Arriving to El Chalten, Argentina. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

In our first two installments, we gave you some ideas on where to chill in big cities and in mid-size towns. But, if you really want to get away from it all, check out these little towns where you can really escape.

As with our other picks, each is very unique but they all have 3 things in common.

1. They are traveler friendly.
2. They have a cool vibe
3. They make it easy to connect to the city, the country and the culture

10 Great Remote, Off-the-Beaten Path Towns To Chill and Recharge

Castro is famous for its unique stilted houses. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

1. Castro, Chile. Located on the island of Chiloé, Castro is the ¨capital.¨ I liked this charming city in large part due to all the houses on stilts.  It rains a lot here so don’t go without protection.  You can get around the island on the local bus easily. And, there are a few national parks where you can get really lost if you want.

Puyuhuapi is set in the mountains and lakes. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

2. Puyuhuapi, Chile. Located in the middle of the ¨Carretera Austral¨ or the Southern Highway, you don’t just happen to get here.  This town sits on the banks of a lake where there are a few salmon fisheries.  There’s not much to see in the town. But, it’s next too the little known but stunning Queulat National Park and there’s a local hot springs spa. You will find a remote charm where a writer or creative type could really focus and be inspired.

Cape Agulhas on the southernmost tip of Africa. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

3. Struisbaai/Agulhas, South Africa. Want to hang out on the southernmost tip of Africa?  Then head off to Struisbaai and Agulhas, two adjacent towns.  There is precious little here to do after you see the lighthouse and the geographical marker telling you where you are.  But, if you want a sleepy place to hang, this isn’t a bad spot. From here, you can take day trips to Hermanus, Arniston, Hermanus, ann two large nature reserves De Hoop and De Mond.

Downtown Kas, Turkey. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

4. Kas, Turkey. Want the beauty of the Turkish coast without too many other tourists, then take the bus out of Bodrum and head to little Kas. This is probably one of the larger towns on this list. But, it has a lot of charm, great food and plenty of places to stay (in every sense of the word).

The hidden, tropical beaches of Trindade. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

5. Trindade, Brazil. Considered by some locals as a little hippy town, Trindade has just what you need and no more. The beaches are beautiful and there’s some great food in the town. There’s even some great food served beachside. It’s easy on the budget and very easy on the eyes.

Villa de Leyva's main cobblestone plaza is the center of this colonial town. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

6. Villa de Leyva, Colombia. Want to have that colonial feel in Colombia without the heat and hawkers of Cartagena, then head to Villa de Leyva. It’s slowly picking up favor with foreigners, but for the most part, it’s still retaining it’s old colonial charm. It’s a favorite of Bogotanos, especially on holidays.  On the weekends, you might even have a local festival to keep you entertained. The food is incredible so be sure to check out the regional specialties.

Welcome to El Chalten, Argentina. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

7. El Chalten, Argentina. Argentina’s youngest town has come a long way. Hey, they even have an ATM these days and a great local brewery where you can hang out and enjoy the hand-crafted ales.  You can do day trips around the park, drink the water from many of the streams (double check!), or go off and get lost inside the park camping for a few days.  The town has an old west feel. And, the people are great and very welcoming.

Abel Tasman is worth the trip and you can hang out in Motueka before and after. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

8. Motueka, New Zealand. Of all the places to stop off on the south island, this may be one of the least known.  Maintaining its small-town feel, it serves as the gateway to the Abel Tasman Park, New Zealand’s smallest national park.  After you explore the park, you can hang out in this little town, rest, relax and enjoy its shops, restaurants and internet cafes.

The 7-Colored Mountain is in walking distance of the main plaza of Purmamarca. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

9. Purmamarca, Argentina. North of Salta lies Purmamarca, the home of the 7-colored mountain. To the west lies Salinas so you can get your salt-flat fix.  You will want to move slowly because this town is at an elevation of over 7600 feet. So, you might even want to dip into the local coca leaves.  But, it’s not a bad place for inspiration with good restaurants (albeit few) to keep you well-fed.

View of the harbor in Chania on Crete, Greece. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

10. Chania, Greece. Crete was my favorite part of Greece. There was something very charming about this entire island. There’s lots to see and do and using the local bus system, you can access most of it.  If you want a good place to chill after your adventurous spirit has been conquered by your tired feet, hang out in Chania, rest on the beach and watch the sunset from one of the beachfront cafes.

What other small towns around the world do you suggest for nesting during your travels?

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Tags: career break travel, travel advice

This entry was posted on Friday, February 18th, 2011 at 7:00 am and is filed under Jeff's blog, Life on the Road, Where to go. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.