She quit her job, took her dog, and set off on a great adventure: driving from Brazil to Peru in her small, old car.
For many, it may seem like madness, but Ana Clara Uchôa quit her job, took her dog, and set off on a great adventure: driving from Brazil to Peru in her small, old car.
The 25-year-old spent years imagining what it would be like to leave everything behind and pursue the dream of making a big trip with Ísis, her golden retriever, after she started following an influencer who went all the way to Alaska with their pet.
Uchôa resigned, and two days later she was already on the road with Ísis, but she gave up a few weeks later when she realized she wasn’t prepared for the loneliness and challenges of being a woman traveling alone.
To Marie Claire, the influencer shared how that first attempt prepared her for the trip she is now undertaking, with the car adapted for adventure and with support from the internet.
With over 350 thousand followers, the influencer relies on social media to keep her family updated: “Nowadays, because of the success on social media, the situation is more controlled. Now, they know where I am and understand better,” she explains.
Uchôa knows that for a woman alone, things can be more difficult. She reported that sometimes she doesn’t feel safe, but she always keeps in mind what her goal is and why she’s doing this.
“In moments when I feel fear, I get a surge of courage because traveling is what I want to do. I will always find a solution before something stops me from continuing to do what I want,” she says.
And she also encourages other women to chase their dreams: “I think every woman in the world should have at least once in her life the experience of traveling alone. Maybe the person won’t like it, maybe she’ll think ‘this is not for me,’ but the experience of connecting with other women and seeing the world is wonderful. I’m very happy to be able to encourage them in this way.”
Uchôa still has many trips ahead. Currently, she, Ísis, and Ozzy, the car, are in Minas Gerais, a state in southwestern Brazil.
To follow her journey, just check out her page on Instagram, where she shares her adventures.
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
