Keep Going: An Unexpected Travel Podcast

In 2019 the last prison island in the Americas closed down. Islas Marías was home to some of Mexico’s most feared criminals, and political prisoners, but was shuttered following reports of terrible conditions. In 2022 Mexico’s navy began allowing tourists to visit the archipelago, showing visitors cells, parrots, graveyards, beaches, and explaining the islands’ dark past. I took a long ferry ride for a weekend on Islas Marías.Watch full video episodes on YouTube. Writing, recording, narration: Jamie FullertonSound editing: Samira TazariMusic: Olguita AcuñaPodcast artwork: Nini Giunàshvili You can buy Islas Marías weekend tours from the islands’ official website, Visitaislasmarias.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fuego Volcano in Guatemala is one of the most active volcanos in Central America, sometimes erupting multiple times an hour. The eruptions have proved deadly for people living in the shadow of the volcano, but hiking Fuego has become popular with adventurous tourists. Locals have signed up serve them as volcano guides, risking their lives for better income. I joined an overnight hike on Fuego, when the volcano was at its most active.Watch full video episodes on YouTube. Writing, recording, narration: Jamie FullertonSound editing: Samira TazariMusic: Olguita AcuñaPodcast artwork: Nini Giunàshvili To book a Fuego Volcano hike tour from Antigua with the company I went with, see V-hiking.tours.This episode uses snippets from the following news reports, under fair usage rules: CBC News: Eruption of Guatemala's Fuego volcano killing dozensNBC News: Guatemala Volcano Eruption: At Least 62 Killed, Many MissingTRT World Now: Guatemalans recall terror of Fuego volcano eruptionNBC News: Dramatic immigration raid jars a small townAssociated Press: ICE Agents Raid Meat Packing Plant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every new year in Boruca, a remote Costa Rican village, Indigenous villagers wear garish masks and bull costumes for rituals commemorating their ancestors’ battle against Spanish colonisers. Today Indigenous Borucan culture is still under threat, and over time the rituals have come to represent Borucans’ modern independent spirit. I travelled to Boruca to witness Danza de los Diablitos: the Dance of the Little Devils.Watch full video episodes on YouTube.Writing, recording, narration: Jamie FullertonSound editing: Samira TazariMusic: Olguita AcuñaPodcast artwork: Nini Giunàshvili Danza de los Diablitos takes place from December 30 to January 2 each year.To visit Boruca see www.borucacostarica.org or email borucacostarica@gmail.com.A daily bus runs from the town of Buenos Aires to Boruca, from the Terminal Gafeso bus stop. Check with bus stop staff for current departure times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keep Going: An Unexpected Travel Podcast is a new podcast from travel writer Jamie Fullerton. The first episode is out on January 6, 2026, then episodes will come out every two weeks. Each episode features an on-the-ground travel story that’s in some way… unexpected. There will be travel stories from Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Germany, England, Albania, Bulgaria… and beyond. There will also be a full YouTube video for each episode, so, subscribe to the podcast’s channel: www.youtube.com/@keepgoingtravelpodcast Written, recorded and narrated by Jamie FullertonSound editing by Samira TazariTheme music by Olguita AcuñaPodcast artwork by Nini Giunàshvili Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.