Mexico’s Tren Maya takes tourists around the Yucatán Peninsula, to cities, ancient Mayan ruins and jungle towns. It has displaced Indigenous locals, destroyed sacred sites and caused environmental carnage.

Mexican authorities have touted the Tren Maya as offering a Mayan adventure and providing jobs and transport for poor locals. I spent a month traveling around the railway route to see how the massive project has affected life near the tracks.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube.

Writing, recording, narration: Jamie Fullerton

Sound editing: Samira Tazari

Music: Olguita Acuña

Podcast artwork: Nini Giunàshvili

You can buy Tren Maya tickets from the official ticket website, Reservas.ventaboletostrenmaya.com.mx.

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Northwest Mexico’s Chepe train route is one of the wildest, most ruggedly-beautiful railway journeys in the world.

Starting in Chihuahua city and ending 418 miles later in Los Mochis, the train cuts through vast canyons, known collectively as the Copper Canyon, and stops at remote outposts.

Much of the region is home to the Indigenous Tarahumara people, many of whom are semi-nomadic and have an uneasy relationship with tourists and Hispanic locals following historic mistreatment by colonisers.

I spent 11 days on the Chepe train route, getting off at all the stops to explore the Copper Canyon.

Writing, recording, narration: Jamie Fullerton

Sound editing: Samira Tazari

Music: Olguita Acuña

Podcast artwork: Nini Giunàshvili

Chepe tickets and train information: Official Chepe train site

Creel hotel: The Lodge At Creel

Divisadero hotel: Hotel Mirador

Cerocahui hotel: Hotel Misión

Los Mochis: Hotel Lorena

Gustavo Loreno, guide: +526351049307

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The Tequila Express train runs from Guadalajara city to the town of Tequila in Mexico’s Jalisco state, and is loaded with bars and booze. The train spent nine years off the tracks, but recently returned.

You might expect alcohol-fuelled carnage on the train, but the Tequila Express offers a rather civilised insight into the culture and legends behind Mexico’s famous fiery spirit.

I boarded the train for a teetotal trip.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube.

Writing, recording, narration: Jamie Fullerton

Sound editing: Samira Tazari

Music: Olguita Acuña

Podcast artwork: Nini Giunàshvili

Tequila Express tickets: Tequilaexpress.mx

Sauza distillery and field tour: Casasauza.com

Atanasio agave field tour: Tequilaatanasio.com

El Tequileño distillery tour: Tequileno.com

Tequila tour guide Luis Alberto Gutiérrez: Estaciontusistica.com

La Capilla: Google Maps

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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 Fullerton

Sound editing: Samira Tazari

Music: Olguita Acuña

Podcast artwork: Nini Giunàshvili

You can buy Islas Marías weekend tours from the islands’ official website, Visitaislasmarias.com.

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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 Fullerton

Sound editing: Samira Tazari

Music: Olguita Acuña

Podcast 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 dozens

NBC News: Guatemala Volcano Eruption: At Least 62 Killed, Many Missing

TRT World Now: Guatemalans recall terror of Fuego volcano eruption

NBC News: Dramatic immigration raid jars a small town

Associated Press: ICE Agents Raid Meat Packing Plant

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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 Fullerton

Sound editing: Samira Tazari

Music: Olguita Acuña

Podcast 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.

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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 Fullerton

Sound editing by Samira Tazari

Theme music by Olguita Acuña

Podcast artwork by Nini Giunàshvili

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.