Looking for somewhere to score fun waves and work while you do it? Turns out many top surf destinations are also excellent for working online. Here are the world’s best digital nomad surf locations, all of which combine sick waves, epic places to stay, and most importantly, good wifi.
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The Best Digital Nomad Surf Destinations
All over the globe, there are hundreds of excellent spots with cooking waves, quirky cafes, and great accommodations that allow you to live comfortably and earn money from your laptop.
While all you really need is a good wifi connection and the type of wave you love to surf, you wanna have a great lifestyle as well, right? Here are some of the best digital nomad surf destinations on the planet.
Bali
Bali has been a digital nomad hotspot for years now and more or less where the term itself came from. The island has also been one of the world’s top surf destinations for decades, and for good reason.
The island of the gods boasts incredible world-class waves, affordable cost of living, and accommodations for all budgets. It’s as if the place was designed for surfers and those wanting to live a comfortable or luxurious lifestyle while working online. So how do you go to Bali and start working online?
Visas
A 30-day visa on arrival or a 60-day extendable visa for most countries. Check the Indonesian visa requirements for your country here. Indonesia also offers creative and business visas available to those looking to provide creative services or do business in the country.
The Waves
World-class. The surf spots in Bali are no secret. From the long blue walls of Uluwatu, the fun beach-break wedges of Canggu, to the punchy rights of Keramas, the list goes on. Add in tropical year-round weather and consistency, and you have the recipe for an unbeatable surf destination. Alternatively, you could head further North to the more peaceful surf towns of Balian or Medewi.
Best Areas
Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Medewi
Co-Working Spaces
Co-work spaces are available all over Bali, most of which are located in Canggu’s digital nomad surfing hotspot. You can check out some of the top co-working spaces here.
- Social Life - 10/10
- Cost of Living - 8/10
- Nature - 6/10
- Wifi - 10/10
Costa Rica
Another one of the world’s best surf destinations, and while not the cheapest country in Central America, The country has some of the best waves and standards of living in the region. Fun beach breaks, tropical sun, bath water ocean, and various other epic activities position Costa Rica as one of the best and most popular digital nomad surf locations on the planet.
Visas
Costa Rica offers a 3-month visa-on-arrival tourist visa for residents of most countries. However, you can also apply for a digital nomad visa, which allows you to live and work in the country for longer. Check out more details on your Costa Rica digital nomad visa here.
The Waves
Fun tropical beach breaks with world-class setups thrown into the mix. You’ve seen Witches Rock and heard whispers of Salsa Brava, but in between those premier spots, there’s an abundance of fun beach breaks and reefs all over the country.
Best Areas
Co-Working Spaces
Find out all the best co-working spaces in Costa Rica here.
Summary
- Social Life - 8/10
- Cost of Living - 4/10
- Nature - 10/10
- Wifi - 8/10
Portugal
One of Europe’s premier surf destinations, and for good reason. The coast of Portugal provides year-round swells from the active North Atlantic and has a jagged coastline that sculpts those deep ocean swells into a variety of surf setups, from world-class spots like Coxos in Ericeira and Supertubos in Peniche to the playful beach breaks of the Algarve and uncountable point breaks, slabs and mysto reefs in between, Portugal really does have it in terms of surf…
The country is also becoming one of the world’s best digital nomad locations, with huge numbers of remote workers flocking to cities like Lisbon and Porto to enjoy a relatively low cost of living, high standard of living, temperate climate, and culture. There is now a specific digital nomad visa for the country, positioning Portugal as one of the best European digital nomad surfing destinations on earth.
Visas
The recently introduced digital nomad visa allows you to work while nipping out for some vision at Supertubos on your lunch break; not a bad deal, huh? You can find out more about Portugal’s new Digital Nomad Visa here. Otherwise, three-month tourist visas are available on arrival for most countries.
The Waves
World-class. Portugal’s waves are no secret, and with an ever-increasing world surfing attention focused on the country, it seems like waves in Portugal spring up all over the place. There is literally every type of wave you could ever hope to surf.
Best Areas
Co-Working Spaces
Check out the full list of the best co-working spaces in Portugal here.
Summary
- Social Life - 8/10
- Cost of Living - 6/10
- Nature - 7/10
- Wifi - 9/10
El Salvador
While El Salvador is a well-established surf destination, as well as one of the cheapest surf destinations you’ll ever visit, what you may not know is the country is excellent for a digital nomad. El Tunco, the small but popular beach town, is perfect for getting work done online and surfing dreamy right points on your lunch break…
Visas
Visa on arrival (3 months) for most countries. Find out more about your El Salvador visa here.
The Waves
World-class right points. While the right points are what you come here for, there are also a number of other cobblestone peaks and beach breaks to fill your boots. Check out Sunzal, Punta Roca and El Zonte. For a more detailed breakdown, check out the complete guide to surfing in El Salvador.
Best Areas
El Tunco, El Zonte, La Libertad
Co-Working Spaces
Discover the best El Salvador co-work spaces here.
Summary
- Social Life - 8/10
- Cost of Living - 9/10
- Nature - 5/10
- Wifi - 8/10
Looking for the perfect workspace to get stuck into work, and get waves? Check out Outsite. Outsite have some incredible co-work/co-living spaces around the globe, many of them in top surf destinations. Learn more about Outsite here.
Mexico
Mexico’s abundance of world-class waves is no secret; with perfect right points and thumping beach breaks; you have every type of wave you’ll ever need to surf here. The country has long been on the traveling surfer’s agenda and is a perfect destination to combine surfing and the digital nomad lifestyle.
The country already has some well-established digital nomad hotspots. Puerto Escondido and Sayulita are two of the most popular and make working online and surfing the best waves of your life less of a dream and more of a reality.
Visas
3 months visa-on-arrival for most European passport holders and 6-month visas available for US residents.
The Waves
World-class. Perfect right points and thumping beach breaks are the focus of the country’s southern surf spots, while further North hosts some more playful options for loggers and those seeking something more peaceful than 10ft shore break slabs. Sayulita, in particular, is regarded as one of the best beginner surf destinations on the planet.
Best Areas
Co-Working Spaces
Discover Mexico’s best co-work spaces here.
Summary
- Social Life - 7/10
- Cost of Living - 9/10
- Nature - 6/10
- Wifi - 6/10
Peru
Latin America has excellent digital nomad locations and some of the cheapest surf destinations on the planet. With a coastline thousands of Ks long, Peru showcases a number of world-class waves, most of which are super long left-hand points.
Throw in a low cost of living, fantastic backpacker infrastructure, unique culture, and other non-surfing things to do; you have a fabulous recipe for a digital nomad surfing hotspot.
Visas
3-month visa on arrival for most countries, but check your visa rules for Peru here.
The Waves
Peru is famous for Chicama and Mancora, but with such a long coastline exposed to the deep South Pacific swells, there are hundreds of waves in all forms suited for every ability. But I’ll let you find most of them yourself! Read more about surfing in Peru here.
Best Areas
Co-Working Spaces
Find the best co-working spaces for digital nomad surfers in Peru here.
Summary
- Social Life - 6/10
- Cost of Living - 7/10
- Nature - 7/10
- Wifi - 6/10
South Africa
Famous for J-bay, a table-shaped mountain, and shark attacks, there is actually more to South Africa than meets the surfing eye. With a favorable currency conversion, coming from the US/Europe, South Africa is one of the cheapest surf destinations with a great standard of living and outstanding non-surfing activities to match.
As a digital nomad, you can utilize this combo to make a living, save money and enjoy some of the numerous ocean and land-based spoils.
Visas
Visa on arrival 3-6 months available for most countries. Check South African visa requirements for your country here.
The Waves
Incredible waves in all different forms. From the pristine J-Bay walls, the thumping beach breaks of the west coast, to the hundreds of reefs, beachies, and points that litter the South African coast. If you’re willing to explore, you can score every type of wave here; just watch out because it’s fricking sharky!
Best Areas
Cape Town, J-Bay, Durban
Co-Working Spaces
Find South Africa’s best workspaces for surfing digital nomads.
Summary
- Social Life - 5/10
- Cost of Living - 7/10
- Nature - 10/10
- Wifi - 9/10
Australia
Yep, I know. Australia doesn’t spring to mind as a digital nomad hotspot. As you can’t exactly leverage a favorable currency conversion here, and the cost of living is extremely high. But hear me out.
While the cost of living is incredibly high, the standard of living you’ll get for your dollar is even higher, and the waves, well, the waves speak for themselves…
With a massive coastline, Australia has every type of wave you could ever hope to surf in one lifetime. With world-class points, beach breaks, and beautiful natural settings, the country wasn’t nicknamed “The Lucky Country” for no reason.
Visas
Australia offers WHV for many countries, allowing you to live and work in the country for 1 year, more if you complete specific agricultural work. Otherwise, 3-month and 6-month visas are the go.
The Waves
Right-hand points, beach breaks, and slabs. Waves of all kinds across the entire country. You ought to break Aus down into each state if you want to properly explore the potential; it’s just that big and that good.
Best Areas
Gold Coast, Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Margaret River
Co-Working Spaces
Discover Australia’s best co-working spaces here.
Summary
- Social Life - 7/10
- Cost of Living - 3/10
- Nature - 9/10
- Wifi - 9/10
Florianopolis, Brazil
Floripa, is regarded by Brazilians as one of the bets places to be a surfer in the whole country. The place is warm year-round and showcases countless punchy beach breaks, peeling playfully over crisp white sands.
With an affordable cost of living, and a hostel literally designed for digital nomads located on the beachfront on one of the island’s most consistent breaks, the place is made for surfing digital nomads. Read more about surfing in Florianopolis.
Visas
Most tourists can get a 3-month visa on arrival in Brazil. But be sure to check the visa conditions of your country here.
The Waves
While the waves are rarely world class in Floripa! The place is stupidly consistent with a variety of waves, mostly in the form of punchy beach breaks. On the best days, there are tubes, and A-frame peaks on offer, just watch the crowds and the backwash.
Best Areas
While there are numerous accommodation options in Floripa. Selina is one of the best, with a beach front location at Praia Mole and an awesome co-working space; the place is a surfing digital nomad dream.
Summary
- Social Life - 8/10
- Cost of Living - 6/10
- Nature - 7/10
- Wifi - 6/10
Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Bocas Del Toro, a small group of Caribbean islands in Panama, is a surfers dream, at least in the right season. From the hollow wedging beach breaks of Bluff beach to a wide variety of other waves and a thriving backpacker vibe, this little slice of the Caribbean is an ideal digital nomad surfing location.
Visas
Panama offers visas on arrival for most tourists.
The Waves
January through March sees Bocas Del Toro light up and receive its largest and most consistent swells. Famous for the wedgy beach breaks of the Bluff and the harrowing death slab, Silverbacks, there’s also a tonne of other waves in the area. Check out my full breakdown of surfing in Bocas Del Toro here.
Best Areas
There are accommodations for all budgets scattered through the main islands making up Bocas Del Toro. Check out Skully’s House if you want to be close to the surfing action, and Selina for a party vibe and excellent coworking space.
Summary
- Social Life - 9/10
- Cost of Living - 8/10
- Nature - 7/10
- Wifi - 6/10
Honourable Mentions
While this list highlights some of the best digital nomad surfing locations, there are plenty of other excellent locations. Some places to note are Rio De Janeiro, Fuerteventura, Montanita, Puerto Escondido, Hossegor, Taghazout, and Lima.
