Jungle Adventure affording to stay longer?

Something unusual happened today that so far is enabling my sim to stay there indefinitely. Sim got an invitation to 'ladies night' at the bar from Windenburg neighbor Mrs. (I don't remember name) Freyes. The bar turned out to be the cantina in Selvadoria. Logically that shouldn't happen since it's a foreign country. That said, it got my sim into the country with full access to everything on that lot. After topping off the expedition supplies and needs, tried to go to the trailhead via regular travel, no vacation booked. That was successful, and sim has gone off exploring. Not only has that oddity gotten my sim into the country for free, but Selvadorian Culture skill has been maxed out and archaeology is now up to level 7. This was game initiated, first time it's ever happened, so can't say it's something that can be expected if you've taken a sim there. Still, it's at least a possibility, and am taking full advantage of it.