Uncharted Earth | Travel Stories

Exploring Three Types of Climbing in Colombia

Rock climbing can be an epic part of your adventure trip in Colombia with several locations that are perfect for climbing. There are many different climbing techniques and methods. Here is a breakdown of three of the most popular options.
The Banaue Rice Terraces: Visiting the Eighth Wonder of the World

A tour of Banaue in the Philippines is not only a great adventure trip but also a lesson in sustainability. Carved into the hills over 2,000 years ago by indigenous Filipino tribes, these working rice fields provide the primary rice crop to many local vendors. Aside from being named one of the Eighth Wonders of the World, historians look to the rice fields as a beautiful example of how humankind and nature can both flourish under the right design.
The Best Beach Destinations in Colombia that You Can’t Miss

These are the top beach destinations that you can’t afford to miss during your Colombian adventure. Make sure to bring the SPF and the camera to capture the breathtaking views.
Spelunking Adventure Awaits in the Hundred Caves of Tagabinet

Puerto Princesa is famous for its underground river, found 80 km north of the city, but it is also home to the “Hundred Caves” of Tagabinet. These caves are a colorful utopia for spelunkers (cave explorers) around the world.
Bogotá's street art: A Colombian rennaissance

Make sure to set aside some time in your Colombian adventure trip to check out Bogotá's graffiti. Boasting more than 5,000 murals and 8,000 active street artists, Bogotá has become a thriving international mecca for urban street art.
Discovering the Sagada hanging coffins and indigenous burial traditions

Serene, eerie and fascinating, the hanging coffins of Sagada are a unique Philippine tour destination. Hung from cliffs, these vibrantly colored caskets offer visitors a peek into over 200 years of history and local tradition.
Why the Philippines Needs to be Your Winter Destination

Winter is coming! If you’re looking for the perfect tour to sun and sand the Philippines is the perfect place to go. Find out some of the reasons why a Philippine adventure is the perfect winter getaway.
Colombia’s golden past: Uncovering the legend of El Dorado

You don't need to travel far from Bogotá to go on a great adventure in one of Colombia's most legendary travel destinations. Famous for their association with El Dorado - the lost city of gold - the glacial lakes in the Chingaza National Natural Park, along with Lake Guatavita, have captured the imagination of adventurers for centuries.
Cocora Valley: The star of Los Nevados

No Colombian adventure trip would be complete without a tour of the undisputed star of Colombia's Los Nevados National Park: Cocora Valley. 'Cocora' comes from the name of an indigenous Quimbayan princess and means, 'Star of Water'. The mysterious and beautiful cloud forest in the valley makes that name especially apt, and the towering and rare wax palms have become a sort of symbol for the valley, drawing curious travelers from around the world.
The Enchanting Puerto Princesa Subterranean River & National Park

Not many locations offer a sense of mystery like the Puerto Princesa subterranean river (commonly referred to as the Underground River), so perhaps this is why it is one of the country's most famous tour destinations and was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012. Located approximately 30 miles north of the city of Puerto Princesa (the capital of Palawan), this marvel of nature is a top destination for visitors to the Philippines.
Three Reasons Why Colombia Needs to Be on Your Rock Climbing Hit List

Rock climbing is one of the most exhilarating and deeply satisfying activities around, and going on a climbing trip in a place like Colombia blows most other travel experiences away. Here are three reasons why a rock climbing trip in Colombia is one of the absolute best experiences you’ll ever have.
Tayrona National Park: A Caribbean paradise

Just a short one hour drive from Santa Marta is one of the most famous travel destinations in Colombia – Tayrona National Park. This tropical haven boasts 30 square kilometers of sea, and 150 square kilometers of beach and rain forest, with mild tropical temperatures year-round. It also has some of the most scenic and photographed beaches in Colombia.
A Vanishing Tribe: The Batak People of Palawan

There is only an estimated 450 Batak people left in Palawan, composed of approximately 50 family groups. That makes them the smallest of the indigenous groups in the region. You can experience the village and culture of the Batak people, and be part of the positive steps ensuring their survival.
Three Trails in El Cocuy That Will Take Your Breath Away

El Cocuy National Park is one of Colombia's best hiking trip destinations, housing some of the world’s most stunning mountains and glaciers. There are currently three trails that are open for visitors and if you’re a nature enthusiast, it would be crazy to miss them.
Three Spectacular Snorkeling Sites in the Philippines

Warm tropical waters, spectacular coral reefs, and a variety of sea creatures make snorkeling in the Philippines one of the most popular tour activities for travelers. There are so many islands to explore it might take a lifetime, and each has something special to offer, so we have narrowed it down to three of the top destinations for snorkeling in the Philippines.
How to Travel in Colombia with Multiple Generations and Have The Most Fun

When it comes to planning a family trip to Colombia, there are sure to be some great times ahead if you customize your adventure tour.
5 Must-see attractions in Los Nevados National Natural Park

Travelers can whet their appetites for adventure with a variety of hikes and tours all over Colombia, but there are 5 attractions that make Los Nevados a "must see" destination.
Diving the Philippines? Discover a jewel of marine biodiversity

There's a reason why a diving trip in the Philippines is on every diver's bucket list. Although there are many dive sites around the world that offer breathtaking marine life, diving in the Philippines elevates the underwater experience to a whole new level.
Getting Hitched? Check out These Filipino Honeymoon Trip Ideas

One of the best parts about getting married is the fun and exotic honeymoon that follows the wedding. Thoughts of long summer days with beachy bliss epitomize many couples’ dream vacation. But where to start? The Philippines of course! So after you’ve walked down the aisle and dropped off the wedding presents at home, jump on a plane and live out one of these Filipino honeymoon fantasy vacations.
Colombia will steal your heart

Colombia's reputation as a dangerous place makes people think twice about traveling there for an adventure tour. Well it's true, you need to be careful when you visit Colombia: your heart may be held hostage by this amazing country and you may never want to leave.
The Top Three Reasons Why You Need To Customize Your Philippine Vacation

When you’re traveling solo to the Philippines, it’s nice to join a group tour to make new friends and form lasting bonds with fellow traveling nomads. But when you’re traveling with a partner, with family or you’re a newly married couple, it might be best to book a custom trip so that you can tailor your trip to your specific needs and wants.
Cordillera: The most intimate encounter in the Philippines

The adventure was magical from the start. We awoke surrounded by mountains covered with a fine layer of mist, on one side the moon as a witness and on the other the sun slowly rising to light up a new day. In so little time from leaving Banaue I was amidst the most beautiful landscape: rice terraces, shining under the sun, within green mountains that seemingly had no end.
Three things you didn't know about the Banaue Rice Terraces

A tour of the Banaue rice terraces is a must-do for many people visiting the Philippines. Known in pop culture as the 8th Wonder of the World and recognized as the oldest rice terraces in the planet, this site is truly impressive. Here are three things you might not know about these magnificent terraces.
Four amazing destinations in Bogotá

Bogotá is a central hub for adventure and the jumping off point for many tour destinations around Colombia. Located in the heart of the Andean mountain range, the city offers plenty of attractions for the curious traveler. Here are four of the best attractions that Bogotá has to offer.
Top 6 exotic dishes on the Uncharted Philippines menu

Cultural immersion is an important part of every Uncharted Philippines adventure. And since food is one of the most significant cultural expressions, we consider it our duty to give our guests a true culinary adventure. Here are six of the best dishes on our adventure menu.
Babuyan Islands: Reconned

After two trip postponements due to bad weather, the Uncharted Philippines Adventure Team finally pushes through with its reconnaissance of the Babuyan Islands. These are the daily accounts of our (mis)adventures.
Palawan: The best combination of adventure and leisure

"I like beaches, but if I have a choice between them and mountains, I choose the latter". This was my way of thinking before I went to Palawan. Now I know there is a place where being beside the sea does not imply simply sun bathing and rest.
Lubang: An island of surprises

The beaches of Lubang Island were amazing. Yes, their coral reefs were good for skin diving, but even if I kept my head above the water I would have been fulfilled. The landscape created by rocks and cliffs contrasting with sand was spectacular. I explored rock formations and discovered wave-beaten caves and hidden pools filled with colorful fish. Again I wondered, and relished, how such a place could be so unknown.
Babuyan Islands recon: Take two

This is THE Uncharted adventure. We need to do explore this place NOW. The Babuyan Islands, unglamorously named as they are (babuyan is Tagalog for piggery), will be Uncharted Philippines's feature adventure.