Langkawi, the impressive Asian archipelago you must not miss
Langkawi es más que un archipiélago paradisiaco. Se trata de un lugar con una diversidad cultural y natural aparentemente infinita. Con la pluma de Silvina Pini y fotos de Mario Cherrutti.
La isla malaya no es solo playa, su folclore rico en mitos y leyendas, resorts de lujo, excelente gastronomía y un geoparque de la UNESCO. Langkawi es un archipiélago de ciento cuatro islas en la costa oeste de Malasia, frente al estado de Kedah, muy cerca de Tailandia, en el mar de Andamán. Sólo cuatro están habitadas, la principal se llama Pulau Langkawi. Su nombre refiere a dos palabras malayas: “helang”, águila, y “kawi”, marrón, por un águila de color marrón rojizo endémica de las islas, que tiene su monumento de 45 metros de alto en la Plaza del Aguila.Traviesos compañeros de viaje
Una aventura en la oscuridad de las montañas
Entre las raíces de Langkawi
Un archipiélago con lo mejor de dos mundos
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Cómo llegar a Langkawi
Dónde dormir
Ritz Carlton https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/lgkrz-the-ritz-carlton-langkawi/Paseos
Dream Forest. Abre todos los días a las 19. https://dreamforest.com.my/Langkawi is more than just a paradisiacal archipelago. It is a place with seemingly endless cultural and natural diversity. With writing by Silvina Pini and photos by Mario Cherrutti.
Langkawi is more than just a paradisiacal archipelago. It is a place with seemingly endless cultural and natural diversity. With writing by Silvina Pini and photos by Mario Cherrutti. The Malaysian island is not just about beaches; its rich folklore of myths and legends, luxury resorts, excellent gastronomy, and a UNESCO geopark all contribute to its allure. Langkawi is an archipelago of one hundred and four islands off the west coast of Malaysia, near the state of Kedah, very close to Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Only four of these islands are inhabited, the main one being Pulau Langkawi. Its name refers to two Malay words: "helang," meaning eagle, and "kawi," meaning brown, after a reddish-brown eagle endemic to the islands, which has a 45-meter tall monument in Eagle Square.Playful Travel Companions
Travelers come for its beaches, such as the popular Pantai Cenang or Datai Bay, considered among the best beaches in the world, but the island offers more attractions. One is the cable car that ascends over 700 meters, where there is a 125-meter-long bridge allowing visitors to view the rainforest from above and see the island's entire silhouette. It's also the place to see the first monkeys, the confident macaques who won’t hesitate to take your backpack if you have food, and the friendly lutungs with black fur and white eyes and mouth. Monkeys can be a problem, so locals often place large tiger plush toys on roofs and windows to scare them away, as it's the only thing they fear.An Adventure in the Darkness of the Mountains
Mountains, lagoons, and waterfalls in Langkawi explain their origins with fantastic legends, and Dream Forest is the place to learn about them. It is a nighttime immersive experience conducted in the forest. As we walk, like in the movie Avatar, the forest lights up, and 3D projections of giants appear, transforming into the Matchinchang mountains or the love story that gave birth to Dayang Bunting island, near Langkawi. Being part of the "ring of fire," volcanoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes threaten the island. Mangroves act as a natural barrier protecting it from tsunamis.Among the Roots of Langkawi
The Ritz Carlton hotel offers its guests experiences of direct contact with nature. It collaborates with the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) in protecting the mangroves, organizing visits to the UNESCO Kilim Geopark where travelers understand the importance of mangroves and even plant specimens. Another must-do activity is the 1.4 km jungle walk with naturalist Othman Ayeb, who will point out centenary trees, meter-high termite nests—Othman says without them, the jungle would have devoured everything—orchids, and of course, more monkeys.An Archipelago with the Best of Both Worlds
The excellent Malaysian gastronomy reflects its multiculturalism: Indian and Chinese influences fused with local flavor. The regional touch is given by the fish and seafood combined with rice, chilies, and curries. Although 90 percent of the population is Malay, Langkawi has a significant Chinese community. Hai Yan is the best Chinese restaurant on the island, specializing in the most expensive freshwater fish in Southeast Asia, the Tor tambroides (empurau in Malay), which costs 230 dollars per kilo and comes only from Sarawak, on the island of Borneo. Hai Yan is by the sea and is ideal for having a drink while watching the sunset over the Andaman Sea.Suggested Reading: This is Istanbul, the Impressive Capital Between Two Continents
How to Get to Langkawi
Turkish Airlines has 11 weekly flights from Mexico City, 7 from Buenos Aires, and 7 from Bogota to Langkawi with a connection in Istanbul. If the layover is longer than 6 hours, the airline offers free transfer in-out to the airport and city tours. Turkish AirlinesFrom Thailand by Sea:
Satun Pakbara is the only company offering speed boat services. SPC ThailandFrom Thailand by Air:
Scoot, the low-cost airline of Singapore Airlines, flies from Phuket. Fly ScootWhere to Stay
Ritz CarltonExcursions
Dream Forest. Opens every day at 19:00. Dream Forest