Range Bight of Benin
This is the last peak of the trip, a small hill with communication masts and a dirt road. We left our car at one of the forks, although with a larger car it might be possible to drive all the way to the top (rough road). At the top we found a trig pillar, a…
Range Bight of Benin
The storm had completely stopped by the time we reached the bottom of the mountain. We parked our car on the main road and walked up the almost perfectly formed spiral road to the top. We were able to take in all the surrounding views at least four times; twice on the way up and…
Range Bight of Benin
Today is a short day and we have to catch a flight home sometime this afternoon. We chose a couple of peaks within easy reach of the airport. The first was Pico Boa Entrada. It’s not very high, but it has a nicely shaped volcanic crater. Our first attempt to get close to the slope…
Range Bight of Benin
The last of today’s summits was relatively easy, but harder than expected. We tried to approach from the south-east, but were turned back by some gentlemen, so we drove around the southern peninsula and parked our car on the side of a rough forest track. A stronger car could have gone a few more kilometres,…
Range Bight of Benin
Before the second summit of the day, we stopped for coffee at the lodge cafeteria, which has a beautiful sandy beach lined with palm trees. The drive through the potholes was worth every minute. From the cafeteria we could see tourists getting into small boats and heading for Ilhéu das Rolas. This small island lies…
Range Bight of Benin
We started our day trip to the south of the island with a short and easy hike to Aida Peak. We left our car at the oil palm plantation and walked along a rough road, greeting a few locals carrying breadfruit on their heads. One of them followed us and later explained that he lived…
RegionSão Tomé Province
After descending from Pico de São Tomé, we had about half an hour before sunset, so we decided to explore the west coast with no particular destination other than sightseeing. We soon stopped at the beautiful beach south of the village of Diogo Vaz and enjoyed the colourful sunset. Rob climbed some sea stacks, the…
Range Bight of Benin
The hotel offered us an early breakfast at 5am, but we politely declined as we were afraid it would take too long. We then drove for almost an hour to a resort where our guide, Zezito, was supposed to be waiting for us. When we arrived, the gates were locked and no one seemed to…
RegionAin Guezzam
The journey from Lisbon to São Tomé is long, but the scenery is spectacular. The aircraft passes through Portugal and Spain before crossing the Mediterranean and entering Algeria. After flying over the Sahara, the route passes through Niger, Nigeria and a small corner of Cameroon before reaching the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea and…
RegionBerlin
Berlin is the capital of Germany and one of the most vibrant cities in Europe. It is home to a rich culture and history, with a wide range of attractions for visitors to explore. From world-class museums to beautiful parks and gardens, there is something for everyone in Berlin. The city also has a bustling…
RegionBerlin
The Pergamon Museum and Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin, Germany is a fascinating experience for the curious traveller. It offers exquisite exhibitions of antiquities from different civilisations and contains over twenty different collections such as ancient Middle Eastern architecture, classical sculpture, Islamic art and Roman mosaics. We choose to go to the museum instead of wandering aimlessly around the city. I am glad we did, as there were some really fascinating relics and artworks on display.
Range Costa Rica-Panama Ranges
Our main goal on this trip was to climb ultra and ribu peaks in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. We plan to fill the time between the ultras with P600 or lower peaks. There will be plenty to choose from as we travel along the Pan-American Highway from north to south. Long flight from Prague to…
RegionZürich
Long stop at the airport. I check out the nearby mountains and peaks that might be accessible at this time of year. Nothing really attractive, so plan B - sightseeing in the city. I buy a return train ticket and spend half an hour wandering around the streets of Zurich.
RegionDelaware
The plane took off from San José in Costa Rica and flew over the east coast of the United States before landing in Newark. Many places can be seen from the plane's window, including Cuba, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and New York. We also flew over parks, rivers, oceans, beaches and cities. There were lots of fun places to see!
Range Costa Rica-Panama Ranges
I wanted to squeeze in one last adventure before my flight home. A great way to do this is a short hike up Cerro Rabo de Mico. Located near the capital city of San José, the hike itself is relatively easy, with a moderate incline, and takes about two hours to complete. I was following…
Range Costa Rica-Panama Ranges
Cerro Chirripó is a remarkable journey in Costa Rica, situated in the Talamanca mountain range. It stands tall at 3,819 metres and is the highest point not only in Costa Rica, but also in the Cartago, Limón and San José regions. Being ranked 36th on the "World Top 50 by Prominence" list, it is a must-see for all nature enthusiasts. The stunning views from Cerro Chirripó are part of the wondrous experience of visiting Chirripó National Park.
Range Costa Rica-Panama Ranges
Volcán Barva is an impressive inactive stratovolcano in the Central Valley region of Costa Rica. Located about 30 kilometres northeast of the city of San José, it is the highest peak in the Heredia region and the Braulio Carrillo National Park. The volcano's summit is covered in lush vegetation and is home to a variety of wildlife including howler monkeys, toucans and sloths, the Pristimantis altae frog and the poisonous Bushmaster snake. Our main interest is a real summit, less than a kilometre from the tourist viewpoint.
Range Costa Rica-Panama Ranges
Volcán Miravalles is a stratovolcano located in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. It is the highest peak in the Cordillera de Tilarán, rising to over 2,000 metres above sea level. The volcano powers several geothermal power plants at its base and offers hot springs for tourists. As usual we start early in the morning…
RegionChinandega
Exploring Nicaragua for the first time was an incredibly enjoyable experience. From the picturesque hikes to the active volcanoes and the hospitable locals, I was left with fond memories and a greater appreciation of the country and its culture. The food was organic and delicious, and the people I encountered were always welcoming and helpful.
Range Central Central America
The shuttle takes us from Managua to Liberia in Costa Rica, but we have plenty of time, a couple of hours drive and not much to do the rest of the day. So we look at the map and see a tourist sign for the Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya. There is also a small peak…
Range Central Central America
The ferry leaves in the afternoon, so we get up early and make our way to the Volcano Maderas trailhead. The road is asphalted and not bad, but the biggest danger is the “sleeping policemen” who are hard to see. But that’s what they were invented for, to drive slowly. I can say that they…
Range Central Central America
An active stratovolcano, the most prominent lake mountain in the world, the most prominent mountain in Nicaragua, and maybe the “most” of something else… For us, it’s enough that it’s an ultra peak. We try to get on the first ferry in the morning, but we don’t know if we’ll make it. To transfer the…
Range Central Central America
After a successful ascent of Volcán Cosigüina, we head towards Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America. It is also known by several other names: Lake Nicaragua, Lake Cocibolca, Lake Granada, Lago de Nicaragua, Lago Cocibolca, Mar Dulce, Gran Lago, Gran Lago Dulce or Lago de Granada. I would not be surprised if there…
Range Central Central America
After breakfast we say goodbye to Renee. She and Dave have successfully climbed some peaks in Honduras and yesterday we climbed together Volcán San Cristóbal in Nicaragua. Today she is on her way to Managua to fly home, Dave and I head for the Gulf of Fonseca, where the Cosigüina volcano rises on the coast….