- San Cristobal de las Casas

                                                    🌍 A Journey That Never Really Ended

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                                                                                  La Fortaleza Hostel was born from a backpack that refused to be
                                                                                  unpacked. In 2023, I set off on a five-week trip that spiraled into a                                                                                        global adventure—crossing over 20% of the world’s countries,
                                                                                  living, working, and volunteering across Europe and Asia. From
                                                                                  hiking Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit to setting up a hostel in
                                                                                  Amsterdam, each chapter added depth to a vision I didn’t yet know 
                                                                                  I was building.

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                                                        ✈️ From Missed Flights to Found Purpose

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                                                                                The turning point? Missing a flight out of Bangkok to chase beach
                                                                                vibes down south. That impulsive decision led to a month in
                                                                                Malaysia, then Bangladesh—where I was told I was the first white
                                                                                person many locals had ever seen. Despite the language barrier, I
                                                                                found connection, curiosity, and a deep sense of being alive. I kept
                                                                                moving: Nepal, Spain, the Netherlands, Central America—each place
                                                                                shaping my understanding of what travel could be.

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                                                         🛠️ Building Something Real

 Back in Australia, I launched Todo Aussie Ventures—a travel site designed to spotlight underexplored destinations. But I quickly learned that marketing wasn’t my passion; creating spaces for connection was. I saw how platforms like Hostelworld could fill a hostel overnight, and I knew I wanted to build something that could harness that energy while offering something deeper.

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🤝 The San Cristóbal Chapter

In late 2024, I partnered with Sergio—who was already building in San Cristóbal de las Casas. We shared roots in Barcelona’s travel scene and a vision for something bold: a hostel that transforms San Cristóbal from a transit stop into a true backpacker destination. We opened in July 2025 with a focus on social livability, creative events, and community-driven hospitality.

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🛵 What’s Next

La Fortaleza is just the beginning. We’re expanding into motorbike rentals and adventure tours, with dreams of launching new hostels in Malaysia and Montenegro. Our mission is to create spaces where travelers feel at home, inspired, and connected—no matter where they are in the world.