7 Destinations for Remote Workers (After 50+ countries and 6 years of full-time travel)

Colombia

Colombia is one of the places I always keep on coming back to, I love it! I can definitely see myself having an apartment and spend some time here every year in the future.

Medellin

I’m writing this post from Medellin. It’s usually the favorite city for nomads and once you’re here, it’s easy to understand why. It’s my second time and I’m having a longer stop to get to know the city more as a local this time around. It’s a great place to network and enjoy life. The entrepreneur community is booming and it’s only expected to grow further.

Nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring, the weather is one of the highlights. It’s Swedish summerish-warm all year around. It’s also pretty secure in comparison with other big cities in Colombia. People are friendly, restaurants are great, there is a big community of entrepreneurs who’ve made this their home. And if you feel like changing scene, you’ll be spoiled with charming options. Such as Jardin, one of my favorite villages in the area!

Cali

Cali is my favorite city in Colombia because of the vibe and salsa culture – even if fewer nomads base themselves here. There is no place like it, especially if you’re into salsa!

While it has a reputation of being dangerous, there is so much more to it. Come here for warm culture, great weather all-year-around, dancing, fresh tropical fruits and gastronomy, and amazing places nearby perfect for short escapes. Ranging from the coffee area, to beaches, mountains, and more.

I’m going back soon for my 3rd time and look so much forward to it. It got less of a gringo vibe to it in comparison with Medellin and just feels very authentic.

More about what makes Cali so special here:
What Cali, Colombia Is Really Like: A Local’s Guide
Why You Need To Visit Cali in Colombia At Least Once In Your Life

Costa Rica

In 2021, Costa Rica was named one of the best countries for digital nomads based on personal satisfaction. After having spent 3+ months here I get why. This is where you will be able to feel connected with nature, dance barefoot in the sand, be spoiled with magical sunsets, gorgeous nature and jungle life becomes a part of the daily routine. My favorite places were Tortuguero, Drake and the area around Manuel Antonio. The hotspots for nomads are however Santa Teresa/Malpais, Puerto Viejo and San José.

Costa Rica is different from the rest of Latin America (and I’ve been around!).

A few things to know if you’re thinking about coming here:

• Amazing coastlines with gorgeous beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides. The people, food, and ambiance are different depending on where you go.
• It’s very safe – especially in comparison with the rest of Latin America. It’s developed and also more expensive than most other countries around here.
• San José is the capital and very few people seem to like it. Even if some prefer it anyway because of what it offers – like jobs, food, and shopping…
• After my 4th time there I started to really like it, but it’s far from my favorite city in Latin America.
• Seafood and ceviche is a thing. So is sangria, chicken, coffee, chocolate, fresh fruits, nature, and sports – like surfing, rafting, football, and rappelling.
• Lots of foreigners live here – ranging from young surfers to pensioners. This might be a positive or negative factor for you, but now you know. 😉
• Pura Vida is not a tourist slogan, it’s really the way of life. People say it all the time – from the security at the pass control at the airport to your neighbor. We can all learn a bit from it: A lifestyle of a relaxed attitude towards life, no matter the circumstances.
• If you escape the cities, exotic animals will become your new normal. I had monkeys and parrots just outside of my accommodation more often than not.
• The sunset is often incredible. It feels like everything stops – and so many people do, just to watch it.
• You get different climates. However, if you want summer all year round that’s not a problem – even if you will get wet.
• Many locals are proud of their country, explore it if they’re able to, and are aware of how special it is. I made new friends and had time to focus and explore new sides of myself.

Many who live or decide to stay here are into spirituality, meditation, surfing, etc. It’s a good place to connect with yourself, focus on projects, and realize those dreams.

Spain

Whatever your idea about Spain is, there is probably much more to offer than you can imagine. It still has surprisingly many unexploited corners!

Growing up, I went several times since one of my older sisters used to live here. It was actually one of the first trips I made as old enough to remember. I’ve also been back 3 times since I started my location-independent lifestyle in 2016. I’ve always loved Spain and after having spent more time here that love is only growing stronger.

The Canarias

In 2021 I spent 7+ months on different islands across the Canarias. I must confess I never had them high on my list before, since they’ve seemed too touristy to me. The only reason I decided to come over was due to the pandemic making it risky to return to Latin America. They took me by surprise however, and fell in love with the life here! Many people had similar stories: “I was supposed to go to X, but it was closed, so I decided to come to the Canarias and I love it…”

As people outside of the stereotypical groups who normally visit the islands start to discover how amazing they are, the Canarias is becoming a hub for those who’ve left a more traditional way of living to realize their dream lifestyle. I met so many interesting people – from leaders at MNCs to those changing the game with their start-up, and others who are still figuring it out.

Each island has its charm and offers so much variation. With a rental car it’s easy to get around. I definitely recommend you to go island hopping! I spent about a month each on 5 of the islands: Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and La Palma. All of them are gorgeous – Tenerife, Lanzarote and La Palma ended up as my favoites.

Some areas are very touristy, but there is so much more than those to explore. Community-wise, you’ll find a mix of locals, digital nomads and foreigners who’ve just moved here. Most locals love their island. On the bigger islands the nomad community was vibrant with lots of events ranging from networking and winetasting to hikes and volunteer work.

Note that covid cases were still pretty high during my time here, so tourism was naturally on an all-time low. Places were open and as beautiful as ever – but without the crowds. Returning during peak season when things are open as normal might not be the same.

Barcelona

It used  to be one of my favorite cities in Europe. It has it all! So much variation, history, culture, innovative gastronomy, and creative start-ups. I’ve so many unforgettable memories from here which always will make me smile.

Over the past years it has become very touristy and I haven’t been back in a long time. It’s key to be intentional if you decide to go. Exploring the surroundings and looking for more unique experiences in Barcelona that support local entrepreneurs. 

Portugal

As Europe’s oldest country, visiting Portugal really feels like traveling in time. There are so many charming, colorful houses I could imagine living in one day. ? Beautiful, safe, with so many places to visit.

Lisbon and the Algarve coast are the most popular places for nomads. Lisbon is such a gorgeous city, famous for its big nomad community, with lots of events going on. At the nomad meetups I went to it was common with a crowd of 100+ people.

You’ll be spoiled with live music, dreamy viewing point, rooftops bars, wine, cheese, bacalao, kizomba, lots of co-livings / co-workings, etc. It has this magical vibe to it – even when it’s crowded, the ambience is still relaxing. Not sure how they do it….

Pretty beaches are also just a short drive away. If you base yourself in Algarve, you’ll have them outside of your doorstep. With that said, there are many smaller towns, from the North to the Alentejo region, that aren’t as frequently visited, so I’d encourage you to explore beyond the most known.

Brazil

I’m pretty sure that I’ll have a house somewhere in Brazil one day. I don’t see myself living here all-year-around, but could come back forever. I love how it’s possible to switch ambience completely, again and again. The people. The music. The nature. The beaches. The food. The acai. The options. The fact that it never stops surprising you. The way I feel here – at home. ?

Rio de Janeiro

Rio is my favorite city in the world and while it’s not perfect (unfortunately security is a real problem), there is no place in the world like it. With a population of about 10+ million people, it has a growing nomad and start-up community and everything that comes with it. Like coworkings, networking events, etc.

After work, you can enjoy the sunset at Copacabana to samba rhythms. Now, that’s reason alone to come here!

Florianópolis

Floripa (as the locals call Florianopolis) is gorgeous too. It’s more European and a very popular spot for nomads. It’s safer and has beautiful nature. I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like it and after I kept on extending my stay here, it ended up becoming one of my favorites in Brazil too!

There is so much to do and see and there is no other place in Brazil quite like it.

The south of Floripa is much more virgin and wild than the rest of the island. This is where you’ll find never-ending beaches, viewing points, and secret places so pretty that pics never will give them justice. All of the locals I met prefer the south since it’s less touristy and gorgeous in a dreamy way. Let’s just say that it’s easy to be happy here. ?

Panama

Apperantly when I was a kid one of my favorite books took place in Panama. And I was always asking: where is this Panama? ? Well now I know and it’s pretty amazing. ?

I spent a month here recently and it was not enough. I’m already thinking about when to come back…

Panama City

Such a nice city! Many just stop here for 1-2 nights to see the Panama Canal, one of the most difficult engineering projects ever. While that is cool (come in the morning or afternoon to be sure to see the big ships pass through ?), there is so much more to do.

A few reasons why it’s easy to like it here ➡️

• The malecon is great for workouts. People sell fresh juice everywhere and at the end, enjoy delicious seafood with giant birds flying over you at the fisherman’s market.
• The charming old town! Colorful houses, small markets, craft beer, lots of rooftop terraces perfect for sunset drinks.
• Talking about rooftops, many hotels have rooftop pools. So nice at night when everything is lit up! Perfect home office, or for anything really. ?
• Great restaurants! Trapiche is one of my favorites for local food.
• Lots of options when you want to escape the city. From San Blas (paradise with 300+ islands), Colon (charming villages), the coast of Pedasi/Venao and so much more.
• Networking opportunities, a big expat community, easy to get to know interesting people.

Bocas del Toro

Panama’s archipelago is a paradise! If you’re into the slow island life, then this is your spot.

Didn’t know much about this area until recently. You could spend weeks exploring different islands, each one with its own charm. Sleep by the beach or in a floating colorful house, see dolphins, turtles, surf, eat, hike, go diving… whatever your definition of paradise is you will find it here.

Many more places could be added to this list! These are just a few of my favorites after all these years. I’ll continue to update it over time. Which place is your favorite nomad destination so far?