Two years ago, I planned a trip to El Salvador for my then-boyfriend and me to celebrate both of our birthdays.
I poured my heart into arranging every detail of the holiday. After all, this was one of the few destinations neither of us had visited before, which is rare because we’re both well-traveled.
I booked flights and hotels, reserved a rental car, and meticulously crafted an itinerary that covered Mayan archaeological sites, volcano hikes, and cultural heritage museums while giving us ample time to relax along El Salvador’s volcanic black-sand coast.
But two weeks before the trip, our relationship ended. I canceled the bookings and forgot about visiting El Salvador … until I decided to visit my 95th country earlier this year.
At first, I wasn’t sure where to go — I mostly wanted to visit a country that wouldn’t be too expensive to get to from Uruguay, where I’m currently based.
Once I realized I had enough travel points to cover a flight to El Salvador, I booked my ticket.
It felt empowering to reimagine a couple’s getaway as a solo travel adventure
Ecstatic that I’d selected a destination I’d already researched, I revisited the itinerary I’d carefully arranged two years before.
It felt empowering to book my “revenge vacation” as it was a destination I had once dreamed of visiting with my ex-boyfriend. Now, it would be a place I’d get to explore on my own terms.
I needed to tweak the itinerary a bit now that I was traveling solo, but I was relieved that I’d already done the bulk of the planning beforehand.
Throughout the trip, I found ways to troubleshoot and adjust my plans without sacrificing what I wanted.
The hotels I had previously selected were now out of the question on my one-person budget, so I rented more affordable Airbnbs operated by locals. I liked being able to support the tourism economy — and, luckily, my rentals were quite nice.
I no longer felt comfortable renting and driving a car, but navigating local transportation between the destinations I wanted to visit in El Salvador seemed like a headache, and Uber availability was limited.
So, I booked transfers on the Daytrip app, which connects travelers with local drivers. While heading from the coast to the city, I was able to add sightseeing stops, including one at a series of natural spring water pools.
I also served spots on group experiences to more easily visit the sites I wanted to see.
I was worried I’d have to pay for a minimum of two guests, which I’ve seen many tour operators require, but I was able to find tons of single tickets on travel marketplace GetYourGuide.
So, without paying fees for being solo, I joined a tour of Mayan archaeological sites and a guided hike up El Salvador’s tallest volcano, Santa Ana.
This trip helped me fall back in love with traveling by myself
Going alone on a trip I’d initially planned as a romantic vacation helped me fall back in love with solo travel. It reminded me of my tenacity to immerse myself in a destination.
I enjoyed the freedom to plan my days as I desired and make last-minute changes, such as quickly leaving a so-called “artisanal” market when I realized it was an overpriced tourist trap.
I spent lazy days on the coast, reading for hours, swimming in the Pacific Ocean, and grounding myself in the pitch-black sand.
Solo travel has always been my modus operandi. I’m glad a breakup didn’t stop me from eventually visiting another of my dream destinations.
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