Best cheap remote work location in the Americas, North of Peru/Ecuador?

Ronnie55

Ronnie55

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Mar 12, 2013
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Curious if anyone has experiences in a good 'digital nomad' spot in north or central america, or Peru, Ecuador, etc. (I don't want to go further south than that).

Criteria: cheap, relatively safe w/ common sense, decent internet speed, warm weather

I live in the US right now and would be leaving in Feb. Have to be back 2-3 months later so I'm not eager to go all the way to Asia. I'd likely do that on the next trip when I have more than a few months.

Eastern Europe isn't that far but it'd be cold in February, so that's out too.

Ideas I've had: Playa Del Carmen Mexico (or elsewhere in Mexico), Cuenca Ecuador, Lima Peru. No idea what else I could do really. Need reliable internet otherwise I'd love to do Nicaragua or something.
 


Costa rica has the biggest infrastructure in central america, but not as cheap to live as it used to be.

Brazil and Mexico have the most online users. Mexican coasts are great, never been to brazil.

If you smoke pot stay the fuck away from Nicaragua.

Honduras is nice too but no idea about internet.
 
shindig said:
Costa rica has the biggest infrastructure in central america, but not as cheap to live as it used to be.

Brazil and Mexico have the most online users. Mexican coasts are great, never been to brazil.

If you smoke pot stay the fuck away from Nicaragua.

Honduras is nice too but no idea about internet.
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Coastal MX sounds fine. Any recommendations? Heard baja del sur has shit internet. Heard good stuff about puerto vallarta, oaxaca, etc. Might even consider Merida in yucatan peninsula. Im open to hearing about any safe recommended spots.

Also whats with nicaragua and pot haha? I guess i xan google it when i get home. Curious though
 
I didn't find internet that bad in Nicaragua but I'm from Australia so anything is an improvement. Power was a bit dicey but I didn't need to be online 24/7.

Colombia is pretty sweet but is starting to become a bit more expensive as people discover it. Medellin if you want year round Spring temperatures.

Friends just did Guadalajara in Mexico and raved about it.
 
Ronnie55 said:
Coastal MX sounds fine. Any recommendations? Heard baja del sur has shit internet. Heard good stuff about puerto vallarta, oaxaca, etc. Might even consider Merida in yucatan peninsula. Im open to hearing about any safe recommended spots.

Also whats with nicaragua and pot haha? I guess i xan google it when i get home. Curious though
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Puerto Vallarta is really nice.

On pot, a guy I went to high school with was down there starting a surf shop, bought an ounce and as he was heading away in a taxi the cops arrested him immediately. He spent a couple years down there in prison and apparently it was really bad, no food, killed someone, struggled to survive.
 
Brazil, uber fast internet and most of the younger generation speaks english. Hire security, but everything down there is cheap as fuck.

Jamaica is another one, uber, uber cheap.
 
I'm definitely NOT a fan of Costa Rica. I thought it sucked, but some good dudes on this forum like it and I can't argue with that.

However, your reasoning doesn't seem quite right. You don't want to travel "further than that this time". Plane trips aren't much longer no matter where you go in the world. Get a trip with low layovers and it can be quicker to go to Asia than Central America.

Personally if it was me, I would go back to Colombia. Nice place, and safe compared to it's once gory past. You need to speak Spanish though.

IMO it just seems like the infrastructure in most of Central America just sucks. Bad food, dusty roads, crap internet and dangerous places. PLENTY of exceptions, but I'll stick with Europe/Asia all day long.
 
Fatbat said:
Know a few people in Costa Rica who seem to be really happy there, both from this forum and from the online gaming business (poker, casino, etc.). I've also heard nothing but good things about Colombia.
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[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQ8PWYnu04[/ame]
 
What are the costs of living in the places you mentioned? Rent for a house or 2 bed apartment, meals out, drinks etc.

I have no clue about South America so I'm wondering how it compares to South East Asia.
 
luke6966 said:
What are the costs of living in the places you mentioned? Rent for a house or 2 bed apartment, meals out, drinks etc.

I have no clue about South America so I'm wondering how it compares to South East Asia.
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My uncle bought a house in Costa Rica in the mountains near Puriscal, on a few acres for $60k. Not sure about rent.


Belize is awesome but expensive compared to the rest of central america. It use to be a British colony so the money still has the queen on it and English is spoken. It was around $100/night to rent a cabin on the water in the off season when I was there. If you like the water it's paradise, great barrier reef, good fishing, clear warm water, lots of species.
 
evolutionvision said:
I'm definitely NOT a fan of Costa Rica. I thought it sucked, but some good dudes on this forum like it and I can't argue with that.

However, your reasoning doesn't seem quite right. You don't want to travel "further than that this time". Plane trips aren't much longer no matter where you go in the world. Get a trip with low layovers and it can be quicker to go to Asia than Central America.

Personally if it was me, I would go back to Colombia. Nice place, and safe compared to it's once gory past. You need to speak Spanish though.

IMO it just seems like the infrastructure in most of Central America just sucks. Bad food, dusty roads, crap internet and dangerous places. PLENTY of exceptions, but I'll stick with Europe/Asia all day long.
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You're absolutely right my logic isn't spot-on. I agree. It can take 3 flights and long layovers to get 2k miles, and you can find a direct flight to go 5k miles.

I'll look at Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica. Tons of good ideas in this thread.

Belize doesn't appeal to me. Heard it's an expensive tourist-trap ripoff with prices far exceeding elsewhere in central america.
 
It's an old post but let's give my 2 cents.

I live in Brazil and I travel to other countries in Latin America twice a month. It's depends of what you want (like make new business, get rest or go out every night). Mexico doesn't have a good infrastructure; Ecuador also but the local currency is USD (no foreign exchange for you); Peru I don't see why someone wants to go there, unless if you want to go to Machu Picchu for just visit the city. Brazil is a different monster since there are a lot of places that you can stay. If you don't like one city you can to another that is completely different.

Argentina is a good place also. Chile is very old-fashion but has one of the best infrastructure of latin america. Costa Rica is ok. Colombia for me is one of the best place that join all of this (good infrastructure, awesome place - from museum to beach and beautiful ladies).

Send me a PM if you want more information.
 
rija71 said:
Brazil is a different monster since there are a lot of places that you can stay. If you don't like one city you can to another that is completely different.
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hang on, hang on, hang on... so you're saying in brazil, they let you go to other cities?


Smells-Like-Bullshit_o_99704.jpg
 
drave said:
hang on, hang on, hang on... so you're saying in brazil, they let you go to other cities?


Smells-Like-Bullshit_o_99704.jpg
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No. He's saying that there's diversity between the cities. Hence, you have more to choose from in one country vs assuming that every city will be similar. For example Rio vs Florianopolis.
 
shindig said:
Puerto Vallarta is really nice.

On pot, a guy I went to high school with was down there starting a surf shop, bought an ounce and as he was heading away in a taxi the cops arrested him immediately. He spent a couple years down there in prison and apparently it was really bad, no food, killed someone, struggled to survive.
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I go to Puerto Vallarta, 4-5 times a year. I think renting down there is pretty reasonable. You get a lot for your money.

PV also doesn't have the cartel/security problems the other parts of Mexico face.

At the clubs you can get bottle service with unlimited bottles for like $100, and the best table.
 
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