Famous Cactus Coliving from Tenerife received a younger sibling in its smaller neighbor La Gomera.

When Maria, Cactus Coliving’s owner invited us to check out the new space, we were very excited to see 2 things we already knew well from completely different perspectives – 

1. La Gomera (the island we visited 2 years ago collaborating with a pop-up coliving organized by Awid Aman)
2. Cactus Coliving – one of the first colivings we visited when we started our coliving journey, back in 2022.

After more than 2 weeks in Cactus La Gomera – we are leaving full of impressions and definitely with another perspective.

Discover how it went!

Cactus’s new Location: San Sebastián de La Gomera

First of all, we want to say that we completely understand why Maria decided to open her second location here. 

With its charming city and port, and amazing volcanic beaches just a 5-minute walk from the house, it’s an ideal spot. It’s also convenient to reach, as it’s less than a 1-hour ferry ride from Tenerife South.

While La Gomera offers a nice opportunity for everyone to relax and slow down, which is a common motivation for people choosing this island, we were pleasantly surprised by San Sebastian.

Despite its small size, it’s surprisingly full of life!

Of course, the community we met through Cactus also made that life a bit brighter. 

But first, let’s tell you more about the coliving. 

The Cactus House

History

The new Cactus house is a former hostel created in a building of a former school. The photos cannot really capture its charm and how fun and whimsical all the corners of the house are. 

While it’s a bit sad that its charm cannot be fully seen through videos or photographs, it also gives you a special gift when you arrive, as this space becomes a treasure only those who share it truly see it. 

There are traces of the house’s “past lives” all over the place – the practicality and organization of a hostel, and a shelter-like ambiance of a school. 

We believe all places and buildings carry their history forever, and we’d like to think that the energy that has been created throughout the years of this building’s existence is still around, helping the coliving blossom in its purpose. 

A school left behind the energy of knowledge, deep connections, community, and learning about the world, and the hostel left its own energy full of adventure, exploration, and courage that follows the travelers. If you think about it – mixed together, those two energies are exactly what makes a coliving. 🙂

And maybe this is one of the reasons why this house makes so much sense. 

Space

As we said, it’s hard to imagine this interesting building, and we’ll leave that magic to your imagination – at least until you arrive and see for yourself, but what we can share is the functionality aspect of the space.

The one-story house is quite spacious and actually one of the largest coliving spaces we’ve been to. With 14 rooms in total, including both private and shared ones, it can accommodate more than 25 people at its full capacity.

Because of its corners, hallways, and different rooms, the coliving space offers a good balance of private and common areas with most of the common areas being located on the ground floor, including the coworking space, kitchen, living room, and the garden, so the top floor is relatively isolated from daily activities.

Top floor and private areas

This is not the first coliving we’ve been to that has this setup of a top floor being secluded from the common areas, but it has only confirmed once again that it is definitely one of the setups we like the most.

In a place such as a coliving, designed for mid to long stays, having an isolated “bedroom” area is extremely valuable when living with a group as you can pick your level of social engagement by choosing one location over another. 

In Cactus La Gomera, the upper floor does not only offer privacy and seclusion from the common areas, but the old school’s long and narrow hallways that take up the most space on the top floor don’t really encourage long chit-chats in it, which further creates the balance of privacy and social life and amplifies the purpose of common areas on the ground floor.

Furthermore, the long hallway is blessed with windows all along the yard side, which allows an easy way to peek out and check if there are people outside and join if you feel like it. 

Additionally, the house is equipped with numerous bathrooms, making it practically impossible to experience overcrowding. Most of them are located all the way down the hallway on the top floor, leaving a lot of privacy for people to use them. 

On the top floor, you will also find the washer and the drying balcony, as well as one tiny coworking section and the Skype room. But let’s talk about the working areas in the next part. 

Working in Cactus

Needless to say, coworking and working areas are a crucial part of any coliving space. This is especially true for coliving spaces that are located in rural areas or cities that are not very digital nomad-friendly. 

When the town or a city has a bunch of cafes to work from or even some external coworking spaces, the colivings can leverage those spaces and create a relationship between them and their colivers, giving colivers places to work from undisturbed outside the house.

But, if the location does not really have suitable working spaces around, then a coliving needs to provide this space. 

Luckily, this is not Maria’s first coliving space, and she certainly spent a lot of thought and care on the coworking areas both in her Tenerife place and in this one in La Gomera.

Cactus Tenerife definitely has 2 of the best coworking spaces integrated in a coliving that we have seen (yes, they have 2 very spacious coworking spaces inside the house), but Cactus La Gomera is also not far behind. 

The working and coworking spots

Although smaller than the Tenerife one, the main coworking space in Cactus La Gomera easily accommodates 10-12 people and also offers the use of external monitors for an additional fee (2€/day).

The space is also conveniently located on the ground floor in a garden room, so it allows an easy switch from working inside to working outside and vice-versa.

There is also an additional coworking desk on the top floor for those who are looking for more privacy, and if that is not private enough for you, you can always work from your bedroom since each room is equipped with an ensuite desk, or book a Skype room for your calls and meetings. 

Besides the main coworking area, of course, you will find many work-friendly spots around the house. And of course, with the Canarian weather, the yard is reasonably one of the favorite spots for everything – working as well. 

There are 3 different tables (smaller or bigger, in the shade, or the sun), a hammock, and 8 lazy bags that people can choose to work from (which they typically do). 

The beloved garden (yard)

The yard is definitely the heart of Cactus La Gomera. It is shaded by two large mango trees, providing perfect cover during hot hours.

With many different corners, it’s where most people spend their days, whether working in one of the spots or simply enjoying the sun, relaxing in the hammock, or reading a book in the bean bag.

This is also the place where Cactus hosts family dinners.

When the time came, every Wednesday, we would put the tables together at the center of the garden, decorate, bring out the wine, and turn on the tiny yellow lamps to make an ambiance. Then we would sit all together to have dinner, enjoying the lovely La Gomerian nights.

Of course, some nights, it would be windy, but the garden is so much loved, that people would just put on their sweatshirts and still sit around and chit-chat. 

Like the one in Tenerife, this Cactus also has a ping-pong table that’s always shaded, providing a great mid-work activity to boost your energy a bit. 🙂 

Cactus La Gomera Team

The Cactus team in La Gomera is a special one. As Maria is on a different island, her visits cannot be as usual as in Cactus Tenerife. But that is not a problem, since, like in Cactus Tenerife, there is a great team who takes care of the house and the community. 

In this coliving, you will meet Rebeca – the community manager of Cactus La Gomera, and her team of 3 volunteers who are there to take care of the day-to-day.

But – who is Rebeca?

Let’s meet her. 🙂

Local Host: Rebeca

Rebeca is originally from Galicia, but in the eyes of locals, she has already proven herself as one of their own. After years of living in La Gomera, Rebeca definitely found a part of her soul there. She is not only living a life there but sharing her passion for the island with those who come to visit. Working as a tour guide for the island, she’s the best person to tell you all its secrets. 

We actually met Rebeca 2 years ago during our last visit to the island and yes – she was our tour guide. Her passion, dedication, and positive energy shine and infect those around her. 

So when we found out that Maria chose her to be the host of her new La Gomera experience, it absolutely made sense to us.

Even though she doesn’t live in the new Cactus house, she is there for all the important activities and is always ready to share new pieces of La Gomera’s culture and history with anyone whom she crosses paths with. 

We learned so much from her. For example, on the first day of our stay, we had the opportunity to learn how to make traditional La Gomerian soup, as well as the most popular Canarian dishes, mojo rojo and mojo verde in a workshop that she led.

We also learned a lot about the Laurel woods in La Gomera, the story of Gara and Jonay, the reason why Germans love this island so much, and the peculiar whistling language of La Gomerians. 

With all that said, with the energy she has, the passion for this island, and the knowledge she loves to share, Rebeca really seems like the perfect fit for a first coliving space in San Sebastian de La Gomera. 

Volunteers

Other than Rebeca, you will always find 2 to 3 volunteers who are living in the Cactus house, taking care of the space, and making sure your stay is good. 

During our time there, we met some amazing girls who were working as volunteers at the time. 

We met Maryam – a volunteer who has been with Cactus La Gomera from the start. She was there to witness all the changes and challenges of opening a coliving space and grew to be a very big part of it. 

We met Sara – an ambitious Italian girl with a passion for sustainability and nature conservation, with whom we shared a lot of great talks and will definitely stay in touch. 

And we met Marissa – a quirky adventurous girl full of soul who brings the party with her wherever she goes. Even though she came a bit after us and has only been in Cactus for a few weeks, she will definitely grow into the heart of the community very soon. 

Activities

As with every coliving, Cactus La Gomera is slowly building its signature activities but that will take some time. 

Of course, recurring weekly activities are always there, such as daily yoga (usually organized by Cactus volunteers), family dinners, and Monday pancakes, and there is a lot of space for organic activities hand-picked by current colivers.

During our stay, in addition to regular activities, some things we had the opportunity to experience were drone flying lessons organized by one of the colivers, Michael, the mojo workshop that we already mentioned, and a few movie nights and family dinners outside the house that were fan favorites.

Of course, we also lead our own skillshare on SEO. 🙂

We cannot wait to see in which direction Cactus La Gomera will develop and what unique activities will become its signature ones. 

The community we found in Cactus La Gomera

Lastly, during our stay, we had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Despite April being a slower season in La Gomera, there were around 8-12 people (including volunteers) at the house.

The community comprised digital nomads, long-term travelers, La Gomera enthusiasts (mostly Germans – as expected 😀), and individuals who had already experienced the original Cactus location in Tenerife South and wanted to check out the new space.

Most people we met stayed between 2 weeks and one month, while volunteers tended to stay for up to 3 months. Many of them were working remotely, but all were passionate about exploring new places and sharing a bit of time in their lives with other like-minded individuals. 🙂

We encourage you to check out the new Cactus place yourself. There is something beautiful about visiting a young coliving space as there is always space to leave your mark behind. We bet you will fall in love with the tranquility of the island and find a bit more time to get to know yourself in the slow-paced environment.

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Discovering San Sebastian de La Gomera with Cactus Coliving’s New House

• ByMarko
• March 26, 2024

• • Coliving Movement

Why are the Canary Islands one of the most popular places for coliving?

• ByMarko
• February 8, 2023

The post Coliving Spain 2024: #11 Cactus Coliving Has Arrived to the Capital of La Gomera appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

But some colivings were already long-standing even before we stepped our toes in these waters, paving the path for many others to come and building the values upon which the industry is standing today.

Two years and nine colivings later – The 10th Coliving Spain project partner was one of those colivings; one of the oldest colivings in Spain – Sun and Co.

While colivings are still just becoming, Sun and Co. has already passed through phases of emergence, growth, popularization, and change, and its life cycle continues to be an example for younger businesses.

And now, 2 years since The Coliving Spain Project was born, and has already gone through some of its own phases, we think it was the perfect moment in time for us to finally meet Sun and Co.

This February, for a month, we had the chance to get to know Sun and Co. from the inside out; to witness the changes happening in real-time; to hear the stories from old and new colivers; to help the new team more confidently take its place; and to be a part of the amazing international system Sun and Co. helped built in a small Mediterranean city overlooking Costa Blanca.

The People Behind Sun and Co. Team

Each step in Sun and Co.’s life carries a footprint of the people involved in crafting the experience, and all that makes Sun and Co. what it is today, carries all those phases and people who left their contributions along the way.

Back in 2023, we had the opportunity to talk about Sun and Co.’s beginning and the vision behind it with one of its co-founders Jon.

And this year, we had the opportunity to meet some old and some new faces of Sun and Co., who all at one moment gave a tiny bit of themselves to make this place such a valuable part of many digital nomads’ and remote workers’ lives.

Sun and Co.’s new team

In September of 2023, after 8 years of existence, Sun and Co.’s core team changed its shape, opening the doors to a new chapter of the experience.

Today, the new management team is made up of Edu, Fer, Ana, and Nana, who all bring a part of themselves into the community.

• Edu keeps running the place and keeping it in line with the values that were there at the beginning, and ultimately, who chose the perfect new management for its creation.
• Fer is the bridge between the old and the new team; a local host and the new general manager; and a person who shines positive energy around him and brings his passion for local, fresh, and healthy food… to the table. 😉
• Ana (with one N) – curious, dedicated, persistent, and experienced in living in communities and creating them; with a Ph.D. in nutrition and a sacred view of how important self-care is, Ana is a positive community builder and a tireless learner who brings mindfulness and peace to the house.
• Nana (Anna with the double N) – a positive and warm soul who draws people to her; a passionate yoga teacher and a dedicated host; one of those people whose presence is an ice-breaker, a community glue whose positive energy and laughter gives color and make experiences unforgettable. 

Well…we hope you meet them yourself, but if you’re still curious to find out more about New Sun and Co. Management Team and their views on the new era of Sun and Co., we invite you to check out our interview with them at the beginning of our collaboration.

Now, let’s talk about the location.

Jávea 

There is something about Javea.

At first glance, this is a charming Mediterranean town like many others, but there is an energy that draws you in and that quickly makes you want to stay.

Of course, many clear reasons make Javea a place where many can feel at home – an ecosystem suitable for modern, international residents; a great location; and a community full of inspiring and admirable people.

Nonetheless, Javea has a certain energy about it  – something that just makes us fall in love with it – just by sitting in the sun and sipping on a coffee while people watch on one of its tiny squares.

We won’t take too much space here describing the town, although there is so much to tell. If you want to dive a bit deeper, we invite you to read this article we wrote for Sun and Co..

It talks about all the big and little things that make Javea the perfect city for people like us – curious, looking for valuable communities, and always ready for new opportunities to grow and learn. 

The Coliving Space

Of course, like in any coliving, Sun and Co.’s house plays an important role in its coliving community.

So what is it like? Let me try and paint you a picture:

Imagine a big wooden door opening to a huge colorful entrance; it feels like a ballroom. On each side, you will find silent rooms – sit there if you want to work or brainstorm.

Up front, you will find a cozy living room for evening board games and a huge dining area for all the weekly dinner parties you will experience with windows overlooking the patio that sometimes sparks with a late bonfire. This is where the people are: this is where you can start that conversation.

If you want a more intimate atmosphere, a late-night movie, a deep conversation, or a quick meditation, head straight to the chill room – the one with cozy floor cushions and dimmed lights.

And when you’re tired and need your space – just go up the stairs to your peaceful bedroom, a sanctuary that’s out of reach for anybody but you and your roommates.

That is what living at Sun and Co. looks like.

But what does it mean to be a part of the Sun and Co.’s community? 

Sun and Co.’s Community

The community of Sun and Co. is actually quite different from some other colivings we experienced.

There is a mix of people from all around the world, but there is a certain thread that connects them (us) all; a character feature or a life decision that makes people join under the roof of Sun and Co’s community.

People who we met in the past few months were all brave, bold, and not scared to take a leap; people ready to take their lives into their own hands and make their own destinies. Different ages; different backgrounds; different struggles; but a shared willingness to live and create.

Sun and Co’s community has around 25 people in the high season, and 15-20 in the lower one.

This community consists of staff members, colivers, and community pass members.

However, many people stay a part of the wider community even after becoming one of the above. People often stay in Javea, or just stay in touch, meeting each other in other parts of the world and continuing their shared experiences that started in Sun and Co. 

Community Pass

Community pass members are those living outside of the coliving. The community pass access allows you to work from Sun and Co.’s external coworking space and be a part of the community activities (which are Sun and Co.’s biggest strength).

The community pass members are typically those who come for a longer time to Javea and need space for themselves; those who come with friends or families; and those who were once a part of the coliving community and decided to move their life to Javea, at least for a while, so they settled in the town.

However, many people met Sun and Co. through its coworking space.

Located in the old town, in such a perfect spot, designed to facilitate and inspire work and with 2 Skype booths available, it’s not surprising that many people choose the community pass for the coworking space and stay for the community.

The community pass members can be a part of the community as much as they’d like. Some just come to work and spend time with the community here and there; and others are there daily making the core members of the community even without living inside the house.

But typically, those who have the community pass try to make the most out of it because missing out on the Sun and Co.’s community activities is not something many would do!

Community building 

If you’ve heard about Sun and Co., then you’ve heard about their activities.

Their community experience is definitely the most famous for its impeccable program full of professional and personal development activities and events that encourage connection and growth.

Many colivings take inspiration from Sun and Co. but Sun and Co. remains the leading coliving when it comes to the elaboration and quality of its program.

Because of this status, many people decide to join the community so they can work on themselves and meet other inspiring people whom they can learn from. And by attracting creative, entrepreneurial, and proactive individuals, Sun and Co. truly offers a unique opportunity to be surrounded by great minds who are ready to share bits of their knowledge and life with you.

So, here’s an inside into the Sun and Co.’s community program.

Program Overview

Sun and Co.’s schedule is adapted to one week. Each week, a new round of activities and events gets chosen by the community and makes its way to the weekly plan.

In one typical day, there will be 2 to 3 activities, a mix between social, professional, and leisure activities. This distribution is not fixed, but some recurring things happen weekly, such as yoga with Nana, a visit to Fer’s community garden, family dinners, and the community meeting. 

Community Meeting

A community or family meeting is a meeting that happens every Monday night intending to introduce new family members, share a bit more about the individuals that make up the community, and of course, plan the week ahead.

Each Monday, there is a different “introduction” question – something to help new family members meet the rest of the group and vice versa, but also for those who are there longer to give some new interesting perspective about themselves.

These short introductions also serve as icebreakers for a great weekly planning sesh. 

Weekly planning

Weekly planning consists of 2 parts.

The first part is the “Collaboration board”. This is a shared sheet where everybody writes what they can share with the group, what they’d like to learn during their stay at Sun and Co., and what they’d like to do. This serves as an inspiration and prep for the community meeting.

You can write on the Collaboration board at any given time, but at the community meeting, you will always get a chance to add something that you might have forgotten.

After all the things are added to the collaboration board – it’s voting time. The group votes for activities they’d like to attend and the 3-4 most voted activities make their way onto the weekly plan for the next week. 

This system works well because each group can tailor the experience to their liking. 

Social and leisure activities also go on the weekly schedule, but they get up there more spontaneously and are not voted for. 

So, what are these professional and personal development activities that Sun and Co. is so famous for? 

Types of activities 

There are 5-6 different types of activities depending on the structure and the model. 

Masterminds

Mastermind sessions are one of the most beloved activity models among Sun and Co.’s community and they’ve helped many people find guidance, and confidence, and kickstart their next life chapters. 

This is because this model is focused on one community member who has an issue, an idea, or needs help and brainstorming around anything in his or her life. This can be a professional venture such as starting a new business, or a personal one such as guidance on how to improve one’s relationships. 

This is typically a 1-hour session, facilitated by one of the staff members and made up of 3 parts:

1. The first part focuses on the person whose mastermind it is to share the issue, and the background, and give their perspectives. The facilitator helps this person find concrete questions and expected outcomes of the mastermind. The facilitator also typically has a conversation with that person even before the mastermind to understand their needs and plan on how to guide them.
2. The second part focuses on questions from the participants. So, in this part, people would ask questions to further clarify the issue, the obstacles, and the needs of the presenter.
3. The third part is the “brainstorming” together; sharing ideas, advice, or personal experience that can help the presenter gain new perspectives on their issue.

This approach is an amazing opportunity for individuals to get some new ideas and broaden their perspectives on matters that are important to them. 

And coliving is a great setting for this as it is one of the few places where so many different people with unique experiences and backgrounds find themselves in the same room. 

And of course, although this session focuses on one person’s problem, thinking together and listening to others gives everybody new perspectives and generates value for all participants. 

Sharing circles

Sharing circle is a bi-weekly activity introduced with the new team. This activity is led by Ana, who has been a part of many sharing circles before and has tested out different approaches and methods. 

Because it’s such a deep-connection activity that asks for the participants to be grounded, and look deep into themselves, it made the most sense that it would happen once every two weeks. 

Before each session (on the Monday meeting) Ana shares the topic for the upcoming sharing circle and invites community members to think about the topics and some specific questions upfront. This is not mandatory as the conversation in the sharing circle should be natural and from the heart, but it’s good to give a bit of guidance and set expectations. 

Even though they last around an hour, sharing circles opens the room for more conversations and connects the people on another level. This experience always helps community members feel more comfortable around one another and feel more connected to each other moving forward.

Skillshares

A skillshare is a model in which one person who has expertise to share with others, either professional or life-related, prepares a presentation (according to their liking) to introduce the participants to the topic and help them gain new knowledge.

Mostly, skillshares are based around something narrow and clear and are made for the participants to be one step closer to understanding and developing a new skill. 

While we were at Sun and Co., we had skillshares on storytelling, writing, and SEO (this one was done by us), but also ones focused more on personal development such as the skillshare on ayurvedic nutrition or personality types.

People come with different jobs, hobbies, and interests, and it is extremely interesting to see what everyone has to offer. 

A skillshare is the most structured activity because it resembles a presentation or a class, but it is also the one that gives the most concrete information on a certain topic and generates the most hard knowledge. 

Roundtables 

Roundtables are typically something in between skillshares, mastermind, and sharing circles. 

Roundtables typically come from somebody proposing something they would like to discuss with others to gain new perspectives.

For example, we had a roundtable on freelancing and roundtables on relationships and love, so these are typically topics that a lot of people have input on and can share their views on. 

Roundtables are about sharing experiences and thoughts, but they can also be about sharing inspiration, motivating each other, or adding some new value. 

These sessions are not facilitated. The “host” is typically the one who proposes the roundtable and they are responsible for drafting topic guidance, some questions, and some points that the roundtable should cover, with which Sun and Co.’s team can always help. 

Support board and 1-on-1

Lastly, when some activities have only one or 2 people interested in them, or when a person is asking for help in a certain area but others don’t seem interested, they can have a 1-on-1 session with a person willing to help or share expertise. 

To further support that, Sun and Co. also has a Support Board, which is right next to the weekly plan in the dining area, where people can write in things they need support with, and people who can and want to help them can reach out to them directly. 

Social and Leisure Activities

Of course, on top of the above-mentioned activities, each day there is a Social and/or Leisure activity.

Some of the most popular recurring activities like these are yoga and meditation sessions that happen every week, hikes that are a beloved weekend activity of many community members, family dinners that always bring a new level of connection to the group, and games, movies nights, nights-out to the town, and many other creative social activities that come and go with the groups changing. 

A tiny recap of our month at Sun and Co.

After a month in Sun and Co., we have seen 2-3 group dynamics changing. We had 15 people in the house, then 6, then 10, then again below that.  We had people going and coming, and all bringing their personalities to the community completely reshaping it.

It is so interesting how one person can bring something with them that has such an impact on how we develop as a group. And with each group – there was something that became a signature of that period.

We had sunrise swims with Alice; a new cake every day with Stephanie, unforgettable karaoke with Ania, late-night conversations with Shlomo, peaceful days and movie nights with Naja, and not-so-peaceful hikes with Bjorn, daily Italian cuisine with Manu, coffee talks with Tal, and of course, the werewolf nights with Serghei, and many many moments more that all went down in history and gave a bit of reshaping to the coliving’s community.

This experience taught us how much impact we all carry as individuals, and how valuable the footprint we leave behind us truly is. 

Thank you Sun and Co. for a wonderful month – and please, keep creating the space for these wonderful human connections!

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Sun and Co. – Embracing The New Chapter

• ByMarko
• February 4, 2024

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Sun and Co. (Part 1) – 8 years of Hosting, Learning, and Community-building in Javea

• ByMarko
• April 4, 2023

The post Coliving Spain 2024: #10 Sun and Co – The Coliving that Shaped The Industry appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

As you might know, for this initiative, we decided to take it slow and visit only two coliving spaces that were just starting their coliving journey. Still, we chose two completely different colivings to show you different sides of this movement – and we think we chose them perfectly. 

After Madrid and a month of balancing between the metropolitan and suburban life, taking in the best of both worlds, we flew right into the center of digital nomads in Canaria, to continue taking the best of both worlds – the world of digital nomads and the local community we found ourselves in. 

If you haven’t checked the article we wrote after the first coliving from this initiative – Coliving Madrid – we invite you to do that, and if you did, let’s get right into our month half stay in Eco Isleta Coliving, the first sustainable coliving in La Isleta, Las Palmas.

Disclaimer: This piece of content may contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase or book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Las Palmas – The Canarian Capital of Digital Nomads and Remote Workers

Eco Isleta’s convenient location in one of Europe’s leading digital nomad hubs makes it a promising place to find community and connect with others. 

Like all big cities, with around 400 thousand people, Las Palmas is a colorful and lively place where you will not lack the opportunity to meet new people. 

However, Las Palmas is not just another city on an island or just another European metropolitan. Las Palmas is a European capital dressed in a coastal paradise on an archipelago deep in the Atlantic Ocean, which perfectly merges three completely different groups of people – the locals who love the city in a way only islanders do, the tourists who love good food, crisp water, and sipping cocktails on the beach, and digital nomads who seek adventure, community, and modern infrastructures.

Somehow, Las Palmas answers the needs of all these three groups, letting them cohabitate and enrich each other’s lives. 

The city can be as wild or as shy as you want it, as international or as local as you want it, and as busy or as calm as you want it. Sometimes, it seems like three cities in one. And even though it is not as big, it does stretch along the coast, allowing it to have distinct areas that all carry individual vibes. 

To live in the old town is quite different than to live close to the city beach, which gives its visitors and residents a choice based on what they’re looking for. 

In Eco Isleta’s case, the location is right there in the epicenter of the digital nomad activity – in the upper part of the city called La Isleta – a neigborhood equipped with all you need, full of live and happenings, but also rich in quit corners.

What is interesting is thatm even though this area is extremely popular with digital nomads and even tourists due to its proximity to the city beach, it is still a very local neighborhood that takes great pride in its people and traditions.

Eco Isleta Brand

Eco Isleta is not only a coliving but rather a sustainability brand and ecosystem owned and operated by Jonatan and Rita, a local couple who spent their whole lives in the neighborhood. 

Before opening the coliving space, Jonatan and Rita had already opened Eco Store La Isleta, the first locally owned small eco store in the area. 

Their store focuses on high-quality, healthy products, from snacks and sweets to vegetables and olive oil, but also on eco home and personal care products such as washing detergent, dishwashing soap, and shampoos they sell on tap. 

All things that Jonatan and Rita brought to life through the Eco Isleta brand had two things in mind – what the name also states – the eco, sustainable way of life, and La Isleta, their beloved neighborhood. 

The vision started with a blog, Conoce La Isleta, which was meant to tell a story of this old area from the local perspective. Many people pass through the neighborhood not stopping to think about its history, the people who live there, their stories, struggles, and in the end, the things they love and cherish the most.

After some time of being inspired by their own stories of La Isleta, Jonatan and Rita decided to offer even more and open an Eco Store that will sell local products and, more importantly, promote a healthy, responsible, and eco way of life.  

With a family house they owned in the neighborhood, Jonatan and Rita first hosted an Airbnb, however, with the birth of coliving spaces, they saw a bigger opportunity to promote their values and vision, and do something more significant for the area. That’s how Eco Isleta Coliving came to life in November of 2022.

Jonatan – The Local Coliving Host

In all colivings, the host is one of the most important elements of the experience. So, when the host understands that and knows how to use his or her role to make a balanced and inspiring environment, the colivers can thrive.

In Eco Isleta’s case, the host’s perspective is on point. The role belongs to Jonatan, who does not live in the coliving (but very close by) and who comes in daily or bi-daily to check in on the place, add more amenities, clean up, fix or improve something, or set the place up for an event.

However, all these visits have a much bigger value because of Jonatan’s charismatic and extroverted personality. He always comes in smiling from ear to ear, looking forward to a chat with his colivers, hearing about their day, and often diving in a meaningful conversation.

As a family-owned business, Jonatan and Rita, with the help of their two kids, manage the coliving and the store by themselves. So, everything that happens and everything you see is a product of their hands, effort, and imagination. 

As a host, Jonatan is not only responsible for managing the house but also for organizing events in the coliving – which are PLENTY – but we’ll come back to that a bit later.

What makes him shine among other owners is his curiosity and constant wish to learn more, improve, and research. We have met a lot of decidated owners througn our Coliving Spain joruney so far, but Jonatan s one of the most dedicated ones we’ve met.

Lastly, Jonatan proudly and bravely takes on the role to be the educator and promoter of a healthier, more eco-friendly way of life, and does it without any judgment. He is just happy to show you better ways and lets you decide if you want to implement them or not – no pressure and no strings attached.

The Coliving

Eco Isleta Coliving is a very unique house with a big soul. The way it looks today was certainly not how the house was originally built or imagined but Jontan and Rita worked on it to convert it and repurpose it in order to maximize its potential. 

The house was originally built for two families back in the day, providing common and private areas both on the ground and the first floor, but today, it’s a cohesive unit centered around one set of common areas upstairs with private rooms on the ground floor.

When you walk in, you will be welcomed by a small hallway with a wooden vanity, an information board, a couple of bikes, and some inspiring coastal decoration. You will also immediately see a small window at the end of the hallway looking at the stairs covered in natural light. This part of the house was a patio but, now, when the outdoor space is occupying most of the first floor, the patio has been converted into a bright hallway. 

All private rooms are on the ground floor, except one that is actually a tiny wooden hub on the rooftop, so let’s take a close look at the rooms, shall we?

Private rooms

Private rooms in Eco Isleta are simple, cozy nooks, with original walls, and handmade furniture. There are seven rooms for seven Canary Islands, each one carrying the name of one of the islands.

All rooms are equipped with a bed (standard or double, except for some that are single only), an open closet (we loved ours!), a nightstand, and a working station with a night lamp. All rooms also have unique art from a local artist that represents the urban and the local soul of the island. Most rooms on the ground floor are blessed with super high ceilings, making even small rooms feel big.

All the rooms (except the upstairs one) share two bathrooms – one downstairs and one upstairs. 

What is great is that the downstairs bathroom is that it is truly only for the colivers, because when events happen, they happen upstairs, so all the rooms below are (unofficially) kept private from the guests. 

Every room has something unique, like this one with a bed in mezzanine or another one with the original stone wall. 

The room on the rooftop is the only one with a private bathroom – La Gomera. Simple and isolated from other rooms, it is like a small cozy cabin with its own nightly views of the herb garden. 

Also, all the rooms are pretty private in the sense of sound isolation so people can have different routines and not be bothered by others. 

We stayed in room Fuerteventura and we enjoyed it very much. But what we enjoyed the most are the common areas, so let’s get into that.

Common areas

As we mentioned, in Eco Isleta Coliving most of the common areas are on the rooftop. There is a small lounge area in the sector before the stairs on the ground floor but it is not frequently used as the upstairs spaces are much more conveinet.

The upper floor of the coliving is amazing. It’s divided into 3 sections – the inside kitchen/coworking area, the outside coworking/chill area, and a more private/chill area on the upper section of the rooftop next to the upper private room. 

The sections outside are perfect for sunbathing and events with larger groups, especially the kind of events that often happen in Eco Isleta.

There are also quite a few spots outside that you can use to have a more private work corner in the morning or evenings until it gets sunny. But, in general, the rooftop is very spacious and allows you to choose a spot based on your mood, although, when there are no events, the outside areas typically mean somebody wants to chill alone and not be bothered. Why? Because all the socializing happens in the kitchen/coworking area and now let’s get into that!

Kitchen and Main Coworking area

The main social area is also the main working area and – surprisingly – it works really well. Often, when a coliving space doesn’t have a clearly separated space for work and social life, it can get tough to get around and establish boundaries. But, in Eco Isleta, it works perfectly.

The reason for that is probably that the space is organized in such a way that despite its size, it has structural corners that align with the natural movement of people. The cooking area is in the corner with a window overlooking the opposite side of the roof and the (now closed) patio. 

At the entrance to this common space, and right across the cooking area, there are two big fridges with shelves assigned to each room, with a multipurpose table in front of them, that is most often used for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Even though there are not any strict rules for that, it just follows the natural structure of the room. 

In the opposite corner of the room is a sofa for nightly social chills or afternoon siestas, and in front of the sofa, two tables with 4 to 5 working spots. 

During the day, we would always gather around the tables and work together, and even when somebody goes a few steps away to the kitchen area to make breakfast or cook lunch, they are never distributing those who were working. 

And even if there are more people or a conversation going on and you have an important meeting, all the rooms are equipped with space to work and a good connection, so you always have an alternative.

There was something very special about the energy in this space that it just worked at every moment of the day. 

In the morning, whoever wakes up first would make coffee for all of us, and then, when by one, people would emerge and be welcomed with a fresh cup of energy. 

In the afternoons, we would often gather around the tables, put some music on, and work each on our laptops, joking in between, playing games or quizzes, and helping each other through the day.

In the evenings, we would gather around a board game or just sit together around the tables, talking, joking, and having a beer or two. 

In a way, this space became the perfect representation of what remote workers are missing without an office job – a community, colleagues, and somebody to share the burden of work and a smile in between, and at the same time, it also became a place where people come together after work, to play and socialize

So, even though we always suggest colivings to divide the work area from the social area if they can, and especially from the kitchen area, in Eco Isleta’s case – it just works.

Community

And then, we come to the most important part – the community. 

As a smaller coliving, with no host living in the house, the community grows close together pretty quickly. There is a strong family feeling, but not from the cliche “we are a family” perspective, but from the perspective of a real raw family.

When you’re in the house, you can be yourself, show your good and bad sides, be transparent and honest, and not pretend. You will meet your colivers as they are, and accept them, and you will build relationships with them that are unique to the two of you. No relationship will be the same, but still, you will all be a community. 

Outside of the house, in the sea of digital nomads, you will enjoy and meet hundreds of new people, but you will always know you have your nucelous community to come back to. You will always have somebody to go back home with or at least somebody you know you will see in the morning. 

Eco Isleta creates a very unique community that grows on you very fast and makes it much harder to leave it behind. 

As a coliver, you will probably rely a lot on this internal community, but through the coliving, you will also meet a much bigger community of remote workers and locals. How?

Well, Jonatan and his wife Rita care a lot about the community that surrounds them. They find it extremely important to connect the locals with digital nomads and see their coliving space as a tool or an environment where these valuable connections can spark. 

They use their coliving as a platform to introduce digital nomads to the local side of the city and the locals to the beauties that digital nomads bring with them. Let’s see how they do that.

Eco Isleta Weekly Events

One of the ways Jonatan and Rita use coliving to connect the local community and digital nomads is the weekly activities that happen in the coliving. 

They organize a variety of activities and events all focused on promoting the island, the city, Canarian culture, healthy lifestyle, cultural and language exchange, and, in the end, the importance of community and social connections.

Some of the events they organize are structured language exchange evenings, where the locals practice speaking in English and the foreigners speak in Spanish; family dinners with locally sourced, traditional, or international food, food workshops where they teach foreigners how to make that local food, educational workshops such as SEO seminars we held, or sustainability seminars they had in the past. 

In many of these activities and events, they collaborate with other local businesses such as a vegan restaurant or a local bakery, so with that collaboration, they can offer an amazing event to digital nomads while supporting a local SBO. 

These events are almost always open to all who are interested and posted in the biggest Slack group of digital nomads in Las Palmas – Live It Up Las Palmas, so very often, a lot of people show up. Some days, there are as few as 10 people, and others as many as 25-30.

What is impressive is that besides managing the coliving space, taking care of their family, and running an Eco Store, Jonatan, and Rita organize these events completely by themselves – preparing it all without any external support. Rita cooks the dinners and holds food workshops, and Jontatan facilitates the language and education workshops. 

This only shows how dedicated they are to the cause and how much they care for the value they offer, which is also something that elevates the colivings experience.

Local Contribution

Lastly, besides the events happening in the coliving, Jonatan and Rita also find opportunities to contribute to the local neighborhood. 

There are often different collaborations between the coliving and local businesses outside the coliving, such as free tours of the neigborhood or contributing to the local youth.

While we were in Eco Isleta, we had the opportunity to be a part of one of such initiatives. We went to the local high school and had a conversation with two classes about remote work and work opportunities in general, helping the kids understand their potential and talking about modern skills and where they can start to explore to learn these skills to set a better future for themselves. 

This was not the first nor the last visit to a high school organized by Eco Isleta, and it is certainly not the only initiative of this kind for the neighborhood because this is the true value and vision behind the Eco Isleta brand.

After a month and a half

A month and a half has passed. At the same time, we feel it flew by quickly and, that it was as long as a lifetime. All in all, we are extremely grateful for this experience and for meeting Jonatan, Rita, their kids, their coliving, and their neighborhood. 

We are leaving with great admiration towards their dedication and we’re excited to see what big things they will do next.

All we can say in the end is “Thank you, Eco Isleta, for showing us the real face of La Isleta, and teaching us what love of your neighborhood really means”. 

Hope to see you soon!

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Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

EcoIsleta Coliving – Sustainable Community in the Digital Nomad Center of Gran Canaria

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• May 23, 2023

• • Coliving Movement

Why are the Canary Islands one of the most popular places for coliving?

• ByMarko
• February 8, 2023

The post Coliving Spain 2023: #9 Eco Isleta: Sustainable Coliving Community in Las Palmas appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

So, in that light, the first coliving for this third project initiative, and the first one in 2023, is a newly-opened, small community coliving located right in the heart of Spain – in Madrid.

When we first heard about Coliving Madrid, it was from a coliver we had previously met in another coliving space during the project initiative. He told us about his friend Lu, whom he met also in a coliving, and about his project Coliving Spain, a home for digital nomads right on the outskirts of Madrid.

We were immediately interested to hear more about Lu’s story so after some conversation and sharing of values and ideas, we decided for Coliving Madrid to be our first coliving destination this year. And today, we’re bringing you his story after a month spent in his space.

It’s not only the story, Lu’s background, and his values that attracted us to come here, but also the fact that his space can potentially become the first community-focused nomad coliving in Madrid.

As a big city, Madrid’s coliving scene was up until now mostly focused on residential colivings and student housing as that was the need the market had mostly seen. However, a lot of nomads are searching for a community-first nomad experience in the cities such as Barcelona, Valencia, Madrid, Sevilla, etc., so we were very excited to explore if this will finally be one of those places that will answer the needs of this type of audience.

After a month spent with Lu in his coliving space, we can say that his idea is promising, the concept has a big potential, and we believe that with effort and dedication, Coliving Madrid can succeed in becoming exactly that – the first community-focused coliving in the Spanish capital.

Here is how our stay went and what we loved about Coliving Madrid:

Disclaimer: This piece of content may contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase or book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Concept

After exploring many coliving spaces, Lu knew what he wanted to create – a community. He was lucky enough to have had a property in Madrid at his disposal that he had been renting as an Airbnb for some time, so he decided to put his effort into the house and make a home for digital nomads and remote workers like himself, who would come to explore Madrid and the community for a few weeks to a few months.

Even when the place was only an Airbnb, Lu was unintentionally creating a community experience. His openness to meet new people, welcome them, and host them, is there with or without a coliving.

When speaking about the concept, Lu talks a lot about deep connections, real conversations, experience exchange, and an international community. This is something that is visible from entering the coliving and something that comes naturally to him as a host.

Nevertheless, Lu knows that’s not enough to make things happen, so he makes sure to explore activities and situations that would bring the group together and gather everybody around the same idea or a conversation.

His concept is still in the early phase as it officially opened only a month ago, but the progress and the value are already visible so we’re very excited to see where it will go.

Location

Lu’s space is located just about 15 km from Madrid, in a suburban neighborhood of this enormous city, called Rivas-Vaciamadrid.

This cute little neighborhood, or better to say a town, has around 85 thousand residents, living in tranquility and enjoying their peace and privacy. Most properties in Rivas-Vaciamadrid are multi-store houses with their own front and back yards, surrounded by greenery that protects you from the neighboring views.

This town is perfect for families, for children, for dog owners, but it’s also perfect for coliving.

Being close to Madrid, the colivers can enjoy all the fun, chaos, and opportunities of the capital (which we think everybody knows are plenty), but at the same time, they can enjoy the peace of a residential neighborhood that lets you take a breath, and live a slow and mindful life.

Rivas is close enough to Madrid to go whenever you want, but also far enough from it to not have to rely on going to the city to shop, have fun, or eat out. The suburbia has a few very big shopping malls, with loads of stores, restaurants, and supermarkets. From Coliving Madrid, everything is on a 5-minute car ride and there’s no need to go all the way to the center of Madrid when you need to shop. Moreover, there are a lot of outlets and discounted stores around, making it even better if you need new clothes or other things.

Most importantly, Coliving Madrid has a huge Mercadona supermarket right behind the corner, which makes everyday life easy.

Lastly, Rivas is very calm and green, with a lot of green areas to have a walk, go watch the sunset, enjoy some outdoor sports, etc. It’s the perfect town for a calm after-dinner walk with the colivers.

The House

Like many of the other houses in Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Lu’s place is a two-story home with beautiful big windows looking at the backyard.

The house came to be in Lu’s family many years ago. In fact, his parents bought it in pesetas. For a while it was sitting there, then it became an Airbnb, and now – it’s getting turned into a coliving. The space’s charm comes from its common areas, so let’s start from there.

Common Areas

It all starts with a big driveway and a small front yard right in front of the kitchen glass door. All the common areas of the coliving are on the ground floor which gives a bit more privacy to the top floors that are reserved for bedrooms.

The living room

When you enter, you will be welcomed by a spacious living room with the coziest cinema-like corner: a big corner sofa and a huge TV perfect for movie nights or presentations.

Next to the entertainment corner, there is a lonely spot with an armchair and a leg rest settled in front of the fireplace. This is a perfect spot for when you want to be in the company but not quite actively. You can snuggle up in a winter blanket reading a book, getting some casual work done, or having a glass of wine with your thoughts.

We can say that this big common space has 4 functions or corners – two that we described and two others are a dining area and a coworking spot.

The dining area is right next to the glass door that leads out to the backyard so it receives a lot of natural light, a fresh breeze, and the smell of flowers and plants outside.

This is where the family dinners often happen when the weather is not great to be sitting outside, but it’s also the spot for board game nights which are frequent.

The fourth part of the “living room” is the small coworking corner with two height-adjustable desks.

If you’re not there on time to take one, it’s fine – because there is also a portable laptop top table that you can use while sitting on the couch or the armchair. Because this is a common area, the rule is that one person at a time can have a call, but most people usually take calls at their working desks in their rooms.

The kitchen

The kitchen is the place where everybody gathers. A lot of family dinners, Sunday crepes, and Saturday barbecues mean a kitchen is a happy place in Coliving Madrid, where people often cook together.

Luckily, with an island in the middle, the kitchen is big enough for a few people to work on different things, which makes food prep a lot quicker.

Other than being the central area for food activities, the kitchen is the place where you will find the activity board of the coliving.

This is something Lu implemented (with our help) while we were there and it has proven to be very effective. Now people can have the activity schedule visible at all times which also helps new folks understand the concept and get a grasp of the community dynamics.

Other than that, the kitchen opens up to the front yard which might become a small garden in the future, but for now, it’s a table with a few chairs where people can chill while waiting for their food to be cooked, or even have the meal once it’s done.

The backyard

Possibly the biggest value of Coliving Madrid’s property is its backyard. And while the coliving can without a doubt work in an apartment, having a private outdoor area takes it to another level.

The small private garden in Coliving Madrid is a perfect place to have your breakfast in peace but also a perfect place for community events when the weather is nice. Right under the grape, on the terrace, there is a big wooden table with six chairs that serves as the area for breakfast, lunch, food parties, or just chilling, soaking up the sun, and having a drink.

This area is also connected to the driveway which becomes a spot for the pool in the summer. Other than that, the garden area is big enough to be a dance floor, for your dog to get zoomies, or simply for chatting with people at the party.

When a bigger event is happening, Lu takes the table and chairs and puts them on the grass area, adds two smaller tables and extra chairs and there’s a real party setting. Lastly, to complete it all, the garden comes with a barbecue place so it’s an absolute choice for every weekend.

The lawn area is natural, full of different colorful flowers and trees and it often attracts birds who you can hear singing the whole day.

And while we were there, Lu participated in a local eco initiative and received compost disposal from the town to put in the coliving, so all the organic waste now has a more ecological place in the compost in the corner of the garden.

The rooms

Coliving Madrid is a smaller coliving of 5 rooms, 3 on the first floor, and 2 on the second. What is great about this setting is that they are completely separated from the common areas, which gives a bit more privacy for when you want your time.

Two bedrooms on the first floor share a bathroom, and other rooms have their own, while one of the upper rooms is a shared room for 3 people. In its full capacity, Coliving Madrid will be able to receive up to 11 people which is a pretty decent size. At normal capacity, that number would most likely be between 7 and 9.

All the rooms are clean, simple, recently renovated and furnished, and fully equipped with everything needed for a comfortable long stay and work.

Also, each room has a desk and a chair and the shared room will probably have two working spaces. This makes work and life easy and flexible as it allows the colivers to choose if they want to work from their room or from the common areas.

Lastly, as Madrid is known to get crazy hot in the summer, all rooms will have air conditioning for a more comfortable stay.

The Host

Being a host is something some people have naturally in them. And Lu definitely does. He is very caring and can instantly become friends with his residents. He will greet and welcome you like a long-expected guest, introduce you to others, and help you feel at home.

As a coliving host, Lu is the heart and soul of the community. This means he brings in the energy, helps push the connections and relationships, acts as a person you can always lean on while in Coliving Madrid, and suggests and organizes events and activities.

Two nationalities and a unique approach to cultural exchange

Whether it’s his experience as a coliver himself, his own cultural mix, or a genuine interest in other people (or both), Lu puts a lot of focus on positive cultural exchange.

In most colivings, people talk about their cultures and backgrounds but there is not so much focus on diversity. In Lu’s place, sharing and comparing experiences, customs, languages, histories, etc. is very frequent and it works amazingly.

Lu was born in China to a Chinese family but moved with them to Spain when he was only 4 years old so he was brought up between two very proud and very colorful cultures – the Chinese and the Spanish.

Nevertheless, he grew up in Barcelona, meaning that he had been speaking 3 languages from an early age. Having these two cultures behind him – Spanish and Chinese (and Catalan), Lu approaches cultural differences with a light perspective and constantly reminds us that a fusion of different cultures can make amazing results.

Lu will lead by asking a question about one’s culture or simply pointing out an interesting fact he previously learned to other residents or community members and it will just instantly spark a conversation. Sometimes, even asking a taboo question takes away the barrier, makes the group laugh it off and connect, and helps us understand that not asking questions like these actually keeps us in the dark and the world of prejudice.

Because of this approach where the host cherishes hearing about the culture of each member, all members get interested in hearing about one another from this perspective, and the national or cultural characteristics become celebrated. Lu also often takes one thing from each culture or member and adopts it into practice and shares it with others.

Of course, in every international community, there will be a lot of cultural exchange, but as a host, it’s Lu’s superpower to unlock these talks and make us celebrate diversity every day and make a very heterogeneous group feel like a family in just a few hours.

Lu has been on the other side of the business

It’s always better if the product or service is offered by somebody who has been on the side of the customer. Lu didn’t wake up one day and decided to make a coliving space; he got inspired after times spent in coliving spaces and international communities as a resident.

Lu stayed in some of the most renowned spaces in Spain – such as Sun & Co. and Nine Coliving, where he learned what works and what doesn’t and how to build the community he always wanted, and made connections to help him along the way.

As he was on the visitor side of the business, Lu knows what things matter and how to make his residents happy.

With tricks and tips he learned from staying in colivings, Lu can experiment with how he will manage his space and choose among several solutions that are proven to work to find what works best for his place.

Lastly, Lu has a young spirit with lots of years of experience making him a versatile communicator and somebody who can connect with people of different ages and different backgrounds, which is aligned with the culture of coliving.

Community and the activities

With all the above in mind, it is time to talk about our experience of the community in Coliving Madrid and how it is built.

When Lu had the idea to build the coliving, he tried hard to learn how to build the community beforehand and acquired some valuable advice from people like Jon from Sun & Co., who’s known for his knowledge of community-building. But of course, every space is different, and unique ways and methods always get discovered along the way. So, Lu has experimented (and still does) with the knowledge he got along the way and his ways to create a unique community experience.

And we can confirm that he is slowly shaping his offering into a unique experience that will very soon have something that none other spaces have. If we were to guess, we would say it will be in the direction of the diversity we spoke about.

But, let’s see what activities and community-building happen in Coliving Madrid.

Food Culture

First, one of the characteristics of Coliving Madrid that stands out among others is the food culture. It’s well known that food always connects people, but it seems that in Coliving Madrid, food plays a big part in the experience. Not intentionally, but it’s undoubtedly there.

Every host unintentionally shapes the coliving experience with their own preferences and so does it happen here. Lu is a big foody himself and loves to cook and share meals with others. Both Chinese and Spanish cultures revolve a lot around shared meals and spending time and bonding over a meal, so it makes sense that this is what he loves to do.

He is also a great cook, and especially good when it comes to dumplings (I will still have dreams about them), and is very generous and selfless when it comes to sharing his resources.

The culture of sharing food in Coliving Madrid doesn’t revolve around hosting or showing off one’s cooking skills. It’s not there to impress and be flashy; it’s all about being humble, generous, and intentionally humane; cooking for others because you want to provide for them, and sharing your culture simply and genuinely, like you would with your family back home.

And then there’s the diversity part. Lu encourages others to share their recipes and show their culture through food and he keeps their cultural legacy by sharing it with others who come after them.

For example, the other day, we had Taco Day. We made tacos at home, followed a Mexican recipe, put on Mexican music, and shared what we all knew about Mexico, even though nobody was Mexican. It came spontaneously, but we enjoyed it very much and learned something new.

Or, if we’re talking about some food events that have become a regular thing in Coliving Madrid, we can speak about Saturday Asado – a typical way of preparing a barbecue in Argentina that got inspired by Lu’s Argentinian friends, or Sunday’s crepes, typical French-style pancakes, which is a custom started by Lu’s French friend and one of the first colivers.

Other than regular events, Lu is always up to explore new things to try – whether in a restaurant, like the time he took us on hotpot, or to try to make it at home, like the time we ate homemade arepas.

Every coliving has a food culture, but believe us when we say, in Coliving Madrid, there is something really special around it.

Community beyond the coliving

Another thing that makes Coliving Madrid different from typical colivings is who makes up the community.

Of course, the core community is always the colivers, but in many colivings, it often ends there. In Coliving Madrid, the community goes way beyond the coliving or, so to say, the coliving is a place where people from and outside the coliving gather and connect.

During semi-open events at the coliving, like the Saturday Asado, residents are encouraged to invite their connections in the city; ex-colivers or friends of colivers or ex-colivers are always welcome if they’re nearby and want to join.

After moving to Madrid, Lu attended a gathering for digital nomads in Madrid and has made some expat friends there who are now always welcome to join events like these.

For a small coliving like Lu’s, connecting the space and colivers with the outsiders from time to time is an amazing opportunity to bring in more quality and value to the experience. Lu also welcomes locals and anyone else who wants to join an international community.

This is also an amazing way for Lu to market not only his space but the coliving movement as well, which is amazing since Madrid, as we already said, does not yet have spaces like this.

Other events

Lastly, other than food events, Coliving Madrid also loves board games, hikes, and movie nights.

The living room is a perfect place for board games or movie nights, which are both often happening. Depending on the mood, once a week, one of these two activities will probably happen. If the atmosphere is a bit more energetic, a long game of Uno with some beers will make a Wednesday feel like Friday. And, if the mood is a bit calmer, a good movie will bring up discussions before bed.

And when the weather is nice, especially on Sundays after crepes, it’s a perfect time for a hike. Lu loves to hike and doesn’t mind driving the group if an interesting hike is a bit further away. There is something special about packing snacks, driving off together, and then having a nice mindful walk in nature. Madrid has loads of greenery all around, and, even in Rivas-Vaciamadrid you can find a route for a small hike and enjoy the sunset.

The future of Coliving Madrid

Lu’s space is still young. He doesn’t rush into it and takes time to explore and experiment. In the month we were there, new things were implemented from week to week, and the space and the experience were getting more and more shape. Now that we leave, it’s safe to call it a coliving space and say it’s ready to receive colivers that will further help it shape.

We think Coliving Madrid has a real potential of becoming the first community-focused nomad coliving in Madrid and that Lu has all the right ingredients to make it into that.

We’re super excited to see where it goes, and we highly recommend you visit it, stay with Lu, and add your own stamp to the experience of his building.

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Coliving Madrid: Creating a Tranquil Community on the Outskirts of the Spanish Capital

• ByMarko
• April 22, 2023

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

The post Coliving Spain 2023: #8 Coliving Madrid – Community & Cultural Exchange in the Spanish Capital appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

Pitaya is a young coliving, opened only in April this year and expanded in November. It’s a unique share-living experience with great people. We are so thankful that we were a part of its community in this period and experienced this unthinkable gorgeous island.

This is a remote work destination made for the soul, and Laura, Pitaya’s founder, and host is going above and beyond to showcase this and make the first ecosystem for remote workers in Lanzarote.

Read below our experience in Pitaya Coliving and book your stay to escape the cold winter days.

Disclaimer: This piece of content may contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase or book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Lanzarote – a digital nomad paradise

Even though all the Canaries are volcanic islands, Lanzarote is THE volcanic island in this group. If you’re into volcanic islands, Lanzarote is your destination.

It has one of the most unique landscapes in the world. With black stone and sand, multiple antique volcanos you can climb and hike; contrasts of typical white houses, crystal blue ocean, and bright green plants scattered around the island – it’s a movie-like scenery.

The island is also the perfect size for a one-month stay because you can visit all the most notable things in a month and truly immerse in them. There are a lot of beaches to visit and some fascinating hikes to do. But also, driving up and down the island is an experience in itself. On your way, you will pass so many volcanoes that you will not be able to count them.

The scenery is completed with the unique and uniform architecture of the island, created by a famous local artist, Cesar Manrique. Because of him, most of the houses and buildings on the island are painted white, with green, blue, or brown windows and doors, and have no more than 2-3 floors.

Arrecife

The capital of Lanzarote is Arrecife, a charming little town in the middle coastal part of the island facing the African continent. Pitaya coliving is located here, in the capital – which is not only a great position but one of the places for a local experience and the most urban experience on the island.

Lanzarote is easy to visit from north to south with a car (only a 40-50 minute drive from one end to another) and because of its size, when you think about Pitaya Coliving, you don’t only think about the neighborhood, or the city of Arrecife, you connected it with the whole island because this is the experience you are receiving.

How to get to Pitaya Coliving

Reaching Pitaya Coliving is very easy. Coming from mainland Europe, Lanzarote is the closest island, so the flight is the shortest. Being the third biggest island (number of residents-vise), its capital has really good and frequent connections with many European cities.

In general, there are two ways to reach Arrecife – by ferry and by plane. If you’re coming from the mainland, that option is a plane, but if you’re already on another Canary island, you can either take a plane or a ferry. Either way, both the airport and the port are close, and Pitaya Coliving is easily reachable from them.

Ferry to Lanzarote

The port is located around 10 minutes by bus from the Arrecife. The thing that is a bit complicated is once you get off the ferry. The bus station is a bit further down, and there is no marked path, so you will have to ask around a few times. But on a 5-7 minute walk from the ferry, diagonal from the closest cafeteria, there is a bus stop. The bus is number 3, costs €1.40 and takes about 10 minutes.

When you get off the bus, Pitaya coliving is on a 10-minute walk, and you will find it very easily.

Plane to Lanzarote

If you’re coming directly from Europe or you opt for BinterCanarias to take you from one island to another, you will also arrive quickly and safely from the airport to the coliving.

The airport is around 12 minutes by car from the coliving. You can take a cab from there, which will cost around 10 euros. If you opt for the bus, it will take about 30-40 minutes. The bus is always €1.40 in the city.

The neighborhood

The neighborhood around coliving is one of the best locations in Arrecife. It’s close to the historical city center and all the monumental city experiences. It’s close to the city beach, the castle, the marina, plenty of bars and restaurants, three big supermarkets, and a shopping mall. It’s a small town with everything you need, lively and relaxing at the same time.

El Charco

Pitaya Coliving is in one of the most charming neighborhoods in Arrecife called El Charco. The name translates to The Puddle, but this is nothing like a puddle. El Charco (the neighborhood) is a promenade that goes along a beautiful city marina, a historical center of Arrecife, and one of the liveliest areas.

The promenade is full of lovely local restaurants and bars, giving off a vibe between a fishing town and a family summer destination. 

The marina is full of these small local boats, with clear water, and beautiful to look at. That’s why bars in El Charco are very popular during the whole day and especially during the weekends. People, usually the locals, come here to have a drink, a snack, or a proper meal and relax watching the seagulls, herons, and pigeons enjoying the mesmerizing water.  

Walking here, you will find some other interesting things as well. First, you will notice these odd-looking boats made from tin plates. These are traditional boats from Lanzarote called Jolateros. Every day, there will also be a man in El Charco selling these small boats in all sorts of sizes, so you can buy them as a souvenir as well (as a keychain or a bit bigger).

Secondly, at the end of the marine, right on the edge of the city center, there is a display of a skeleton of a whale. This is truly a unique sighting (and a good orienteer).

El Charco also has other monuments here and there that showcase the history of the city, so make sure to have a look at them as well.

The city center and castle

In continuation to El Charco is the city center, a long street with shops and bars, that leads to the city castle – El Castillo de San Gabriel. The castle and the promenade around the castle are a great view to enjoy the ocean, the views, and all that wilderness inside the city. Cobble-stone boardwalk and antique bridge give a medieval feeling and can be a beautiful afternoon walk.

There is also a small beach next to the Castillo which is great for a quick swim during lunch hours. Walking down the street in front of the castle – another promenade – you will pass the cultural center of Arrecife, more bars and restaurants, and eventually come to the city beach (around 10-15 minutes walking from the coliving).

The coliving

Pitaya coliving is made of three apartments in one building, which occupies 2 and a half floors. Every apartment has 3 bedrooms – one double, one single, and one small single. 

Even though this setting might seem untypical at first, after a while it started reminding us of something. Here is the hint – multiple apartments, two across from each other, and a thigh group of people living in them, going from one another and having their best adult lives – what could that be!? Well, if you haven’t guessed so far, Pitaya Coliving has some serious Friends vibes.

All three apartments have their functions and vibes and all are completely available for every coliver. It doesn’t matter which bathroom, kitchen, or table you use because it’s all for everybody. 

There are two apartments across from each other on the second floor, and one above – on the third, and the last, floor. The top floor, besides the three private rooms, also has a big coworking space.

The other two apartments both have a shared kitchen and until recently, they both had a small chill area and a dining area as well. However, during our stay, some of the layouts changed to make more fluidity between the spaces and divide them per category. 

This new layout helps the community gather and gives importance to each apartment. The whole setting gives a new value, but more importantly, it shows that Laura cares about the opinions of the colivers and is open to change and experimentation.

Apartment 4 (The Chill Zone)

Apartment number four was the first living area. In this apartment, the colivers would find their kitchen), a small dining area for 5-6 people, and a cozy chill nook with a sofa by the window. All the interior was designed to have a flowy and positive vibe, with lots of pastel colors scattered across the place, colorful but subtle paintings on the wall, and mismatched yet matching dining sets.

Back when Pitaya was made only of two apartments – the number 4 and number 6, having a kitchen and a dining area made sense. For only six people, it was a perfect little gathering area and there was just enough storage for everyone.

But, Laura knew she wanted a bigger space. She knew she wanted to make this story bigger and share it with more people, so, even with still juggling the novelties of being a recently opened coliving, she decided to go for one more apartment and expand Pitaya coliving to 9 rooms.

That’s how Apartment 3 came to life. Even though this apartment was meant to be something of a mirror version of apartment 4 – more rooms, one more kitchen, and one more common space, after a while, the layout changed a bit and both apartments got their unique purposes.

So, what does Apartment number 4 look like now? (After changes)

Today, apartment 4 still has a small kitchen that colivers often use for cooking. Having two kitchens right across from each other is great when two or three people want to cook at the same time. It’s also great for cooking family dinners. Often, we would just open the front doors of the apartments (because nobody lives above so nobody ever passes there except PItaya people) and have a clean passage from one kitchen to another.

So, the kitchen stayed, but the common space changed. Now, apartment 4 is a designated chill area for the whole coliving. It is the only place of all three apartments that has a sofa (two sofas, to be precise), poufs, coffee tables, and just the best setting for chilling, hanging out, playing the guitar, or playing board games. This is now the place to relax, share a conversation, or have a casual rainy afternoon snuggled in the chunky blanket by the window.

Every week, Laura brings something new to the place to make it even cozier and nicer for hanging out so it’s becoming a dream-like living room.

This setting is (as of the moment of writing this) only about 2 weeks old, but we have already had so many amazing hangouts together in this space. It seems like the space also facilitated more casual gatherings, so some people who seemed shy or were not involving themselves in the community that much have started joining since the new setup.

Apartment 3 (The Wine & Dine)

Apartment number three, the one right across from apartment 4 and its supposedly mirrored version, had also fallen under some change and is serving a unique purpose. Today, this apartment is the main kitchen and dining area for the whole coliving.

With the same kitchen as apartment four, just a bit bigger, with more storage, and two fridges instead of one, this is where most colivers prepare their food and eat.

Besides the kitchen, there is a big table that can seat up to 12 people, so it’s a perfect place for family dinners, gatherings with food and drinks, or other similar events. People love to eat or have coffee in a company so this is still one of the busiest areas. This is where the family dinners and breakfasts were happening even before it became a dining area, so it feels very natural to gather here.

During the day, outside breakfast and lunch hours, it also works like a chill working area because of the size of the table and the tranquility of the room. During the morning, people usually work from the coworking area where the environment is quieter and more focused, so if you’re more in the mood of sharing a bit of conversation while working and having a coffee, this can be a good spot. Apartment 4 also has those “lazy workday” moments for when you need to get off a chair but don’t want to stay in your bed.

Apartment 6 (The Coworking)

Lastly, coming up to Apartment 6 on the top floor, we are presented with a coworking area.

This apartment truly is the perfect spot for the office as it has the best view of all the apartments. Overlooking El Charco, this is the spot for some of the best sunsets on the island, and during the day, when you get tired of working, you can find a bit of peace in looking over the boats in the lagune.

Also, when it comes to this apartment – it’s one with the most light in the rooms because of the sky that gives them the light through the inner patio.

But, let’s get real – the coworking in Pitaya Coliving is one of its selling points.

The Coworking

For this space to be suitable for remote workers, it had to have a reliable, functional, and inspiring workspace, and it’s safe to say it does.

The office has two areas. The main one, and the one where you come into, has three big desks put together with a total of 5 seats. Next to the desks, there is also a small fridge for all the goodies you would need during working hours like water, snacks, etc. The second area of the office is a space with four desks, of which two can be converted into standing desks.

The whole office is very bright and clean-looking. The pastel blue colors in the combination with white give you the tranquility to focus and be at peace while working.

Normally, this area is quiet and calm because everybody tries to be respectful towards others. That’s why for more casual or talkative work, colivers choose other places.

Besides the desks and comfy chairs, it’s important to say that the WIFI is very reliable and strong. Not only in the coworking, but generally throughout the house. Even if somebody notices a weaker connection, they only have to tell Laura about it and she will fix it.

Lastly, the coworking is used for the weekly planning sessions (Pitalendar), which we’ll cover a bit later, and any other session such as skill-sharing, story-telling, presentation – anything organized that’s a bit more structured and formal.

Community

The community in Pitaya is what makes this place truly special.

The lifestyle

This island, and with it, this coliving, attracts a unique group of people. People who love adventure, uniqueness, and natural gems, socializing and exploring the unknown with others.

Most people who come to Pitaya like outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, climbing, swimming, etc. And, it’s no surprise. This island is perfect for the outdoorsy ones. With the landscape so unique and the terrain relatively flat with a few challenging hiking spots, Lanzarote is amazing for exploration.

Pitaya Coliving attracts people who match the vibe of the island – adventurous, but down calm and down-to-earth people who want to experience life in a community while working remotely.

Remote Workers

Besides having matching energies and the same taste for after-work activities, the community in Pitaya is also concentrated around remote work which makes the house productive and supportive. There are never awkward situations if somebody has to work because everyone has the same or similar experience. There is so much understanding going on, but, at the same time, motivation for working.

The mornings during the week are focused on coworking and people give each other all those benefits you have from coworkers. Seeing others’ work gives you a push as well and knowing you will hang out with them after work is the best motivation there is.

This is definitely because, when making the coliving, Laura started from the perspective of a remote worker and set the focus and environment for those who can remotely and want to do it in a supporting and adventurous place.

The host

At the center of the Pitaya experience is its host – Laura.

Laura is both an external part of the community and a manager of the coliving. Her energy is what buys everyone the moment they walk into the coliving. Always positive, always smiling, and very open-hearted, Laura is the host everyone would love to have.

Madrid-born, Laura completely fell for Lanzarote and moved here to live a more fulfilling life, but it was not enough for her to have this amazing experience and life only for herself. She was so eager to share it with others that she decided to open the perfect place that would invite remote workers to the island. She made it for like-minded people to her, the ones that share the same passion for the outdoors and active lifestyle, and show them how amazing Lanzarote is and how full and healing life on the island can be.

Since moving to Lanzarote, Laura is working so hard on being an advocate for the island, with the coliving, but also other initiatives like the Pitaya Festival in Lanzarote – a one-day event that merges all the localities and beauties of the island.

As a coliving host, she always comes with an open mind, ready to listen to feedback (good or bad), ready to work on the coliving, improve the offering, and make her guests want to come back. Because of her openness, the colivers here have more input and control of their environment which strengthens the community, and the relationship with the coliving, and, of course, boosts the feeling of being home.

Community organization

Having in mind the above, the community in Pitaya is made very organically. When there were only two apartments, the activities and the organization were completely organic. There are, of course, some things that are included in the Pitaya experience like weekly yoga and fresh weekly breakfast, but when it comes to activities, they were always organized by the people that stayed there.

However, when the group expanded, the approach had to be a bit more organized, so Laura introduced some things that would facilitate the experience. One of the things is the weekly planning session called the Pitalendar (Pitaya calendar 😀).

This is a weekly meeting of all the colivers and Laura to plan together the week ahead. In this session, everyone is welcome to give suggestions or wishes, and Laura is there to help with the local suggestions. It’s also the time to share feedback with Laura, to say if something is missing in the house, give suggestions for the improvement of the coliving, and so on.

The best thing about the organization of the coliving is the involvement the colivers have. For example, one coliver suggested introducing family dinners every week, and Laura immediately did it.

The same goes for the layout of the apartments. After spending time there, as a group, we suggested moving the furniture and making a different layout. Laura listened to us, gave it a thought, and the next week, we were all moving the furniture and experimenting together. It was a great bonding activity and a great way to connect with the coliving even more.

Activities

So, when it comes to activities, they are very organic, but they are encouraged. People love to share their passions with others and it’s a very open stage to do it.

During our stay, we held out typical SEO presentations, but we also participated in the Habit workshop and became a part of the Accountability group – another initiative from a coliver, Pierre (Challengers Community).

Other than that, weekends are the go-to activity days and often colivers organize to explore the island. Somebody would rent a car and we’d go altogether. We have seen so much of the island this way and Laura was always so great to give us routes and suggestions.

This organization, the community, the island, and the host make Pitaya Coliving a very special experience with a very bright future. For a young coliving, they have grown so much in the past few months and we’re super excited to see how they continue to grow.

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Coliving 1907 – A historical house telling a unique story of Las Palmas

• ByMarko
• November 5, 2022

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

The post Coliving Spain 2022: #7 Pitaya Coliving – Lanzarote’s first hub for Remote Workers & Digital Nomads appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

First stop in our second, Fall, initiative, and 6th stop overall, and we’re back on the Canaries. This time, we’re exploring one of the favorite islands for digital nomads – Gran Canaria. And none less than its capital – Las Palmas, all thanks to Coliving 1907.

We’re lucky to explore this amazing city through Coliving 1907 because the owner and the host, Raquel Villalobos Vega is a true local, and on top of knowing all the tips and secrets of the city, she makes sure that the coliving is very well connected to the digital nomad community.

If you’re longing for a place where you could stay for a few months, enjoy nice weather, meet a lot of amazing people, and learn so many new things, Coliving 1907 in Las Palmas is a perfect choice.

Need more persuasion? Read our experience below. 🙂

Disclaimer: This piece of content may contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase or book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Las Palmas – a city where nomads and locals cohabitate

Las Palmas is one of the most vibrant cities in the Canaries. With not many regular tourists, it’s a perfect spot where digital nomads and slow travelers cohabitate with the locals. The dynamics of the city make it even more attractive for slowmads as they can balance between the local culture and interacting with other nationalities.

If you come to Las Palmas, it is practically impossible not to meet someone, not make friends, or feel alone. Along with the vibrant life, the weather in Las Palmas is one of the nicest in the Canaries with temperatures being between 20 and 27 degrees throughout the year and with little or no wind.

This place gives off a perfect mix between island life and metropolitan so it is good for those who love nature, surfing, and adventure, as well for those who like commodities, big city life, and socializing events.

Coliving 1907 is located in the city’s old town – Triana. A bit further away from the beach (further meaning 30 minutes by foot or 10 minutes by bus), Triana is the local center of Las Palmas, with gorgeous cobblestone streets, tall antique buildings with ornaments and wooden gates and tons of local coffee shops and restaurants with traditional and affordable offerings.

How to get to Coliving 1907

To come to Las Palmas, you can either come by plane from the mainland or by plane or ferry from another island.

Ferry to Las Palmas

If you’re coming by ferry, you can go directly to Las Palmas. The port is located in La Isleta, the most northern part of the city. From there, you can take a free ferry bus that will take you to Santa Catalina park which is 5 minutes from the bus stop and the central bus station.

Coliving 1907 is located a bit further in the city, where the old town is – in the neighborhood called Triana. This is about an hour’s walk from where the ferry bus will leave you or a 10-minute bus ride from the Santa Catalina bus stops.

When you get off the ferry bus, cross the road/bridge and go straight forward until you see lots of bus stops. You will need to take bus number 17 which will stop at the first bus stop. The ticket price for one ride is fixed for every in-city ride and will cost you 1.40 euros.

Plane to Las Palmas

The airport is about a 20-30 bus ride from the coliving. There are different buses that you can take from the airport. All of them will bring you to the same bus station – San Telmo.

Once you get off the bus, the coliving will be just 5 minutes walking from there, two streets above and parallel to Triana street.

The space

Coliving 1907 is a beautiful family house from – yes, you guessed it – 1907. The building is what takes this coliving experience to another level with its authentic Spanish vibrations.

Even though patios (stone gardens or atriums with open skylights in the center of the building) are something thought to be typical for Andalusia or Latin America, they can be found all over Spain and they’re often closely connected to Spanish culture.

In Las Palmas, at least in the old town around Triana, you can spot these gorgeous houses with patios on every step. There is something magical about them because when you open the doors of a building, instead of a boring hallway, you are welcomed with this spacious, colorful oasis, and it feels like you’ve encountered a secret world.

And just like its neighboring buildings, Coliving 1907 also has this secret world inside of it which adds to the atmosphere and makes you feel a bit like royalty. Lucky for you, we’ll give you a glance into this secret world today. Let’s take a tour. 🙂

Patio

As soon as you enter Escritor Benito Perez Galdos street, in front of this cute little coffee shop, and through a high wooden door, the patio will open up to you. You will walk through a small, beautifully decorated hallway and a black gate with the year 1907 written in the iron.

The next thing that will catch your attention will be a tall palm tree in the center of the patio, surrounded by dozens of other colorful pots and plants. If you wish to enjoy the peace and breathe in the view, you can take a seat at one of two yellow sitting corners and take your time before going upstairs.

Even though this patio can be the perfect place for gatherings and events, currently, it serves more as this peaceful oasis for colivers to come and join a bit of silence and daydreaming. The only reason for this is that the coliving already has another communal area for gatherings and events, but we’ll get to that later. 🙂

With an open skylight, decorative tiles, and a garden-like feeling, it’s a perfect spot for reading a book, writing a journal, or sharing a pot of tea with another coliver over a light conversation. Oh – and, of course, for taking photos! 😀

If you’ve taken enough time to enjoy the patio, let’s get into a celebrity mood and take the red-carpeted stairs up to the first floor to explore the interior.

The interior

As soon as you walk up the stairs, you will be welcomed by a hallway that goes into a circle around the patio. Whichever way you take – left or right – you will come to your destination.

This floor is a perfect mix of antique and modern – with dark wooden floors, tall ceilings, and big windows looking at the patio and the palm tree.

This floor takes up the majority of the interior of the house and can be split into 3 areas – kitchen and dining area, chillout zone, and the rooms.

Let’s start with the rooms as one of the most important factors when choosing a coliving.

Rooms

Coliving 1907 has 8 private rooms, single and double. All rooms are named after a specific area in Gran Canaria, which is thoughtfully presented on a minimalist map in front of each room.

The inside decoration of the rooms also follows these names and have colors, paintings, or other decoration that hints at or reminds of the area.

Seven rooms are on the first floor, and one is on the patio. Two rooms share the bathroom and others are private – some inside the room, and some outside.

We stayed on the first floor in room Mogan, inspired by a charming fisherman village in Gran Canaria. To match the name, there were a lot of sea-inspired decorations like a blue wall, a golden dolphin piece, a calming painting of the fish underwater, and other blue details.

Except that, all the rooms on the first floor have a huge, two-meter-tall window looking out onto the street. Some of the rooms also come with a private balcony.

A valuable feature that you will find in the rooms is the height-adjustable table that you can turn into a standing desk which makes work so much more enjoyable.

Inside community spaces

Other than the rooms, on the first floor, you will also find all the interior community spaces.

The kitchen

On the separate side of the rooms, you will find the kitchen and the community coworking area.

The kitchen is big enough for a few people to prepare their food and even has a table that two, or three people can sit at and eat or prepare food together.

There are two fridges in the kitchen, and every room has its shelf. Both fridges also have a “general” shelf that is used for things that are for everybody.

Sometimes, somebody might put things where they want to share with others, and other times, when a coliver is leaving the house, they can leave here what they can’t bring with them so the food doesn’t get thrown away.

In the kitchen, each room also has its pantry shelf for storing food, and there’s also one general shelf for things that don’t need to be refrigerated.

Indoor coworking area

Besides the kitchen, there is the main indoor community space – a coworking/multifunctional area. It’s a big table with comfy antique-looking chairs with about 10 seats.

Here, you will also find a big vertical mirror and pics of all the current and past colivers.

Lazy area

Lastly, when it comes to indoor common spaces, the first floor also has a comfy lounge area with bean bags and window nooks great for lazier work on your laptop or a cup of coffee in the afternoon.

However, even with lots of space inside for the community to gather, these all places are completely outshined by one particular outdoor space, and one of the best amenities of Coliving 1907 – the rooftop.

Rooftop

One of the strongest selling points of Coliving 1907 is its rooftop. This huge, multifunctional area truly elevates the experience and is definitely the most beloved feature of most colivers.

The rooftop compliments Gran Canaria’s late spring-early summer temperatures throughout the year and serves as the perfect spot for all sorts of activities – day or night.

The space is big enough to be divided into different sections. The main part of the rooftop, and where the most activity happens, is the gazebo. The gazebo is the key solution that makes the rooftop useful and accessible at all times.

Even though many colivings in Spain have similar flat rooftops because that’s a typical feature of houses and buildings in Spain, with nothing providing shade, they make it hard to be used during the day. The sun in Spain can be very strong so without any shade, it’s practically impossible to stay on the rooftop for a long time and especially impossible to work from it.

Coliving 1907 found the perfect solution for this and elevated its rooftop to a maximum. The gazebo gives shade during the day and can also double as protection from the rain. So, with mild temperatures throughout the day, colivers prefer to spend their time outside, eating, working, or just chilling out.

The gazebo floor is covered in faux grass carpet, making it soft and cozy to walk on even barefoot.

Main Coworking Area

Besides this, there are two tables – one regular long table with 8 seats and one high table with 4 seats. There are also two egg chairs that you can move around, as well as extra chairs and two deck loungers that you can take out when you need them.

Other than the thoughtfully designed space, another thing that makes the rooftop the main coworking area is that it is packed with outlets and good wifi.

All these characteristics make this area the one that the colivers use the most, and the main gathering area in general. All events, activities, family dinners, and so on that happened in Coliving 1907, happen on this rooftop. There are about 20 spots for people to fill up the space but still be comfortable, which is a bigger capacity than the coliving itself, so on regular days, it’s a very spacious and comfy zone to have your breakfast, work, or share a conversation.

Other areas

Other than the gazebo, the rooftop has a back area (invisible from the gazebo) with a clothesline where you can leave your clothes to hang out and dry in the indirect sun and fresh air.

There is also a laundry room with a washing machine, detergent, softener, and iron with an ironing board, that is currently free for use on the roof. This room also doubles as a communal toilet.

Lastly, the central part of the rooftop is the one that stays in the sun so you can take out the deck chairs and sunbathe. It also has a nice platform in the middle that can be used as a sitting area or a central area for events during the night. Although, the events mostly happen under the gazebo, but we’ll get to that later. 🙂

The Community

Coliving 1907’s community is structured in a specific way that differs a bit from a typical coliving community.

The Core Community (Current colivers)

First of all, with 8 rooms, Coliving 1907 is a small-sized coliving, so the coliving community is also smaller and with dynamics that feel more like a family.

Las Palmas is a lively city with loads of things to do so most of the colivers live lives at their own pace, pursuing activities and hobbies they like. This means that, unlike some other, more remote communities, you will not see people here constantly doing everything together.

When there are shared interests, people will connect over them, but there is not that kind of pressure to engage in things you’re not particularly interested in only because it’s a pre-organized community activity.

The dynamics in the house are tranquil, respectful, and friendly, and the activities done together often happen organically and spontaneously. Going out with a few of your fellow colivers to a party feels like you’ve got family with you. You will see these people at home, you can always count on them to support you and be there if you need them. It’s not necessarily about spending the most time together, but always being there for each other.

The host

The host and owner of the coliving, Raquel, is also very well integrated into the community without putting the feeling of overlooking or micromanaging the community.

What makes this community even more family-like and the house feel like home is the fact that a lot of people are staying for at least a few months. People don’t come here to have an intense experience and go back home to their lives, they move their lives here and build the community around themselves.

Ex-colivers

All these facts are actually the reason why Coliving 1907 has another layer when it comes to its community that we don’t often see in other colivings. This layer consists of ex-colivers who stayed at the coliving, loved it, had to move out for one reason or another, but decided to stay closely connected to the place and the people, making a part of the extended community.

One of these folks we met was Carlos, who stayed at the coliving for 10 months, and after he moved out, continued being part of the community, coming to events, joining group activities, and so on.

Another example can be Daniel, a coliver that lived in the house when we moved in and moved out a few days into our stay. However, he was still so much integrated into the community, that it took me a whole week to realize that he had moved out.

Digital nomad community of Las Palmas

Lastly, besides these two layers of the community, there is another one, and that’s access and connection to the bigger network of digital nomads in Las Palmas.

Unlike most colivings, Coliving 1907 often opens its doors to the folks outside and helps its colivers become a part of the digital nomad community on the island by staying on top of the happenings in the city, giving you access to this big community on Slack, and organizing open events for everybody to join.

Now, let’s talk about how this coliving organizes its events.

Events and activities

Coliving 1907 organizes its events on a monthly basis, offering 4-5 events per month, most usually once per week.

Even though some colivings organize events more frequently, for Coliving 1907, this is the perfect amount of activities, and here’s why.

First of all, as we mentioned, most people stay here for a long time. When you’re coming on a 3-week long workation, having daily activities makes sense. However, when you’re living somewhere for a few months, you don’t have the energy and the capacity to engage in activities every day.

Once a week is more than enough to gather in a bigger group of colivers and do something interesting and fun and use the rest of the days in the week for yourself and your interests, occasionally and spontaneously socializing.

Secondly, in Coliving 1907, people are much more likely to spontaneously organize what was happening between themselves so they didn’t need an entertainer. Some colivings that organize daily activities, organize beach trips or go to a restaurant together. In Coliving 1907, those are not considered pre-organized activities as the colivers organize them between themselves.

The activities and events that Coliving 1907 organizes are more events than activities, so it makes much more sense to have them once a week, and leave space for more casual activities during the week.

Third, as we mentioned, Coliving 1907 is located in the center of Las Palmas – a big city full of life and daily events for digital nomads. By giving its colivers access to this bigger community in the city, they are exposed to daily events around the city and can choose where and when they will go and what they’ll do. There are unlimited possibilities in the city so making events more frequent in the colivings would mean making the colivers choose if they will stay inside or go explore other interests.

Fourth, as we mentioned, Coliving 1907 opens its events to people outside of the coliving as well. By posting in the digital nomad slack group and advertising on social media, at each event at least a few people from the outside join. It’s a great way to broaden the community, but also to offer valuable events to others as well.

For example, we organized our SEO seminar there, so, by opening the event to everybody, people outside the coliving who were interested in the subject had the opportunity to come and participate which resulted in some new connections. In a way, this is also how Coliving 1907 gives back to the bigger community of Las Palmas.

During one month, it’s usually a schedule of mixed free and paid activities. Some interesting events that you could find in Coliving 1907 are:

• International potluck dinner
• Raw tapas workshop
• Spanish workshop
• Coworking day

For us, participating in these kinds of events and hosting one of them in this structure was something new and very interesting and we find it to be another selling point of this coliving.

Managing a coliving this way is not very common and can be challenging. It’s much easier to have a community manager that will entertain guests daily in order to get good reviews and a positive experience. Coliving 1907 took that risk and exceeded it. Raquel did an amazing job using the opportunities of the city to engage the coliving’s community, but also, providing a balance between intense digital nomad experiences and tranquil home life.

With this approach, she managed to create a valuable family-like community that stays alive beyond the booking dates.

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Coliving 1907 – A historical house telling a unique story of Las Palmas

• ByMarko
• November 5, 2022

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

The post Coliving Spain 2022: #6 Coliving 1907 – Your peaceful refuge in the Digital Nomad Center of Gran Canaria appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

More than two months ago, we started this project on the Canary Islands in La Gomera, only passing by through Tenerife.

Now, after visiting Galicia and Valencia, we’re back on the islands, and we have a second chance of exploring Tenerife and all its beauty, and we’re super happy about it.

Tenerife is a magical place tailored for nature lovers, rock climbers, and adventurers.

Sadly, many go without knowing that classical tourism in places like Tenerife hurts its raw beauty or that it doesn’t truly show what these places have to offer without artificial tourist attractions.

If you’re not a classical touristic type and you’re always looking for a way of connecting with the local community, learning about the culture, and experiencing what locals love to do when you travel, then you’ll love Cactus coliving in Tenerife South.

Disclaimer: This piece of content may contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase or book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Tenerife’s new tourism model

In the past few years, or since the pandemic, Tenerife has become a favored spot for digital nomads, especially from Europe.

This has to go in hand with the fact that a lot of previously popular digital-nomad places were not accessible to European nomads anymore, so traveling nationally, or at least in the Schengen area, made more sense.

So, while the European mainland went through winter, people realized that the Canary Islands might provide the same escape from the cold as popular Asian and South American destinations, only much closer and much more accessible.

That is how this destination, which was previously popular only for a few weeks of a hedonistic escape, started to receive attention from remote workers, digital nomads, and younger expats looking for a place to settle down for a few months or years.

As it is already familiar, digital-nomad-focused tourism calls for a completely different business model than that of classical tourism and this is why Tenerife started blooming in new colivings, hostels turned into coliving spaces, coworking cafes, and many more opportunities tailored for the digital nomad lifestyle.

Still, many property owners designed their places only for extended stays, but their behavior towards the island stayed the same. The opportunities they offer are the same as the ones touristic agencies provide, and not many truly incorporate the life and soul of the island.

That’s why a need for a different approach was born. An approach that will give back to the island and emphasize its beauty through kind and natural touristic activities that do not disrupt the ecosystem and the culture.

And that need is also one of the reasons Cactus coliving was born.

The neighborhood

Cactus is located in Valle San Lorenzo, a small town in the province of Arona, just 10-15 minutes by car from well-known locations like Las Americas and Los Cristianos.

Unlike many other colivings, the house is not outside the town, so even if you’re not in the mood to take the car or a bus and go to the city, you can still find everything you need around the corner.

For example, literally around the corner, a minute from the house, there is a rather big supermarket, Alteza.

Still, if you don’t find what you’re looking for there, just down the street, on a 7-minute walk, there is a hypermarket Hiper Dino with an even more sizable choice of groceries.

When it comes to dining out and entertainment, there are also a few cafes, restaurants, and bars around that you could visit to have a quick barraquito or a Saturday night cocktail.

On top of everything, because Roque de Jama is close by, you will enjoy gorgeous views while strolling through the town or, even better, chilling on the Cactus rooftop.

The house

The Cactus house has quite a story behind it.

It’s more than 200 years old, and it was one of the first and most important houses in the town that supplied the whole town with gofio and electricity.

Originally, it was a part of two more houses with a total of six immense water tanks that fed their gardens.

With the development of the town and the infrastructure, the houses split, and this one was left in the keeping of the church.

Some decades later, the church put the house for sale to the public and that is when Maria’s (the Cactus coliving founder) family bought it.

There were some periods that the family lived there and some when the house was empty, but Maria more or less grew up there.

Before opening the coliving, nobody lived in the house for a decade, but during the pandemic, Maria decided to move back into it, which, step by step, gave birth to what it is today.

The name

Probably one of the most beautiful stories about this coliving is the story about its name.

Apparently, when Maria was born, her mother planted some cactuses in the house’s backyard.

And despite periods when the family rarely visited the house, and nobody was there to care for the property or the plants, the cactuses survived all these years and not only survived but thrived.

Today, 27 years later, they are still standing tall and powerful, overlooking the house and stretching more than 6 meters in the sky.

For that sake, it only felt right to name the house after its most loyal keepers, and that is how Cactus coliving got its name.

Thinking about it, it truly feels like a perfect name because it tells the story of the house, the family, and the founder, but also about Tenerife, its history, and the raw and strong nature that makes this island exceptional.

The rooms

Cactus house has twelve rooms in total – one dorm room and the rest private single and double rooms.

The house is spacious thus the rooms are nicely scattered across it.

If you’re not deliberately counting them, you could go without knowing how many rooms are there and where all the rooms are.

The whole house can be divided into two main parts – the old one and the new one.

• The old part is close to the kitchen and opens up to the front yard. This part of the house has five rooms on the ground floor.
• The new part is the rear side of the house that connects with the main coworking area that opens up to the backyard. This area has two rooms on the ground floor, from which one is a duplex, so it also occupies the upper part and the other three rooms on the first level.

Besides these two main groups of rooms, there is also one more room on the rooftop and a dorm room on the upper level of the house.

What is intriguing and captures the spirit of the Canaries is that every room carries the name of an endemic plant species native to the Canary Islands.

Some of these plants are endangered so carrying their names, the rooms also spread awareness about them in a way.

The coworking spaces

Another valuable asset of Cactus coliving is its coworking spaces. Without a doubt, Cactus has one of the best indoor coworking spaces that I’ve seen.

They have two massive coworking areas that are at disposal to their colivers at any time, as well as one all-purpose room perfect for coworking in a smaller group setting and one private conference room.

The main coworking area

The main coworking area is a luminous, ample open space with two big desks with approximately ten seats.

This space is always full of natural light as it opens up to the backyard with a big glass door, and it has a quarter of the ceiling open so the fresh air and natural light can flow through the space.

Some of the things that make this space inspiring and relaxing are the ceiling that is approximately 10 meters high, space openness, and the best part – a tall palm tree growing right next to you.

There is a perfect indoor-outdoor balance in this space, making it the favorite spot for working among Cactus’ colivers.

Other than the chairs and desks, this area also has two cozy lounge areas where you can lay down and work or catch something on the TV. This corner can either play as a living room or simply as a more comfortable working area.

The main coworking space is the one that occupies the most seats, however, it’s designed for a more casual working environment.

That is why another coworking area exists in the house for those who need more silence and tranquility or don’t like the open-space vibe as much.

The silent room

The silent room is just a fun name for the indoor office space in Cactus. Because it’s completely indoor and stands a bit further away from the rooms than the other coworking area, it’s decided that this would be a more tranquil and silent space for work.

This room is also a proper coworking space with four long tables and a lot of chairs. Even though it is rarely fully occupied, it can fit all the colivers if they wanted to be there.

This area is a bit colder during the day as it doesn’t have as much sunlight, so it can be a good space for chilling out if the other space gets too sunny or just having a bit of a private escape.

The silent room also has a super cozy lounge area. The cozy couch can also be another half-private spot for working when you’re in that “working from the bed mood” but don’t want to stay in your room the whole day.

The conference room

A concept of a conference room is something that we have only seen in Cactus, so far. But, when you think about it, it’s a very useful amenity.

Beside the door, you will notice a small whiteboard that serves as a booking tool.

You can write your name on the board and book the space for up to 3 hours per day, so you know you have a safe, private room if you need to be on a call, work on a project, study, or whatever else.

It’s a small room perfectly tailored for one person, so it’s a great place to have a video call, an online presentation, or maybe an interview of some kind.

If this room is occupied, or if you’re just looking for a cooler place during one hot afternoon, Cactus has another conference room that you might fit better, and it will surprise you what it is!

The wine cellar

Do you remember the story about the water tanks from this and the other two houses that date back to the early days of the town?

Well, the one water tank left in the Cactus house after the house separation is still there but with a new purpose – it’s converted to a wine cellar… and some other things.

This chilly room provides a downright space for keeping local wine and having wine workshops, but it can also work as a cool and peaceful working area when the house is too crowded or the temperatures are too high.

The booking principle is the same as for the small conference room inside the house.

The only difference between the wine cellar and the conference room is that the wine cellar can fit more people, so it might be the best place in the house for in-person meetings.

Other than that, when it’s not booked (and rarely is), everyone is free to go down and chill, work, or have a conversation down there.

Other working spaces

Besides the official working spaces, Cactus has a lot of other corners that you can go to with a laptop.

For example, one of the more casual but popular places for working is the hammock in the front yard. There is a tall coffee table in front of the hammock that you can move around, but it’s the perfect height for sitting in the hammock and having the laptop on it. This nook is also in the back of the front yard behind an avocado tree, so it gives you some privacy as well.

Another place where you could either go to work or have lunch is a table with a bench behind the kitchen. People often choose the long table on the main porch for either eating or working outside, but if you’re not in the mood for being around a lot of people, this place behind the kitchen can be equivalent.

And of course, while we’re on about outdoor places, another option for early morning or evening work is on the rooftop. During the day, the rooftop gets super sunny so it might be hard to see the screen, but when the sun is already down, or not yet fully above us, there are a few spots where you can chill and work from. In fact, I’m in one of the rooftop corners as I’m writing, chilling in the hanging egg chair and overlooking Roque de Jama. 🙂

Lastly, all rooms have a desk with a chair, so if none of these spaces work for you, you can always work in your room. The wifi is reliable, strong, and fast throughout the property, so it doesn’t really matter if you choose the rooftop, the coworking, or the wine cellar.

The activities

Every week, a new set of activities is pinned on the bulletin board in the kitchen, as well as sent out in the Slack group.

The bulletin board works great as the first announcer since Slack sometimes doesn’t push notifications, but also as a reminder throughout the week.

Every time you walk into the kitchen, you’ll notice the board, and if you need to remind yourself when the activities are happening, this is a good way. But, signing up for the activities is through Slack.

Of course, Maria or the volunteers send a kind reminder to the group a day before a big activity or on the day of the smaller ones. What we loved about the activities in Cactus is the fact that they are very simple but very enriching.

Maria really provides you with a value that you probably wouldn’t be able to have without her because they are not classical tourist activities but something that keeps you in touch with the local culture and surroundings.

Being a local, Maria can show you places that only locals know.

Maybe some secret shortcuts and cool spots that tourist agencies don’t know about, but above all, Maria works hard to connect with local businesses, organizations, and the community, and that’s what makes these activities so unique and valuable.

So, even if it would be easy for Maria to quickly organize something for a group that doesn’t know anything about the Canaries, she puts a lot of effort into it.

With every activity, you can tell that she did her best to make the experience most worthwhile for the colivers but also the area.

Here are some activities that we participated in during our stay, and some that you can expect if you come:

Local-cuisine workshops

One type of activities Maria loves to organize bi-weekly or monthly so that everybody can participate at least once are these local-cuisine workshops.

Mojo (Rojo and Verde) workshop

The Canaries have quite a few typical dishes, but one of the most famous ones are tasty spreads Mojo Rojo and Mojo Verde (the typical red and green sauces).

These spreads either go with the bread as an appetizer or as a sauce with the main dish, and they’re super tasty!

Barraquito workshop

And when it comes to traditional drinks, Tenerife has a typical coffee drink called barraquito. This is a sweet coffee-based drink with citrus liquor. It’s a delicacy and the locals drink it as much as the tourists.

But, most tourists come to love both the mojo and the barraquito, so Maria decided to organize workshops and teach Cactus colivers how to make them.

It’s not only a fun activity, but it also lets travelers bring a part of the Canarian culture home. It’s a way of spreading the word about the Canaries that’s beyond the tourist attractions.

Hiking Tenerife

The area is full of amazing hiking spots and luckily, Maria is a knowledgeable hiker.

Every week, there will be at least one hiking activity in Cactus that Maria will take you to. Most hikes are beginner-friendly, and, like Jasper, Cactus’ longest coliver, says, hiking spots are different almost every time.

Hiking in Roque de Jama, Tenerife South

The only hikes that will happen from time to time are the hike to Roque de Jama and the hike on Teide.

Roque de Jama is the closest rock to the Cactus house. It’s a very local hiking spot with not many people around.

Maria loves to take the colivers there and share a bit of her knowledge on the geography of Tenerife. She likes showing what is where from looking from the top of the rock and just giving a fun lesson on the area while you’re enjoying the hike and the views.

It’s a very fun hike and super beginner-friendly, and you get bonus points if you spot the Cactus house from the top! 😀

Hiking in Teide

Subsequently, hiking on Teide is one of those must activities when coming to Tenerife.

Teide is the highest point in Spain, and that said, you can choose trails for beginners or more advanced trails. When Maria organizes the activities for the group, they will normally be light enough for everyone to join so it can suit the group.

For example, we went this May with Maria to see the blooming of a beautiful flower, tajinaste native to Tenerife. It was a light, but worthy hike. And yes, if you were asking yourself, one of the rooms in Cactus is, in fact, called Tajinaste.

Of course, if you want to go to an advanced hiking trail, you can ask Maria to give you some tips, or maybe join her when she’s doing it outside the group activities.

Daily yoga

Cactus has a few volunteers, and most of them are here to help out with the house maintenance but also to teach yoga.

Many colivings offer yoga lessons as one of their selling points, and even though Cactus doesn’t emphasize this because there are many other things to experience there, they too organize yoga every workday.

Sometimes, the yoga lessons are on the rooftop, sometimes in the garden, and sometimes in a nearby calisthenics park.

Connecting colivers with the local community and culture

One of the biggest goals that Maria wants to accomplish with Cactus is to promote the real Canarian culture, show the colivers what the area is really like, support small business owners, and showcase the need of practicing sustainable tourism in the Canary Islands.

As previously mentioned, she connects with many local businesses and organizations that help the island (Canary Green, Rotary, etc.) as well as local shop owners, farmers, etc., to build a unique and sustainable experience for Cactus’ visitors.

One of the many ways she inspires travelers to participate in sustainable tourism is by providing them with locally grown food, and taking them to the local farmer’s market every week.

She also wants the colivers to connect with the local culture, so she always tries to show them local events if there are any around.

For example, during our stay, there was a town festival that we visited all together and went to with Maria’s family and friends all dressed in traditional costumes that she got for us. It was such a wholesome experience.

These experiences will always be different because they depend on what is around the time you’re visiting. But, Maria will make sure to be informed and allow colivers to participate in something like this.

Connections with other colivings

Cactus is also well-connected with other colivings in the area, so by staying here you will have the opportunity to participate in events with other colivings and the digital nomad community in Tenerife.

This can be an amazing way to meet new people, share experiences, and just have fun.

During our stay, we had two events that other colivings organized that we were invited to because we were in Cactus.

So, if you want to explore other places as well, Cactus is a great place because it nurtures support and collaboration with other places rather than competition.

Community

Lastly, the community in Cactus is very diverse, both age-vise and country-vise. But, somehow, the people find that they’re connected here because they were all searching for something like this.

Maria herself doesn’t live in the house and is not a core part of the community, but more of an external link. The volunteers, however, are a part of the community that, in a way, feels like a family.

The reason for that might be the house itself and how the rooms are laid out. The communal areas inspire spontaneous and casual conversations but the house is big enough to find your safe spot where nobody will impede you.

Some people came to Cactus, went on to other parts of Tenerife, then came back to Cactus because they liked the atmosphere.

Even though you can stay for 10, or 15 days, Cactus is a perfect house for long-term stays like 4, 6 months, or even longer. Maybe the best one yet.

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Cactus Coliving – Tenerife’s gem for digital nomads

• ByMarko
• May 12, 2022

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

The post Coliving Spain 2022: #5 Cactus – The perfect long-term coliving experience with a local impact appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

Going remote is spreading quickly, and it is not a shock. Seeing your acquaintances traveling while working makes everybody think: Why would I wait for a vacation to see the world?. And people are right. With so many jobs being online these days, there are no reasons why you would sit in an office if that is not what makes you productive.

While working remotely, people have more freedom to choose how they create a life-work balance that suits them, and coworking and coliving places exist to make that easier.

With that exact philosophy, five friends, Ben, Domi, Lucca, Alex, and David, united around their love for surfing, nature, balance, and Tenerife, and decided to create a coliving and coworking space made for a perfect workation. And that’s how Maraya was born.

Disclaimer: This piece of content may contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase or book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Supporting the island’s philosophy

Tenerife just might be one of the best places to find this work-life balance, slow down from the fast-paced world, and find your inner peace in nature and by the water.

But Maraya’s house complements this lifestyle and what the island has to offer even more.

Their story is quite unique, and the creation of Maraya is a story in itself. Today, we’re safe to say that this is a perfect spot for somebody looking for a month-long workation escape.

With carefully designed outdoor spaces, dozens of areas to work, chill, or hang out, and an energy that just flows through the whole property, Maraya will inspire you to be in the moment and pamper yourself a bit.

How to get to Maraya Coliving

Maraya is in the small town of Candelaria in the north of Tenerife, a region known for beautiful landscapes and black volcanic beaches.

The town is only a 20-minute drive from the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 30 minutes from the Tenerife North airport, and 40 minutes from Tenerife South airport.

To get to Maraya from the north airport, you can either take a taxi for about 35 euros, a bus, or have Maraya staff pick you up for 30 euros.

The bus is the cheapest option, but it is also the longest. You will have to change one bus, and it takes about an hour altogether. Still, it’s not bad at all, and Maraya’s team will pick you up at the bus station.

Candelaria and the neighborhood

In Candelaria, there is simply everything you need: a small mall, a supermarket, a barbershop, etc. Since Maraya’s house is a bit out of the city center, it will take about 20 minutes walking the town and just 5 minutes by car. Either way, it’s pretty close.

The closest shop is 10 minutes on foot, but it’s a small one. For bigger purchases, it’s better to go to the town, but not to worry too much about logistics—Maraya has two cars that colivers can borrow, and they often carpool to the supermarkets, beaches, etc.

The neighborhood is cozy, quiet, and homely, so being tucked away but also close to the bigger town and cities kind of makes it a perfect nook.

How it all started

As the guys tell us, preparing the house, the yard, and the garden was a process in itself. Of course, every house renovation takes time and energy, but in Maraya’s case, they took it as a project on its own and poured their souls into these renovations.

Imagine five friends taking on this huge project on a super fun island, inviting a bunch of friends to help out, and just experimenting on the way. It sounds like a movie plot, right?

We can only imagine how it was, but the complete renovations took nine months, and about 30 people gave their contributions. In Maraya’s official video, there’s a special thanks to all the folks who helped build it.

These renovations gathered an awesome group of people and created new relationships, friendships, and even love. The whole building team was super international, and you could say it kind of set foot on what Maraya’s community will be like.

When we say they put their souls into it, we don’t only mean their focus, sweat, and hard work. We mean that every corner of the house has a unique story, and carries a special moment and memory of why and how it came to life.

Typically, when building a coliving, a hostel, a hotel, or anything like it, renovations are only one step towards the goal. What you can feel in Maraya is that working on the house was a goal in itself.

It’s kind of comparable to building a home. The process is completely different when you’re building and decorating a rental versus doing this for your home.

The coziness of a home is created only when people leave their personalities on every step, and that creates an energy that no rental can ever compete with.

Well, Maraya has this exact energy, and you can truly feel it the first step you take onto the property.

The rooms

The house has nine rooms, eight private and one dorm, with four shared and two en-suite bathrooms. Every room has a unique theme that goes with its name. You will find descriptions of each of the rooms on Maraya’s website, but, interestingly, as we learn, the names and themes were not planned at first.

As Ben, one of the 5 co-founders, explains, they were deciding whether they should name the rooms at all because they were struggling a bit to come up with names naturally and didn’t want to force it. Then, one day, David, another co-founder, came from Germany with a collection of artwork. It was a bunch of paintings and pictures with all kinds of different vibes.

So, they sat down and decided to categorize the artwork according to the themes and overall feelings they gave and add them to the rooms; and that is how they ended up attributing the themes to the rooms.

Even though the whole property has a certain focal design, something that I would describe as a mix between retro and boho, the subtle decor on the walls, desks, and bedding, is what gives each room a unique personality, so we suggest asking the founders about your room when you book it. The stories, inspiration, and work behind it are what will make it special.

A tribute to the Canaries

Throughout the whole property, the guys left small tributes to the Canary Islands. After all, they wanted to show their appreciation for their new home island.

The most notable ones are the San Borondon Room and little a something that you will discover in Room 1968. Keep reading, but remember – once you’re there yourself, asking questions will open you up to all sorts of secrets like these.

San Borondon Island

The room San Borondon is proudly named after a legend of a mystical island in the Canaries that seems to appear and disappear throughout history. Not only do some people actually claim to have seen the island but there are also representations of it on some maps. Although many people have sailed west to try and discover it, up to today, it’s still only a legend.

So—to go with the theme—the room San Borondon was not supposed to be a room at all! It was planned for the house to have only eight rooms, until one of the co-founders’ parents came to visit, and while receiving a tour, recognized that one of the empty spaces would make an amazing room. With ocean views, they thought it would be a waste not to use it.

The guys agreed, and, inspired by the story of an island that appears and disappears, they named it San Borondon. Also, being the only room overlooking the ocean, it was meant to name it after the island and subsequently, after a legendary surfing wave that carries the same name.

Room 1968

Another room that honors the islands’ culture is the dormitory, or room 1968.

This six-bed mixed dormitory is equipped with locally custom-made bunk beds, made from a special type of wood found only in the Canaries. The shared space evokes the period when community and communal exploration were at their prime – the late 60s, but also gives privacy and provides a cozy space for people to make their own nests.

All beds have an built-in storage space, a cozy lamp, and curtains made from traditional Canarian festive costume material that give you privacy.

We spent some time in this room ourselves and, honestly, it felt like how I imagine being on a transatlantic ship (just without the rocking ha-ha). It was truly a unique and super cozy experience.

The garden

The garden is another typical Canarian thing Maraya incorporated, and it actually had a significant role in their property choice.

They were already thinking how it would be cool to have a garden with their own produce that they and the colivers could use, and this property just had an amazing space for that. It needed work, of course, like everything else, but it was also something that the guys enjoyed doing.

During the construction of the property, many locals came just to see the garden and share their tips on how to care for it, what to plant, what not to plant, etc.

One of the biggest influences on their decisions came from a permaculture veteran, a lovely Cuban named Sergio, who helped the team understand how to sustainably grow fruits and veggies. Sergio passed away recently, so having this amazing garden today that feeds Maraya’s community is something like a tribute to this genius man.

The central area

The outside kitchen, which is also the main kitchen, is truly the focal point of the house and the community.

The fully equipped kitchen with cozy yellow lights for the ambience, good speakers to play music in the evenings, a big table to gather the community, and all that right next to a pool, is what makes this house alive.

This is the place where all 20-25 people come together four nights a week for the family dinner, share breakfast every morning, or just come to have a coffee together and hang out.

As Ben says, the outdoor kitchen is the place you should come to if you care for some company. Just go there, sit and relax, and someone will join in minutes.

Maraya’s Community

Maraya’s community is pretty big. As we mentioned above, there are typically between 20 and 25 people co-living at a time. A portion of that number goes to Maraya’s team and volunteers who help the place run and keep the community engaged.

In the one week that we were there, there were a few changes in the team: a few people going, and a few coming in, so I would say we met between 25 and 30 people in total.

Of course, you should not expect to connect with everyone, especially if you only spend a few days together, but normally, there will be at least 10 people with whom you can spend at least a week or two so you can make some workation friends.

Colivers

Most people who come are indeed working remotely, and they mostly stay 3-4 weeks.

During the workweek, the atmosphere is quite tranquil because most people work remotely, and in the afternoon hours, people are ready to disconnect. And that’s something that most colivers here have in common.

Most evenings, people often gather around the ping pong table or have some drinks and play a few board games. It’s something that connects the community and helps relax the group after a long day.

Maybe a bit different from other colivings is the fact that, other than individuals, many people come here as couples or friends. It might be more suitable given the number of colivers, so when you come with a friend or a partner, you won’t disrupt the group dynamics which can happen in smaller colivings with only 6-8 people.

Volunteers

As mentioned, another part of the community are the volunteers, and their presence definitely gives a special energy to the place. They also feel like a constant in a changing place. There will always be at least one of the volunteers outside, happy to have a conversation, help you out, share a laugh, etc.

Community building and activities

Maraya’s community is big, and there are sometimes people coming with their friends. And for some, it might feel hard to spark that connection with others because it might seem that everyone has a group.

Because of that, but also for the ultimate workation experience, Maraya’s team organizes activities that help people connect, strengthen their relationships, and just help the colivers have a fun and relaxing time.

Working 8 hours in today’s world, then relaxing with, again, your computer, makes it hard for some people to think of ways of relaxing without phones or laptops, and Maraya does a great job helping with that.

They stay organized and inform their colivers about the activities via Slack, but also by writing and updating the weekly schedule blackboard with activity names and staff members who will manage them.

Every week, a new weekly schedule is put in the kitchen area where everyone can see it, and the weekends are left so the group can decide together or guests can propose their own ideas.

Some activities are in the house and some outside like a road trip to a nearby town, a picnic on the beach, a hike, or similar.

Besides these unique group activities, there are also free yoga classes 5 days a week, and sometimes on the weekends.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t make time to join the sessions for the one week we were in Maraya, but others have told us it is quite nice. They do it on the rooftop so it’s quite lovely in the early mornings as a way to start a day, or in the evenings before dinner as a way to slow down.

Here are some of the activities that were scheduled during our time in Maraya:

Group ping pong

While ping pong is something colivers play with or without it being organized, having a dedicated ping pong night was also very exciting.

There are some games that you can play as a group, like standing in a circle around the table and playing until you drop the ball. The last man standing is the winner. Instead of playing two people at a time, or two doubles, everybody can join and experience the vibe. It can get pretty funny and competitive in a good way.

As previously mentioned, ping pong is such a simple activity that has shown so many benefits for after-work relaxation, group bonding, for shy people to loosen up a bit, and just as a good activity before going to bed.

It’s probably because it is an activity that disconnects your mind from the screen, your work, and your problems, and connects you to the moment, letting your mind have a rest.

That is probably one of the reasons that many companies also have ping pong tables in their leisure rooms, and that a lot of people in Maraya also choose to play a few games on their lunch breaks.

Backyard bonfire

One other community-building activity that we had was a bonfire. One of the volunteers made a bonfire, and we all relaxed around it, chilling and listening to music.

For the staff, it was quite a special night because two of their members (one was David, one of the founders) were leaving their positions in Maraya. It was a very intimate atmosphere. There’s something special in sitting and just listening to the fire crackling, looking at the flames, and warming up against it.

In Maraya, the activities are mostly like that—organized but very casual. The point is to relax and disconnect, enjoy the moment, and have a good rest for the next day. Everybody harvests the energy differently, so Maraya tries to spread out activities throughout the week that can answer different needs.

Someone needs a silent sit-down next to the warmth, and someone enjoys an active game of ping pong. For someone, that will be a hike, and for another person, a session of team-building games.

We’re all different, and with that many people, finding a balance can be challenging. But, that’s why Maraya has many volunteers who bring a unique energy and can offer different activities to the colivers.

Team building on the rooftop

Team building, or as Juli, one of the lovely volunteers, likes to call them—community building—is a great activity for people to get to know each other, loosen up a bit, and work together.

One night after dinner, a bunch of us got up on the roof and Juli led the community-building with some super fun activities that made us feel like kids again and helped us get to know each other through questions and answers, word games, and pairing up to resolve some small quests.

Chilean board game night

As we said, it’s best if the activities that are happening in a week have some uniqueness to them so that people can join the activities that really match their energies and that suit them.

Board game night was one of the activities for people who like to relax by switching their brain effort to a fun game, try to compete and win, and just experience a bit of that board-gaming adrenaline before going to sleep.

On one quiet Thursday night, another volunteer, Ramiro, decided that he would teach us a game that is very often played in his home country—a game called Cachos. It turns out that many countries have their version of the game. In English, it is known as Liar’s dice.

If you know about Liar’s dice, then you might guess that the quiet night became a bit crazy and that it was unclear until the end who would take the winning title.

The game was super-fun and the perfect activity to end the night with. There are also other board games available in Maraya, like Bang! and Catan, and many others. There’s plenty of room for board gaming, and if you have your own with you – you can add some spice yourself!

Showing other countries’ traditions through games (like the one with Ramiro) also seems like a great idea, but also simply sharing a game that you love. If people love it, it will be a nice memory to remember you by.

Day trips

As a part of their activities, the Maraya team often organizes day trips to nearby beaches, restaurants, towns, or other places on the island that are great for experiencing things like diving, snorkeling, watching the sunset, etc.

Of course, going to a restaurant or on a surfing trip will not be completely free, but you do get a free local recommendation, which is something of enormous value in a tourist place.

The guys have gone through the island from length to breadth, so they have some true recommendations of places they love and are willing to share them with you.

It’s a great way to explore the island and avoid tourist traps that are everywhere, especially in the south.

Get inspired for coworking

Now, if you’re coming to Maraya with your laptop, you’re probably wondering if the working environment is good enough for you to keep your routine. We’ll tell you—Maraya is truly such an inspiring place if you want to dive into this world of remote work and coworking, as it gives just the support you need for it as a newbie.

Just as an example—let’s mention food. Having ready-made breakfast every morning, and a fresh, healthy dinner four nights a week, is something many people said saves their time, helps them stay organized, and lifts the pressure off them.

Sundays through Wednesdays, everyone knows that around 8 or 9 PM, everyone will gather around the kitchen table and enjoy a nice home-cooked meal prepared by the staff.

Small things like these make this space a perfect workation spot. During the day, people focus on working, personal projects, or just some alone time, but after work, connections spark, nobody talks about work anymore, and stress gets lifted almost immediately. And that’s exactly what Maraya wanted to accomplish.

Maraya lets you stay connected to the modern world around you, but helps you reconnect with your inner child and find peace in slowing down and sharing your life more intentionally with others.

So—don’t wait too long to try Maraya out yourself—you know your soul needs it!

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

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Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Maraya Coliving – The house of community, good vibrations, and ocean views

• ByMarko
• May 3, 2022

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

The post Coliving Spain 2022: #4 Maraya – An oasis for remote workers in Tenerife North appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

Cities like Valencia that are rich in cultural events and opportunities have always attracted those who seek experimentation with urban culture, exploration through art and music, and those looking for liberating growth.

However, coming to a big city, especially not in your home country, can be scary at first, and figuring it out might take a lot of time. With daily events all over the city, it might be hard to know what is worth it and what isn’t at first, and connecting with people might not seem that easy.

Busy streets give the impression of busy lives, so it can be intimidating to start making acquaintances from day one.

That’s why Vivarium exists, to act as a starting point and a center of community building for those who are beginning their curious exploration journey in Valencia.

Vivarium acts as a safe nest for those who are on a verge of a personal or a professional change and are looking to stay for a few months in Valencia and connect with others like themselves. In a busy street, you never know who is in a similar phase of life like you, but in Vivarium, you know people came for the same reason.

Being in a living community in the center of Valencia run by a true Valencian can help you explore the city in the right way and connect with people that share your interests.

For these reasons, we chose Vivarium as our third stop in Coliving Spain 2022 project and are bringing you our experience. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: This piece of content may contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase or book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Inspiration behind Vivarium

As creatives themselves, and led by previous experience of working and living together, Pablo and Mar wanted to create a coliving and coworking space that would inspire ambitious and innovative people to share their ideas and grow together.

We only have a few easy options in life to make these kinds of connections – through school, university, and sometimes work. But even work can sometimes be more a salary resource than inspiration, so we often find ourselves not being surrounded by people that share our passions.

The idea behind Vivarium was to make a space where people can surround themselves with others that can bring them value and make these types of connections. Of course, to do so, and like in most colivings, the stays should really not be shorter than a few weeks at least, but even better for a few months.

The idea was not only to share their lives as roommates but to share knowledge and skills and actively engage in learning activities with others. Creating a network of people that, moving onwards, could share ideas and advice, work on each other’s projects and be a support in each other’s professional and personal lives.

Just like people, Vivarium is also changing and growing with every new experience. Collecting insights and exploring the dynamics, Pablo and Mar try to stay innovative in order to bring more value to colivers every time.

An idea for the near future is to build a collaborative learning community where people can actively work on common goals like resolving certain issues or helping one another take on some professional challenges.

Why is Valencia the perfect place for a coliving community?

Valencia is a very popular place for digital nomads. It’s not too big and doesn’t have as many tourists as Barcelona or Madrid. On the other hand, it’s urban, and it is a metropolitan, so there are so many options for everyone’s taste.

Valencia is a city with young and vibrant energy, an amazing “food and drink” culture, and loads of cultural events and opportunities for sports, leisure, and just recharging your batteries.

Having so many digital nomads, it also has a strong nomad community. This means a lot of events directed toward expats and foreigners coming to Valencia, like language exchange sessions, live international music concerts, free dance classes, etc.

Coworking places in Valencia

Valencia has some of the best coworking spaces in Spain. The most popular ones are WayCo and CoworkUp.

Vivarium actually works closely with WayCo, so if you decide to stay at Vivarium you can also choose this to be your working area. They have two locations, both spacious and equipped with all needed for any type of digital work.

They also often organize networking events for their members and have many international members as well, so being a member might serve as a great opportunity to find someone to connect with.

Diversity of laptop-friendly coffee shops

If you’re not a big fan of coworking spaces and you prefer working from cafes, there’s also good news. Valencia has quite a few places that are laptop-friendly.

We found a great place thanks to an app called Maika that helps you find cafes to work from all around the world. We were lucky to know about the app because it was actually created by Alex, one of the colivers at Vivarium!

If you’re like us and you’re often working from cafes, then you know the struggle, so definitely check the app out, and, hopefully, it helps you as it did us. By checking it out, you will also support our friend Alex! 🙂

How to get to Vivarium?

Because of its centric location, coming to Vivarium should not be a problem at all. From wherever you’re coming from, there will probably be a bus or a metro line connecting to the city center.

Coming from an airport is also easy. There is a metro line from the airport going directly to the metro station Colon, which is a 5-minute walk from Vivarium. The ticket costs around 3 euros and it takes you about 20 minutes.

The coliving is only two streets away from the metro station, and it is very easy to find it.

The neighborhood

Vivarium coliving is located in a centric building just a few minutes from the city’s most popular locations. It’s only a 10-minute walk from Eixample, 15 minutes from Russafa, and around 20 minutes from the Old City.

It is also only an 8-minute walk to the famous Valencian park Jardin Turia which stretches for 7 kilometers through the city and provides an escape into nature in the middle of the urban area.

Since it is a coliving in the urban center of Valencia, there is an abundance of restaurants, supermarkets, and stores around. There is Lidl on the corner, and Mercadona is only a few minutes away.

The neighborhood is nice and tranquil, considering it is in the center. There is not much crowd in the street, so you will still have privacy even though the place is in a centric area.

The flat

The flat occupies the whole third floor and has eight private rooms with each one having its private bathroom. The rooms are simple and minimalistic which gives that clean authentic city vibe.

When it comes to common areas, the central room is the living room with a big dining table and a chilling corner right next to huge windows. The design is clean and minimalistic, with some boho elements that add fun!

The kitchen has two stoves and two fridges so that people can use them simultaneously. It also has plenty of pantry storage.

There is another shared space that serves as a room for hanging out and relaxation, but also for work. Next to this room, there’s a shared bathroom open for everybody to use.

The house also has two balconies. On one balcony, there are a few spice plants from which you can pick up leaves and use them in your cooking.

There are also a lot of books throughout the whole flat that you can borrow and read while you’re here. If you’re more into music, there is a guitar and a ukulele as well.

What can you expect while staying in Vivarium?

Vivarium believes in an organic approach when it comes to community building.

The activities are rarely the same for each group but come spontaneously from the group’s vibe and needs. The hosts are there to start an open discussion about the colivers’ interests and wishes and inspire the group to come together and create an activity that suits all members.

Because of its special location – in the center of a big city – there is no certain way of telling which hobbies or interests people that come to Vivarium would typically have. For rural colivings, it’s much easier to predict common interests (like gardening, nature, hiking, etc.) When you’re in a big city with lots of different things to do, you cannot be confident about what people enjoy.

Pre-organizing a hiking route in rural coliving makes sense, but pre-organizing a strict event or an activity like that in a coliving like Vivarium, might not be as successful. The founders believe that groups connect better when they choose activities themselves, of course, with a bit of external facilitation.

When we say external facilitation, what this means is giving the space and opportunity for colivers to express their needs and get creative. By asking questions, creating polls, and giving recommendations to explore what the group likes and doesn’t, instead of making a schedule and pushing it on the people, you can organically spark the interaction.

Here are some of the past activities happening in the Vivarium community:

Jamming get-togethers

Every once in a while, especially when the day is nice, Vivarium hosts suggest having an open jamming session. Of course, this is the case when the groups have music enthusiasts who know how to play an instrument or two (or at least want to try).

Again, in a very spontaneous and natural way, the group would go to the park, bring a guitar and just play, sing, and enjoy the music together.

Concerts and live music events

Besides that, Pablo has some great recommendations for concerts and live music.

For example, one Wednesday, to celebrate one coliver’s birthday and say goodbye to another one, we went out to Black Note Club in Valencia.

Every Wednesday, this club hosts an open rock jamming session. Talented amateur and professional musicians who are in the city can sign up and perform for the night.

The atmosphere is incredible, the music awesome, and the musicians very talented. And the entrance this time was only 5 euros!

Using Slack to communicate all related to coliving, Pablo often shares recommendations for interesting events and shows, which can be super helpful when you’re new in the city.

When the colivers have already spent a few days/weeks in Valencia, they start suggesting as well. And this is exactly how a group spontaneously starts to connect.

Foto guestbook

One ex-coliver from Austria, Barbara, loved Vivarium’s concept so much that she decided to stay in the city and unofficially join the Vivarium team while going through a career change.

Being very community-oriented, Barbara always thinks of ways that could emphasize the people. Coming from that, one of the micro-project she introduced to Vivarium is a foto guestbook.

In a nice journal, there are two pages for every coliver to write down a bit about themselves. Also, there is space for a photo that you take with a polaroid camera and tape in the guestbook. Then, there are a few questions that help to write a bit about yourself, and after a whole blank page for yourself, so you can add whatever you want.

Such a simple idea, but it’s very interesting to see more about the people living there before you. It’s also kind of fun to do it if you’re into scrapbooking.

Wine and learn (skill-sharing)

Started as Wine & Learn Tuesdays (although the wine part is not obligatory), this is a space of a few hours every Tuesday evening to share something that you’d like with the group. This can be a skill you have, some piece of knowledge, or anything really that you think would be fun to share and teach to others.

The activity spot exists as a suggestion, but it’s on the colivers to share recommendations and sign up to lead the session or a workshop. It’s not obligatory, and the same goes for attendance. It is certainly not a must for everyone to join, the only important thing is letting the hosts and other colivers know if you will participate or not.

Just before we came, one coliver (Ines) held a yoga and meditation session, and during our stay, we had an amazing life coaching session with another coliver, Steffi, that was embracing life coaching as a new career path.

These sessions can be very interesting as we don’t even realize how different our sets of skills are. It’s super fun and useful learning about something completely different. Even if you are familiar with the topic, it’s surprising how different a different approach can be from what you know. This gives so much value.

Other than that, it’s also very beneficial in strengthening the group because while one coliver is presenting, the others are supporting. Participants are also grateful for the new free knowledge they are receiving and tend to feel closer to the presenter and more open to starting the conversation with them.

Who we met in Vivarium

Vivarium is mostly fully booked, so there are always between 8 and 10 people in the flat. The hosts try to organize the stays so one group can stay more or less coherent from the start to the end. This helps the groups connect better and get used to each other.

In the ten days we stayed there, we met ten people and a small good boy 🐶, altogether from Germany, Austria, Spain, Holland, and France. The average age of people was between 25 and 30.

Most of them are frequent travelers and digital nomads trying to travel full time. Most of them spoke Spanish, but it was not a necessity. In the house, we spoke English all the time. Even though they were together for at least a month before we arrived, they were very welcoming and helped us become a part of their community even for the ten days spent there.

The things we all had in common were more or less the age, love for traveling and experience in traveling, love for good wine and beer, tasty food, and cool events that cities have to offer.

This community was definitely a big part of our experience. It allowed us to really see and feel what Vivarium has to offer – a space where one can connect with others and find their path through these interactions.

With its philosophy, Vivarium really proves a point that Pablo once made, that you don’t have to go to the remotest places to find yourself. You just need to surround yourself with situations and people that help you grow. And that is what Vivarium is there to offer.

We appreciate your support!

Thank you for reading our content and following our journey! We are working towards becoming full-time content creators and being able to share stories with you even more frequently. If you’d like to support us to be one step closer to that goal, you can do it through Ko-Fi! 👇🏽

Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

Vivarium: Urban nook for the city-loving nomads in the center of vibrant Valencia

• ByMarko
• April 22, 2022

• • Coliving Movement

Why Spain should be your first coliving experience?

• ByMarko
• November 18, 2021

The post Coliving Spain 2022: #3 Vivarium – Urban coliving for creative entrepreneurs in the center of Valencia appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

With all the possibilities and the opportunities around us today, life sometimes seems too short to achieve all that we’re meant to. Because of this, society makes you think that you have to push harder every day so you wouldn’t find yourself behind your peers, colleagues, and neighbors.

And rushing into the day to achieve the maximum we can in those 24 hours we’re granted, we often forget to observe the moment. The truth is that we definitely cannot achieve everything in life. Chasing to accomplish it all will only make us lose the moments that truly count.

Taking your time to do things right and enjoying the process is definite to bring results that will last longer, have better quality, and be more stable. Living slowly doesn’t mean not trying hard and putting your time and heart into something. Living slowly only means acknowledging every step of the process as an important one, even taking a break.

Life doesn’t have a goal, there’s no finish line, so there is no reason to rush with anything. Taking your time to choose your path is what will secure the most wholesome path for you.

Slow living means taking the time to prepare your food and taking the time to eat it. It means taking the time to play with your kids and taking a walk on the beach, and knowing how to enjoy just sitting and chatting with your friends.

Ines and Julio, the founders of iSlow coliving, have embraced this philosophy and decided to share it with the world by making a coliving that will celebrate it. The name – iSlow – sparks interest on its own, and since they’re just at the beginning of their coliving journey, we decided to visit them and share their ideas with you.

Disclaimer: This piece of content may contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase or book through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

From living fast to iSlow

Ines and Julio lived several years in the UK and most of that time in London. Even though they loved London and still speak fondly about it, they moved back to Galicia in 2021. Rural Galicia might not have London’s lively atmosphere, but it has something very valuable – the tranquility and the philosophy of slow living.

This atmosphere is definitely better for kids, so having 5-year-old twins was another reason for Julio and Ines to choose Galicia over London.

Now, after Ines’s childhood house is renovated, and the traditional farmhouse from the area received a modern makeover, the whole family can enjoy and open its doors to all the traveling families out there.

By opening the doors of its coliving, the family is also opening the doors of Laxe to the world, and letting people learn about the beauty of this small town on beautiful Costa da Morte.

Laxe – a village for all tastes

Laxe is a municipality and a town in northern-west Galicia, on the Costa da Morte. It’s a small village with no more than 3000 people that becomes a popular local-tourism destination in the summer.

With its moderate climate and impeccable beaches in the area, Laxe is a destination that madrileños gladly choose to spend the summers in. The Bay of Corme and Laxe shelters Laxe’s beaches and the exit to the ocean from harsh oceanic winds which makes the beaches great for families and kids.

The beaches are ample and have nooks all over. They are the perfect amount of urban and wild. Besides the beaches, the village is surrounded by greenery and hills and has some great hiking spots. That’s why we say it has something for everyone.

If you’re not particularly fond of the rural charisma or prefer city vibes, iSlow provides you with a modern shelter a bit outside the village. If that is your cup of tea, coming during summer can be a great option because the town becomes more lively, the restaurants open, and nightlife wakes up.

Laxe is truly a gem and definitely worth a visit, especially when your home for the time is the iSlow house.

How to get to iSlow?

Speaking of bigger cities, you can come to iSlow from Santiago and La Coruna. La Coruna is closer, but it’s more or less the same where you come from.

Santiago’s airport has a bit better connection than the one in La Coruna, so you might find a flight to Santiago before La Coruna.

When in Galicia, it’s best to have or rent a car because the public transportation connections are not the best, especially in small villages.

From Santiago to Laxe

A bus from Santiago to Laxe and vice versa goes only on Mondays, so if you miss that day, you’ll need to find other options.

Our option was to ride a bus to Baio, a town 10-15 minutes away from Laxe where Julio picked us up in his car. The trip from Santiago to Baio cost us 4.5 euros per person.

From La Coruna to Laxe

Buses from La Coruna to Laxe are a bit better connected and go every day.

The iSlow neighborhood

The iSlow house is located about a kilometer outside the town of Laxe. In our personal opinion, the positioning is great. It is close enough to the village to go by foot but not in the center of the village which makes it very private and silent.

If you arrive by car, you’ll only need 2-3 minutes to get down to the town and grab a drink or go to the supermarket. It took us around 15 minutes by foot. The only downside is that the whole way down (and back up) you’ll be walking right next to the main road, but there’s plenty of space to go by.

When you reach the village, you will have two supermarkets available. The bigger one, Eroski, will have everything you need. It’s very well equipped for a small town.

There are also quite a few bars and restaurants to choose from in Laxe, so it shouldn’t be a problem to find a spot to sit down and have a drink or grab a bite. What was interesting to us is that we found Wifi access in some bars, which is not typical for Spain. Well, maybe it is for this region, but it’s definitely useful for foreigners.

The town beach is in the town center, so also about a 15-20 minutes walk from the house to it, and only a few minutes by car.

The house also has a huge backyard that they’re still working on but has huge potential.

The iSlow house

The house is a renovated traditional house from Laxe. The complete renovation took a few years but mostly because of the slow living philosophy of life. The time spent for the house to be what it is today is noticeable in every corner. That only proves that the slow living philosophy gives valuable results.

The history of the house

The first papers of the house indicate the year 1915, but it is probably even older than that.

It is a house Ines spent a good portion of her childhood living with her family and her great grandfather. She has some dear memories about the place and her family’s history with it, and she tries to incorporate them into the coliving experience.

For instance, the rooms carry special names telling their past stories, like this room called A vaca (the cow) which was Ines’ room when she was a child living in the house. Back in that time, a part of the house’s ground floor was a place where the stables for cows were and sleeping in a room a floor up, Ines could see the cows from the small crack in the floor.

Ines and Julio decided to renovate the house in such a way that they kept the traditional characteristics of the area that tell a story, and paired it with a modern natural design.

With such a proud history of the area, they thought it would be wrong not to keep the history in the concept of their coliving. And we couldn’t agree more with that.

The house (coliving) today

Today, the house carries a magazine-worthy look. The design combines the traditional yellow stone walls and old pillars, wooden doors, and antique farmhouse decor with the industrial elements and modern elements.

The coliving space currently has six common areas (kitchen, living room, common toilet, coworking area, a terrace, and a laundry room), and six private rooms. Both the number of common and private rooms will probably go up soon. Ines and Julio are preparing the huge piece of land behind the house for a few more spaces.

The kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most important parts of a long-term rental, and especially a coliving. For long-term stays, it’s important to have a good enough space to eat as you would at your home. So, having all the necessary amenities to cook and store food. For a coliving, similar to a hostel, it’s crucial to have a space where multiple people can eat and prepare food at the same time.

Well, iSlow did crazy well with the kitchen design! I think it might be safe to say that kitchen is one of the best features of the house!

The space is huge and comes with two cooking areas, two refrigerators, and sitting space for around 15-20 people. The room receives natural light from a window wall that opens to a common terrace.

When it comes to kitchen appliances and amenities, it’s fully equipped. It has loads of cooking equipment (pots and pans), a microwave, a toaster, an electric kettle, tons of utensils, plates, glasses, mugs, etc. There are also two sinks and a dishwasher.

The size of the space and number of basics make the kitchen convenient for multiple people to prepare the food and/or eat at the same time.

And above all, the size of the space and the beautiful design make the kitchen one of the best areas to hang out with other colivers.

Workspace/Coworking area

Workspace is another common area that can be very interesting to visitors. It has four big desks and provides working space for 6-7 people, but other than that, it is an office like you have never seen before!

Divided from the rest of the house with a glass wall, this space is a working oasis. The room receives a lot of natural light during the day because of two side exits to a patio and the backyard.

The industrial design mixed with the rustic and traditional stone makes this place tranquil and inspiring, but the best feature is a completely natural wall. This part of the house is leaned on the massive green rock that the owners decided to keep as an accent wall.

Its raw and completely natural state gives undescriptive energy to the space. It’s so natural that there’s even a plant growing from the rock inside the office. For the past two weeks, my favorite thing was to check on how the plant is growing. It’s beautiful.

The space feels like the outdoors, but you’re completely sheltered. Do you know that energy you feel when you’re deep down in the woods close to a small natural waterfall? This wall gives that energy to the office. It feels very natural, inspiring, and healthy for the soul and the mind.

If you are working long hours on your computer, I think this is the perfect place to do it because nature’s presence in the office will give you a healthy balance.

Other than that, the space comes with good wifi and plenty of office gadgets like a monitor, a kneeling chair, and a projector. So it’s like a fully equipped office space in the middle of the woods.

The rooms

The private rooms have that modern farmhouse design. They come with very comfortable beds, great storage for your things, a desk and a chair, an AC, and the best of all – super nice private bathrooms. Every room has its own bathroom with a rainfall shower.

On top of that, the rooms have electronic locking systems for extra security. So, if you like the idea of coliving, but also want to have your privacy, these rooms give you that for sure.

Coliving activities you can expect in iSlow

Many colivings offer special activities to their colivers to connect with the community. Coliving is not only living with others but also making a valuable community and sharing interests.

iSlow only opened a few weeks ago, so they’re still planning their activities and testing the options. We were lucky to be part of some and hear their ideas for the upcoming ones.

So, here’s what you can expect from iSlow in the upcoming period.

Language exchange

Based on the experience Ines and Julio had while living in London, they find that language exchange sessions can have a valuable impact on community bonding as well as long-term personal growth value.

As a family-friendly coliving, they want to provide these sessions for adults and kids. They know how beneficial it can be for young children to learn foreign languages, and they want to embrace that.

Language exchange is not only good for learning languages but is also a great way to introduce one’s culture and personality.

For more information about the idea, check this article where we covered it in detail.

Yoga classes

Yoga classes are a very popular coliving activity, so it’s good that Julio’s sister Sandra is a yoga teacher. Even though they have not yet decided how they’ll organize these classes and whether they will be free for the colivers or not, we had a trial session – and it was so good!

These classes also might be open for the local women to join. This is another way of supporting the local community and connecting colivers with it.

In the future, the backyard space could become a yoga spot during summer, but until then, the coworking office is amazing for small group yoga sessions. Its natural energy flows through the room so it has that meditative effect.

Camiño dos faros

There is a popular lighthouse hiking route in the area with eight stages that go through multiple villages. One of the stages is in Laxe and is a great activity to hike the stage. Nature is beautiful, and the hike is easy and accessible.

Being one of the things that visitors should do while in Laxe, this hike will definitely be one of the activities that iSlow will organize during warm days.

iSlow wrote about the Camino dos Faros as well as the stage in Laxe on their website. Be sure to check the blogs out!

Traditional Galician parties

Behind the house, there’s a barbecue place that Ines and Julio are still working on but once that is complete, a plan is to organize traditional Galician parties there.

These parties will gather colivers and the local people and be something like jamming sessions. Whoever wants to join and play something, sing, or dance, can. And those who want to chill out and enjoy the music can also do that.

We experienced something like this when Anceu coliving with 15 of its folks came to visit iSlow. It was truly a fun community experience.

The philosophy behind iSlow

iSlow grows its coliving on three main pillars – family, slow living, and the local community.

Family-friendly coliving

As a family themselves, Julio, Ines, and their 5-year-old twins want to make a safe and supportive place for traveling families.

Not many colivings and places for digital nomads are for families, and many are generally not kid-friendly. iSlow wants to change that and provide a comfortable place for parents with kids to come and enjoy the perks of nomadism and remote work. The house has many corners for kids but also spaces like coworking where adults can be alone and in peace.

Slow living

When it comes to slow living, iSlow wants to encourage colivers to embrace slow life and enjoy the moment. The house itself has that tranquil energy and provides a relaxing environment to do it all at your own pace. Less rushing, less stress, and more living here and right now.

Local community support

The third pillar is the support they want to provide to the locals of Laxe and the area. Laxe gets quite popular in the summers, but during the colder days, locals don’t have many options for leisure and fun. iSlow wants to provide this through events and connections with colivers. The locals have so much to offer to travelers but also have so much to receive from them.

iSlow is only at the beginning of its journey but they have so many things planned and we’re super excited to see where it will take them. We spent two weeks with them and met so many nice adults and kids and we’ll definitely come back!

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Secure yourself the best coliving experience

• italki – Why not learn some Spanish before your trip and make your coliving even better? italki is the perfect platform for that, where more than 3500 native speakers are waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Learn more about coliving

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

iSlow: A time-stopping coliving for digital nomads and their families

• ByMarko
• April 6, 2022

• • The Coliving Spain Project

Coliving Spain 2022: #1 Awid Aman – Sustainable coliving in La Gomera

• ByGala
• April 1, 2022

The post Coliving Spain 2022: #2 iSlow – Family-friendly coliving on the beautiful Costa da Morte appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.