Adventure Travel Blogs - Travel Blogs & Travel Guides: 2025

VIDEO: Scandi-Baltic Adventure with Busabout

In July 2015, I went on an amazing Scandi-Baltic Adventure with Busabout. Over 8 days I visited Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Finland and Estonia, checking out the sights, sampling the local delicacies, and enjoying the nightlife!

A Day Trip From Split To Krka National Park, Croatia

Natural beauty, stunning waterfalls, and you can swim there too – Find out all you need to know about travelling from Split to Krka National Park in Croatia.

Here I was with a BIG dilemma. I only had one day free in Croatia, and couldn’t decide whether to book a tour from Split to Krka National Park or Plitvice Lakes? They both looked like incredible places – but I only had time for one…

In the end, I went for the Split to Krka tour. I’ll admit it was partly because the journey time was shorter! The tour would take me to see the famous waterfalls, the amazing panoramic view of Visovac Monastery, and then stop in the city of Šibenik to see the UNESCO Cathedral. Plus, it included a lunch of some delicious, local Dalmatian food.

Day Trip From Split To Krka National Park

Leaving Split at around 8am, it takes a few hours to drive to the entrance to Krka National Park. However, with a chatty tour guide outlining the history of Croatia, and telling anecdotes about everything from wine production to his wife being a beautician, the time flew by!

The views from the window of the coach were mind-blowing. Towns of red-roofed houses perched above the Adriatic Sea. Early morning swimmers taking a refreshing dip, while luxury yachts manoeuvred the coastline.

Journey from Split to Krka National Park

As we reached the national park we saw huge sweeping canyons, topped with thick green forests. At the bottom was mysteriously calm water. As we followed the River Krka, the water changed from a dark shade of blue to a vivid green. I’d never seen anything like it.

It’s time to travel to the San Blas Islands in Panama – a highlight of my time in Central America.

“The most content people on the planet”.

That’s what the article in Wanderlust magazine said. It was talking about the Guna Yala – the indigenous people living on the San Blas Islands just off the east coast of Panama. My plan? To capture some of that happiness to take home!

The draw of this archipelago is more than just spending a day lazing on a deserted beach; it’s to witness the Guna Yala culture first hand. These indigenous people live in a handful of places in Panama and Columbia, with the islands of San Blas being the most densely populated. It’s fair to say, this Guna Yala region is particularly special.

Panama’s government has tried to control and change these communities against their will. After a few revolutions, there is now a treaty in place, which permits them to have a certain degree of autonomy. Some islands are tiny, with little more than a dusting of sand and a few palm trees, others have small shacks or basic hotels, while a few are more developed and home to large communities with their own schools and churches.

How To Get To The San Blas Islands

First things first, this San Blas Islands map will help you get your head around where the islands are…

If you research how to visit, you’ll find a lot of websites offering expensive package deals. They collect you early in the morning from Panama City, transport you by 4×4 to the water taxi port where you then take a boat to the island you’re visiting.

If you want to stay overnight, that can be arranged, otherwise you return in the evening. These San Blas islands tours are pricey and you’re restricted to a rigid itinerary, not to mention travelling with a bus-load of tourists.

We looked at other ways to get there, but felt nervous about the options. Many forums said that you could be stopped from going along the road to the port, and that some of the roads were in such bad condition they might be difficult to navigate even in a 4×4. Add to that, the main road wasn’t even listed on Google Maps!

Misty views on the way from Panama City to the departure dock for the San Blas Islands, Panama

Why you should consider visiting Yal-Ku instead of Xel-Ha in Mexico.

Every now and then I come across somewhere really special, and face a dilemma: Do I keep it to myself so it stays a hidden gem… or share it with you guys so you can enjoy it too?! With Yal Ku, I felt I needed to tell the world!

In Quintana Roo, the state which runs down the Caribbean coast of Mexico, there are a few water-themed adventure parks. Xel-Ha is one of them. It’s an aquatic park built around a large lagoon with crystal clear waters, perfect for snorkelling. It’s set in a beautiful landscape of forests and cenotes (Mexican sink holes).

READ: 24 Hours In Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

I enjoyed a day there in May 2014 – I snorkelled for a few hours, travelled down the lazy river on a rubber ring and zip-lined over the water. I had a great day… but there was one part of the park that bothered me. There were numerous opportunities to ‘swim with dolphins’, ‘hold a stingray’, and have a ‘manatee encounter’. For a park with an emphasis on ecotourism and environmental awareness, something didn’t add up. It’s not cheap either. You can expect to pay $80 + for a day pass (which includes all food and drink).

So when I returned to Mexico recently I was excited to find about a beautiful natural lagoon called Yal-Ku, close to the picturesque turtle beach of Akumal.

READ: An Afternoon In Akumal With The Turtles

Find out more about visiting Santa Catalina, Panama, including how to get there, where to stay and what there is to do in the small beach town.

Who loves adventure travel? I DO! Yes, I absolutely adore going on adventures and have tried some challenging activities while on my travels.