5 Latin American Gems I Found Living as a Nomad
Real stories, real tips, real places …
I have been living as a digital nomad since November 2024 — and Latin America has completely stolen my heart. I'm not talking resort hopping or guided tours. I'm talking actually living in these places. Working from local cafés, making friends with other nomads, getting lost, doing laundry and going to the grocery store and finding spots that most people back home have never even heard of.
Below is my personal list of 5 gems I discovered while living across Latin America. These aren't places you'll find on a mainstream travel itinerary. Nomads know them, love them, and keep coming back. And now you do too. 🌎
For each spot I'm sharing what you need to know before you go, the real wifi situation, my top must-dos, the food scene, where you should stay and whether you'll need your Spanish. Let's get into it! ✨
🇳🇮 1. San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Okay, I need to tell you about San Juan del Sur because it completely surprised me.
San Juan Del Sur
The sunsets were UNREAL. Every night it was this color.
Wild horses and cows wandering in the middle of the road. I LOVED that. It's a small surf & fishing town that has turned into this incredible nomad & travel social hub, and the energy is like nothing else. It's not polished, it's not fancy, and that is exactly what makes it so good.
I stayed in a villa with 7 other digital nomads — infinity pool, views over the bay, such a magical place.✨ Other nomads were everywhere — it's genuinely one of the easiest places in Latin America to find your people fast.
BEFORE YOU GO
Tourist visa (for USA passport holder) $10 on arrival and covers up to 90 days- but check before you go because it can change!
No Ubers here — only local taxis or get around on foot or by hostel shuttle to the beaches.
Carry cash in Córdobas. You will need this!
Power outages happen especially at night — ask your accommodation if they have a backup generator.
WIFI REALITY CHECK
Hit or miss, honestly. Coffee shops downtown like Ding Repair and Simon Says have decent wifi. If remote work is critical, book somewhere that specifically lists fast wifi — don't rely on a general cafe connection. My villa has reliable wifi.
TOP 3 MUST-DOS
1. Day pass at TreeCasa— pools, hot tubs, incredible food, views. Bring your laptop and call it a workday. You're welcome.
2. Beach shuttle to Playa El Remanso — more secluded, amazing tacos. This is the good stuff.
3. Sunday Funday at The Space — if you want the full nomad & traveler social experience, this is it. The bar crawl experience is in the name!
WHERE TO STAY
The Space: I stayed two weeks here and I LOVED it! Friendly and welcoming staff- it felt like more of a coliving/hostel vibe with free breakfast, meeting all kinds of people, free activities, coworking space and places to have yoga and wellness classes. It's a bit outside of the center, but there is a bus that takes you into town every 3-4 hours.
FOOD & CULTURE
The Art Warehouse for breakfast — so good, and sign up for art classes while you are there!
Ding Repair Café - for coworking- it has a vegetarian-friendly menu, juice shots, fresh sourdough — I loved this place.
Simon Says for smoothies and a beautiful garden setting.
Find the street food vendors selling vigorón — yucca, chicharrón, and cabbage in banana leaves. That is the real Nicaragua and it is delicious.
The locals are very friendly! They want to hang out with the tourists and travelers- so be nice! (I even got a tattoo with a local that I met at a pool party!)
NOMAD COMMUNITY & EXPATS
This is genuinely one of my favourite things about SJDS — the nomad community is SO easy to find. You'll meet people from the US, Canada, and Europe everywhere. Join the Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups when you arrive. Other nomads are excited to share tips and recommendations. I made friends fast here and that means a lot when you're traveling solo.
ENGLISH SPOKEN?
Yes! More than most places in Nicaragua. Locals in hospitality speak great English and genuinely love having visitors. If you speak some Spanish, even better — but you can absolutely get by without it here.
🇳🇮 2. Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
Two volcanoes rising out of a lake, take me there!
Ometepe Isnad
A view of one of the volcanoes from a boat in the middle of the lake
Ometepe is one of those places where you arrive and just think... how does this even exist? You take a ferry from San Jorge (about an hour from SJDS), and when those twin volcanoes come into view over the lake- its so stunning.
Fair warning — this island is remote. No Ubers, no cars really, rough roads, and you have to leave extra time for cow crossings on the way to the ferry. I'm not joking about that. 🐄 Some of my friends stayed for a week. I stayed a few days because it was a little too off-grid for me — and that's totally okay. Know yourself! But even a few days here, I got some rest I needed!
BEFORE YOU GO
Ferry from San Jorge port — tickets around C$50 each way, plus $1 port entry fee. Leave LOTS of extra time — the road has unpredictable livestock situations. Bring cash because ATMs are limited and run out. You'll need a motorbike or taxi to get around as everything is spread out. Roads are poorly lit at night so plan around daylight hours.
WIFI REALITY CHECK
Honestly? Don't come here to work. Wifi is unreliable across most of the island, power outages are common, and video calls are a real gamble. This is the place for a digital detox or a short adventure trip — not your busiest work week. El Pital has a decent nomad setup if you need to get something done, but manage your expectations.
TOP 3 MUST-DOS
Reserva Natural Ojo de Agua — GET THERE IN THE MORNING. Natural spring, swings, food, changing rooms, the most relaxed vibe. $10 entry and $5 comes back as a food/drink voucher. Stay all day. This is a must.
Kayak tour with El Caiman Rio Istian — 2 hours, all fitness levels, $10/person in a group. We saw birds, howler monkeys, and I was relieved to not see an actual caiman (alligator). One of my favourite moments on the whole island.
Mangos for sunset dinner — please go, it is stunning and has DJ or live music! he food is delicious. The service was a little slow, but that is island life right?
WHERE TO STAY
El Pital Chocolate Paradise: vegan food, a chocolate bar & class, yoga, glamping, and monkeys literally in the trees above you. It is very woo. Bring bug spray. I loved it.
FOOD & CULTURE
El Pital for healthy food and the most amazing smoothies.
El Zopilote Hostel for wood-fired pizza and full hippie energy — fire shows, off the beaten path, total vibe.
The national park has a butterfly reserve and a 40-minute forest walk where you'll spot howler monkeys.
The energy of this island is something I genuinely cannot describe — many people call it healing and I completely understand why.
NOMAD COMMUNITY & EXPATS
It's small here — and that's part of the magic. It's a place to reset, reconnect with nature, and meet adventurous travelers who are also seeking something different. You'll find backpackers and some longer-term expats who've gone very off-grid. I met other nomads at El Pital and at El Zopilote — always interesting people passing through.
ENGLISH SPOKEN?
Some! Hostel staff and tour companies speak enough English to get you sorted. Outside of tourist spots though, Spanish is really helpful. Locals are warm and patient — learn a few phrases and it makes everything better.
🇨🇴 3. Santa Marta, Colombia
Santa Marta was a breath of fresh air.
Santa Marta
A view from a place where I had dinner- beautiful port city!
Everyone talks about Cartagena and Medellin. And yes, they are beautiful — but it is also crowded, expensive, and vendors are constantly in your face. Santa Marta feels like the more real, more relaxed version of Caribbean Colombia. People are genuinely friendly, the vibe is laid back, and it’s a place where actual Colombians vacation. That tells you everything.
I spent 4 weeks here and I keep thinking about going back. The combination of beaches, mountains, national park, and the locals dancing in the street is unreal.
BEFORE YOU GO
Some places don't take cards and when they do there's often a fee plus a minimum spend — always ask first.
Moto ubers are cheap and fun.
Tayrona National Park closes February 1-15 for indigenous land restoration — plan around it.
Oh and the wind here is INTENSE. Locals call it La Loca (the Crazy Lady). She is not playing. 😂
WIFI REALITY CHECK
Better than you'd expect! Santa Marta has increasingly stable fast internet — most colivings and cafés are solid. El Rodadero neighborhood is the best bet for consistent connectivity. Flamingo Coworking (it shares a building with La Brisa Loca hostel!) is genuinely one of the best designed coworking spaces I've seen anywhere. I had great work days there.
TOP 3 MUST-DOS
1. GO TO MINCA. I cannot say this louder. It's 40 minutes up into the Sierra Nevada mountains and it is freaking amazing. Stay at Casa Loma for at least one night. Waterfalls, coffee farms, mountain views, the most incredible air. Do not skip this.
2. Tayrona National Park — hike in and hit Playa Cristal. One of the most stunning beaches in all of Colombia. Book ahead in high season and remember it closes February 1-15.
3. Walk around Carrera 3 and the Parque de los Novios- cute vibes and wonderful restaurants and bars, and people dancing in the park! The sweetest!
WHERE TO STAY
MuchoSur: I’d stay here again! It’s a coliving/hotel by the bay, just outside the city center. I spent a month with Hackers Paradise in a private room and bath. There’s a beautiful rooftop with a pool, lounge chairs, pool bar, and shared kitchen. You’ll meet people from everywhere cooking together and watching sunsets. The staff were very friendly—I still keep in touch with one guy via WhatsApp Translate!
FOOD & CULTURE
Arepas literally everywhere and they are SO good.
Empanadas, fresh jugos, buñuelos, chorizo, fruit, croissants from the bakeries.
Ouzo Santa Marta if you want Mediterranean.
The sunset picnic setup near the beach is such a lovely local tradition — vendors pull out little tables and chairs for golden hour. It's simple and beautiful. Very Santa Marta.
NOMAD COMMUNITY & EXPATS
The nomad/ traveler community is small and tight-knit which makes it feel like a real community rather than a revolving door. Masaya and La Brisa Loca hostels also have good energy and events. You won't feel alone here.
ENGLISH SPOKEN?
Most locals don't speak English — a little Spanish makes a huge difference for connecting genuinely and getting around. Learn the basics before you arrive, even just greetings and please/thank you. Colombians appreciate the effort so much.
🇬🇹 4. Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
I genuinely don't have the words for how beautiful this place is.
Lake Atitlan
My work view from a cafe in San Pedro- photo doesn’t do it justice!
Volcanoes surrounding a lake. Little Mayan villages with their own character, their own specialty, their own charm.
I need to be real with you, though — some parts of Atitlán have gotten touristy. There are tourist traps if you're not careful.
BEFORE YOU GO
Most nationalities get 90 days visa-free in Guatemala- be sure to check for yourself!
BRING CASH (Quentzales)— this is really important. ATMs are limited, run out, and many places don't take cards or charge fees.
Water taxis (lanchas) stop running around 5pm — on windy afternoons, skip the boat and take a tuk tuk because the lake gets rough fast.
Stay in San Pedro or Panajachel for the best wifi and access to everything.
WHERE TO STAY
Zoola Resort: Highly recommend! Booked one week and stayed another. A bit off the main road but worth it. Cozy rooms, friendly staff, and an amazing pool and restaurant — refreshing pool with great views and the best food I had at the lake.
WIFI REALITY CHECK
San Pedro is your best bet — around 10-20 Mbps on a good day. Panajachel has the most stable connection. Smaller villages like San Marcos and Tzununa are stunning but wifi is patchy — save your big work days for San Pedro or Pana. Get a local Tigo SIM card for backup data. Rainy season (June-October) brings power cuts that take wifi with them.
TOP 3 MUST-DOS
Eagle's Nest in San Marcos — do NOT use Google Maps for this one; ask locals and follow the handmade signs. Classes, yoga, incredible lake and volcano views. Hard to find. Worth every minute of the hunt. I loved this place.
San Juan village — take a tuk-tuk from San Pedro (20-30Q, so cheap!). Walk on Umbrella Street and Sombrero Street. Stop at Casa Flor Ixcaco, a women's weaving co-op. Buy something. It matters and it is beautiful.
Village bopping- If you have time, try to stop by all of the villages or get a tour guide to take you to several! I only went to 2.
FOOD & CULTURE
Each village specializes in something different — textiles in San Juan, woodwork, ceramics, coffee.
San Pedro has the best restaurant variety — Japanese, Israeli, Italian, local Guatemalan, all of it.
Circus Bar in Panajachel for jazz and bachata nights.
The indigenous Mayan culture here is deeply alive — you'll hear Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel languages alongside Spanish. It is fascinating and beautiful and I felt so humbled being there.
Please respect the indigenous culture here and support the locals.
NOMAD COMMUNITY & EXPATS
Honest truth — the nomad community is small at the lake. Most long-term expats here are retirees who've settled permanently. You'll find fellow nomads/ travelers around San Pedro, and I did connect with some great people there. But if building a big nomad network is your goal, pair the lake with time in Antigua — it has a much bigger digital nomad scene and it's only a couple of hours away.
ENGLISH SPOKEN?
In the main tourist towns — San Pedro, Panajachel, San Marcos — English is spoken well enough to get around. In the more traditional villages like San Juan and Santiago, Spanish is really helpful and Mayan languages are the primary tongue. Locals are sweet and warm everywhere. Make the effort to communicate and you'll get so much back.
🇲🇽 5. Puerto Escondido, Mexico
The biggest waves I have EVER seen!!
Puerto Escondido
La Punta has the cutest cafes & shops and its fun to walk around!
Puerto Escondido is not one place — it's three completely different areas with three completely different energies. Once I figured that out, everything clicked and I understood why nomads keep coming back here season after season.
The wellness scene here is REAL. I'm talking yoga every morning, pilates, sound baths, bachata on the beach on Sundays, drum circles on Tuesdays. I stayed here for 2 months and built an actual routine here and it felt so good. Other nomads were everywhere — at the cafés, at the fitness classes, at the sunset spots. It felt like a community.
BEFORE YOU GO
No Ubers, no rideshare — taxis only and they don't take dollars. Get pesos at the airport before you leave!
OR take the collectivo — flag down the truck, pay 12 pesos, ring the bell when you want off. It only runs on the main road but it is the most fun way to get around.
Most places take cards but charge a 5% fee. The one ATM in La Punta runs out of cash constantly — go to el centro for cash.
Rainy season is June-November. May is very quiet and extremely hot (I took three showers a day, I'm not joking).
WHERE TO STAY
Flow Coliving: More like a coliving/hostel — but I loved it! On the Zicatela side. I had a large room with a desk and AC. Two kitchens kept meal times from getting crowded. The roof terrace was the best: hammocks, tables, a big community table, and a spot to work out or meditate. I spent most of my time there. We had weekly community dinners and watched the sunset at La Punta.
Surfbreak: Great spot for digital nomads: fast Starlink, big kitchen with free coffee and breakfast, and office spaces for Zoom. Shared bathrooms but many available, so no waiting. Nice pool and a comfy living room. Rooftop set up for yoga and wellness, though classes weren’t running during the rainy offseason.Gr
WIFI REALITY CHECK
La Punta and Zicatela have good connectivity at most cafés. There are proper coworking spaces too. Lots of places have Starlink. Mobile data with Telcel or Movistar works great as backup. I genuinely built a solid work-plus-life routine here and the wifi supported it. I did have ot go to el centro a few days after we had a hurricane pass through… ( yes, hurricanes happen, but we were lucky and no serious damage!)
TOP 3 MUST-DOS
1. La Punta at sunset — everyone ends up here and I completely understand why. Watch for the cocktail guy and the lady selling La Punta cake. It is the best carrot cake of my entire life. I am still thinking about it. Mumbasa for DJs after, Juan Mezcalá for karaoke Tuesdays.
2. Baby turtle release at Playa Bacocho — 5pm, book through oaxacatraveltips.com. One of those experiences that just stops you in your tracks. So special.
3. Bioluminescent Lagoon of Manialtepec at night. Magic. Absolute magic. Do not miss this.
FOOD & CULTURE
Zicatela Mercado is your best friend — fruits, veggies, seafood, birria tacos, health food shop, bakery, pharmacy, souvenirs. All in one place at local prices.
La Punta has the best restaurant strip — everything open-air and wooden and beautiful.
The wellness schedule is endless — yoga daily at many hotels and hostels and directly oon the beach— barre, pilates, sound baths, hula classes, drum circles. You can build a full beautiful life here.
⚠️ IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE
Please hear me on this — DO NOT swim at Zicatela beach. The rip currents are extremely dangerous. Three people died while I was there. This is not a scare tactic. Swim at Carrizalillo or Playa Coral instead — they are beautiful and safe. Please be careful. This is a surf town, so unless you are used to these type of currents, please do not get in the ocean.
NOMAD COMMUNITY & EXPATS
Growing SO fast and the energy is amazing. La Punta especially has become a real nomad hub — people working from open-air restaurants, meeting at fitness classes, connecting at sunset. There are Facebook groups and WhatsApp communities — find them when you arrive; people are incredibly welcoming. It's not as big as Oaxaca City yet but it is building real momentum, especially November through May. I felt more connected here than almost anywhere else.
ENGLISH SPOKEN?
In La Punta and among the nomad and expat crowd — yes, widely. In Zicatela and el Centro, less so. In local tiendas and smaller spots, don't count on it — some locals get a little frustrated if you don't try any Spanish. Make the effort. Even broken Spanish gets you so far here and people really warm up to you when you try.
That's my list. 🌎
Five real places. Real stories. Nothing made up or googled from a travel site. These are the gems I found by actually living this life — and I want you to find them too.
If any of these sparked something in you — if you read a section and thought 'I could actually do this' — please listen to that feeling. That feeling is the whole point. You don't have to have everything figured out before you go. I didn't. Clarity comes after the leap, not before. I promise.
If you're ready to take your own leap and want support planning your first solo trip or first nomad month, I would love to help you get there.
I have the flexibility to work wherever I want. But it also means creating routines and having discipline! Its not always glamorous, but I will take the views!
Do Life YOUR way. ✨
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