What do a forest park, a misplaced patch of Ancient Rome, a breeding colony for sea lions, and a museum have in common? They blip below the radar of travelers. Though they don’t share the status of Champs-Elysees in Paris or New York’s Statue of Liberty, the element of surprise they pull off is more than enough reason to take the trip.

People drawn to tourist magnets anticipate spectacular sights, adrenaline-pumping activities, enriching information, or reinvigorating retreats. Map and guidebook in hand, they strictly follow an itinerary and feel compelled not to miss the “must-see.” They negotiate tourist traps, suffocating crowds, and annoying hawkers for a landmark that has been probably photographed a million times.

Travelers, in pursuit of more popular, “staple” destinations, tend to veer away from the obscure, less talked-about ones. With today’s hustle-and-bustle lifestyle, no one has really the time to take a second look at everyday things. The world is full of interesting destinations. Those tucked away from the flash of photography and the babble of onlookers define some of the best that nature and ancient man have to offer. They paint a portrait of the world in its more pristine past. We survey offbeat destinations that merit some attention.

CHAPADA DOS VEADEIROS: Forlorn Eden

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Chapada dos Veadeiros in Goias, Brazil showcases one of the world’s oldest and most diverse tropical biospheres, with over 10,000 different species of plants, 900 bird species, and 300 types of mammals. This national park is seated at a 1.8-billion-year plateau and has a pretty impressive set of attractions such as the Moon Valley that features an arid, gray terrain resembling that of our nearest satellite.

Its bottomless caverns, lush forests, commanding waterfalls, and challenging terrain beckon backpackers and nature-lovers to strap on their hiking gear and negotiate through the high planes and the rugged scenery. Chapada dos Veadeiros’ highest peak, Serra da Santana rises from 1,691 meters above sea level, and is an ideal vantage point for a sweeping view of the park and the seemingly endless horizon. Indeed, Chapada dos Veadeiros is a breath of air from the country’s usual spread of long beaches, tanned beauties, and dizzying carnivals.

EL DJEM: A diamond in the rough

El Djem is perhaps one of the most remarkably intact Roman ruins in the world. Located in Tunisia’s western region, this town used to be a thriving agricultural colony known for cultivating wheat and olives. Its crown jewel, indubitably, is its amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and second only to Rome’s Coliseum in size.

El Djem, the ruins of the largest colosseum in North Africa

The stadium dominates the settlement’s meek collection of lowland houses and sleepy market streets. Built in 200 AD, this massive arena witnessed some of the most brutal struggles for survival by slaves and martyrs who were pitted against bloodthirsty lions and gladiators. The amphitheater is capable of seating 35,000 Romans craving for gory entertainment.

Today, El Djem’s amphitheater is considered a center of art, resonating with Arabian music and European concerts performed by noted orchestras during International Festival of Symphonic Music. Also, archaeologists flock to see the original floor mosaics found in amidst the amphitheater’s thousand-year-old rumble.

CAPE CROSS RESERVE: Birthland to Thousands

In South Africa’s coast alone, there are over 24 breeding colonies where Cape fur seals haul-out before heading back to their home turf. However, the largest of all breeding grounds by far is the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, located 70 kilometers from Hentiesbaai in Namibia. Weighing over 360 kg at its prime, Cape fur seals are the world’s largest species of sea lions and are known to be very territorial and overprotective of their partner and their young.

The wave-battered peninsula gets flocked by literally thousands of Cape fur seals from October to January. Depending on rank and brawn, a bull may have around 5 to 25 cows in his harem. They are usually the first to arrive in the cape, followed by the pregnant females that settle in with them. A seal pup in its early stage will suckle on its mother and sport black fur. They are very vulnerable to attacks and risks of getting eaten by wandering hyenas and jackals. Only when they are mature enough can they swim to sea and feed on fish until they become fully-grown Cape fur seals.

Thousands of Cape fur seals line the rocky shoreline of the breeding area

While there are no particular places of interest in this rock-strewn cape, the sight of thousands of fur seals never seem to fail at catching visitors in awe.

RIJKSMUSEUM: A timeless store for Dutch Golden Age art

Dubbed the Netherlands’ largest repository for art and history, the Rijksmuseum houses just about one million national treasures, including masterpieces from 17th century Dutch painters like Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. Designed by Pierre Cuypers, the museum building is a work of art on its own, fusing Renaissance with Gothic style.

It lures a million visitors each year with its impressive collection and repute as one of the major museums in Western Europe, rivaling its equally notable neighbors the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum.

Night view of Amsterdam with the Rijksmuseum in the background

The Rijksmuseum features over 400 seascapes and landscapes, portraits, domestic scenes, and still-life that can give an impressive overview of the Dutch Golden Age. Apart from the renowned highlights such as Rembrandt’s Night Watch and the contentious Jewish Bride, it is also home to samples of early photography, jewelry, textiles, silver, and Delft Blue Pottery.