Backpacker-In-Training
- Joanna Leung
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
On the road again with two additions, a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old, backpacked for 2ish weeks in Belize and Guatemala during their Spring Break. Backpacking with kids seemed impossible when the kids were younger. Travel meant 2+ cart-loaded suitcases and bags, plus strollers, at resorts or on road trips for a few years.
Parents have told me it is just a phase that will pass. Their words were true, but seemed surreal at the time.
But we did it finally this year!
Sofia (9 years old) and Aidan (7 years old) carried their own backpacks and travelled with us as a family of four through Belize and Guatemala.
We did a Mexico trip 2 years ago to test the water with a half-backpacking, half-resort trip when the kids were 6 and 8. They each had a small day pack, only at that time. Aidan would have been too young to carry his own stuff in a backpack, and his endurance for walking or hiking would limit his transportation and activity options at the time.
This time, both kids were mostly able to manage the backpack and the travel style well, finding the travel style exciting and naturally making friends with adults and other kids at the hostel during this short 2.5-week fully backpacking trip. Kids are(proud). The 2 kids graduated and are ready for the real deal, probably (and hopefully) next year 🤞.
And our little backpacker-in-training graduated :)
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