Embracing Spontaneity: Anxieties and Victories on My Solo Travel Journey

Without a doubt, it is obvious that on a journey of solo travel, anxieties are bound to rise. But, at the end of the day, it is truly about how we move through tense emotions with grace and ease.

Before heading into the mountains for a week and a half with no service, I booked a flight to Puerto Montt. Locals advised Puerto Varas, just 30 minutes away, as the better place to stay.

Not sure how I was going to get to Puerto Varas, on the plane I met a group from Wisconsin heading towards Puerto Natales. They kindly offered me a ride, refusing my offer to buy them all beer. First bingo!

I found Casa Azul, a highly-rated hostel, through a Chile guide at the airport. Arriving without a reservation, I met the German owner. The hostel's cozy ambiance, with incense, homemade kombucha, and a Buddha statue, instantly felt like home. I paid 76,000 CLP, having exactly 77,000 CLP in my pocket—Second bingo!

In a time without plans or service, I managed well. Did I learn a lesson? Yes, spontaneity isn't always comfortable for me. Plans ground me, even for a night's stay or navigating a new city without service.

After settling in, I met Huug, a Dutch traveler fresh from Easter Island. His stories inspired me to book a flight to Easter Island after spending an hour together searching in three different languages all over the web to find the cheapest flight out. I scored one for around $400—a dream come true and my third bingo!

Coincidentally, during a meditation in the mountains, I envisioned a beach in the near future. Now, I'm not only going to a beach but to Easter Island, known for its historic sites and warm climate. A Texan I met in Ushuaia, a month prior, even offered me a top guide on the island who is available to take me around—my fourth bingo in ONE day! Not only that, the guide Martin, invited me to his uncle's birthday BBQ so I could get a taste of the culture for myself.

Despite these anxieties of having no plan and hoping for the very best, there was already a clear path the universe had set out for me.

This journey reaffirms that the universe guides and supports us, whether we realize it or not. Life on Earth truly is a magical ride—always learning, always loving!

Have you ever embarked on a spontaneous journey? Share your favorite memory!

Xoxo,

Chelsey