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Marta Traverso

@traverso.marta

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Solo female traveller, curious traveller, visual storyteller, sharing the world's beauty
Countries 85
📍Currently in Panama 🇵🇦
All pics by me

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𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟴𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟴𝟮 - 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼 (𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗮 🇨🇷)
𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱-𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰
Since the pain in my ribs was manageable with painkillers, we decided to push forward with our Costa Rican adventure! Dave rented a car to maximize his ten-day trip, and after checking the weather forecast—which warned of heavy flooding on the Caribbean side—we set our sights west toward the Pacific Coast!

With no set reservations, our goal was simply to reach the Nicoya Peninsula. We picked a scenic, lesser-traveled route through lush green hills, stopped at a roadside soda for a late local lunch, and braved an endless traffic jam caused by road repairs. We paused for photos at the iconic Taiwanese-Costa Rican Friendship Bridge, marveling as the landscape opened into flat pastures dotted with grazing horses, before finally rolling into the 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼 late that evening

Exhausted from the long drive and my aching ribs, we checked into a comfortable hotel Dave chose, then headed out for dinner. Even midweek, Tamarindo was buzzing—loud music pouring from bars, a vibrant craft market, and endless dining options!
𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘀 & 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀
The next morning greeted us with a family of howler monkeys swinging through the trees right outside our room! We ate breakfast on the terrace with a sweeping ocean view, and Dave suggested extending our stay by a night to rest. I was more than happy to stay put!

We spent the day swimming and strolling down the coast, where we discovered local Ticos setting up beach camps with coolers, tables, and pop-up tents for a full day by the sea. We retreated to our room during the hottest hours to nap, and since cloudy skies ruled out a sunset, we headed back into town for drinks and a hunt for budget-friendly food away from the overpriced beachfront menus

Most of all, we spent the time catching up, laughing, and starting a whole collection of inside jokes that would follow us for the rest of our road trip together! Stay tuned for our next stop!
#tamarindo #nicoya #guanacaste #costarica #solobackpacker taken in Tamarindo Beach,Guanacaste ,Costa Rica by @traverso.marta

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a day ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟳𝟳 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟴𝟬 - 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘀é (𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗮 🇨🇷)
𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀
I left La Fortuna planning to spend a night in San Ramón, which my research suggested had a mild climate and accessible hiking. The winding road through lush rainforests was breathtaking, but once I arrived, I realized San Ramón was just a busy commercial hub with the mountains sitting far in the distance! I quickly pivoted and hopped on the next bus straight to 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘀é—still two days ahead of my meetup with my dear friend Dave
Having visited San José years ago, I remembered it as a gritty, uninviting city. So after checking into my simple hostel, I skipped late-night exploring, grabbed food at a nearby supermarket, and called it a night. The next morning, I headed to the central market for a bit of local flavor, saving the major sights for when Dave arrived. Do you remember Dave? We last saw each other when I was in Madrid and he came over from Barcelona for a quick visit!
𝗔 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁
Then, the evening before Dave was due to land, disaster struck: 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 near my hostel! I was terrified and in pain, but after an emergency room visit and 𝗫-𝗿𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀, a dose of serious painkillers brought huge relief
The following morning, I moved from my hostel to the comfortable hotel Dave had booked for us (Dave is definitely not a backpacker!). We spent the morning catching up before heading into the city center for a late lunch and some gentle sightseeing
We put all our travel plans on hold to see how my body would handle a day on my feet. Did we manage to explore Costa Rica together, or was I forced to rest and recover longer? Stay tuned to find out!
#sanjose #costarica #solobackpacker taken in San José, Costa Rica by @traverso.marta

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6

3 days ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟳𝟰 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟳𝟳 - 𝗟𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮 (𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗮 🇨🇷)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹
The journey from tranquil Ometepe Island in Nicaragua to La Fortuna in Costa Rica was an absolute marathon—switching between numerous local buses, a ferry, and an international border crossing over fifteen gruelling hours! But the final leg driving around Lake Arenal at sunset, wrapped in lush tropical vegetation, made every minute worth it
I chose La Fortuna because, although I’d visited Costa Rica before, I had never explored the Arenal region—and once again, I was chasing higher elevation and cooler air! I arrived exhausted in the evening, grabbed a quick bite, and called it a night
𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝘂𝗯
The next morning greeted me with cloudy skies and a tropical downpour—a total delight after weeks of relentless sun! Once the rain cleared, I set out for my classic new-country routine: cash, a local SIM card, and exploring the town
La Fortuna is a compact town built entirely around tourism, catering largely to well-off international travelers. The streets are packed with agencies selling volcano hikes, hot springs, sloth and macaw tours, zip-lining, and coffee farm visits. But my dear friends, the prices were absolutely through the roof! Fellow backpackers had warned me Costa Rica was pricey, and seeing these tour rates confirmed it instantly
𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 & 𝗔 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻
Hoping to bypass the high price tags, I asked around and set off on random trails to spot sloths or find a DIY hike, but every single path led to fenced-off private land requiring hefty entrance fees. To top it off, the iconic Arenal Volcano towering over the town remained hidden behind thick cloud cover for my entire stay!
Even so, I truly enjoyed the cooler temperatures and refreshing drizzle. And while my original plan was to breeze quickly through Costa Rica on my way south, everything changed when a dear friend announced he was flying in so we could explore the country together! Stay tuned for our reunion!
#lafortuna #costarica #arenal #solobackpacker taken in La Fortuna, Alajuela, Costa Rica by @traverso.marta

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12

4 days ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟲𝟵 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟳𝟰 - 𝗢𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗲 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗮 🇳🇮)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱
I left Granada early to beat the heat, but still spent hours waiting under the brutal sun for the bus to Ometepe Island. To reach the ferry, I transferred to a shared taxi and queued for tickets, guided by a kind local woman who helped negotiate fair fares and warned me to catch the last island bus on arrival
Ometepe is an island formed by two massive volcanoes connected by a narrow isthmus, and I’d picked a simple hostel on the far side. While the ferry crossing was breezy, the final bus was sweltering and crammed—meaning I arrived exhausted once again! Thankfully, my hostel sat right on Lake Nicaragua with a breezy terrace
𝗢𝗳𝗳-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻-𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 & 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁-𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆
Ometepe offers endless volcano treks and tours, but almost everything requires hiring a guide or paying hefty fees. But after asking around, I pieced together my own free hikes through a local coffee farm and a permaculture hostel—no guides or motorbike rentals needed!
Though every postcard shows towering volcanic peaks, low clouds hung over the island my entire stay, and I never caught a single glimpse of them! Still, the lush greenery, peaceful village rhythm, and shimmering lake views made me fall in love with this sacred place, considered by indigenous communities to be the birthplace of local gods
𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 & 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗻
Legend says these shores hold travelers captive, but while I extended my stay a few days, I didn’t completely succumb—mostly because there are no ATMs nearby and shops charge a 6% card fee! Once my cash dwindled to just enough for transport, I caught an early bus back to the ferry pier
Another long journey lay ahead, including crossing into a new country! Can you guess where I headed next?
#ometepe #nicaragua taken in Ometepe Island, Nicaragua by @traverso.marta

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36

6 days ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟲𝟱 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟲𝟵 - 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮 (𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗮 🇳🇮) // 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗼
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲
The day of the national horse parade finally arrived! Promising live music, huge crowds, and endless horses, I was so excited to experience this celebrated Nicaraguan tradition

Late afternoon, as the heat eased, I headed to the main parade route. The first horses were already strutting down the streets, with grandstands packed and live music blasting from VIP stages along the boulevard

Most people were strolling right alongside the horses—dancing to street musicians, sipping cold drinks, and cheering. I joined the crowds on the pavement, which is when I made a discovery: It turns out I am terrified of horses! Especially spirited animals stepping right next to you in tight, crowded streets
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘃𝘀. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀
I also couldn’t help feeling sorry for these beautiful animals forced to parade in the brutal heat, covered in sweat and performing complicated steps while skidding on the paved streets. Uncomfortable in the crowd, I moved toward a quieter spot near the end of the route

There, a local explained the traditions. The horses in the first group were humble farm horses, adorned with ribbons by their owners. The second group featured prized show horses—specifically bred for these exhibitions. The contrast was night and day, both in the horses, their ornate tack, and the elaborate outfits of the riders! But what I also saw was how proud Nicaraguans are of their horses and traditions, and how many women were proudly riding

By sunset, I’d had enough of being scared a horse would run me over and felt I had seen enough animals suffering and proud owners, so I returned to my guesthouse
Preparing for the Island
The next morning, Lisandro packed his motorcycle and left while I stayed one more day to research my next stop. Once again it was going to be a long, uncomfortable leg involving a ferry to a volcanic island! Stay tuned!
#granada #nicaragua #solobackpacker taken in Granada Ciudad Colonial, Nicaragua by @traverso.marta

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16

9 days ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟲𝟱 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟲𝟵 - 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮 (𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗮 🇳🇮) // 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝗻𝗲
𝗔 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
While I got lucky hitching a ride back to Estelí, the remaining 250 kilometers were a complete grind. It turned into a long marathon of endless waiting in sweltering heat, crammed onto local buses so overloaded it defied logic how they kept squeezing more passengers in at every stop

After standing, pushed and squeezed for hours without a seat, I finally rolled into Granada late in the evening—exhausted, covered in dust and sweat, starving, and with my nerves frayed. Thankfully, my lovely guesthouse host put my mind at ease, assuring me the city was safe at night and that a small shop around the corner was still open

On the short walk to grab supplies, I passed magnificent historic architecture & stepped into the grand main square, lit up in all its colonial splendor. I was instantly in love! I grabbed food, water, and a cold beer, headed back for a refreshing shower, devoured dinner, and collapsed into bed
𝗦𝗼𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰
The next morning started with a breakfast of gallo pinto at the guesthouse before I set off to explore Granada’s colorful churches, grand facades, and leafy courtyards. I hid from the midday heat under my room’s fan, and as sunset approached, I joined the lively crowds strolling down the vibrant pedestrian boulevard all the way to the malecón on the shores of Lake Nicaragua

I quickly settled into this wonderful rhythm—discovering an iconic Nicaraguan cigar workshop, the atmospheric ruins of an abandoned colonial hospital, a local chocolate museum, and the bustling central market. I treated myself to traditional vigorón in the main plaza, drank fresh coconut water by the lake, and spent hours people-watching in the shade

I was just about ready to move on when Lisandro, a fellow traveler, dropped some big news: Granada was hosting a massive national horse parade over the weekend, complete with live music, huge crowds, and endless horses! Naturally, I had to stay. Stay tuned for Part Two and the parade!
#granada #nicaragua #vigoron taken in Granada Ciudad Colonial, Nicaragua by @traverso.marta

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4

10 days ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟲𝟰 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟲𝟱 - 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗿 (𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗮 🇳🇮)
𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁
Early in the morning, I left bustling Estelí and boarded a local bus climbing higher into the highlands toward my accommodation: a lovely finca bordering the 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗿

I reached Finca Neblina del Bosque by early afternoon and could hardly believe the mild temperatures and refreshing drizzle! After weeks of relentless heat, I felt an immediate surge of energy. I dropped my backpack and set off straight away for a hike through the surrounding mountains

I was hoping to wander off the main track to explore neighboring coffee farms, nearby waterfalls, or a scenic viewpoint, but every trail required an entrance fee or a local guide. So I stuck to the main path, passing small villages and working horses—which remain a vital part of daily transport here in rural Nicaragua!

I returned by sunset to explore the finca’s lush gardens and eco-builds, enjoyed a delicious dinner made with fresh vegetables from their permaculture garden, and called it a night. The next morning, I woke up to a magical blanket of fine mist rolling down the hills. I was so thrilled to finally wear my light jacket again, and once the air warmed up slightly, I treated myself to an amazing hot shower under the open sky!
𝗠𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 & 𝗔 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘁
That’s when I noticed my back and face were covered in itchy, swollen bites. Upon checking in the day before, I’d noticed water puddles in the garden and asked if mosquitoes were an issue. The staff member assured me there were no mosquitoes, mentioning some local insect name I didn’t quite catch. Well, now I knew!

I took an antihistamine, but between the persistent bites, the paid-only hiking trails, and the lack of self-catering, I decided it was time to move on from this cool-weather paradise
Since I’d just missed the morning bus back to Estelí—from where I’d have to hop across multiple local buses to reach my next stop—I decided to try my luck hitchhiking. And lady luck delivered! Stay tuned for the next leg of the journey!
#miraflor #nicaragua taken in Reserva Miraflor, Esteli by @traverso.marta

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10

13 days ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟲𝟮 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟲𝟰 - 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗹í (𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗮 🇳🇮)
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀
Matteo, his girlfriend, and I left the coastal village of Las Peñitas late in the afternoon and began our drive up into the cool mountains surrounding 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗹í. We finally reached the commercial hub around midnight

I had originally picked Estelí merely as a quick stopover on my journey higher into the mountains—desperately searching for relief from the oppressive heat! But arriving so late, I decided to turn the break into a full-day exploration. I spent the day roaming the city center hunting for political and historical murals, for which Estelí is famous, and managed to spot quite a few pieces

𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
Between mural hunting, I tracked down the local bus station for my upcoming trip deeper into the highlands and randomly stumbled upon a tiny local history museum. Inside were fascinating archaeological remains from the indigenous communities who originally inhabited the region. The lovely museum director explained to me that the original excavation site no longer exists, as it was built over during the city’s modern expansion

While Estelí doesn’t feature grand colonial architecture, I later learned it is the world-renowned heart of Nicaragua’s cigar industry, surrounded by massive tobacco plantations and processing houses

With an early departure ahead of me the next morning, I cooked a simple dinner at my hostel, rested up, and called it a night. Stay tuned as I head even higher into the mountains!
#esteli #nicaragua #puros #streetart #solobackpacker taken in Esteli Nicaragua. by @traverso.marta

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10

16 days ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟱𝟴 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟲𝟮 - 𝗟𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝗲ñ𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗮 🇳🇮)
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲
Remember how back in El Salvador I tried (and failed) to chase a sea breeze along the Pacific coast? Well, it turned out the colonial city of León is located just an hour away from the ocean!

And while I had initially considered joining a volcano sandboarding tour or hiking one of the surrounding volcanoes (wait... had I really considered any of that?! 😂), the intense heat and humidity quickly made the decision for me: I was opting for the beach!

I arrived in the quiet coastal village of 𝗟𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝗲ñ𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 by early afternoon. While checking into the cozy hostel I’d saved on my map, I discovered that its owner, Matteo, was a fellow Italian and an experienced traveler. Finding a home country connection so far away was great, and I ended up spending the entire afternoon lounging in the hostel garden chatting in Italian with him!

Late that afternoon, I crossed the road and finally hit the beach, hoping to capture a nice sunset. To my utter surprise, the heat and humidity were even more intense by the water! Instead of a refreshing sea breeze, the ocean waves seemed to carry an even warmer, stickier front of hot air

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 & 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆𝘀
Despite the sweltering heat, the hostel had such a fantastic vibe that I couldn’t bring myself to leave. Over his years in Las Peñitas, Matteo had built an amazing community of locals and expats who gathered at the hostel bar. Add in an upcoming weekend party at a local spot, plus Matteo offering me a ride to my next destination, and well... you already know, my dear friends: I decided to extend my stay!

On my final day, I even made a new friend—Cristhofer, a young local visiting for the weekend from the Nicaraguan highlands. As a fellow Couchsurfer, he invited me to visit him in his village! Stay tuned to see if we managed to make that reunion happen!
#laspenitas #nicaragua #solobackpacker #pacificcoast #centralamerica taken in Las Peñitas, Leon, Nicaragua by @traverso.marta

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15

a month ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟱𝟲 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟱𝟴 - 𝗟𝗲ó𝗻 (𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗮 🇳🇮)
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻
That short, restless sleep in El Salvador made my decision clear: I’d take the longer, cheaper overland route into my next country!

And that is how—many hot, sticky hours later—I arrived in the 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲ó𝗻, Nicaragua! Because El Salvador shares no direct land border with Nicaragua, the journey was a true endurance test. I had to exit El Salvador, enter Honduras, wait for hours in the brutal heat for onward transport, cross Honduras, exit again, navigate the inquisitive Nicaraguan immigration process, and finally walk to the bus terminal to catch the last minibus to León

By the time I reached León, it was well after dark. I had no internet, no accommodation booked, and after traveling for over ten hours on just two bananas and a bottle of water, I was running on pure adrenaline. Luckily, the hostel I’d saved on my offline map had a bed available—and was right next to a grocery store! I grabbed water, snacks, and a cold beer, devoured everything, washed off the road dust, and finally collapsed into bed

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗮
The next morning started with essential setup: a traditional Nicaraguan breakfast at the hostel (𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼—seasoned rice and beans—served with fresh coffee), followed by getting a local SIM card and cash. Then, it was time to explore! Even though the heat was perhaps even more intense than in El Salvador, I felt an immediate surge of energy. Nicaragua felt instantly distinct: rougher, vibrant, and deeply authentic

León’s compact colonial center is dominated by the massive white cathedral—the largest in Central America. Just across the plaza, the Museum of the Sandinista Revolution keeps the country’s history alive. The spirit of the revolution remains everywhere here; Nicaraguans are fiercely proud of their Sandinista heritage. The city is a captivating contrast of political murals, historic colorful churches, and bustling streets shared by horse-drawn carts and motorbikes. I was instantly hooked!
#leon #nicaragua #sandinovive #gallopinto #solobackpacker taken in León, Nicaragua by @traverso.marta

57

10

a month ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟱𝟯 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟱𝟱 - 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗼 (𝗘𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 🇸🇻)
𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲
Once my toe injury had finally healed enough for me to walk, I was eager to get moving again. My next stop was 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗼—a destination highly recommended by my dear friend Lorenzo when he visited a few weeks earlier. Plus, as travel luck would have it, Seth—a fellow traveler I’d met months ago by Lake Atitlán in Guatemala—was currently staying on the shores of nearby Lake Suchitlán!

Perched above this massive artificial lake, Suchitoto is a charming town filled with well-preserved colonial architecture and leafy cafes overlooking the water. However, as the owner of my guesthouse gently warned me, the creation of the reservoir made the local climate even hotter and stickier than the rest of the country—especially this time of year

𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁 & 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
Faced with sweltering humidity, I quickly fell into a comfortable daily rhythm: early morning walks through the quiet streets, hiding in my room under the fan through the scorching midday hours, and early evening stops for fresh 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗮𝘀 (the traditional Salvadoran stuffed flatbread, with plenty of delicious plant-based options!). Later at night, I’d meet up with Seth to explore the dimly lit plaza, catch up on our travel stories, and share a few cold drinks

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲
As much as I loved the town’s character, intense heat is never my best friend, so I decided to head south toward the Pacific coast in search of an ocean breeze. But when I arrived in the small coastal village of El Cuco, budget accommodations were completely nonexistent. Running out of daylight, I caught the last local bus to the nearest transit hub and checked into a basic room next to the bus terminal

I spent most of the night awake, weighing my options: should I head to a different port town the next morning and cross into my next country by boat, or take the longer, cheaper overland route across the border?
Stay tuned to find out where that short night’s sleep took me next!
#suchitoto #elsalvador #solobackpacker #pupusas taken in Suchitoto, Cuscatlan El Salvador by @traverso.marta

45

5

a month ago

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟰𝟰𝟳 𝘁𝗼 𝟰𝟱𝟯 - 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗮 (𝗘𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 🇸🇻)
𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 & 𝗕𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴
Once my light fever finally broke and my energy started to return, I decided it was time to hit the road again. I chose not to take the Pacific coast route—mostly because I feared the heat and humidity would be even worse—so my best option was to 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗮 and figure out my next move from there

The plan was to spend just one night in Santa Ana before moving on. But upon checking in, Douglas, who runs the lovely hostel, mentioned that the following evening would mark the final night of the city’s major festival, complete with live music across town! Did someone say party? I was obviously in!

Expecting massive crowds at the central square, I went out early to grab a bite from one of the many street food stalls and check out the setup. By the time the first show started, the square was packed. I roamed around for a while, then decided to head back to the hostel to charge my phone before checking out the other street performances
𝗔𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸
Security had set up one-way pedestrian streets to manage the crowds, so I had to take a dimly lit side street to exit the square. The pavement was in rough shape, and in the dark, I slipped in my flip-flops and badly sliced my right big toe! Ouch! It hurt terribly and was bleeding heavily, so I carefully made my way back to the hostel, cleaned and medicated the wound, and called it a night

By the next morning, my toe was swollen and hurting even more. I knew immediately that I’d have to stay put, keep my foot elevated, and wrap it in ice—yet again waiting out another physical setback!

It took several days before I could walk without pain or comfortably put on my trainers again. But as soon as the wound finally began to heal, I was ready to head off to my next destination!
#santaana #elsalvador #travelinjuries #solobackpacker #fiestasjulianas taken in Santa Ana, El Salvador by @traverso.marta

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14

2 months ago