They say the first year is the most dynamic, and we appreciate that we were there to hear about it while it was still fresh. Raquel was just getting comfortable and settling into her new role as a coliving owner and operator, and the coliving scene was blooming, especially in the Canaries.

For us, Coliving 1907 would introduce Las Palmas and Gran Canaria to us, a place we’d later return to so many times, so we naturally had it on our list to come back to this beautiful historic house in the old town of Las Palmas for so long.

Well, we thought that 2026 was the perfect year to do so, especially because Coliving 1907 will celebrate its 5th birthday🎂🥳

There had been so many learnings from that first year that Raquel told us in 2022 so many learnings from that first year that Raquel told us in 2022, but what are they now, almost 5 years after opening?

Read it in our catch-up interview with Raquel below!

Celebrating 5th Anniversary

“Milestones make the targets achievable.”

-Harjeet Khanduja

1. Coliving 1907 is approaching its 5th anniversary this November. Now when you reflect on what’s behind you, how would you summarize the first five years in three words?

Raquel: People, Learning & Experiences.

2. What would you say are the main differences in operating a coliving space today and back when you opened? Has it become easier for you as an operator, and would you say the reality of operations is different to what you imagined they would be in your first year?

Raquel: When I first opened the co-living space, everything was much newer. There weren’t many precedents or a clearly defined concept, so a large part of the work involved trial and error, fine-tuning, and really understanding what the co-livers needed.

Today, however, co-living is much more established: theres more choice and a clearer guest profile. That forces you to be more strategic, pay much closer attention to detail and stand out not just through the space, but through the experience.

As a manager, Id say that experience gives you perspective and allows you to anticipate many situations. But at the same time, expectations have risen: guests compare more, value more aspects and expect a very carefully curated experience.

The day-to-day reality is different from what I imagined in the first year. I thought more about the visible aspects, such as the community, the connections and the experience, and less about everything behind the scenes: emotional management, logistics, social media. And, above all, the constant energy required to maintain a space like this.

3. What achievements, big or small, brought you the most joy in these 5 years?

Raquel: What has made me happiest over the past five years have been the achievements that can’t always be measured. Seeing how people who arrived without knowing each other end up forming genuine bonds, including working on projects together or forming friendships that last over time. Thats something that makes me very happy.

Also those little everyday moments: an unexpected chat in the kitchen, someone staying a bit longer because they feel at home, or a review that doesnt just talk about the space, but about how they’ve felt here. Thats when you know that what youre creating makes sense.

And, without a doubt, one of the greatest achievements is looking back and seeing that, almost five years on, the project is not only still going strong, but has evolved, grown stronger and continues to make an impact on the people who pass through it.

4. Whats one hack (a thing or an approach) that you’ve seen that worked for other colivings but didnt work for yours? (e.g. a certain activity or collaboration method, or an operational approach like hiring an external operator, etc.)

Raquel: Trying to over-structure community life: rigid schedules of activities, compulsory group dynamics or a constant stream of social events.

On paper, it makes a lot of sense, because it facilitates interaction and ensures movement within the space. But in my experience, what really works here is exactly the opposite: leaving space for connections to emerge more naturally.

Whats more, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has a large community of digital nomads. There are activities every day and something for everyone.

5. In the past 5 years, was there a day that you will never forget (good or bad) – perhaps a hard day that taught you a lesson, or an extraordinary unexpected or delightful situation in the coliving that will be forever engraved into your memories? (think of a mishap, a special event like celebration or a surprise, a misunderstanding, or just an operational chaos).

Raquel: It was one of those days when several things went wrong at once: minor glitches and last-minute changes. In short, a certain sense of chaos. Luckily, far from causing tension, people began to adapt naturally.

That day taught me something important: a co-living space isn’t defined by everything running perfectly, but by how people respond when it doesnt. Through experience, Ive come to understand that its not about having absolute control, but about being quick to find solutions.

6. You’ve opened the doors of Coliving 1907 in the midst of the remote work and digital nomad boom. Now that that period has calmed, do you see a change in the digital nomad trend, specifically, do you see the difference in your target audience? Has the profile of travelers changed at all, or the remote work is still booming, and have you noticed any changes on the traveling trends and how long people tend to stay in one place?

Raquel: When we launched, we were right in the midst of the remote working boom, during a period of rapid expansion when everything seemed possible and there was a widespread sense that I can work from anywhere in the world without limits.

Remote working hasn’t disappeared, but it has become more structured. Many companies have moved to hybrid models or ones with greater oversight, and that has slightly altered the behaviour of digital nomads. It is no longer so much about constantly moving around, but about finding a balance between work, life and stability.

More and more people prefer to stay in one place for between 3 and 6 months so they can work better, establish a routine and truly connect with their surroundings. We have also noticed this in co-living, where stays tend to be longer and less impulsive.

The profile has also changed. Previously, younger profiles predominated, very much geared towards adventure and constant movement. Now we see a more diverse community: established professionals, people working remotely for companies (not just freelancers), including couples or people seeking something more stable and sustainable over time.

In short, I wouldn’t say the phenomenon has declined, but rather that it has evolved into something more conscious, more stable and, in a way, more in line with what co-living can truly offer.

7. With the experience you have today, what piece of advice would you give to someone who is opening a coliving for the first time today?

Raquel: Define your target audience clearly. Dont try to appeal to everyone. The clearer your profile is, the easier it will be to create a consistent experience.

Take care when selecting residents. Its not about filling places, but about ensuring people get on with one another. A poor living environment can affect the whole group. Establish a culture from the outset. You set the tone: rules, communication, values. This comes across in every detail.

Spend time in the space at the beginning. Youll understand your residents better, spot areas for improvement and be able to tweak the model as you go along.

Dont just think like a property manager; think like a host. Youre creating a place where people live, work and connect.

8. In the coliving space, the most important question seems to be what makes a coliving successful. In your 5 years of operations, what would you say to that – is it the community, the space design, how you approach remote work, your location, or something else? Is there a blueprint at all?

Raquel: The design of the space. Its not just about it looking nice, but about it being designed to encourage interaction in lively communal areas whilst also allowing for privacy when needed.

Location is very important. Coliving 1907 is situated in the city centre, in a neighbourhood right at the heart of the citys historic, cultural, commercial and gastronomic centre, with a wonderful atmosphere. As it is not a tourist area, it is the best option for living and experiencing the true Canarian spirit.

In my opinion, it is essential to pay attention to detail and offer a personalised service that caters to each persons individual needs.

What Future Brings for Coliving 1907

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

-Helen Keller

9. And lastly, looking ahead, how do you see Coliving 1907 in the next 5 years? Do you have any specific goals in mind that you would like to achieve?

Raquel: Id like Coliving 1907 to remain, five years from now, a place where people connect, grow and keep coming back. A hub for the community.

A space with a strong personality, offering something unique where the experience is just as carefully curated as the accommodation.

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! You will find more than 3500 native speakers waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Disclaimer: This article contains some affiliate links.  At no additional cost to you, we can earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase.

Coliving movement

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

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

• ByMarko
• November 5, 2022

• • The Coliving Spain Project

Coliving Spain 2022: #6 Coliving 1907 – Your peaceful refuge in the Digital Nomad Center of Gran Canaria

• ByGala
• November 16, 2022

The post Catching up with Raquel – A Brief Reflection on 5 Years of Coliving 1907 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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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

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

• ByMarko
• 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.

In that light, today we’re bringing you the interview with Jonatan, the owner, and operator of EcoIsleta Coliving, the first coliving with the goal of becoming Zero Waste and helping its residents and its local neighborhood embrace an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

EcoIsleta is a relatively new space, one of the few ones in Las Palmas, and located in one of the most convenient locations of the city – the La Isleta neighborhood.

Read what Jonatan has to say about their idea and values and follow our journey while we’re staying at their space.

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.

How it all started

“If we wish to rebuild our cities, we must first rebuild our neighborhoods.”

-Harvey Milk

1. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and the journey that led you to open EcoIsleta Coliving?

Jonatan: We are a family from the Canary Islands. Our relatives have been living in our neighborhood for more than 100 years.

Basically, we started working for our local community in 2008, and since that year, we have done many different activities in the neighborhood.

Eco Isleta Coliving is just one of our projects through which we try to support the neighborhood.

2. Tell us a bit about the Eco Isleta brand/ecosystem – the vision of the concept and the offering that come together under this name.

Jonatan: EcoIsleta is a tool to regenerate our neighborhood.

We have an organic shop and a coliving, and everything we do is focused on the sustainability of this part of the city.

3. Before opening your place, have you had the opportunity to stay in some other coliving spaces or any similar accommodation? Tell us a bit more about that experience.

Jonatan: No, we have never been in a coliving or visited any coliving before opening EcoIsleta Coliving. Perhaps it could be helpful, but I’m not sure that what works in other colivings can work in our neighborhood.

We are not offering a room and a desk, we don’t want to be the best coliving in the city, we want you to understand our identity, we want you to discover the uniqueness of the La Isleta neighborhood.

4. When building your coliving space, was there something that influenced your approach or inspired you to create the space and experience you have now?

Jonatan: We got a lot of inspiration from reading the book Art of Coliving by Gui Perdrix.

We also took inspiration from some colivings we admired and whose philosophy we liked, such as Sun and Co.

5. What is the story behind you choosing Las Palmas as the location of Eco Coliving?

Jonatan: There is no other option for us. We live 300 mt from our shop and 350 mt from our coliving. We love our neighborhood, so it doesn’t make sense for us to do it in other places. EcoIsleta means working for the future of La Isleta neighborhood and that’s why we’re here.

6. Not one coliving is the same as the other! Being on an island with many other coliving places, what would you say is Eco Coliving’s signature – some uniqueness that you offer compared to other coliving places?

Jonatan: As far as I know, nobody has this “crazy” goal of becoming a Zero Waste Coliving…

Not too many colivings in the world can tell you the amount of compostable trash turned into a resource they have produced every month. I would say that is our biggest differentiator.

Management

“There’s nothing wrong with staying small. You can do big things with a small team.”

-Jason Fried

7. What type of management do you practice in the coliving?

Jonatan: We are a family. My wife Rita runs the shop and I (Jonatan) run the Coliving.

We don’t have employees because we can´t afford it. Sustainability sounds very cool, but it is very difficult to be profitable with a sustainable business.

That’s why we do it all; we do cleaning, maintenance, check-in, community dinners, etc.

Our calendar to manage the bookings is in Excel. We don’t have any booking application, we answer emails manually, we read carefully each application, talk to people, we do a bit of ” amateur marketing” when we have time, like social media, but we prefer old fashion “marketing”: mouth to mouth.

We make many mistakes and don’t like to hide them away. Instead, we are transparent about our business with future colivers before coming.

This is a workers’ house from 1912 – are you ready to experience how they lived?

But to be honest, I love what I do… believe it or not…

8. How much are you involved in the community and daily activities of Eco Coliving?

Jonatan: As much as possible. I love to meet and talk with people from all around the world.

We consider ourselves part of the community; we cook every week for our community and it is something very powerful…

9. What kind of activities are included for people who stay at your place?

Jonatan: We do all sorts of different activities like International Dinners, Mojo Remote (trying the typical Canarian cuisine and homemade mojo), hikes in a natural area near the house, Tandem (language learning game), Paella Remote (Paella workshop and dinner), La Isleta Learning Remote when we go to the High Schools and share about the digital nomad life with the children, Vegan Dinner, etc.

10. How do you approach organizing activities and events?

Jonatan: We don’t have a closed schedule or any kind of program, we improvise. We are in a city full of activities, and our community is very small and familiar, we see what works for the week ahead and plan in that direction, and mostly we are open to the suggestion of the community. We are small and we can move fast or organize a dinner or any other activity very fast, which is very helpful.

EcoIsleta Community

“All we have to do is find something we love doing each day, surround ourselves with like-minded people, and put all of our effort into that one thing at all times.”

-Jason Calacanis

11. What is the typical coliver profile in EcoIsleta Coliving (age, occupation, etc.)?

Jonatan: The typical coliver in EcoIsleta is someone who wants to live more sustainably, a conscious traveler, or simply a remote worker.

We had people of all ages, from 25 years to 60 years.

12. What would you say people who come to EcoIsleta Coliving are searching for; what is the most frequent reason people come?

Jonatan: Meeting like-minded people, finding purpose in their life…

13. What do you think is the ideal length of stay to fully emerge in the community and experience at your place?

Jonatan: At least 1 month.

14. Do you offer some special offers/discounts?

Jonatan: Not at the moment. First, we need to be profitable, and then we can think about discounts.

Expenses in a Coliving are very high, amenities, community, maintenance, cleaning, taxes, we only have 7 rooms.

In today’s economy profitability really starts when you scale, but that is not in our plans. It doesn’t make any sense to us. We don’t want to be big; we want to be useful, so we have to figure out how to be profitable with a single unit. And we are still learning how to do it…

We do have different prices for high and low seasons, though.

About the Coliving Movement

”We have all known the long loneliness, and we have found that the answer is community.”

-Dorothy Day

15. Do you think coliving is only dedicated to a specific group of people such as freelancers, digital nomads, and remote workers, or do you think it can gain popularity beyond that group of people?

Jonatan: Hopefully, we will see colivings in the future for different kinds of people, not only for remote workers, why? Because living together is more sustainable and also, we are facing a loneliness challenge in the cities.

16. Do you think coworking is a crucial component of coliving and why?

Jonatan: Yes, because people need to work, but we are not here to be the best place to work, we are here to offer you a sustainable community experience that helps our neighborhood find answers to change the way we live.

17. What would you say is the most crucial element of a coliving?

Jonatan: Community. We live in a world where we are all extremely connected, but more alone than ever.

I would suggest throwing away your mobile phone for a few hours a day and getting real connections, going to the beach, smelling the ocean… love is all around.

18. One of the main selling points of colivings is the possibility to meet new people, share experiences, and maybe even develop new partnerships. Is this something you also had in mind when opening your place?

Jonatan: Of course, Sustainability is about collaboration, sharing, and helping each other. The challenges we are facing in the new paradigm are based on solid communities that embrace a new philosophy based on collaboration. Competing is driving us to a very dangerous situation.

19. Lastly, how do you see both Eco Coliving and Eco Isleta ecosystem developing in the next few years? Do you have a vision of what it will grow into or some aspirations and goals that you’ve…

Jonatan: We see ourselves working to help La Isleta to become the first sustainable neighborhood of the Canary Islands.

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! You will find more than 3500 native speakers waiting to help you with your Spanish.

Disclaimer: This article contains some affiliate links.  At no additional cost to you, we can earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase.

Coliving movement

• • Coliving Movement

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• ByMarko
• February 8, 2023

• • Interviews with Coliving Operators

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The post EcoIsleta Coliving – Sustainable Community in the Digital Nomad Center of Gran Canaria appeared first on My Coliving Space: Spain.

Read below about the idea behind these events from Raquel, the founder of Coliving 1907, and learn more about the variety of events you can expect in the upcoming months.

In Coliving 1907, we like to embrace the colorful digital nomad community of Las Palmas. Most people who come to the city choose it because of how big and diverse the digital nomad network here is – it’s the biggest one in the islands.

So, instead of keeping our community closed, a few times a month, we open the doors of our coliving to the world, allowing new connections to spark.

As mid-sized coliving, we nurture a sense of family and privacy when our doors are closed. We don’t focus on creating an intensive experience with daily events, community-building activities, etc., but rather create an environment where slow and organic relationships blossom.

But, to compensate for the thigh-knit community and peacefulness, every month, we create a schedule of events and activities planned under the roof (or more often – on the rooftop) of our coliving.

We have one of the best rooftops in Las Palmas that can fit around 20 people, where we organize monthly dinners, skill-sharing events, parties, yoga sessions, etc.

We like to offer a diverse program so both our colivers and the wider network can choose what they want to participate in based on their interests, and find new people to share their interests with.

We can’t rate our own events, but what we can say is that they always end in some great conversations and new friendships. We also do this to support the digital nomad community in Las Palmas by offering free or affordable events with opportunities for learning and networking.

Every month, we typically have 2-4 events open for the public. If you’re in Las Palmas, we’d love to host you!

If you care to join, below, you can find the schedule and descriptions of upcoming events in our coliving.

March Events

In March, we’re hosting 3 events open to the public in Coliving 1907.

Yoga Session

Every Tuesday of the month from 6 to 7 pm we have restorative yoga focused on stretching.

Relaxing yoga with aromatherapy on the rooftop.

Remember to reserve your spot.

The class is 10 euros (8 euros for colivers).

Mindfulness Workshop (Calm your mind)

Would you like to learn how to overcome your daily difficulties? Calming your mind by listening to your body will help you.

Mindfulness practice in which we combine breathing exercises, mindful movement through Tai-chi, DO-IN self-massage exercises, and art-therapy dynamics to enhance your creativity and introduction to Shiatsu, learning a simple sequence that will allow you to communicate with another person from your essence.

C.Y.M. is your GYM to train your mind to be in the present moment.

Classes are held fortnightly (Wednesdays) from 6 to 7 pm.

Remember to reserve your spot.

The class is 10 euros (8 euros for colivers).

Potluck Dinner

We met on the rooftop and tasted typical dishes from each country. It’s free.

Just bring some food and drink typical of your country to share together.

Wednesday 8th March from 8 – 10 pm.

Remember to reserve your spot.

Other Coliving Events in Spain

• • Coliving Events

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• ByMarko
• February 6, 2023

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• ByMarko
• February 6, 2023

The post Networking events in Las Palmas for Digital Nomads at Coliving 1907 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.

This beautiful family house, located in the historical and cultural heart of gorgeous Las Palmas in Gran Canaria can be your home for a few months.

Converted into a lively coliving in the city center in one of the most beautiful cities in the Canary Islands, Coliving 1907 can be your next digital escape.

Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in an authentic Canarian house and connect with other like-minded digital nomads and artists.

Check out this interview about Coliving 1907 we did with its founder – Raquel.

How it all started

“You can’t just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You’ve got to get out there and make it happen for yourself”

-Diana Ross

1. When and why did you decide to open a coliving space of your own?

– I had been working at a local newspaper for 12 years and needed a career change. I had been looking for it for a long time, but I hadn’t found something that fitted in with my personal life. Then, in March 2021, I decided to open the coliving.

The coliving is housed in a family home. My mother lived there when she was a child.

At the beginning of 2021, she put the house up for rent. Several people visited and showed interest in setting up a coliving. So, I made up my mind and, with the help of my family, I started the Coliving 1907 project.

The improvement and refurbishment work went on from March to July. Then decoration, website, social networks, and a thousand other things.

On 1 November 2021, I opened the house. And the first guest arrived on the 6th of the same month.

2. Have you ever stayed in some other coliving space or any shared accommodation before you decided to open your own?

– During my time as a student, I lived in residency halls and shared flats.

3. Do you remember your beginnings and what was the most difficult for you when you started the coliving?

– The worst thing was the construction work. The coliving has 8 fully equipped rooms which, while preserving their original spirit, have been carefully refurbished to provide them with the best comforts to make a pleasant stay.

I wanted the tenants to be comfortable and to maintain the essence of the house at the same time.

I started the business from scratch. No social media, no reviews. It was amazing that the clients believed in me from the beginning. I will always be grateful to the first tenants who stayed here. I will remember them forever.

4. Is there something that you wished you knew when you started with coliving?

– Have well-defined house rules. Especially in the common areas. I think it is beneficial for everyone, and it creates a respectful atmosphere.

5. Have you had the opportunity to visit other coliving places since you opened yours?

– Personally, no. I have visited many websites of colivings. I also follow them on social media to see what they do and share opinions with them. In this sector, experience is very important.

6. What is the story behind you choosing Spain for opening your coliving space there?

– Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is my home city. I was born here and have spent most of my life here. It is a wonderful city to live in; culture, gastronomy, beach, and leisure.

The city has one of the best telecommuting communities in the world. You have everything you need to enjoy a productive stay while meeting and sharing with other professionals from all over the world.

7. What is your relationship with other colivings on the Canary Islands?

– I have relationships with several colivings in the Canary Islands. I know some of them personally. We talk from time to time to share experiences and concerns.

We also have a Whatsapp group with colivings and coworkings from the islands. Whenever we can, we help each other.

8. What are the advantages of opening a coliving in a remote place such as Gran Canaria, and are there any disadvantages?

– The main advantage is the climate. The island averages 22 degrees Celsius all year round making it the destination of choice for millions of tourists every year.

The location of Coliving 1907 is a privilege. It is situated in the heart of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and perfectly communicated with the whole city.

Walking distance to beaches, parks, museums, supermarkets, theatre, and shopping. It is in the Triana – Vegueta area that has a great life during the day and night. The bus station is less than five minutes walk away and links to any point on the island.

Management

“True hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guests.“

-Eleanor Roosevelt

9. How much are you involved in the community and daily activities at 1907? Do you consider yourself as an equal part of the 1907 community?

– From Monday to Friday I work in the coliving. Sometimes in my office and sometimes in the common areas with the others. I don’t live in the coliving, so I don’t participate in the daily activities.

On Mondays, there is “Monday dinner! Better together“. The idea is that they all cook together.

Another day we play padel. We play against other digital nomads or against local players. The important thing is to have a good time.

Some guests have recommended I do more activities and thus achieve a stronger community. I am already in contact with several companies on the island for wine and coffee tastings, guided tours, learning how to make cheese, and more. We are working to incorporate activities for guests.

I am learning that this leads to more connections and therefore, a better community. This is what my guests are asking for and I am working to gradually build on this.

10. How much time do you spend inside the coliving?

– I am here every morning from Monday to Friday. In addition, once a month I organise a dinner with everyone in the coliving; pizzas, typical Canarian food, barbecue.

11. What additional activities are included for people who stay at your coliving? And what approach do you practice when organizing those events?

– The coliving has agreements with different companies in the city, and we offer discounts to our clients (surfing, diving, guided tours, weekly menus).

In addition, it is very common for guests to organise get-togethers to go to the beach, for a walk or an excursion.

Community

“At 30 you finally start to catch up to those dreams you’ve been chasing for the last 10 plus years.“

-Bonnidette Lantz

12. What is the profile of people who are most likely to stay at your place?

– It is very varied. Mainly digital nomads and freelancers.

13. What is the average age of people who are visiting your accommodation?

– Between 30 and 40 years old.

14. How long do people usually stay at your place?

– The average stay is 1 month. Some people stay for a week, and others have been there for almost six months. Stays of more than one month allow you to get to know the other guests and the island better.

15. Do your visitors tend to return to your place?

– I hope so! The coliving has only been open for seven months. Many of the people who have been there, told me that they really enjoyed the house and the experience and that they will be back, so I hope to see them again!

Many guests have extended their stay – a good sign!

16. Is there some trend where people from specific countries come to your place?

– Mainly from Europe; Germany, Finland, France, Malta, Israel, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic.

We have also been visited by several people from the United States.

17. Do you have some special offers for startups and group bookings?

– No. Special offers are for long-term stays and couples.

About the Coliving Movement

”You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

-Dale Carnegie

18. Do you think that coliving is only dedicated to a specific group of people such as freelancers, digital nomads, and remote workers, or do you think there is a possibility to gain popularity beyond that group of people?

– I don’t think so.

Artists from different fields (musicians, photographers) have stayed at Coliving 1907.

Even for people born in the Canary Islands who have lived abroad for many years and decide to spend some time in a coliving when they return to the island. I think it is suitable for any activity.

19. Do you think that coliving cannot exist without a coworking space?

– This is not necessary. Our rooms are perfectly prepared for work and with all the comforts. You can also work in the dining room or on the roof terrace.

From what I have seen so far, everyone prefers to work in their own room. The common life is done in the kitchen or on the rooftop during non-working hours.

20. One of the main selling points of colivings is the possibility to meet new people, share experiences and maybe even develop new partnerships. Is that really the situation?

– Meeting new people and sharing experiences, of course. It is one of the wonders of living in a coliving. You exchange views on jobs and ask each other for advice.

Developing new partnerships is more complicated.

21. Do you have some examples where people who had the opportunity to meet at your place later managed to develop successful partnerships or relationships?

– Not professionally. Many of the guests keep in touch and maintain friendships after they have left from here.

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! You will find more than 3500 native speakers waiting to help you with your Spanish.

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