Sometimes, the darkness tend to reveal what the light conceals. We have rounded up stunning after dark hiking trails from around the world that are home brilliant bioluminescent entities.

Goias, Brazil

If you’re wandering Brazil’s Emas National Park at night, you will likely stop in your tracks to catch a glimpse of a glowing monolith. Let your eyes adjust to the darkness and you will realize that the bright lights are produced by a horde of appropriately named ‘Headlight Beetle’. The larvae hatch within the termite mound and flash their light to attract a quick snack aka flying insects.

Western Ghats, India

The Karnataka-Maharashtra-Goa belt of Western Ghats is  home to Mycena, a species of bioluminescent fungus whose intensity of light depends on the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. This means,  during the monsoons – when the air is saturated with oxygen – you can witness a brilliant spectacle.

Hachijo-jima Island, Japan

This volcanic island off the east coast of Japan is home to plenty of hiking trails, and offers an amazing visual treat for night owls: brilliant clusters of bioluminescent fungi. The island is home to as many as seven different kinds of mushrooms that light up the trail with a mesmerizing green glow.

Kampung Kuantan, Malaysia

This park is considered to be one of the best places to watch ‘synchronous fireflies’. Imagine seeing a million fireflies all flashing at once in a beautiful symphony. Synchronous species of fireflies are very rare and considered to be one of the most amazing and magical natural phenomenon.

Sequoia National Park, USA

A night trek  amongst the towering trees of this natural park  is guaranteed to be an experience of a lifetime. The park is home to millions of creepy crawlies, but one of them stands out for  its ability to light up its entire body. The Motyxia millipede (motyxia sequoia alia) hangs out among the branches of Sequoia’s ancient trees and use their bioluminescence as a warning to predators about its cyanide synthesizing ability.

Vaadhoo, Maldives

In the mood for some sci-fi themed late night romantic stroll on the beach? Head to Vadhoo, one of the Raa Atoll islands in the Maldives. Under ideal conditions, the entire shore is lit up in a brilliant shimmer of blue neon. The phenomenon occurs when microbes known as dinoflagellates is disturbed by oxygen.

Glowing Bicycle Path, Netherlands

This one might not be a natural spectacle, but it’s very impressive nonetheless. Meet the world’s first glow-in-the-dark bike path in the Netherlands. Daan Roosegaarde, a Dutch artist has recreated the famed Van Gogh masterpiece “The Starry Night” by placing glow-in-the-dark stones  in the same pattern as the stars from the 19th century painting. The stones are coated with a photoelectric material that charge during  daytime and light up the trail at night.

Cotopaxi National Park, Ecudaor

Beautiful, dangerous and mesmerizing. The Cotopaxi National Park is located 53 kilometers southeast of Quito and is the second largest park National Park in Ecuador. While it’s a popular daytime hiking destination, the forest transforms by sunset : the sounds and smells intensify and thousands of bioluminescent fungi start cropping up all around you.

Dominic Machado

Someone once told me to keep an open mind....I tried it for a day and some jerk stole everything!