If you want to travel for an extended amount of time Latin America is muycaliente. Caribbean towns with crystal blue waters, cities where you can go to the beach and explore the jungle in the same day. Places with a very low cost of living and thriving international entrepreneurial communities. If you want to travel for a month or more while you work, our southern neighbors offer excellent locations. Here are the top 10 based on your interests.
Chachapoyas, Peru
Best place to travel on a budget
The monthly cost of short term living in Chachapoyas will cost you less than $400 for a month long vacation in this world class destination off the tourist trail. The region’s most famous site is Kuélap, a fortified town built by the Chachapoyas culture starting in the sixth century and abandoned in the sixteenth. Kuélap feels like someone discovered it about three weeks ago. Trees rise up between ruined buildings. Animals are all around. Peek between the stones of one of the walls and you will see human bones, placed there nearly a millennium ago. The fact that you’ll have to share this place with so few people makes it even more special.
Gocta is another must-see. The waterfall was “discovered” less than a decade ago. A path winds from the village of San Pablo de Valera through coffee fields, river valleys and cloud forest before reaching the base of the upper fall. If you don’t feel that you could handle the five-hour round-trip hike, there are also horses for rent.
There are many more archaeological and outdoor activities to enjoy yourself while you’re in Chachapoyas. There is a small group of entrepreneurs working their remotely that you’ll be sure to meet up with and they might even be generous enough to show you around. Buy them a meal as a thank you, it should set you back around $2.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Best place for beautiful weather
Pack your swimsuit and little else. San Juan has crystal blue waters and a year round temperature hovering near 81 degrees. Beaches are part of everyday life in San Juan, you’ll be able to enjoy lots of sunshine, relaxation, and fun on the beach. Choose from small, intimate beaches, to long, wide, crescent beaches, and from calm waters to areas with more surf. If you want a destination where you can play in the water, San Juan is an ideal location.
San Juan has a startup community that is just beginning to take shape with some startups that are beginning to do great things. Finding other like minded founders should be easy to do while sipping a Pina Colada on the beach.
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Best place to enjoy the fresh air
Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on the Caribbean Coast, the relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. Puerto Viejo has world class surf with extreme rip tides that should only be ventured into by expert surfers. There is much calmer water nearby where you can enjoy snorkeling or kayaking.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Best place for nightlife
There is a significant Canadian, European and Argentinian influence in Playa del Carmen, with a number of local business proprietors drawn from the American, South American and European expatriate community.
5th Avenue is the main street that runs parallel to the ocean. It is commonly referred to as, “Playa del Carmen’s Pedestrian Walkway”. It is a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of a carnival. You might see live lions, fire breathers, giant boa constrictors and a variety of characters.
There are also lots of bars along 5th making it a good place to party. The after hour clubs, swing into action after midnight. These clubs are located on the beach away from the majority of hotels and resorts because of the noise level.
Hermosillo, Mexico
Best place to hang out with other digital nomads
Hermosillo’s International Airport is one of the busiest in Mexico, as it is in the center of Mexico’s northwest and has daily scheduled flights from Dallas, Phoenix and LA. Most American tourists are just passing through Hermosillo on their way to one of the nearby beaches. Unfortunately for them, they don't know what they're missing in this clean, modern, and beautiful city.
Florianopolis, Brazil
Friendliest place for foreigners
One of the most popular destinations in Brazil for people who are looking for superb beaches, beautiful scenery, interesting culture and friendly people. A flourishing city in Brazil that is prominent for its ideal shorelines, great waves for surfing, exquisite seafood based cuisine and 42 beaches with a different one for every type of traveler. Most of the attractions in Florianopolis are historic and interesting. The idyllic view is unforgettable from every part of the city.
Panama City, Panama
Best place to visit in the winter
An urban metropolis Panama City is a great home base to work out of while you explore the rest of Panama. The capital rides the rails of chaos, with traffic jams, wayward taxis and casinos stacked between chic clubs and construction sites. Carnaval, around mid-February, is a fun time with parades and lots of partying.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Best place to visit in the fall
From September - December (Spring in Argentina) you can find mild temperatures, thin crowds, colorful foliage and reasonable hotel prices. Atmospheric old neighborhoods are rife with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife, and Buenos Aires’ European heritage is evident in its architecture, boulevards and parks.
Despite the country’s challenges, there has been a rise in tech development services that is fueling the growth of the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. One of the city’s most influential entrepreneurial organizations, Startup Buenos Aires, has been successful in creating a sustainable ecosystem for local startups. Recently, the government of the City of Buenos Aires announced that it’s launching an initiative to support local startup accelerators that focuses on early-stage startups. The initiative will provide an investment of $3.5 million, of which $2.25 million will go to five accelerators.
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Best place to visit in the spring
Not really on the map as far as a startup hub St. Thomas is a beautiful place with a million things to do. St. Thomas has anything you would need in an American city along with secluded white sand beaches close by. This is a place to work out of when you have some success under your belt and traveling is more of a priority than your budget.
Go shopping and sailing, snorkeling and sightseeing, or diving and dining. Don’t forget to grab your passport so that you can also visit the British Virgin Islands.
Cusco, Peru
Best place to visit in the summer
A “city in the clouds,” Cusco is not only the gateway to Machu Picchu, but the art and history make it the ultimate place to experience being outside of the typical tourist attractions.
The best time to visit Cusco is from June to mid-September. Though temperatures are in the mid- to upper 60s throughout the year, the city sees few rain showers during its winter months. Still, this is peak tourist season, so expect plenty of fellow trekkers beside you as marvel at iconic sites. To escape swells of tourists and high room rates, visit during late September.