Traveling Alone to Puerto Rico to Disconnect and Reconnect
Posted: February 23, 2023
La Perla District, The colorful houses of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. All photos were taken by owner, founder, and writer Jae Manifest
Life is a complex journey with much to learn and experience. Often the fear of the unknown keeps us from getting out of our comfort zone. Getting out of your comfort zone allows you to learn through new experiences. Everyday, every second you’re alive is the universe’s blessing to you and that blessing could be taken away at any moment. Knowing that you should utilize that blessing!
Currently, humans have made life more complicated than it needs to be with our “innovation”. Many yearn to live but aren’t really living. It’s time to focus on what really matters in life. Get outside, travel, give yourself time to be alone & figure out what that means to you. It’s time to really LIVE your life.
Keeping this in mind I decided to celebrate another year of life by taking a solo trip to Puerto Rico to disconnect and reconnect as a source of relaxation, grounding, and healing. I decided I needed this time and I wasn’t going to let the fear or discomfort of traveling alone hold me back anymore!
Content
What is disconnect and reconnect?
Structuring the trip.
What I experienced while traveling alone
Day 1: Old San Juan, Relax
Day 2: Transitioning to the Rainforest, Starting to Disconnect
Day 3: Alone in the Rainforest for a Full Day, Disconnect and Reconnect
Conclusion: How being alone in Puerto Rico effected me.
What is disconnect and reconnect?
To me, the process of disconnecting and reconnecting is about changing your environment, easing your mind, and remembering who you are & where you come from. Disconnecting involves getting away from your “typical” environment and changing your habits. For me, my typical environment is the city, the “fast life”. A fast-moving, high-paced life that has a high demand for instant gratification and top performance.
I needed to get away from that mindset and lifestyle for a while because in many ways it can get draining. I just needed to relax and reflect. I realized, the “fast life” is a huge change from human traditional lifestyles.
The humans in the past moved at a much slower pace. Along with moving slower, a majority also displayed high value and respect for nature, family, and food. This is what I refer to as the things that actually matter or “old ways of living”.
Reconnecting is the process of diverting back to the “old ways” or more traditional ways of life, learning, and reflecting. For, me reconnecting looks like being in nature, slowing down, and living minimally. Sometimes it’s as simple as just experiencing a new environment. This process has been the most beneficial when I’m alone. This allows me to learn so much about the self and the other beings around me. This is important to me because I feel like in our current society, with our practices and ways of living we are so distracted that we have lost touch with who we are, our values, and our happiness. ACTUALLY LIVING!
I noticed that we have a huge disconnect with where we come from, particularly our value, respect, and understanding of nature and the other beings we share the planet with. I believe disconnecting and reconnecting is a foundation for growth in so many ways. Reconnecting with nature has brought me so much clarity and peace. I believe many people can benefit from this process of rediscovering their connection with nature and the self. It’s a very spiritual process and I reckon I’m due for a spiritual experience.
“Anything that truly matters has always mattered”
Structuring the trip to fulfill my purpose
Where do you want to go?
What is your purpose?
How long will you be there?
Where are you going to stay?
How will you get around?
What are you going to do?
I used the process of disconnecting and reconnecting as a main source of healing & grounding. When structuring the trip and choosing the things I’d do with my days I kept my purposes in mind. I knew I wanted to relax and disconnect but, since I was going to be alone I also knew this was a good time for healing, discovery, and deep reflection. Being alone would allow me to stay in line with my purpose with no distractions. When I was planning my trip I made sure I was being intentional about doing everything I needed to feel like I was able to reset or reprogram my mind.
I wanted to spend some time in the city to experience the culture and the rest of my time in nature. Being entrenched in nature is my happy place and an important catalyst for my healing process. I knew that was important for the quality of my experience.
As I looked for places to stay and things to do, I made sure I had one day in the city and the other 3 days in the heart of the rainforest.
I knew wasn’t going to be driving so I preplanned for transportation. I had to keep in mind how far things were and how I was going to get around. This took some time and it definitely wasn’t easy.
Some of the locations I found I couldn’t get to or would be to expensive too transport to. After a lot of searching and phone calls, I found two great lodges for my stay. The lodge in the city was a hotel and was pretty easy to get to. The location in the rainforest was hard to get to. I asked the workers at the lodge for assistance finding transportation before I booked. The person on the phone expressed they only knew ONE reliable and trustworthy mode of transportation to their lodge. I called the number I was given and they happened to be available!
After taking care of the essentials; understanding my purpose, lodging, transportation, and duration of my trip I was able to focus on finding things to do in the areas I would be staying. The hotel in the city was accessible to many locations so I decided I’d use that day just to explore the area. The Eco Lodge in the rainforest was pretty secluded from everything. I knew I’d be away from society which meant I’d needed a food plan.
Before even arriving at my location I was presented with challenges I had to overcome. I knew this trip would provide me with a lot of self-discovery. This was my first time out of the country alone. As pondered on my decision, I remembered learning about the stories involving the “hero’s journey”, where someone is sent off alone for a certain amount of time to learn something about themselves. It captivated my mind with amazing thoughts on what this journey would be like.
I grew more and more excited about this journey! I travel alone quite often and I knew traveling alone provides you with the opportunity to do exactly what you want without extra stress but, also means if something happens you must problem-solve on your own. I was now mentally and physically ready for this journey!
DISCONNECT & RECONNECT
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DISCONNECT & RECONNECT 〰️
What I experienced traveling alone
DAY 1: Old San Juan, Relax
I arrived in San Juan on my birthday early in the morning. After I went through customs I took an Uber to my hotel in the historic Old San Juan.
The drive into Old San Juan left me in awe there was so much to be aware of. The airport itself is in the newer part of San Juan where it is more like the big cities I’m familiar with.
There was a medley of tropical plants scattered around this big city. I sat in the Uber with curiosity analyzing this new environment.
Drawing closer to my destination I noticed how I noticed how the structure of the buildings was changing. It went from massive glass and metal buildings to establishments made out of stone, bricks, and wood.
We emerged into the colorful city that was rich in culture. I noticed broken-down buildings being reconstructed due to hurricanes and tropical storms that occurred in recent years. I thought about how many differences there were on the island compared to my landlocked home in the States.
The road transitioned from asphalt compounded roads to cobblestones and I knew we were getting close to the Fortaleza Suites, my hotel in Old San Juan. We continued to navigate to the hotel, and an overwhelming amount of gratitude filled my heart as I took in all of my observations. “I am truly blessed to be here.”
We approached a roundabout where I saw a protest going on for a woman who passed away. The locals were pleading for justice for this soul that lost their life. The sight left me with wonder and speculation. I was observing so much in a short time frame. Silently continuing to observe and analyze I basked in my blessings as we arrived at the hotel.
I checked in, dropped off my suitcase, and asked the woman working there for places to eat to get a good traditional meal. After receiving some good recommendations, I left with my camera, and important belongings until my room was ready.
Ecstatically I began to wander the streets looking for food. “I’m finally here,” I said, “Now I can relax.” It was like a huge weight had already begun to subside. I was filled with so much joy to be away from home I could stop smiling.
As I walked I recognized many places I saw while looking up areas to stay and places to go. I decided I wanted to go look at the beach and wandered to the closest view of the water. As I moved around I identified El Morro Castle (Castillo San Felipe del Morro) in the distance and I wanted to check it out since I was close.
As grew closer to the castle I saw families spending time together in a large field surrounding the castle. Some people were flying kites while others played with their dogs. I noticed many others eating ice cream or just basking in the Vitamin D filled rays of the sun.
I arrived at the castle, paid the fee, and started to try to cover as much ground as I could. El Morro Castle is pretty huge and there is a lot to look at. I began to educate myself on Puerto and the history of the castle as I navigated through the castle. Around every corner was something new. I was captivated by the views of the rustic stone structure against blue waters and lively green plants.
As my time at the castle came to an end I continued on my journey to find one of the food places that was recommended. I continued to analyze and reflect, there were so many different things going on in one spot. I noticed many cultural and environmental differences from my home in the States. As I rummaged through the neighborhoods looking for food I asked for directions and finally stumbled across Barrachina, one of the recommendations.
At the Barrachina, I got a traditional dish called Mofongo which is a dish made out of mashed fried plantains topped with veggies or meat. I don’t eat meat often but when I’m traveling to a new country I allow myself to try new foods and traditional dishes. Food is one of my favorite parts of traveling to new areas.
I finished my meal and headed back into the tourist filled streets. I continued to analyze my surroundings as I took pictures. I realized my continuous gratitude for my experience. Even though there was visible damage from natural disasters the people were still happy, flourishing, and positive. This aligned with the minimalistic nature of my thinking and showed me a lot about how happiness starts with you and your mindset.
After some hours of eating and exploring I went back to the hotel to check out my room for the first time. By this time my room was ready for me I got my key and walked to my room. My room was close to the entrance so I didn’t have to walk far. I got settled into the room and walked around the rest of the hotel.
I took in the beauty of the hotel and then went back to my room. I tried to relax but ended up falling asleep.
DAY 2: Transitioning to the Rainforest, Starting to Disconnect
The next day, I got up early to get some groceries before I left the city. I walked around the empty streets until it was time to meet my ride. I met my driver in front of a statue where cabs would pick up people. From there we took an hour and a half long commute into the middle of the rainforest where my Eco Lodge was. I was excited to change locations, I knew this is where the self work, the disconnect & reconnect process would truly start and amplify itself.
As we began our ride to the Eco Lodge I started to get to know my driver Julian. He asked me where I was from and we each began to share little parts of our lives. While sharing parts of our story we started to compare and contrast the fauna and flora of Puerto Rico to my home in Colorado.
There were many differences between the two places, it was interesting to hear Julian say that he would be hesitant to come to Colorado because of the possible danger the animals we have presented. “There aren’t any large dangerous animals in Puerto Rico,” he said, “you will find many spiders.” This was in contrast to what most people think when they hear “ the rainforest of Puerto Rico”. That brought me some comfort because the next day I was going to explore the rainforest alone.
Along the route to the Eco Lodge, we passed through many different cities, Julian told me a lot about some of the cities we went through. He gave me insight about what the city was used for in the past and present, and what things you can do in each of these cities. I got some great info about places to explore when I go back. While going through the mountain valley Julian pointed toward the direction where his home was located. I thought about how amazing it must be to live in the mountains of the rainforest.
We continued on the highway and finally took a right turn heading into the dense green rainforest. Many tropical plants hugged the road. As we traversed through the mountains I spotted trees that had vibrant yellow fruits falling out of the trees and into the road.
“Are those mangos?!” I exclaimed. “Yes, they are!” Julian said. “Wow, mangos are my favorite! I’ve never seen yellow mangos!” I said. “Really? It’s actually mango season right now. You can eat them when they fall from the trees. Would you like to stop?” “Yes!” I said without hesitation!
We pulled over and began to pick the best mangos that had fallen to the ground. “You can eat them as long as there are no holes. If there are holes the bugs have started to eat them and they’re no good” Julian said.
We both grabbed some mangos and hopped back into the car. Being able to get these natural organic mangos straight from the source was amazing to me because it represented the ability to live off of the natural land. I was also excited about this opportunity because I didn’t bring much food into the mountains and there weren’t going to be places to eat around the lodge so gathering fruit was very clutch!
After more driving and good conversations, we finally arrived at the Casa Cubuy Ecolodge! I thanked Julian for everything, paid for the ride, and set a time to meet back at the hotel in a few days. I knew I wouldn’t be able to call him because there was no service so I was proactive about making sure I had a ride to the airport on time.
EAT YOUR FRUITS
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DRINK MORE WATER
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EAT YOUR FRUITS 〰️ DRINK MORE WATER 〰️
I checked in at the front desk where I was greeted by the owner. I had a short conversation with her and then took my belongings to my room. She told me more about Casa Cubuy and pointed me to a trail that lead to a waterfall on the property.
I took my belongings to my room and then went straight to the trail to the waterfall! “This is a great location!” I thought as I headed down the trail to the waterfall.
It was very beautiful, peaceful, and accessible to the El Yunque National Forest. I felt so satisfied with my choice to come to the area. The location was so unique because it was a family house that was converted into the Eco Lodge. Everything I wanted and needed to disconnect was right here.
I finally emerged from the foliage of the forest as the waterfall revealed itself. I was captivated by the waterfall’s beauty, it was calm and full of life. I walked across the rocks taking in the beauty of the area as small green lizards scampered around. This was the perfect place to come to after a long day of activity. After a while of analyzing the area, I decided to head back up the trail to explore the area outside the lodge.
I left the lodge and began walking around the lush bamboo-filled rainforest. I decided I’d look for some more fruits in the area and I stumbled across some amazing plants. I saw many bananas, flowers, tropical plants, and fruits I struggled to identify. After walking around for some time, I went back to my room to film Episode 2 of my podcast Manifest’s Digest. I finished filming, called it a night, and got ready for my next day.
Day 3: Alone in the Rainforest for a Full Day, Disconnecting and Reconnecting
I woke up excited for my third day in Puerto Rico, this day would be filled with relaxation, reflection, and discovery, a truly holistic experience of disconnecting and reconnecting. I got up early and went straight to breakfast at the lodge where they provided an assortment of tropical fruits and fruit juices. This was the perfect way to start my day.
After rejuvenating my body with the essence of fresh fruits I headed into the mountains where I would spend the whole day hiking and partaking in a psychedelic experience. I could’ve done this process of disconnecting and reconnecting without substances but every year for the past couple of years I have used the medicine on or around my birthday as a “coming into age” ceremony, a true reset.
DISCLAIMER: I do not suggest engaging in medicinal plants in this way without previous experience. Please gain a stronger understanding for the medicine before use. I do not encourage engaging in illegal activity. Please become familiar with the laws in your area.
I began to follow the road deeper into the El Yunque toward an area the owner of the lodge give me directions to. I continued walking slightly unsure if I’d find the area without the convenience of GPS. I used the navigation skills that I have to make sure I knew where I going and where I came from. The anxiety of the unknown subsided as I grew content and began to settle in, I felt at home. After becoming comfortable with the environment I took the medicine.
The calming sounds of running water and birds filled the area as I navigated the dense lush rainforest. The sounds comforted me like a soft blanket in the winter. I finally reached one of the destinations that were described to me and found a trail. I scouted the area and then started to explore the trail.
The trail was covered with a canopy of foliage all along the trail. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the biodiversity around every turn. When I hike, when I’m outside I pay attention to the little things. Early on I noticed there weren’t many animals in the area, so far I only saw lizards, birds, and spiders.
It was like I was the only animal on the trail. I hadn’t seen anyone yet it seemed like no one had been on this trail for a very long time. Julian was right, with every step I took it was like there was a spider web perched across the trail. They were quite literally everywhere.
As I was analyzing the plants, fungi, and community of spiders I realized I felt pretty “normal” I thought the medicine wasn’t working. Boyyy was I wrong, after walking a little longer I started to feel the beginning of the medicine kicking in, this made my adventure on this seemingly secluded trail even more interesting.
I continued along the trail wondering where I was going, how far I had walked, and what time it was. After what felt like hours of taking pictures and knocking down the spider webs that would impede my path on the trail I started running out of water and decided to turn around. It was extremely humid and the dense spider-filled forest off put me a little and made me feel slightly claustrophobic.
I headed to a spot at the river I found before I went on the trail. This would be my home base or safe space during my experience and where I’d spend the majority of the day. On my way down, the effects of the medicine really started to become apparent and by the time I got to the river, I was fully immersed in the experience.
I put my backpack down and sat at the river to refuel and collect myself. I took in the land around me and felt so much joy and gratitude. “I’m really here, I’m really doing this. I’m really in Puerto Rico alone in the rainforest on this spiritual journey. Who does this? Who would do this? It takes a strong person to have this type of experience.”
I realized how brave, how strong, and how adventurous I am. I remembered times I wanted to travel and I didn’t go because I was scared to be alone or didn’t want to be alone. Now I was in the middle of the rainforest, in a whole different country, with no one around me and a lot of unknowns. For most people, this whole thing would have been extremely uncomfortable but for me, I was truly at peace, unbothered, and worry-free.
I sat down ate my last mango and listened to the sounds of the water with my eyes closed. The sounds of the water were perfect, I went from eating into a meditation where I continued to focus on the sounds and thought about my gratitude for life and this experience. I finished my meditation and began walking close to the river’s edge. Suddenly I fell in and was fully submerged in the water for what felt like a cleanse. I was trying not got get completely in the water and it was like the universe had a different plan.
I got out of the water and it started lightly raining. I watched the water droplets hit the river and puddles on the wet rocks. It was like everything was in slow motion. It reminded me to be in the moment and to slow down. I realized that oftentimes we move so fast that we forget to slow down and enjoy the moment. I basked in this moment, enjoyed this spot, and reflected on my life for hours.
I didn’t know how long I was at the spot by the river because my phone died. This allowed me to practice fully being in the moment. I looked at the sky to help gauge the time so I could assess when to go back to the lodge. It seemed like I had been out all day! I decided it was time to head back.
WOW I AM SO GRATEFUL
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WOW I AM SO GRATEFUL 〰️
On my way back, I took some more pictures and reflected on my day, it was all I could ask for! Upon arrival at the lodge, I still had some daylight so I went back to the waterfall on the lodge property. By this time the medicine was wearing off. I enjoyed the water for a while before I went back to my room. When I got to my room, I reflected more and rewatched Manifest’s Digest Episode 2 (The Environment).
After rewatching my podcast and reflecting, I enjoyed the sounds of the Puerto Rican Coquí, a small frog native to Puerto Rico until I drifted into a deep sleep.
My view from my room at Casa Cubuy as I arrived back from my adventure.
Life is what you make it
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Life is what you make it 〰️
My Last Moments in Paradise
I woke up to my last hours in Puerto Rico. I went to enjoy the fresh fruits at breakfast one last time and then went on one last hike. It was raining and even more humid than the day before. I made my way back to the river where I spent the day the previous day. I was determined to find more specimens of fungi to photograph.
I made it to my destination and decided to walk up the trail one last time. After a while, I turned around and went back to the river. I began to rummage across wet rocks to get to my spot from the day before. Suddenly I felt my feet disengage from the rocks and simultaneously I felt my camera crashing against the rocks. “Awe man, nooo!”
My camera lens was broken in half! One piece was still lodged in the camera body while the rest was spread across the rocks. I began to inspect the camera body and it seemed to be in working condition still with some minor damages. I was so grateful that the camera body still worked. I felt blessed that this happened on my last day but with that I decided to go back to the lodge.
I made it back went back to the room to shower and finish packing my items. Before I knew it, it was time to check out. I was met at the entrance of the lodge by Julian’s wife, I put my stuff in the car and we departed back to the San Juan Airport my adventure was officially over.
The forest conditions on my morning hike
Conclusion: How being alone in Puerto Rico effected me
My first experience traveling out of the United States alone was amazing. I learned so much about myself and life in general. I learned a lot about traveling alone and had some great takeaways. The biggest messages I took from this trip were about strength & resiliency and connectivity & symbiosis.
Throughout the whole trip, I constantly showed myself how strong and resilient I am. I went through many things that tested me and showed me a lot about myself.
Many of the things that I experienced would’ve shaken a lot of people to the core. I have immense gratitude for my ability to navigate through my experiences. My ability to enjoy this trip came down to preparation.
Everything was meticulous & purposeful from day one. My positive experience came down to preparation. It was very important to be as prepared as possible and at some times I could’ve prepared better but overall I was well prepared.
This trip showed me so how strong & resistant people and nature are. The people in Puerto Rico were happy with what they had and enjoyed the little things, which is very important to me. On my way back to the lodge from my full day in the forest families were hanging out in nature just enjoying life it was beautiful to witness.
Puerto Rico is so strong, the people, culture, and environment emulated that in every way. It seemed like people knew how to remain happy and strong through hurricanes and trauma. When I was in the city I learned a lot about the Spanish colonization of Puerto Rico and how the United States has been continuing to uphold some of the struggles for Puerto Ricans. Regardless of trauma they still manage to be resistant and strong. Seeing the plants growing on rocks and buildings was a symbol of the strength of Puerto Rico for me.
Spanish Cross of Burgundy Flag (left), Puerto Rican Flag (middle), and United States Flag (right) at El Morro Castle.
WE ARE ALL ONE
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WE ARE ALL ONE 〰️
My next most impactful take from the trip was connectivity and symbiosis. It was displayed in many ways throughout the trip starting in the city but it hit me the hardest while I was in nature.
When I was in the city learning about the culture and history, I felt connected to the trauma the people of Puerto Rico had to deal with and still are dealing with. I realized how things Puerto Ricans have dealt with are similar, the same, or even directly involve my people. It spoke to one of my favorite phrases, “We are all one”.
When I was in the mountains I was able to expand on these concepts through recognizing the different symbiotic relationships in the rainforest. I observed how the plants & animals worked together and needed each other to survive. Seeing many plants growing on top of each other, observing fungi, and watching how animals used the plants to get their needs while giving back to them in return showed me in every way these ideas of connectivity and symbiosis.
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Traveling alone was truly empowering for me. I’m so glad I finally just decided to leave. I was prepared, I did research, I reflected, and I stayed in the moment. I’m so glad I allowed myself to be comfortable this trip changed me forever!
Overall this trip helped me realize what survival and life is about. It’s about being strong, it’s about being resilient, it’s about realizing how we are all connected, and how all these different beings come together to live in harmony to create this beautiful thing we call life.
I think if we allow ourselves to slow down, analyze, reflect, and just be we can realize more about ourselves & focus on these connections we have with everything around us. Sometimes you have to seek discomfort to learn the greatest lessons. If we can allow ourselves to do the things I believe we rediscover harmony and find peace. What a journey, this is the power of disconnecting and reconnecting.
