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The Dead Sea is on the bucket list of many travelers curious to know the feeling of being in a sea where it's impossible to sink. Known as the lowest point on earth, it has fascinated people through the centuries, but it might be surprising to many travelers that there are other places across the globe where people can't sink even if they try.
Incredible landscapes and nature often surround those places, and they deserve as much attention as the Dead Sea.
The Dead Sea Offers Healing Properties
Stretching over Israel and Jordan, The Dead Sea attracts thousands of tourists every year.
The place is named after its lack of life: due to the high salinity levels, large organisms (such as fishes) can't survive on the water, and there are only a small number of microorganisms at its bottom.
Although the Dead Sea is unsuitable for marine life, it can benefit humans thanks to its healing properties. Visitors often report their skin looks better after floating in the water, but it also helps to relieve pain.
Why can't people sink?
The Dead Sea is eight times saltier than other seas, meaning its water is much denser, so people can't sink.
The water density also makes swimming almost impossible, so when in the Sea, travelers should enjoy the time to float and take the classic picture holding a magazine while doing it.
It's recommended to stay in the water for up to 15 minutes, as a high amount of salt and minerals can cut the skin when people remain too long.
Visiting The Dead Sea In Israel
Israel is filled with incredible historical sights, and travelers can easily include the Dead Sea on their itinerary. Many day tours leave Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other main cities in the country and stop at Masada and Ein Gedi.
Tourist Israel offers tours from Jerusalem (starting at $85) and Tel Aviv (starting at $95), going through the Judean Desert. The fee includes a licensed guide.
Visiting The Dead Sea In Jordan
When planning a visit to Jordan, people are often focused on Petra, but the country has an array of touristic destinations. One of the highlights of going to Jordan is the Jordan Rift Valley, where the Dead Sea is located.
Travelers can visit it departing from Amman by bus ($1.50) or Taxi (approximately $6). Many agencies offer the tour and often stop at other touristic locations.
- The best time to visit the Dead Sea is spring (March and April) and autumn (October and November).
- The average water temperature is 22°C (71F) and 29°C (84F).
This Unique Oasis In Egypt
People planning to spend a few days in Egypt to see the pyramids should consider spending more time in the country to visit its incredible small towns.
Egypt is also home to Siwa Oasis, featuring hundreds of salt pools where it's impossible to sink due to the salt concentration.
The best time to visit Siwa is between October and March when the temperatures are mild.
How to Visit The Siwa Oasis
Siwa is located 562 kilometers (approximately 349 miles) from Cairo, and it takes 14 hours by bus.
Booking a tour is highly recommended, and Touritos organizes three-day excursions from Cairo to Siwa for approximately $399.
This Incredible Lake In Atacama, Chile
Chile is famous for its wine and is also home to the ultimate destination for nature fans: the Atacama Desert. The driest desert in the world is filled with valleys, hills of salt, unique wildlife, and mountains.
Travelers should spend at least five days in the desert, and visiting the Laguna Cejar is one of its highlights.
Located within the salt flats and overlooking a range of mountains, this lagoon is an excellent option to relax after exhaustive tours.
Due to the high amounts of salt, it's impossible to sink, and visitors can stay on the water as long as they want without harming their skin.
Yet, travelers should be careful with their belongings, such as phones and sunglasses: unlike humans, objects can quickly sink at Laguna Cejar.
- The best time to visit the Atacama Desert is during the summer (December, January, and February) when the temperature is approximately 27°C (81°F) during the day and 16°C (61°F) at night.
- Travelers should bring swimsuits, sunscreen, towels and water.
How To Visit The Laguna Cejar
Laguna Cejar is located approximately 12 miles from San Pedro do Atacama.
The most popular way to visit the laguna is by booking a tour with a local agency, which often includes Laguna Cejar, Ojos del Salar, and it ends with some tapas and drinks during the sunset at Laguna Tebinquinche.
The tour takes approximately four hours, and travelers can choose one of the many agencies in San Pedro do Atacama.
It's possible to book the tour in advance, but choosing an agency in person gives clients a chance to bargain.
The agency Corvatsch is one of them and charges CP27,000 (approximately $31), and visitors should also purchase a CP17,000 ticket (approximately $19).
This Hidden Gem In Brazil
Brazil is widely known for its pristine beaches, but the countryside is home to unique places.
Located in Tocantins, the Jalapão State Park is the largest savanna in South America, featuring many waterfalls, massive dunes, and natural springs known as fervedouros, where it's also impossible to sink.
Differently from Laguna Cejar and the Dead Sea, it's not the high amount of salts that keep people from sinking in a fervedouro.
Those natural springs emerge from a rupture on earth created by an underground river, and the pressure between the river and the soil prevents people from sinking. Instead, people feel like someone is gently touching their legs.
- Jalapão can be visited year-round, and temperatures are often between 28°C (82F) and 35°C (95).
How To Visit The Fervedouros
Jalapão is still a remote location. Travelers must fly until Palmas, where they will spend between three and six days traveling the region, which includes at least two fervedouros per day.
Although it's possible to rent a 4x4, booking a tour is highly recommended, as the roads are bad and there isn't internet or phone signal.
Jalapão Brasil is considered one of the best agencies in Jalapão, and the prices start at $1,500 (approximately $279).