A look behind the scenes at Eco Beach in Lanzarote with the owner of Lanzarote Retreats.

On a flying visit to Lanzarote, Paul Rouse meets the team behind one of the island’s newest clothing-optional wellness venues.

Michelle Braddock didn’t have to wait for a mid-life crisis to find her island in the sun. She’d discovered it, and moved there permanently, by the time she was 21.

“At 18, I’d taken a gap year to travel the world. I just loved being abroad. It suited me much more than the UK. I had been coming to Lanzarote from the mid-80s, when my parents bought a holiday home in Guime. So it felt like the natural choice for my future. Especially when I fell in love…”

Michelle goes on to explain more about Tila, now her husband. “He’s French, and also moved to Lanzarote early on, when he was 17. He’d come over to teach windsurfing at Los Pocillos beach and really enjoyed the relaxed lifestyle. We met each other on the island in 1994 via my brother, and the rest as they say is history. We have raised our four children on the island, and have just welcomed our first grandson to the family.”

Today, the family business, Lanzarote Retreats, is one of the island’s leading providers of upmarket holiday accommodation. But it took time and a lot of hard work to establish it.

“Tila and I originally worked on a few building projects, and in 2004 built six triplexes in the fishing village of Punta Mujeres. We let these long-term, but sometimes found it frustrating if we had bad payers. So we began holiday-letting the properties.

At the same time, we decided we wanted to live a more sustainable life, so moved into a villa at Finca de Arrieta as our family home, so we could be off-grid. After a year or so, with a growing family, we needed extra space, so restored what was then the only other building at Finca de Arrieta into a new home for us, and decided to try to rent out the villa as an eco-luxury option.

“We’re delighted to say that it was an instant success, although we were quite surprised, because at this time there were very few rural holiday homes on Lanzarote.”

Preference

“Looking back,” she reflects, “I suppose we were quite courageous, as the eco side was our personal preference, but certainly not as topical an issue as it is now. But we found our guests loved the fact that, even though they had travelled abroad for sunshine, they were still doing their bit for the environment by staying in an eco-home. For many, it was the first time they have lived by wind/solar power, and were pleasantly surprised that they didn’t have to ‘rough it’ and forgo their normal luxuries.”

Over the following years, the company added yurt accommodations, all with private shower rooms and gardens, and restored other outbuildings to create what is now a complete eco village at Finca de Arrieta. They have also added other villas and apartments to their range across the island, with the latest addition being Eco Beach, a luxury five-bedroom villa which opened in the naturist resort of Charco Del Palo in May 2023.

It's quite a change of direction, and by their own admission, Lanzarote Retreats is very new to the naturist market, and to understanding how it works. So why Eco Beach?

“The property had been in an awful state for a long time,” says Michelle. “It was an abandoned restaurant but close to our hearts. We used to go and eat there many years ago when our children were small. We always loved the location, being right on the ocean, and our daughter learned to swim in the shallows of the natural pool just in front. So when the property came up on the market, we knew we would be able to renovate it to a high standard. All our other properties fit into the ‘barefoot luxury’ category. I guess this was just taking the concept one step further!”

Spirit

It’s probably fair to say that quite a lot of naturist accommodation, wherever you are in the world, veers more towards the budget end of the spectrum, with all that that implies. Having stayed there, I can confidently say that’s not a description you would give to Eco Beach.

“We felt that being in a prime location within a genuine naturist village gives us a niche for a high-end villa which can sleep a larger group of people,” explains Michelle. “So our target market is groups of up to 10 adults: perfect for friends or families to get together on holiday, or for special-interest workshops. And clothing of course is optional: the villa is private and secluded, but nobody is forcing you to ditch the swimming costume. Although why not!”

Eco Beach certainly ticks plenty of the right boxes. A spacious open-plan lounge/yoga area. Five double bedrooms, each ensuite and with a kitchenette. A large kitchen ideal for group catering. An outdoor solar-heated swimming pool set in gardens. A large roof terrace. And those ocean views…

Perceptions

“One of the things we have tried to do over the years,” says Michelle, “is to change some of the perceptions about Lanzarote. Or Lanza-grotty as many people still think of it. The island doesn’t have a particularly good image, especially in the British press. As we love the place, we are passionate to portray the ‘other’ side of the island, particularly to those who have not had the privilege of visiting. Our eco range generated a lot of interest when we launched in 2007, as it was not the kind of thing the island was known for.

Since then, we’ve chosen our properties carefully, and have focused largely on the unspoilt northeast of the island. It's difficult to get across the message that the island is NOT one big resort full of lager louts and kiss-me-quick hats. There is a huge amount to explore and discover here: hidden cove beaches with no-one on them, beautiful coastal walking paths, magnificent volcanic craters to trek into. You also have wonderful tourist places to visit such as the cactus gardens, the caves of Jameos del Agua and Cuevas Verde, the fire mountain national park, and the wine region, which is a great day out.

And of course, for our new market, Lanzarote is very naturist-friendly, especially given the weather here. If visitors simply want to chill out, they can stay by the pool or explore some of the island’s many naturist beaches. We can also offer guided walks, yoga and massage. Even a naked photoshoot.”

So what’s next for the busy Braddocks?

Michelle smiles. “With Eco Beach up and running, Tila and I have decided to take something of a back-seat in the company for the foreseeable future, and our oldest son Joshua is now the CEO. He’s been brought up in Lanzarote Retreats, and will maintain its focus on offering all our guests the perfect holiday. And getting to know the naturist market, of course.

“As for us, we are in the midst of renovating another villa in Lanzarote. Oh, and converting a former church in Cornwall.”

As you do.

More information: HERE

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