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Andorra has been on our radar since they launched their digital nomad visa less than a year ago. Andorra is a tiny nation in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France. It feels a little like the Swiss Alps, with beautiful lakes and mountains to explore in the summer and fantastic skiing in the winter, but fewer tourists and a more laidback and traditional lifestyle.
If you have been interested in exploring Andorra but aren’t sure where to start or what to expect, now might be your perfect opportunity. A new coliving and coworking space has opened up in the Mountain Hostel Tartar, an idyllic resort in the middle of the mountains.
They are giving digital nomads the opportunity to get to know Andorra with special Coliving Retreats hosted every month in June 2024. Each retreat has a different focus, so in addition to using the space and enjoying the surrounding nature, you can engage in activities aimed at self-improvement and professional development.
Let’s look at the retreats on offer and what to expect from a week in Andorra.
The Retreats
The retreats have been described by organizers as “pop up” coliving experiences designed to enhance your lifestyle, business, or skills while working remotely.
Retreat 1: Wellness Coliving (1-7 or 8-14 June)
The first retreat will be run twice during the first two weeks of June. The retreat is aimed at remote workers who want to remain productive but also invest in their health and well-being. Andorra Coliving will be offering a range of wellness activities including yoga, acro-yoga, ecstatic dance, breathing techniques, massages, and meditation. You also get the opportunity to consult with a personal trainer, so you can develop plans and systems to boost your well-being after you leave.
Retreat 2: Cycling Coliving (16-22 June)
The mountains around the hostel are known for their excellent biking trails. If you are keen to tackle them, there is never a better time as a professional athlete and guide take you to 20+ mountain routes. Bring your own bike or use one of the bikes available from the hostel. There is also a bike garage and workshop for maintenance. Discover some of the trails in the area here.
Retreat 3: Freedom and Business Coliving (23-28 June)
This retreat is aimed specifically at aspiring digital nomads and entrepreneurs. The focus of the workshops is understanding your “why” and figuring out what you should be doing, as well as advice on how to create a digital nomad lifestyle. Key to the experience is reframing how you think about money. The workshop will also explore the details of the Andorra digital nomad visa and how to apply.
The Space
The coliving experiences are all hosted by the Mountain Hostel Tartar in the Pyrenees. Choose your accommodation based on your budget and your preferences.
You can choose from male/female or mixed dorms that sleep six people for €1,160 per week. There are also private double rooms that sleep two that you can choose for an additional €240 per week. All rooms will make use of the communal showers, which are clean.
Choose to shop and cook for yourself or choose full catering, with both omnivore and vegetarian options. If you have special dietary needs, just let them know before you arrive. The full meal package of 3 meals a day costs €295 for the week. There is a big supermarket that the hostel will take you to by car on regular occasions, and also a convenience store in the village.
As part of your package, you get access to all the hostel facilities including the swimming pool and spa. Of course, you also get access to the coworking space with high-speed internet (700 MB), which is open from 7 am to 4 pm daily. There is a communal kitchen and living area too.
How to Get to Andorra
You don’t technically need a visa to enter Andorra as a tourist for up to 90 days, just a valid passport, but it is a bit more complicated than that. There is no way to arrive directly in Andorra since it has no airport. You must arrive in either France or Spain and then get to Andorra by car.
This means that, while Andorra is not part of Schengen, you will need to be able to enter the Schengen area to get to Andorra. Plus, you will need a multiple-entry visa, since you will technically need to leave and then re-enter Schengen to get to Andorra.
Time spent in Andorra does not count towards your time spent in the Schengen area, but you probably will not have your passport scanned or stamped when entering and leaving Andorra, so as far as authorities are concerned you will have been in Schengen the entire time. If you are tight on time, you will need to ask someone at one of the two border control areas to stamp your passport.
Other Things to Know About Andorra Before You Go
Aside from the visa and transport situations, there are a few other things to know about Andorra before you go.
- Catalan is the official language, but Spanish, French, and English are also widely spoken.
- Duty-free shopping is available. There are limits on how much you can buy of certain products. Alcohol and cigarettes are around 20% cheaper that elsewhere in Europe.
- Euros are used in Andorra. The country never had its own currency, so it adopted the Euro with Spain and France.
- Most mobile packages will charge roaming fees if you use their service in Andorra. You can get a local SIM, or rely on Wi-Fi at the hostel and enjoy being offline when you aren’t working. Alternatively, you can get an eSIM from Airalo, Holafly, or Yesim.
- Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted but American Express is not. There are many ATMs.
- In June you can expect lows of around 15 degrees Celsius and highs of around 20 degrees Celsius. You can expect it to rain about 50% of the time in June.
Now you have all the information you need to decide whether to sign up for one of the new Andorra Coliving experiences and discover the tiny principality this June.
