Slow Down – Don’t Squeeze Too Much Into Your Travels
In a hostel in Quito, Ecuador I met a friendly young Canadian traveller on his first big backpacking trip.
He had a typed itinerary containing all of his travel notes and ideas for where he wanted to go. He excitedly listed all of the countries he wanted to cover – Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil – pretty much the majority of the entire continent of South America.
“So how many months do you have?” I asked.
“Six weeks.”
“Wait… what?”
He was committing a major mistake that many first time travellers make – trying to fit way too many destinations into a small amount of time.
I think that when we take a trip there is a feeling that we should see as much as possible while we have the opportunity. If you travel to the UK then you should see Ireland too because after all, it’s right there. You think to yourself that it would be a shame not to see Europe as well… before you know it your travel plans have expanded to include eight different countries in one month.
I understand the feeling of wanting to see every little corner of this big and amazing world. However, the problem with cramming too much into your travel plans is that it will leave you stretched too thin and makes it harder to enjoy any of it.
The list of things you can see and do is infinite, but your time, energy and money are not.
I tried to tell the Canadian guy in Quito that there was no way he would be able to cover that much distance in only six weeks. South America is an absolutely massive continent. He would have to take long bus journeys every other day and he would never have long enough in each place to relax and enjoy himself. His itinerary had him spending every other day on a long bus ride, barely giving himself enough time to catch his breath again before getting on the next bus.
I suggested that he cut his trip down by at least half – it’s better to actually enjoy three countries than to rush like an exhausted maniac through six or seven countries. I’m not sure if he took my advice because he had left Quito on a bus to Banos by the following morning!
If you are planning a trip right now, take a look at your route. Do you have an activity or a bus/train/flight on every single day of your trip, or do you have some days where nothing is planned and you can be flexible? Can you visit fewer countries and stay longer in each one?
(Keep in mind that if you are only staying one night in a place, the day before and the day after will be taken up by getting there and traveling to your next destination.)
Giving yourself more time to explore fewer destinations will result in a much more enjoyable, relaxing and rich travel experience – one that won’t leave you exhausted when you return home!
Have you ever tried to cram too much into a trip? Tell us about your travel experiences in the comments below.
it didn’t take me long to figure out exactly what you’re talking about. I like to spend at least four or five days in one place (or even more if I can) and I try not take bus/train rides that are longer than 6 or 8 hours at a time. great advice and post!
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Great advice! Taking it slow allows for deeper experiences and less stress. Rushing through destinations often means missing out on the true essence of a place. Thanks for the reminder! 😊
I met a Canadian traveler in Quito, Ecuador, who was trying to see South America in just six weeks. He planned to visit seven countries, but I told him it was too much for such a short time. Traveling is not about rushing through places; it’s about enjoying each one. It’s better to visit fewer countries and really explore them, rather than trying to do too much and feeling exhausted. Take your time, relax, and enjoy the journey!
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Slow travel lets me savor moments.
I prefer taking leisurely strolls to truly experience the atmosphere.
This post really hits home. Many travelers (including me at one point!) feel pressured to cover as many places as possible, but in reality, slowing down makes the whole journey richer and more meaningful. Your story about the backpacker in Quito is such a perfect example of how trying to “see it all” often means you end up enjoying very little.
I completely agree that spending more time in fewer destinations lets you actually connect with the culture, breathe a little, and appreciate moments like a quiet sunset or a slow morning walk. Travel isn’t a checklist—it’s an experience.
For anyone planning their next trip, this guide on how to choose the right travel pace might be helpful too.
Slow travel is the best travel.
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This is such a thoughtful, grounding reminder—especially for overplanners like me! I’ve definitely fallen into the “see-it-all” trap before and ended up exhausted instead of enriched. The Global Goose blog nails why slow travel matters: depth over distance, presence over checklist. If you’re looking for practical tips to design more meaningful trips (like how to build buffer days or choose destinations that reward longer stays), their philosophy section is gold. Highly recommend checking out their full guide here:
Slow Down – Don’t Squeeze Too Much Into Your Travels
This is such a timely and thoughtful reminder—especially for overplanners like me! I’ve definitely fallen into the “see-it-all” trap before, only to return home more tired than when I left. The Global Goose post nails why slow travel isn’t just trendy—it’s essential for real connection, rest, and depth. If you’re prepping for your next trip and feeling overwhelmed by logistics, check out the evidence-led BOMBANANA! guide for *Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes*—it’s a masterclass in focused, stress-free mastery:
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This is such a timely and thoughtful reminder—especially for overplanners like me! I’ve definitely fallen into the “see-it-all” trap before, only to return home more exhausted than when I left. The Global Goose blog nails why slow travel isn’t lazy—it’s intentional, restorative, and deeply rewarding. If you’re juggling too many destinations or back-to-back transport days, their practical tips (like building in buffer time and prioritizing depth over breadth) are gold. For anyone prepping for a multi-stop trip—especially across vast regions like South America—I also found the evidence-led BOMBANANA! guide incredibly helpful for structuring realistic timelines and avoiding burnout:
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That Canadian guy’s six-week South America blitz sounds exhausting—the author’s right that you’d spend half your time on buses. I made the same mistake on my first trip and burned out fast. Now I’d rather spend a week in one city than race through five countries. Though when planning trips, I use image converter to prep photos for different platforms and storage, which at least saves time on logistics. The real time-saver is just staying put longer.