Sinead Mulhern
Sinead Mulhern
Back

Sinead Mulhern is a Canadian travel writer and editor based in the Andean city of Cuenca, Ecuador. In early 2018, she quit her job to freelance full-time while exploring South America. When not writing, she's usually hiking mountain trails, learning salsa, running by the river beside her home, or exploring Cuenca's UNESCO-designated downtown. Her work has appeared in The Toronto Star, Travel Curator, enRoute, FASHION, Explore, and others.

44 articles

I stayed in a hostel for more than a month. Here's what I learned.

Cooking pizza after midnight? Don’t mind if I do!

May 01, 2025
...

Don't be that traveller: A no-nonsense guide to low-impact exploring

Do it for the planet

April 15, 2025
...

A backpacker’s guide to big city travel

The city slicker starter pack

April 02, 2025
...

I wrote a travel journal just for me. A year later, it revealed more than I expected.

Turns out, I give great advice.
March 19, 2025
...

What every new backpacker should know (from someone who’s been there)

Rookie mistakes? Not on my watch!
March 04, 2025
...

I go to Costa Rica in search of the pura vida. I find it only when I learn to slow down.

Costa Rica, beyond the checklist
December 16, 2024
...

A backpacker’s guide to planning the ultimate wellness getaway

Destination: Inner peace
October 10, 2024
...

8 travel documentaries to watch when you’re antsy for your next adventure

Just press play!

September 12, 2024
...

6 questions to ask a local that will lead to better travel experiences

What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about your hometown?
June 10, 2024
...

How to prep for summer like a sun-deprived Canadian

It’s not summer quite yet, but we’ll just fake it!
May 21, 2024
...

Unsolicited backpacker advice that I’m so over

The unwritten rules of travel are ones I think are meant to be broken
April 06, 2024
...

I actually think dating while travelling is a really good idea. Here’s why.

New perspective included.
March 06, 2024
...

A backpacker’s guide to pre-trip panic

Who needs extra baggage before even packing?
February 16, 2024
...

8 (weird) things only Canadian backpackers will understand

Canadian backpackers versus nobody ever.
January 22, 2024
...

A Backpacker’s Guide to FOMO: Holiday Edition

You do yule.
December 15, 2023
...

These 7 books by female authors will inspire you to break free from expectations and travel fearlessly

Spark your wanderlust

December 06, 2023
...

17 ways to convince a non-hosteller to book a bunk

Community, convenience, and cozy spaces. What else do you need?
October 06, 2023
...

8 unexpected lessons I gained from learning a second language

The world is your classroom.

September 15, 2023
...

8 ways to avoid tourist traps while travelling

Embrace the quirky, the hidden, and the real in every destination.
August 21, 2023
...

What I learned from Canadian summers at the lake

Livin' the lake life

July 12, 2023
...

How to cope when travel causes anxiety (because no, it's not just you!)

As it turns out, your body still has its basic needs… even when on vacation. Duh.
June 13, 2023
...

A guide to mastering the art of digital nomadism

Laptop at the beach = sand in the keys. Just don’t.
May 15, 2023
...

The lessons we've learned from everyday practices around the world

Rethink your routines with a fresh perspective.
April 05, 2023
...

The case for discovering the world at your own pace

Sometimes being alone in the great outdoors is the best kind of self-care.
March 20, 2023
...

12 habits to master before your next trip

Practice these small daily actions to make your next trip even more vibrant than you imagined.
February 07, 2023
...

The best of Whistler ski culture captured in 6 striking images

Photographer Guy Fattal on what it’s like to work as a ski photographer in one of Canada’s most prized locations.
January 24, 2023
...

Instagram vs Reality: A tale of travels gone awry on a trip to Peru

The non-Instagrammable side of travel exists. No, you’re not "doing it wrong".
January 16, 2023
...

7 ways to befriend locals in a ski town

The only thing better than hitting the powdery slopes is doing it with friends.
November 09, 2022
...

How to make more meaningful connections in hostels

When you look around a hostel lounge, kitchen or dorm, there’s a good chance that you have so much in common with the person sitting next to you.
November 03, 2022
...

A traveller's guide to Halloween around the world

No tricks, just treats!

October 25, 2022
...

8 ways to get the very best of shoulder season travel

Ah, the sweet spot between summer and winter... here’s how to make the most of it.

September 07, 2022
...

How a solo trip to Vancouver sparked confidence to explore on my own

Travelling alone in Canada prompts the kind of self discovery and independence that lends nicely to future adventures.
August 24, 2022
...

How to travel more and fly less

In times when airports have been chaotic, it might be time to swap boarding passes for bikes and TSA lines for train rides.
August 09, 2022
...

The importance of female travel friends

In 2018, I backpacked Colombia’s Caribbean coastline alone. What I discovered was the unconditional support offered by the sisterhood of solo female travellers.

July 12, 2022
...

11 summer activities that are quintessentially Canadian

Kick back on a patio with your SPF 50, crack a craft brew and read on.
June 22, 2022
...

I turned 30 in the Amazon and put society's expectations on hold

There are scarier things than turning 30, like the Amazon jungle for example.
June 13, 2022
...

Let’s all start thinking of travel as a form of self-care 

Getting away for a bit feeds the soul and it just might be the mental health break you need.

February 07, 2022
...

What an unexpected friendship with an elderly couple taught me about travel

The endless wisdom from two self-described Old Ones who have been there, done that and have no plans to stop.

September 06, 2021
...

With the rise of remote work, it’s time to embrace digital nomadism

Stop working to travel, and start working while you travel.

March 02, 2021
...

I’m a Canadian “stuck” abroad right now, and here’s what I miss the most about home

Should I stay or should I go? This expat decided to stay in Ecuador but now that she can’t easily come home, nostalgia has set in.

September 25, 2020
...

How to survive being the third wheel on your trip

The dos and don’ts (and perks!) of being the odd one out.

July 14, 2020
...

The delicate art of coming home

Going is easy. Coming back is a different story.

April 20, 2020
...

Getting lost in Ecuador’s Valley of Longevity

As the clock ticked down on New Year’s Eve, getting lost help me figure out how to slow down.

December 19, 2019
...

How a summer friendship unexpectedly led to my relocation to South America

I didn’t know it at the time, but meeting Mirella changed my life forever.

October 19, 2018
...