Kalima Beachlife
Coliving by the beach near Barcelona
The words “by the beach” are to be taken literally in this case. Kalima coliving is directly on the beach. All you have to do to put your feet in the sand is open the gate and cross the road. You can see the beach and hear the waves from your room, the living room, the terrace, the garden – wherever!
The words “near Barcelona” aren’t a lie either. Kalima coliving is in a small town just 40 minutes away from the city and well connected by train. At Kalima you get it all: access to the city, a non-crowded beach at your doorstep, a quaint little town with plenty of bars and restaurants and a short drive to the Pyrenees for some hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Coliving and coworking in Catalonia
The building of Kalima Beachlife used to be a small hotel. As such, it is perfectly suitable for a coliving where everybody gets their private room with ensuite bathroom. No shared bathroom used! Plus, every room is equipped with a TV – in Charlie’s experience that is unusual for a coliving. Some of the rooms also have a balcony. It is worth paying the little extra for such a room as you will enjoy the views of the sea at sunrise or watch the moon slowly appear on the horizon.
As a former hotel, the kitchen is to a professional standard and Charlie has never had that much fridge space in a coliving before. There is a separate dining area with a coffee machine, and you also find plenty of tables and sofas in the garden if you prefer to take your meal outside.
There are two coworking areas, one at the back of the house and one in the so-called “searoom”. The name says it all: you can see the beach from there. In the evenings, the searoom turns into a living room where colivers enjoy pizza and movie nights together.
The coworking is available for everybody, not just colivers, and there were more people around during the day.
Community at Kalima Beachlife
This mix of digital nomads that stay in the coliving for a few weeks or months and the coworkers who live in the area makes for a good community that never ceases to come up with ideas for communal activities. This could be a movie night in the searoom, a barbecue in the garden, a communal dinner or lunch, or a trip to Girona or Barcelona.
Of course, there is no shortage of beach activities either. There are yoga mats available, beach tennis and paddleboards. They also were about to buy a volleyball net and a fire pit for the garden when Charlie was there.
There are e-bikes available too at Kalima which you can rent on an hourly basis. That is perfect if you want to explore the coast or the nearby villages.
Caldes d’Estrac
Kalima coliving is in a small town called Caldes d’Estrac. It is a 5-minute-walk from the train station that has frequent connections to Barcelona. You can be at Plaza Catalunya in just 40 minutes.
Caldes d’Estrac, or Caldetes, is a quaint town that invites for a stroll along the bars and restaurants or a walk up the mountain that you can spot from the beach and the coliving. To get to this park, you simply walk along the main road, pass by the supermarket Condis and you will see the entrance to the right side of the museum Fundació Palau. From up there, you get a great view over Caldes d’Estrac and the coast. You might be tempted to stay until sunset, however, keep in mind that they close the gates at 8 p.m. Sunsets from there are for the winter months only!
Whilst being a beach town that invites for sunbathing by the sea, it is nothing like other cities along this stretch of coast. There are no tourist shops or parties until the sunrise. It is the perfect place if you want to escape the tourist hot spots along the Costa Brava.
The main attraction in Caldes d’Estrac are the thermal baths. Charlie was happy to hear about them upon arrival as the warm thermal water was exactly what her body needed after a long flight and a lot of luggage carried. You should make a reservation for the thermal baths as there are set times and only a few people can be in there at any point. Sessions last 25 minutes. They also offer specific therapies and there is a separate jacuzzi too. Charlie enjoyed a massage too and she highly recommends it!
