I often say that working for yourself and living an unconventional lifestyle is a rollercoaster. No year proved it more than this. 2025 marks one of my biggest years of travel yet, despite this being my 11th year in review. However, the career side has NOT been so good. After 10 years of running this [...] The post My Year in Review: 2025 appeared first on Where Goes Rose?.
I often say that working for yourself and living an unconventional lifestyle is a rollercoaster. No year proved it more than this.
2025 marks one of my biggest years of travel yet, despite this being my 11th year in review. However, the career side has NOT been so good. After 10 years of running this blog (four as my full-time job), things are looking decidedly uncertain due to changes in the online world.
At the end of 2024 in my last review, I said goodbye to Mexico City – my home for the last few years – and began a big backpacking trip (the longest and most ambitious one since I travelled Asia 10 years ago). I spent most of 2025 on that trip until late August.
January – El Salvador & Nicaragua
I saw in 2025 in the small city of Santa Ana in El Salvador, the second country of my backpacking trip (I’d started across the border in Guatemala in December last year).
Travelling alone at this time of year is always random as you don’t generally know what Christmas or New Year will look like until the last minute, but I had a few beers with other travellers in the hostel before watching some fireworks. Not a crazy NYE but not bad, either.
Overall, I LOVED El Salvador. What was once a violent and dangerous country is now safe thanks to a round-up of gang members by the new president. Although it wasn’t done democratically, the locals will tell you they’re happy that their country is safe again.
Travelling in El Salvador is for the relaxed and adventurous traveller because the infrastructure isn’t particularly developed. You can’t get all your home comforts and you’ll certainly break down on a ‘chicken bus’ (old American school buses) at some point!
I enjoyed visiting the coast, the ‘Flowers Route’ known for its idyllic towns and coffee farms, Santa Ana city and Santa Ana volcano.
To reach my next destination, I had to get a sketchy ferry around the coast because Honduras (where I had planned to go next) had closed its borders to Brits.
I also loved Nicaragua. The cities Leon and Granada were pleasant, although they couldn’t quite rival lovely Antigua in Guatemala (my favourite city in Central America). However, the nature was truly special.
I spent almost a week on Isla Ometepe, a volcanic island on a lake, watching sunsets and exploring by scooter. It feels like you’ve stepped back in time with no signs of the modern day.
I also loved spending a week on the Corn Islands with their Caribbean culture and slow ways of living. Little Corn has no cars, roads, ATMs or power half the day!
February – Costa Rica & Panama
I bused it down from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, which felt totally different to its neighbours. Instead of being a relaxed backpacker’s dream, it’s an expensive country catering more to American families on vacation.
Although I wasn’t exactly the target demographic and felt shocked by the prices, I was impressed by how well Costa Rica has protected its nature and wildlife. I saw sloths and the rare quetzal bird.
Panama was also a pleasant surprise as I didn’t know much about it. I loved the diversity. You have glitzy Panama City, the peaceful hiking region of Boquete, the beaches and Caribbean culture of the Bocas del Toro islands, and the San Blas islands inhabited by indigenous ‘Guna’ people.
My Central America highlight was spending 4 days island-hopping from Panama to Colombia through the San Blas islands, living off lobster and coconuts and sleeping in hammocks!
March & April – Colombia
I had wanted to visit Colombia for YEARS and it did not disappoint! Unlike the tiny countries of Central America, it’s huge so I decided to stay two months.
Since I love getting stuck into a place and spending longer there, I signed up for a 2-week Spanish school in Medellin. I liked it, but not as much as Mexico City and Buenos Aires; they’ll always be my LATAM faves.
Before my studies, I travelled the North Coast to:
- Cartagena – a stunning city but not a favourite. It’s expensive and feels curated while the wider city struggles with poverty. I didn’t have issues with safety but heard horror stories from other travellers.
- Tayrona Nat Park – a highlight of Colombia was spending 2 days hiking and sleeping in hammocks with other solo travellers I met at the Journey Hostel just outside the park.
- Minca – this gorgeous natural region is known for destination hostels in the middle of nowhere (like Casa Viejas) where waterfalls and the odd coffee farm are the only company!
After my studies, I did loads in central and southern Colombia!
- Jardin – my favourite place in Colombia, a cute town in the coffee region known for hiking
- Manizales – an untouristic city where I got off the beaten track and saw the diversity of Colombia with some snowy mountains
- Salento – a touristy town but worth it for day trips to the Cocora Valley (tall palm trees) and idyllic villages like Filandia
- Tatacoa Desert – striking rock formations in the arid desert (I couldn’t believe I’d been in the snow just a week ago!)
- Cali – the salsa dancing capital! I was terrible at salsa, but loved the culture and nightlife
- Bogota – I didn’t hear great things about the capital but it exceeded my expectations, especially the street art.
May – Ecuador & Galapagos
While in Ecuador, I went on an unforgettable side quest… The Galapagos Islands, an unbelievable bucket list dream come true!
Highlights included seeing the trademark blue-footed booby birds, giant tortoises reaching 150 years old, and snorkelling with seals, rays and hammerheads!
Yes, it was expensive. Return flights from the mainland cost $400, the entry fee is $200, and snorkelling day trips cost $100-200. At least food and accom ($6 a meal / $20 a night) were reasonable.
Overall, I spent $1,600 on my 10-day trip (inc. flights), but at least it was better than 10 grand cruise!
Mainland Ecuador felt quiet without loads of other travellers, I guess because of the recent political troubles. I didn’t have issues in Quito, though some travellers told me they got robbed here.
I enjoyed visiting Cotopaxi Nat Park (above left) and Mindo (right), which I’d describe as Costa Rica-level diversity without the prices.
June & July – Peru
I ended up spending 6 weeks in Peru because there’s so much to do!
I spent a few days in Lima, 1 week hiking in the northern Huaraz region (maybe the most stunning place I’ve been in my life), 3 weeks around the Cusco region incl. multi-day trips to the Amazon, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, and 1.5 weeks in gorgeous Arequipa.
I was proud of myself for completing the 5-day Salkantay hike and 3-day Colca Canyon hike, the former with food poisoning, and reflected that I’m sometimes capable of more than I think!
It was a blast but I was getting exhausted from the constant altitude, cold nights, early mornings (every hike seemed to require a 3am start), two bouts of food poisoning and generally feeling tired after 7 months on the road. This part of Latin America is more intrepid than the relaxed beach days of Central America!
August – Bolivia
The last country of my trip was incredible but I had personal problems in the form of more gastro troubles and a dog bite requiring a hospital visit and rabies jabs!
Still, I loved the crazy, colourful city of La Paz, hiking to Pico Austria, peaceful Isla del Sol, the grand and idyllic city of Sucre and the otherworldly Salt Flats where I saw pink lakes and countless flamingos. The wildest landscape!
Bolivia was also the most affordable country of the trip (apart from El Salvador), and I loved all the value tasting menus at restaurants in La Paz and Sucre. As the most indigenous country in Latin America, there was plenty to learn about the culture.
Is that it for Latin America?
Having done Chile, Argentina and Brazil last year, I left feeling I’ve had my fill of Latin America… but only for now!
I’ve recently got more into hiking and would love to return for some I missed like the Lost City in Colombia and the Huayahuash in Peru.
I’d like to spend months more in vast Brazil and visit Honduras since they didn’t let me in with current visa issues for Brits. Mexico always holds a place in my heart and I’d love to live there again… But there’s still so much more of the world I want to see!
The wonderlust never ends for me! I predict I’ll be back in Latin America but not for a few years.
Reflections on backpacking in my 30s
I wondered before the trip if backpacking in my 30s was going to be entirely different to my 20s.
Well, yes. I don’t have the same level of abundant energy. I’m more comfortable in my own company so often choose it over socialising for the sake of it. I’m less bothered about partying. I have a higher budget. I’m less impulsive and reckless. It’s not as carefree as I have work to think about.
There are swings and roundabouts but I’m just glad I’m out here doing what I love. I didn’t need to worry about being too old for hostels because the crowd is typically older here than in Southeast Asia. I always seem to attract like-minded solo travellers in their 30s.
Final trip of the year in October – Pakistan!
As if I hadn’t done enough travelling this year, I ended up going on a completely different adventure toward the end of the year.
I took a group tour to Pakistan, a country that had been on my radar for years and still blew me away.
The mountains and brilliant blue lakes were something from my wildest dreams. The only thing I can compare to is Northern Peru.
The culture is so warm and friendly. I’ll always remember the cosy homestays where locals told us about their lives over homemade walnut and apricot cake.
With intimidating military checkpoints and limited public transport, it’s not somewhere I’d have travelled independently, especially as in many ways it still feels like a man’s world. So travelling as a tour was ideal, and the group were all lovely and like-minded.
Finishing the year in England (and cat sitting)
Minus 3 weeks in Pakistan, I was in the UK from late August until the end of the year.
(Don’t expect this to continue much longer, however, as my first trip of 2026 begins on the 2nd of January!).
I often pet sit for free accommodation and have now done so in Vietnam, Malta and Mexico. I ended up doing it in Manchester for most of December because my sister went on holiday. I stayed in her apartment with her adorable cat.
After a year of hostel dorms then my parents’ house (both things I’m eternally grateful for), it’s been SO nice having an apartment and kitchen to myself! I have friends in Manchester so I’ve loved this period of connection and calm after a crazy year.
Work stuff :(
I touched on this at the end of 2024 when I shared that I’d lost 50% of my traffic and income to Google changes, like almost every other travel blogger I know.
It stayed consistent throughout most of the year and I came to accept and adapt my spending. Sadly, in December, things got a lot worse. After having the highest salary of my life just 1.5 years ago, I’m shocked to see it come to this.
I’m going to need to restructure, change, evolve… I don’t know what that looks like yet. This has been my dream career for a decade, but it doesn’t look like I can continue in the same way anymore. I’ve been grieving, honestly.
We live in a changing era of AI, Chatgpt and other shifting technologies. It’s sad when things you love change. But I know one thing. I have a life worth fighting for… And I won’t give up!
It’s the most uncertain I’ve felt, well… ever. Here goes nothing. See you next year!
Read my past yearly round-ups.
The post My Year in Review: 2025 appeared first on Where Goes Rose?.
