We have been asked many times if working remotely in Nicaragua is a viable option. Is the internet fast and reliable enough? The simple answer is YES! The internet is fast enough and reliable enough to work remotely in most places in Nicaragua that expats choose to call home.
In this article we’ll provide a list of various internet options in San Juan del Sur. We’ll also cover one very important aspect of working online – staying connected at all times.
Wired Internet
Claro
- Mainly available within the city limits
- 5 Mbps to over 100 Mbps download speeds available
- Hard wired DSL, Cable or Fiber depending on the street you live on
- A 60 Mbps package (including full cable TV & home phone) costs approximately $75 USD per month
- No bandwidth limits
For more information visit the Claro office at the port or Claro online. It should be noted that the package pricing on Claro.com is based on Managua. San Juan del Sur has different packages.
Point to Point Internet
WIFINIC, IBW, etc.
- Available anywhere you can get a direct line of site to the communications tower or any of the many repeater stations
- 3 Mbps to 25 Mbps download speeds available
- Point to point service wired to a WiFi router
- 10 Mbps package costs approximately $115 USD per month
- No bandwidth limits
- Installation costs are in the $150 USD range
For more information visit Wifinic & IBW
4G Wireless Wifi Internet
Claro
- Available almost everywhere — although some remote areas may not have signal
- 5 Mbps packages available
- Wireless through a 4G SIM card router
- The 5 Mbps package with 350 gigs of data costs approximately $27 USD per month
- Router purchase of $65 USD required to connect service
Although this package is not unlimited use 350 gigs of data is going to be sufficient for almost anyone’s work purposes. Burning through this usually takes streaming UHD to your TV. Elisha and I average under 100 gigs of data per month.
Cellular Data
TIGO & Claro
- Available almost everywhere — although some remote areas may only have Tigo or Claro — but not both
- Up to 40 Mbps speeds can be seen on tests depending proximity to the tower.
- With Tigo Semanal plus you pay about $12 USD per month. You receive 16G of data, Unlimited Tigo to Tigo calling minutes, 120 calling minutes to Claro in Nicaragua or any number in Central America, Mexico, USA or Canada. Plus 120 text messages. WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter usage does not count against data usage.
For more information visit Tigo or Claro.
Often more important than speed is reliability. 100% uptime is rare for any provider. When working online in Nicaragua it’s important to have a back up plan.
Our Strategy for 100% Uptime
Home Internet
We live just at the edge of city limits. We were able to convince Claro to run fiber to our barrio for us and our neighbors. For $66 USD per month we have 50 Mbps with no cap on usage. We work online and often use Zoom for video calls. Our connection is often better than the people we are speaking to in North America.
Back-Up Internet
Occasionally here in San Juan del Sur we experience power outages. Sometimes for as little as 5 or 10 minutes, but rarely for a few hours. During these times we rely on data from our cell phones to create an internet hotspot. This way all of our devices can receive internet.
SIDE NOTE: It’s important to always keep your phone and computer charged. Otherwise this back up plan won’t be of much use. A UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) is also a great way to extend service with a home ISP or your back up ISP.
Bottom Line
As you can see there is no shortage of internet options available in San Juan del Sur. We know a ton of people who are here working remotely. As long as you have a plan you could too!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on May 16, 2016. It has since been updated for accuracy & comprehensiveness and republished on August 23rd, 2021.
Randall Beckett
on said
Thanks for the update. Very useful. I do telepsychiatry and uninterrupted service with 5mbps is essential. How often and long are the power outages? I understand it may not be a local power outage but at the server site meaning a UPS is useless.
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
The longest power outage we’ve experienced in 4 1/2 years was 27 hours. Outages that long are very rare though. On occasion, maybe less than once per month, we have scheduled power outages, which we learn out about through Disnorte-Dissur’s website. A scheduled outage most often happens during the day and lasts between 4 – 6 hours.
Randall Beckett
on said
Thank you.
Robert Montague
on said
Your posts are thorough and so helpful. Thank you for taking the time to let all of us know how things work!
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
You’re welcome Robert and thanks for your support. We appreciate it!
Cheers,
Elisha
Tegan
on said
Thank you!!! We have been looking into living on the beach in Nicaragua but really need reliable internet to work. A relief to hear the power outages are scheduled so we can plan around them too. Looks like we’ll go ahead with our month trip and if all goes well make the move! Again, thank you!!
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
Hi Tegan,
Definitely don’t let internet concerns hold you back. There are lots of people living here and working online.
When are you planning to visit? Let us know if you need help planning your trip or finding a rental!
Cheers,
Elisha
Hope Hardin
on said
Hi Gordon and Elisha,
Thanks for the valuable information. I am working remotely in León, and all of the technological descriptions are like a different language to me. I am thinking about using a portable 4G Claro modem as a backup for electricity outtages, but I would need it for video-conferencing through the Zoom application (teaching online). Do you know how I can determine if they have enough data for this? ( I see that there are monthly options of 5 and 8 GB at highest).
Also, even though I have wired internet through Cable, it has been failing, and someone from Claro told me that having it wired through the telephone is a more reliable option. What is you perspective on this?
Thanks for the help!
Hope
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
Hi Hope
Every cities infrastructure is different. I can only speak to San Juan del Sur. Movistar is king in SJdS and they have packages with a 4G router that provide 90 Gigs of Data for $52USD. As for Claro I am not aware of their packages but I am sure you could get all the information you need from their office in Leon.
Hope
on said
Thanks! Yes I have been in conversation with Claro but my question has to do with reliability-whether wired internet through a phone line here in Nicatagua is more reliable than wired through cable….
Thanks 🙂
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
Hi Hope
Not only is every cities infrastructure different it often varies from street to street. In SJdS it is possible for one street to have cable, the next street over may have DSL and in some cases there are even fiber lines now. Some streets may have all three but who knows how many customers are on the cable tie on that block or how long ago were the DSL lines installed. Every home will have a unique experience so there is no answer to your question. Possible if you have cable and your neighbor has DSL you could compare the two services although it will still likely be anecdotal.
Hope Hardin
on said
Thanks for your help! I would agree, it seems that each situation is unique. Mine was fine, but since Christmas I am having a lot of issues, so maybe everyone on my block got new devices to access internet/ cable for Christmas haha.
Thanks again!
Hope
tiara
on said
I am currently living in San Juan Del Sur. My apartment has really slow internet and I was told that it is not possible to get better internet set up. Is it true that if you are not a resident, you can’t get internet set up in your name?
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
Hi Tiara,
No it is not true that you can’t get internet set up in your name if you are not a resident.
Are you currently receiving service from Claro? If so, it’s likely you’re on the basic package. You may want to ask your landlord if you can upgrade the service and pay the difference.
Claro offers the following options for home internet:
1 Mbps $27.99 USD + tax
2 Mbps $33.99 USD + tax
3 Mbps $45.99 USD + tax
5 Mbps $57.99 USD + tax
10 Mbps $70 USD + tax
You can check out their website for more info.
A client of ours (who does not have residency) just purchased a Movistar router for $160 USD and had service set up in his home within 24 hours. He gets 80 gigs of data for $62 USD per month. Speed is 20 Mpbs. There are also less expensive options available. To set up service you can go to the local Movistar office or call Pedro at (505) 8588-5271.
You can also get service with Wifinic. Installation is $175 USD.
Monthly packages are as follows:
2.0 Megabytes $56.35 USD
3.0 Megabytes $69.00 USD
4.0 Megabytes $80.50 USD
5.0 Megabytes $92.00 USD
6.0 Megabytes $103.50 USD
7.0 Megabytes $115 USD
8.0 Megabytes $126.50 USD
9.0 Megabytes $138 USD
10 Megabytes $149.50 USD
These prices include tax.
For more information or to set up an install you can contact Leonel at (505) 2276-0705. He speaks English and provides excellent customer service.
With Wifinic and the Movistar router you can take the equipment with you when you move.
Cheers,
Elisha
Miranda M
on said
Hi Elisha & Gordon,
Do you have any recommendations on Internet in the north Pacific regions, near Jiquilillo? I’m told to look into dongles, just wondering if you’ve heard/experienced one over another.
Thanks 🙂
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
Hi Miranda,
I’m sorry we’re not sure what internet options are available in the Jiquillo area. You could try Wifinic to see if they service that area.
http://wifinic.net/
Cheers,
Elisha
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Ken Hamilton
on said
Great info, thanks. Looking forward to a visit in the spring, to scout out retirement venues. We have Panama and Mexico already booked, but Nicaragua is after that.
Ken
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
Hi Ken,
Do you know about our group Relocation & Retirement tours? We have one scheduled for February 24 – March 4, 2018.
The tour takes you to three most popular expat inhabited areas – Granada, Leon and San Juan del Sur. It’s a great way to see what your life could be like living in Nicaragua.
For complete details just click here.
Cheers,
Elisha
Ken Hamilton
on said
Thanks,
We are teachers and have very specific dates of when we can travel. We will hopefully be in Nicaragua in Mid March or Mid April on one of our breaks.
We are currently living in the US but originally from Canada.
Ken
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
Hi Ken,
If a tour is something that interests you we also do private customized tours.
Enjoy your trips and have fun with the research!
Cheers,
Elisha
Ken
on said
Elisha, the tours look very interesting. We’re going to plan the next adventure after our trip to Panama in October. Thanks
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Anna
on said
Greetings,
I am going to be staying in SJDS for a few days and was wondering if you knew which accommodations have the best internet connection.
Thanks!
yomama
on said
Hi Anna,
Most every hotel should have decent internet. I am not sure which ones are better than others.
If you want a nice place in town you could check out Hotel Victoriano or Posada Azul.
Cheers,
Elisha
John Safford
on said
THANKS – GOOD update.
Based upon your advice I tried the Movistar 4G router (used $100). $60/month, solid, reliable 15/15, 150 GIGS. Ja we burned through that in less than a week. But for a home it would be just fine.
The Rivas sales said they are planing new & better plans INCLUDING unlimited Fiber.
We also have Cootel 20/20 $114/month & Claro DSL 11/1 $85/month.
Combine all three in a load balancing router. BUT too expensive we need to cut back to the most reliable one or two.
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
You’re welcome, John. For the sake of others reading this we should point out that you are referring to internet solutions for a small hotel in San Juan del Sur.
Cheers,
Elisha
John Safford
on said
Correct Mackays – 25 rooms & usually 50 or so guests on the network.
YouTube is the bandwidth hog.
Kate
on said
Hi,
Thanks for this info. We live in Jinotepe and there is also Cootel here. Do you know what the upload speeds are with Cootel? We can’t seem to find this information anywhere.
Thanks! 🙂
Elisha & Gordon MacKay
on said
Hi Kate,
Not sure what the upload speeds are with Cootel.
John Safford has commented above that he is getting 20 up and 20 down for $114 USD per month.
Cheers,
Elisha
Kate
on said
Ok that’s great. Thank you so much!
Len
on said
Happened on your great blog and this post doing some research on internet access in SJDS. I am looking to find a hospitality property there (no, the recent troubles didn’t change my investment plans). Internet access was and is my biggest concern. Need WiFi for guests of course, but it is vital for my own business. You’ve provided me with some excellent insight.
PS: I subscribed.
John Safford
on said
Len usually ~100% up time is vital for both your business communications and customer satisfaction. That usually means redundant providers & unlimited traffic.
In SJDS we have 28 rooms including staff, 2-8 beds, & typically 40 to 60 clients on the network.
I use a ~$50 load balancing router to combine Claro DSL 11/1 & Cootel Fiber 20/20. That also allows you to automatically “nanny’ the clients to limit traffic of those “hogging” the bandwidth. The worst are those that download movie torrents that bring the network to a crawl.
Around $200/month.
We have “tried them all” partly based upon info found here. That’s the best & most economical solution we have found for the reliability and bandwidth we need.
Your future requiems may be less but you still can’t beat mother nature – unstable providers.
(Ha – If you made it to here you have the perseverance to be happy in Nicaragua)
YMMV.
Dug park
on said
Thanks for the update. This post was very helpful!!
Madison Taft
on said
TY SO MUCH FOR YOUR BLOG
Brittany
on said
THANK YOU for this information. I’m hoping to come to San Juan del Sur for a couple months this winter and work remotely. I’ll be staying in an AirBnB with, self proclaimed, spotty wifi. I’m planning on getting a good data plan for my phone to hot spot in these situations. Can you recommend a good sim card option for a short-ish term traveller who doesn’t want to get a full phone plan?
Elisha MacKay
on said
Hi Brittany,
You can get a SIM card with CLARO for less than $2 USD. Information on their pay as you go plans can be found here.
Please feel free to email us at info@innicanow.com if there is anything else we can help you with in preparation for your arrival.
Cheers,
Elisha