April 28, 2026
Bencomo Coliving owner on how to make nomad friends? Conversation with Ana Baute
<p>Ana Baute runs Bencomo, a coliving in North Tenerife that feels like staying at a friend's house rather than a hostel. In this episode, we talk about how she turned a family home into a space for digital nomads, why loneliness is one of the biggest problems for long-term travelers, and what coliving actually means when done right.</p><p>We also go deep on Tenerife's mass tourism issue, why the North is very different from the South, and whether coliving can be part of the solution.</p><p><strong>Get 10% off<br></strong>Use the code "<strong>nerdontour</strong>" to get 10% off your next stay at <a href="https://bencomocoliving.com/en/coliving-rooms-tenerife">Bencomo Coliving</a>.</p><p><strong>About Ana Baute</strong><br>Ana is a certified local guide from Tenerife with roots in the Canary Islands and Ireland. She worked in advertising and cinematography before becoming a hiking guide, teaching about Guanche history and the island's unique Laurisilva forests. When the pandemic hit, she saw an opportunity: transform the family house into a coliving for digital nomads.</p><p><strong>What we cover</strong></p><ul><li>How Bencomo became a real coliving — not just a hotel with a fancy name</li><li>The pandemic of loneliness and why coliving is relevant for nomads who spend months on the road</li><li>Community dinners, stargazing on Teide, and spontaneous arepa nights with strangers who become friends</li><li>Why Ana requires a minimum 15-day stay and targets nomads aged 25–45</li><li>North vs. South Tenerife: the real island versus the tourist resort strip</li><li>The mass tourism crisis — overcrowded hospitals, traffic jams, and Airbnbs pricing out locals</li><li>Digital nomads as a better kind of tourist: curious, respectful, and open to local culture</li><li>How to book Bencomo via Instagram, WhatsApp, or Mangobeds</li><li>Ana's routine for staying healthy while running a coliving: pole dance, running, hiking, and meditation</li></ul><p><br><strong>Timestamps</strong><br></p><ul><li>(00:00) - Start.
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<li>(00:15) - Ana Baute: Canarian heart, Irish roots.
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<li>(02:25) - The family house that became a coliving.
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<li>(03:34) - Ana's background: advertising, cinematography, and hiking.
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<li>(04:45) - Getting the local guide certificate — maps, first aid, and two tough days in the field.
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<li>(07:55) - Working with teenagers, local hikes, and sharing Guanche history.
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<li>(09:00) - Tenerife's nature: Laurisilva, trade winds, and the island as a "small continent."
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<li>(13:39) - How did the coliving idea start?
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<li>(15:54) - The pandemic of loneliness and why coliving matters for nomads.
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<li>(18:23) - What makes Bencomo a real coliving — not just a renamed hotel.
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<li>(20:55) - Community dinners, arepa nights, stargazing on Teide, and dog walks.
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<li>(25:25) - Guest feedback: good energy, feeling at home.
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<li>(26:34) - Converting a family home — did the family need convincing?
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<li>(29:04) - Why Bencomo? The Guanche leader, the cave, and room names from Canarian nature.
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<li>(32:34) - One year of building: creating the co-working, sauna, pool, and communal spaces.
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<li>(34:53) - Finding guests: word of mouth, Instagram, and building a name from scratch.
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<li>(38:18) - The ideal guest: minimum 15 days, nomads aged 25–45, diverse passions.
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<li>(39:57) - Skip Starbucks — eat local: mojo, gofio, papas arrugadas, and barraquito.
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<li>(45:53) - Cooking together: from gnocchis to Three Kings cake and unexpected cross-cultural food bonds.
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<li>(50:11) - Day-to-day challenges: extra fridge, Wi-Fi upgrades, and WhatsApp group.
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<li>(55:27) - A day in the life at Bencomo: work hours, yoga, cycling, and spontaneous dinners.
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<li>(59:06) - Memorable guests: the Argentine guitarist, the Lithuanian "drawing and wine" night.
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<li>(01:03:08) - North vs. South Tenerife: the real island vs. the tourist resort strip.
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<li>(01:06:40) - Mass tourism crisis: overcrowded hospitals, traffic jams, and Airbnbs pricing out locals.
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<li>(01:09:00) - The model needs to change: less tourists, more quality — cap it, not ban it.
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<li>(01:15:32) - Is coliving part of the solution? 10 people, one house, one local business.
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<li>(01:18:09) - Digital nomads as a better tourist: respectful, curious, open to local culture.
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<li>(01:22:26) - How to book Bencomo: Instagram, WhatsApp, website, and Mangobeds.
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<li>(01:27:29) - How Ana stays healthy: pole dance, running, hiking — and meditation when things get rough.
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<li>(01:30:17) - Final message: you are welcome at Bencomo.</li>
</ul><br><strong>Connect with Ana</strong><br>Bencomo Coliving: <a href="https://bencomocoliving.com/en">bencomocoliving.com</a><br>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bencomocoliving/">@bencomocoliving</a><p><strong>Support the podcast</strong><br>If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and share it with a fellow nomad. Drop me a comment on nerdontour.net: I read every single one and reply. And subscribe to <a href="https://nerdontour.net/newsletter/">Nomad Tuesday</a> for travel stories, podcasts, and recommendations delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.</p>
