I've lost track of the number of times I'm asked how and what I eat in those situations. There is an idea that people that explore or spend extended times away from villages towns or even people, like me can rustle up a meal from the wild in any situation. Popular TV channels have reinforced this idea repeatedly over the last decade. However, the truth is that learning how to survive on wild fruit, berries, and bugs is a complex and often dangerous process. Unless you know what you have stumbled across, without any doubt, there is a good chance of poisoning yourself.

As I prepare for my next trip to Colombia, I can’t help but think of the last time I visited the frontier town of Jurado in Colombia, close to the Panama border. It was June 2021, and I had visited the small town to begin building a network that would assist me in my plan for an expedition to cross the Darien Gap. I knew that if I was ever going to be successful, I needed a base of operation where I could reliably call upon contacts to help.
It had taken a long time to reach the town, firstly in a small 6-seater aeroplane that nearly rattled the teeth out of my head, and then two small boats, known locally as Lanchas. It was hot and humid, with temperatures often exceeding 30 degrees.
I found myself in a local bar and struck up a conversation with a man I recognised from the boat that had finally brought me into Jurado. He regaled me with tales of his career as a captain of one of the two boats that ply the pacific coast from Bahia Solano. While he did tell me his name, I will not divulge it here for security reasons. Having visited and written about my trips to Colombia on several occasions, I have a Colombian readership. I will not put anyone at risk by naming names for reasons I’m about to explain.

So you have caught the adventure travel bug and you are gearing for your next international trip. At the same time, overseas excursions are hard to pull off and the logistics can seem overwhelming. You're making plans, booking rooms, finalising work arrangement, preparing to board the plane-- have you stopped and ask why you're doing it all in the first place.

June of 2021 I spent some time in Colombias Choco department the area is in the extreme north west of the country as rural and remote as a person can get in Colombia. This was all to do with planning and prepping for an expedition in the area where I looked for local guides who knew the area and could take me to some photogenic areas in the two days I was there I was referred to a local man called Marlom.

Travel writers from all over the world have inspired me to venture further and deeper into the unknown. Two writers in particular have stuck with me…
Let’s take it back in history. In 1771, the Scottish explorer Mungo Park was born. In 1796, Park set off on an adventure down the Niger River in West Africa. The river runs from the Guinea Highlands near the Sierra Leone Border, across Mali and Niger to meet the border of Benin where it then travels through Nigeria and eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean. His travels in this region led him to publish his experiences in his influential book Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa. I found it a compelling read and it is a must for anyone looking to pursue a future in travel and exploration.

Working with Battleface Insurance; Protection for the Most Dangerous of Journeys

As I prepare for my upcoming trip to Colombia, it is vital that I take all possible precautions. The risks of this journey are numerous including, but not limited to being detained, going missing, and getting injured.

However, I feel as comfortable as I can knowing that I am protected through Battleface Insurance. Their adventure travel and crisis response insurance policies give me peace of mind that whatever may happen while I’m there, they will have my back. In this article, I want to briefly outline the purpose of my trip, provide an in-depth description of how Battleface is keeping me protected, and let you know how you can follow my journey and support me, if you are interested in doing so.

At one point on the expedition, I actually had to move a python from the path in front of me which was surreal, to say the least. On the same day, we also had to wait two hours for a female orangutan to move off our path. It would not have been safe to scoot around her- they are bigger than you think. Eventually, she shifted and we were able to continue with our hike. Seeing the Orangutans close though was an incredible experience…and the excitement didn’t end there. I’ll never forget watching the Macaque monkeys steal our pancakes on my 18th birthday morning. Not very typical for a young man's 18th, but nevertheless, I was over the moon to be chilling out with the Macaques on my birthday.

Envisage your first lads holiday: a quick two-hour flight to Spain, a week of sun, and a load of booze and babes...
Well, I had my sights set on something slightly different for my 18th birthday.
I was 17 years old and had just left my first job at the local zoo. Shortly after leaving, I received a cheque from the taxman for £800. That is a lot of money for a 17-year-old and I had no idea what to do with it.

Those of you who follow my blog will know how much I enjoy travelling to Colombia. The country has had my attention since I first hopped off the plane back in 2014 on just a short layover. Since then, I have been back 4 times…and I am not done with the country yet! In a few weeks’ time I will be hopping on a plane back to Colombia; I cannot think of a better place to start travelling again after COVID restrictions lift!

Making new friends and acquaintances on the road is one of my favourite things about being a solo traveller. I have not only explored all corners of the globe and travelled in the most unconventional ways, to the most amazing places, I’ve also met some of the nicest, kindest people out there. Travelling is not just about how many countries you visit, or how long you spend on a trip, it’s about the people you meet on the way.