature and love the buzz, attractions and facilities that come with city life, a trip to the American continent won’t disappoint you at all.

Let New York City tempt tou!

New York City has always been a magnet for tourists and one of those cities we all need to see at least once in a lifetime. NYC is famous for its skyscrapers, an international cuisine and a fantastic infrastructure that won’t disappoint you.

Vibrant and cosmopolitan, it comprises five boroughs. Manhattan is the heart of the city and it’s densely populated with the world’s major financial, commercial and cultural centers. Here you can see the sprawling Central Park, Broadway Theater and the Empire State Building or Times Square. 

The Brooklyn Bridge connects Manhattan to Brooklyn, then you have Queens and the beachfront Coney Island. The Staten Island Ferry links Manhattan to NYC’s southernmost borough and offers stunning views of the city skyline and Statue of Liberty.  

New York City is absolutely fascinating. Known as the City that Never Sleeps, its nightlife and cultural scene will keep you busy for hours on end: the MoMA, the Natural History Museum, the Guggenheim Museum or the MET are iconic examples of what’s going on in the city’s cultural scenario.

Apart from them, no trip to NYC would be complete without visiting and exploring these highlights: the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Ellis Island, Chinatown and Little Italy, 9/11 Memorial or the Grand Central Terminal.