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Botswana Travel Tips

Country name: Bostwana

Where Did I Sleep?

There are an abundant range of options for wild camping but watch out for the elephants. That is a joke by the way, elephants rarely step on tents.

Tips To Keep It Safe, Fun, Cheap

Tip 1:

In the northern region of the country the elephants are too plentiful to be contained inside the park boundaries. When you see elephants, wait for the local cars to stop. Several times, motorists offered to drive on either side of me while I cycled through the many herds of elephants.

Tip 2:

Consider using empty 2 liter soda pop bottles in your water bottle cages. I can easily cycle with 6 liters of water. There are long stretches or desert road throughout Bostwana. I often also filled up my Ortlieb water bag as well.

Tip 3:

Most national parks in Bostwana will not let you cycle through them. I met elephants outside of park boundaries. They must have been walking to the park to meet their glamourous, employed to work with tourist elephant friends!

Peru Travel Tips

Country Name: Peru

Where Do I sleep?

I found it pretty easy between communities to find a place for my tent. I often stopped on the top of the hills where I could find less inhabited spots. In tourist town such as Cusco I stayed in guest houses for about $10 usd for a private room. The prices and room quality vary greatly so cycle around and see what you can find.

Tips For Keeping It Safe, Cheap and Fun!

Tip 1:

Fall in love with going up and down the hills. Peru is one of the only countries I have seen that has a tendency to make you drop way way down to the river and then make you climb back up. I enjoyed cooling off in road side waterfalls. The temperature varies greatly throughout the day, have both your winter parka and your bathing suit on hand!

Tip 2:

When I was there I cycled into some folks near the Bolivia border who were not big fans of me. They through rocks, so my tip is, learn to duck, cover and swerve your handle bars while giggling and trying not to fall off.

Tip 3:

Camp with families on the mountain tops! Take the time to appreciate the beauty in the highlands. The smiley glowing traditionally dressed kind matriarchs are a rare beauty that this world needs more off.

Costa Rica Travel Tips

Country Name: Costa Rica

Where Do I sleep?

Free camping at local campgrounds cost me between $7 usd and $10 usd. I also camped in the national parks in the north for free.

What Does It Cost?

Shockingly pricey if you have just come from the cheaper surrounding countries. Groceries will cost between $10-$20 daily.

Tips To Keep It Cheap, Safe, Fun

Tip 1:

Avoid cities where free camping is not possible! I cycled and pushed my bike around Liberia though a national park on a trail for 2 days, after a river crossing, I emerged back on the main Pan-Americana highway heading towards Nicaragua.

Tip 2:

Warm Showers, the hospitality network is becoming more available. There are hosts in Tamarinda and some of the larger communities.

Tip 3:

Eat ice cream cones, it is cheap ($1 USD) filling and oh so much fun.

Nicaragua Travel Tips

Country Name: Nicaragua

Cost of Bicycle Touring: $10 a day if you mainly camp

Where Do I sleep?

Free camping on beaches, rain forests and in farmers’ fields. Other options include; $5-$20 dorm beds and hotels

Tips To Keep It Cheap, Safe, Fun:

Tip 1
The country is largely fenced, there are fence openings the locals use. I was told by locals they use the fences to contain cattle and are not at all concerned with the western view of trespassing, therefore I sometimes I moved/opened the string of barbed wire and camped on the other side.

Tip 2
Drink local water. In many restaurants the locals are drinking filtered water. I asked for “local” or “aqua normal” and filled up my water bottles for free.

Vida Juliet Vivie

Ghana

“We have come a long way to help the growth of female cycling in my country, Ghana. The purpose of celebrating of the anniversary of my bicycle tour of Ghana in 1990 is to prove evidence that female riding bicycles will not be harmful. Parents in Ghana never allowed their female child to ride a bicycle. There is a saying if you want to have a baby don’t ride a bicycle. There are  a lot of discouraging messages. Female cycling is not recognized. I believe our yearly celebration will break that gap. Each year we celebrate by teaching girls riding skills, repair, maintenance and safety” Juliet  Vida Julie

Special note: Please get in touch if you happen to be touring in Ghana and would like to participate in the yearly celebration that happens in April. Juliet mentioned to me that they love it when bicycle tourist stop by to speak to the community about their bicycle travels.

Fien Hiel

Fien Hiel

I just wanted to express my admiration for your website. I am a 25 year old Belgian girl and cycled from Miami to Vancouver, solo, this summer. It was an amazing experience and I hope to venture into more similar trips in the future.  Women can travel by themselves just fine. We need to spread the word and have information and inspiration available for those who want to but think it’s not possible. I’d like to ad my blog to the already incredible collection of strong women you have on the community website.

Frances Friesen

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My name is Fran, I’m 69 years old and did my first solo tour last year! I’ve done several tours from as short as 4 days too the longest one of 72 days across Canada. I’m planning another solo tour for the summer of 2015 – ACA Washington Parks routes. I’m always surprised at how few solo women I meet while on a bike trip and it’s always so much fun when I do. What I really want to do in the next few years after I retire for good is to get on my bike and ride south, from my home in Surrey BC Canada to as far as I can go.

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Karen Jackson

Karen Jackson


I’m so so glad I grabbed that opportunity and took the plunge to ride solo in a different country. The following weekend I did it again while the offer was still on. I didn’t ride so far,didn’t get lost so much,and I beat my time on a few Strava segments,even Cap Blanc Nez! I’m now planning touring south east Asia when the kids have grown up. I really can’t wait. Before then I will be making lots more weekend/week trips with the touring gear. I now have a new cx bike,and hopefully that will see me through different terrains. I’m glad I went on my own,I just need to build my confidence.

Jan Eadie

Jan Eadie (1280x796)

Hi there,
I have cycled in Cuba by myself 4 times and had only good times. However, I am looking for someone to tavel with me there. I need to learn more Spanish so as not to feel so lonely. I go for one or two weeks at a time so far and I am a fit woman of 71 who commutes by bike in Toronto year round.  I have also been around the Great Lakes, the Gaspe and the Cabot Trail with buddies.

Side Note: When I mentioned to Jan that she looked great, she replied ” I am only trying to keep up with my mom who just turned 100″