Aivar Ruukel has made quite a name for himself in ecotourism, particularly in his native Estonia, where he grew up in the midst of the country’s largest pristine wilderness: Soomaa. Roughly translated as ‘Land of Bogs,’ the area is now a leading destination for wildlife and nature enthusiasts.

The principal attraction of the small Baltic republic of Estonia is its UNESCO World Heritage Site capital city of Tallinn. Beyond the city lmits and off the beaten track, however, lie several less-well-known pleasant surprises, like Estonia’s Summer Capital, better known as Pärnu, and the surrounding Soomaa National Park. To Estonian and Finnish tourists, the…

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND ESTONIAN. With sandy beaches against a backdrop of quiet, untouched, natural beauty, the peaceful town of Pärnu and surrounding Soomaa National Park are a unique and gorgeous destination in the small Baltic republic of Estonia.