Why I Skipped Popoyo Secret Party in Nicaragua and What It Brought Me (My First Paid Writing Gig)

A few days ago, I was talking with a backpacker in Máncora, Peru. In an attempt to go beyond the usual hostel small talk — "What's your route?" and "How long have you been travelling?"— I asked him what activities or places he had consciously skipped. I was curious: were there things he regretted missing, or things he was glad he didn't do?

It led to a great conversation. I shared how I had skipped several activities in Nicaragua while backpacking there with a friend, and what it has brought me. This is the story of how I got my first paid writing assignment.

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Must-do activities in Nicaragua

If you have read my slow travel guide for Nicaragua, you might remember that Nicaragua is one of my least favorite solo backpacking destinations. As a solo female traveler and even when travelling with a female friend, I felt uncomfortable on multiple occasions. This is also the only country in Latin America where I have experienced harassment.

Safety issues aside, somehow Central America has become a backpacker hotspot for a young backpacking crowd. While I highly encourage people to travel at a young age when they can, Nicaragua has somehow turned into a party backpacker destination. In each town, there is a party or event that involves drinking — such as volcano boarding near Léon —  that is considered a must-do activity.

One of such popular must-do activities in Nicaragua is Popoyo Secret party — a monthly gathering at a remote location in Popoyo. While Popoyo is one of my favorite destinations in Nicaragua along Ometepe island, I am not a big partier when I travel. I had a phase like that when I was a younger backpacker myself. So, even though my friends were going, I decided to skip Popoyo's Secret Party.

Fear of Missing Out when travelling

In life in general, but especially when travelling, it is easy to feel like you have to participate in social events and so-considered 'must-do activities'. What if I never come back to this place? What if my friends are going to make their favorite travel memory this night?

With several years of travel experience under my belt and as someone who attempts to travel authentically, I am glad that I have gotten good at recognizing when FOMO — the abbreviation for Fear of Missing Out — is in the way of what I truly want to do.

Much worse than not coming back to a certain place and not having done the must-do activities is realizing that all you have seen of a place is the rest as anyone else while you did not even want to. Plus, you are unlikely to make your favorite travel memory if you are not up for the activity in the first place.

Why I skipped Popoyo Secret Party

That particular night, I just wasn't feeling social. So while almost everyone from my hostel went to Popoyo's Secret, I stayed behind and went to a fundraising and film screening event — which, by the way, was minutes away from one of my favourite digital nomad accommodations to date.

It had been a long time since I had gone to a film by myself, something which I used to do often in the Netherlands. The first time I ever did that had been as an 'artist date,' inspired by The Artist's Way, a 12-week creative recovery course from Julia Cameron. That artist date led me to write my first published op-ed for a Dutch national newspaper. Little did I know, that something similar was about to happen this time.

At the fundraising event in Popoyo, Nicaragua, they first screened a local film about Sirenitas — an initiative that teaches girls confidence and community through surfing, while also creating a safe space to talk about girlhood. That film was followed by the main documentary by David Mesfin called Wade in the Water about the hidden Black history of surfing.

Wade in the Water left a deep impression on me. Everyone needed to know this story — not just the historical erasure of surfing in Africa, but also how that erasure continues to shape the surf world today, including which surfers qualify for the Olympic Games. Energized by the film, I pitched a Dutch journalistic platform with an idea for an article about the film. Within a day they replied enthusiastically. They loved it and even asked me to expand the pitch into a broader piece on the history of surfing. Not only did they pay me but the editor also gave me valuable feedback that helped me grow my writing.

All of that happened because I skipped the Popoyo Secret Party that I didn't really feel like going to, and instead did something I genuinely wanted to do. In other words, that one choice led to my first paid freelance writing assignment.

FOMO and the difference between travel and tourism

It is easy to fall into the trap of FOMO when travelling a popular backpacking route where everyone seems to be doing the same things. And sometimes, the "must-do" activities really are worth it, even if you do not feel like it. Climbing volcano Acatenango and seeing Fuego erupt in Guatemala, for instance, remains one of my absolute highlights after 2,5 year of full-time travel. Everyone does it — and if you can, you really should.

But there are plenty of activities that people do just because "everyone else is doing it." And you don't have to. For me, Popoyo Secret was one of those. Other examples? Visiting every landmark or church in a city when you are not interested in that. Why not go to a museum instead? Or if you hate water sports, you don't have to surf in Puerto Escondido in Mexico or El Paredon in Guatemala. Go on a little-known hike instead.

The difference between travelling and tourism — a hotly debated topic — in my opinion comes down to how independently you make your choices. For me, travelling is about getting to know other places, people, and cultures and exploring how you relate to them. It is about learning who you are through where you go, who you meet, and what you do. Sometimes that means following the crowds, other times that means skipping the main attractions and listening to your own curiosity instead.

So next time you find yourself in another round of hostel chatter, try asking: "What is something you skipped, and are either glad you did or wish you hadn't?" I promise, it will lead to richer conversations and give you new ideas for your own trip.

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