Independent 2 to 3 week trip plans

The Unpackaged Traveler

Stay longer, travel bolder, spend less. Tours not required.

I have spent 25 years learning how to travel well for less in 154 countries. This is that playbook, shaped for US retirees who want real adventure without handing the itinerary to a tour company.

Backpack, map, passport, and coffee on a Central America street table
HoustonSan SalvadorCopan RuinasTikalCaye CaulkerMexico City

Launch trip plan

The Central America Loop: Five Countries in Two Weeks, No Tour Bus Required

A complete independent trip plan from Houston through El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. Real logistics, real costs, retiree-grade pacing. I ran this exact route in March 2026.

Duration
14 days
Activity level
Moderate
Countries
5
Open the route plan

Weekly dispatch

One full trip plan a month, lighter notes between.