If your goal for working remotely is to be able to be closer to nature and have time for daily appreciation of the natural world, Monteverde, Costa Rica might be what you’re looking for. This lush mountain area is part of a cloud forrest, which is basically a rainforest at a higher elevation. The environment is dense with greenery and fog, with frequent unpredictable rain showers. Moss covers just about everything, and the sound of the rainforest creatures creates a constant magical soundtrack.
There are two national preserves to visit here and immerse yourself in the natural environment. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. You’ll get to cross hanging bridges and observe the canopy below, and look out for animals that are unique to this area, such as the quetzal. These forests are also home to many wild cats, including jaguars, ocelots, and pumas. In the Santa Elena Reserve you might see spider monkeys, which do not live in the Monteverde reserve. This is just one example of how different the biodiversity can be in such a small area.
To provide the perfect balance between nature and modern technology for digital nomads, the small town of Santa Elena is the hub for restaurants, cafes and other services. There is also a Selina hostel on the road to the Monteverde reserve that has a coworking center with an average WiFi Speed of 15 – 30 Mbps. A daily hot desk here costs $10, weekly is $38 and monthly $128.
Monteverde is best for a short- to mid-term stay. Rentals that are nomad-friendly will most likely be closer to the town of Santa Elena, to have more reliable internet. Starting off at Selina or an AirBnb will be your best bet until you get a feel for the area. Unless you are a complete nature enthusiast, a month here will probably be enough to see everything on your list. To stay here longer or live farther from town, you’ll probably need to invest in a 4×4 vehicle and have work that is more flexible with internet connection gettin spottier as you head farther into the mountains.