Combining work and travel isn’t always easy; will I have good internet access? Will I be able to enjoy the country? Will I be productive? And yet, this is the lifestyle that more and more people are embracing.
I went on a month-long trip through Costa Rica, with my laptop in tow!
I'm leaving the office and heading out to travel around the country!
During this trip, my daily routine was very different from what I’m used to when I’m working from the office. But I have to admit that having coffee with my feet in the sand is much more appealing than in my office 😉
There were plenty of distractions: the beach, the pool, a sunset, cocktails—but also howler monkeys and their rather unsettling screeches… but I managed to adapt!
My typical week working remotely in the Pacific
Monday: The first day of the week. It’s the busiest day, so it’s mostly devoted to work. After this hard day, I enjoyed a small local beer on the beach while admiring a magnificent sunset over the beautiful Playa Grande, not far from Tamarindo.
Tuesday: Spent the morning handling customer calls and working. On the agenda for the afternoon: visiting various beaches along the coast in the Tamarindo area (Guanacaste). I especially recommend the fine-sand beach at Playa Penca or the stunning cove at Playa Dantita.
Wednesday: Another full day at my computer, but it ended with the discovery of a wonderful spot: Flor y Bambu. A charming family-friendly glamping site, just a short walk from Playa Grande, run by a French couple.
Thursday: Early in the morning, we set out on a snorkeling excursion to the Islas Catalinas —one of the country’s top spots where you can see a wide variety of marine life all year round. We encountered a leopard ray, a whale, magnificent fish of various colors, a fish that looked like a papaya, and, of course, our wonderful guide, who was none other than the spitting image of Jon Snow from *Game of Thrones* :O
Spent the afternoon working and visiting another hotel.
Friday: A morning of work that ended with a visit to a hotel in the city center. Early in the afternoon, I hit the road for my next destination: Santa Teresa, at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Once I arrived at my Airbnb, I checked my emails and worked a little more. Then the day ended with a nice dinner out with my friends.
Saturday: I spend the morning visiting two hotels in the Montezuma area, a small village right on the water. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy the waterfalls and the white-sand beach that runs along the village.
Sunday: A day of rest! On the agenda: the beach and coconut tasting while sunbathing. Late in the morning, we’ll tour a luxury beachfront hotel, the Nantipa. Before enjoying a delicious meal at their restaurant, we’ll do our part for the environment: each of us equipped with a bucket, we’ll head out to clean up the beach, post a photo on FiveMinutesCleaning, and before we know it, we’ll be back sipping our cocktails.
The end of a productive and sun-kissed week!
The Challenge of Internet Connectivity as a Digital Nomad
And yes, sometimes you might be staying at a unique lodge in the heart of the jungle or in a glamping tent on the beach, so there might not be Wi-Fi.
Don’t panic—you’ll always find a restaurant, a bar, or a coworking space where you can connect to the internet.
During my trip, I was able to work from the hotel where I was staying almost the entire time. In the Dominical area, I stayed at a glamping site where Wi-Fi was only available in the gardens… So we set up an “office” right in the middle of the gardens, under the coconut trees, sharing the space with the capuchin monkeys.
Why is Costa Rica the ideal destination for "teleworkers"?
These days, I think everyone dreams of getting away and enjoying a little freedom. Costa Rica is THE destination to make that happen. The country has handled the current crisis very well, which is why its borders have been open to the whole world since last November.
The country has been welcoming more and more digital nomads in recent months. It’s a safe destination in every way—most accommodations have Wi-Fi, there are activities nearby, and you can even enjoy lunch at a restaurant.
So, working remotely from Costa Rica is a great way to feel like you’re on vacation while staying productive in a beautiful country!
My little “tip”: Costa Rica offers a remote work visa valid for up to 2 years:“Residencia Temporal Empleados Especializados por cuenta propia.”
Eva, a travel planner even when she’s not in the office!
