The best way to explore an off-beat destination

Rio Secreto Underground River Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Hiking in waist-deep water through dark caves at Rio Secreto, we turned a corner to discover a massive cavern decorated with incredible stalactites all over the ceiling. Spelunking , or exploring caves, is one of my favorite adventure travel activities. I’ve hiked and crawled through natural underground passageways in South Africa, Guatemala, Iceland, and more. But Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is teeming with incredible caves too. There is something exciting about wandering through the darkness, deep into the Earth, not sure what you’ll discover around the next bend. Visiting Rio Secreto gives you a taste of this rarely-seen and magical world. We walked through the jungle to one of the cave entrances led by our guide “Ro”, who told us camera traps nearby had recently captured images of wild jaguars that call the area home. Traditional Mayan Blessing The Maya Underworld Our adventure begins ...

How to Travel Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor Afghanistan In August 2016 I traveled through Afghanistan as an American for two weeks, backpacking across the beautiful Pamir mountains in the Wakhan Corridor. This is how I did it. DISCLAIMER: The US government warns against travel to Afghanistan. Just because I went, does not mean I think everyone should go. The safety situation changes on a weekly basis, and requires a good deal of research/planning. When I told family & friends I was planning a trip to Afghanistan, they thought I’d lost my mind. Afghanistan, the war-torn Centra Asian (or Middle Eastern, depending on who you ask) country full of terrorists, soldiers, car bombs, predator drones, and IEDs. Why the hell would I want to go there? Afghanistan has been on my bucket list for a few years after I met a fellow traveler and public speaker Shane Dallas who happened to share his experience with me at a travel industry conference. I learned that the vers...

Reading Time: 6 minutes Calling all freaks! Key West’s Fantasy Fest, a cross between Mardi Gras and Burning Man , welcomes 60,000 of the most liberal fun lovers every year. A ten day festival situated at the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A., Fantasy Fest is famous for sunshine, body paint, and Halloween shenanigans. Here are some things to know for your next visit! I’m playing dead at Fantasy Fest. Matt Karsten @ExpertVagabond What is there to do at Fantasy Fest? “Everything” may be an appropriate answer. Parades March in or view the Halloween parades and bike rides. Each group of partygoers takes the Fest’s annual theme and twists it to individual tastes. The 2015 theme,  All Hallows InterGalactic Freak Show  inspired space-cowboys, “Star-Trek,” Space Mountain , and a mix of Martians all in various states of dress and undress.   1 of 7,000 costumed riders at Key West’s annual Fantasy Fest. Rob O’Neal...