Want to know the most exciting 2022 adventure travel destinations to put on your bucket list this year? Whether you’re looking for inspiration or sitting down to start seriously planning your next trip, let your adventurous side out in 2022 with these adventure travel destinations.
If you’re anything like me, two years into the pandemic you’re itching to get out there on some adventurous trips as soon as it’s safe to do so, and you want your next trip to be absolutely incredible. As an avid traveler who’s always looking for the most exciting and meaningful ways to experience a new place, I know where to find the best 2022 adventure travel destinations.
In this post you’re going to learn about the most exciting adventure travel destinations for 2022 – pulled from my very own travel bucket list. This roundup of 2022 adventure travel destinations includes something for every type of adventure traveler, from those seeking adrenaline-boosting thrills to those looking for immersive cultural experiences that will create the memories of a lifetime.
After reading this post, you’ll be ready to put a pin in the map for a vacation with unforgettable experiences and adventure at its heart.
This post is all about the most exciting 2022 adventure travel destinations that will satisfy your adventurous side.
Exciting 2022 Adventure Travel Destinations
1. Costa Rica
Surfing in Costa Rica is the perfect way to start off your 2022 adventure travel. Costa Rica has some of the warmest waters year-round for surfing and is one of the easiest surf destinations to get to from the U.S. mainland.
Two popular destinations for surfing in Costa Rica, Tamarindo and Santa Teresa, have ample surf camps. At these surf camps you can get your lodging, surfing lessons, and even your meals arranged into one easy package. Take advantage of this to maximize the adventure time and minimize the planning time!
Surf camps offer lessons tailored to your level, so there’s something for everyone. You can find a surf camp in Costa Rica whether it’s your first time on a board or you’re a pro who wants video analysis and insider knowledge on the best local surf breaks. Many surf camps also include yoga, and a few even have scuba diving options for the especially adventurous travelers out there.
If you need a recommendation, I suggest these three resorts for surfing in Costa Rica:
- Rapture Playas Avellanas | Tamarindo
- La Posada Surf & Yoga | Santa Teresa
- Believe Surf & Yoga House | Santa Teresa
If you’re looking for a surf destination across the Atlantic, check out Ericiera, Portugal or Taghazout, Morocco. These destinations are equally exciting for surfing, but with much cooler water temperatures, they are best enjoyed between May-November (and at least for me, with a wetsuit).
2. The Florida Keys
Nothing says 2022 adventure travel destination like a road trip to the Florida Keys. Start in Miami and head south for an unforgettable windows down, ocean breeze adventure. Just maybe get this one in before hurricane season starts in June.
The Florida Keys have so many great opportunities for adventure travel. Stop in Key Largo for scuba diving, visit the Turtle Hospital and rehabilitation center in Marathon, and experience the lively culture of Key West.
While it’s possible to drive from Miami to Key West in half a day, I wouldn’t recommend it. One of the best things about the Florida Keys is the uniqueness of each key, so don’t hesitate to take your time on your drive and make frequent stops for key lime pie, fresh seafood, locally crafted art, or whatever catches your fancy.
3. Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is an ideal 2022 adventure travel destination in the U.S. for when you’re looking for a different kind of wild. Travel in the shoulder seasons of May and September/October for pleasant weather and to have a better chance at solitude – during the summer months this park does see a lot of visitors.
From a home base in Bar Harbor, Maine, explore the many adventures Acadia National Park has to offer:
- Spend a day on a lobster boat
- Rock climb
- Hike in the lush forests of Acadia
For a bonus adventure a three hour drive away from the coast, you can hike Mt. Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.
4. Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany is a region in central Italy that is known for its capital of Florence, as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and for its glorious countryside of vineyards and olive groves. While there are many reasons to visit Tuscany, it secured its spot on this list of 2022 adventure travel destinations because of agriturismo.
An agriturismo is a working farm that welcomes guests for meals, lodging, and any combination of classes, workshops, and workstays. Staying at an agriturismo offers you a different kind of adventure: the chance to experience Italian culture and rural life in a way that you’d miss staying in a hotel, and it also helps support rural communities’ economies and preserve traditional agriculture.
Tuscany is the ideal place for an agriturismo stay as one of the most prosperous agricultural regions in Italy. Visit in late October or November to experience olive harvest with a culinary experience focused on olive oil production or an agricultural experience assisting with harvest.
5. German Christmas Markets
The final 2022 adventure travel destination on this list is a destination within a destination, if you will. One way to create a unique trip is to plan it around an experience or set of experiences, and a tour of German Christmas Markets is certainly a magical one.
While Christmas Markets are held all around Europe (and even some cities in the US!) during the month of December, Germany is home to some of the largest and oldest. If you have a week or more, I highly suggest planning to visit a few different cities to experience each Christmas market’s unique charms.
Here are a few of my suggested stops in Bavaria and southwest Germany:
- Munich has several markets with different themes, including a gay Christmas market at Stephansplaz
- Nuremberg is home to one of the oldest and largest Christmas markets in Europe
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a picturesque small town between Nuremberg and Stuttgart where the whole city has a Christmas vibe
- Stuttgart boasts a giant advent calendar as part of its Christmas market
Bonus: Add the Black Forest if you have access to a car. You won’t want to miss the old fashioned Christmas markets, thermal baths in Baden-Baden, and the chance to get your (dark) fairy tale on in the forest that inspired the Brothers Grimm.
I hope that you’ve been inspired by this list of the top 5 most exciting 2022 adventure travel destinations.
One bonus about these adventure travel trips is that almost all the attractions are outdoors. So, while I hope that we’ll see plenty of safe months for travel in 2022, many of these trips are already designed to minimize your indoor risks. As always, check the latest COVID-19 travel restrictions before booking any travel, and consider purchasing travel insurance for peace of mind.
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