10 Best Places to Visit in November

November is late spring in New Zealand. The air is fresh and the landscape is very green. This city sits on a volcanic plateau with active steam vents and bubbling mud pools. You can see the Pohutu Geyser which erupts many times a day. The area is the ancestral home of the Te Arawa people. You can visit villages like Ohinemutu to see how residents use the natural heat for cooking and bathing. The sulfur smell is the first thing you will notice. It is strong and smells like rotten eggs. It stays in your clothes and hair for a day or two.

November marks the beginning of the trekking season in southern Chile. The days are getting longer, giving you more light for the long trails. You will see granite towers and large glaciers. The park transitions from the subpolar forests to the steppes. It is a good time for wildlife spotting. You might see guanacos or rheas near the road. The wind is the main challenge here. It can reach speeds that make walking difficult. You must pack high quality waterproof gear because the weather changes in minutes.

This glacier is one of the few in the world that is not retreating. It is 30 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. In November, the rising temperatures cause large chunks of ice to break off. You can hear the ice crack like a gunshot before it falls into the water. There is a network of steel catwalks that let you see the face from different angles. It is much easier to reach than most glaciers in Patagonia. It is located about 80 kilometers from the town of El Calafate. Buses run regularly but they get crowded. It is a cold place even on a sunny day.

November is a very pleasant month in South Africa. The winter rains have stopped and the summer heat is not yet intense. You can ride a cable car to the top of Table Mountain for a view of the city and the ocean. The city has a complex history and several distinct neighborhoods. You can visit the harbor or head to Cape Point where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. The botanical gardens are in full bloom this month. The 'South Easter' wind is a real factor in November. It is a strong wind that blows through the city streets. It can sometimes cause the Table Mountain cable car to close for the day.

This was a walled city used by the Maya as a sea port. The ruins sit on 12 meter cliffs. In November, the hurricane season is ending and the humidity starts to drop. The site is smaller than other Maya ruins but the location is unique. You can see the Temple of the Frescoes and the Castillo. There is a small beach below the ruins where you can swim. The site gets very crowded by 10am. It is also very exposed to the sun. There is almost no shade among the ruins so you will get hot quickly.

November is when the heat in the Middle East becomes tolerable. You can finally walk outside without immediate discomfort. The city is a major trade hub with very modern architecture. You can visit the creek where the city began as a fishing settlement. There are many large malls and man made islands. The population is mostly expatriates which makes for a wide variety of food. Prices for hotels rise significantly in November. Since the weather is better, more tourists arrive. Everything feels very curated and artificial to some visitors.

This was a major focal point for the Maya people between 600 and 1200 AD. The main pyramid is a massive stone structure that reflects the Maya calendar. November offers a window of good weather before the December holiday rush. The site shows different architectural styles from across Mexico. You can see the Great Ball Court and the Sacred Cenote. It is a very large site that requires several hours of walking. Vendors are everywhere inside the archeological zone. They can be very persistent and loud. It can detract from the historical feel of the city.

This archipelagic country is the smallest in Asia. November marks the end of the wet monsoon season. The water is clear which makes it the right time for diving and snorkeling. The islands are spread over a huge area of the Indian Ocean. Most resorts are on their own private atolls. You will see a lot of marine life like rays and reef sharks. Transportation between islands is by speedboat or seaplane. These transfers are very expensive and must be booked in advance. If the weather is rough, boats may be cancelled.

November is the beginning of the dry season here. This province is a long island surrounded by smaller ones. It is known for limestone cliffs and underground rivers. You can take boat tours to hidden lagoons and remote beaches. Puerto Princesa is the main hub for arrivals. The water is warm and generally calm during this month. Travel on the island is slow. The roads are winding and many areas have limited electricity. It takes a full day of travel to get from the south to the north.

This is the deepest lake in Central America. It is surrounded by three volcanoes and several small villages. November is the start of the dry season, so the sky is usually clear. Each village around the lake has a different character. Some are known for weaving and others for coffee production. You move between them using small wooden boats called lanchas. In the afternoons, a strong wind called the Xocomil often starts. It makes the water very choppy and boat rides can be scary. It is best to travel across the lake in the morning.