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.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.Get 10% offUse the code "nerdontour" to get 10% off your next stay at Bencomo Coliving.About Ana BauteAna 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.What we coverHow Bencomo became a real coliving — not just a hotel with a fancy nameThe pandemic of loneliness and why coliving is relevant for nomads who spend months on the roadCommunity dinners, stargazing on Teide, and spontaneous arepa nights with strangers who become friendsWhy Ana requires a minimum 15-day stay and targets nomads aged 25–45North vs. South Tenerife: the real island versus the tourist resort stripThe mass tourism crisis — overcrowded hospitals, traffic jams, and Airbnbs pricing out localsDigital nomads as a better kind of tourist: curious, respectful, and open to local cultureHow to book Bencomo via Instagram, WhatsApp, or MangobedsAna's routine for staying healthy while running a coliving: pole dance, running, hiking, and meditationTimestamps(00:00) - Teaser. (00:26) - Intro & podcast welcome. (01:09) - Meet Ana Baute: Canarian heart, Irish roots. (02:33) - What came before Bencomo? From advertising to cinematography (04:21) - Earning the local guide certificate: the hard way (06:41) - Guiding teenagers, hiking with locals, and the Guanche culture (08:39) - Tenerife's Laurisilva: the island's most magical forest (09:41) - Tenerife as a small continent: layers of nature and biodiversity (11:17) - How Ana discovered co-living — and decided to start her own (13:10) - The pandemic of loneliness and why co-living matters (15:04) - What makes a true co-living (not just a rebranded hotel) (16:18) - Community dinners, Arepa nights, and stargazing at Teide (18:19) - Guest activities: yoga, cycling, art nights, and dog walks (20:23) - Family house turned co-living: one year of building the dream (22:20) - The name "Bencomo" and why every room is named after the island (26:42) - Building a reputation from scratch — October launch and early guests (28:00) - Why podcasting beats Instagram for authentic storytelling (29:18) - Who stays at Bencomo? 25–45, remote workers, full of diversity (30:46) - Avoiding tourist traps: eat local, spend local (32:11) - Canarian food: papas con mojo, gofio, rabbit, shark, and barraquito (34:48) - Cooking together as a community — and a Lithuanian cake for Three Kings (37:10) - Day-to-day life at Bencomo: work, sport, and spontaneous moments (38:10) - Operational challenges: from fridge overflow to dodgy Wi-Fi — solved (43:34) - Coffee break connections: how real friendships form at co-living (45:01) - Memorable guests: an Argentine guitarist and a Lithuanian wine-and-draw night (47:23) - North vs. South Tenerife: local life, black sand, and slower pace (49:32) - The climate zones of Tenerife — from coast to volcano (51:12) - Mass tourism crisis: overcrowded hospitals, traffic jams, and unaffordable housing (54:36) - What Tenerife needs: fewer tourists, more quality (58:12) - Is co-living part of the sustainable tourism solution? (01:01:07) - Digital nomads vs. party tourists: a different mindset entirely (01:04:20) - How to reach Ana: Instagram, WhatsApp, or bencomocoliving.com (01:05:47) - Booking via Mangobeds and the drone video that shows it all (01:07:21) - Ana's wellness routine: pole dance, hiking, running, and meditation (01:09:26) - Ana's final message: you are welcome here (01:10:43) - Outro & subscribe to Nomad Tuesday Connect with AnaBencomo Coliving: bencomocoliving.comInstagram: @bencomocolivingSupport the podcastIf 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 Nomad Tuesday for travel stories, podcasts, and recommendations delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.