5 Famous Rock Formations and Where to Stay Nearby

Head to the very tip of Cabo San Lucas to find this distinct arch, which marks the spot where the Gulf of California becomes the Pacific Ocean. Strong winds and tides created this arch, meaning that tourists need to take extreme caution when visiting the site (the best way to do so is to hire a water taxi to take you out, as you can’t reach the arch from land). It’s a popular gathering site for sea lions.


An All-Inclusive Hotel Pick with Arch Views:

When a stunning geological formation is paired with pristine beaches and azure waters, you’re in for a real treat. In the northwest quadrant of the British Virgin Islands lies Virgin Gorda, which took its name from Christopher Columbus, who thought the island looked like a large reclining woman. One of its most famous sights is The Baths, a beachy BVI National Park filled with hundreds of massive granite boulders that have formed grottoes, tidal pools, and tunnels -- many of which can be explored by visitors via walking, climbing, and snorkeling. 


A Luxury Hotel Pick on Virgin Gorda:

The name of this unusual geological formation tells all. Though these mounds in the Philippine island of Bohol  -- there are at least 1,200 of them recorded so far -- are usually covered by green grass, dry season turns them brown. They range in height from about 100 to 160 feet and provide for a very unusual landscape. If you’re looking to visit the Chocolate Hills, a great home base is the nearby island of Panglao, which is connected to Bohol via a bridge and is a 1.5-hour drive from the hills.


A Beachfront Hotel Pick on Panglao:

In Cappadocia, Turkey, huge stone columns, called Fairy Chimneys, rise from the valley floor. They were formed after volcanic eruptions filled the area with ash that eventually hardened into rock, which was eroded over time. Humans have been inhabiting the Fairy Chimneys for centuries, carving out livable areas in the rocks and caves. Today, there are plenty of hotels that give guests a chance to stay within these rock formations.


A Fairy Chimney Hotel Pick in Cappadocia:

The southwestern United States is filled with geological wonders, from ones beneath the surface (like the Grand Canyon) to monumental features that tower above the surface, like the Mitten Buttes in Monument Valley, which straddles the Arizona-Utah border. These striated buttes comprise three distinct layers of different types of rock: Organ Rock Shale at the bottom, de Chelly Sandstone in the middle, and the Moenkopi Formation (a layer of sandstone found across the region) and Shinarump Conglomerate on top.


A Historic Hotel Pick in Monument Valley:


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