It is no secret that an increasing number of remote workers are setting up base in the Canary Islands. Here’s why.
It is early afternoon when I arrive in Candelaria, a small coastal city 20 minutes south of Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz. The volcanic black sand beach sits in the shadow of the mountains, engulfed by thick grey mist, descending from the north with the trademark abruptness of Atlantic winds.
I turn off the highway and crawl uphill to a mountainside barranco, coming to a stop outside a house marked by a sign reading ‘Maraya’. From the roadside, it appears an unassuming Canarian home, painted white with a terracotta roof. I follow a staircase along the side, which opens on to a vast outdoor space where there are painted huts with thatched roofs, hammocks, and wooden stumps acting as makeshift stools. Beyond, a swimming pool and outdoor kitchen sit at the foot of the steps, followed by a terraced garden of homegrown herbs, papaya trees, and a pergola.
Most notably, this mountainside has workspaces scattered throughout – desks tucked beneath the pergola, hidden in the garden and even perched atop a shed overlooking the pool.
Maraya is not just a regular hostel or guesthouse; it is co-living space designed specifically for remote workers.
The rise of Canarian co-livings
It is no secret that that an increasing number of remote workers are setting up base in the Canary Islands. Nor should it be surprising. Turismo de Islas Canarias, has actively campaigned to attract long-stay visitors, recognising the economic benefits of a more diversified tourism model. This shift is gradually reshaping Tenerife’s identity, from a ‘Brits Aborad’ beach holiday destination to a hub for digital nomads seeking year-round sun, outdoor adventure and wellness.
What’s more, Spain’s new digital nomad visa, introduced in 2023, has further accelerated this trend, making it easier for remote workers to base themselves on the islands long term.
As a result, co-living communities, have emerged across Tenerife, offering not just accommodation but connection, structure and a sense of belonging. Co-livings provide connection, community and belonging to those on extended vacations or living nomadic lifestyles. Lily, who has worked remotely since 2021, has spent the past two years moving between co-livings around the world. ‘You make friends who are also remote workers and end up booking other co-livings together – so you keep meeting up around the world’, she says.
There are numerous reasons why Tenerife has proven so popular with remote workers, which are both practical and lifestyle-driven. Notably, the year-round sunshine attracts hordes of Europeans to the Canary Islands during the winter months. ‘I wasn’t going to do another winter in Europe,’ says Ida, who has spent the last few months travelling the continent in a van. ‘I’ve spent winters in Thailand and Bali’, Carl adds, ‘but the Canary Islands have the added advantage of European time zone’.
Although Canarian temperatures peak in July and August, it is the winter months – from November to April – that see co-livings like Maraya fully booked.
Co-living like a local
I was lucky to secure a last-minute November stay at Maraya, which is typically booked months in advance, and clearly inspires loyalty among returning guests. Maraya was founded by five surfer pals who wanted to create a space near the ocean, where people could come together to work while enjoying their hobbies and surroundings. With capital cities such as Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul among the fastest growing digital nomad destinations, Canarian co-livings like Maraya offer guests something different: connection with nature. Ocean swims before work, yoga sessions on the beach, and plant-based dinners made with produce from the garden. When workers log off, there are group activities such as hiking, surfing, and rooftop journalling.
Maraya also acts as a gateway to local life, allowing visitors access to some of the best off-beat experiences on the island. After work one evening, we drive forty minutes into the mountains to meet Fernando, a Venezuelan expat. Fernando once stayed at Maraya and now runs his own off-grid sauna experience complete with a campfire and viewing deck overlooking the ocean.
On the same mountainside, we frequent Los Patrones, an family-run guachinche serving local wine and traditional dishes. We order sharer plates of papas arrugadas, small, black potatoes, boiled until wrinkled, sprinkled with salt and doused in tangy pepper-based mojo sauce; salted codfish in a rich onion sauce, and cheese and meats from the charcoal grill on the veranda. Before long, a karaoke machine appears, much to the delight of a group of locals, who partake with such enthusiasm it’s hard to believe they do this all the time.
Developing a taste for local wines, we organise our own roof-top wine-tasting, swinging by Bodegas Monje in Santa Cruz to pick up bestsellers brewed in an underwater winery in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.
Community impact
Co-livings undoubtedly have a lot to offer remote workers, but their impact on local communities is more complex.
Ben, a Maraya co-owner, recently connected with what he describes as ‘the more official side of the digital nomad sector’ at a local conference, where stakeholders shared plans to transform Candelaria and Santa Cruz into remote working hubs. This is part of a larger move to diversify the local economy, so it’s less reliant on traditional tourism, and attracts a more skilled workforce.
According to the World Economic Forum, remote work could lead to economic decentralisation, where workers move from major cities, bringing new economic activity to rural areas or smaller towns without taking local jobs.
‘It would be great to work more closely with local community services going forward’, Ben says. ‘Connecting with remote workers with diverse skills and experience could bring positive social impact as young Canarians, who typically go to hospitality school, can access opportunities to explore other pursuits.’
Connectivity, it seems, goes far beyond Wi-Fi. A growing location-independent workforce, though drawn to the flexibility of remote working, value community, cultural exchange and proximity to nature.
And what more perfect setting than a volcanic island with year-round sun and surf, rugged landscapes, and an inviting local culture which deserves more attention.