Winding along the southern Victorian coast just a few hours out of Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most popular attractions, a sea of tourists cluttered around every beautiful viewpoint and an alarming number of signs reminding visitors to drive on the left in Australia. It's[...]
After 4 long days on the trail, today's undemanding 16km stage will deliver me right to the grand finale and one of Victoria's premier coastal vistas, the Twelve Apostles. It's a spectacular way to wrap up what's been a real whirlwind adventure on the wild Great Ocean Walk, already my new favourite[...]
The most challenging day on the trail both in terms of terrain and kilometres, my 4th day along the Great Ocean Walk sees me navigating up and over countless steep headlands and sea cliffs between Johanna Beach, Ryan's Den, and eventually on to Devil's Kitchen. Limited daylight hours contribute to[...]
Passing the Great Ocean Walk's halfway point today as I journey nearly 24km from Cape Otway out to Aire River and along popular Johanna Beach, I am well and truly into the swing of things. Being accustomed to the heavy rain and spontaneous sun-breaks that have characterised the trip thus far just m[...]
After a leisurely introduction to the Great Ocean Walk yesterday, the hike begins in earnest today with a slippery 12km from Elliot Ridge to Blanket Bay before lunch and a further 11km onwards to Cape Otway for the night. The wonderful winter weather hasn't quite held, but there are still plenty of[...]
Stretching 105km from Apollo Bay to the famed Twelve Apostles through Victoria's Great Otway National Park, the Great Ocean Walk is one of Australia's most spectacular multi-day hikes, allowing for a slow-paced and more in-depth exploration of the Great Ocean Road coastal region long-beloved by roa[...]
The crown jewel of Colombia's Caribbean coast, few places in the entire country are as beloved and highly sought after as the richly diverse Tayrona National Park (Parque Tayrona, en español). Surrounded by vibrant coconut palm jungle, flanked by the world's highest coastal mountain range, the lus[...]
Minca is an absolute paradise of jungle waterfalls, lazy afternoons spent in a hammock, spectacular sunsets over the Caribbean, and locally produced chocolate and coffee. But despite rising popularity among backpackers, this lush spot in the forested mountains above Santa Marta has managed to retai[...]
With Cartagena acting as the main entry point for most visitors to Caribbean Colombia and nearby Santa Marta one of the best hubs from which to explore the jungle, beaches, and national parks of the region, it's very likely that you'll find yourself transiting between these coastal cities at some p[...]
Every day, dozens of energetic, bilingual paisa tour guides stand beneath vibrant red and blue umbrellas outside the San Javier Metro Station, each collecting a small group of travellers with whom to walk through Comuna 13, share stories of Medellín's darkest days, and showcase the incredible tran[...]
In 1988, Time Magazine wrote an article titled "Welcome to Medellin, coke capital of the world", which dubbed Colombia's second largest city the most dangerous place on earth, a city whose every move (and whose every politician) was seemingly controlled by the cartel. Government officials were assa[...]
Travelling from the sultry Caribbean cost to the lush mountains of Colombia, you've got a few options, including a long bus ride and a quick (but more expensive) flight from Cartagena to Medellín. This Colombia transport guide will cover absolutely everything you need to know about travelling from[...]
After exploring Colombia's most innovative city, swap rolling hills and vibrant street art for the crystal-clear water and sticky heat of the Caribbean coast. It's a pretty fair distance from Medellín to Santa Marta, though, which leaves many travellers wondering whether it's better to save a few[...]
An Andean resort town situated on the shores of a spectacular reservoir in central Colombia, Guatapé is without a doubt the most colourful city I've ever seen. From the jaw-dropping lake views atop La Piedra to the rainbow-coloured streets decorated with bas-relief zócalos, there is seriously SO[...]
Medellín is Colombia's trendiest destination, risen from the ashes of its turbulent Pablo-tainted past to become one of the most innovative and progressive cities in all of Latin America. From the adventure hub of San Gil, you've got both public buses and flight routes available to reach Medellín[...]
Still something of a hidden gem in Colombia, the laid-back mountain town of San Gil is paradoxically home to the country's greatest assortment of extreme sports and adventure activities, from white water rafting and abseiling to bungy jumping and caving. Most travellers to San Gil arrive via bus fr[...]
Most travellers to Colombia will find themselves transiting between Bogotá and Medellín at some point, swapping the country's metropolitan capital for the trendy, graffiti-covered streets of the second largest city. There are essentially just two options for the journey from Bogotá to Medell[...]
Nestled between verdant mountains and cut by the Fonce, Suarez, and Chicamocha Rivers, San Gil (sahn-híll) is a small, picturesque town in the Santander Department of Colombia, a day's travel from the bustle of Bogotá or Medellín. Although its quiet streets, filled mostly with locals, would neve[...]
Dozens of active volcanoes, lush Amazon Jungle, UNESCO World Heritage-listed cities, the incomparable Galápagos Islands, and some of the best beaches in South America come together to form this small but amazingly diverse country, a destination quite unlike anywhere else. Ecuador dazzles, from[...]
As one of the world's foremost destinations for wildlife and marinelife, the Galápagos is a classic bucket-list topper, a place people dream of going their whole lives— but somewhere that often feels too distant or too expensive to actually visit. As for mainland Ecuador, it's often overlooked i[...]