My travel bucket list grows the more I travel. Ever since I was little, I have dreamed of traveling the world. But, it seemed like something unattainable that only the rich did. Growing up poor, I only saw it as a crazy dream of mine.
However, in 2014 I read a book that changed how I viewed my dreams. The book, Visioneering by Andy Stanley talks about turning dreams into visions. It is a faith-related book that talks about how to pursue our God-given passions.
Since reading it, I decided traveling the world would not only be a simple dream but instead a vision I would accomplish.
So, my friends, I decided to write a bucket list of places I wanted to see back in 2014 and just now posting this blog post (Decemeber 2021). It’s crazy to look back and see how many of these I accomplished already!
From the end of 2017 to the beginning of 2018, I backpacked Asia with my ex-husband. In 2019, after separating, I discovered solo travel and went backpacking through Europe for six weeks. Then at the end of 2020, I quit my job to travel solo for a year through Latin America. Now, here I am in Colombia alone, in December of 2021, living in another country for the first time.
It is crazy to look back, and it’s been a beautiful ride! I can’t believe this girl who once was small and dreamed of traveling the world has visited 30 countries and had so many incredible experiences!
Honestly, it’s hard to believe. But I’m incredibly thankful.
Anyhow, here is my bucket list of things I want to see and do. If it has a picture, I’ve done it. If not, my goal is to complete the item eventually.
My Travel Bucket list
Swim in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
Iceland seems like the most majestic country there is. It is probably at the top of my list of countries to visit. While I’m there, I’d love to swim in a Blue Lagoon.
See a Volcano Up Close
I’ve seen way more volcanoes than I ever expected. One of the top experiences of my life has been camping and seeing Volcan Acatenango in Guatemala erupt lava in front of me every 5-10 minutes. It is one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. I’ve also seen volcanoes up close in Costa Rica and Indonesia.
Skydive in New Zealand or Dubai
Skydiving is one of my biggest fears. But if one day I decide to face that fear, I want it to be over the New Zealand landscapes or in Dubai!
Swim With Dolphins
I love dolphins, and my dream was to swim with wild dolphins, not captivated ones. In Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, my friends and I went on a boat tour to see dolphins. We probably saw over 50 of them that day. The boat driver told us we could jump in with them, and I didn’t think about it twice.
Hearing them underwater has been one of the most incredible moments. They were a bit shy, so we saw them from afar but hearing their whistle beneath the water was amazing. Also, I’ve not only swam with dolphins but also with whale sharks in the Philippines. That was also a top moment in my life.
See Monkeys in Costa Rica
Once upon a time, monkeys also used to be my favorite animals. However, I discovered that they are cute but scary. Seeing and hearing them in Costa Rica was a fantastic experience. But after backpacking Asia and seeing how aggressive they can be, they are no longer my favorite animal. Still, it’s incredible to see them, and they still look cute.
Rio de Janeiro Brazil
Brazil seems like the land of fun. I can’t wait to go one day!
October Fest in Germany
I dislike beer a lot! I’ve tried many times to like it because it’s cheaper to drink them than cocktails, but I haven’t found the right one. Despite disliking beer, I want to experience events. Although I’ve been to Germany, I still haven’t experienced this crazy event.
See the Eiffel Tower
Who doesn’t dream of seeing the Eiffel Tower? To be honest, I always wanted to see it. However, I was skeptical of how beautiful it would be. I thought that maybe people overestimated Paris and the Eiffel Tower and I wouldn’t be impressed. But my goodness, I was impressed more than I expected.
When it sparkles at night, it is the most romantic thing in the world. I can’t wait to fall in love again and sit in front of it with my future partner. I confess I went more times than I should have when I was in Paris!
Party in Ibiza
What can I say? I love to dance.
Explore Colombia
Ever since I was young, I had wanted to visit Colombia because I used to fangirl about Shakira. Fast forward many years, I ended up backpacking solo through Colombia at the beginning of 2021. Ten months later, I moved to Colombia with plans to live here for six months. That’s how much I loved the mountains, waterfalls, the people, and everything about the country!
Ride a Gondola in Venice
Italy is one of my favorite countries in the world! But, unfortunately, I’ve only seen Rome and Florence. My dream is to go back and explore the whole country. Eventually, I want to ride a gondola in Venice.
See the Dolomites
On the Italian note, the Dolomites are a dream of mine. The landscapes just look so dreamy.
Swim in the Dead Sea
I always saw pictures of people floating here and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I finally got to do that on my visit to Israel. Do not let it get on your lips, eyes, or cuts because it’s salty, and it stings!
Get Baptized in the Jordan River
I grew up a believer and my ultimate dream was to visit Israel, see the religious sites, and get baptized in the Jordan River where Jesus did. Getting baptized here is one of the most memorable events in my life.
Spend Time with Elephants in Thailand
The first country overseas that I ever wanted to visit was Thailand. While backpacking through Asia, I was able to experience a very special moment with elephants from a sanctuary in Chiang Mai and again in Phuket. These gentle giants steal your heart.
Swim in a Cenote in the Yucatan Peninsula
Cenotes are cool water sinkholes in the Yucatan Peninsula. They are stunning and swimming in them is an awesome experience. You can find lots of them in the state of Queretaro and Yucatan in Mexico.
Experience a Sunrise at Angkor Wat
In Siem Reap, Cambodia you find some beautiful Buddhist temples in a massive area of land. To see all the historic structures is incredible. One of the most sought-after experiences is to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. It was a lovely view. However, there are so many tourists that it’s hard to experience the magic that you see in pictures.
See the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt
I remember learning about the Pyramids when I was in elementary. They captivated my attention so much and I dreamed of going one day. I still do. As a teacher, I loved teaching about them and I can’t wait to see them in person.
Zipline in the Jungle
Ziplining always seemed like a cool activity to try. What better place to do it than the jungle!? I got to live this in Cancun at the park Xplor.
Experience the Northern Lights
I don’t care where I see them, but I want to see them!
See Niagara Falls
I can’t believe I still haven’t been here despite visiting New York various times. One day!
Experience the Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico
I always saw pictures of this event. I thought it looked magical but I had no interest in visiting New Mexico. Finally, in 2021, a cousin who lives in Albuquerque invited me to visit her to go to the yearly Balloon Fiesta. I finally had an excuse to go. The event really was magical and Albuquerque turned out to be a nice city.
Ride a Hot Air Balloon in Turkey
Another dreamy place for hot air balloons seems to be Turkey. However, I want to finally ride a balloon when I’m there.
Admire the Taj Mahal in India
I’ve heard it’s one of the most beautiful structures. Can’t wait to visit India one day and make a stop here.
Ride an Antique Car in Cuba
I always thought it would be awesome to feel what it’s like to go back in time. Cuba did just that with its historic buildings and antique cars. It’s a country to visit for sure!
Cruise Through Halong Bay, Vietnam
This place always looked so dreamy in pictures. It was one of the best places I’ve woken up in. Vietnam itself was a surprise to me. It’s one of my favorite countries, and this place made it even more special.
Drive the PCH in California
I didn’t know about the Pacific Coast Highway as a popular place to drive until I lived in California for a few years. It has been one of my favorite road trips. It’s so beautiful and there are lots of great stops along the way.
Drive Highway 66 in the U.S.
Highway 66 is one of the most popular road trips in the U.S. I’ve been through parts of it in Arizona, California, and New Mexico, but I’m hoping to one day do the whole thing.
Pass the Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S. Plus, it had one of the most iconic bridges in the world. It’s a very photogenic bridge, and I’ve been able to find some great spots such as Marshall’s Beach to photograph it.
Hike Havasupai at the Grand Canyon
I grew up only a couple of hours away from the Grand Canyon, so it wasn’t on my bucketlist. However, going to the bottom of the Grand Canyon is a different story. There’s a small section that belongs to the Supai people. They give only a certain amount of permits per year to hike to Havasupai.
These hiking permits are very difficult to get. Finally, in 2020 my sisters and I were able to get permits.
Havasupai is home to some of the bluest water I’ve seen, and it has beautiful waterfalls. To get there, you must walk down 10 miles and camp with your three-night, 4-day permit.
Dive in the Ocean
One of my biggest fears was to go scuba diving. It was just crazy for me to depend on an oxygen tank to breathe, and the thought of sea creatures freaked me out. However, I ended up loving my first experience in San Andres Island, and now I want to do it again.
Surf Anywhere
I’m an outdoor adventurer, and I knew I wanted to try surfing one day. However, I wasn’t sure where I’d try it the first time. But when a friend invited me to try it in Puerto Escondido, I decided to say yes. I have to say, it was hard! I thought snowboarding and diving were easier. Surfing is a challenge but fun to try. Perhaps one day I’ll get back out there and give it a second try.
Go Sandboarding in the Desert
The first time I went snowboarding, it was hard. However, after the second try, I loved it. I decided one day I also wanted to try sandboarding and finally got the opportunity to do it in La Huacachina, Peru. I think it’s easier than snowboarding, and I had a blast trying it.
Hike Machu PicChu in Peru
I have a few World Wonders on my list, and hiking Machu Picchu was one of them. While backpacking through South America, I decided to visit Peru and finally make it to this lovely place. It’s more beautiful than I imagined.
See the Statue of Liberty in NYC
The Statue of Liberty is an iconic spot in the U.S, and I got to see it before making my bucket list. I’ve been able to see it each time I’ve been in New York. I love everything about New York City, and this spot is a must when you’re in the city.
See the Amsterdam Canals
The canals always looked so dreamy in pictures, and just look at this picture. They are! I spent my time just wandering the streets because I loved how picturesque they were.
Walk the Wall of China
The Wall of China had always been one of my biggest dreams to visit. So when I planned my backpacking trip through Asia, I made sure to plan a stop to see the Wall of China. China was my first country overseas, and I really enjoyed everything about Beijing and stopping at the Wall.
Island-Hop in Greece
Dreamy Greece. This country is just lovely. After seeing my Big Fat Greek Wedding, my interest in it grew. Although I didn’t necessarily island-hop, I did visit Mykonos which has alleys that are a maze to get through. Now I need to get back to Greece to island-hop a little more.
Stroll Through London
I think singing “London Bridge is Falling Down” might have had an influence in me wanting to see this bridge. It wasn’t the bridge that impressed me most, it was the city. It is beautiful and I once considered living in it. However, I like sunny days and that’s the only decision that stopped me. Otherwise, it’s a beautiful city.
Visit Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is another New World Wonder I wanted to see. Cancun was the first big international trip I ever took. So, everything about it was special. The beaches, the food, the culture, and obviously seeing these historical ruins.
Visit Teotihuacan
I have such an interest in many spots in Mexico because it’s the country where my roots are from. Although I didn’t grow up in Mexico, I still wanted to learn all about it. Plus, it’s my neighboring country. One popular spot for Mexicans to visit is Teotihuacan, near Mexico City.
Climb Mount Everest to Base Camp
Okay, this is probably the craziest thing on my travel bucket list, but a girl can dream. After seeing two of my favorite Youtubers visit, I became more motivated to do it. Then, after doing very well climbing Rainbow Mountain in Peru at 5,200 meters (17,060ft) and realizing Mount Everest Base Camp is 5,364 meters (17,598 ft), I decided it’s something I could perhaps do one day.
My Travel Bucket list