DestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaGallo pinto: Costa Rica rice and beansDeeply rooted in Costa Rican and Nicaraguan culture, this staple of rice and beans with a side of eggs gets a spicy kick from Salsa Lizano (a sauce similar to Worcestershire).TravelIs this the next smoothie trend?In southern Belize, a sweet and creamy heritage drink made from seaweed has become a symbol of the country's sustainable underwater farming initiatives.TravelGallo pinto: Costa Rica rice and beansDeeply rooted in Costa Rican and Nicaraguan culture, this staple of rice and beans with a side of eggs gets a spicy kick from Salsa Lizano (a sauce similar to Worcestershire).TravelIs this the next smoothie trend?In southern Belize, a sweet and creamy heritage drink made from seaweed has become a symbol of the country's sustainable underwater farming initiatives.TravelThe Maya's ingenious secret to survivalTikal was the economic and ceremonial hub of the Maya civilisation. But its stone palaces and temples would never have been constructed without mastery over one vital substance.TravelThe islands with a 'third gender'In the small indigenous territory of Guna Yala off Panama’s eastern coast, a flourishing ‘third gender’ community is defying stereotypes – and venerating women.TravelAn eerie portal to the Maya underworldIn Belize's ATM Cave, details of ancient Maya religious sacrifices come into focus as new research creates a picture of how rituals were used to re-enact the Maya creation story.The Maya's ingenious secret to survivalTikal was the economic and ceremonial hub of the Maya civilisation. But its stone palaces and temples would never have been constructed without mastery over one vital substance.TravelThe islands with a 'third gender'In the small indigenous territory of Guna Yala off Panama’s eastern coast, a flourishing ‘third gender’ community is defying stereotypes – and venerating women.TravelMore Central America travelThe simple Costa Rican secrets to longevityCosta Rica is home to one of the five Blue Zones – regions of the world with populations that regularly live into healthy old ageTravelCosta Rica's uniquely positive outlook on lifeCosta Rica's national saying "pura vida", which is associated with a sense of wellbeing, positivity and gratitude, is far more than just a simple catchphrase.TravelSustainable travel destinations for 2024With huge numbers of travellers now seeking to travel more lightly and mindfully, these destinations are making sustainable travel easier this year.TravelThe Americas' disappearing islandFor more than 100 years, the Indigenous Guna people have lived on a tiny Caribbean island. Now, they're poised to become some of the Americas' first climate change refugees.TravelThe 2,000-year-old tamale few knowAn icon in its native land, the Guatemalan tamale is wrapped in a striking green banana leaf that gives way to an airy corn dumpling stuffed with spicy pork, peppers and olives.TravelA crowd-pleasing chicken soupPanama's version of the ubiquitous Latin American soup is a nostalgic panacea of poultry and produce that is both restorative and celebratory.TravelMore travelCivilisation collapse: Lessons from the pastPre-modern states and civilisations became more prone to collapse as time passed – a pattern that holds lessons for today's ageing global powers.FutureThe Shōgun-era story of Japan's samurai cityThe breakout series Shōgun has renewed interest in the clashing swords and political maneuvering of Japan's feudal era – and the city of Kanazawa is an excellent place to learn more.TravelBritain's mysterious WW2 'island of death'In the 1960s, the BBC set out to investigate local reports of secret, shocking World War Two experiments on a remote island off the coast of Scotland.CultureInside the home of a modern-day Leonardo da VinciRecently opened to the public, this artists' residence surprises whomever ventures in, making them wonder how such a splendid place exists in an otherwise sleepy Venetian square.TravelOne of the most spectacular drives in CubaFew travellers venture to Cuba's south-eastern corner, but a little-known road offers a fascinating – and stunning – glimpse of the nation's revolutionary past.TravelTitanic survivor on the moment ship sankMore than a century since the Titanic sank, this first-person testimony of survivor Frank Prentice remains a powerful and harrowing account of the sheer terror felt by those on board.CultureThis is how you make the world's oldest beerAn ancient recipe for Mesopotamian beer has survived the millennia to find new life as a modern drink.FutureWhere to find Italy's 'dolce vita' in real lifeDespite being a noir thriller, Netflix's Ripley brings new life to Italy's romanticised notion of la dolce vita. Here's how to experience it in the Amalfi Coast's sleepy villages.TravelWill Stonehenge lose its Unesco heritage status?Plans to build a road tunnel under Stonehenge have once again come to the fore, paving the way for one of the UK's most controversial construction projects in living memoryTravel