Take the Leap!... But How?
I have the whole world to explore – what can I do to make it a better place?
The idea of solo traveling is to boost your confidence and develop a greater sense of independence as you venture out into the world. As a disclaimer, traveling alone isn’t limited to international travel. You can also solo travel within the country! For my readers from the United States, you can take a road trip to a different part of your state, across the country, or be a tourist in your own city. Either way, everyone should experience going on a solo trip at least once because it gives such a profound meaning to life. But because it’s safer to travel in a group, the thought of being alone in an unfamiliar place can be quite intimidating.
Do not fret! Every solo traveler has expressed doubt or some fear about traveling alone for the first time. Trust me, I know.
Of all the things I could've done, why solo traveling?
Exploring the world to find my calling was what drew me into solo traveling. From adventurous family trips to Central and South America to volunteering in Panamá through the program Amigos de las Américas, I have always yearned to expand my knowledge and live an existential life. To me, traveling means more than just visiting hot tourist spots to take pictures for Instagram. It means trying things that I haven't done before, expanding my food palate, and meeting new people.
I journaled a lot during the past few months, filling the pages with reflections about life and random moments of wisdom. Amongst the observations, I realized that since I only have less than three months left in Chile, I have to make the most of this time by pushing myself to live life to the fullest… But how? As an ambivert, the thought of exposing myself to endless possibilities by embarking on a journey is exciting because you never know who you might meet or what you would discover about yourself along the way. Although, expecting the unexpected was just as daunting because first experiences can be overwhelming. Especially when I'm planning these trips by myself, which I also experienced for the first time.
Despite living in Chile and visiting Buenos Aires, I haven't seen the world. San Francisco will always be my home, but there is so much more to life than following a routine. It's genuinely about connecting and being open to change.
1. Make A Decision
You must be wondering, “Okay cool story, bro. So how did you take the first step to travel?”
The answer is simple; Change that fearful attitude! This helps overcome any fear or anxiety of traveling. I found this very useful because it allowed me to do intensive research on where to go, what to do, and how to budget my trips. Instead of writing in my journal about how I can grow as a person, I wanted to test myself by applying the life lessons that I’ve learned so far (speaking Spanish and practicing Buddhism) to my trip to Chiloé. By doing this, I decided to act on my dream to travel rather than to think about it.
2. Planning
The best part about planning solo trips is that you decide how active you want to be. It's honestly to each their own; do you want to sightsee? What about taking day-excursions? How do you feel about cultural trips? Or, if you're like me, why not all of the above? To anything in life, you'll have to do your research.
Researching solo traveling can be overwhelming at first because, naturally, you probably have no idea where to begin. Also, travel companies are abundant on the internet that provided good deals and programs that sometimes offered 10-day excursions throughout South America.
Two key factors will ensure a successful plan for your solo trips; you have to actually know where you want to go and what to do, and ask for guided group tours.
Cascada Tocoihue (left); We had lunch at a microenterprise of agrotourism in Isla Lemuy (middle); Parque Yayanes (right) – Turismo Queilen Chiloe
GUYS! I cannot stress how vital guided group tours are. Not only can you explore the unknown with the possibility of making new friends or meeting the love of your life (I haven't… yet), you can do it safely without having to worry about straying from the trail and get lost.
Traveling opened me up to learning how I interact with people as well as changes. It challenged how willing I am to actually experience life, which meant signing up for guided group tours. I didn't have to sign up for them, but the reality was that this is my first time going to Chiloé – when will I ever have the chance to revisit?
My trip to Chiloé was an experiment, so I played it by ear because I already secured my transportation method. However, that is not how you want to go about your first solo trip because traveling by yourself is a huge deal. I was lucky to book a weekend tour exploring the archipelago, but it taught me that I should make a full itinerary before traveling.
Whether you prefer to do some rigorous activities such as day trips and trekking or sightseeing, it's essential to be prepared by making a full itinerary beforehand. Why? It's a list that ensures your transportation method, where you're going to stay, and, of course, which activities you plan on doing during your trip. Because it's a detailed list of your whereabouts, your itinerary will reassure your family about your safety (Tip: ALWAYS check in with your family at the end of the day, even if you posted on your social media platforms).
Don't forget to write about your thoughts and experiences! You can thank me later...
3. Budgeting
Another thing that you can do to help ease your anxiety about solo traveling is budgeting. Budgeting is huge! It's not something you can play by ear. As I've mentioned before, the internet provided an abundance of fantastic travel programs for young solo travelers just like yourselves. It made me feel excited! I thought, Wow! I get to meet other solo travelers through these programs? A lot of the programs I came across cost about $1,000, if not more. But don't let that stop you from living your best life!
If you really think about it, there's no need to make reservations for a travel program with an itinerary that includes staying in hotels that offer both Instagram-worthy excursions and a spa. So how does one budget their solo trip responsibly?
When I visited the travel agency, I limited each trip to under USD 1,000 (at least CLP 693.920). That way, I can save up some cash to spend on souvenirs. Don't you want to bring your friends and family a little gift from your adventure?
Dalcahue, Chiloé
For the solo trips that are made without a travel agent, I strongly suggest using Booking.com if you've already heard about this site, great! If not, you should definitely familiarize yourself because it is a lifesaver and easy to use.
Sometimes, hostels don't provide breakfast. I know. Shocker right? Since that was the case in Chiloé, I found it extremely helpful to look up affordable restaurants on TripAdvisor while making my itinerary. That way, you will know how much you need to spend and how much money you want to save for pocket cash.
I can't help that I like a little bit of luxury now and then, so I looked up at least one or two restaurants that were a bit pricey. It's not something I often do, but I like to treat myself to a fancy dinner as a reward for stepping outside of my comfort zone. It's also a romantic gesture myself to promote self-love and self-care.
Restaurant Don Octavio – Castro, Chiloé
As an exercise, I imagined what my life would be like if I haven't traveled. I shouldn't use my imagination so much because it's easy to make illusions that differ from reality, but this is a small creative exercise I like to practice now and then. Anyway, I would still be happy with my life because there is always something to learn… but it would feel empty. I need to travel because I firmly believe that the world is full of many wonders.
How you can take the first step – in any situation!
In your case, whatever it may be, you only need to set up a plan and go for it. Why not add some small goals into that plan as well? There is no such thing as waiting for "the perfect time" because it simply doesn't exist.
The only time it does exist, however, is now. Today! But it's your call actually to do something about it.
My travel blog is different from others because I am very passionate about self-improvement and traveling. I am incredibly excited about this blog. Not only because it's my first time publishing my work, but it's because I finally fell in love with myself. Through Buddhism, I am truly enamored with my soul and who I am as a person – baggage included.
In the future, I will continue to talk about traveling, but I also want to talk about how I found myself after practicing Buddhism; what motivated me to take action and live life to the fullest. Don't worry; my goal isn't to convert my audience to become Buddhist. I only talk about it in my blog because that's what worked for me. Even though I would like my peers to practice with me, I understand that everyone has their own method that brings out their best self. It's like a workout plan, and everyone is on a different level.
