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π Living the Digital Nomad Dream: Vanjaβs Journey to Gran Canaria
#DigitalNomad #RemoteWork #GranCanaria #WorkFromAnywhere #TravelSpain #IslandLife #LocationIndependence #NomadLife #SpainVisa #TravelBlogger #Coworking #WorkAndTravel #ExpatsInSpain #ContentCreator #CanaryIslands
βTraveling β it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.β – Ibn Battuta
Dreaming of working remotely from a sunny paradise? MeetΒ Vanja, a digital nomad who took the leap and moved toΒ Gran Canaria, Spain, under theΒ Spanish digital nomad visa. Now, she shares her experiences onΒ @grancanaria.guide, helping others navigate the nomadic lifestyle on this stunning island.
In this exclusive interview, Vanja reveals theΒ realities of remote work in Gran Canaria, theΒ challenges and surprisesΒ of relocating, and whatβs next for her journey!
1. Gran Canaria Through Your Eyes: What Surprised You the Most? π€―
Courageous Wanderer: Moving to a new country is always full of surprises! What was something unexpected aboutΒ life in Gran Canariaβwhether cultural, logistical, or personal?
Vanja: It surprised me a lot how everything is extremely slow and how nobody has anything against it, people are living a really slow life here and you can see it in all aspects. You can see it in the store when you want to order meat and the butcher takes his time to carefully cut your piece, even though there is a line of people waiting. You can see it in the traffic where people do not honk if you did not step on it during the green light, they give you time to peacefully start. These were some nice things where you could see the tension just leaving your body because you are not in a hurry, the Sun is shining, and everyone is super smiley and every day is a blessing.Β
2. Beyond the Tourist Brochures: Whatβs Your Most Authentic Experience? πͺπΈ
CW: As aΒ local digital nomad, you experience Gran Canaria beyond what tourists see. Whatβs anΒ authentic momentΒ that made you feel truly connected to the island?
V:Β It is me going to the local market and buying things like a local and after that staying in a bar, eating tapas and chatting with friends. All of this happening in a small village that tourists rarely go to. There are so many beautiful cute villages that have some local Sunday afternoons when they gather at the market. When we were there, there was live music and people dressed-up in national clothes. That is not something you see everyday. Also, moments last year when we went to Agaete for their town’s Rama celebration. People here celebrate everything possible there is to celebrate. And each town has something unique to it, which is what tourists do not know or do not especiallyΒ go to that town for,Β they just happen to be there. But I follow a lot of local people who share plans every week so we choose where we wanna go and feel like a local.
3. From Visa to Villa: What Was the Process of Moving Like? π‘
CW:Β TheΒ Spanish digital nomad visaΒ is attracting remote workers worldwide. Can you walk us through your experienceΒ applying for the visa and setting up a new life in Spain? Any tips for those considering the move?
V:Β My process was led by a team of lawyers from MoveWise. I would recommendΒ them 100%. You have to gather the documents and it took me around 1-2 months to do it, but after that, they did all the work and guided me through the steps before and after, and it was super easy, honestly. I could not believeΒ IΒ got it so easily, I was a freelancer in myΒ countryΒ so thatΒ made it easier, but sometimes I feel like I was blessed. About the moving part, you have to know it in your gut WHY you are doing it. Reasons could vary from person to person. My initial reason was love, but also me imagining my life in the city I want to live in. To me it was important that people are open, that they like to hang out and that I can make friends easily, that the city has a good health system, that the food and the stores are good and sell the food I like, that I have my favorite place for coffee, that the city supports sports and fun, that it’s alive and has a lot of things to do. So, my advice would be to make a list of the things that you have and that you need to have in a new place, be open to try new experiences and be honest about what would make you happy, and then just go for it.
4. The Digital Nomad Scene: Whatβs It Like Working Remotely from Gran Canaria? π»
CW: FromΒ co-working spaces to beachside cafes, Gran Canaria is known for its digital nomad community. Whatβs your take onΒ remote work cultureΒ on the island?
V:Β Digital nomad community is super strong. I wouldn’t be able to compare it against any other, as this is the only one I know of. However, there are a lot of people who work from here, therefore a lot of co-working places. I would not call beachfront cafes that open to work, especially in Las Palmas, but there are a lot of places where you can book a table and go. There are workshops people organize from time to time and it is easy to connect through a local Slack group, which covers all topics possible and offers support for pretty much everything you can think of, not just work-related.
5. A Photographerβs Dream: What Are the Most Breathtaking Spots? πΈ
CW:Β Gran Canaria is a paradise for nature lovers and photographers. Which locations would you recommend forΒ epic photos, scenic hikes, or hidden gems?
V:Β There are a lot of nice places but here are few: GC-200 road is beautiful, Roque Nublo, Pico De Bandama, Pico de las Nieves, Agaete natural pools, Sardina for sunset, Tamadaba natural park, Dunes in Maspalomas, Cruz de Tejeda.
6. The Unexpected Challenges: What Were the Biggest Hurdles? π±
CW: Relocating isnβt always smooth sailing. What were theΒ biggest challengesΒ you facedβwhether it was paperwork, language barriers, or culture shock? How did you overcome them?
V:Β I could speak the language already, so for me it was easy to resolve some paperwork myself, because people here do not speak English very well. I could imagine people who don’t speak Spanish having problems, because then they might not know what needs to be done during their appointment. One hurdle we had was that we ordered the door and some extra stuff but everything extra came even though the door did not. So sometimes that super slow living can have a downside about them not paying attention to details, so you cannot fully rely on the locals. Also, you need to make sure you are there when you have some things you need to finish in your house. I was not stressed cause I have a little bit of a laid back mentalityΒ now, but some people would probably freak out a lot.
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7. Your Instagram Journey: From Traveler to Content Creator π₯
CW:Β Your Instagram page,Β @grancanaria.guide, has become a go-to for digital nomads and travelers. What inspired you to start sharing your experiences, and whatβs been the most rewarding part?
V:Β I just had too many photos and videos on my phone that I wanted to show somewhere and not spam my personal profile. Also I noticed there are not that many pages in English about Gran Canaria, so I just thought if I can share something in English and enjoy it while filming and editing it, which I do, I thought to myself why not. And it brought me so many good things like I connected with some people on the island, I have a profile and feed specific for Gran Canaria, I get all the info I need about the island and the good stuff that I also get to return to the community by posting some nice content that probably not many people know of. And if that helps someone when they come to the island to enjoy, then great, my heart is full when I get to help and expand the love for the island. People from Gran Canaria are very traditional and respect their culture, they respect themselves and are proud of who they are and if I can tell a story about that too, that makes me happy.
8. Whatβs Next for Vanja? Future Plans & Projects π
CW: Beyond Gran Canaria, do you have anyΒ exciting travel plans or upcoming projects in the pipeline?
V:Β For now I am focusing on learning how to edit videos and see what works and how to get a higher reach on Instagram. I also post things from other islands, so my profile will not only be about Gran Canaria, but Canary Islands in general. We are traveling to Sevilla soon, so I might post things about that too. And who knows, maybe one day I will have a project where I will share my story as a Digital nomad as well. But for now, my focus is on food, events, nice places, beach and everyday life in Gran Canaria. I would like to create more itineraries and digital products, because I explore places I want to visit in a really special way now, and I can even sell it some day for a price of a coffee and help someone plan their trip more easily, as well.
9. Advice for Aspiring Digital Nomads: What Should They Know? π
CW:Β For someone dreaming of theΒ digital nomad lifestyle in Spain, whatβs theΒ one essential piece of advice youβd give them before making the leap?
V:Β Do not give up, even if it gets tough and you struggle to get settled in. Because what is the worst thing that could happen?! You try, you don’t like it and then you have a choice. Either move back from where you started because you realized you can’t live without it or change location again, until you know in your gut that is it. The guilt of not trying at all is heavier than doing it, so invest into finding yourself, no matter how old you are. If someone had told me that at 32 I would do it, I would not believe them. I have a friend that moved to Spain with his wife and two little kids. So if someone tells me it is not possible, I can only say, you do not want it badly enough, because whoever wants it, finds a way. It might not happen today, but if you take the steps, it will happen eventually. Or if you give up, that only means you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
Β Where to Follow VanjaΒ
π Birthday shoutout time! π Iβm sharing this post today to officially wish Vanja a huge Happy Birthday! π₯³ππ A big thank you for an amazing interview and for sharing your incredible journey with us! ππβ¨ Cheers to more adventures ahead! π₯Β
Want more insights onΒ remote work, island life, and the digital nomad experience? Follow Vanjaβs journey and get inspired!
Β Instagram:Β @grancanaria.guide
Β Have you been to Gran Canaria?Β Drop yourΒ favorite places & nomad tipsΒ in the comments!Β 
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