When we visited Panama’s Bocas del Toro Region, we knew right away that we didn’t want to just stick to the popular islands, but wanted to explore parts of the little-visited mainland as well. A guided tour of the San San Pond Sak Wetlands seemed like the perfect activity to get off Bocas’ Tourist Trail,…
How to Spend 3 Amazing Days in Bocas del Toro, Panama
While exploring Bocas del Toro at the end of our trip through Panama, we quickly realized that the province has two very different sides. Obviously, there are the paradisical white-sand-beaches of the Bocas Archipelago that are pictured in all the guidebooks and Instagram posts. But unless you want to, a trip to the region doesn’t…
Our Top 5 Favourite Beaches in Panama’s Bocas del Toro Archipelago
We found Panama’s Bocas del Toro Archipelago to be the perfect place to unwind at the end of our trip around the country. Firstly, it’s very easy to explore the islands, due to their well-developed tourist infrastructure, with some really cool places to stay at. Secondly, Bocas del Toro has some of the prettiest beaches…
What to Know About Visiting El Caño Archaeological Park, Panama
As an archaeologist, I always try to learn about the prehistory of the countries I visit, but Panama doesn’t have that many archaeological sites that are open to the public (or easy to reach without your own transport). Apart from the petroglyphs in El Valle de Antón, the only major prehistoric monument we managed to…
Taking a Bike Tour Around Wigry Lake in Poland’s Wigry National Park
At 150 km2, Podlaskie’s Wigry National Park covers a huge area, and we found the best way to explore it is by bicycle. The heart of the park is formed by the massive lake of the same name, and cycling once around it gives you a chance to check out all the best viewpoints of…
Exploring the Atmospheric Ruins of St. Anthony Church in Jałówka, Poland
One of the things I like to do while travelling is exploring any abandoned places I come across, mostly for the unique atmosphere and opportunity to take cool pictures. So when I read that a tiny Polish village close to the Belarusian border sports the ruins of a 19th-century church, I knew we had to…
The Best Things to Do in Białystok, Poland in One Day
Białystok is the capital and biggest city of Poland’s awesome Podlaskie Voivodeship. It makes for a good base for exploring the central part of this beautiful province, and we spent a few days here both at the beginning and end of our trip. Apart from its central location, the city also has other things going…
How to Take a Tour of the Strictly Protected Area of Białowieża Forest, Poland
Of all the places we visited on our tour of the Podlaskie Region, the Białowieża Forest seemed to be the most popular among travelers. At least, this is the only place where we met a significant amount of other foreigners. It’s not hard to see why this area draws plenty of visitors. Together with Belovezhskaya…
Everything to Know About Visiting Grabarka Holy Mount – Poland’s Unique Hill of Crosses
In the countryside of eastern Poland’s Podlaskie Region sits a place unlike any other in the country. On a wooded hill in the forest, thousands of crosses of all shapes and sizes surround a small wooden church. Grabarka is Poland’s most important Orthodox Pilgrimage Site, and a truly unique sight. We visited the Mount on…
The Perfect One-Week Itinerary for Poland’s Podlaskie Region
Poland’s Podlaskie Voivodship turned out to be unlike any other region we had visited in the country. For one, it has an interesting cultural makeup with traces of a century-long mixture of nationalities, cultures and religions. Catholic and Orthodox Churches stand next door to synagogues and mosques, and the mixture is also reflected in the…