Ezey Duru

book that ticket!

Let me tell you a little story about my first solo trip two years ago. It was August 2023, and I was 20 years old. Up until that point, I had only been out of the country once, but I had this burning desire to experience a solo trip. It wasn’t just about going to a new country and lounging on a beach (okay, maybe that was part of it). It was about stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing the adventure of traveling alone.

The nervous yet exhilarating feeling of landing in a new country with no one but myself, not knowing what would happen next but being open to all the new memories I was about to create — that’s what drew me in.

One day in early August, I was sitting in the dining room on my laptop, scrolling through solo travel tips and safe destinations for women. I kept thinking, Why can’t this be me? I wanted to experience the world, and I knew I had the ability to make it happen. Right?

I started looking at flights, just for fun, and saw a round-trip ticket from Houston to Cancun for just over $200 — the same price as a flight to Boston for school. Beach, Mexico, food? Hello? Sign me up! I casually mentioned the idea to my mom, saying, “What if I took a solo trip to Cancun?” Her reaction? “Excuse me? Absolutely not.” She didn’t think I was serious — she went to the room and by the time she came back I had already booked the ticket!

So fast forward after I booked it, I explained the tips I use to travel in this blog HERE! And i’m excited to share all the activities i experiences on this trip

7 AM YOGA

So basically, Mayan Monkey hosts events all day, every day, making it easy to connect with new people if you’re open to it!

On my first official day, I joined their 7 AM beach yoga session — just a five-minute walk away. It was the most peaceful I had seen at the beach, I went with the girls I had met when arriving, and we talked while taking in the serenity.

Imagine standing on the shore, feeling the ocean breeze, hearing the rhythmic waves, and smelling the salty air — all while easing your mind and finding peace. It’s the perfect way to start the day before things pick up!

And then it was time for….

BOAT DAY #1 Fiesta a la Isla Mujeres!!!

Okay so I joined Alex and her friend for their birthday week celebration and her friend only spoke Spanish, so it was definitely an experience! We went on this big party boat, literally called Fiesta de Isla Mujeres

THE BREAKDOWN

• Open bar with unlimited margaritas,
• So much space with a wide-open rooftop
• Nonstop music the whole time
• Boated to Isla Mujeres docked on both the north and south of the island!
• Included snorkeling activities stunning clear water, so many fish,

This was my first time spending time with an older crowd, they were like in their 30s but it ended up being one of the best experiences — dancing, talking, and connecting with new people. Keeping an open mind made all the difference.

GUACAMOLE COMPETITION

Next up was the guacamole competition at the hostel, and of course, we had to join in, free guac and chips, sign me up! The hostel provided all the ingredients — fresh avocados, tomatoes, onions, and more. I didn’t win, but it was so much fun learning how to make real, flavorful guac. And especially to eat it all up.

NIGHT LIFE

All i can say is that it’s crazy

• Mandala — open air vibe, latin beats but also electronic music, one of my favorites
• 24k — hip hop and rap up the stairs
• Coco Bongo — there are a lot of different levels but the highest level of cirque du soleil was a completely new experience, insane live performances and acrobats, you will see characters fly over you across the club, and its like a theme. I saw spider man and KISS band
• Señor frog — it’s like a restaurant and a club, I usually find it empty,
• La vaquita — Literally cow themed, with elevated floors
• And so much more!

Not gonna lie, I went to all of these for free, I will explain.

Thursday night, I met “Shella”, and we decided to go out with no intention of paying! We knew we would get in somewhere.

Oh to be a woman!!!

We got to the main strip around 10PM with a simple strategy: be hot, and when a promoter approaches ask “Gratis?”

We got in for free at Señor Frog and Mandala, partly because we were early so there were no crowds. We ended up staying at Mandala and the bouncer we met not only let us in, but also took care of us the entire night — free entry, free bevs, high table set up, VIP treatment.

Then around 11/12 PM that’s when the place was packed, the energy was insane, and we were living it up and non stop dancing. I loved the music.

I am telling yall the trick is to really talk up that bouncer !!

~

After Mandala, we were sitting in front of La Vaquita, and a drunk guy bought us $20 roses each.!! We were talking but not interested but we still exchanged instagrams because they were talking about coming on a boat with them — which is important for the story later!

We finally called it around 4 AM but the night was not over yet!! Of course the last thing we had to do was go for a swim on the beach. This was the first time I had ever had an experience like that and I was embracing it. No swimsuit, just clothes, just go. We did get kicked out with someone flashing a bright light at us.

NEW FRIENDS

The guy we met sent me a message checking in and invited us for dinner and drinks on them. We turned it down at first, but thennnn we reached back out to see where they were going out for the night. We mentioned we wanted to check out the iconic Coco Bongo, and he said we could hang out — he even got us tickets and drinks. And we could not turn that down.

So, we met again for the first time there, and we had brought two other new girls from the hostel — he covered them too. And that was just the beginning.

For the rest of the trip, we kept getting invited to their Airbnb, which was giving insane VILLA vibes — unlimited rooms, gorgeous, three to four floors, a private beach, a pool, everything! We went for a swim, and then Shella and I joined them for the Mandala beach club, where we got to meet the rest of his friends and the other girls. For dinner, they had a private chef cooking for 15 of us! The vibes were immaculate.

From there, the whole trip was history. The next day, we went on a boat ride, went snorkeling, and even did a quick round on the jet ski! And that night, once again, we all went out together.

There are actually so many more deets I could go into, but like… all of these experiences were just the best.

I went to Cancun with no official plans — just vibes at the hostel and the beach — and the most insane experience came to me just because I was open to it all. Open to yapping, being in a new place, meeting new people. Imagine if I never went? I would’ve never had this amazing story to share.

After writing this, I just feel like I need to go on another crazy solo trip and see where the experience takes me.

The key is to just be okay with anything — whether it ends up being chill or chaotic. Don’t expect it to be the craziest time, just expect it to be a new experience.

I could not let this story go unshared.

What is your craziest solo trip story? And if you like to hear about my crazy travel experiences like this and want to read more subscribe!!