Via Ferrata means Iron Way in Latin and usually consists of fixed steel lines stretched across mountains and hammered into the rock at regular points. Typically these lines are build into steep or exposed sections rock, making it much easier for people to traverse the mountain. You simply have to tie yourself in to the fixed lines, and then scramble across and up the mountain, knowing that if you lose your grip you are safely held in. The best known Via Ferrata are in the Dolomites in Italy. Many of these were built in WW2 by Italian soldiers as a quick means of navigating through the mountains, though in more recent times they have been used for adventure sports. Every year they attract huge numbers of people keen to try it out or to experience the ... read more

The colours of Guatemala It's the colours that I remember best from Guatemala. The perfect blue of Lake Atitlan, once called the most beautiful lake in the world; the red rivers of lava on Volcan Pacaya, which flowed no more than 100 metres from us on the volcano's slopes; the reflections on the white stones of Tikal in the early morning light. And that's only the natural colours...even more striking are the small pueblos. Each village attempts to outdo the next in terms of the designs and colours of their local dress, especially during their festivals (and there's no shortage of these). In bigger cities, such as Antigua, it's the colours of the colonial buildings that stand out. All in all, Guatemala is a feast for the eyes. Our adventures in Guatemala began on a cold ... read more

The red and black flag First time visitors to Nicaragua could be forgiven for thinking that the country's flag is red and black, but this is in fact the Sandinista Flag, which we noticed flying everywhere, almost from the moment we crossed the border, and which is much more prominent than the official blue and white Nicaraguan flag. Politics is never far away in Nicaragua, and almost every town has a Sandinista mural or memorial, usually a statue or painting of a revolutionary soldier throwing a grenade or aiming a rifle. Murals supporting the opposite side are much less obvious, as the right wingers seem to use a different form of propaganda, mostly newspapers and other media, to get their message across and to launch attacks on Sandinista leader and current president, Daniel Ortega. Such political ... read more

Central America After spending 10 months in South America, we had left ourselves only two months for the final part of our trip, through Central America, from Panama to Mexico City. This is clearly very little time to see 8 different countries, and an area with so many sights, meaning we will have to be very selective. No more days lazing around in hammocks. Well, not so many, perhaps! Our first view of Panama - and of Central America - was from the window seat of the twin propeller Aires plane on the flight from Cartagena to Panama City. Panama City from the air resembled Manhattan, with its many high rise buildings dominating the landscape. This was not what I expected of Panama, and I was even more surprised on the journey into town from the ... read more

Finding our way to the Lost City There are many great treks in South America, but certainly nothing quite like the Ciudad Perdida trek, a 6 day round trip which takes you to the heart of the Colombian jungle and back, where seeing lost cities, fording rivers, walking in tropical downpours and learning how to make cocaine are just some of the activities covered. Though located only 40 km from Santa Marta, there is a strong sense of isolation and remoteness in the jungles around Ciudad Perdida (Lost City in English). This area is home to a number of indigenous groups, most visibly the Koguis, who claim to be descendants of the Tayroni, the civilisation to whom the Ciudad Perdida belonged. The "lost city" was rediscovered as recently as 1972, when grave robbers came upon the ... read more