Every year more and more people are learning how to scuba dive and discovering the glorious feeling of sinking beneath the waves at some of the world’s most pristine dive sites. Nothing quite comes close to the experience of scuba diving because it allows you to explore a completely different world than that which is experienced on land.

The idea of taking scuba diving lessons, the process may seem a bit intimidating, but it shouldn’t be. To set your mind at ease, read on to learn what it’s like to go through a scuba diving course for the first time. If you already decided that you want to learn how to dive you might want to start looking for a dive center that suits your needs.

How Long Will it Take Me to Take the PADI Open Water Course?

In most cases, the course is taught in 3.5 to 4 days. Some people need a bit more time than others to get comfortable in the water. However, if you complete the theory portion of the course online via PADI eLearning you may be able to finish the course in just 2.5 days.

You may also prefer to take the course as a part-time student but, in that case, it could take you weeks or even months to complete.

What is a Discover Scuba Diving Course?

The Discover Scuba Diving course is a 1 day course designed to allow beginners interested in diving to experience the sport for the first time without having to complete the entire Open Water course. Under the direct supervision of a professional scuba dive instructor, you’ll learn how it is to breath underwater.

The discover scuba dive class does not certify you as a scuba diver, but is meant to give you an idea of what scuba diving is like so that you can decide if you like it enough to invest in the Open Water course.

If you’re at least 10 years old you can enroll in a Discover Scuba Diving class. You’ll begin with basic classroom instruction to give you some background knowledge about scuba diving. In this theory session you will learn more about what pressure does to the human body underwater and you will learn the basics about how scuba gear works.

As soon as you have finished the theory you will head for the open water to make an actual dive up to a maximum depth of 40ft/12m under the direct supervision of an instructor.

What You’ll Learn During a PADI Open Water Course

When you start the Open Water Course, you will learn all the basic skills you will need to know in order to go diving when ever you want. When you are a certified open water diver a dive master or instructor will not supervise you, therefore you will be thought to dive safe to a maximum depth of 60ft/18m with a dive buddy.

What will you learn during the course?

• How to get rid of water that has leaked into your mask
• How to recover your regulator (mouthpiece) if it somehow comes out of your mouth
• How to control your buoyancy
• How to share air with another diver

There are many more skills you will learn. All skills focus on teaching you how to become a safe diver and how to solve any problems that may occur when diving.

Taking the PADI Open Water Course

Using books and videos, you’ll study independently, online, or with the help of an instructor.
These materials will teach you the basics about diving, as well as how to select proper diving equipment, how to care for diving equipment, how diving affects your body, and safety measures that must be taken during each dive.

You’ll also be introduced to what you’ll be learning in the water ahead of time so that you’ll know what to expect. After you’ve completed the knowledge section of the course, (which are mostly done in class rooms) you’ll move on to actually performing your first dives in the confined water training segment of the course.

According to PADI, confined water means; an open water site that offers swimming-pool-like conditions with respect to clarity, calmness, and depth.

Lets Dive!

When it is time to go diving you will go to either a swimming pool or a calm cove or lagoon that has similar conditions to a swimming pool.

You’ll begin to practice the exercises in shallow confined water before moving into deeper water so that the learning process is gradual enough that you retain everything you learn.

Once you’re confident and able to complete the confined water section of the course, you will be able to go for your very first real dive in open water.

In the open ocean or a large body of water, and with the guidance of your instructors, you’ll put all of the skills you’ve learned to the test over the course of four or more dives. Once you successfully complete these dives, you’ll be a certified open water diver.

The post Learning How to Scuba Dive: What to Expect appeared first on XpatMatt.

South America could truly be called one of world’s last remaining frontiers.  The geography ranges from the ultra-modern comforts of Buenos Aires to indigenous tribes that remain completely untouched by modern civilization.  Its road system reflects the same diversity.

Latin America in general doesn’t have a lot of super-highways.  Except for the broad avenues of the cities, most highways are two-lane affairs.  Repair work is inconsistent. In sun baked areas, large cracks appear, widening out with rains so that dips, holes, and gravel stretches are common.

In the rainforest, conditions can be much worse.  Frequent rains wash away the sides of the roads, avalanches are common, and flash floods wash away sections of road.  Anywhere you travel in South America, it is recommended that you drive a vehicle with high clearance.

The Pan American Highway

Photo by nerdcoregirl

Don’t kid yourself with the use of the word, “highway”.  Highway is a very loose term in South America, and the Pan America is probably the loosest use of the term of all.  The forty thousand mile route actually begins in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, where it’s a barely a truck driver’s trail, and reaches its final destination in Argentina.  Its upkeep depends on on the individual countries it passes through, which means that, in some cases, little maintenance is done at all.  Despite the uneven care of the road, with the exception of one region — the Darien Gap — the highway is navigable by motorized vehicles.

The Darien Gap is a ninety-nine mile long stretch between Panama and Colombia.  On the Panamanian side, the Pan American Highway winds through heavy marshes and undeveloped swamp lands.  On the Colombian side, it changes sharply into rain forest and steep mountain passes.  It can be crossed with a four wheel drive, but attempts to pave the road have been met with sharp criticism, as the ecological structure is delicate.

Asphalt is very damaging to marshlands, and in rain forests, there is an additional challenge.  Rain forest vegetation grows very quickly.  In areas where roads have been paved, new plant life pushes up through cracks and begins taking over the edges of the road within a year.  Any road through the Darien Gap would be expensive and difficult to maintain.

In recent years, motorists have been advised not to attempt to drive the Darien Gap, not so much because of the lack of road, but because of insect borne diseases, highway robbers, assassins, and rebel troops belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).  The FARC rebels exist on both sides of the Panama Border and have been accused of kidnapping’s, murders and human rights violations.

Ancient Ruins of Peru

Photo by Rob Sheridan

Nearly everyone is familiar Machu Picchu, the most famous Inca Ruins in the world.  Located nearly eight thousand feet above sea level in the Cusco region of Peru, it is a dazzling display of dry stone wall buildings set into a mountain wall with peaks piercing the skyline. Despite its location, and being marked by towering precipices and deep valley gorges, it attracts over two thousand visitors a day.  In the meantime, other incredible ancient sites, dating back thousands of years, are virtually ignored.

It would be difficult to say what Peru is most famous for; the ancient ruins scattered throughout the mountainous countryside, or the roads you have to navigate to get to them.  The roads are nearly all unpaved, narrow pathways following routes more suited to travel on foot than motorized vehicle.

Traffic accidents in Peru cause thirty deaths for every 100,000 vehicles, compared to one in every 100,000 in the United States.  This is blamed in part on aggressive Peruvian drivers, as well as poor lighting conditions, and poorly maintained roads.

Peru is dominated by the Andes, the longest mountain range in the world.  Here you can find the remains of a mysterious civilization, known as “the cloud people”. There are also deep valleys, high desert plateaus, and staggering mountain-tops peering over lush forests.  The Andes is the home to over thirty volcanos.  Among them is Cotapaxi, which, at 19,347 feet, is the world’s tallest active volcano.  In Peru, the land is semi-arid and characterized by high altitude plains known as puna or altiplano.

The Most Dangerous Road in the World

Photo by tesKing

Bolivia holds the dubious distinction of having the most dangerous road in the world.  The thirty-eight mile stretch, officially called the Yungas Road or the Corico Road, is known unofficially in all languages as Death Road.  This narrow, unpaved route cuts into the sides of towering cliffs, with a solid rock wall on one side and an 1,800 drop on the other.  If that isn’t harrowing enough, frequent landslides cover the road and thick morning mists often obstruct the view.  During the rainy season, the rock slides turn into mud slides and water run-offs become waterfalls.

The rules for driving on the Death Road is that the person driving uphill has the right-of-way.  The person driving downhill must either pull over and stop for the uphill driver or back up until he finds a pullover spot.  Even though driving in Bolivia is usually done on the right-hand side of the road, on the Yungas Road, driving is done on the left. This is to improve visibility around the sharp, hairpin corners.

In recent years, a newer, wider road has been constructed and paved, offering motorists a safer journey from the altiplano of La Paz into the tropical rainforest of Corico, but the old route continues to be used by daredevils everywhere who want to say that they’ve driven on the most dangerous road in the world.

About the Author

Karla Fetrow is an experienced off-road driver who drives some of the toughest terrain in the U.S in Alaska on a daily basis.

The post Driving the Roads of South America appeared first on XpatMatt.

By José Calvo

If you have ever thought about skydiving, you might think the hardest thing you have to do is squeeze your eyes shut and step out of the plane. However, there is much more to skydiving than making the leap with a few metres of parachute strapped to your back.

The sport of skydiving has a whole range of training methods, each with its own proponents who claim that their method is superior. To a beginner the jargon and acronyms can seem a little overwhelming. This guide explains the different metods used to teach one of the most daring activities in the history of sport so that you can choose the one that is best for you.

Tandem Skydiving

Tandem skydiving is the most common way for beginners to get started in this thrilling sport. During a tandem dive the student is connected to an instructor by a harness. The secure attachment allows the student to enjoy the sensation of freefall, while the instructor takes charge of vital activities such as opening the chute and performing a safe landing.

Preparation for the jump takes as little as 15 minutes. This is followed by an ascent to approximately 10,000ft for the jump, where the student will experience around 30 seconds of freefall. At 5,000ft a large parachute is deployed by the instructor.

A funny tandem skydiving video

The Static Line Training Method (RAPS)

In the RAPS (Ram-Air Progression System) course, a static line is a cord attached to a student’s pilot chute. The other end is attached to the aircraft so that when the student jumps, the taut line causes the pilot chute to open, followed by the main canopy. The jumper’s weight causes the binding that joins the pilot chute and static line to break.

Although students still need to learn to adopt and maintain the correct body position while jumping, the static line method takes the responsibility for opening their own chute away from them. For this reason, those learning to skydive using a static line have to make many more jumps before they are experienced enough to solo freefall. Static line progression takes students through a category system that ranges from one to 10.

This training method is also used by professional BASE jumpers and parachutist Marines, where the jumps are made from much lower altitudes.

An RAPS video

The Accelerated Freefall Course (AFF)

In the skydiving world the letters AFF stand for accelerated freefall. Canadians refer to AFF as progressive freefall. It is known as ‘accelerated’ (or ‘progressive’), as AFF is the fastest way students can reach the holy grail of being able to perform a solo freefall

With most AFF training programmes two instructors will accompany students on the first three jumps. This is reduced to one when students master the stable position – this is where the mid-air body resembles a rotated letter C.

In the early stages of training, the instructors will physically hold the student until their parachute is deployed. This happens at around 6,000ft above ground level (AGL). It is reduced to 5,000ft AGL as students become more experienced.

Once students demonstrate the ability to release their own chute, they can begin to learn the flying skills needed to manoeuvre in freefall without outside assistance.

There are eight levels under the AFF scheme in the UK. The eighth of these forms part of the British Parachute Association’s requirements. When level three of the AFF programme has been achieved, instructors will allow students to freefall for a certain period of time before releasing them. Students then have full responsibility for releasing their own chutes at the appropriate time.

As an extra safety measure, if students cannot deploy their own chutes, and the instructor is unable to assist them, then a back-up system known as an Automatic Activation Device (AAD) comes into play. When a student falls to a certain altitude at freefall speed, the AAD automatically fires the reserve chute.

AFF COURSE VIDEO

Lead image by thepartycow

The post The Newbie’s Guide to Skydiving appeared first on XpatMatt.

Stay in an Igloo Under the Aurora Borealis

Have you ever dreamt of living life eskimo-style? Wonder what it’d be like to spend the night in an igloo, watching the northern lights work their magic in the sky above? This fantasy can become reality thanks to Hotel Kakslauttanen, home of The Igloo Village. The Igloo Village is located in Lapland, Finland, near Urho Kekkonen National Park.

In addition maintaining 40 beautiful log cabins, during the winter the hotel offers visitors the option of sleeping traditional igloos made of snow, or a more modern (and comfortable) version made of ‘glass’, where they can drift off to sleep watching the spectacular aurora borealis dance overhead. The glass igloos are constructed of a special transparent thermal material that maintains normal indoor temperatures and does not frost or fog up.

The hotel also offers a ‘snow’ chapel for weddings, four different themed restaurants (including a ‘snow’ restaurant housed inside a giant igloo) and a variety of on-site activities for winter sports enthusiasts

Visitors can entertain themselves ice swimming, ice and snow carving, ice karting, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing along forested trails. The hotel also organizes winter safaris for activities such as snowmobiling, ice fishing, day tours aboard icebreaker ships, and excursions into Norway and Russia.

What Causes the Aurora Borealis?

The otherworldy colors of the aurora borealis are caused when solar wind emits energetic particles that become trapped inside the Earth’s magnetic field. When these sun ions enter the upper atmosphere they collide with atmospheric molecules to create a beautiful portrait of energy emissions and light.

Different reactions occur and different colors are produced depending on the combination of ions and atmospheric molecules. Some particles will create pink and blue displays. Collisions in lower altitudes commonly appear as yellowish-green lights. The rarest aurora color is deep red, which is formed when ions from the sun collide with oxygen at a high altitude. Throughout history, the lights have had many names including “Dance of the Spirits,” as the Cree called it.

Where do the Aurora Borealis Occur?

The aurora borealis occurs in the northern hemisphere and is most frequently seen in northern Scandinavia, the southern tips of Greenland and Iceland, northwestern Canada, Alaska, and northern Siberia, so the igloo village in Finnish Lapland (the northern part of Finland) is a prime viewing area.

When is the Aurora Borealis Visible?

The northern lights are present year round, but the sky has to be fairly dark for people to witness the action. So, it’s best to avoid cities and areas with a lot of lighting to get the full effect. Since the igloo village is far from any major source of light pollution, the viewing conditions are ideal. The best time of year to see the aurora borealis is between September and mid-April, so this is the best time to go on northern lights holidays.

Aurora Borealis Photos and Igloo Village Photos

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Images provided courtesy of (in order) Trodel, bjaglin, savillent, Visit Finland, Visit Finland, Visit Finland, Visit Finland, and Visit Finland on Flickr.

Aurora Borealis Video Clips

Trip Planning Tips

If you would like to stay in an igloo beneath the aurora borealis, you should know the following things:

Name: Hotel Kakslauttanen

Price: Igloos run about $500 USD per night for two people (single occupancy is only slightly cheaper).

Phone: +358 (16) 667-100

Fax: +358 (16) 667-168

Email: hotel@kakslauttanen.fl

Tips: Book well in advance. The Igloo Village is very popular and many dates are sold out early in (or even before) the season.

Don’ forget to book your trip when the aurora borealis is most visible (see above).

Lapland Vacations

The post Stay in an Igloo Under the Aurora Borealis appeared first on XpatMatt.

Place

Italy

Location

Southern Europe

Major Cities in Italy

Major cities in Italy include Florence, Milan, Naples, Rome, and Venice.

Geography of Italy

Italy is located in the south of Europe on the Mediterranean sea. Italy is bordered by Austria, France, Switzerland, and Slovenia and surrounded by six different seas and includes several islands. Two important islands include Sardinia—off the west coast, and Sicily, at the southernmost point of the peninsula.

Italy is 301,338 square kilometers (116,347 square miles) and has a population of about 60 million people. Its coastline is enormous at 7,600 km.

The country has a diverse landscape. Though home to plains and coastal lowlands, Italy is mostly mountainous, with the Alps and the Apennines running the length of the country. The highest point in Italy is Mont Blanc in the Alps at 4,807m (15,770 ft). There are numerous volcanoes in Italy due to the meeting of the Eurasian and African plates. Three of Italy’s volcanoes are active while the rest remain dormant. The country is home to Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world.

National parks can be found throughout the country. Though home to many beaches and beautiful coastline, Italy has had problems with air and water pollution. Over the last decade the country has strived to improve the environment and now ranks as one of the world’s largest producers of renewable energy.

Climate of Italy

Though many would assume the country has a Mediterranean climate, the weather varies dramatically throughout the country, especially during winter. Summers in the north tend to be humid with frequent thunderstorms, while in the south the weather is dry and sunny.

Summer temperatures are very similar throughout the country, ranging from 22-27°C. Winters in Italy vary; in the north temperatures are cold and the weather is rainy and snowy, while in the south temperatures are mild. Winter temps in Italy range from −2 °C -8 °C.

Italy Description

Italy is sometimes known as the “birthplace of western culture,” and is famous for its history, art, delicious food, fashion, and luxury vehicles. It is home to number of UNESCO world heritage sites, the most famous including the Almafi Coast, the Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, the Piazza del Duomo (where the leaning tower can be found), the Colosseum, and the public buildings of papal Rome (The Holy See) in the Vatican City.

Seeking Italy Adventures? Each unqiue region of Italy offers something different for adventure enthusiasts. Northwest Italy, home to the port of Genoa, is home to the famous Lake Como. Sailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, wakeboarding, waterskiing, and canyoning are all easily accessible here.

In Northeast Italy visitors will find the famous waterways of Venice and world-reknowned ski-resorts in the Italian Alps. In central Italy, those searching for Italian adventures can take up white-water rafting at Marmore Falls or sail in hot air balloon over the beautiful Tuscan landscape. Southern Italy, home to the romantic Amalfi Coast, offers tourists a laid back lifestyle with outdoor activities such as golf, horseback riding, and sailing.

Let’s not forget Italy’s two most famous islands– Sardinia and Sicily. In addition to dining at first class seafood restaurants the islands have amazing diving and windsurfing. One of the best places for windsurfing is Porto Pollo, the windiest part of Sardinia. Fantastic diving spots are prevalent in this area, especially in the nearby volcanic islands of Ustica and Linosa.

Italy Adventure Highlights

• If you’d like to try something a bit more than the average hike, the rugged Dolomites are an exceptional backdrop for via ferrata in Italy.
• If you want to get away from the beach crowds, why not kayak Italy’s scenic coastline in a sea kayak?
• If the kayak is too slow for you, Italy has many kitesurfing shops ready to bring you up to speed.

Outdoors Adventures in Italy

• Surfing
• Stand-up paddle boarding
• Scuba diving (wreck)
• Snorkeling
• Surfing (all levels)
• Sailing
• Kitesurfing
• Windsurfing
• Parasailing
• Paragliding
• Canyoning
• Horseback riding
• Hot air ballooning
• Whitewater rafting
• Kayaking (river and lake)
• Hydrospeed/riverboarding
• Canoeing
• Caving and spelunking
• Hiking/trekking (all levels)
• Via Ferrata
• Rock climbing (all levels)
• Ice climbing
• Abseiling/rappelling
• Mountain Biking (novice to expert)
• Skiing and snowboarding
• Cross-country skiing
• Snowshoeing
• Volcano trekking

Budget Travel in Italy

Italy is rife with hostels. Check out Country Club Castelfusano in Rome, starting at $19 USD per night. In Venice try the Venice Villa Dori at $26 USD. Ostello del Chianti in Florence is also reasonable with prices starting at $21 USD per night.
You can try this site for more information on  Italy hostels.
Those looking for something more luxury will find luxury villas in Italy to be in ample supply.

On the lower end, meals in Italy can be found for reasonable prices in many local bars and cafes. Expect to pay between $3 – $9 USD.

Italy Photos

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Images (in order) courtesy of MorBCN, NomadicEntrepreneur, féileacán, Aquarius.1973, Swiv, will_cyclist, Alaskan Dude, BlueSunFlower, Stuck in Customs, asibiri, and ShutterRunner on Flickr.

Suggested Reading

Click on the images for more information

Italy Map

View Larger Map

Disclosure: If you purchase insurance, book a hostel, or purchase one of the recommended books on this page using the links provided, I will receive a small commission. I do not, however, recommend these products simply to make money. I recommend World Nomads travel insurance because I use it myself and feel that they offer a good product that suits my needs at a fair price. I recommend Hostelbookers.com because they have the cheapest booking prices that I have seen online and a large selection, and I recommend the selected books from Amazon.com because they have reputations for quality information and were up to date at the time of writing. If you have found my blog useful I hope that you will consider purchasing some of these products using the links on this page to help me to continue providing free information about adventure travel around the world.

Rome Vacations

The post Italy Adventure Travel Guide appeared first on XpatMatt.

The Canon Powershot has a reputation for being the point-and-shoot for professionals.

However, during my research, I learned that it has a new competitor: the Panasonic Lumix LX5 .  With a lens manufactured by Lica, this camera is hard to ignore.

The main differences that I can see are these:

The LX5 has a 24 – 90mm vs. the 28 – 120 on the G12.

The LX5 has a maximum aperture of 2.0 – 3.3 vs. 2.8 – 4.5 of the G12.

The LX5 shoots 2.5 frames per second vs. the 1.5 fps on the G12.

The LX5 costs around $420 vs. the G12 at $480.

A full side-by-side technical comparison can be found here.

Help me out here. What do you think I should buy? Please let me know in this poll, or in the comments section.

Thanks for your help!

~Matt

The post I Need a Backup Camera. Should I Buy a Canon Powershot G12 or a Panasonic Lumix LX5? appeared first on XpatMatt.

Florida

Location

Southeastern United States

Major Cities in Florida

Major cities in Florida include Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg. The Capital is Tallahassee.

Florida Climate and Geography

Florida is situated in the southeastern United States, bordering on Georgia to the north, and Alabama to the northeast, and with a coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Florida Straits in the southeast and south, and the Gulf of Mexico in the west. The state also includes an archipelago of 1700 islands in the Florida Strait called the Florida Keys.

The state is 170,305 sq km (65,755 square miles) and has a coastline 1,350 miles long. It is the longest coastline in the contiguous United States.

A good portion of Florida is a peninsula surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straights of Florida. Most of the state is at or near sea level. The peninsula is made of limestone and bedrock and has many underwater caves and sinkholes.

Florida’s landscape is mostly flat and is strewn with lakes and wetlands. The southern tip of the peninsula is home to Everglades National Park, a massive array of government-protected wetlands created by a slow-moving river. Florida is renowned for its beautiful bays, beaches, and estuaries along the coast. The state also has a set of tropical islands—the Florida Keys—that are surrounded by the warm waters of the Caribbean.

The warmest state in the United States, Florida has mild, pleasant winters with average daily temperatures of 21.5 °C. North and central Florida are classified as having a humid subtropical climate, while the southern part of the state, and the Florida Keys, have a tropical climate. Accordingly, during the winter months visitors can expect cooler weather in central and northern Florida and warmer weather down south. Snowfall is not common anywhere in the state. Summer months are hot and humid with average temperatures of around 33 °C. In the winter lows dip down to around 4 – 7°C. The rainy season lasts from mid June to September. During this time short thunderstorms occur on nearly a daily basis. Hurricanes are also common at this time of year.

Florida is home to a variety of plant and animal species, many of which are threatened. Dolphins, whales, panthers, otters, manatees, crocodiles, alligators, sea turtles, eagles, deer, pelicans, and armadillos are among some of the exotic species that inhabit the area. Marshlands, Mangrove forests, and Cypress trees are native flora.

Florida Description

Florida is known as “The Sunshine State” in the U.S and is a popular destination, especially during winter months, for Americans fleeing the cold Midwest. It is also a multi-cultural state. In the northern part of the state visitors can experience the charms of traditional southern living. The southern part of the state is more diverse with Latin American, Seminole Indian, and beach-bum vibes. Though the cities are large and sprawling, Florida is an excellent location for those seeking outdoor adventure. Popular tourist destinations include Miami, Orlando (home to Disney World), Daytona Beach (known for its pristine beach and motor-sports facilities), Everglades National Park, and the Florida Keys.

Surrounded by ocean, snorkeling, diving, whale/dolphin watching, surfing, and kiteboarding are all convenient and accessible adventures in Florida. Although tennis is popular, and many people go for lessons at a tennis academy, Florida is better known for it’s spectacular beaches, such as Panama City Beach, Miami Beach, and Daytona Beach—with many more options around the state. The Florida Keys are known around the world for their scenery with crystal clear water, and offer amazing diving and snorkeling opportunities.

The Florida Everglades is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is also the largest sub-tropical wilderness reserve on the North American continent. Interested in hiking in Florida? Tourists may hike through the reserve on marked trails where they can watch birds and, if lucky, witness an alligator slinking through the brackish waters.
Canoeing in alligator-infested waters is also a popular activity, but most sites require participants to sign a waiver.

To get the most out of your Florida adventure it recommended that you do some research ahead of time, as there are seemingly endless activities available to tourists.

Florida Outdoor Adventure Activities and Extreme Sports

• Surfing
• Stand-up paddle boarding
• Scuba diving (wreck, reef, cave)
• Snorkeling
• Surfing (all levels)
• Sailing
• Kitesurfing
• Windsurfing
• Parasailing
• Paragliding
• Hang gliding
• Sky diving
• Bungee jumping
• Hot air ballooning
• Whitewater rafting
• Kayaking (river, lake, sea)
• Canoeing
• Caving and spelunking
• Hiking/trekking (all levels)
• Ziplining
• Rock climbing (indoor, bouldering)
• Abseiling/rappelling (indoors)
• Mountain biking
• Horseback Riding

Budget Travel in Florida

• A popular destination for students on vacation, Florida has some very reasonable hostels. The cheapest tend to start around $12-15 USD per night for a dorm bed. In Miami, the Santa Barbara is a good deal. For the best value, though you should definitely check out the slightly more expensive ($16 USD per bed per night) Jazz on South Beach.
  More information about hostels in Florida can be found here.
• On the lower end, meals can be found for under $10. One of the more interesting ways to try Floridian cuisine is to sign up for an Everglades package tour, where tourists are offered offered fresh seafood and delicacies such as alligator nuggets.

Have Insurance?

I like to use World Nomads. It’s not too expensive and signing up is fast and straightforward. They also have pretty good coverage for sports equipment like surf and snowboards, but it varies depending on your country of origin, so be sure double check. You can get a free quote on their website.

Florida Photos

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Images (in order) courtesy of emilio labrador, eschipul, gregor_y, kayaklng labrat, chaunceydavis818, Kevin N. Murphy, ah zut, horizontal.integration, Air & Space Magazine, Kissimmee – The Heart of Florida, Wildlands CPR, and Kay Gaensler on Flickr.

Suggested Reading

Click on the images for more information

Florida Map

View Larger Map

Florida City Vacations

The post Florida Adventure Travel Guide appeared first on XpatMatt.

Cape Verde (sometimes referred to as the Cape Verde Islands)

Location

Cape Verde is an archipelago of ten islands and three islets in the Atlantic ocean about 500 km west of Senegal.

Major Cities in Cape Verde

The largest cities in the Cape Verde islands include the capital, Praia, which is on the island of Santiago, and also Mindelo on São Vicente, and Asssomada on Santiago.

Cape Verde Climate and Geography

Cape Verde is a horseshoe-shaped archipelago of ten volcanic islands off the coast of Africa, and is part of the larger island group called Macronesia. The islands include (from east to west) Boa Vista, Sal, Maio, Santiago, São Nicolau, Fogo, Brava, São Vicente, and Santo Antão. The islands cover a total of 4033 sq km, an area slightly larger than Rhode Island, and have 965 km of coastline between them. Although they are all volcanic in origin, the islands host a wide variety of terrain ranging from rocky plains, to sandy beaches, to salt flats, and steep volcanoes. The tallest point is the active volcano Pico do Fogo, which stands 2,829 m above sea level and last erupted in 1995. Receiving little rain the islands are largely rocky and unfriendly to plant life.

Although hot, Cape Verde’s climate is milder than in nearby Africa because the cool sea currents help to cool the air around the islands. Cape Verde’s weather is sunny most of the year and the archipelago receives little rain. Because of this the Cape Verde islands are prone to drought, and are classified as arid and semi-desert. Most rain occurs between August and October in short, heavy bursts. The average temperature in Cape Verde at sea level ranges from about 19°C (avg. low) to 25°C (avg. high) in February to 25°C (avg. low) to 29°C (avg. high) in September. It is important to remember, though, that most of the islands are steep and rugged, and that the temperature in Cape Verde varies depending on altitude.

Description of Cape Verde

Cape Verde’s population (who are referred to as Cape Verdeans) is around 567,000. About a quarter of the population (128,000) lives in Paraia, and another 70,000 lives in Mindelo. Official language is Portuguese, but most people’s first language is a Cape Verdian Creole. Cape Verde is generally considered to be a developing country, but has a reasonably stable democratic political system.

Cape Verde was never meant to be lived on. It was uninhabited until the 15th century, and rightly so. There are few natural resources, limited fresh water, and little arable land. About 90% of the food consumed in Cape Verde is imported.

In recent decades Cape Verde has been striving to improve its tourism sector and has been having some success and options for holidays in Cape Verde have been improving. Between 1994 and 2000 58% of foreign investment in the country was in the tourism sector, and between 2000 and 2009 the country had one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors in the world. In 2010 382,000 people visited the archipelago which is, despite its economic situation, relatively safe for visitors.

Because of its isolation, Cape Verde it is home to many endemic species, mainly flora, birds, and reptiles. 664 plant species, two of which are threatened, are listed as endemic to Cape Verde. There are many endemic bird species, and 130 migrant birds visit the islands. There are 12 endemic species of lizards on the islands including the Cape Verde giant gecko. The surrounding ocean also provides excellent turtle habitat. As of 2003 Cape Verde had 48 protected areas, but they only covered 0.3% of the land area.

The Cape Verde islands are considered by some to be one of the top ten coral reef biodiversity hotspots in the world. With reef diving, wreck diving, and cave diving all readily available, snorkeling and scuba diving there are said to be amazing. With strong consistent winds, Cape Verde is world famous for windsurfing and is also excellent for kitesurfing and sailing. The surfing in Cape Verde is said to be awesome, and the website WannaSurf.com lists 13 breaks, most of which are rocky or reef breaks that can accomodate all levels of surfers.
Hiking, trekking, and caving are all spectacular there, especially on Pico de Fogo, which said to be one of the most spectacular conical volcanoes in the world. The hiking on Santo Antao is also beautiful. Because of the generally loose and unstable rocks that comprise much of the archipelago, there is little climbing in Cape Verde. Despite this Cape Verdeans have been taking a greater interest in the sport in recent years, and there are some guides that take out small groups.

If you’re just looking for a beach to lie on, then your best bets are the white sand beach of Santa Maria on the island of Sal, or, if you want something a bit more secluded, Santa Monica beach on Boa Vista. Several species of turtles inhabit the ocean surrounding Cape Verde, many of which are endangered by hunting. The best way to see these turtles, and contribute to their protection, is to take a turtle watching tour with SOS Tartarugas or visiting the hatchery on Ponta Preta. All proceeds go towards turtle conservation.

Outdoor Adventure Activities in Cape Verde

• Surfing
• Stand-up paddle boarding
• Scuba diving (wreck, reef, cave)
• Snorkeling
• Surfing (all levels)
• Sailing
• Kitesurfing
• Windsurfing
• Paragliding
• Kayaking (sea)
• Caving and spelunking
• Hiking/trekking (all levels)
• Rock climbing (all levels)
• Abseiling/rappelling
• Mountain Biking (novice to expert)
• Horseback Riding

Budget Travel in Cape Verde

• Being relatively small islands that don’t receive many backpackers, budget accommodation on the Cape Verde islands is limited. A couple of the cheaper options are the Solar Windelo on Mindelo where you can find rent a two-person studio for $18 USD per person per night, or the Casa Cavoquinho on Santo Antao where you can rent a room for two for about $25 USD per person per night.
  More information about hostels in Cape Verde can be found here.
• About 90% of the food on Cape Verde is imported, so food tends to be costly compared to other things. Cape Verde restaurants will probably eat up your budget quickly. Shopping in local markets and eating at small local restaurants is the best way to stretch your food budget.

Have Insurance?

I like to use World Nomads. It’s not too expensive and signing up is fast and straightforward. They also have pretty good coverage for sports equipment like surf and snowboards, but it varies depending on your country of origin, so be sure double check. You can get a free quote on their website.

Photos of Cape Verde

[nggallery id=43]

Images (in order) courtesy of Yann Pinczon du Sel, aldask, davetrainer, antifluor, aldask, Al@in76, Sérgio Machado, Tom Simpson, Moises.on, davetrainer, dickdotcom, andIDS.photos on Flickr.

Suggested Reading

Click on the images for more information

Cape Verde Map

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The information on this page was provided by My Destination Cape Verde. If you want to know more about Cape Verde they are the people to ask.

The post Cape Verde Adventure Travel Guide appeared first on XpatMatt.

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La Tomatina Festival

Place

Spain

Location

In southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

Major Cities

The largest cities in Spain include the capital, Madrid, as well as Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville.

Climate and Geography

Spain borders Portugal to the west and France and Andorra to the north, with coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and the Mediterranean Sea. Spain also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands off of the west coast of Africa, and the uninhabited Plazas de Soberanía on the Mediterranean side of the Strait of Gibralter.

Spain is the second largest country in the European Union and 51st largest in the world at 504,782 square kilometers. The highest peak in the country is also the third largest volcano in the world (measured from the base), Teide in Tenerife. The highest point on the Iberian Peninsula is Mulhacén, in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the south.

Mainland Spain is made up is mostly of highland plains and mountains. Mountain ranges include the Pyrenees on the French border in the north, the Cantabrian Mountains (Cordillera Cantábrica) along the northwest coast, the Iberian System (Sistema Ibérico) in the central northeast, the Sistema Central in central Spain, the Montes de Toledo in central Spain, the Sierra Morena in central Spain, and Baetic System (Sistema Bético) in southern Spain.
Most of Spain has a mediterranean climate except for a small section in the north that has an oceanic climate (no dry season) and in the southeast that has a semiarid climate (longer dry season).

Description

Spain’s tourism industry is enormous; it’s the fourth most visited country in the world. Because of the volume of air traffic to the country, deals on flights to Spain can be found online. Spain’s popular areas for tourism include Costa del Sol, Ibiza, Mallorca, Tenerife, and the Sierra Nevada.

Spain’s attraction is obvious. Beaches, near perfect climate, and a rugged geography are huge attractions. So is history. Spain is home to 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the second most in the world (after Italy, which has 45).

Spain has a variety of unique ‘throwing’ festivals. On December 28th people in the town of Ibi fling cooking flour at each other. On the last Friday of August revelers in the town of Laredo engage in a battle of wildflowers. The most popular is La Tomatina. On the last Wednesday of August people in the town of Buñol (and tens of thousands of visitors) have a citywide tomato fight. In 2007 they used 115 tons of tomatoes during the celebration.
Of course, everyone has heard of the Pamplona’s running of the bulls, which takes place from July 6–14.

With mountains, islands, lakes, rivers, beaches, Spain is incredible of outdoors sports. Wikipedia lists 27 ski hills in the country. The Torka del Carlistain the north, is the largest cave chamber in Europe at 520 m by 245 m and Torca del Cerro del Cuevón, also in the north, descends 1589 m below the earth’s surface. There is surfing along more than half of the coastline. There is an enormous variety of scuba diving available. With 14 national parks, pristine hiking, trekking, and mountain climbing is accessible in most places.

Spain has a many incredible festivals. One of the most unique is La Tomatina–a giant tomato fight that takes place on the last Wednesday of each August.

Activities

• Surfing
• Stand-up paddle boarding
• Scuba diving (wreck, reef, cave)
• Snorkeling
• Surfing (all levels)
• Sailing
• Kitesurfing
• Windsurfing
• Parasailing
• Paragliding
• Hang gliding
• Sky diving
• Bungee jumping
• Hot air ballooning
• Whitewater rafting
• Kayaking (river and lake)
• Hydrospeed/Riverboarding
• Canoeing
• Caving and spelunking
• Hiking/trekking (all levels)
• Ziplining
• Rock climbing (all levels)
• Ice climbing
• Abseiling/rappelling
• Mountain Biking (novice to expert)
• Horseback Riding
• Skiing and snowboarding
• Cross-country skiing
• Snowshoeing
• Dogsledding

On a Budget?

• Prices in Spain vary greatly by location and season. Beds can be found in hostels for $15 – 30 USD per night.
A full list of hostels in Spain can be found here.
• Inexpensive restaurants will have breakfast for around $7-8 USD and lunch and dinner for around $11-13 USD. Of course, the supermarket is always an option.

Have Insurance?

I like to use World Nomads. It’s not too expensive and signing up is fast and straightforward. They also have pretty good coverage for sports equipment like surf and snowboards, but it varies depending on your country of origin, so be sure double check. You can get a free quote on their website.

Photos

[nggallery id=41]

Images (in order) courtesy flydime, Bert Kaufmann, marcp_dmoz, Gastev, Ken Lund, DanTheBeastMan, Ignacio Conejo, Samuel Stocker, Rol1000, moMents fiXats, mirindas27, and Jonathan Ablitt on Flickr.

Suggested Reading

Click on the images for more information

Map

View Larger Map

The post Spain Adventure Travel Guide appeared first on XpatMatt.

Argentina has a fantastic bus network, so if you’re flying into Buenos Aires you can get a bus to either of two recommended adventure travel destinations, Mendoza and Bariloche. If you prefer to drive it’s best to find a cheap car hire online beforehand and arrange a destination where you can pick up your car. Driving the 18 hours from Buenos Aires may not be your cup of tea and the added expense incurred may not be worth it.

Bariloche looks strikingly like Austria. Germans and Austrians settled here in the late 1800s and have left their chocolate shops and ski jumps behind. The architecture is Swiss in style and there are many winter sports shops here. Driving around Bariloche is a breathtaking experience as the Andes and the many lakes are seriously beautiful. The main ski station here is at Cerro Catedral.

Mendoza is a popular destination for mountaineering, hiking, rafting and horseback riding. It is also good for paragliding. You might even spot an Andean Condor while you’re up there.
Arenales is Mendoza’s greatest rock climbing area. There are over 150 climbing routes across the spectacular pink granite walls. There are a couple of companies you can book tours with who offer tandem paragliding trips and the scenery really is unbelievable.

Canopying (ziplining) is also possible here. Go between mountain walls and over rivers harnessed to thick cables. You can combine canopying with climbing or other activities in the area. Rappelling is also popular here. A sport in itself, it’s a lot of fun to slide down the odd mountain face before heading off to another activity.

In Mendoza you can kayak in the Atuel River, the Tunuyán River, the Grande River, and, perhaps the best, the Mendoza River.

Horseback riding is immensely popular here and even the least adventurous tourists often can’t resist a trek. This might possibly be attributed to the classically romantic notion of galloping through the pampas like some kind of knight or Western hero. The reality is that the terrain can make for a bumpy ride, especially for the inexperienced. Placing your sunglasses on your head may not be the wisest choice (I’m speaking from personal experience here). Happily, there are some great masseuses in Mendoza city who can work the knots out afterwards. Ask you hotel or hostel receptionist to recommend one to you.

Mendoza city is pleasant and there is a bus that does a regular circuit. There are plenty of attractive squares to sit in as well as a large park with a lake.

After you’re done in Mendoza, you might want to explore the surrounding wine region with a winery tour. Argentina is famous for Malbec and steak. Combine the two and you’re in heaven.

Sophie Collard (@QunoSpotter) is a travel writer who you’ll find writing about the many elements of travel in various different places. She writes the blog QunoSpotter.co.uk which spotlights overland travel. She’s travelled over rails in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

The lead image was provided by twiga269 ॐ FreeTIBET on Flickr.

Mendoza Vacations

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