Granada Everyone goes. I was told even though I wouldn’t like it, I had to go. Despite the notable amount of harassment to buy crap and even straight up just hand over a dollar, being a tourist in Granada was a good time. It was 95 degrees. Alex had a fever and I wasn’t feeling… Read More
Isla de Ometepe Exactly a year later from my first in-and-out international dip, I’ve chased more adventures than I can remember. I’ve learned so much about solo backpacking and testing my limits. This time, I led my own trip for the MLK 2016 holiday. First stop: the beautiful volcanic island in Nicaragua’s largest lake. Day One… Read More
Backpack El Salvador El Salvador is ridiculously deserted and therefore beautiful. The beaten path isn’t beaten. Guatemala and Nicaragua have bigger lakes, taller volcanos, and more hostels. El Salvador only wins in making the headlines for crime. With proper caution, two days was enough for me to enjoy the nature and people unfiltered. BUDGET BREAKDOWN: *This is only an… Read More
Salvadoran Shenanigans—Normal Weekend Edition, Volcán Santa Ana Minimum time, maximum adventure. If this is your style, check out Day One. Day Two Santa Ana → Lake Coatepeque → Cerro Verde → San Salvador Rise and shine. It tooka minute to figure out the stairs to the terrace are hidden within the kitchen. I was alone watching the morning sun… Read More
Salvadoran Shenanigans—Normal Weekend Edition, Ruta De Las Flores Jamaica didn’t quench my thirst. After finding cheap airfare, I convinced my trip leader from January to lead another expedition. Except this time, we were way further off the grid, had less days to work with, and we had my father in tow. Day One Somewhere in the atmosphere → San Salvador → Sonsonate → Nahuizalco… Read More
Backpack Panama With it’s strong Latino culture, temperate nature, and throng of backpackers, Panama will always be special to me for the wild yet safe stay I had as a solo female traveler. It’s a great destination for beginners to learn and for the more seasoned to wander beyond the beaten path. BUDGET BREAKDOWN*: Duration- 10… Read More
Panama Transportation Tips Long Distance Collectivos, or shuttles, and overnight charter busses (that use way too much AC) connect the capital with the rest of the country, and prices are quite expensive compared to the rest of Latin America. Sometimes the same trip was double the cost of what the 2013 Lonely Planet reports. A major transfer… Read More
Atacames This small beach town off the northern coast of Ecuador was the base for 80 premed students including myself on our Spring Break. With a population sitting around 11,000 and located within the Esmeraldas province, Atacames can be reached via bus from major cities and hubs. It’s hot, run down, we walked everywhere… and that was precisely the charm… Read More
Chiriquí: Boquete At Last I had been eyeing this dreamy town growing in tourism long before I left American soil. So happy to have made it, I took a slow day to people watch, and enjoyed the bonus sunshine while spending a surprisingly low amount of money. Day 9 I woke and set up to meet up, and… Read More
Chiriquí: Orchids and Quetzal Trails I recommend combining Las Nubes and Finca Dracula, home of the largest orchid collection in Panama, in one day. The Sendero Los Quetzales should be done downhill going from Cerro Punta to Boquete and given it’s own day, as both endpoints of the trail are not actually in sufficient civilization. Definitely hike with a buddy, and… Read More