I'm currently sitting at Sea Breeze Guesthouse in Belize City after an all-day bus ride from Punta Gorda on the southern coast of Belize. I met a very friendly guy of Mayan descent on the other side who was catching the boat to his family farm after renewing his papers in Guatemala City. He talked about growing cacao and coffee with great enthusiasm, and even invited me to take a tour of the farm, but I decided to continue onward after crossing Amatique Bay. My journey started in Guatemala for a yoga/meditation retreat, then I hopped on my flight to San Jose to shoot tours on assignment for CostaRica.com. This opportunity was all expenses paid, until eventually I was flying the drone in a cloud forest, the battery died, and I was forced to land it in the rainforest. We never recovered my precious Mavic Pro and had to end the contract early. I decided to use the funds intended for a new drone to set out on a hero's journey! I've been exploring Central America by bus/shuttle for nearly a month now. It's been challenging at times. A few examples include getting stranded overnight at the Guatemala border and Mexico City Airport, missing a boat to El Salvador and riding in a truck bed back to the city, being kicked off a bus for insufficient funds, hiking two of the tallest volcanoes in Central America, losing my drone in Monteverde, and the list goes on... These were all valuable teachable moments. This is what I love to do more than anything else. My next destination is Caye Caulker, a Caribbean island off the coast of Belize. After a few days of island hopping, I will continue onward to Tulum, Mexico. I've heard nothing but good things about this tropical paradise and I can't wait to experience the white sandy beaches with my own senses! I've achieved my audacious goal of visiting all the countries in Central America, with the exception of Panama.
This blog post is part of a continuing series on How To Travel For Cheap that will eventually become a book consisting of 25 bite-sized chapters that will provide aspiring travelers the courage to set out and explore the world on his/her own. Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels...
Continue reading if you're interested in learning more...
In the following chapters I will explain how to travel for cheap by offering actionable steps you can take to live a life of independence and freedom. If you’re currently working a 9-5 job and want to escape the rat race of the corporate world to experience beautiful locales outside the confines of your office, you’ve picked up the right book. All of the advice in this book comes from direct personal experience during my travels on a limited budget. Whether you are traveling solo or with a group of close friends, the same guidelines apply. I typically prefer solo travel because it forces one out of their comfort zone and encourages individual growth. It can sometimes be difficult if you don’t speak the native language, but luckily enough people speak passable English in most countries. If you’re worried about the uncertainties of short-term travel, I will attempt to put your fears at ease in the following chapters. In this modern age, it’s easier now more than ever to live independently using the ubiquitous technology at your fingertips. So what’s preventing you from traveling the world?
What is our purpose on this planet? This is the question that keeps most inquisitive people up at night. If you were to die tomorrow, what would be your last experience in this human body? It may seem morbid and dark to ask these questions but it is the key to making your wildest dreams a reality. Life is short from a cosmic perspective, so there’s countless reasons to experience greatness in life. What does greatness mean to you? It’s different for everyone, but for the purposes of this book, we will stick to the topic of world travel. It’s possible to work anywhere in the world using the resources you already have immediate access to. All the information is at your fingertips with a simple Google search. There are literally thousands of books and podcasts out there on the topic of affordable travel. I will elaborate on a few of my favorites in Chapter 19. You can spend an entire lifetime consuming knowledge, or working at a job to make money; essentially living in a prison of your own creation, or you can get out there and experience all that life has to offer. It is for these reasons and more that I decided to write this book. If you don’t start, you’ll never know the thrill of finishing an audacious goal. What’s the most effective technique to accomplish a new goal? Commit to it and make a positive step in the that direction. Perhaps it’s quitting your job, booking a flight to your dream destination, selling your possessions, ending a relationship, skydiving, etc. It could be all of them. If you choose a life of freedom, there are sacrifices you must make along the way. I’m not here to pat you on the head and tell you it’s always going to be easy. Nothing truly worth doing ever is. You'll never know what is truly possible until you take that first step...
1. Stay At Hostels
Hostels are the cheapest lodging option for budget travelers. Prices vary depending on the location. The best online resources to find hostels near your destination is HostelWorld. There’s also a free mobile app for Android and iPhone. It’s a simple process to book a dorm or private room directly from the website. For the more risk-averse, I recommend booking ahead of time. Dorm rooms are significantly cheaper and also a great way to meet fellow travelers. We all crave social connection; it's a critical foundation of the human condition. Whether you're extroverted or more introverted, it's great practice to place yourself in situations with opportunities to meet people with similar interests. True growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone. I'm grateful to have met interesting people from all over the world in a few months. We've shared some amazing experiences together that are indelibly written into my memory. My favorite hostel so far is Quetzalroo in Guatemala City.
Thanks for reading! If you've enjoyed this article and look forward to new content, please join my mailing list. I'm also in the process of producing a documentary from my travels in Central America! Donations are also greatly appreciated! As a budget traveler, every little bit counts.
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