Even without an adorable population of lemurs, Madagascar would be a stunning island nation worth visiting, but it helps to have 111 distinct species of primates that look like a cross between a teddy bear and a monkey. The lemur’s lineage began some 50 million years ago, when early primate ancestors were thought to have crossed the channel between Africa and Madagascar. As the distance between the two land masses grew, lemurs evolved in isolation, assuming the impressive variety of shapes, sizes, and colors we see today. All species are endemic to Madagascar, meaning you won't naturally find them anywhere else on the planet.

Say the word "Maldives," and it immediately conjures images of a dreamy vacation unlike any other. There's no doubt you've seen those mesmerizing snapshots of infinity pools, floating breakfasts, and manta rays gliding through crystal clear waters—and that's just during the day. At night, there's another treasure to behold. About 121 miles northwest of the capital Malé, the shores of Vaadhoo Island are home to millions of phytoplankton that light up the ocean waves, making it look as though the stars themselves have decided to take a dip (hence its name, Sea of Stars). While this natural phenomenon is visible in daylight, it's nothing short of spectacular at night.

There's an apex predator that roams tropical waters with a hunting routine quite unlike any other. The thresher shark, known for its unusually long tail, swims with elegant vigor toward an unsuspecting school of fish in search of its next meal. Then, with the precision of an airplane landing, it whips its tail upwards in an arc to stun an unlucky few. With speeds reaching upwards of 50 miles per hour, this impressive maneuver happens so fast that you might blink and miss the whole thing.

If you ever get tired of crowds of people on your travels, you could always opt for an adorable crowd of felines instead. About an hour northwest of Taipei in the hills of Taiwan’s Ruifang district, the quaint village of Houtong is known for having more cat residents than humans. As you step off the train in Houtong and cross an award-winning, cat-shaped bridge, you’ll find hundreds of free-roaming furballs and an entire infrastructure to celebrate them. Here, the strays are treated like royalty.

For even the bravest among travelers, the idea of swimming with millions of jellyfish is not exactly appealing. While it would certainly be a memorable experience, it could also be a disaster waiting to happen. Yet in Kakaban Lake, Indonesia off the coast of Boreno, the bloom of peaceful invertebrates are not your usual scyphozoans—the scientific term for sea jellies. Though they possess the hallmark bell-shaped body and strings of tentacles, these animals evolved in a space without natural predators and, therefore, don’t need a stinging defense. If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming with wild jellyfish, this is your chance.

Costa Rica is a natural destination for wildlife spotters and adrenaline junkies alike. While many focus their efforts on the rainforests and sun-kissed beaches, the spectacle continues just beneath the surface. With its nutrient-filled waters, the Pacific side of this earthly paradise attracts an exciting array of wildlife, like huge schools of hammerhead sharks. If you think spotting one of these uniquely-shaped predators is exciting enough, imagine seeing them arrive by the hundreds, elegantly cruising the currents in search of food. That's the beauty of Bajo Alcyone, a busy dive site near Cocos Island National Park. Sitting 342 miles off the mainland, this gem was the inspiration for Isla Nublar in the 1990 hit "Jurassic Park" by Michael Chrichton.

With so much beauty just beneath the surface, it’s all too tempting to reach out and feel the tentacles on a coral or pet a passing sea creature. How much harm can one touch really do, right? It turns out, quite a lot, as marine environments are far more fragile than you might think. When you touch underwater plants and animals, the oils from your hands disrupt the outer layer that protects them from bacteria and disease. On top of that, many innocent-looking species have the ability to harm you with a defense mechanism (hello, fire coral) or attack you if they perceive that you’re a threat. Since you’re a guest in their home—and not the other way around—it’s best to give marine life plenty of space. Here’s how.

To the untrained eye, the Arctic tundra of northern Manitoba may appear quiet and desolate. But look a little closer and you'll find a region teeming with wildlife. Wapusk National Park is home to the largest polar bear denning area in the world. Each year, roughly 1,000 polar bears gather at the shore waiting for the sea ice to return and the seals to emerge. The best time to see these aptly named “Lords of the Arctic” is from October to November, though you can spot them ambling along the shore anytime between July and the winter freeze. And yes, there are cubs—lots and lots of cubs.

A little fun in the sun never hurt anyone, right? Well, not so fast. While traditional sunscreens protect your skin, they also disrupt the fragile marine ecosystem little by little. Each time you dip into the sea, the chemicals rub off your skin and leech into the water, harming species from the daintiest of corals to the largest of sea mammals. For starters, the chemicals cause DNA damage and promote coral bleaching, a stress response where an entire reef can turn stark white. The algae that live on top of the coral fare no better, as the chemicals interrupt photosynthesis, the process of turning sunlight into nourishment. Other species—like mussels, fish, and dolphins—face decreased fertility and deformed offspring. Thankfully, a plethora of eco-minded brands have doctored “reef-safe” sunscreens for your next getaway.

With so many similarities, you would be forgiven for using the terms alligators and crocodiles interchangeably. Though they branched apart 80 million years ago and hail from different families, they are both fierce-looking reptiles that elicit a mix of excitement and fear. If you’re up for it, Everglades National Park in South Florida is the only place in the world where you can view them both in the wild. With 1.5 million acres of scenery, it’s the largest subtropical wilderness in America, forever safeguarded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance. As you trek through this swampy paradise just outside Miami, you’ll be amazed by all the wildlife a few yards—if not a few feet—right in front of you.

There’s no doubt that building a campfire is one of the best ways to unplug from everyday life. Whether the firewood comes from your backyard or a store, you might think of it as just another item on your packing list. In truth, though, it's actually a little more complicated than that. The USDA wants nature lovers to be more selective about their firewood, as pests can travel hundreds of miles and wreak havoc on the forest. Even if a piece of firewood appears healthy (free from fungus, holes, and other signs of pests), invasive species can burrow inside the wood for three years. To complicate matters, insect eggs can be as small as a pinhead and fungal spores are downright microscopic. As you can see (or rather not see), when it comes to firewood, looks can be deceiving. As a general rule of thumb, try to source your wood within a 20-mile radius of your campground.

Not everyone can say they would enjoy having a 13-foot tiger shark swimming a few inches from their face. But if you're one of those rare breeds who gets a rush from viewing these apex predators up close, then Fiji is the destination for you. Of the 500 or so species of sharks that roam the earth's oceans, the Beqa Lagoon is home to eight of these fearsome beauties: whitetips, blacktips, grey reefs, tawny nurses, sicklefin lemons, silvertips, bulls, and tiger sharks. Even among the gutsiest of divers, a few of those species might raise an eyebrow or two, but this world-famous shark dive has proven to be a sound tourist attraction and conservation strategy.