Hi, I’m Emily Mesa, the traveler and photographer behind The Boujee Backpacker. Originally from San Diego, I’ve lived in Utah, Alaska, Thailand for a short time, and now call Colorado home. I’ve spent years embracing a nomadic lifestyle, letting my curiosity lead me from one destination to the next.

I’m 31 now, and while I didn’t quite hit my goal of visiting 30 countries by the time I turned 30, I’ve made it to 29—and I’m still adding to that list. Growing up, travel wasn’t something I did, but that all changed when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at just 48. It pushed me to live differently, to prioritize experiences over things. Since then, I’ve been traveling on a budget, finding ways to explore the world without breaking the bank, and learning that you don’t have to wait for the ‘perfect’ time to see what’s out there.

My background in tourism has taken me from guiding cruise ship passengers in Alaska to leading kids on East Coast D.C. trips, and running day tours to places like the Rocky Mountains. I even worked as a road trip tour guide for international travelers, which was when I realized—if I can guide people across the U.S., I can travel solo anywhere. That revelation sparked my solo travel adventures and deepened my passion for seeing the world.

When 2020 happened, like so many, I found myself out of a job. I took the opportunity to go to grad school and became a landscape architect. But even with a new career path, travel remains my biggest passion. That’s why I decided to start this blog, The Boujee Backpacker, as a creative outlet to share my experiences, tips, and photography with other travelers and dreamers.

I love capturing the beauty of the places I visit, and every photo you see on this blog is taken with my trusty Sony A7iii. My goal with The Boujee Backpacker is to make travel feel accessible and relatable, whether you’re chasing a far-off destination or looking for weekend escapes closer to home. Travel has shaped my life in ways I never expected, and through this blog, I hope to help others discover the joy of exploration, no matter where they are in their journey.