Why I Walked Away Mid-Tour—And Would Again

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use or believe will add value to you.

Learning to Trust Your Gut While Traveling

I’d been looking forward to this experience for weeks.

I bought the gear. I planned my trip around it. I’d been in touch with the guide, who had great energy and seemed truly invested in making it special. This wasn’t just an activity—it was something I hoped would be a creative and personal highlight of my time in Lima.

Then, the day before, the plan changed. A different guide would be leading.

Cue the gut reaction: Ugh. No.

But like so many women I know, I overrode that voice. I told myself to stay flexible, to trust the universe. Maybe this new guide would be great in his own way. I do truly believe that hiccups can lead to incredible things.

Spoiler: He was not incredible. At least not for me.

From the start, the vibe was off. The handoff to a new guide was awkward, and I had to re-explain the intentions I’d already carefully shared over weeks with my initial contact. Instead of feeling seen and supported, I felt like a last-minute addition to someone else’s day.

He invited me to a unique, food-focused experience—which could have been lovely. I even suggested inviting Eric, our trusted driver and a serious foodie, to join us. But the guide said no. Which, fine—but it added to the sense that this wasn’t really about me.

The morning came, and I met him in my hotel lobby. I mentioned that I wanted to do the experience, then return to the hotel for my things and drop them at my new accommodations.

Him: “What, you have a lot of luggage?”

Hey buddy. My trip, my luggage.

And then came the moment that tipped it.

As we were driving, he mentioned he builds websites on the side. I asked what he thought of mine. This is a softball question. You say something encouraging to the person who just hired you and is about to spend the day with you.

His response? A smirk and a shrug: “I couldn’t even find it. I mean, do you even have anyone doing your SEO?”

Excuse me?

I’m proud of my blog. It’s new, yes—but it’s mine. The dismissive tone, the unsolicited critique, the not-so-subtle dig? That wasn’t about helping. That was about being smarter, better—right.

Also: he was searching for it in a way no one actually would. When you Google things real people are looking for—like “luxury shopping guide to Lima”—guess what pops right up?

I knew in that moment I didn’t want to spend another minute trying to force this connection. But instead of speaking up right away, I just seethed—until he could see it on my face.

I told him how rude I thought his comment was. And then came the mansplaining: a combination of why I had “misunderstood” him and an in-depth lecture on how my blog was “unfindable.” It was lovely.

That was it. I demanded to call the company owner. I explained the situation. And to his credit, he was incredible—gracious, responsive, and quick to offer a full refund. I’ll absolutely use the company again. But next time, I’ll choose who I spend the day with.

I walked away without even a goodbye. Honestly, it’s all a bit of a blur.

I called my husband—who was amazing and supportive—and then wandered to a nearby park I knew, where I had the chance to play with a whole gaggle of dogs. From there, I meandered toward Larcomar, Lima’s cliffside mall, and stumbled upon a municipal shelter dog adoption event.

Right as I arrived, one of the dogs escaped from his harness. With only one volunteer available, I jumped in to help wrangle him back to safety. Clearly, it was the universe reminding me that from this “hiccup,” I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

Back at my hotel, I met up with Eric, who offered to take me on his own personal tour of the historic core of Lima. Fighting with someone drains you, so we started with food—at Bar Cordano, the fantastically old-school restaurant and bar that’s been open since 1905. Hearty, classic, and exactly what I needed.

From there, we explored the palatial Government Palace, strolled the Jirón de la Unión, admired the Cathedral, and the insane beauty of the colonial architecture. Even with our language gaps, we worked it out—and I got a real insider’s experience.

None of this would have happened if I hadn’t, at least eventually, listened to my gut.

Because here’s what that moment reminded me:

When you’re traveling—particularly when you’re alone, far from home, and intentionally pushing yourself to grow and explore—your intuition is one of your most powerful tools.

It’s there to keep you safe. To keep you sane. And sometimes, just to keep your energy sacred.

This wasn’t about the guide being a bad person. He just wasn’t my person. And when you’re giving your time, your money, your trust—you deserve to choose who you share it with.

So here’s what I want you to remember:

You’re not high-maintenance for wanting alignment.
You’re not “difficult” for protecting your peace.
You’re not overreacting when something feels off.

You’re listening to yourself.
And that’s not a weakness—it’s your wisdom.