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Colombia, Colorado, Costa Rica: The “C” Trip

Last Updated: October 12, 2020

Colombia, Colorado, Costa Rica: The “C” Trip

In the Sacred Valley of Peru, the worst of the rainy season (which is also summer in the southern hemisphere) is in January and February. Having heard tales of being socked in with rain and dealing with epic amounts of mud, I figured it would be a good time to travel from Peru for a few months.

And so, I’m currently in the throes of what I’ve dubbed The “C” Trip.

Granted, I didn’t leave until towards the end of January, and although this year the rains are reputed to have come late, they were far from intolerable before I left. The heaviest rains generally fall at night, and even the daytime rain is periodic, and the thunderstorms are dramatically entertaining.

But after five months in Peru my visa was almost up, and the traveler in me was happy to make an excursion of it.

Introducing: The “C” Trip:

This post was originally published in 2015. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. 

Colombia

posing on the streets of Bogota Colombia

Colombia has long been on my list of places to visit, with a family friend who spends half the year in and around Bogota having issued a standing invitation for years now. I’m currently wrapping up my two-week stint in Colombia (spent in and around Bogota), and will post news of my related adventures and discoveries shortly. It has been a very insightful couple of weeks.

See also: Letters From Colombia: The Safety, The Food, The Life

Colorado

From Colombia, I’m headed to Colorado for a few weeks, via a few days in Florida. Florida seems to be one of the most consistent places I’ve visited in the last few years, due in large part to my having friends in various parts of the state, and also because it is a bit of an airline hub, with cheap flights to Florida easily getting me to/from Canada, the Caribbean, and Central/South America.

My choice of Colorado is a bit odd for me, given that I’ve been on a permanent mission to avoid winter for the last eight years – and a largely successful one at that. So why would I throw myself into the depths of winter in Colorado with such a track record, you ask?

Two reasons.

First of all, there’s a boy involved, and a very special one at that, who I met while he was visiting Peru and have been quietly involved with for a few months now. I’m not going to say any more on that topic as it’s still new, and my track record in the romance department hasn’t been stellar (with a few breakups in my repertoire). So I’m until I have something noteworthy to say, I’m keeping this relationship to myself. (Aside from just having spilled the beans, which you can now forget about).

Secondly, although I know I’m horribly underprepared for the cold, I’m actually keen to play in some snowy mountains. When I lived in Canada, I used to say “snow is great…until you have to go somewhere and run errands in it. Then it sucks.” Well, I don’t have any errands to run or an office to commute to, so I’m going to see if I can muster up some pure childlike enjoyment of the snow.

That, and the boy I’m staying with has a hot tub, so if the cold is unbearable, I’ll just spend three weeks in the hot tub. Totally manageable.

See also: A Curious Bubble in Boulder, Colorado

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the third “C” place I’m visiting in this two-month excursion, and is not only a great place to defrost after Colorado, but I also figured it was about time; when I started traveling full-time eight years ago, Costa Rica was the first place I was going to visit before I got distracted with other destinations and opportunities.

(The boy and) I have friends who live on the Osa peninsula, so we’ll be staying with them for about three weeks, and enjoying the sunshine, beaches, creatures and critters, flora and fauna, and more.

See also: Why I Have Nothing to Write About Costa Rica

Packing for Three Seasons

I’ve stood proud for the last few years that everything I own fits into a carry-on bag. But since Peru’s high-altitude climate is a bit chillier than the tropical climates I’ve generally traveled and lived in, and since it’s now a place I’m calling home, I’ve gone and done this whole “nesting” thing and accumulated more stuff. As much as this stuff is largely practical, it has also meant that a carry-on bag can no longer handle everything I own.

Thus, packing for a two-month trip taking me through three distinct climates (high altitude Colombia, winter in Colorado, and tropical Costa Rica) was not the easiest task. I still managed to fit everything I needed into my carry-on bag, but let’s just say it was a tight fit.

(I brought a scaled-down version of my former full-time packing list which could handle most seasons and scenarios, but required a checked bag).

Changing the Way I Travel: Same Same But Different

I’m changing the way I travel; something I’ve alluded to in the last few months, and something that won’t surprise long-time readers of this site, who will have sensed that I’ve tired of living completely nomadically after so many years.

But the biggest thing that has changed is simply that I have a place to return to in Peru; my motivations for travel remain the same; I let my destinations choose me based on opportunities (like having a place to stay or a house-sitting/volunteer gig to enjoy), I prefer local experiences, and I like to travel slowly.

Also, I like trips with themes. For example, here are a few themes I’ve explored in the past:

  • I rode 11,000kms of trains in Australia in 11 days straight (as part of a longer 16,000km journey), all to see if it was possible to become bored on a train
  • The following year, I did the Ultimate Train Challenge, traveling 25,000kms from Lisbon to Saigon in 30 days, all by train (both of these experiences were fodder for my book Tales of Trains: Where the Journey is the Destination)
  • I attempted to conquer my fear of the ocean by spending three months living on boats (not a night on land), spanning five boats and three countries
  • I visited eight countries in three weeks, in an effort to “embrace my inner tourist”

…and now, I’m on “The C Trip”. This theme is less premeditated and more coincidental in nature than some of my previous themes, but it strikes me as a fun coincidence that every place I’m visiting starts with a “C”. Who knows…maybe I’ll carry on with the trend through the year. Where to next, I wonder? Calcutta? Corsica? Croatia? Let’s see what further destinations choose me in the months to come.

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Filed Under: Colombia, Costa Rica, Life as a full-time traveler, travel planning, USA

About the Author: As a former CFP (Certified Financial Planner), Nora Dunn traveled full-time for over 12 years. She is an expert in remote work, long-term travel, financially sustainable lifestyle travel, and much more. She is a celebrated author, speaker, writer, coach, and YouTuber. Read More…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dan says

    February 2, 2015 at 11:46 am

    Really enjoyed this post Nora and looking forward to hearing more about your time in Colombia. Outpost just had a team do an expedition across Colombia and it made me wish I could visit.

    Reply
    • Nora Dunn says

      February 2, 2015 at 2:45 pm

      Hey Dan,
      Yes, Colombia is a very interesting country indeed! Lots of misnomers of the past to overcome, lots of kind generous people, and lots (and lots) of good food! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Josie says

    February 2, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    Hi Nora,
    Have always enjoyed following your journey — which is as much without as within — and this latest chapter is one where I feel much peace from you. You have much to offer, my friend!
    Wishing you safe and happy travels,
    Josie

    Reply
    • Nora Dunn says

      February 3, 2015 at 8:07 am

      Thank you SO much, Josie! I value the insight from readers like you who have been along for the ride for so long, and can “read between the lines” to sometimes show me things I didn’t even know I was expressing. But yes! Inner peace prevails these days. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Lindsay Keeling says

    February 4, 2015 at 3:55 pm

    I really enjoy reading your posts. I have been reading for over a year now and hope to one day travel like you do. Hopefully when I’m doing with my student loans I can plan to do so. Thank you for this great blog!

    Reply
    • Nora Dunn says

      February 4, 2015 at 6:04 pm

      Thanks, Lindsay! Happy (eventual) travels!

      Reply
  4. Ian says

    February 6, 2015 at 11:33 pm

    The Colorado section sounds pretty chilly … hope you get in some skiing though!

    Reply
    • Nora Dunn says

      February 7, 2015 at 12:54 pm

      Hi Ian,
      Greetings from Colorado, where it’s (ironically) warmer than Florida was! Although I can’t expect weather this warm for my entire three-week stay, it’s a lovely way to acclimatize. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Susan says

    February 10, 2015 at 2:15 am

    It’s quite remarkable for a woman to pack 3 months of gear into a carry-on. You are truly a seasoned traveler.

    Reply
    • Nora Dunn says

      February 10, 2015 at 11:31 am

      Ha ha – thanks, Susan! My bag might be a bit full this time with 3 seasons to pack for, but it’s worth it for the convenience and ease of traveling with carry-on only.

      Reply

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I'm Nora Dunn. I traveled the world full-time for 12 years, and I still travel for half the year (pandemics notwithstanding).
Expert on long-term travel, personal finance (as a former CFP), remote work, and lifestyle design.
If there's a high-adrenaline activity, I've probably done it. Weird food? Eaten it. Former shaman's apprentice. Always an actor/singer/dancer. Professional speaker. All that. And more…

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