a home for wanderers, risk takers and trailblazers
No Maps or Foot Tracks is not your typical travel blog. On these pages, it’s all about embracing the destination-less journey, tuning inward as you go outward, and leaving room for chance encounters, unexpected detours, and adventure to find you. You know, the stuff of the best travel tales.
You’ll find curated travel guides and personal narratives from my own open-ended wanderings. Consider all of it a launchpad, a “start here” so to speak, for your own heart wide open, intuition-led trust fall of a journey through the places and spaces I’ve been wandering just a few steps ahead of you.
Here, we leave the maps at home and forge our own footsteps.
Introducing…
Road Trips & Van Life
My road trip era officially has a home on my blog. Check out the Road Trips & Van Life page under Journeys for travel stories, route ideas, and the real tools I use to make life on the road feel effortless and adventurous.
Latest from the Travelogue
From Prescott’s pine forests to the Grand Canyon’s south rim, this final chapter follows the road back to Phoenix and the end of a nine-day journey I’ll never forget.
Picking up in Joshua Tree National Park, my solo campervan adventure through the American Southwest continues in Part 2, where the road stops feeling new and more like a life I want to continue living.
Read about the first three days of my solo nine-day road trip through the desert Southwest in a campervan, from Phoenix to Joshua Tree National Park.
This is the literary lineup moving me, challenging me, and expanding my world view page by page, set in places I’ve been, places I’m going, places of the past, and—my favorite—places of pure imagination.
12 days of discovering (in hills and high water mind you) that perhaps my solo travel life is over and that a new more "people'd" part of my life is beginning.
Two weeks in Ireland is behind me, but a newfound love for Irish culture, its people, and its cottage-coated countryside lives on.
In 2023, I finally dusted off my long-lost childhood dream of learning to surf. In this post, I share that journey as it continues to evolve, dropping names of some of the surf camps, surf spots, and surf instructors I’ve appreciated along the way.
No Maps or Foot Tracks is written by me - Amber Dunlap. I’m a travel writer & blogger originally from the United States.
Follow the adventure in real time. I’m @nomapsamber on Instagram.
Latest Posts
From hidden rooms above buzzy new Afro-Bahian restaurants to award-winning eco-resorts reachable only by funicular or on foot, this guide is meant to help you choose the absolute best place to stay in Boipeba.
From Moreré’s natural pools and mangroves teeming with bioluminescence and aratu crabs to sustainable stays and local heritage, this Boipeba travel guide is the perfect first step to visiting Brazil’s car-free paradise responsibly.
I spent three weeks exploring every inch of Itacaré so you don’t have to waste a day of your stay. Here’s what I discovered from best bites to beaches, surf schools, and parts of town to stay.
Wondering where to stay in Itacaré? From eco-resorts nestled on protected land to pool-clad pousadas, social surf hostels, and tucked away apartments, these are the best places to stay in Itacaré, Bahia according to someone who sampled a little bit of them all.
A week was hardly enough at this surf and yoga retreat on Bahia’s coast. Read about what it was like, from the waves to the daily yoga, plant-based meals around the same table with the other guests, and afternoon excursions for fresh açai and sundowners by the mangroves.
Trying to decide where to stay on the Peninsula de Maraú? During my time exploring this stretch of Bahia’s coast, I stayed in five different pousadas and retreats across Algodões, Cassange, Taipu de Fora, and Barra Grande. Here’s what each one is like—and which travelers they’re best for.
Brazil is one of the most rewarding countries to travel, but getting connected when you arrive isn’t as straightforward as you might be used to. Here’s what you need to know about purchasing a SIM card as a tourist in Brazil.
The Maraú Peninsula is one of those rare places that still beats by the rhythm of nature, not noise and too many tourists. Here’s a guide to where to stay, what to do, and where to find the best bite or beachside bed in this precious paradise in South Bahia.
Planning a trip to Brazil? Here’s what to know before you land — SIM cards, visas, money, transportation, and practical arrival tips.
Before you book the pousada, before you pin the surf spot, before you learn how to pronounce acarajé, there are a few things you should know about Bahia, the northeast Brazilian state that’s at the epicenter of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Looking for less crowded things to do in Florence? These quieter museums, churches, and historic sites offer a deeper, more thoughtful way to experience the city.
Inspired by a moving novel and not my own foot tracks (for once), I’ve crafted this guide to Latvia and Riga as a way to supply some much-needed context to Latvia for those visiting, but also for those who may never get there.
This is the epic 9-day road trip route I followed through the American Southwest in December, starting and ending in Phoenix with everything from saguaro valleys to ponderosa pine forests, high desert, mineral hot springs, and the Grand Canyon in between.
Discover where locals actually eat in Barcelona with this neighborhood-by-neighborhood food guide, featuring hidden gems, authentic bodegas, and favorite local spots.
Discover the four classic Roman pastas—Carbonara, Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe, and Gricia—and the best places to try them in Rome, recommended by a local.
This is the guide I wish I had before visiting Florence—a streamlined, no-overwhelm roundup of the essential apps you’ll want on your phone for your trip to Florence (and Italy).
Sampling Naples’ local and traditional cuisine is as important as visiting Pompeii or climbing Mount Vesuvius. In this guide, I share not only what to eat in Naples, but the backstory behind each and every bite.
This is your guide to exploring Budapest’s Jewish Quarter beyond the ruin bars. From hidden cafés to powerful memorials, dive into where to eat, stay, and experience the soul of District VII.
Discover the best books set in Florence—historical fiction, thrillers, and literary classics that bring the city to life before your trip.
From the bustling Centro Storico to the charming Oltrarno and serene Campo di Marte, here’s a definitive guide to choosing where to stay in Florence, by neighborhood and by budget.
Whether you’re working or studying, Florence has more than a few spots that welcome the laptop-clad crowd. In this post, I share the coffee shops, study nooks, and cafe-restaurants that served as my “office” in Florence.
Discover how to spend one perfect day in Bologna, Italy — from historic piazzas and whispering arches to markets, towers, and unforgettable food tours.
Learn what to expect if you’re trekking the Annapurna Circuit during monsoon season, from weather patterns and best trail sections to essential gear, safety tips, and alternative routes.
After a recent craving for Sri Lankan cuisine, I turned to this recipe for Sri Lankan Chicken Kottu Roti by The Flavor Bender. Here's a peek at what it was like to prepare my favorite Sri Lankan dish for the first time at home.
In this guest post by the culinary experts at Eating Europe, you’ll learn about the seven dishes you must try while in Lisbon, plus where to find them and what to sip alongside each.
Máncora, Peru, is a surf town with perfect lefts, year-round waves, and an endless summer. Here’s what it’s like to stay and surf in Mancora at the eco-surf lodge La Maison.
Cusco’s been adding its fair share of dishes and drinks to the Peruvian menu for centuries and these six are the ones to be sure to save room for.
Surfing in Morocco offers epic point breaks, consistent swell, and stunning coastlines. From Taghazout’s Anchor Point to hidden gems like Asilah, this guide covers Morocco’s best surf spots for every level.
Cartagena is home to quite the collection of coffee shops, but after 2.5 years of calling this Colombian Caribbean city home, these are the five that rise to the top of the list.
I'm letting you in on my favorite coffee shops in Lisbon, the spots that never fail for a good cup of coffee, with or without my laptop.
Travel Guides
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Oaxaca, Mexico
A crossroads of ancient culture, mouthwatering cuisine, the great outdoors, and deeply rooted spiritual undertones, Oaxaca will enchant you.
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Cartagena, Colombia
A feast for the senses under the sweltering Caribbean sun, Cartagena is an unforgettable destination if you but look past its made-for-tourism facade.
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Florence, Italy
The capital of Tuscany since the days of Julius Caesar and a feast for all five senses, Florence is the Renaissance, not just the birthplace of it.
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Sri Lanka
A land of vibrant contrasts, Sri Lanka is a place that packs an incredible journey into its small frame, from golden beaches to sacred temples, untamed wildlife, and so much more.
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Costa Rica
Known for its nature and pura vida lifestyle, Costa Rica’s people and places will reframe your lens on life and leave you appreciating even the little things.
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Nicaragua
With a tropical disposition and refreshing authenticity, Nicaragua’s the sort of place that makes you feel part of it just because you’re there.
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Planning a PNW road trip? Here’s the scenic weeklong Pacific Northwest itinerary I followed in my Roadsurfer van — from beaches to forests to tribal lands.