Photo: Iceland Tourism

Iceland is a bold country for bold people. It’s for travelers who want to dive directly into nature, party until the sun comes up (even when it never goes down), and dine on some of the sea’s most freaky creatures.

The Land of Fire and Ice is a place that continues to wow its visitors whether it’s their first visit or their fiftieth. However, these six insane things to do in Iceland are ones that most visitors, even the most seasoned Iceland travelers, have never done.

Surf Among Icebergs

Photo: dalli58 / Flickr

There are few places in the world where you can surf among icebergs, and only one where the waves are considered world-class. Iceland, which is home to just a handful of surfers, offers many of the perks most of the world’s surfers dream about — peeling point breaks and minimal crowds. Ten surfers in the water is considered a packed lineup. Even better, there’s no need for dawn patrol, because the sun never sets during the midsummer surf season.

The increasing popularity of surfing in Iceland and around the world has brought rise to coastal surfer-friendly resorts and companies offering guided surf adventures. Summer sea temperatures around 12-degree Celsius and improved wetsuit technologies make jumping into the chilly (but not frigid) waters much less of a concern.

Snowboard in the Winter Darkness

Photo: Iceland Tourism

Icelandic winters are synonymous with darkness, but that’s what makes snowboarding in the Nordic island nation so special. Mount Hlíðarfjall has been one of Iceland’s top ski and snowboard resorts for more than 40 years. Powdery snow and a location 5 kilometres outside of the town of Akureyri makes it a favorite among Icelandic locals and tourists. Floodlighting on the main trails means skiing in the pitch black evenings of winter is possible.

Although, you don’t have to leave the Reykjavik area to ride at one of the country’s top resorts. The Blafjoll Ski Resort is famous for its family-friendly atmosphere, off-piste trails for advanced riders, and glowing lights that keep the trails open in the darkest months. Even more adventurous snowboarders can venture into deep fjords and towering mountains with Arctic Surfers, a mountain guide company taking adrenaline junkies on Surf & Snow trips into the country’s most rugged terrain.

Cruise an Icelandic River at High Speeds

Photo: Iceland Riverjet

You don’t have to be an action sports enthusiast to get your thrills in the Land of Fire and Ice. Iceland Riverjet is Europe’s only whitewater jet boat company. Grip the handlebars with white knuckles as your professional jet boat driver flies through the whitewater rapids of the Hvita River while doing 360-degree spins, jumping waves, and squeezing through some of the country’s most scenic canyons. There’s only one whitewater jet boat company on the continent, and the high-speed thrills are a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Snorkel Between Two Continents

Photo: Anosmia

Iceland’s temperatures aren’t as frigid as many travelers assume, averaging between 10- and 13-degrees Celsius in July and reaching 20- to 25-degrees Celsius on warmer days. While you probably won’t feel like diving into the sea the moment you set foot on Icelandic ground, you may change your mind when you hear about snorkeling in the Silfra rift.

The Silfra rift is part of the Thingvellir National Park UNESCO World Heritage Centre. It’s the only place in the world where travelers can dive or snorkel between two continental plates. The lesser-known natural wonder offers 100 metres of visibility, bright blue waters, and a rainbow of colors that make snorkeling the chilly glacial waters, from nearby Langjökull, unlike anywhere else in the world.

Stay Up All Night in Reykjavik

Photo: Dan Nguyen / Flickr

The nightlife never really stops in Reykjavik, and it can be difficult to know when night actually falls during summer evenings full of sunlight and winter days of darkness. Icelanders are known for heading to their favorite bars and pubs after midnight and staying until at least 5 a.m., on weekends. Many cafes morph into bars in the evening hours, then into clubs in the wee hours of the night. It’s essential to spend one night drinking Icelandic craft beer and local schnapps at the famous Kaffibarinn bar or the low-key artist hangout, Ölstofa Kormáks og Skjaldar.

See the Northern Lights from the Top of a Glacier

Photo: Iceland Tourism

Iceland isn’t the only place in the world to admire the northern lights, but it’s the only place where you can watch nature’s greatest light show from atop the fastly-fading Sólheimajökull glacier. This south Iceland glacier is accessible to all levels of hikers and serves as an ideal viewing point for the greens, purples, and blues of the northern lights.

Guide to Iceland offers a number of glacier tours in Iceland, including a jaw-dropping adventure to the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue, the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and an unbeatable viewing point for the aurora borealis. Iceland’s wild and sparsely populated landscape coupled with the pitch darkness of winter makes it one of the best places on earth to see the dancing northern lights.

The post 6 Insane Things You Can Only Do in Iceland appeared first on XpatMatt.

“Your wetsuit has some holes in it.” Jacob Kelly told me. “So it’s going to be a little colder for you.”

It was May and we were standing on the banks of the Kananaskis River in the mountains between Calgary and Banff, Canada. The day before it had been snowing. I had finished photographing the surfers for Tourism Calgary and was about to try river surfing in the barely-above-freezing water.

That was not what I wanted to hear.

By the end of my hour-long surf session on the river wave the call The Mountain I was so fatigued that after falling and being swept downstream yet again I didn’t even bother to try and paddle upstream. I just got out of the river and started wobbily walking up the river bank.

I was completely spent, not from exertion, but from the frigid water.

I had new respect for Calgary’s river surfers. Not because of the ease with which they caught and slashed back and forth across the touchy wave on their ultra-short surfboards, but because they would spend whole days in the depths of the Canadian winter in the river, which is fed by glaciers.

Jacob Kelly showboating on the wave that I could barely stand up on.

Calgary, just an hour’s drive East of the Canadian Rockies, is an unlikely home to a passionate and growing tribe of river surfers. Among the most prominent are Neil Egsgard and Jacob Kelly of Surf Anywhere, a company that builds river surfing waves whose goal is to make Calgary the Mecca of river surfing.

As of now, there are two popular waves in the area: The Mountain in Kananaskis (about an hour’s drive from the city) and the 10th Street wave right beside the downtown core.

Surf Anywhere is the only company in the world that specializes in building river surfing waves (they’ve been doing it since 2008) and in the Calgary area they have a two unique opportunities.

First, the government is planning to rebuild a kayaking course that’s also on the Bow River in the city. If Surf Anywhere gets their way, they will be building even more waves within the city limits during the reconstruction.

The second opportunity is in Kananaskis. The Kananaskis River is controlled by a dam. This means two things. The flow is always consistent, which means consistent surfing. It also means that the river can be turned off like a faucet, and heavy machinery can be brought in to build waves, making it easier and cheaper to build waves than in a normal river.

Surf Anywhere wants to take advantage of this and plans to have 2 – 3 new waves of varying difficulty and size built by the end of this summer.

I couldn’t wait until then to visit so, although I plan to return, here’s what it was like during my 5-day visit in May.

Neil Egsgard working on river flow models for the new Kananaskis waves.

River Surfing in Kananaskis Country

If you want to go surfing in the Calgary area — unless you’re friends with one of the locals who know where to find the rest of the half-dozen waves in the area that are more-or-less secret spots — you’ll probably have to choose between The Mountain and the 10th Street wave.

The Mountain in Kananaskis is about a one-hour drive out of the city, but it is a markedly better wave than the 10th Street wave. It’s bigger and wider, which makes it both easier for a beginner to stand up on and more fun for an experienced surfer to play on.

Also — if Neil and Jacob at Surf Anywhere have their way — Kananaskis will have multiple features for all skill levels very soon, making it an even more accommodating spot to surf.

Neil thrashing The Mountain.

The Kananaskis River is also popular for canoeing and kayaking. Here are two canoers bombing over The Mountain.

Surfing in Downtown Calgary on the Bow River

Calgary’s 10th Street Wave is located right below the 10th Street Bridge on the downtown side of the river, which is walking distance from the city center. This is where most Calgarians first discover river surfing and learn to surf.

The wave can be seen from a popular walking and biking path, the CTrain, and the 10th Street Bridge. I’ve only been there a few times, but each time about half-a-dozen people have stopped to ask about the wave and how to get started. (Pro Tip: Stop by on wave Wednesdays when Jacob brings extra gear for people to try.)

The wave’s high visibility is probably responsible for the growth of Calgary’s river-surfing community, which has expanded rapidly in recent years.

Although the 10th Street Wave isn’t the biggest or best, it’s convenient, which makes it the busiest wave around. If you are able to visit during working hours, you’ll usually find the wave empty and will have it all to yourself. It usually starts to get busy around 6pm after most people have finished work.

How awesome would it be to get to go surfing everyday after work?

I’m jealous Calgary. Very jealous.

The 10th Street Wave lineup on a normal evening.

Jason McQuade

Chillin at the 10th Street Wave.

Jacob Kelly

Local surfboard shaper Jason McQuade working on a new ride.

Calgary Surf Culture

Surfing is a notoriously territorial sport. Personally, I prefer to avoid popular breaks frequented by both visitors and locals because the friction between them dampens the experience for me.

The vibe in Calgary is not like that at all. Yes, there is a bit of territorialism, but it only manifests itself in the few ‘secret’ waves around Calgary known only to the most dedicated river surfers (who spent their time scouring the local rivers to find them). Even then, some locations are kept secret partly for safety (either they’re too advanced or the inevitable ride downstream after falling is too dangerous for most surfers) or because they’re only accessible via privately-owned land.

But that’s where any territorialism ends.

The Calgary surf community is overwhelmingly friendly and supportive. This is Canada, after all.

The lineup is full of friendly banter, and you don’t need to be an amazing surfer to elicit cheers from the crowd. Every time a surfer shows a bit of progression — stands up for the first time or learns a new skill — clappings and ‘whoo-hooos’ erupt from the banks.

I was told by Jacob that this would happen. It happened to me twice during my trip: my first time standing up on The Mountain and my first time standing on the 10th Street Wave.

That’s how surfing is supposed to be.

The lineup at the 10th Street Wave.

The one maneuver that can only be done on a river wave: an acid drop (throwing your board onto the wave and jumping on to it).

Jacob on the 10th Street Wave at dusk.

Have you ever tried river surfing? How was it?

If you haven’t, would you?

Let me know in the comments!

The post Are Calgary and Kananaskis about to become a river surfing mecca? appeared first on XpatMatt.

This trip was sponsored by Tourism Calgary, but all opinions are my own.

In May Calgary Tourism offered me a challenge; to see how many adventure activities I could fit into 48-hours in the city. They’d send a film crew to document it and they’d foot the bill for the project.

Would I do it?

Hell yes I’d do it. I wasn’t going to turn down my third chance to be in a professional production (this was the first, and this was the second).

They asked what activities I wanted to try.

“Let me do some research and get back to you.” I replied. My fingers pecked my keyboard with hummingbird-like ferocity and my browser tabs multiplied like bunnies in the spring.

I’d heard there was a standing wave that you could surf somewhere in Calgary. I looked that up. I searched for a parkour club, because I’d always wanted to try it, and I figured I must also be able to kayak on the Bow River.

But then I ran out of ideas, still shy of 2-days worth of adventures.

What else could I do?

Mike, from Tourism Calgary suggested bobsledding and a trip down the fastest zipline in North America.

Perfect. The deal was sealed.

“Tell the editor who bleeps out words in the video that I’m sorry in advance, because this is going to be pretty bleeping rad and I will bleeping say so.”

In June, we executed the plan. You can get an idea of how it went from the video at the top of this blog post.

Below is the full story.

Day 1: Morning | Parkour Lessons at Breathe Parkour

I’ve always wanted to try parkour, also known as freerunning. The sport first entered popular culture when its founder was hired for the groundbreaking foot-chase scene at the beginning of the James Bond movie, Casino Royale. Parkour is basically applied gymnastics used for moving gracefully and acrobatically through urban landscapes.

The fellows at Breathe were very friendly and started me off with the basics. We did a quick round of lessons, including how to swing from a horizontal pole to leap and grab a building ledge, pole walking 12-feet in the air, and hucking flips into a foam pit.

I. Love. Foam pits.

The pinnacle of the lesson was reached when I tried to do the human flag, which is pictured below. What you don’t notice at first, is that my teacher is totally holding up my legs.

If you’re in Calgary and want to try it out, I highly recommend it. Lessons start at $25 for one and go down as you purchase more, while gym drop-ins are just $15.

Day 1: Afternoon | Ziplining and Bobsledding at the Canada Olympic Park

In 1988 Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics, and the Canada Olympic Park where they held ski jumping, bobsledding, and other gravity-assisted events, still sits on the western edge of town with many of the facilities open for use year-round.

Before this trip I had a vague idea that visitors could try bobsledding in the COP. I didn’t know, however, that it could be done in summer. And I had no idea that the COP was home to the fastest zipline in North America, on which you reach speeds over 120km per hour and drop 100m over a distance of just 500m.

The view from the top of the zipline, which was the top of the ski jump during the olympics, is amazing. During the descent, you go so fast that you have to throw out a parachute to slow yourself down and you’re strongly advised by staff to lean way back with your legs in the air when the you hit the end of the track.

The stop is rather abrupt.

The sign below says it all.

For video purposes, I got to do it twice, which I wasn’t complaining about at all.

Our bobsled ‘guide’ was a hefty Australian — one of their Olympic bobsledders.

The bobsled ride is pretty intense. The bobsled rattles manically and the g-force around the corners is powerful.

We got to do it three times, and each time it got a bit smoother as we learned how to brace for the corners.

Day 1: Dinner | The Palamino Smokehouse

This wasn’t exactly an adventure, but Palamino Smoke definitely deserves a nod. This place is a Calgary institution. It’s one of the grimier areas of downtown (not that Calgary really gets very grimy), which only adds to the the charm of what most Calgarians say is the best greasy rib house in the city.

And by many Calgarians I mean my sister’s husband and his friends, who were very jealous when they heard where I ate.

I’d have to agree. We had a dinner of beer and a enormous meat platter with ribs, chicken, and fries swimming in minced garlic. But I’d have to say my favorite was the bacon-wrapped corn on the cob.

Yes, you heard me right. Bacon. Wrapped. Corn.

You now have all the necessary information to decide if you want to eat there. Either you’re garlic slathered, bacon-wrapped [insert any food on the planet here] kind of person, or your not.

Day 2: Morning | Kayaking on the Bow River

I’ve had my share of kayaking adventures. Well, mishaps, actually. Six of one, half-dozen of the other I say.

But this was my first chance to take real kayaking lessons and learn some whitewater technique. To top it off, my friend Adam — the drummer for Open Sails who I first met in Taiwan — would be joining me.

We headed out to the tree-lined shores of the Bow River — an enormous river that runs through the city — in Bowness Park where we were met by Steve Wapple, our instructor from the University of Calgary Outdoor Center.

First we paddled slowly around a calm eddy and Steve explained a few different strokes and techniques. After that, he showed us how to get into the fast water without tipping and how to navigate.

Soon we were cruising down the Bow River in the sun and dipping ourselves in the water just to cool off. Near the end of the trip we found a standing wave where we all took turns kayak surfing it — good practice for what was to come.

Day 2: Lunch | Containr Bar

We headed down to Calgary’s trendy Kensington neighborhood, to Contanr Bar a cool little spot built out of 100% found materials in the alley beside a posh bar/restaurant that gets so busy it can actually send people to sit on in the alley on chairs people threw away to eat off of recycled pallets…

…and like it.

It was a really chill little spot. Adam and I caught up, laughed about the old days, munched on duck fat popcorn and deep fried pig ears, as scratchy music from the vinyl on the vintage record player filled the alley.

Day 2: Afternoon | Surfing

I’ve done a bit of surfing here and there. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not that good. But I thought this was going to be really easy.

You see, the hardest part of learning surfing is knowing how to get in the exact right place to catch the wave. If you can do that, the rest is relatively straightforward.

The wave in Calgary is a standing wave in a river. It doesn’t move. You can see exactly where you’re going.

No problem, right?

As usual, I was astoundingly wrong.

What the wave gives away by being stationary, it makes up for by being fickle — especially on a day when the river is low, as it was when we visited.

Getting into the wave laying down is fairly easy, but standing up without causing the board to nosedive or be sucked back over the wave requires a quick and precise leap to your feet.

I have to thank the editors of the video for making it look as though I may have actually stood up. I came very close once or twice, but never actually did.

That really doesn’t matter though. The worst day of surfing is still better than the best day not surfing, so it was a win.

And it was one of the friendliest lineups I’ve ever been in — mainly because most of the surfers out there were able to bond based over the difficulty of simply standing up on that wave.

It’s not over for me and that wave. Not by a long shot. My sister lives in Calgary and I visit several times a year.

Round 2 is coming soon.

Day 2: Dinner | One18 Empire

Our last stop of the day was at Calgary’s new posh whiskey bar, One18 Empire. It’s an upscale place with a selection of whiskeys that would make Jack Daniels blush and bartenders that know their stuff.

We munched on maple-wrapped dates and a charcuterie of cured meats and cheeses while we tasted fine whiskeys from around the world to top off the 48-hour adventure.

If you liked my video, check out the full series on the Calgary Tourism website.

The post The 48-Hour Calgary Adventure appeared first on XpatMatt.

Queensland‘s weather is iconic and known the world over for being beautiful one day and perfect the next. The climate is sub-tropical which means tourists and visitors are treated to gorgeous weather throughout the year, including during the winter months when the water temperature barely dips below 15 degrees Celsius.

The Gold Coast and Surfing

The Gold Coast is home to a 70km stretch of coastline. That includes epic point breaks, patrolled beaches, and active surf schools. It’s a fantastic place to learn to surf and there are plenty of surf schools to help you get started. Many of the surf schools promote their ability to get you standing on your very first lesson thanks to their experienced and friendly accredited teachers.

Many of the beaches offer perfect conditions for beginner and professional surfers alike, as the winds and easterly swells serve up one- to two-foot swells weekly.

The rest of the time favorable conditions are offered across the area and most have uncrowded waves so you can enjoy more of your time in the water.

Local’s Favorite Beaches

According to the locals, some beaches are better to frequent based on their surfing conditions, parking, crowds, and point breaks. The beaches which are said to deliver constant ideal conditions for wave catching include: The Spit, Palm Beach, Currumbin Alley, Snapper Rocks, Cudgen Reef and The Other Side.

Arguably the most famous beach for waves is Surfers Paradise Beach. It is an iconic and legendary beach that is a melting pot of locals, tourists, shopping, grand high-rise residences, and deluxe hotel accommodation.

The location boasts access from the retail district straight onto a white sandy beach front that is frequented by winning surf schools and patrolled nearly 365 days a year by committed lifeguards.

It is interesting to note that Virgin Australia even named one of it’s Boeing 737s after this beach.

Safety is key

Water safety is a big focus for local authorities and it is important that you check out what precautions are on offer for each location you wish to explore.

Coastal Watch is an excellent website to visit for real-time videos and information on surf reports, forecasts, news and event information. You can also visit Information Centers to find a list of patrolled beaches on the Gold Coast.

Surfing competitions also feature strongly across the Gold Coast as they dish up premium conditions month after month. Head to the Surfing Queensland website to see the list of organised events, which is not only fantastic weekend entertainment but essential for learning some tips and tricks from the pros.

The best surfing beaches

Snapper Rocks

This beach is home to the legendary ‘super-bank’ – an open stretch which is said to have the world’s longest waves which includes a reported 1.97km wave opening at Snapper Rocks before closing down at Kirra!

Rolling sets come in and encourage the pros and budding surfers to crowd the barrels in hopes of the perfect wave. It is so popular that it hosts the Roxy Pro and Quicksilver Pro competition each year.

Currumbin Alley

This beach enjoys a gorgeous backdrop perfect for postcard photos complete with surfing enthusiasts. It is one of the most popular beaches along the 70km strip by tourists, locals, beginners and pros.

According to surf schools which operate from this location, it is one of the safest and easiest locations to learn to surf on the Gold Coast. It has gentle, sand bottom waves ideal for a first time surfer learning to perfect their turning and duck-diving.

Cudgen Reef

This beach is situated just over the NSW border. It is one of the only reef breaks you can access via the beach on the Gold Coast.

Solid fast right waves form here on the reef and off the creek mouth along the adjacent beach. The height and turn of the waves depends on the shape and position of the sand wave. It is considered a spot for professional and competent surfers only.

The Whole Story

Whilst the Gold Coast is known throughout Australia and the world as having some of the best surfing beaches, it is not always perfect.

Due to changes in environmental and weather conditions some beaches are suffering. Due to a decision to extend the sea walls near the Tweed River mouth The Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypassing Project was commissioned in 2001.

Workers continue to remove sand accumulating at Letitia Spit and pump it north to Gold Coast beaches which have been without the natural northbound flow of sand for three decades.

It is everyone’s job to keep the beaches healthy and make sure the Gold Coast continues to be a surfing paradise for generations to come.

The post The Gold Coast: A Surfer’s Paradise appeared first on XpatMatt.

If you’ve foliowed my blog for any amount of time, you know that I love to surf. It’s not just riding waves that I love, though.

I love sitting on the board, gazing at the incoming waves. I love the workout and the happy exhaustion that I feel at the end of the day. I love sleeping on the beach, being covered in sand so much that I’m still finding it in my bellybutton three weeks later.

And I love the way the salt water makes my hair stiff and messy and stand on end, which is what I believe that this Air Canada short is aimed at. It’s called Great Hair Days.

This post was sponsored by Air Canada. However, that doesn’t change my love of surfing and bristly hair, nor the fact that this commercial made me feel a bit nostalgic about my surf hair.

The post Surf Hair (Sponsored Video) appeared first on XpatMatt.

I’ve done a lot of scary things in my life but some things are scarier than others. For example, not so long ago my husband and I sold our beautiful house on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, our profitable lifestyle business and most of our belongings and moved to Panama.

All of that would be scary in itself but our fears felt very real because we had never visited Panama, or anywhere in Central America before, we didn’t speak Spanish and we had three children, then aged two, five and eight to take with us and lo0k after.

We gave fear the finger and did it anyway because we were ready for a new adventure.

Before settling in Panama we wanted to check out the rest of Central America and make sure we’d chosen the right country to move to. We started our trip by travelling around Guatemala then we headed to Panama where we visited the Caribbean side and drove the Pacific Coast from Panama City to the border with Costa Rica.

But travel is hard work with kids. Much as we wanted to explore and see everything we could before settling down again, we also wanted to enjoy ourselves, chill out and really experience life in Central America, not just dash around seeing as much as we could.

So we decided to take some time out on the Bocas del Toro, a small island in the Caribbean Sea off Panama.

There we hired a house and didn’t just live like locals,we actually lived with them. Our home was a small three-bedroom bungalow built on stilts right over the water with neighbours crammed in on all sides. Definitely not kiddie safe but the Bocas locals seem to survive without any of the swimming pool safety and fencing regulations we have in Western countries and we did too.

We’d overcome many fears to get from New Zealand to Panama but once we got settled in Bocas del Toro one more dream started nagging at me.

For many years I’d been interested in surfing. Whenever we went to surf beaches in New Zealand or Australia I loved watching the surfers.

“That looks like so much fun,” I thought, “I’d love to try it.”

But I never did anything about learning to surf apart from think about it.

There was always an excuse, the main ones being that the water was too cold, I didn’t have time and I was too old to learn an adventure sport like surfing.

Now on Bocas del Toro the excuses sounded like the flimsy excuses they were.

The weather was balmy and the water was warm. The island is a mecca for surfers because of the warm water, the perfect waves and uncrowded surf breaks. Everywhere we went we saw surfers walking by carrying their surf boards, shops selling or hiring boards and Learn to Surf signs throughout the main town.

At 40 years old I suddenly realised that if I didn’t try surfing now I probably never would.

I still didn’t have time though because I had three children to look after and no school to send them too. So I hired a lovely Dutch backpacker to look after our three kids while me and my husband took surf lessons.

Sure I was worried about banging my head, scratching myself on the coral or worse. What if I actually died here in this remote place leaving my three children motherless?

I’d already shown how irresponsible I was by moving them half way across the world and this quest to learn to surf was surely following my personal dreams and desires too far.

But most of all I was scared about letting this opportunity slip through my fingers forever. I was scared about teaching my kids to settle for less and to live their lives ruled by fear.

We took our surf lessons with Jessica and Mike from Azucar Surf. Two beautiful people who had moved to Bocas del Toro to realise their own dream of surfing in uncrowded, tropical waters every day.

We practised “popping up” on the jetty before hopping in their boat and motoring out to a gentle surf break nearby.

With lots of gentle encouragement and a bit of pushing we were soon riding the waves and even standing up on a surfboard for the very first time. A thrill which you never tire of.

Panama turned out not to be the right place for us to settle so we moved to Costa Rica and live there for over a year. There I bought a surfboard of my own and committed to going surfing three times a week. Sometimes on my own, but more often with my new surf-loving friends and surfing is the best high there is.

If you want to learn to surf Bocas del Toro is a great place for it. Just make sure you get lessons from local professionals so you stay safe, feel confident and have as much fun as possible.

Life’s too short to sit around on the sidelines watching other people have fun. Whatever it is you want to do, no matter how scary it is, there’s no time like the present so take courage, jump into the water and paddle as fast as you can.

If you do that it’s just a matter of time before you catch your very first wave.

About the Guest Blogger

Annabel Candy is a freelance writer and web designer who has traveled to over 40 countries, lived in eight of them and holds both British and Kiwi passports. She’s now living in Australia, writing travel stories for Get In the Hot Spot and sharing blogging tips at Successful Blogging.

The post Surfing for Scaredy Cats in Bocas del Toro appeared first on XpatMatt.

If you’re an experienced surfer or have a bit of time, then you’ll probably want to head east to nearby Yilan where there are several breaks and good waves. If you’re a beginner or short of time then you’ll want to head to Taipei’s closest break, Jinshan, which is just 40 minutes by car from the city, and a little over an hour by public transport (there’s more information on how to get there below).

The Break

Jinshan breaks both left and right for 50 – 100 meter rides. The waves tend to be on the small side but their size, of course, depends on the weather. When typhoons near the island the can get very big. The best times to surf Jinshan are in the early morning and evening. There’s a shore break that can make it quite difficult to paddle out during the middle of the day.

My Experience in Jinshan 

I only got to surf at Jinshan twice during my trip. Both times it was the middle of the day so the surf was super messy and it was nearly impossible to get past the shore break. Understandably, I was pretty much the only surfer in the water.

The first day I surfed despite the conditions because I had just arrived and didn’t know if I’d get another chance. I’m a relatively inexperienced sufrer and can’t read the waves very well. Despite that, I was able to paddle out (after a long exhausting struggle in the shore break) and catch one or two short rides.

The second day I wanted to take photos of the break while the conditions were good. About twenty or thirty surfers paddled out and the waves were about chest high. The weren’t the best-shaped waves I’ve seen, but they were decent and consistent and the locals who knew the break got some beautiful long rides.

When the tide started coming in, all the surfers got out of the water. I put away my camera, and hopped in again, once again battling the shore break to catch a couple of short rides.

The Shops

Don’t worry about finding a shop to rent a board at Jinshan. There’s probably a dozen on the highway and along the path to the beach. Here is the contact info for a couple of shops that have hostels you can stay at.

The Johnny Rose Surf Club | 強尼玫瑰衝浪俱樂部

83-1, Haising Rd., Jinshan Township | 台北縣金山鄉海興路83-1號1樓

Phone: 02-2408-2664

Dorm rooms start at about $9 USD per person per night.

They recommend that you reserve your room two or three days in advance.

The Tube Factory | 波管工廠
91, Haising Rd., Jinshan Township (upstairs) | 台北縣金山鄉海興路91號2樓

Phone: 02-2498-5812
0956-293-520 Susan
0932-395-165 SuBee

Dorm rooms start at about $9 USD per person per night. Private double rooms cost about $24 USD/night. Rooms for four cost about $36 USD/night.

They recommend that you reserve your room a day or two in advance.

Getting to Jinshan

Jinshan can be reached easily from Taipei. It takes around forty minutes to drive there. Locals recommend driving over Yaming Mountain to avoid traffic.

To get to Jinshan on public transportation you have two options:

1) Take the train from Taipei Main Station to Keelung (time: 40 min to 1 hr/price: about $2-3 USD). From there you can take the Keelung Bus (基隆客運) to the mid-cape stop (中角站) (time: 20 min/price $1-2 USD) or taxi (time: 15 min/price: about $12 USD) to Jinshan.

2) Take the MRT to Danshui (time: varies depending on location/price: $2 USD max) where you will take the Danshui Bus (淡水客運) that is headed for Jinshan/Keelung (金山/基隆) to the mid-cape stop (中角站) (time: 1 hour/price: $4 USD).

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Place

Los Cabos, Mexico

Los Cabos Location

Los Cabos is a 3,452 square kilometer municipality at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.

Major Cities in Los Cabos

The largest cities in Los Cabos include San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, both of which have populations near 70,000. Colonia del Sol is the third largest city in the region with just over 48,000 residents.

Geography and Ecology of Los Cabos

Los Cabos is 3,452 square kilometers, making it about three times as big as Hong Kong, and slightly smaller than French Polynesia. Located on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, the municipality is surrounded on three sides by water with the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gulf of California to the east and Pacific Ocean to the west.
The geography of Los Cabos is dry, rocky, and desert-like. The most prominent natural features include the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Arc (a majestic natural rock arch), the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range which touches on the northern end of the municipality, and, of course, numerous picturesque beaches.

The southern tip of the California Baja Peninsula used to be an island. Because of this it developed a unique ecology. There are many endemic species of plants in the area, especially in the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their “highly important and contrasted ecosystems, including arid zones, matorrales, low deciduous forest type, evergreen oak, (etc.)”.

Los Cabos Weather and Climate

Los Cabos is warm all year round, with July, August, and September being the hottest and most humid months. The heat and humidity coincide with hurricane season, which lasts from June to October and reaches its peak in September.
The average temperature during the day in Los Cabos is around 26-28°C during the winter (October to April) and can rise to 38°C or higher during the summer. Los Cabos is said to receive between 300 and 350 sunny days per year and receive less than 10 inches of rain.

The temperature of the ocean around Los Cabos is hovers around 23-25°C in the winter and can rise to over 30°C in the summer.

Los Cabos Description

Los Cabos is no stranger to tourism. Cabo San Lucas and the Los Cabos Corridor (also known as the corridor del oro, or Golden Corridor) is one of the most popular and successful tourist destinations in the country. Located between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose, The Corridor is a twenty-mile stretch of coves and beaches filled with upscale resorts and golf courses that draw affluent clientele from around the world.

The area also has a wide variety of activities for outdoors lovers. No description of Los Cabos would be complete without a mention of fishing, which is a huge draw for sportsmen (Cabo San Lucas is home to the largest marlin fishing tournament in the world). The area is also rife with hiking trails, craggy cliffs for climbing, excellent surf breaks, scenic ocean kayaking, and breathtaking scuba diving and snorkeling sites.

The best natural features of the area include the UNESCO World Heritage sites the Arch and the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. Los Cabos also well situated for whale watching, as many whales travel there each year to bear their young in the warm waters.

Los Cabos Outdoors Adventure Highlights

• Surfing in Los Cabos is excellent with breaks for everyone from beginners to experts both near the tourist corridor, and elsewhere.
• Cousteau called the UNESCO World Heritage site the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) “the world’s aquarium” and “the Galapos of the north”. The scuba diving and snorkeling are epic.
• Los Cabos is ideal for whale watching from January to March, as each year gray whales travel there from the cold waters of the north Pacific to bear their young.
• Ziplining in Los Cabos is an excellent way to view landscape without having an impact on the local environment. Los Cabos has some of the longest zip lines in Baja Mexico.

Los Cabos Outdoor Adventure Activities

• Surfing
• Stand-up paddle boarding
• Scuba diving (wreck, reef)
• Snorkeling
• Surfing (all levels)
• Whale watching
• Sailing
• Kitesurfing
• Windsurfing
• Parasailing
• Paragliding
• Hang gliding
• Sky diving
• Bungee jumping
• Hot air ballooning
• Kayaking (ocean)
• Hiking/trekking (all levels)
• Via Ferrata
• Canyoning
• Ziplining
• Rock climbing (all levels)
• Abseiling/rappelling
• Mountain Biking (novice to expert)
• Horseback Riding

Budget Travel in Los Cabos

Prices in Los Cabos are not cheap, especially by Mexican standards. Many of the people who visit Los Cabos stay in luxury timeshares, such as those at Fiesta Los Cabos.

Cheaper accommodations start at around $50 USD per night for a double room

Dining out in and around the tourist corridor is also fairly pricey. However, once you move away from the touristy spots you will find much better prices at local restaurants. There is also a great selection both American and local supermarkets in the area.

Travel 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.

Los Cabos Photos

[nggallery id=54]

Images (in order) courtesy DieselDemon, HawaiianVirtualTours, Melanie Lukesh, *r3M’S*, *r3M’S*, *r3M’S*, cplbasilisk, Susan E Adams, *r3M’S*, Sirsnapsalot, Camerons Personal Page, and lecates on Flickr.

Suggested Reading

Click on the images for more information

Los Cabos 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.

Los Cabos Vacations

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It’s dark, I’m exhausted, I have a ticket for a bus leaving from a city whose name I have forgotten, and I’ve just lost my travelling companion. Welcome to Columbia!

It had all started so well. We’d entered the country via Tulcan Ipiales on the border with Ecuador and took a jam packed rickety old bus north to Cali armed with boundless energy and high spirits following three weeks of sublime surfing in Estero de Platano.

About an hour into Columbia things started to go wrong. First I tried in vain to reach the bottle of water in my backpack. Big mistake. No sooner had I shifted an inch than I felt a sharp digging pain in my ribs otherwise known as bus crush. To say we were packed like sardines doesn’t do that bus justice.  This discomfort would last for several hours.

Next the bus began spluttering. It would move backwards, forwards, jerk, jerk, bounce, bounce, as I peered nervously out into the FARC controlled jungle hoping that the old girl would pull through. Call me unadventurous, but I’ve never been one for being detained by Narco Marxist Guerrillas in the jungle.

Finally, when we pulled into our destination bleary eyed and aching, I made a beeline for the toilets. When I emerged from the washroom, which was a cesspit to end all cesspits, I looked around. Where in the bejesus was Craig?

He’d been there only moments earlier. I’d left him with our bags and a couple of fellow travellers from the bus. They’d seemed nice enough. Surely the Swedish girls hadn’t kidnapped my mate. I’d heard warnings about this kind of women, but I thought they usually came armed with seductive Latin tans, short red dresses, and spiked drinks, not cargo shorts, Scandinavian accents, and baseball caps.

I was relieved to hear my name being called from across the road where Craig was beckoning me to a waiting car. The Swedish girls had made arrangements to stay in a local hotel for the night and asked if we wanted to share a cab and try our luck at the hotel. Why they didn’t tell me this before I went to the toilet, and save me a heart attack, I don’t know. But we would soon be en route to a surf spot we’d heard good things about, so things were looking up.

En route to El Valle

One of my favourite expressions in life is that everything is relative. It is a comfort when things are going wrong and a great leveler when things are going good. So it was with the journey to El Valle.

After spending the night in Cali (in rooms separate from the girls) Craig and I took a coach north to Medellin. Previously home to the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, the city has an unwarranted reputation for danger. Whilst we took precautions, we didn’t feel overtly threatened or out of place in the many bars we visited.

That said, we did attract the attention of a couple of particularly beautiful girls in a club called Mangos. It is said that there is more silicone running around Columbia than nearly any other place on Earth, but whether or not that applied to the lovely Diana and Mari I will never know.

In a less than chivalrous moment towards the end of a great night, a drunken Craig asked Mari if there were any ‘conditions’ attached to what we expected to come next. Non-plussed, Mari asked Craig to elaborate. In doing so, Craig ruined our chances to stay in what I imagine would have been the two most comfortable beds in all of Columbia, with the company of two beautiful ladies. No, they were not prostitutes!

Nice going Craig.

Flying to the coast

After the hard road travel of the preceding three days it was nice to take a plane the next morning to Bahia Solano on the Pacific Coast despite having the whisky blues and a nagging annoyance with my companion.

With its sleepy demeanour and the sounds of Vallanato music drifting in the humid fug, the town was quite a contrast to the bustling streets of Cali and Medellin. This peaceful backdrop was juxtaposed, however, by a large garrison of troops stationed there to protect the locals from the FARC. They were reassuring and menacing in equal parts.

Our main goal was to surf in El Valle. We were not particularly bothered about exploring because we would be back in a few days, so we spent the night forgetting about the previous night’s indiscretions over some cold beers and laughs in the local beach bar.

Finally in El Valle

After a backside bruising minibus ride, arriving in El Valle the next morning was like entering the Garden of Eden. The colorful Jungle foliage, the volcanic structures, and black sand beach all made the previous few days of travel totally worth it.

So eager was I to get in the water that I discarded my t-shirt, shorts, flip-flops and bag at Craig’s feet, much to his consternation, and ran headlong into the blue of the Pacific like a man in remission from drug therapy. Passing locals no doubt muttered, “El Gringo es loco” as I flailed my arms in my crazed race to the sea, but I didn’t care. I was home.

Time to get surfing!

We walked along the sea front and looked at the beautiful El Almejal Eco Lodge before settling on the less glamorous, but budget friendly, Hotel Valle ($4 a night). It was clean enough and all we needed was a place to crash at the end of each day, so it suited us fine.

The clerk told us that if we wanted to surf we should walk down the beach until we found a shack with surfboards outside. We did so and met a bunch of guys from Cali who shaped boards and hired them out to the few travellers who ventured there. They told us about all the local breaks, the conditions, and the best times to head out. I was really starting to fall in love with the place—and that was before we even went surfing!

Surf conditions set to stoked

The break was everything we’d been waiting for. It broke and barreled both left and right for a good distance (100m or so) and was fast and powerful. We were both in our element and loving the lack of lineup as we rode wave after wave all the way into the shore with its palm trees and lush greenery. Come dusk I literally had to be pulled out of the water. “Don’t worry.” I consoled myself. “You’ll be back tomorrow.”

The next morning we woke up early paddled out in to an even bigger swell and hit the surf hard. The low barrels were long enough for a decent ride and the short boards we’d hired were ideal for the conditions. We were in our element as we paddled out time and again and the waves continued to grow into more and more impressive sets.

I shanked a few, but these were better than we’d expected. The previous afternoon we’d had to pump the boards towards the end, but not today. My internal choir was singing “Hallelujah, hallelujah, hal-leigh-lu-jah,” as I sat back looking over this idyll.

Once again I was sorry to leave the water, but early nightfall forced us in. We ate a dinner of fresh fish and hot chilli sauce at the hotel and relaxed, looking out over the distant ocean. We had finally surfed El Valle. We would end up staying a week before heading north to the Arrecifes in Tayrona National Park, but for now we were truly in paradise except for one small problemà: the town was dry. Beer delivery had been delayed.

As I said everything is relative, even in paradise.

About The Author, Josh Aggars
Josh writes about beach life, surfing, travel and more. His passion for surfing takes him to amazing places around the World and comes through in his regular articles as he explores all aspects of the sport. He sells flip flops to help fund his travels and supplements that with his surf writing blog.

The post Everything’s Relative on a Surf Trip Through Columbia appeared first on XpatMatt.

RELATED GUIDES

Sydney Guide

Perth Guide

Place

Melbourne, Australia

Location

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria, situated on the southeast coast of Australia.

Nearby Towns/Cities/Villages

There are several well-known towns and cities near Melbourne, two of the more notable are St. Kilda and Portsea, a popular holiday destination that is home to some of the most affluent families in Australia.

Climate and Geography

Located on the bay of Port Philip, Melbourne’s city center sits on the estuary of the Yarra River. The topography of the 8806 km² city varies, ranging from valleys (Yarra and Dandenong Creek) to lowland mountain ranges (Dandenong, Macedon), to bustling metropolitan sprawls, to flat volcanic plains, to beautiful beaches along Port Philip Bay (there are more than 36 for sun-worshippers to enjoy!).

The climate varies as wildly as the landscape. The city is said to experience “four seasons in one day.” Temperamental weather changes occur due to a clash between the warm inland climate and the cool southern ocean. Hail and heavy rain may occur suddenly in one area, while another area nearby remains dry. After storms rain-drenched areas will clear up and become sunny and calm, as if nothing had transpired. Melbourne’s oceanic climate produces warm winters and cool summers.  The average daily temperatures range from 26°C in January to 15°C in August.

Description

An international city that was voted the second-best place to live on the planet, Melbourne has a population of 4 million people. It attracts visitors from around the globe with its renowned festivals, fantastic shopping, alluring landscapes, colorful arts and culture scene, and major sporting events such as The Melbourne Cup, Formula One Grand Prix, and Australian Rules Football. Known as the sporting capital of Australia and the “Ultimate Sports City” of the world, adventure enthusiasts will be in their glory with an array of adrenaline-spiking activities to choose from.

One activity growing in popularity in the area is known as “adventure racing”. In this sport teams of 2 – 4 people test their endurance levels with intense bouts of kayaking, cycling, swimming, mountain climbing, hiking, and running. These competitions can last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. Other popular activities center on the plentiful beaches, where visitors can go kiteboarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, and boating.

Activities in the Melbourne Area

• Adventure racing
• Scuba diving
• Snorkeling
• Rock climbing
• Hot air ballooning (wildly popular)
• Skydiving
• Horseback riding
• Kayaking
• Kiteboarding
• Surfing
• Hiking and trekking
• Camping
• Whitewater rafting
• Aerobatic flying
• V8 Racecar driving
• Paragliding
• Skydiving
• Boating

On a Budget?

• Melbourne hotels and hostels are designed to fit every traveler’s budget. Hostels range from $18-50 USD per person per night, and one can find many budget hostels and hotels near the State Library of Victoria and Melbourne Central. Campsites on the beach with a stunning view of Port Philip Bay are available near the city. There are also numerous sites tucked away in the wilds of Victoria, for travelers looking to get up close and personal with nature.
• Melbourne offers the daring diner many enticing options. It is known as the “foodie capital” of Australia (seems that Melbourne is #1 for many things in Australia). Due to the international flavor of the city, visitors will find restaurants with fare from all corners of the globe. On the cheap end, one can expect to pay around $8-13 USD per meal.

Photos

[nggallery id=20]

Images (in order) courtesy of, colros, chrisleishman, Looking Glass, eguidetravel, Lucid-Dreams, Looking Glass, macinate, Paleontour, Looking Glass, and thomasrdotorg on Flickr.

Map

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Melbourne Vacations

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