Woman Quits Job, Bikes, Flies, and Hikes Through South America, Still Misses Penguins
KEY POINTS
- •Isabel Vasquez Larson quit her full-time Miami job in 2022 to backpack across South America for 10 weeks.
- •She and her partner visited 16 cities in eight countries, enjoying highlights like Buenos Aires and Machu Picchu.
- •Despite sticking mostly to a budget, they splurged on a private plane in Ushuaia and narrowly missed penguin season.
In the summer of 2022, Isabel Vasquez Larson said 'see ya!' to her Miami apartment and quit her full-time job to backpack 10 weeks across South America with her then-boyfriend, now husband. She covered 16 cities over 8 countries, ticking off classics like Machu Picchu and accidentally skipping penguin season by less than a month. Isabel's budget-friendly vibe shattered in Ushuaia when she impulsively splurged on a private plane ride giving her an unexpected bird's-eye of both Chile and Argentina. Buenos Aires charmed her with free bike rentals and botanical gardens, while hiking near Puerto Natales included dodging guanacos and glaciers, proving nature's rough roads beat rental sedans.
Share the Story
(1 of 3)Quit 9-to-5, trekked half a continent, spent a fortune on a tiny plane just to miss penguins by a month. Classic travel goals.
Who needs steady paychecks when you can rent free bikes in Buenos Aires and chase glaciers in Patagonia, am I right?
Ten weeks, 16 cities, eight countries, and still not enough time to pet a penguin. That’s commitment, or poor planning.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 4/20/2026 | Author: Isabel Vasquez Larson
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