Portuguese 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Anderson Dias, who broke the record by visiting 196 countries in 543 days, now embarks on a new journey without haste and with another goal: to dive deeper into the culture of each place.
Anderson Dias left Recife in 2018 and claims to have visited all 196 countries recognized by the UN in just 543 days. This feat made him the fastest human to complete a world tour of all sovereign states, and now he is attempting to repeat the feat at a different pace, on a new journey that began in Costa Rica.
The Brazilian says that this time the journey will be longer and less rushed. The goal is to cross borders more calmly, without the pressure of breaking records, while experiencing deeper experiences in each destination. At the same time, the new adventure takes place amid the restrictions of the pandemic, which have changed the logistics for those who want to travel the world.
According to cnnbrasil.com.br, Anderson even surpassed the record of American Taylor Demonbreun, who had completed the same feat in 554 days. The difference of 11 days may seem small, but it was enough to consolidate the Brazilian as the record holder.
-
Grandmother of eight graduates at 72, moves the family, and shows that a dream postponed for decades could still become a diploma.
-
Grandmother of eight graduates at 72, moves the family and shows that a dream postponed for decades could still become a diploma
-
Children become partners without knowing, accumulate debts, and have their names tarnished due to decisions made by adults in their own family.
-
Icó preserves more than 400 historic buildings and keeps alive the memory of colonial Ceará.
From selling phone cases to the 196 countries recognized by the UN
Born in Salvador and based in Caruaru, Anderson says he came from a humble background and even sold phone cases on Recife buses to save money. Later, he did a six-month exchange program in Europe, returned to Brazil, and started his own company.
The desire to see the world, he says, appeared in childhood while watching the soap opera América on TV Globo. The discomfort with the idea of belonging to just one place became the fuel for the decision made in 2018, when he left Brazil with a suitcase, money, and a cell phone in hand.
The itinerary of the first world tour began in South America, crossed different continents, and ended in Cape Verde, in northwest Africa. On November 24, 2019, he returned to Brazil with the mission accomplished and with a much lighter backpack than the one he had taken at departure.
Challenges, borders, and a record built with determination
If the number impresses, the journey was even tougher. During the first trip, Anderson reports that he slept on the streets of Barcelona, attended a party with Neymar and other players in Paris, crossed the Afghan border on foot and alone, and was almost arrested in Libya.
He also claims to have been deported from the Republic of Congo. In his narrative, the episode was marked by assaults, loss of his passport, and help from an ambassador at the airport. In Yemen, he reportedly entered armed with an AK47.
These stories helped build the image of extreme travel that followed him on social media. On the profile @196sonhos, he showed his movements in real-time to an audience that grew throughout the journey and today exceeds 1.1 million followers.
Tight money, improvisation, and a last-minute strategy
Anderson says that the initial money to travel the world came from selling the company and the car. As the budget tightened, he started monetizing his Instagram profile and using the internet as a source of income during the trip.
The planning, according to him, was short: about three weeks. No rigid route or hotels booked in advance. Most of the time, the path was set at the airline counters, and accommodation was through hostels and Airbnb.
To stay safe, the traveler carried a thousand dollars and another 600 for emergencies. He also relied on currency exchange offices, internet chips, and airport wi-fi to maintain communication with followers and the rest of the trip.
The new world tour now goes without haste
After being welcomed with a celebration in Recife upon returning with the broken record, Anderson embarked on another adventure, this time with a different purpose: to better understand the local culture and experience each country without the urgency of the previous record.
The trip began at the end of May in Costa Rica, continued to New York, where he got the Covid-19 vaccine, and is expected to continue to other destinations. His expectation is to complete the new journey in up to five years, always adapting the route to the rules imposed by the pandemic.
The traveler himself admits that the health crisis complicated everything, but says it is still possible to continue traveling with attention to the requirements of each country. For those following his travels, there is the promise of more stories, more borders, and another world tour in progress.
If this story surprised you too, share it with someone who loves travel and tell us: would you have the courage to take a trip around the world like this?
Be the first to react!