COFO founder · Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain
Laura Sanz Naya
My name is Laura and this is how I came to start Pitaya Coliving. For many years, I worked helping humans connect with technology in ways previously unknown to them, but in 2018, I left that behind and packed my bag, travelling the world for a year - an experience that changed me forever. Travelling has always been my passion; being inspired by other cultures, traditions and ways of living. After my year travelling, I started to work remotely, but I knew something was missing - that sense of community I had found so inspiring. Thus the idea for Pitaya was born, offering a space for those who work remotely but still want to travel and be inspired by the community around them, where different cultures can coexist and experiences are shared.
Why I chose COFO
Running a coliving can be lonely. You are always building community for others, but rarely for yourself. I wanted to be around people who understand this job. People who deal with the same questions about pricing, cancellations, house rules and keeping a group together. I also want to learn from founders who are further along, and share what has worked for us in Lanzarote.
What coliving means to me
“For me, coliving is a place where people feel at home from the first day. A place where you arrive on a place where you know nobody, and the same day you have people to surf with, cook with and talk to at the end of the day. It is also a door to the real Lanzarote: The village fiestas, the local wine, fresh fish at the harbour, the hikes the locals do, the little places only people from here know about. At Pitaya, community is the heart of everything. We plan the week together, we share breakfasts and dinners, we explore the island together. It is a home that is easy to join and hard to leave. When people come back to Pitaya, and many do, that is how I know we got it right.”