Santa Maria

There's something undeniably surreal about bobbing gently like a misplaced cork on a margarita in the Salt Pans of Pedra de Lume, a bleached-out moonscape tucked improbably within the collapsed belly of an ancient volcano. Located on Sal Island, Cape Verde, this curious natural spa offers visitors the Dead Sea experience without the Middle Eastern airfare-and with fewer bikini-clad Instagram influencers tormenting you mid-float. Sneak out early in the morning for maximum solitude or, if you're feeling particularly masochistic in the midday sun, bring sunglasses, plenty of water, sunscreen, and a salty disposition to match your surroundings. Book your trip a day or two ahead-this isn't Disneyland, but word about floating effortlessly in mineral-rich water travels quickly. Budget around €5 for entry, plus a few extra euros if you'd like a freshwater rinse afterward, to spare your swimsuit from crystallizing like a preserved anchovy. Quirky tip: the old wooden cable car skeletons dotting the site remain from the crater's bygone days as a salt-mining hub, giving the whole place a slightly dystopian charm. Trust me-it's worth every grainy second of salt stinging your eyes, if only for the right to swagger back home boasting you've floated casually inside a volcano crater.

To fully appreciate the surreal absurdity of wandering into the Terra Boa Mirage, you'll need to temporarily suspend logic and sanity-something the locals have cheerfully mastered ages ago. Nestled in the sprawling desert plains near Terra Boa, this baffling phenomenon is neither sorcery nor heatstroke (though, admittedly, after a few hours under the blistering Cape Verdean sun, the mind can wander to strange places). Aim for mid-morning or early afternoon, when the mirage reaches peak mischief, flickering mischievously in the heat and luring tourists into existential debates about reality. Pack sunscreen, sturdy shoes, plenty of bottled water (ironically), and a skeptical friend who can bring you back to earth when you loudly proclaim to have spotted an oasis complete with camels and a tiki bar. Budget-wise, you'll be relieved to learn the desert charges no entry fee for its optical deceits-but hiring a local guide (around $20-$30) can save you the embarrassment of chasing imaginary waterholes for hours. While the Terra Boa Mirage may not quench your thirst or make you enlightened, standing smack-dab on this sandy, illusory canvas offers an unforgettable brush with nature's cheeky sense of humor. At the end of the day, even if you return with sand-filled shoes rather than newfound wisdom, you'll have dinner-party bragging rights to that time you traveled miles to stubbornly refuse to believe your own eyes.