Following on from last week’s article about the most popular digital nomad hotspots in Europe, we are now looking at South America for our travel inspiration. There are some truly stunning cities on this list and they are popular with digital nomads for a good reason.
While Peru is known for its appeal to outdoorsy types, its capital Lima, is also a draw for the international digital nomad community. It’s an affordable and walkable city with fast internet connections.
There are co-living options in Lima and two Selina coliving options in different neighbourhoods. Lima is a very green city with lots of beautiful parks, and the gastronomic experience is well worth sampling.
Peru is nestled in the Andes mountain range and is best known for being the home of ancient Inca ruins such as Machu Picchu.
The 43-kilometre Inca Trail is not for the faint of heart, with soaring vistas and subtropical vegetation allowing a glimpse into the heart of the wilderness.
The ecological diversity means that hikers along this route are likely to see endangered species of animal, such as the spectacled bear and rare birds.
While Peru is known for its appeal to outdoorsy types, its capital Lima, is also a draw for the international digital nomad community. It’s an affordable and walkable city with fast internet connections.
There are co-living apartment options in Lima and two Selina coliving options in different neighbourhoods. Lima is a very green city with lots of beautiful parks, and the gastronomic experience is well worth sampling.
A surfer’s paradise, the coastal city of Florianopolis is a popular place for beach-loving digital nomads to spend some time. It is a relatively small city with around 500,000 people and is affordable to stay in. There are even coliving apartments to stay in with coworking spaces attached for around £150 per month.
There are some excellent options for accommodation, and there are multiple good coworking options that can help you find your focus and productivity in such a lovely place.
There are many hiking trails close to Florianopolis, and this will appeal to people who have fitness in mind when travelling.
Like much of Brazil, it isn’t one of the safest places, but as long as remote workers are mindful of their surroundings and their belongings, there shouldn’t be a problem.
The best neighbourhoods to stay in are Santo Antonio de Lisboa and Costa de Lagoa. For those interested in history, there are many historical buildings dating back to colonial times here.
Many visitors say that Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, has the feel of a European city. Unlike some of the other countries in South America, as many as 95% of the population in Argentina are descendants of European settlers.
Buenos Aires is a modern, bustling capital city and is frequently given good quality of life scores by people who have visited.
It is a very green city with vibrant and beautiful street art. There is an excellent cafe culture, and many coffee shops open later than in Europe, which can be great for digital nomads who want to work later into the evening. There are also coliving options for those who are looking to find their tribe here.
The internet infrastructure is fast and reliable, and there is always a lot happening for digital nomads with regular meetups.
If you have always wanted to learn how to dance the tango, then this is the place for you. Buenos Aires, in particular is very famous for tango, and going to a show is a must while you are there.
The food in Buenos Aires is fantastic, with Asado, a fine selection of barbecued meats, being a popular choice, as well as Provoletta, which is a large round disc of cheese topped with garlic, chilli and herbs, then grilled.
Buenos Aires, and Argentina, more generally, have a low cost of living. Having said that prices have begun to rise a little in more recent years as there have been changes to the unofficial currency exchange rate called the “Dollar Blue”.
This runs alongside the official exchange rate for the US Dollar and offers more local currency per dollar, though the difference between the two has tightened in recent years.
This means it is getting a little more expensive for remote workers and long-term visitors who could previously benefit from this.
Despite being the best-known city in Brazil, Rio isn’t actually the capital city. The capital city is Brasilia, which was built in the 1960s to be the administrative centre of the country, uniting all of the branches of government in one place.
Rio is definitely the more popular of the two in digital nomad life, with its proximity to the famous Copacabana beach being a significant factor.
The iconic 30-metre-high “Christ the Redeemer” statue that overlooks the city is one of the most recognisable images from Rio and makes for a great Instagram shot.
Rio is more expensive than much of the country, which is understandable given that it is the capital city. It is still an affordable city to visit, though, and it is crucial to understand the sheer scale of Rio. Coworksurf is a co-living and working spot near the beach that is perfect for keen surfers.
There are 6.7 Million people in Rio, and it is a bustling city with excellent transport connections.
The quality of life is generally rated as being good, and depending on when you go, you may be lucky enough to catch the world-famous Rio Carnival.
As with most places in Brazil, crime is something to be aware of but common sense should ensure that most people are safe from street crime.
Beautiful street art, high-rise modern buildings and beautiful green parkland characterise Medellin, the second-largest city in Colombia, behind Bogota.
It is a city that is particularly noted for its vibrant nightlife and beautiful people.
There is an excellent cafe culture, with good internet and many different options for coliving found at Medellin Coliving and working. Medellin sits in a mini valley, surrounded by mountains and is incredibly scenic.
Because of the proximity of the mountains, it is also popular with hikers and people who like the outdoor life.
You can check out everything you need to know about the Colombia digital nomad visa.
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