I’ve seen some fun similarities between backpackers I’ve met while roaming the globe. Here’s a very caricatural representation of the different types of backpackers you’ll meet on your next trip (or may have already met ;). You can buy these original postcards at 3€/unit - send me a message with your address, desired colour and number of units. They’re the perfect gift for your solo traveller friend!

Caricatural/travel cartoon drawings of backpacker stereotypes, printed on 300gr paper (Tintoretto Gesso, A6)
3€/unit - worldwide shipping

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Dessins drôles de backpackeurs, papier 300 grammes. 3€ par carte postale, envoi en France gratuit.



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Backpacker Stereotypes: Which One Are You?

The French Backpacker Stereotype

You can spot a French Backpacker miles away because they're a Decathlon walking billboard, proudly branded in Forclaz, Quechua and Salomon. They usually hang out in tight-knit, impenetrable groups of French people, and will speak French around you - unapologetically - even if you don’t understand the language. They’re pretty good hikers, but will likely complain all the way to the peak until they say in their glorious French accent “Putain, this is crrrazy beautifulll.”

The American & Aussie Backpacker Stereotypes

American Backpackers have the funniest accent in Spanish, and they notoriously pack super light, while we French watch them in awe wear the same quick-dry T-Shirt four days in a row. They brought protein bars from their hometown, in case they couldn’t buy some in Medellín. And then realize that Medellín has supermarkets as big as in America. With everything you need, 10 times cheaper.

American backpackers’ distant cousins, the Aussie surfer backpacker, is another rare breed of traveller who can usually be found wearing board shorts and flip flops, all day every day. You'll spot them a mile away by their sun-bleached hair and their laid-back, "no worries" vibe.

Aussie backpackers love all things gnarly - they're always on the lookout for the best waves, and will travel to the far corners of the earth in search of the perfect swell. In South America, they'll flock to coastal towns like Mancora, Huanchaco and Montañita, where they can ride the waves by day and party (like proper animals) at night.

The Rich Backpacker Stereotype

And then you have the Rich Backpacker, usually from Germany or the Netherlands, with an impressive (expensive) backpack, leather hiking boots and ultra high-tech camping gear. They have top-notch travel insurance, stay in luxury hostels and take the most expensive tour guides to taste the best of each country. But don't let their wealth fool you - the Rich Backpacker has plenty of stories to tell, from the time they chartered a private yacht to the time they were mistaken for a celebrity at a local club in Medellín. They may be living the high life on the road, but they're still backpackers at heart - just with a lot more cash to spend.

The Hippie Backpacker Stereotype

But shall we not forget the everlasting hippie backpacker, strolling on beaches, or sitting on the side of the road on a flowery purple backdrop, selling necklaces that he made from rocks. He’ll tell you the rock has powers, that it will bring you good fortune, and that he found it in a magical waterfall in Costa Rica - the one you saw yesterday, filled with other gringos. Oh, and he’ll sell it to you for $20, and you’ll buy it, because, well, you kind of want to believe in the rock’s power. You’ll later realize that the beautiful azure colour of the rock was fake, as it quickly fades in the sea and stains your shirt after a humid hike. And there you are with a $20 black rock you could’ve found in your city park back home.

One day, a man named C. told me to put a rock under my tongue when hiking in high-altitude, and that it would help with altitude sickness. I tried it, and it worked. It even worked much better than chewing coca leaves. I later told my mom and my sister to try it out when they went to Argentina.

"Pick up a rock on the side of the path when you start your hike and put it under your tongue when you get over 3000m."

My mom trusted me and put a little rock in her mouth (hail mama). My sister didn't. She ended up vomiting on the side of the road and couldn't finish the hike, poor thing. My mom, 60 years old, was feeling fine and had no symptoms.

Was it a placebo effect? Possibly. Anyways, that story was just to tell you how bad we sometimes want to believe in the many powers of rocks. I do believe in some of them, but not when they're dipped in paint to make us think it's a rare volcanic crystal.

Truth is, I love all types of backpackers. They all made me smile, laugh and wonder. They taught me new things, told me incredible stories, and became life-long friends. We backpackers all have a bit of these four types in ourselves. And we should be proud! Because it takes guts to travel alone with your house on your back for multiple months, to go out of your comfort zone to meet people from all over, to speak a new language, to immerse yourself in a new culture. To climb peaks and surf alone in new spots. To wake up, discover, and face the myriad of challenges on the road. And the best memories from each trip will always be the people you meet. Some have the power to turn a frightening, stressful situation into an explosion of joy.

And for that, I am grateful.


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