Five destinations in America to reconsider

An Australian travel company is asking people to reconsider these iconic tourist experiences, adding them to its annual “not hot” travel list.

Skip New Orleans, ditch the Galapagos and don’t bother with Machu Picchu.

That’s the advice from Australian travel company Intrepid Travel, which has added those iconic tourist destinations to its annual “not hot” list.

Intrepid Travel’s not hot lists urges tourists to reconsider destinations that suffer from overtourism and opt for similar, but lesser-known experiences instead.

Its just-released list for 2020 focuses on North and South America, where tourists rarely ventured beyond well-known sites and big cities.

“Travellers who venture off the traditional tourist trail will find a continent brimming with

fascinating people and places,” Intrepid Travel’s managing director of Asia Pacific, Brett

Mitchell, said.

“At Intrepid Travel, we’re all about going off-the-beaten-track to uncover new gems and offer sustainable tourism practices that support local communities.

“With Australian tourists spending more than $8 billion during trips to America alone annually, it would be great to see all those valuable tourism dollars dispersed to undertouristed places and communities that would truly benefit from an increase in travellers.”

In its list, Intrepid Travel has offered travellers alternative destinations to the usual over-visited and sometimes struggling go-to destinations.

DON’T VISIT: NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS (1.4 million attendees)

Go instead: Lafayette Mardi Gras (about 50,000 attendees)

Mardi Gras in New Orleans attracts people from all over the world. Picture: iStock

New Orleans isn't the only place in Louisiana that celebrates Mardi Gras — the celebrations in Lafayette are just as fun. Picture: @the.deis

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is often regarded as a must-have cultural experience but the truth is, it can be ridiculously overcrowded. Elsewhere in Louisiana, at the Lafayette Mardi Gras, the parade and celebrations are just as impressive — and not nearly as touristy.

Lafayette is about a two-hour drive northwest of New Orleans and regarded as the cultural centre of French speaking Louisiana. Mardi Gras is on in February.

DON’T VISIT: MACHU PICCHU (1.5 million annual visitors)

Go instead: Huacachina (tens of thousands of annual visitors)

There are concerns for the longevity of the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

Peru’s intriguing oasis town of Huacachina. Picture: iStock

Peru’s most popular tourist attraction has been straining under the weight of its popularity, and concerns over damage to the ancient site has led to new restrictions for visitors, such as time limits and permits, to help conserve it.

The next up-and-coming hotspot in Peru is Huacachina, a stunning lagoon oasis surrounded by dramatic sand dunes that is packed with waterfront bars and has plenty of options for beach sports. Plus, the water in the lagoon is said to have magical healing powers.

DON’T VISIT: GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS (225,000 annual visitors)

Go instead: Haida Gwaii Islands (13,000 annual visitors)

Give those famous Galapagos tortoises a break.

Haida Gwaii Islands, off the coast of Canada, are just as special.

The Galapagos Islands, famous for their extraordinary local wildlife, are incredibly popular to visit — but conservationists have been concerned about the impact of tourism on the natural environment.

For something different, and not as in-demand, head to the Haida Gwaii Islands — known as the Canadian Galapagos. These islands are a pristine wilderness just below the Alaska panhandle off the coast of British Columbia that are filled with traditional villages and a grizzly bear sanctuary.

DON’T VISIT: VENICE BEACH (10 million annual visitors)

Go instead: Morro de Sao Paulo (400,000 annual visitors)

Venice Beach attracts around 10 million visitors a year, making it the most visited destination on this list.

Morro de Sao Paulo Cairu is said to be the new Venice Beach.

Venice Beach, LA’s most weird and wonderful beachside neighbourhood, is so popular with visitors it’s become the second largest tourist destination in Southern California, after Disneyland.

Escape the crowds and head instead to a beach destination that’s lesser-known and for that reason, a lot cooler. The island paradise of Morro de Sao Paulo in Brazil is the next big thing, according to Intrepid Travel — and best of all, it’s car-free, which makes it a very welcome change from LA.

DON’T VISIT: SEAWORLD ORLANDO (4.5 million annual visitors)

Go instead: Quadra Island (85,000 annual visitors)

Killer whale Tilikum, pictured at Sea World in Orlando, Florida in 2011, changed a lot of people’s minds about whales in captivity. Picture: AFP/Getty Images/Gerardo Mora

Seeing the orcas in their natural environment is so much better.

Especially since the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which told the tragic story of the killer whale Tilikum, tourists have started to be turned off marine parks like SeaWorld Orlando that keep killer whales, or orcas, in captivity.

Instead of seeing these majestic animals in captivity, join a tour to Quadra Island off British Columbia, Canada, where you can go whale watching in the glacial waters. Nothing beats seeing these animals at their most free.