Digital Nomad Guide to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Want to know what San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua is like for remote workers? Here's our guide to finding coworking, coffee shops, Wifi and what to do when staying in Nicaragua.

Digital Nomad Guide to Nicaragua:

Nicaragua is a small country in Central America, located between Costa Rica and Honduras. The most popular places to stay for remote workers are in San Juan del Sur, Ometepe and Granada. The Corn Islands are also very popular for beach getaways.

San Juan del Sur

This is a beach side town in the south of Nicaragua, close to the border of Costa Rica. From here, you can explore the surf beaches in Maderas, head to Ometepe for the day, and easily travel down to Costa Rica.

Ometepe

There are 2 volcanoes in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, that form the island of Ometepe. It's a popular spot for kayaking, hiking, volcano surfing and swimming in natural pools.

Granada

Granada is a town on the north shore of Lake Nicaragua, perhaps best known for it's neo-classical buildings dating back to the 16th Century.

Ultimately, you'll need a car to see the most of Nicaragua.

Driving in Nicaragua

The best way to get around Nicaragua is by car- especially if you're carrying a surf board or going to and from the beaches.

Uber in Nicaragua

There is no Uber in Nicaragua. However, there are alternative ride-sharing services available in the country: 

• Aventón - A mobile app similar to Uber. Note that payments are typically made in cash.
• Ray Nicaragua - Another application offering various modes of transportation, including ride-sharing options. This service also generally requires cash payments.
• InDriver - A ride-sharing app that allows passengers to propose a fare for their trip, which drivers can accept, decline, or negotiate. This service is available in several cities across Nicaragua.

Many travelers are wary of Nicaragua, due to the political protests in 2018. Citizens chose to protest against a corrupt government, and unfortunately, these were met with force. Since then, tourism has been heavily affected, but tourism safety remains high - you just need to be more cautious than you may otherwise be. Check out the Broke Backpacker's full guide to staying safe in Nicaragua.

While there are remote workers here, it can be harder to meet people as a traveler. By staying in Outsite San Juan del Sur, you're immediately connected with other travelers through the WhatsApp Group.

Outsite is the only official coworking/coliving space in San Juan del Sur at the time of writing. You can find a handful of coworking spaces in Managua including Huddle and Co.Work.
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Cafes with WiFi in San Juan del Sur

The following recommendations may be affected by the ongoing pandemic, always check before you set off.

Catering to travelers and expats, this cafe serves health focused plates, great smoothies, and fresh juices. The ambiance is relaxing, and while they do have wifi available, it's not perfect. 

Check out Tostaderia for smoothies, granola, coffee and breakfast plates.

By day, Simon Says is a place to get a healthy fix of breakfast and blended fruit - by night, enjoy their karaoke and dance events.

San Juan del Sur offers great options to keep your fitness routine on track.

A variety of yoga classes, held in an open air shala.

This gym is rough and ready, but has everything you need for a good workout from monkey bars to free weights. There are also plenty of classes.

Farmers Markets:

Casa Oro holds a farmers market every Saturday morning, and there are usually vendors selling fresh fruit around town. There are also local businesses who will happily deliver fruit and vegetables to your door - join the farmers market Facebook group to get connected.

Grocery Stores:

Super X Press is a basic supermarket with meat, produce, alcohol, and toiletries. Miscelania Sánchez has plenty of items imported from the U.S. 

For specialty organic/gluten-free/vegan items, check out Nica Naturals.

Remanso

The is the most popular surf beach for beginners close around. The (mostly) soft, small waves here are perfect for beginners in San Juan del Sur.

Maderas

20 minutes north of San Juan, you'll find Maderas - a small surf village with a beach bar to boot. This is one of the most consistent places to find waves, occasionally you'll get barrels and waves up to 8ft+.

Hermosa

You might know this mile long beach as the location of Survivor years ago. It's become a very popular among surfers of all levels.

Looking for a place to stay in Nicaragua? Check out your options at Outsite San Juan del Sur.