Become a backpacker, definitive guide to travel the world

Where are you goin'? Can I come too?

The whole world is open, a playground for me and you...

Many doubts and questions come to mind when we consider the possibility of leaving aside our daily routine and getting into a long adventure to unknown lands with no return date: what is needed? backpack size? organization? How much money, will it be enough? cards? travel insurance? How do they manage to travel for so long time?

All these questions have an answer and based on my own experience I am going to answer every one of them in detail.

How to prepare the backpack? what do we need, size?

The backpack is essential for any adventure, carrying only what is necessary for the journey.

Common backpack sizes range from 60L to 90L. I am 1.68m tall and use a 75L backpack. It's also important to bring a small, foldable backpack (10-20L) for day trips and to keep valuables safe on public transportation.

Backpackers rule: Whatever the reason, you will never leave valuables inside your main backpack when boarding public transport, unless the backpack goes next to you, which is rare.

Pack only what is necessary, keeping the backpack weight between 12-15kg. Clothing should be enough for a week or less. Something like:

– Socks (x3-4)

– Underwear (x3-4)

– T-shirts (x3)

– Mountain pants (x1)

– Jeans (x1)

– Shorts (x2)

– Sneakers type sports shoes (x1)

Special equipment:

– Mountain jacket (x1)

– Mountain shoes (x1)

– Shirt and fleece pants (x1)

– Gloves and balaclava

- Oilskin

– Headlamp

– Knife or utility knife

Personal use:

– Travel or sports towel (x1)

– Small bag with personal items (soap, shampoo), ear plugs for sleeping, lighter.

Optional:

- Camera

- Laptop

– Tent (max: 1kg -1.5kg)

- Sleeping bag

This is more or less all that I use to travel with and it is more than enough. Underwear and socks are washed daily by hand when shower and the rest will be washed on laundry service. Finally, when the clothes are damaged we simply replace them with another.

Should we organize the trip?

It's up to you, but I can tell you that it's not strictly necessary to plan everything. I recommend checking out the natural wonders and must-visit places at your destination, and the rest you can learn by asking other travelers in hostels or local people. Making a complete itinerary is not necessary. I used to plan every small detail of my vacation trips, but as a backpacker, I realized that it's useless because plans change all the time. You will always meet people along the way who will suggest other places or activities that you didn't even consider, and that's when the real adventure begins.

Join other experienced travelers on the road. Everyone is on the same path, looking for the same adventures. You will learn how to truly travel from them, and in a few months, you will be guiding and giving advice to other new travelers who are just beginning their journey.

Trust the locals. As backpackers, we agree that there are more good people in the world than the opposite. Of course, we must always be cautious and not look like lost tourists, but I dare say that 90% of the time, you will receive help when you need it.

Should we book the accomodation in advance?

I would like to point out that hostels are the accommodation of choice for backpackers, so forget about hotels with a certain number of stars. Another backpacker's golden rule is to watch your budget, and it's as simple as "the less you spend, the more time you can travel."

I usually don't make any bookings in advance, except for when I'm arriving in a new country or a very touristy place to ensure I have accommodation. In general, you can just arrive and ask if there is space for you to sleep. This allows you to check out the hostel and compare prices.

Another essential app for backpackers is Couchsurfing, which can help you save money by connecting you with locals who offer free accommodation. This is a great way to share experiences and culture with others. While hostels are a great place to meet other travelers, it's also important to connect with locals, as they can provide unique advice and recommendations that you may not find elsewhere.

Is it necessary to have a travel insurance?

It is not mandatory but it is true that in some countries the price of medical attention is very high, not having insurance could be risky. I can recommend the one that in my opinion is the most popular insurance company among travelers, it is called IATI Seguros, you can get it online, they have specific policies for backpackers, sports adventure, boat trips and anything you need. Following the link you will get 5% discount on your IATI Insurance. Another option you should check are your debit or credit cards, they usually include travel insurance.

How much money do we need?

This is the million-dollar question. Everything will depend on several factors, such as where you are traveling (Europe is not the same as Asia or Latin America), how long you are going to stay, and, more importantly, how you travel and manage your budget. I have met people who started with just $300 in their pockets and have been traveling for several years, as well as others who left with a real fortune and were abroad for just a few months. The ideal is to set a daily budget and try to stick to it.

For Latin America, the average cost is between 7 to 15 USD per day for accommodation and food. This makes between 250 and 400 USD a month, more or less. Places like Patagonia and Brazil increase this average, as prices there are higher. Activities, excursions, and transportation are not included here, although there are also solutions to save on these expenses, but I will tell you about them below. For Asia, the daily budget is also valid and can even be lower, around 5 to 10 dollars per day. In places like Europe, North America, or Australia, things change, as everything is more expensive, and the budget obviously skyrockets. The average cost could be between 20 to 50 dollars per day.

How do people travel for so long?

Many people think that backpackers are people with high-income parents or that they won the lottery. This is a completely false idea. Backpackers are people who have worked hard and saved for one, two or more years to make a big trip.

Now, I imagine that you are thinking: "Ok, I work very hard and save money for one or two years, but it is still not enough to travel for that long. At some point, it ends. What is the secret?"

Here we come to the best part of how to backpack without dying during the trip, and I say the best part because the answer to this question is that there is no answer at all. You will have to use your own genius and skills. There are different ways to stay on the road for a long time, but you must be clear that everything will depend on yourself. You have to take care of the budget and look for small sources of income. Here are some examples:

Become a Volunteer: Almost all the hostels allow you to work as a volunteer in exchange for free accommodation and/or food, just ask. Check the popular site workaway.info. This website bring all kinds of projects around the world (animal care, permaculture, digital, construction and more...) in which travelers are looking to work as volunteers for a short or long period of time, also in exchange for accommodation and/or food.

Avoid expenses when possible: Couchsurfing is an app that allows us to find where to sleep for free with this we will save a lot on accommodation.

In many countries hitchhiking, “ride” or “auto-stop” is very common, with this we save in transportation.

In Europe, applications such as BlaBlaCar or Amovens allow us to pay much less for transportation.

Find temporary jobs, what skills do you have? there are people looking for local jobs in the tourism sector, waiters, guides. Some work as photographers, the most artistic paint designs for hostels or shops, others gets into handicrafts and musicians play on pubs.

Nowadays there is a great movement in the digital sector, the so-called digital nomads, they are usually programmers, bloggers, traders, designers, content creators, translators and marketers. There are several sites to find this kind of jobs: Upwork, Freelancer and Workana are some of them, there are also groups on Facebook such as Digital Nomads around the world and Remote & Travel Jobs where the community helps each other find opportunities.

Become a surf teacher, diving instructor or a guide for excursions and activities such as snorkeling, trekking, free tours, etc...

You set the limit, don't close yourself off to new opportunities, if traveling the world provides you with something, it is creativity, adaptability and problem solving skills.

Must-have apps for backpackers

Internet makes things easier and of course, also became a fundamental tool when traveling. These are some apps that every backpacker should have on their smartphone:

Maps.me: It is like Google Maps but works offline. Once the maps of the countries to which we are going to travel have been downloaded, we will no longer need to be connected to use it. On the map you can mark points of interest, routes, search for addresses, restaurants, pharmacies, ATMs, hostels with their valuation included.

HostelWorld, Booking.com, AirBnb: These are apps for searching and booking accommodation online

Couchsurfing: Couchsurfing is a network that connects travelers from around the world to share accommodations and cultural experiences without charge.

Currency: Currency is an app that lets us check currency exchange rates.

Skyscanner: Skyscanner is a flight search engine that compares prices from multiple airlines, often finding the best rates

Wallet: Wallet helps us track our expenses, which is useful for budgeting.

Tricount: Tricount is an app that lets us split expenses and track shared costs with other travelers

Uber - Grab: Uber and Grab are apps that offer taxi services at a lower cost than traditional taxis, which can be helpful when public transportation is unavailable.

I think I did not miss anything, with this info you can start preparing your own adventure.

Good luck and see you on the road!