Top Things to see in Socotra Island, Yemen

YEMEN

Socotra Island, located off the coast of Yemen, is a hidden gem waiting to be explored by nature enthusiasts. This paradise boasts breathtaking landscapes that seem to belong to another world. Its unique ecosystem is home to a plethora of plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth. From the iconic Dragon's Blood trees, with their distinctive umbrella-like canopies, to the vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life, Socotra Island offers an immersive experience that is both awe-inspiring and humbling. Its untouched beauty and remoteness make it a true sanctuary for those seeking solace in nature's embrace. Travelers are captivated by its surreal landscapes, turquoise seas, and ever-changing dunes, leaving them with memories that will last a lifetime. Socotra Island is a true testament to the wonders of our natural world, a place where magic and serenity converge in perfect harmony.

In May 2021 I had the opportunity to visit Socotra Island, Yemen! It’s not easy to get here, but let me go over everything you need to know on how to get here and the top things to see.

Where is Socotra Island?

Located in the Arabian Sea, approximately 240 kilometers east of the Horn of Africa, Socotra Island stands as a true testament to the marvels and mysteries of our natural world. This hidden gem, part of the Republic of Yemen, boasts a unique location that sets it apart from any other destination on the planet.

Socotra Island's distinct geological history has contributed to its extraordinary array of flora and fauna that exist nowhere else on Earth. Its isolation from the mainland, coupled with the convergence of subtropical monsoons, has created the perfect breeding ground for a myriad of rare and endemic species to thrive in this exclusive haven. Towering dragon's blood trees, bulbous bottle trees, and velvety frankincense trees punctuate the landscape, while dense forests, freshwater springs, and pristine beaches surround them.

HOW TO GET TO SOCOTRA ISLAND

Getting to Socotra Island isn’t as simple as booking a flight and going; you must go with a tour operator who can set up your visa. These days, most flights to Socotra fly from Abu Dhabi, UAE but you used to also be able to fly from Cairo, Egypt. Of course, your best bet is to speak with your tour operator to figure out what’s best for you.

As for tour operators, check out Crazy Puffin Adventures! I personally love Crazy Puffin and lead expeditions for them; sometimes it’s easier to have everything laid out and get all your questions answered by native English-speakers. But if you’d rather go with a local tour agency to support the community directly check out Socotra Eco-Tours.

When to visit Socotra Island

Tours to Socotra Island only operate for half of the year, from October until early May. After May is monsoon season, so everything closes up until the fall. I went in May at the end of the season, and let me just say this was the worst possible time to visit because the heat was on average 46 degrees Celsius (about 115 Fahrenheit), even at night. The winds would pick up so sand would be blowing constantly, so the weather was not pleasant to say the least. But it was still an incredible trip! I highly recommend going earlier in the season; the best time is between November and February so you get to see the pink blooming flowers on the bottle trees, which are a relative of the baobab tree.

What to pack for socotra Island

Yemen is a Muslim country, but because of the remote feel of Socotra Island, you won’t have to worry about appropriate dress. Most tours are wild camping, plus I wouldn’t recommend doing a tour if you’re not, otherwise you’re really missing out on the whole experience! Of course bring one outfit that’s not too revealing if you’re planning on being in the capital of Hadiboh, but for the most part I was in shorts, tank tops, and a bikini the entire trip. Anyways, here are my must-have’s to pack for Socotra Island:

CLOTHES:

My top recommendation for clothes is lightweight and sweat-wicking since you’ll be camping for a week without a shower.

SPORTS TANK TOP: This is one of my favorite tank tops and have several! It’s my go-to for the gym and hiking, looks cute but keeps you cool and the sweat away from your skin.

LIGHTWEIGHT JOGGER PANTS: I originally bought a pair of these from Target but found these dupes from Amazon and love how they come in way more colors! They are super thin and lightweight so they hardly take up space, not to mention are also great in the heat but can also provide good cover at night in case there’s a breeze. I use these for all my Africa / Middle East trips. Definitely bring shorts though!

QUICK DRY TOWEL: Quick dry towels are a must when camping, but I recently discovered the pocket quick dry towel by Sea to Summit and it’s my new staple. Not only does it do a great job of drying you off unlike some plush microfiber towels, but it also packs up to the size of your index finger.

TEVA SANDALS: A must for hiking in places where you’re going to be in and out of the water! Chacos are great too but I personally think Tevas look better with regular clothes.

SEARCH | Alternatively, check out my Amazon storefront for more recommendations on what I bring on trips.

ELECTRONICS & ACCESSORIES:

EXTERNAL BATTERY: You won’t have much of a way to charge your phone or batteries, so it’s imperative that you bring a good external battery to charge everything! I was able to charge my phone five times, but I also recommend bringing a USB plug with multiple ports for the car’s cigarette lighter so you can top off your electronics on the long drives.

DJI MAVIC MINI 3 PRO: Having a drone in Socotra is a must, but I highly recommend bringing your mini. Unfortunately if it’s a Mavic Air or larger they will confiscate it (I know from experience) so the mini is the perfect size.

CAMERA CLIP FOR BACKPACK: This is one of my favorite photography accessories for hiking with a backpack! It makes it so easy to have your camera within arm’s reach when you see something you want to snap a quick photo of on a hike, versus having to pull it out of your backpack and set it up.

TRAVEL ORGANIZER: As a backpack traveler, I find it so important to stay as organized and compact as possible. This is great for storing all your cables, SD cards, batteries, or whatever other stray accessories you have!

SEARCH | Alternatively, check out my Amazon storefront for more recommendations on what I bring on trips.

what to see in socotra

Sand Dunes of Arher

The sand dunes were our first stop on the trip, and it was stunning seeing where the white sand meets the sea.

2. Homhil Canyon

3. Qalansiya

4. Detwah Lagoon

5. Dragonblood Tree Forest

Top Things to do in Iraqi Kurdistan

In January I had the opportunity to visit Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq. Because it’s an autonomous region, Americans don’t need a visa to explore this area unlike Iraq proper. Here are my top things to see!

1. Lalish: Lalish is considered a sacred area to the Yazidi people and dates back thousands of years. Most Yazidis make a pilgrimage to Lalish at least once in their lifetime.

2. Amedi: “The City in the Sky” is believed to be the home of the Three Kings that visited Jesus Christ when he was born.

3. Akre: A town built on the side of a mountain range in the year 580 BC by the Kurdish Prince Zand and a beautiful lookout to watch the sunset.

4. Rawanduz Canyon: Close to the borders of Iran and Turkey, this area dates back to the Neo Assyrian Empire as a major trade route.

5. Amna Suraka: Also known as the “Red Prison” in Sulaymaniyah, it’s been turned into a museum to educate how many lives were lost in the Anfal genocide.

6. Erbil: The capital of Kurdistan, this city is a must-see to explore and experience the culture of this region.

How to Travel from Haiti to Dominican Republic

HAITI

During my stay in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, I decided to take a bus over the border to the Dominican Republic. I see a lot of posts about traveling from the DR to Haiti, but not a lot vice-versa.

Where to stay in cap-haitien

First of all, if you’re traveling to Haiti, I recommend staying at Habitation des Lauriers. It’s clean, has great security, the owners take great care of you, and has an incredible view overlooking the city and ocean. Not to mention sunrises are spectacular! I told them I wanted to take the bus over to the DR and they arranged a driver to drop me off at the bus station the next morning at 7 AM. The bus leaves at 8 AM but it’s important to get there early to ensure you get a spot.

The journey to the Dominican Republic

I arrived at the El Caribe bus station and told them I wanted to be dropped off at Santiago since I was going to take a guagua (little bus) to Las Terrenas. Important thing to note: bring US dollars! It’s funny they don’t take Haitian gourdes or Dominican pesos… There were two European guys that had euros, gourdes, and pesos but they wouldn’t accept any of them. Another thing to note, they take your passport once you pay and they give it back to you on the bus. I got anxious because I hate not having my passport with me but I got it back!

Anyways, the border crossing takes about 1 – 2 hours. If you flew into Haiti, make sure you have your exit ticket with you so that you don’t have to pay an extra fee. After being stamped out, we went to the DR side which was a little crazier. You don’t need a PCR test to enter, but they do a bag check and you have to wait for a long time. Everything else was fairly quick but the majority of the 2 hours was spent waiting on that.

I arrived at the bus station in Santiago and needed to find the guagua station to Las Terrenas. Luckily I found a trustworthy taxi driver, Miguel (Whatsapp +18094912013), who took me over to the station and agreed to pick me up when I returned to get a PCR test and take me to the airport. When I got to Las Terrenas, I had a little mishap with a motoconcho driver. Long story short, try to avoid them if you can — I didn’t know this beforehand. They’re motorcycle taxis but are notorious for stealing. So when I pulled money out and didn’t have change, he swiped it from my hand and sped off with it. I was pretty sad.

Honestly, I didn’t have a great time in the DR. Most people go to the touristy areas and stay in an all-inclusive resort but I wanted to try something different and off-the-beaten-path. I think it was tough trying to figure out all the logistics while everything was going wrong, but I know that’s all part of the adventure. On the other hand, I loved figuring out how to cross the border from Haiti to the DR, so I hope my experience can one day help someone have a better time than I did. I also hope to return to the DR one day to gain a different perspective, but for now, I’ll always remember it as a true adventure

Tips for Visiting Paraguay

PARAGUAY

In March 2021 I had the opportunity to visit Paraguay! I have this itch to finish out South America since I only have a few countries left, and I saw a cheap ticket to Asuncion from Miami. Often times I look for the cheapest route from cities like LAX, Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta and then using my Southwest points I’ll book a flight to that city before taking my international flight.

eNTRY REQUIREMENTS

From Miami, all I needed was a health declaration form, negative PCR test, and a crisp $150 USD for the visa on arrival. And when I mean “crisp,” I mean, straight-off-the-press brand new bills. I had $20 bills that were 2017 or later plus no tears or markings, but they wouldn’t accept them! They really had to be brand new, but in the US a lot of banks aren’t getting new bills because of covid. Luckily there was an ATM next to the visa on arrival booth that I could withdraw money, but don’t count on it.

Another thing to note, the only reason I was flying into Asuncion was to get the visa on arrival. It’s the only way to get it without having to go to a consulate somewhere else, otherwise I would have rather flown to Iguazu Falls and crossed the border into Paraguay that way.

WHAT TO SEE IN ASUNCION

Originally my plan was to hop on a bus and go straight to Monday Falls in Ciudad del Este, but apparently the government decided to shut down the whole bus system for Easter week, which put a wrench in all my plans. I usually avoid taxis, but I found a wholesome driver to take me to get a sim card and find a hostel to stay at for the week (Policarpo +595984159826).

WHERE TO STAY IN ASUNCION

I stayed at Hostal El Nomada, which was walking distance to all the sights in the city center and had a really nice atmosphere. Policarpo also picked me up one day to take me to Jardin de Yacare Yrupe, where they have these giant lilypads. The locals will take you on their boat and you can paddle around on the water. For me, that was the highlight of my stay in Asuncion, Paraguay. I would’ve liked to stay longer and explored the waterfalls near Ciudad del Este and the Jesuit ruins of Trinidad in the south, but maybe one day I’ll be back! Especially now that I have that handy visa!