Latin America made easy

Are you looking for the top digital nomad hotspots? Or for destinations off the beaten track? Maybe you are budget-sensitive and you are looking for affordable but cozy destinations.

Browse through this list of places in Latin America, organized by interest. From chilled beach extensions to the top trending destinations, here is our selection.

🌱 Travel health insurance for Latin America

👩🏼‍💻 Top digital nomad hotspots

• Medellin in Colombia
• Mexico City in Mexico
• Playa del Carmen in Mexico
• Florianópolis in Brazil

Medellin in Colombia

Medellin is among the top digital nomad hotspots in Latin America. Due to its mild climate, established digital nomad communities, and affordable cost of living. The best travel time is June to August, and December to February.

If you plan to stay longer in Colombia and want to change from mountainous Medellin to the coast, have a look into Cartagena. You can hop on a 1-hour flight from Medellin to Cartagena which costs you less than 50 Euro per ticket.

Mexico City in Mexico

Mexico City is one the most beautiful metropolis in Latin America. Huge palm trees line the streets of hip Condesa, busy Roma, and relaxed Cuauhtémoc districts. You find loads of apartments, laptop-friendly coffee shops, and a thriving digital nomad community in Mexico City. The best travel time to Mexico City is March to May before the rainy season and after the colder winter months.

If the gigantic Chapultepec park in the heart of Mexico City is not enough, take the bus and visit surrounding towns over the weekend, for example, San Miguel de Allende.

Playa del Carmen in Mexico

Cancun Airport is only a 1-hour drive north of Playa del Carmen and is one of the best-connected airports in Latin America. After arrival in Cancun, take the ADO bus to Playa del Carmen. Stay away from Avenida 5 and Avenida 10 for quieter nights, and join digital nomad meetups you find on Facebook.

If you are looking for a more relaxed beach alternative, visit Puerto Morelos, a small fishing beach town between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. If you are looking for an expensive but instagramable place, drive down to Tulum. On the one hand, Tulum is a huge construction zone, on the other hand, it is a hyped place for festival lovers.

Florianópolis in Brazil

Florianópolis is located on Santa Catarina island, and reached via a short flight from Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paolo. Known as a digital nomad hotspot in Brazil, you find plenty of accommodation, coworking, coliving, and cafés in this beach town. The best time to visit Florianópolis is from March to May.

We featured Florianópolis in our article Latin America on a budget: 7 cities for less than 1,500 Euro a month. The monthly cost of living in Florianópolis can be around 1,200 Euro a month.

👙 Beach destinations for nomads

• Caye Caulker in Belize
• Roatan in Honduras
• Riviera Maya in Mexico
• Bocas del Toro in Panama

Caye Caulker in Belize (ideal Mexico extension)

This is the diver's paradise as it is only 2 km from Belize's Barrier Reef. Snorkelers, sun-worshipers, beach lovers, and hammock addicts will be very satisfied on this little island. The best travel time is December to May.

Caye Caulker and other destinations in Belize are the ideal extensions when coming from Riviera Maya on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum area). You can take the bus from Mexico to Belize or hop on a quick flight from Cancun Airport to Belize City.

Roatan in Honduras (ideal Mexico extension)

The biggest island in the bay islands and the safest tourist destination in Honduras, which comes with regular power cuts (once a week minimum), tropical island life, diving, beaches, and a coworking space called Roatan Beach Desk. The best travel time is between February and August.

You can fly directly to Roatan island from Guatemala City, Belmopan in Belize. Also from Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Minneapolis, Denver, and Houston. There is a direct flight from Toronto to Roatan too!

Riviera Maya in Mexico

The Caribbean coast on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico is not just an ideal beach destination. You can find many coworking spaces here, and an established digital nomad community too. The best travel time is between December and March.

Places to choose from are Cancun (airport), Puerto Morelos (chilled beach town, 30 min. south of Cancun), Playa del Carmen (digital nomad and nightlife hotspot, 1 hour south of Cancun), Tulum (expensive construction site and yet super hyped festival beach town around 2-hour drive south of Cancun), and Bacalar (a relaxed fishing village close to the border of Belize).

Bocas del Toro in Panama

An exotic Caribbean island paradise discovered by backpackers, today a trending place for retirees and water sportsmen. The island region is located on the Atlantic coast, in the northwest corner of Panama, close to the Costa Rican border. The best time to visit Bocas del Toro is between January and May, plus September and October.

From Bocas del Toro, you can take a direct flight to San Jose in Costa Rica for less than 200 Euro. You can easily take a bus to Costa Rica from Bocas.

🤿 Best for waters sports

• Kitesurfing in Jericoacoara in Brazil
• Surfing in San Jose del Sur in Nicaragua
• Diving on the Riviera Maya in Mexico
• Snorkeling in the Great Blue Hole and Ambergris Caye in Belize

Kitesurfing in Jericoacoara in Brazil

Jericoacoara is for you if you have some time, and convenience is not top-priority. The small beach town is far away in the north of Brazil and it takes a while to get there. The small beach town is known as a world-class kitesurfing spot. The best travel time is July to December.

Take a flight to Fortaleza and an 8-hour drive to "Jeri" including the last part in a 4x4. You can take a flight to the Jericoacoara airport which is located 35 km outside of Jeri in the city of Cruz. Direct flights connect Jeri with Sao Paolo and Fortaleza.

Surfing in San Jose del Sur in Nicaragua

San Jose del Sur is a chilled and laid-back beach town with coworking and coliving facilities, cafés, and a small but increasing digital nomad scene. One of the main reasons why people flock to San Jose del Sur is surfing. The best travel time is between January and April.

San Juan del Sur is a 3-hour drive from Managua, the capital, and about the same time from Grenada.

Diving on the Riviera Maya in Mexico

The area between Holbox and Bacalar, including Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum offers one of the world's best dive spots.

You dive in crystal clear waters, explore cenotes and caves, and make watch marine wildlife, such as turtles, dolphins, and more than 4,000 types of fish living in the colorful reef around the Yucatan peninsula.

💎 Off-the-beaten-track highlights

• Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia
• Valparaiso in Chile
• Cuenca in Ecuador
• Boquete in Panama

Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia

Often overlooked by its neighbor Peru, Bolivia is one of the fewer visited countries in Latin America. When planning your trip to Bolivia's capital La Paz, be aware that the city lies more than 4,000 meters high in the mountains (possible altitude sickness).

The city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is only 400 meters high. You find apartments starting at around 500 Euro a month, as well as coworking spaces, and laptop-friendly coffee shops. The best travel time is between May and September.

Valparaiso in Chile

The country shows a stable economy, and it is rated as a safe place to travel. Despite the long flight for many people to reach Chile, once you are in the area, combine Chile with Argentina, or Peru. A beautiful little town is Valparaiso.

You can live in Valparaiso comfortably for less than 1,500 Euro a month. The best travel time is December to April when there is summer in the southern hemisphere.

Cuenca in Ecuador

Cuenca is one of the oldest cities and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage program. Due to its altitude of 2,560 meters, make sure to prepare yourself and stay hydrated at all times. The best travel time is between June and September.

We estimate that you can spend less than 1,500 Euro a month in Cuenca, and still have a comfortable lifestyle.

Boquete in Panama

Panama is sandwiched between its famous neighbors Costa Rica, and Colombia, and is often overlooked. Panama City is a modern city with a high quality of life. Boquete is a small town in the highlands of Panama, located on the Caldera river, and surrounded by coffee plantations (1,200 meters above sea level).

Boquete is ideal for outdoor fans including hiking, mountain biking, wildlife observation, or river rafting. The best travel time is January to April.

💶 Affordable destinations

• Cuenca in Ecuador
• Florianopolis in Brazil
• Antigua in Guatemala
• Lima in Peru
• Buenos Aires in Argentina
• Valparaiso in Chile
• Medellin in Colombia

We dedicated an entire article to affordable destinations in Latin America. You find a handy overview of the monthly cost of living.

📅 Ideal cities to stay for 1-month

• Florianópolis in Brazil
• Puerto Morelos in Mexico
• Antigua in Guatemala
• Cuenca in Ecuador
• Valparaiso in Chile

Florianópolis in Brazil

The relaxed atmosphere, affordable monthly cost of living, and beach access make Florianópolis an excellent destination to stay for 1-month or longer. The best time to travel to Florianópolis is between March and May.

Antigua in Guatemala

Located just outside of Guatemala City (1-hour drive), Antigua is a calm and relaxed place with small coffee shops and art galleries. The monthly cost of living is below 1,500 Euro which makes the town to a good 1-month home.

The best time to travel to Antigua is between November and March.

Puerto Morelos in Mexico

The small beach town is just a 30-minute drive south of Cancun (airport), and 30 minutes north of Playa. You find many retirees here which make the small town a decent-priced place without the hassle and bustle of Playa del Carmen or the crazy price scams of Tulum. When staying in Puerto Morelos, check out the gated communities of Escondido Selva which are safe and quiet. The best time to travel to Puerto Morelos is between November and March.

Cuenca in Ecuador

This small town in Ecuador is off-the-beaten-track and affordable, and Ecuador offers long visas and easy-to-get residencies. All in all, Cuenca is a relaxed town with a good variety of restaurants, coffee shops, coworking but also outdoor activities, and family-friendly facilities. The best travel time is between June and September.

Valparaiso in Chile

An affordable, chilled coastal town with historic parts and stunning viewpoints. You find a good amount of restaurants here, laptop-friendly coffee shops, as well as coworking spaces. The best travel time is between December and April.

🍼 Family-friendly countries

• Mexico
• Argentina
• Brazil

Mexico

Mexico is an excellent destination for nomad families. First, the country provides high standards in medical services. From Mexico City to Cancun, you find well-equipped clinics, English-speaking doctors, and specialists in Mexico. Second, in general, Mexicans adore children and you find many playgrounds in neighborhoods and around the zocalos (main central plazas in towns). The Riviera Maya is a fun beach area with plenty of outdoor activities for kids.

Argentina

Argentina is a safe country with high medical standards. You find international clinics with English-speaking staff in Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina.

Argentinians love children and you find plenty of things to do with kids. For example outdoor adventures like horseback riding, historic ranch adventures, camping, and wildlife safaris.

Brazil

From the Amazon rainforest, the Iguazu waterfalls, or silky beaches along the coast - Brazil is a fun destination for nomad families. The mix of cultures, from Latin America to Africa and Europe bring different cuisine to Brazil, and you find many eco-friendly and family-friendly accommodation in cities, such as Florianópolis, Rio de Janeiro, or Jericoacoara. Brazilians are very family-friendly and there will always be a playground around or a stranger participating in a game of peekaboo.

📸 The most hyped destinations in Latin America

• Tulum in Mexico
• Nosara in Costa Rica

Tulum in Mexico

Content creators, wanna-be models, influencers, or maybe just rich kids searching for the next Instagram glam. Tulum is one of the places where value for money or quality of life doesn't count anymore.

People attracted to Tulum say yes to overpaying for accommodation, scooter rentals, and restaurants. Combine this with a pushing tipping culture brought by the mentioned rich kids, and you get an idea of the vibe of Tulum. Definitely one of those places you can either love or hate.

Tulum got a reputation for beach parties and jungle festivals. However, be aware that you sleep among construction sites with high noise levels and very bad internet connection. Power cuts happen several times per week. I tried for six weeks to find the reason why Tulum is the most expensive and most hyped place in Mexico but can't find any reason why foreigners flock to it.

Nosara in Costa Rica

Another overpriced and hyped beach destination in Latin America is Nosara in Costa Rica. Due to a high gentrification ratio, almost no locals can afford to live in the expat-occupied beach areas.

Foreigners are happily paying 15 Euro for a small bowl of granola or avo on toast, several thousand Euro a month for accommodation and hundreds of Euro just to rent a scooter.

The over-development leads to power cuts and water shortages for the local communities which are left behind by the authorities. Again, I tried hard to find Nosara worth the money but I can't find reasons why people take annual pilgrimages to celebrate themselves.

🪪 Countries with easy-to-get residencies and digital nomad visas

• Brazil
• Ecuador
• Mexico

Brazil

The country offers a digital nomad visa for 1 year. You need to show a minimum income of 1,400 Euro a month or 17,000 Euro funds in your bank account. The digital nomad visa costs 120 Euro.

Ecuador

For an investment of 457 Euro, you can apply for a 2-year digital nomad visa. You need to proof a monthly income of 1,200 Euro, or funds of 15,510 Euro which you received over the past 12 months.

Mexico

Mexico does not offer a dedicated digital nomad visa, however, temporary residency is easy-to-get. Read the details in our guide Mexico for nomads.

💡 Summary