Travel Series: Meet Luna Esparza — Explorer, Adventurer, Pilot, Storyteller

Meet Luna Esparza — Explorer, Storyteller, Pilot, Adventure Seeker. 

Meet Luna—an adventure-seeking fierce female and one of the few women in the skies. As a female pilot (only about 6% of pilots in the U.S. are women), she defies limits daily, chasing horizons and rewriting the rules of who gets to fly. Fearless, focused, and full of fire—she’s the real deal and always up for travel and adventure.

Let's dive in!

What made you get into aviation? Would you rather fly yourself or drive yourself to your next adventure?

Luna: I grew up next to an airport, which also happened to be right by my elementary school. As a kid, I spent most of my recesses under a tree, lost in daydreams while watching planes fly overhead. I wasn’t interested in playing with the other kids—I was captivated by the sky. I used to wonder where all those planes were going and how they could possibly stay up there. It always left me curious about aviation, but it wasn’t till years later that the curiosity came back.

When I was 16, I often visited a cemetery to see my cousin. In that cemetery, there’s a shrine dedicated to Amelia Earhart. One day, while wandering near it, a man approached me and asked, “Do you like planes?” I said yes. He smiled and told me he wanted to show me something. Inside these large pillars near the shrine were old photographs, newsletters, and stories of Amelia Earhart and other inspiring women in aviation.

Then he asked me a question that changed everything: “Could you ever see yourself becoming a pilot?”

That simple question sparked something deep in me. I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but it planted a seed. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I truly understood I could be a pilot. And aviation was something I not only admired but wanted to pursue for myself.

I’d love to say I’d choose flying to my next adventure—but I’d be lying. There’s something incredibly calming about hitting the road and driving to far-off places. It’s my kind of peace.

“That simple question sparked something deep in me...I didn’t realize it at the time, but it planted a seed.”

Tell us about your life growing up? Where did you grow up…how did it shape you?

Luna: I grew up in Los Angeles as one of seven kids—the middle child. That experience shaped me in a big way. I learned how to play both the younger sibling and the older one, which taught me how to lead when needed and follow when necessary. Both of my parents were entrepreneurs, and I think their independence left a mark on me. The idea of working for yourself and having the freedom to shape your own days really stuck. As I got older, I knew I wanted to carve out that same path for myself—first as a photographer and artist, and now as a pilot but also having the ability to lead and follow has helped me navigate life a lot easier. 

When did you start traveling? Was it an instant love affair? What inspired your life on the road?

Luna: I started traveling when I was 20, after moving to San Francisco. At first, it was tough—I was just a clueless kid trying to figure out how to live on my own. But then I started renting cars and exploring nearby areas, and it slowly became second nature to venture further and further from the city. By the time I was 22, I was camping, visiting national parks, and checking out new cities. That spark eventually turned into a full-blown love for travel. I started exploring different states, then other countries. I got hooked—still am, honestly. Haha.

What place has surprised you the most—and why? (The hidden gem that wasn’t even on your radar.)

Luna: Turkey completely blew me away! I got invited on a whim by a friend and went in with zero expectations since I wasn’t really involved in planning. But once I arrived, I was so taken aback by the culture, the people, the architecture—everything. Cappadocia especially is a hidden gem… it still feels like a dream I haven’t fully woken up from!

What does “feeling alive” look like to you on the road? (Moments that make it worth it.)

Luna: Feeling alive on the road means the wind in my hair, the sun gently warming my skin, music playing in the background, with the beautiful sense that the universe placed me exactly where I need to be.

“Feeling alive on the road means the wind in my hair, the sun gently warming my skin, music playing in the background, with the beautiful sense that the universe placed me exactly where I need to be.”

What’s a travel moment that changed the way you see the world—or yourself? (A perspective shift that stuck.) 

Luna: When I was 24, I went on a missionary trip to Argentina and Chile. We road-tripped through Argentina, delivering clothes, food, toys, and more to schools, rehab centers, and churches. One school in particular changed me. The students lived there because their families couldn’t afford to care for them at home—yet they were so joyful, so full of light, and deeply grateful for our visit. That moment shifted something in me. I realized that so much of the life we’re born into comes down to luck. But how we choose to see, love, and appreciate our lives—that’s a choice.

Where do you go (or what do you do) when you need to reconnect with yourself? (A personal sanctuary, no matter the location.) 

Luna: When I need to reconnect, I retreat into nature—usually to Joshua Tree or the ocean. Both the desert and the sea offer me deep perspective. They remind me that I’m bound by nothing… and that I can always begin again.

What’s one ritual or habit you carry with you wherever you go? (A grounding practice amidst constant motion.)

Luna: Gratitude. I wake up naming 3 things I am grateful for and that’s how I start my day, it shifts my mindset so much.

What was your last great read?

Luna: Nonviolent Communication. Such a great book!

What is next for you — what do you have coming up this year and next? 

Luna: Well, knowing me I’ll never stop learning so once I am doing getting all my licenses to become an airline pilot, I want to learn how to sail next! 

Where can we follow you and your adventures?

Luna: I have an Instagram where I usually post my adventures, experiences and thoughts! It is @womaninmotion

Please complete the following sentence: 

Travel is… needed to understand the language of the world.

This story is part of the umanos Changemakers & Trailblazers Travel series, where people with adventurous lives break down the routines and rituals they have to live their best. Got a story to tell? Let us know! Email us at hey@heyumanos.com.