Why I swapped Expedia for Cactus Coliving (Maria’s story)

What makes someone leave a dream corporate job to take a risk on something completely new?

For years, I built my career at Expedia, surrounded by great colleagues, ambitious projects, and the fast pace of the travel industry. On paper, it was everything I had worked for, a stable role in a global company, the kind of job people imagine when they think of “making it.”

But deep down, I wanted something more.

I found myself asking bigger questions about the kind of life I wanted to lead. Did I really want to spend the next decade behind screens and boardrooms, or could I create something more connected, more human?

That’s where the seed of Cactus Coliving began. 

And this story is the ‘why’ behind all of it.

Growing up in Tenerife with a restless curiosity

At 18, I didn’t have a clear plan, just a burning need to see the world.

I grew up in Tenerife, with the sun, the ocean, and a happy childhood. Still, I always felt curious about what was outside the island. At school I was a strong student, but I didn’t know what career I wanted. What I did know was that I wanted to explore.

From a young age, I was drawn to Asia. The cultures, the languages, the chance to see something completely different, it all fascinated me. When it was time to choose a path, I applied to Les Roches Global Hospitality Education in Switzerland, one of the world’s leading hospitality schools.

The challenge? I didn’t speak English then. Within two months of arriving, I taught myself the language, because I wanted to keep learning and moving forward.

Lessons from my global internships

Four countries, four very different lessons that shaped who I am today.

Learning from adversity (Florence)

One of my first internships was at the Four Seasons in Florence. On the outside, it looked glamorous, but inside it was one of the hardest times in my life. I faced harassment from a manager and had to learn how to stand up for myself in a new country, far from home.

It was painful at the moment, but it taught me strength. Through that challenge I began to build something important: resilience. 

Looking back, that experience gave me the confidence to keep moving forward. It showed me that even in the worst situations, there is room for growth. And resilience isn’t something you’re born with, but something you learn in life.

Falling in love with China (Shanghai & Nanjing)

My next step took me to Shanghai, where I studied, and later to Nanjing, where I interned at the Hilton. It was a whole new world. At first, the culture shock was intense. The food, the language, even the way people worked felt completely different from what I knew.

Instead of resisting, I leaned in. I started learning Chinese and found joy in the small victories of understanding a new word or having a conversation. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me the power of adapting.

Living in China gave me a deep respect for other cultures and showed me how leadership often comes from listening first, then acting. It was definitely a lesson in humility, patience, and growth.

Managing a rooftop bar at 22 (Bangkok)

By this time, I didn’t want to stop learning. I convinced my university to let me take on a third internship, this time in Bangkok. At just 22, I found myself managing a rooftop bar.

It was a huge responsibility. I was leading a team, solving problems on the spot, and keeping things running smoothly in one of the busiest cities in the world. At times it felt overwhelming, but it was also one of the most exciting challenges of my life.

That experience taught me that leadership is about showing up, taking responsibility, and guiding others with confidence, even when you’re still figuring things out yourself.

The dream job at Expedia

Success on paper doesn’t always translate into fulfillment in real life.

After my studies, I joined Expedia Group in a hybrid role, managing some of the top hotels in Spain. It was fast-paced, international, and gave me the chance to work with some of the best in the industry. Within a short time, I ranked among the top four performers in EMEA, something I was really proud of.

The job gave me confidence, skills, and a deeper understanding of the travel world. But I also began to notice something else: while corporate success looked great from the outside, it didn’t feel like my long-term path.

Working remotely for Expedia opened my eyes to a different rhythm of life. It gave me a taste of freedom that later connected to the digital nomad lifestyle we now embrace at Cactus Coliving. And I wasn’t alone in this shift, reports like McKinsey’s Future of Remote Work show how millions of people were starting to rethink where and how they wanted to work.

For me, it became clear: I wanted more than a career. I wanted to create a way of living.

Returning home during the pandemic

What happens when the world stops and forces you to pause?

When COVID hit, I moved back to Tenerife. I was still working remotely for Expedia, living alone in what is now the Valle San Lorenzo coliving. I missed my colleagues, but at the same time I had fallen in love with life on the island. I knew I didn’t want to go back.

The pandemic was tough for everyone, and like many, I felt the emotional weight of it. For me, the crisis in the tourism industry made it clear that I needed a Plan B.

So I started a small hotel consulting business. At first, coliving was just a side idea, something I thought would be fun to test. But it grew quickly, and soon I realised I was no longer reflecting myself in the big hotel industry. I wanted independence, creativity, and a project of my own.

Being home also reconnected me with nature and reminded me of the value of living simply. That connection is now part of our philosophy of sustainable living at Cactus Coliving, creating a way of life that respects both people and the planet.

Building Cactus Coliving from the ground up

I bet everything I had on Cactus, and it became the best decision of my life.

When I decided to start Cactus Coliving, not everyone believed it would work. Friends and colleagues told me it was risky, especially during a global crisis in tourism. But I chose to self-fund the project because I believed in it completely. My family stood by me at a time when the European Commission was calling for sustainable tourism and the Canary Islands needed new ideas to recover.

We rolled up our sleeves and started with Valle San Lorenzo. The refurbishments began in April 2021, and by August the doors were open. 

Next came La Gomera, with work starting in October 2023 and the opening in January 2024. 

Most recently, we’ve been preparing the house in Adeje, which began refurbishments in November 2024 and is set to open in September 2025.

Every step was a challenge, construction delays, budgets, doubts, but also a chance to shape the spaces with care. The goal was to create a home where digital nomads could be productive, with community at the heart of it all.

Living my values through Cactus

Cactus Coliving is a mirror of the values I live by.

Cactus reflects the values that guide me: perseverance, independence, adaptability, courage, trust, and balance.

I keep balance through movement and nature, CrossFit, sailing, freediving, running, surfing, and climbing. These routines keep me grounded.

Nature is at the core of Cactus. The ocean, the mountains, and the island lifestyle all shape the way we live together. This connection creates a community where people feel happier, something we share more about in our blog on ‘Is coliving the secret to a happier life?’

Challenges I’ve faced along the way

Behind every “dream project” are the battles you don’t see.

Running Cactus has been rewarding, but it also tested me. Living where you work can blur lines, so I learned to set clear boundaries with guests. It’s emotional work, and balance matters. That’s why we focus so much on coliving activities and emotional connection, building community while respecting space.

There were other challenges too.

At times, it felt like I was doing two jobs at once, managing refurbishments while running the colivings. Money was tight, and building a safety cushion took time. I also had to learn better habits: separating my phone for work and personal life, using tools like Trello, and training in the mornings so that I have the rest of the day for cactus and myself.

Most importantly, I started taking weekends off. These small habits gave me the strength to keep going without losing myself in the process.

My vision for coliving in the Canary Islands

Coliving is about rewriting how we live, work, and connect.

For me, the Canary Islands are the perfect place to do this. In Tenerife, you have it all: a strong infrastructure, an international airport with flights all over Europe, and a time zone that’s never more than one hour away from most European countries. Add in the best climate in Europe and the chance to be outdoors all year, surfing, running, climbing, sailing, and it’s hard to beat.

I also wanted to create a space in La Gomera. It’s a very special island for me. It’s quieter, wilder, and has a rhythm that’s perfect for deep focus and slow living.

What I didn’t want was another all-inclusive. The Canary Islands already have plenty of those. I wanted to provide something different: a way of travelling that is more sustainable and more intentional, in line with the UNWTO’s goals for sustainable tourism.

Cactus is about community, and about living close to nature. That’s the vision I carry, and the reason I chose to build it here.

What’s next?

The journey of Cactus has just begun, the future feels wide open.

Right now, my focus is on making the coliver experience even better. We’re adding new activities and workshops, like Ayurvedic massage, Spanish lessons, pottery, dance, and even jujutsu. These are the kinds of things that make daily life more fun, and they fit naturally with the growing workation trend.

Looking further ahead, I want Cactus to grow in a way that stays true to its roots. That means stronger sustainability practices, longer stays, and more familiar faces coming back year after year.

I also see the movement around us growing fast. Reports show that the number of digital nomads worldwide keeps rising, forecasting even bigger growth in the years ahead. This gives me confidence that the path we’re on is the right one.

Cactus started as an experiment, but it has become a way of life.

Staying at Cactus Coliving🌵

If you’re searching for more than a place to stay, maybe you’re searching for Cactus.

If my story has taught me anything, it’s that the risks are worth it when you follow your values.

Cactus is that vision turned into reality, a space for digital nomads, remote workers, and curious souls to grow together.

If this sounds like the life you’re looking for, I’d love to welcome you here.

Also, in case you missed it, we have a 20% OFF with the coupon code FALL20 for October bookings in La Gomera & Valle San Lorenzo <3

Not sure which coliving you want to visit?

→ Have a look at our coliving locations here 🌵