Hi, I’m Mayra. Welcome to Life on the Roam.
I’m a nomad.
My camera bag is glued to my hip like maple peanut butter clings to a spoon.
Here you’ll find travel guides to destinations with breathtaking landscapes and vibrant art and design scenes that will wrap you up like a taco in a palette of colours, textures, sounds, and flavours.
With words and pictures I take you through national parks, beaches, nature and wildlife reserves, gardens, and any green patch that makes you say “Pinch me!”.
I’ll tell you how to get there and all the wonderful things you can do while you’re there.
When I’m not chasing waterfalls or doing day hikes, my interior design background pulls me like a magnet to beautiful architecture and art exhibits.
Do you love walking past historic buildings looking at architectural details till your neck hurts? Exploring museums and craft markets?
Yep, me too.
Whether you’re set on a destination or you’re wondering where to go, my travel guides are full of useful tips to plan your weekend trip, your vacation, or your sabbatical leave.
I’ll show you how to get to that lake up in the forest that will make you want to join Sasquatch. I’ll tell you where to go in the city to spend hours looking up at buildings’ ornamentation until your neck hurts. Or about that park where trees and sculptures mingle and it’s hard to tell apart the temples from the mountains.
How did I end up doing this? I was at one of those crossroads where life can take any direction. My work permit in the Cayman Islands was coming to an end and I decided to move back to Canada for a year to go back to college. After that, nothing was written in stone.
Life was an open road.
The idea of travelling the world as a digital nomad looked as tempting as Happy Hour with unlimited champagne and petit fours.
My beloved husband/fantastic travel companion and I asked ourselves: If we don’t do it now, when? We chose now when we can walk for hours, hike our way up a mountain (not as fast as in our twenties, but we still get up there), and manage the ins and outs of the nomadic life.
You may be asking yourself the same question. Everybody’s situation is different, but if you’re on the fence, read this: it’s never too late to roam the world. Just because most people hit the road before they’re thirty doesn’t mean that you can’t do it if you’re over forty, or fifty, or however old you are. You just do it differently. In your own way. At your own pace.
After all, home is just a four-letter word.
So we uprooted and embarked on this adventure and we’ve lived on the road for the last six years.
I love travelling, feeling the excitement of the unknown, and meeting new people.
It broadens your mind like a pizza dough under a rolling pin, debunking preconceived ideas about places.
We travel at a snail’s pace. We spend weeks, even months, in the same country. Sometimes I love a place so much that I end up going back over and over.
I take my time to look around, feel at home, and let the experience and the local culture sink in before picking up my two bags and move somewhere else.
A slow pace allows me to bring you local tips, in-depth guides, and a glimpse of the local life beyond the typical tourist hotel bubble.
Whether your trip lasts three days or three weeks, I’ll help you find your way to artsy enclaves or to the best place to see wildlife.
Are you an independent traveller?
Do you get three wrinkles when you think of the typical tours with large crowds and the never-ending stops at tacky souvenir shops?
I get it. I provide many tips that will help you get from A to B on your own and build your itinerary.
Do I ever go on tours? Yes, sometimes, preferably with small groups. Not all tours are created equal. Sometimes the experience and insight of a guide makes a world of difference. Sometimes, due to access restrictions, or time constraints, or safety, it’s the only option available.
Sometimes you just want to have everything taken care of, kick back, and relax so I also give you the best recommendations for tours.
Usually, I prefer to do my own thing and have the freedom to go at my own pace. You know what I mean. Take all the pictures you want. Change plans on a whim. Eat where and when you want.
And save a lot of money.
I’m a mid-budget traveller.
We do house sitting for a large portion of our travels: we stay at homes for free in exchange for free pet and house care.
In between, we book apartments, sometimes hotels, and sometimes private rooms at apartments or hostels.
Whenever possible I take public transit to get around.
And I walk. A lot.
It’s the best way to stumble across hidden gems, soak up the architecture, and get a daily dose of exercise.
Or I rent a car when it’s the best way (sometimes, the only way) to get the most out of a destination.
All the stories, insights, and reviews on this website are written by me and they’re 100% based on my personal experience. If I write about a place it’s because I’ve been there and took the picture.
I publish new posts every Tuesday.
The best way to not miss out is to join my email list. If you sign up I’ll be in your inbox once a week and share insights and extra tips I don’t include in the blog.
You can connect with me following Life On The Roam on Pinterest and Instagram.
What would you like to read about on the blog? Let me know. I’d love to hear about it.
Now shut the front door and explore your world. See you on the road!