Don’t overlook the capital city of San José as your digital nomad base in Costa Rica.
If you’re a digital nomad dreaming of spending time working remotely from Costa Rica, it’s likely you’re imagining being based in a quaint beach town or tucked away in the jungle surrounded by nature. While these settings are surely what draws tourists and digital nomads to Costa Rica, you shouldn’t overlook the benefits of a base in the capital city of San José.
San José is right in the center of the country, making it the ideal place to explore the rest of the country from. You can reach the Central Pacific in 1-2 hours, Guanacaste in 4-5 hours, and the Caribbean in 4-5 hours. If you want to see volcanoes, Poás and Irazú are both around an hour away, and Arenal is about 3 hours away. Hikes to waterfalls or lookout points are all around the central valley within an hour or two of the center, as well as campsites, coffee farms, and tours at other local fincas if you’re looking for day excursions.
Being based in the San José area has many other logistical benefits for digital nomads. You’ll find more affordable, more modern rental options in the metropolitan area, and more options for affordable food and shopping as well. Saving on your standard living costs will allow you to have a higher travel budget. It’s also more convenient to get things done in the city, and take advantage of things like taxis, food delivery services, messengers, and other services.
Always at the top of the list for digital nomads is WIFI, and it’s here in the metropolitan area where you’ll have the fastest and most reliable connections. Power outages are not nearly as common as they are in coastal towns either, so you’ll be able to count on your connection for remote work. This is especially important if you work standard hours for a company and they expect you to be online all day and able to be reached for video calls and chats. There is nothing more stressful that a surprise power or internet outage in the middle of your work day when your company is counting on you. So being in an area with this level of reliability is a non-negotiable for those who have this kind of job.
The weather in the central valley is very comfortable, known for year-round spring temperatures. During the rainy season from May to October it will be cooler, with almost daily afternoon rain storms. In the dry season from November to April, you’ll have steady sun and fresh breezes. It never gets too hot or cold here though, compared to the coastal areas that have much more extreme heat and humidity.
Restaurants, art, music, events and other cultural activities are another reason working remotely from San José is not a bad idea. There are restaurants with international cuisine and great service in neighborhoods like Barrio Escalante and Escazú. Barrio Escalante is actually known as the gastronomic district, where you’ll find a variety of food from all around the world in just a few blocks radius.
Here are a list of my favorites for digital nomads who are based in the San José greater metropolitan area.
Best Apartment Building in Downtown: URBN Escalante. A modern building with amazing community amenities, including a co-working center and rooftop lounge. Search on AirBnb for units for rent, or stay in the studio apartment that I did.
Favorite Cafes: Franco in Escalante & Escazú, Búlali in Escazú & Lindora
Closest Place for a Beautiful Day Hike: Hacienda La Chimba in Santa Ana.
Best Co-working with a Day Pass: Gracias in Escalate and La California
Easiest Beach Escape with Co-working: Selina Jacó