Temperatures soar from 86 t0 100 degrees F during Taiwan’s humid summer months. People here naturally seek relief at the shore. Taiwan is blessed with many fine sand beaches, the more popular of which include Yehliu, Fulong, Green Bay, and Bai Sha Wan in the north, and Kenting in the south. There are a number of beautiful natural beaches along the East coast National Scenic Area that have remained relatively secluded, but they offer few facilities.
Adventure Sports in Taiwan
People don’t just come to Taiwan’s beaches to work on a tan or go swimming though. An hour outside of Taipei, the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area offers a diverse number of adventure travel activities. Surfing, jet-skiing, wind surfing, hang gliding, fishing, hiking, rock climbing and parasailing are just a few of the activities that people enjoy in Taiwan.
Hiking in Taiwan
The hustle and bustle of Taiwan’s cities are easily escapable. Hikers enjoy beautiful walking trails that wind through dense forest, lakes, wild springs, fruit orchards and waterfalls. Taipei’s Yangming Mountain is one of the most beautiful spots in Taiwan, and it’s easily accessible by Taipei’s excellent public transportation system.
The Central Mountain Range is a stunning scenic area. A sea of clouds often blankets the valleys in early morning. The area is studded with beautiful Swiss style chalets and B&Bs.
Two-thirds of Taiwan are comprised of evergreen highlands, which makes mountain climbing a popular activity in Taiwan. Special permits are required to climb many of the high mountain peaks in Taiwan. If you’re looking for something a little easier, there are plenty of trips from Taipei that don’t require passes. Yangminshan offers several opportunities for mountain climbers.
Hang Gliding and Parasailing
Hang gliding and parasailing are popular activities in Taiwan. Green Bay’s steady winds offer perfect hang-gliding and paragliding opportunities for adventure seekers of all levels. The Luye Plateau in Taitung County offers inspiring scenery for hang gliders. Yilan, Hualien, Puli and Keelung are popular locations for those who are interested in parasailing.
Snorkeling, Diving and Surfing
Taiwan’s coastal waters offer a fascinating glimpse of life underwater. Snorkeling and scuba diving are popular activities in Taiwan. Taiwan’s waters are relatively safe. Sharks and other dangerous fish are rarely seen here.
If diving’s your thing, the north shore from Danshui to Suao offers plenty of well known summertime diving spots. During the months of winter, divers head south to Kenting’s warm waters. Kenting National Park is through to be Taiwan’s best diving area. Green Island and Orchid Island off of Taiwan’s southeast coast are also popular amongst divers.
Taiwan has an active surf culture and there are beaches all over Taiwan that offer nice waves. Baishawan, Jinshan and Fulong in Northern Taiwan offer some fine surfing opportunities, while Kenting National Park in the south offers some of the finest surf spots on the island.
White Water Rafting
Year-round white water rafting is available on the Xiuguluan River in Hualien County in southeastern Taiwan. Your adventure begins near the town of Chuisui, which is about 90 minutes south of Hualien.
Top photo credit: kafadventures. com
Canadian expat Carrie Kellenberger has kept a home base with her husband in Asia since 2003. A prolific traveler, Carrie has funded her travels primarily as a writer, editor, travel blogger and photographer, but she has also worked as an educator, voice over artist, model and nightclub singer. She draws upon her 15+ years of travel experience to write about travel-related issues and the countries she has visited on her award-winning web site, My Several Worlds.
Her photography and travel articles have appeared in both print and online publications around the world, including Travel and Leisure Asia, Unearthing Asia and Hip Compass Escapes.
