Hello! 

Let me introduce myself. I'm Gabriel, Marketing Executive at Galiwonders, a travel agency specializing in the Camino de Santiago .

In this post, I'll tell you the story of what it was like to experience rural coliving with Pueblos Remotos from the inside. Imagine! A Galician living a coliving alongside nine other remote workers, aka "Remotiños," thanks to Pueblos Remotos in Galicia .

Although I've lived and traveled to different countries in Europe and around the world, this was my first time experiencing coliving . When someone thinks about coliving coliving experience in your own country or community, as was my case.

Why did I decide to create a rural coliving space and work remotely from Carnota?

If you've made it this far, you might also be asking yourself this question. Before I give you my opinion on why you should participate in coliving , I have to admit that in my case, it wasn't something I was planning.

At Galiwonders, we've been working for a few months on a new project: Knowmad Tribe . A web portal for coliving and coliving 'PopUps' for remote workers.

It was thanks to Javi Boquete (the local leader of this experience, and from now on, simply Javi) who shared on LinkedIn that Pueblos Remotos was organizing a rural coliving in Carnota. So, just like we do with developing new experiences on the #caminodesantiago , we decided to participate to experience it firsthand and, why not, generate new collaboration opportunities with Pueblos Remotos 🤗🤗 and other colivers . Because yes! Networking and coliving go hand in hand. Keep reading, I'll tell you all about it 😉

You see! Purely by chance. Yes. That's how the best plans come about. I have to admit that participating in Pueblos Remotos Carnota 2024 has been one of the most enriching experiences I've had in recent years. Both personally and professionally. It's been so significant that it ranks alongside my first year of university, my Erasmus exchange, or my first professional experiences.

A marketer working remotely from the Carnota Pueblos Remotos Coliving 2024

If, like me, you've never participated in a coliving experience , add it to your bucket list . I can assure you it's worth it. Without a doubt, it's one of those experiences you have to have at least once in your life.

Community, coexistence, and personal development. The essence of rural coliving

Carlos, Ceci, José, Josep, Kino, Lupe, Tomás, Toño, Petra, and myself, the one writing these words. Without these nine people, the experience wouldn't make sense. Living together as a community for 21 days creates connections that leave a lasting impression.

Twenty-one days of coliving that fostered a sense of belonging to a close-knit community. We helped and collaborated with each other on a daily basis. We were involved and participated in shared projects. We forged individual personal connections. And overall, we shared amazing moments among the nine co-living residents , creating a micro-community that will stay with us for life.

Activities such as collecting litter at the Lariño Lighthouse; family lunches or dinners , using whatever each member in their pantry; picnics on the beach; walks along the rocks of Ameixenda Beach; barbecues and beers at sunset; skill-sharing ; group activities; the 'queimada' and the 'conxuro' by moonlight from Panchés; and a loooong etcetera. These are some of the experiences we have shared.

Did someone say FOMO? It depends! hahaha (this word has been used so much in coliving ...)

We've even had time to share intimate moments among the nine of us. And no, it's not a wild party. I have no doubt that sticking our butts out at the moon to make a wish is a moment that will unite the nine participants of Pueblos Remotos Carnota 2024 '4ever'.

The connection with nature and Carnota. A magical place.

Javi told us that in the first few months after moving there, he had trouble sleeping at night because of the energy that Carnota gave off.

And I can confirm it: Carnota is a perfect place to breathe fresh air and find tranquility. The perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. This corner of the Costa da Morte exudes a powerful energy and creates a profound connection with its surroundings (although I must say I did manage to sleep there at night)

It's no wonder that Carnota, specifically Mount Pindo, is the subject of myths and legends of Celtic origin, such as that of Queen Lupa; the Holy Water; or the legend about the shapes and arrangement of its stones. It was also the site of numerous shipwrecks during the Middle Ages. And yes, it was the site of the Prestige disaster in 2003. An oil tanker sank off the coast of Finisterre, causing the infamous oil spills. An unprecedented environmental crisis.

Waking up to views of Monte Pindo; climbing Bico do Santo and seeing the entire coastline from Monte Louro to Fisterra, with the Lobeira Islands in the center; watching the sun set each evening beside Finisterre; walking barefoot along the 7 kilometers of Carnota beach (the longest in Galicia !); and I could go on… but I'd rather invite you to discover it all at the next Pueblos Remotos rural coliving event

Remote work, networking, creativity and innovation 

After what I've told you, you might be thinking... But when do you work in a coliving space ?

Yes indeed! Between all our plans, we've also dedicated time to our professional responsibilities. Although it might seem otherwise, balancing work and free time in the coliving space turned out to be easy. Although, yes, we have occasionally had to extend our workday to linger over coffee during our family lunches —a good cause!

And between coffees… great vibes and networking! In my opinion, coliving creates an environment conducive to expanding your professional network and collaborating with people from other fields.

In this coliving space in Carnota, we have participants from diverse backgrounds: software development, graphic design, psychology, press and radio, digital marketing, web design, content creation, tourism… 

This allowed us to share knowledge among the participants, thus boosting our creativity. It also generated synergies between projects and new collaboration opportunities—like this post shared between Pueblos Remotos and Galiwonders! 

Impact on the local community

As you may already know, the brand purpose of Pueblos Remotos is: “We want to revitalize rural environments, empowering local entrepreneurs and promoting conscious tourism.”

After experiencing it firsthand, all I can say is, "It's in their DNA." There's no doubt that our participation in this coliving project allowed us to contribute to the economic and social development of Carnota. And I'd also like to add that this experience has had a profound impact (in a positive way) on all of us who participated. It opened our eyes to the possibilities of rural life and showed us that a new way of doing tourism is possible. Let me tell you how!

On one hand, we participated in the "local challenge." Over three sessions, we collaborated with 10th-grade students from the IES Lamas de Castelo to develop the presentation for their entrepreneurial project, "Carnota Conecta"—a tourism portal for the region. It was undoubtedly an enriching experience that allowed us to understand Carnota's reality through their eyes and exchange experiences and knowledge.

Our participation generated economic activity in local businesses (accommodation, supermarkets, bars, restaurants, the local gym, wellness centers, stationery shops, etc.) at a time when tourism in the area is practically nonexistent. This helped to reduce the seasonality of tourism.

In addition, we were able to learn about and participate in various workshops: collecting waste from the beaches and transforming it into art with Ali and Sven from Ali Vavá; recovering traditional engraving techniques with Alba from Espazo A Maceta or the ceramics and painting workshop with Nacho Porto.

If you want to know more about the impact of Pueblos Remotos on the local community, I invite you to watch their documentary or download their impact report .

The Camino de Santiago and Rural Coliving Experiences as agents of development in rural areas.

The Camino de Santiago rural coliving experiences are emerging as significant drivers of development in rural areas of Spain. The Camino de Santiago, a network of pilgrimage routes culminating in Santiago de Compostela , not only attracts thousands of pilgrims annually but also revitalizes local economies along its paths. The French Way , the Portuguese Way , the Primitive Way , and the Northern Way are clear examples of this. Pilgrims generate demand for accommodation, food, transportation, and other services, which in turn encourages the growth of small businesses and job creation in rural communities in northern Spain and Portugal.

rural coliving experiences are gaining popularity among professionals who have the option to work remotely and are looking to escape the city and work in quieter, more natural environments or experience local life. These initiatives not only provide a collaborative workspace but also foster social and cultural integration between remote workers and the local community. By attracting a diverse and active population, rural coliving help to revitalize community life, promote the exchange of knowledge and skills, and stimulate the local economy through the consumption of local products and services.

Both initiatives, the Camino de Santiago and rural coliving , play a crucial role in combating rural depopulation. By generating economic and social activity, they help maintain and revitalize these areas, ensuring their long-term sustainability and development. Perhaps this coliving project has been the start of a new collaboration between Pueblos Remotos – Galiwonders – Knowmad Tribe 😉

Overall from my first rural coliving

In short… Participating in Pueblos Remotos Carnota 2024 has been an enriching experience for me. A life-changing one. The kind that marks a turning point in your life. I will definitely do it again sometime. And to you, reading these words, if you haven't participated in one yet, I recommend you do, because you won't regret it. And if you have already participated, I'm sure we'll see each other at the next one. Or on the Camino 😉