From Canary Islands to Asia in a motorhome. That’s the challenge that Canary Islanders Pedro Acebedo and Guacimara Acosta, originally from La Laguna, have set for themselves. They have chosen an itinerant lifestyle and are currently travelling through Europe aboard their Fiat Ducato Integral. A vehicle they have modernised with their own hands and which is powered by solar energy. To fund the trip, they decided to leave their old jobs and become digital nomads generating income with various ventures.
Guacimara, a journalist specialising in communication and digital marketing, and Pedro, an IT expert with experience in the business and technology world, had the idea to start this adventure about three years ago. The first thing they did was buy a small van and adapt it for travel, but after doing the relevant calculations, they realised the high cost involved. That’s why they decided to buy it to use for short periods of time and rent it out to others when not in use. “After two years, we managed to recover the investment,” says Guacimara.
Their love for life on the road soon turned into a passion and, after recovering financially from the initial outlay, they decided to invest in a larger motorhome: their Fiat Ducato Integral, which is almost eight metres long, three metres high, and two metres twenty wide. The vehicle is currently their rolling home from which they pursue the goal of reaching Asia. For the couple, this change of lifestyle was motivated by a traumatic event: the sudden death of a family member on their way to work. This incident marked a turning point, leading them to pursue the life they truly desired.
After that event, in January 2023, the journey began but with a new setback. The detection of a tumour in their dog led them back to Tenerife. Returning to a brick-and-mortar house was complicated for both, who were already accustomed to the advantages of their home on wheels.
Another unexpected obstacle was discovering that a customs law prevented them from travelling with their motorhome outside the Islands for more than six months, as it was then considered an “export.” To solve this, they were forced to sell their vehicle and acquire a new one in Alicante, as well as establish their residence in Madrid within days.
Is it tough to live in a motorhome? Do you have to give up some comforts? Pedro and Guacimara’s answer is a resounding “no.” Their Fiat Ducato has it all: a kitchen equipped with appliances and even a washing machine, as well as a bathroom, a bed, and workspace. The vehicle even has a garage to store bikes or motorcycles, something that was “essential” for them because such a large motorhome does not easily allow access to many areas.
In terms of electricity, the couple equipped the vehicle with several solar panels and storage batteries that allow them to be self-sufficient. Normally these vehicles depend on campsites where they are allowed to plug into electricity, but in their case, it’s not necessary. They also have a great water autonomy with a huge tank. To fund their journey, Pedro and Guacimara created the website Road to Magec, a name that means “path to the sun” – a mix of English and Guanche languages –. On this website, the couple shares the audiovisual content they create in the motorhome and inform their followers about what it’s like to travel while working or what it involves to transition to a nomadic life. Their success in the digital world is so significant that the website has become their main source of income.
“We don’t believe it’s wise to put all your eggs in one basket, which is why we have multiple businesses.”
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Solely relying on the digital world would be “putting all your eggs in one basket,” so the couple also have a camper van rental business, a small jewellery company inspired by the Canary Islands, and a website called Tenerifelicidad where they share tourist information and collaborate with advertisers. Ultimately, everything is part of a “carefully thought out” strategy to achieve their set goal of leading a nomadic lifestyle that allows them to finance their road trip to Asia. For now, the couple has been enjoying Portugal for a few months. “There’s no rush, the journey is part of life,” they state.
Telecommuting and digital nomads are prevalent nowadays. While it’s common to see the Canary Islands as a destination for remote workers, the archipelago also exports workers who want to continue with their professions but not be tied to an office. This is the case of Pedro Acebedo and Guacimara Acosta, an IT professional and a journalist working online while travelling the world.
