I’ve visited 20 countries alone – but group travel gave me a new kind of confidence

I’ve travelled alone to 20 countries, and I always enjoy the people part the most. On my first solo trip to Europe, I never had a day where I ate all my meals alone. I was constantly running into travellers I met in restaurants and museums, and I found it really fun to make spontaneous connections and friends.

It takes a lot of work and planning to fly solo, however. So, I’ve travelled quite a bit with tour companies, too. And Flash Pack appealed to me because I liked the idea of being with other solo travellers around my age – rather than mostly families, or couples. I ended up booking an adventure to Belize this July.

I’ve wanted to visit Belize ever since I did a project about the small Central American nation in sixth grade. I’m fascinated by Mayan culture and spirituality, but, unusually for me, I didn’t research much about Flash Pack’s trip before I went. That worked out quite well, because the itinerary was packed with experiences I’d never normally try if I was doing it alone. If I had Googled it all, I might have become scared – but as it was, I was open to the surprises that each new day held. 

A highlight for me was our visit to the sacred Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, in the heart of the rainforest. It’s something I just couldn’t imagine doing solo, but it stretched my comfort zone in an amazing way. 

 

I was open to the surprises that each new day held

For example, I’m not a confident swimmer; but we had to swim just to get through the entrance of the cave. Once within, we did a lot of rock-climbing, sliding and wading through narrow passageways as we explored the ancient site, believed by Mayans to be the gateway to the underworld. 

At one point, we were in this huge, cathedral-like opening and our guide got us to turn off our lamps. Standing there in the pitch black, I could really sense the beauty and significance of a setting once used by Maya for ceremonies and ritual sacrifice. 

Back home in Oregon, I teach fourth grade, so I know first-hand that you can learn so much about other people’s values from exploring different cultures. The experience made me determined to incorporate some Mayan customs into our “myths and legends” unit when I returned – to pass that gift of learning on. 

My uncertainty around swimming – I don’t like to get my face wet – also surfaced in other activities, including our dip in a 150-foot waterfall, and our snorkelling adventure on Caye Caulker. It’s crazy, but somehow, I just found myself going ahead and doing these activities, even with my discomfort. 

I found myself trying things I’d never normally do

Normally, I’m more of a museum person. But being in a group helped me to find more confidence, and not overthink things. After all, I didn’t want to be the only one staying on the boat, while everyone else got to swim with nurse sharks. Is that something I’d willingly do again? Probably not. But it’s a bucket-list moment. I had to try it while I could.

I had a similar mindset when I tried horseback riding for the first time, on a 90-minute ride through the jungle. Sure, it was scary and new, but I just went for it. The man guiding me made me laugh, as he teased that it was his first day (thankfully, it wasn’t). And that mix of adventure and sunnier/funnier moments really made the journey joyful.

Another challenge came when we climbed to the summit of the Sky Palace pyramid in Caracol, the largest excavated Maya city in Belize. I do the Stairmaster at the gym twice a week, but these steps were something else – they were as high as my knee! I had to use my entire body to get up, and it was a pretty intense climb. But the view from the top was amazing – we could see across the entire settlement. 

It helped that Hob, our Pack Leader, was full of enthusiasm about archaeology: it was truly his passion. His face would light up when we asked him questions about the Mayan history of Belize, and you felt that he really loved to share his knowledge and connect with us. It was more than a job for him. He was so kind and responsive. 

Travelling in a group meant I stretched my comfort zone

I really liked the balance throughout, too. We would do a full-on activity, like climbing hundreds of steps up from a waterfall, then our driver would present us with fresh coconut juice at the top. Or we’d finish a temple hike with an alfresco lunch, all beautifully laid out with fresh fruit and drinks. Everything had been carefully thought out and prepared.

Having tried organising my own activities (too much work) and other tour companies (full of families and couples), I’m glad to have found Flash Pack to share my wanderlust with like-minded solo travellers. It was good to make friends in the moment. And the people of Belize seemed genuinely happy to have visitors, which made the whole experience even more special. 

What I appreciated most from being in a group, however, was the adventure factor. Exploring Belize with people of a similar age and life stage, I ended up on a totally different kind of trip. Though I’m well-versed in solo travel, I experienced things in Belize that are well beyond what I’d normally see or try. 

I returned home with a real sense of excitement, and a determination to explore my own backyard a little more. My home state of Oregon is bathed in natural beauty, and there are so many opportunities to go hiking or cave spelunking. My time in Belize has given me the self-belief to push myself, one new adventure at a time.

Joyce McShane is a fourth grade teacher based in Oregon. She travelled with Flash Pack to Belize.