With a single cue, the dam was released. My family and I stood waist deep in a plunge pool near the foot of a small waterfall, arranged like a staircase. We were deep in the tropical forests of La Fortuna, adrenaline pumping through our veins after rappelling down several waterfalls, each with an average height of a 15 story building. It was our third day in Costa Rica – and having  chosen Lost Canyon Adventures Canyoning as our optional activity – we had an idea of what was coming, but the reality shattered all our expectations.

My father stood a couple of steps below me, his gloved hands firmly planted on each side of the stone crevice. With my sister and I behind him, the two of us mimicked the same position, bracing for impact at any moment. Without a second to spare, we could hear the water racing down towards us from behind. I was instantly hit with a plunge of cold water on my back, head, and arms until it completely enveloped me.

It took every cell and fiber of my being to remain standing and not buckle from the sheer weight of the falls, as the unintentional human shield for my family. As the oldest sister, taking the full force of a tropical torrent on my family’s behalf felt humorously on-brand. Having spent most of my life being risk averse – yet protective of them – holding my ground quietly raised the ceiling of what I knew I could handle.

The experience lasted mere seconds, yet in those moments, it seemed like eons had passed. My shrill screams filled the air in between gasps for oxygen, accompanied by laughs of pure joy from my sister. My father endured silently, a big grin plastered across his face. And just when I felt like I couldn’t hold on any longer, the falls subsided, as feelings of relief surged through our bodies, our hearts racing. 

Two years ago, my family and I became first-time travellers with G Adventures, embarking on the 9-day Costa Rica Quest trip. It was just the right length, offering a wide variety of activities to choose from. The itinerary was the ideal mix of comfort and adventure, with enough flexibility to dial it up a notch or take a beat.

Wanting to make the most of our small group adventure, we prioritized off-the-beaten-path experiences — the kind of thrill-seeking we’d be too intimidated to try without a trusted local guide and a supportive group. We loved that the excursion also included Costa Rica’s natural hot springs, a highlight we couldn’t pass up. It ended up being incredibly satisfying and relaxing, especially after a day of adrenaline.

Following our euphoric rappelling experience, we continued with our new – yet temporary – identities as adrenaline junkies. On day 5, we had the option to take on Latin America’s longest zip line in Monteverde. For the grand finale, the experience included an opportunity to take on the Tarzan Swing, a rope swing that plunges participants 148 ft.  (45 metres) high over the cloud forest canopy. Out of the three of us, my sister Phoebe was the only one brave enough to take it on.

With such a surge of emotions going through us at once, I don’t think we really processed what was happening until we entered the waiting area, out of view from where she was. Phoebe’s always had a level of fearlessness, so we weren’t too surprised when she decided to go for it. But as the older members of the family, we still worried for her. Should we have told her not to do it? That it was too dangerous? Will she be okay by herself? Many of these thoughts raced through our minds. But there’s something funny about holding on to inhibitions as you go through these experiences; there’s simply no room for them. All you can do in the moment is to let go. Let fear empty your lungs completely, until the only thing left to fill them is the sheer thrill of being alive.\

When we returned home, the days that followed felt incredibly discombobulating. Just 48 hours ago, we were floating in Manuel Antonio’s sparkling waters by the beach, relishing everything we had experienced.

We had fully embraced the pura vida life, a philosophy grounded in love, gratitude, and a carefree mindset that encourages you to truly take life in. And now, we were back home, slowly returning back to our routines, taking in the same landscapes we’ve always seen. 

On the outside, nothing had changed; I returned to a life exactly how I left it. Yet on the inside, I felt I accessed a version of me that I hadn’t met before. One that was a little braver, more confident, and free. It was a tension that revealed an interesting paradox: I hadn't replaced who I was; I simply expanded who I could be. 

Our adventures in Costa Rica were so memorable, I was incentivized to take my family on another G Adventures trip. While Costa Rica gave us physical thrills and tropical air, our next itch was different: we wanted deep cultural immersion, and to see a completely different corner of the world. 

Creating lifelong memories with family in Morocco

After careful consideration, we decided to book the Journeys: Morocco Highlights Tour, a tour created in partnership with National Geographic. The trip offered everything we were looking for: upgraded comfort, more meals, more inclusions, and the opportunity to set foot on the African continent for the first time. We were floored at how friendly and welcoming the people of Morocco were, and quickly fell in love with the country.

Meeting the Amazigh Nomads in the Sahara was an enlightening experience, one that my family and I could’ve never discovered on our own. The Amazigh Nomads are an Indigenous ethnic group of Morocco, and the Nomadic community live with no permanent address or modern technology, typically migrating during changing seasons. The word Amazigh means free people, and they live completely untethered from modern society.

I remember Mustapha, our CEO (Chief Experience Officer), embracing and playing with an Amazigh child as we learned about the community. The child was shy, and couldn’t have been older than six or seven years old, and reminded him of his own children. Being Amazigh himself, you could see his fondness come through. The child loved to be swung around in circles, to which Mustapha happily obliged each time. 

After entering one of the tents, we were served with tea and nuts. A nearby roaming chicken approached us boldly, eager to peck at and steal our snacks. I marvelled at the beauty of it all: the sound of hot, fresh mint tea being poured into our glasses, the view of the expansive sandy horizon beyond the canopies, and the sense of peacefulness that graced  us.

As we sipped and snacked, our group sought to understand how the Amazigh Nomads lived. We talked about their children, how they’re found when they move, and how travel companies like G Adventures form meaningful partnerships with them. It immediately became clear that cultural experiences like these would not be possible without CEOs like Mustapaha, who act as a bridge between our different communities. The trust, care and love he has built with the Amazigh Nomads are what allow exchanges like this to happen.

Far removed from modern conveniences and technology, the Amazigh Nomads met us with genuine warmth. This mutual partnership between the Nomads and G Adventures’ CEOs relied completely on trust. Without devices, set schedules, or confirmation emails, there was just the simple understanding that when travellers came to visit, they would be there to welcome them.

In a world often defined by division, witnessing this shared trust and respect was deeply moving. Sitting in that tent, I realized the importance of community tourism — how seeing and celebrating our shared humanity is more transformative than letting our differences come between us.

As I recount these adventures, I’m reminded why travelling is so life changing –  it gives you a new lease on life. Travel not only grants you new experiences, but the moments in between activities gives you opportunities to confront parts of yourself that you may have been neglecting.

It gives you the chance to re-evaluate your core values, practice gratitude, and instill confidence in yourself. So, if you’ve been hesitating to see what the world has to offer you, I hope this inspires you to go find your next adventure, and let yourself evolve into a version you haven’t met yet. 

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