Silvia Gil-Roldán x OUTLIERS

MEET silvia

I'm Silvia Gil-Roldán, a photographer and art director from Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. I currently live on the island after spending many years abroad in cities like Madrid, London, and Barcelona. Although I travel wherever necessary for work, I always love coming back home. :)
I studied Advertising and Public Relations, and my experience as a graphic designer and art director in some advertising agencies has greatly influenced the way I observe and my current professional path.
For years now, I have been fully dedicated to photography, working on fashion, product, and lifestyle projects for brands. In the editorial field, I have done editorial projects for magazines such as Departures Magazine from New York Times and, more recently, for Traveler Spain. I also work on architectural and lifestyle photography projects for hotels, capturing the emotions of those spaces.
As a photographer, I love capturing the beauty of nature and its light, as well as the connection between people and spaces. I aim to capture a sense of naturalness, calm, and closeness.
The sun is almost an essential element in my photographs; it’s what inspires me to pick up my camera. A cloudy day rarely inspires my creativity. I believe that when sunlight falls on objects and people, beauty becomes truly captivating.
@silviagilroldan

Hawaii

I visited Oahu, Big Island, and Kauai. To be honest, Hawaii had never been on my list of dream destinations, probably because its volcanic landscapes are very similar to those of the Canary Islands, although greener and wilder. However, I went for work, decided to stay for three weeks, and was extremely surprised.

The volcanic landscapes are very similar, but what I loved was seeing the respect with which they take care of their environment, infinitely better than we do. Although tourism has also left its mark, in Hawaii they have managed to put limits on overtourism. In both archipelagos, the mass tourism industry is affecting nature and its inhabitants, but there they have managed, at least, to ensure that tourists contribute economically to the maintenance of natural spaces. You have to pay to enter national parks, to stop at certain viewpoints, and even to visit places with high visitor numbers. It might seem like a minor detail, but the difference is noticeable in the landscape, and it’s something to admire: less deterioration, more preservation, more awareness. In the Canary Islands, on the other hand, there are still no such limits or respect for the landscape, and there are areas that suffer enormous tourist pressure, where the few spaces free from hotel overcrowding are being destroyed.

Accompanied by Sara Guerrero, also a photographer and videographer, we visited three islands.

— In Oahu, I fell in love with The Liljestrand House and its breathtaking views, the hike to Manoa Falls, and the beauty of Kualoa Regional Park.

— In Kauai, I was captivated by the grandeur of Waimea Canyon, the spectacular Na Pali Coast, and the serene Hanalei Valley.

— Finally, we visited Big Island, where the volcanic landscapes of Mauna Kea constantly reminded me of Lanzarote - but lightly covered in snow. Thanks to a kind couple from Texas who took us along in their 4x4, we were able to enjoy stunning views. I was also fascinated by the majestic Kilauea Volcano, the experience of sleeping in a cabin in Pahoa, and the tranquility of beaches like Waialea Beach and Kukio Beach.

japan

In early March 2024, I began a 40-day journey through Japan. With the desire to see everything covered in snow, I first went to Hokkaido, the northern island. My first stop was Sapporo, which already had snow when I arrived, but the following day it was completely covered. Slowly, the sun began to peek through. The combination of sun and snow created the landscape of my dreams.

One excursion I absolutely loved was to Noboribetsu's Jigokudani Valley, an imposing crater with boiling sulfur pools and columns of volcanic steam, a place I had longed to visit. My stay on the island was brief, but in my search for snow, I also included the Japanese Alps, where I looked for an onsen where I could enjoy an outdoor bath surrounded by snow. That’s when I discovered Hirayu no Mori, an onsen I fell in love with.

This trip was a constant feeling of wonder; the beauty of its landscapes, the food, the people, and the architecture were simply incredible. It’s a country where, despite the large number of people, it’s surprisingly easy to find moments of peace and tranquility.

Accompanied by a friend, this was our route during the trip: Narita, Hokkaido (Sapporo, Noboribetsu, and Otaru), Kanazawa, Takayama, Shirakawago, Hirayu Onsen, Kyoto, Teshima, Naoshima, Osaka, Lake Yamanakako, Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji, Kamakura, and Tokyo.

TREKKING TO CIUDAD PERDIDA, COLOMBIA

This trip was an unexpected gift. Thanks to María Ángeles Cano and David Moralejo, editor and director of Conde Nast Traveler Spain, who, in collaboration with USAID, proposed this adventure of venturing into the Colombian jungle of Santa Marta and getting to know its local communities up close.

The trekking to Ciudad Perdida was one of the most intense experiences I’ve ever lived. 60 km of challenging hikes under the heat, humidity, and occasional heavy rain. We crossed rivers, climbed and descended mountains, and faced endless stone steps. There were so many emotions running high, culminating in tears due to the excitement, the effort, and the beauty of the place.

We were accompanied by Rafa, a guide from Wiwa Tours and a member of the Wiwa community, who gave us the opportunity to experience the indigenous culture in an authentic way. At the end of our journey, we were also able to visit Katanzama, thanks to Lucelly, one of the community leaders of the Arhuaca community.

Without a doubt, the most enriching part of this adventure was the people we met along the way, their wisdom, generosity, and the deep connection they have with their land.

I highly recommend reading the article in Traveler by María Ángeles Cano.

NORWEGIAN COAST WITH HURTIGRUTEN

Since I was a child, I dreamed of going to the Norwegian fjords, perhaps because their landscapes are very different from those of the Canary Islands. In 2019, I decided to visit them with my father, who at the time couldn’t walk too much. I looked for a cruise that was as far from the "typical cruise" experience as possible, avoiding the parties and crowds, and that’s how I discovered Hurtigruten, a company that offers a daily passenger transport service along the entire Norwegian coast by ship.

Our trip was from Bergen to Tromsø. We enjoyed the landscapes and excursions, but what fascinated me the most was the tranquility on the ship: people being contemplative, relaxed, and enjoying the silence. I was completely mesmerized the entire time.

The best part, without a doubt, was experiencing the midnight sun—a dream of light for any photographer.

KOHOLA CABIN

This little cabin in Pahoa was an incredible experience. It hardly had any windows with glass, only mosquito nets, and being there, enjoying the sound of the rain, the birds, and the frogs, was like a dream—completely away from the world.

Big Island, Hawaii

Book here

HIRAYU NO MORI

A hotel located in the Japanese Alps with outdoor hot springs and delicious food.

Japan

Book here

TORANJYO-LIT

A guesthouse in a cozy traditional Japanese house in Uno Port, the area connecting with the islands of Naoshima and Teshima. Its owner, Yuki, is a real delight.

Japan

Book here

CASA ORIGEN

In Colombia, in Santa Marta, during a work trip with Conde Nast Traveler, we stayed at Casa Origen in the surroundings of Tayrona National Park before starting the trek to Ciudad Perdida.

Santa Marta, Colombia

Book here

SENDA MALOKA BARLOVENTO

I fell in love with Senda Maloka Barlovento while exploring the area to photograph it for Traveler.

Santa Marta, Colombia

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MS TROLLFJORD

This is the name of the ship I chose from the Hurtigruten fleet. I picked it because I loved the warm colors of its interior, with large windows and observation areas throughout the ship. It also had a pool, sauna, and hammocks to enjoy the views.

Norway

Book here

TRAVEL WISH LIST

Júlia, every time you go on a trip, you make me want to visit every place you go, haha, so this question is tough! What a dream! One that caught my attention was your trip to Egypt, cruising along the Nile, and even though I had been thinking about that trip for a long time, yours really confirmed it for me :)

Other desired destinations are the Azores, Patagonia, and Greenland.

More travel recommendations by people we admire here.

Community, COLOMBIA, JAPAN, NORWAY, USAJúlia Juste18 February 2025