Traveling to 16 Countries by 23 Years Old

Traveling to 16 countries by the age of 23 has been accomplished with a heart of curiosity and determination. See all the countries I have been to here. Travel is my passion, I want to continue traveling the world and sharing it with you to inspire the generations to come and women like me that traveling is possible. Travel has shaped me into the women I am today and I am grateful for the life I live because of it. I have creating this beautiful baby called Chasing Los Sueños, I am a social media manager for Latino World Travelers.

How it Started

It all started with weekend trips to New York. My parents would take me out to New York until 4 am back in the day just walking around seeing the lights and PLENTY of window shopping. New York inspired me that the world is just so much bigger than us tiny humans. And I knew I always wanted to chase that sensation, hence Chasing Los Sueños.

Once I turned five a my baby brother came along we went on a family trip to Colombia. I don’t remember much from my own head, BUT my parents love pictures and video – which is why I am obsessed with social media. They recorded and photographed so many moments of all our trips that it’s like a memory to me. What I do remember is the big trips to amusement parks and attractions, playing in the streets until nightfall, enjoying food. I love Colombia and I will continue to advocate it is one of the best counties to experience once you are a more seasoned traveler.

Going in 2023 we traveled Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena y Bogota. It was a whole summer of just family and fun. If you are planning on going to Cali soon, check out our 72 hours there! As I mentioned trip of a lifetime. Parque de Cafe, Pananca, beaches, lakes everything you can imagine was packed into a month of traveling. Thank you mom and dad, los quiero mucho!

Traveling to London & Paris

I turned 15 in the summer of 2015. Organizing a Quinceañera in less than two months because the whole year I had asked for a trip and last minute I decided on a Quince. Still working on being more decisive! The Quince came out to be one of the most amazing parties I have ever experienced. I was the baby girl turning 15 and it showed. From that birthday I received about $1,700.

Later that year I started my Sophomore year of High School in Bodine High School of International Affairs in Philadelphia. At the time, I only DREAMT of going to Paris, France. It was a bucket list place to go. A few months into the school year Bodine announced their collaboration with EF Tours taking Bodine to Europe, specifically London and PARIS!

What did I do? I paid for the whole program with the $1,700 I got from my quince and went to London and Paris with my best friend, 40 other students and 10 teachers. THIS trip is what launched me to decide that I was going to travel for the rest of my life. I learned so much history and about how to navigate an unknown city. Funny enough I came back to Philly raving about my love for London.

Studying Abroad in Thailand

Years later in 2019 I was an incoming Sophomore at San Francisco State University. The only non-negotiable task I gave to myself in College was that I had to study abroad. As soon as I was able to apply I did. I applied and everyone knew. Everyone assumed that I was going to Europe little did anyone know that I had applied to Thailand for two trimester (7 months) and South Africa for a year! Oh man I remember my dad talking about me going to England or Italy and I was just like yeaaaaa no in my head. Sorry dad I love you!

I got into the program and finally told my family that I was going to Thailand! SHOCKED, my family was, but I had always known that Thailand was the country I wanted to study abroad in because of their culture and well my family wasn’t going to go to Asia any time soon.

So I packed my bags and left my life as I know it to study abroad in Mahidol University in Salaya, Thailand. As of now, I did a bulk of my traveling while studying abroad, going to most of the Southeast Asian countries. It was the trip of a lifetime. I can honestly say Asia is the best place for beginner travelers. It is fairly easy to get around and rich in culture and experiences.

Moving to Colombia

Graduating in 2021, the pandemic was casually lifting and I was in a mid-life crisis. I wanted to ruuuuun. So in 2022 I ran to Colombia. I moved to Colombia for about 7/8 months and it was a time. Enthusiastically I thought I was going to run the world in Colombia. I was full of ideas and ready to take on such a big decision, I wasn’t coming back to the states, so I thought. I struggled in Cali. Feeling alone, I ran into so many obstacles. It was like every time I tried something I would fail. I was miserable, but the day-to-day moments is what I lived for. Walking down the block to talk to neighbors. and dancing salsa in the middle of the streets. I lived for these moments because it was my only escape from loneliness.

In Colombia I traveled all over la zona cafetera, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Cali. Learning about my culture and where I come from was priceless. But I was not happy. I got into an awful relationship and had little to no money. I was losing my job and becoming depressed. Although this beautiful country was right in front of me, my life was hitting road block after road black to the point that I packed my bags and went home to my immediate family in New York. Oh that feeling of relief when I was with my parents at the airport…

Traveling to Japan

But life has a way of turning itself around and showing you it ain’t that bad. My now boyfriend invited my on a trip to Japan in 2023 with a couple of friends. At the time I was not in the place mentally to go, but who can pass up a trip to Japan? I worked in catering as a server day in and day out because I could not find a job for the life of me. I made roughly $2,000 and went to Japan for 14 days.

This trip was a trip that reignited a flame in me. I came to terms that although I may have to settle down and stay put for a year or two I am going to travel the world. As soon as I got back I went to the drawing board and re-launched Chasing Los Sueños porque los sueños nunca se pierden solo se agrandan. For 72 Hours in Tokyo read more here.

Next Up: The World

Bueno Soñadores, this is how I traveled to 16 countries. These are the big moments that define those trips and vacations to come. I want to see the world, learn from others and share that. It is possible, and it is beautiful. Although scary at times, traveling is a feeling like no other. Do not let fear keep you away from discovering this world we were blessed to live on.