2020-2021 America Pandemic Adventures Filipino Solo Trip

living my dream as Solo Backpacker during Covid-19 Pandemic, the #newnormal of tourism
November 26, 2020 to June 19, 2021 (205 days)

"Live a life to inspire, live a life with sense of accomplishment, live a life you will remember" - Mang Andoy

Coronavirus has changed the way we travel, this pandemic has brought significant challenges to global travel industry. My Covid-19 travel adventure begun from the moment it was gradually spreading from Asia. My first pandemic journey (January to February 2020) was in Chile, Uruguay, United States and Philippines. Surprisingly, the itinerary I created on this trip was my first around the World, 360 degrees tour (circumnavigated the Earth from Middle East to America back to Asia). Then, while most of the countries worldwide was on the beginning of 1st wave, my second pandemic journey (September to October 2020) was in Philippines, United States, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Ukraine. Like most of other employees worldwide, I lost my beloved job also due to huge effect to aviation industry (business re-structuring). Even so, I am forever grateful and proud of my four years in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Finally, while the surge of the 1st wave continuous, my third pandemic journey (November 2020 to June 2021) was this Latin America trip. Based on this, I traveled to 23 countries across 4 continents with more than 25 sets of Covid-19 Test (mostly nasal swab PCR) ALL NEGATIVE RESULT.

Despite the challenge of #newnormal, I accomplished my itinerary beyond my expectation. I just finished seven months of solo backpacking to these wonderful countries of American Continent (Nov. 2020 to Jun. 2021) with Covid19 vaccine Sinopharm (Aug. 2020 in Abu Dhabi, UAE) and J&J  Janssen (May 2021 in Boston, US). Another proud bucket list achievement; having a Philippine passport on a tight budget, all first time visits traveled from United States down to South America, language barrier, currency exchange, changing airport/land border entry/exit requirements, sudden flight cancellations and of course, the pandemic protocol on tourism and transportation.

Some of my top accomplishment on this journey are Completed the World's Seven New Wonders, all-DIY budget solo hikes (World's youngest volcano, Central America highest peaks and some Ecuador's top mountain), visited every country's signature landmarks, elusive Ecuador visa application using my mobile phone only, pandemic travel techniques and having all negative result for more than 25 sets of Covid-19 PCR Nasal Swab Test.

205 days, 15 countries, 20 Covid19 Tests.

Traveled from Abu Dhabi to Mexico then Central America, South America, United States and Manila. 

MARAMING SALAMAT, MUCHAS GRACIAS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! 

MEXICO, BELIZE, GUATEMALA, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, NICARAGUA, COSTA RICA, PANAMA, COLOMBIA, BOLIVIA, PARAGUAY, PERU, ECUADOR, GUYANA AND UNITED STATES #opentheeconomy #newnormal #pandemictraveling #goodvibes #lakbay100 #mexico #belize #guatemala #elsalvador #honduras #nicaragua #costarica #panama #colombia #bolivia #paraguay #peru #ecuador #guyana #unitedstates #philippines #northamerica #centralamerica #southamerica #america #pinoytraveler #backpacking #bucketlist 

2020-2021 America Pandemic Adventures Filipino Solo Trip

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

5 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in El Salvador January 12 to January 17, 2021

Pandemic Summer Solo Trip in El Salvador Summary and Itinerary

CERRO VERDE VOLCANOES, EL SALVADOR (Jan. 2021) 

- Izalco Volcano (1,950masl) is El Salvador's 4th highest volcano with 662m elevation gain, 7km back trail distance for 4 hours

- Santa Ana Volcano (2,381masl) is El Salvador's highest and most active volcano with 467m elevation gain, 7km back trail distance for 3 hours

- Famous volcano day hikes near Santa Ana Town, both are guide-required and budget DIY day-hike

Itinerary:

Jan. 13, 2021 Wed (Izalco Volcano) 

0715H Volcano Bus Station; Cerro Verde ticket 0.90

0740H ETD Santa Ana; bus #248 to Cerro Verde

0920H ETA Cerro Verde Park; park fee 1.50; guide 5

1100H start trekking with police/guide (required); Trail 1st part; continuous descent, forest

Trail 2nd part; continuous ascent, open area, steep; Summit Assault; lose rocks, very steep

1300H ETA Volcán de Izalco summit; rest / photo

1330H ETD Summit (back trail) 

1530H ETA Trailhead; Volcán de Izalco (1,950masl) 4th highest

1600H ETD Cerro Verde Park; bus to Sta. Ana 0.90

1730H ETA Sta. Ana

TOTAL: $8.30

Jan. 14, 2021 Thu (Santa Ana Volcano) 

0715H Volcano Bus Station; Cerro Verde ticket 0.90

0740H ETD Santa Ana; bus #248 to Cerro Verde

0900H ETA Santa Ana Trailhead; park fee 6; guide 2

0930H start trekking with guide (required); Trail 1st part; continuous ascent, forest

Trail 2nd part; open area, dusty; Summit Assault; smooth ascent, windy

1100H ETA Volcán de Sta. Ana summit; rest / photo; Santa Ana Volcano (2,381masl) highest

El Salvador’s highest and most active volcano

1200H ETD Summit; back trail

1300H ETA Trailhead; bus to Santa Ana 0.90; Hostal Casa Verde

TOTAL: $9.80

Note:

1. The DIY budget transportation per above itinerary is just easy to find as the destinations are regular to locals and can be found in Maps.Me.

2. As per standard, both can be hiked on separate day. As discussed with the guide, both can be hiked at the same day starting 0700H to 1500H, from Santa Ana Volcano to Cerro Verde to Izalco Volcano for $10 each trekker with mnimum 4 persons in a group. Unfortunately, no public transportation to bring you early that time.

3. Izalco Volcano hike has difficult trail than Santa Ana while Santa Ana Volcano has the better summit view than Izalco.

4. Even though the hike requires police / guide escort, the trail looks very safe as this was my first time with police and guide required to think that these volcanoes are the smallest on my Bulkan-serye challenge and Santa Ana town has very relaxing ambiance. 

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

5 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in El Salvador

40 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Central America

January 12 to January 17, 2021

My 117th country visited on my journey beyond #lakbay100, 93rd solo backpacking trip, 7th country in North America and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. El Salvador served also as the fourth country on my 2020-2021 America Pandemic Adventures Filipino Solo Trip, the new normal of traveling.

El Salvador is a country in Central America and, geographically, is part of continental North America. It is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, and lies between Guatemala and Honduras. El Salvador covers an area of about 21,040 square kilometres (the smallest country in Central America), although it is the most densely populated. El Salvador is home to more than 6,500,000 people. It is divided into 14 sections called Departments. It has 25 volcanoes, 14 lakes, and three large cities and is divided in to East, Central and West with the the capital San Salvador in the central region, Santa Ana in the west and San Miguel the largest city in the east.

https://wikitravel.org/en/El_Salvador

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

40 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Central America

2020-2021 America Pandemic Adventures Filipino Solo Trip

December 27, 2020 to February 04, 2021

Philippine passport holders are visa upon arrival with visa fee gratis for these 8 countries (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) if using a valid US B2 visa. Despite the strict entry immigration requirements and danger of Covid19 pandemic challenge, I visited them all successfully as a Filipino Solo Backpacker on budget DIY basis using Philippine passport only. 

Central America is the thin section of land that links the North American continent with the South American continent. Geographically part of North America, it is made up of seven small, mostly tropical countries that have much more in common with South America and Mexico than the more affluent north. Mexico is occasionally considered part of Central America due to the language and cultural heritage it shares with several of the countries in the region.

https://wikitravel.org/en/Central_America

40 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Central America