The Ultimate Work-Life Balance in Nicaragua: Sun, Surf and Productivity
Last year, I spent one month in Nicaragua and my first stop was the coastal town of San Juan del Sur, famous for its beaches, lively surf culture and vibrant nightlife. Many consider it to be the perfect blend of relaxation, adventure and entertainment, which is probably why people often end up extending their stay. In that case, you may need to take care of some business while you’re there, but San Juan del Sur also experiences a lot of power cuts, so it’s important to pick a good co-working spot.
Hostel Tropical
During my week in SJDS, a friend recommend that I stay at a place called Hostel Tropical, since it was really budget-friendly and close to the beach. It’s not exactly a hostel since there aren’t any dorms, but you can get a private room for a fair price. During my stay, I chatted with the hostel’s very kind owner, Fidel, and not only did he have extremely valuable information about the town such as where to eat, where to surf etc. but he also showed me around the hostel’s co-working area. 
Most importantly, the 3-story building has mesh wifi, which means that the signal is strong all the way up to the rooftop, where the space is located. There’s also a back-up battery for the wifi, that continues to work through the town’s frequent power outages. Another advantage of the space is that they have AC, which isn’t always guaranteed around those parts. The chairs are super comfortable, there’s space for at least 8 people and they recently installed a call room for those private calls or teaching sessions. If you go out onto the balcony, there’s even a comfortable hammock and you can just about see the ocean while you take a break from work.
As I previously mentioned, the prices at Hostel Tropical are some of the best in town. I stayed in a private room with a ceiling fan for 20/night. Rooms with AC go for about 35/night. Either way, you get some AC time in the co-working area, which is free to use for anyone staying at the hostel.
Don’t Forget!
Since you’ll be saving some money on accommodation / co-working, I’d recommend getting some travel insurance to cover any potential surfing accidents. I’ve been using SafetyWing for years since it’s very budget friendly and was created by other nomads who understand the struggles of this lifestyle. I also love how you can purchase a policy even if your trip has already started, and pause and resume coverage with ease. SafetyWing covers you in 185 countries around the globe and it’s perfect for people like me who never know where they’ll be next month. Check out their website to get a better idea! 
If you’re reading this, I’m guessing there’s a good chance you’re considering living abroad as a digital nomad. Leaving the comforts of home and moving across the globe, away from your family and friends can often be overwhelming so I put together a PDF with a few guidelines that can aid you when you decide to take that leap into nomad land and you can download that right now for free just by clicking HERE.
Gringo Nation
By the way, I visited Hostel Tropical in the vlog I made a vlog about my time in San Juan del Sur. You can watch it below on Gringo Nation!