11 Fascinating Biodiverse Locations You Can Visit with Insight

Our planet is full of beautiful biodiverse locations. This year we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, under the theme “building a shared future for all life”.

Insight Vacations is a proud founding member of the TreadRight Foundation which means its pillars of the people, the planet and its wildlife are central to our ethos. We aim to give back to each community and country we visit, which we why we include MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences on our tours.

Here, we’ve included 11 beautiful biodiverse locations around the world that you can visit with Insight Vacations.

With the highest density in Asia for flowering plants, amphibians, reptiles and mammals, Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity is apparent. There are over 435 species of birds here, and their freshwater crab population is 100% endemic. Some of the rare mammals to be found here include the astonishing Red-backed flameback bird and the endangered red slender loris.

Venture into the jungle on our Classical Sri Lanka tour

Although it’s a tiny country in the scope of Europe, Montenegro is considered one of the most widely biodiverse areas within the continent. Lush forests carpet the land even down the jagged mountainsides, making it a great spot for lynxes and brown bears to hide. An estimated 16,000 – 20,000 species of insects call it home, as well as 7,000 – 8,000 types of vascular plants. Its waters also host 407 types of fish and 56 types of reptiles.

Marvel at the spectacular scenery of Montenegro on Treasures of the Balkans tour

Many travel to Peru to see the mysterious Machu Picchu, the ruins of a 15th Century Incan city, however its varied geography lends itself to biodiversity too. From the heights of the Andes down to the Amazon rainforests and 1,500 miles of coastline, the different regions are home to extraordinary flowers, fauna and animals. In fact, over 10% of the world’s flora species are found in Peru, including 787 edible plants. No other country has as many kinds of fish (over 2,000) or the variety of butterflies that the country has. The Manú National Park is a protected biosphere covering over 6,262 square miles can be visited from Cusco.

Join the Peru with Machu Picchu tour

Did you know that Canada is one of the world’s most biodiverse locations? Often overlooked due to its northerly position, Canada has the world’s longest shoreline and its sheer size makes it a geographical wonder. The boreal forest acts as a carbon sink for the world, keeping global temperatures down. Around 80,000 different species have been identified in Canada, and the Scott Islands off British Colombia are a breeding and feeding ground for around 10 million migratory seabirds annually.

Explore the wild landscapes on the Canadian Rockies and Pacific Coast tour

Located in the center of the Balkans, Bulgaria is considered a biodiversity hotspot in Europe. It is mostly mountainous but it also has a coastline on the Black Sea and beautiful plains. Around 1,300 species that live in Bulgaria are endemic, including 5% of the flora. Sadly, there are 112 endangered species here.

Discover the biodiversity on our Treasures of the Balkans tour

India is home to some of the most biodiverse places on earth, from the Himalayas to the Western Ghats and the Sundaland. At higher altitudes, you can appreciate the western tragopan with its brilliant plumes and the snow leopard, who likes to travel alone. In the Indo-Burma region, there are species such as the Annamite muntjac and grey-crowned crocia, which are hardly ever seen by humans. The rare grasslands of the Terrai-duar Savannah are home to one-horned rhinoceros.

Explore Classical India with Nepal

Travelers may only think of Spain’s beaches, but in fact its geography is extremely varied. There are between 60,000 – 70,000 species of fauna and there are many endemic species found in the mountainous areas and the waters around the coast, particularly the southern Iberian Peninsula. The Iberian lynx and pretty flowers such as glandora oleifolia can only be found in Spain.

See the wonderful Spanish wildlife on the Country Roads of Andalucia tour

Find the Valdivian temperate rainforests in Chile, where evergreen angiosperm trees are unique to the area. 25% of the species are endemic to the country with particular interest for ornithologists. You can spot gorgeous birds such as the Chilean woodstar, the Juan Fernández firecrown and the crag Chilia here.

Travel from desert to glacier on the Best of Chile from Atacama to Patagonia tour

The USA makes it into the top 10 most biodiverse countries in the world, most particularly for its aquatic systems. Alabama is the most biodiverse state due to having 5 geologic ecoregions in the state, which is unusual. Some of the amazing creatures you can find are the Luna moth, with its striking green wings, the pronghorn and the bald eagle.

Check out the flora and fauna on America’s Magnificent National Parks tour

From the Alps to the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, you’ll find one of the most biodiverse destinations on the planet. At least 20 new species are named in Italy every year! It has a high rate of mammals and plants that can only be found there, including the wonderfully named spectacled salamander, the Udine shrew and Tuscany poppies.

Uncover the natural wonders on the Grand Italy & Sicily tour

Topping every biodiversity list, Brazil is simply abundant with invertebrates (over 120,000 species), vertebrates (9,000 species) and plants (around 4,000 species). On average around the country names 700 new species every year. This is in large part due to the Amazon Rainforest, a huge biome that fascinates even amateur biologists. Toucans, parrots, macaws,capybaras, pumas, armadillos, caimans and anacondas all make up the amazing biodiversity of Brazil.

Delve into this natural paradise on the Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil tour