The Gambia is often referred to as ‘West Africa for Beginners’ and after traveling the country for a couple of weeks I can definitely second that opinion. For one, the majority of people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Apart from that, at least the coastal regions have a surprisingly good tourist infrastructure, with tons of…
Urbex on Gran Canaria – The 6 Most Atmospheric Abandoned Places on the Island
Something more unusual I like to do during my travels is to explore old abandoned places I come across. I just love the unreal, post-apocalyptic atmosphere of these modern ruins, and the buildings in varying stages of decay often make for great photo opportunities. That said, we were quite surprised by the high density of…
6 Fun Things to Do in and Around Teror, Gran Canaria
Despite its somewhat outlandish name, Teror is actually a pretty small town in the hills of northern Gran Canaria, full of cute alleyways and colourful colonial houses with carved wooden balconies. Apparently, the place draws big crowds for its weekly Sunday Market, but we visited on a weekday and enjoyed the rather laid-back atmosphere, especially…
The Complete Guide to the ‘Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria’ World Heritage Site
In 2019, the mountainous landscape of north-eastern Gran Canaria was declared a World Heritage Site, mostly due to its importance to the island’s pre-hispanic inhabitants. As an archaeologist, I never can resist tracking down prehistoric sites on my travels, so obviously we had to visit the area on our trip to the island. Something we…
The Painted Cave and 7 Other Cool Things to See in Gáldar, Gran Canaria
We came to Gáldar in north-western Gran Canaria mainly to visit the Cueva Pintada, one of the island’s most important prehistoric sites, but quickly realized that the small town had a number of other sights that made it worth sticking around for a bit. These include a couple of cool free museums, a nice leafy…
The Ultimate 5-Day Itinerary for Gran Canaria
The third-largest Canary Island is hugely popular with tourists, but we found that most people seem to stick to the resorts in the south. Thus, if you want to get away from the crowds (and experience the ‘real’ Gran Canaria), renting a car to explore the other parts of the island is the way to…
Hiking the Pipeline Trail in Boquete, Panama – What to Know
The Sendero Pipa de Agua or Pipeline Trail is one of the easiest hikes we did during our backpacking trip through Panama, making it a good introduction to the Panamanian highlands, before attempting one of the more demanding hikes. Sometimes also known as the Hidden Waterfall Trail (Cascada Escondida), the Pipeline trail leads through a…
The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary for Panama’s Boquete District
If you’ve had your fill of lazing around on palm-fringed tropical beaches, the highlands around Boquete are a great way to experience a very different side of Panama. Firstly, if you’re a fan of hiking, like us, the town is a great base to explore the rainforests of the surrounding hills, and even to tackle…
The Ultimate Guide to Volcán Barú – Panama’s Highest Mountain
The moment we laid our eyes on the impressive mountain dominating Western Panama’s highlands, I knew that I had to climb to the top. At a height of 3,474 metres (11,401 ft), the views from the top are amazing and if you’re really lucky weather-wise, you’ll even be able to see both the Pacific and…
Caving at La Gruta – Getting Off the Beaten Path in Bocas del Toro, Panama
The Bocas del Toro Archipelago is Panama’s most popular travel destination, thanks to the amount of beautiful white-sand beaches on the islands, but if you’re like us and prefer exploration to lazing on the beach, there are plenty of more exciting things to do in the area. One of the best things we did in…