You may live in #CostaRica or perhaps you are visiting as a tourist. But If you’re planning on living the laptop lifestyle the beach in Costa Rica, you’ll be happy to know that many beaches have reliable #Internet access. This is great news for people who want to stay connected while on vacation, need to stay plugged in to maintain business connections, or work exclusively online. Whether you’re looking for a place to post photos and updates from your trip, or you need to get some work done, Costa Rica’s beaches have you covered. Keep in mind that not all beaches offer the same level of service, so it’s best to do your research ahead of time.

Not all beaches are created equal, except those that have the fastest Satellite Internet available supplied by Itellum! Yes, if you find yourself in search of a stable connection, the secure and fast satellite services will fill this requirement. However, this was not always the case. Going back just a few years, some coastal and mountain areas didn’t even have telephone landlines or cellular service. The #Internet sector has fast-tracked recently and there are many competitive providers, however, most of the reliable ones are in and around the Central Valley.

Let’s explore some of the beach areas in the country and how they differ. As with anywhere, if the population is higher the probability of decent Internet is more likely.

West Coast

Many of the popular beach areas on the north coast of Guanacaste such as; Conchal, Flamingo, Tamarindo, Grande, Coco may have major hotel chains and/or a thriving tourism base. Although Las Catalinas is not very popular or very populated, it is a high-end developing community, and demand for good Internet will be a priority. One is apt to find decent Internet connections in these areas but always check with your accommodations as to what type of #Internet they have and the speed they offer.

In the south area of #Guanacaste on the Nicoya Peninsula, Samara is a popular destination and is likely to have more venues with decent internet. If you go further south, the areas of Mal Pais, Santa Teresa, and Montezuma are popular, but may not have the fastest or more reliable connections. 

Further east, in #Puntarenas province and traveling south from the port city of Puntarenas, you will also have better internet in areas with more commerce. #Jacó and #Quepos – Manuel Antonio areas are sought-after tourist destinations, but again checking what type of connection they have is important.

As you go further south, the likelihood of “acceptable” internet becomes more scarce, but there is a solution that is far superior in these areas. Now serving this area from Perez Zeledón is a new iTellum office offering Costa Rica’s only High-Speed Satellite Internet. This is proving to be a “game-changer” in coastal areas covering the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula and right down the coast as far as Puerto Jimenez and the Golfito area. Reliable and Fast Satellite Service is no longer just a dream.

East Coast

Some of the most beautiful and natural beaches are located on the #Caribbean coast with their rich turquoise waters. For the most part, these beaches are less populated and enjoy seasons that are different from the west coast. The temperature doesn’t change that much during the year but the amount of rainfall is less during the months of August to October with heavy rains in December and between June and July.

This part of the country has been all but ignored as far as development is concerned, however, it has been getting recent attention and is fast becoming an even more desirable destination. Certain areas have enjoyed tourism for many years attracting mostly Europeans but even that is changing. Remote areas like #Tortuguero with its various lodges on the canals can now enjoy the best satellite broadband possible in Costa Rica attracting visitors from all over the world. Using the HughesNet Satellite named Jupiter 2, Itellum can provide coverage from the Nicaraguan border to the north to the southern border with Panamá and all the beaches in between. This gives this coast an opportunity to flourish with High-Throughput Satellite Broadband with speeds up to 25 Mbps not experienced in these areas ever before.

#PuertoLimón is a major port city on this coast with a population of about 70,000. The other port town is #Moín and both ports are reliant on stable internet with secure and fast satellite services to maintain efficient operation. So it stands to reason that these services would be available here. As you move southward the beaches become long and lush with pristine rainforest—a great environment to vacation or, if you must, work. Cahuita has Playa Blanca and Playa Vargas with a variety of restaurants and accommodations. #PuertoViejo is a favorite with backpackers and also has a “cool” Caribbean nightlife with a “Rasta” vibe. Playas Cocles and Chiquita are lesser-known beaches but do have accommodations including vacation rentals through Airbnb.

Heading further south towards the #Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge and the Panamá border is beautiful Punta Uva, a grape-shaped beach (Uva means Grape in Spanish) with fine golden sand, coral reefs, and great snorkeling. Travel another eight miles and you’ll reach #PlayaManzanillo, also with rustic hotel, bed and breakfasts, and some vacation rental homes. This is a small village of about 300 people with a laid-back attitude and like its neighbor to the north, also has some very fresh and delicious “good eats”. Seafood is plentiful at these beaches and there are some tasty dishes to discover and enjoy. As the satellite operations fold out in these Caribbean coastal destinations, high-speed satellite internet will be available.

The Last Fast Word

Whatever beach community you happen to decide upon, whether you’re a cyber-surfer or simply a surfer, there are several factors to take into consideration.

  • • If being online constantly is a requirement, try to choose the more popular beach destinations where service will be more available.
  • • If you have your heart set on a more remote location, be sure to communicate with your host as to what type of Internet they may have; dial-up, cable, fiber optic, or satellite.
  • • Find out what the average speed is at the location and whether it drops frequently.
  • • Try to avoid seasons in that area when there is excessive rain as this can affect power outages.
  • • If your host has poor internet or worse, no internet, tell them about Itellum’s superior satellite broadband internet.
  • • Most restaurants and hotels will allow you to use their Wi-Fi for free.
  • • If you want to use your cell phone here without Wi-Fi, make sure your purchase a Sim Card from any of the many providers. They are reasonably priced and available in several packages with or without cell data.

Some areas may have Internet Cafes. If this is a case, it is usually an indication that the #Internet is scarce or has not yet reached that area. However, this is not a very widespread occurrence. Internet is a hot commodity in #CostaRica and is available in most restaurants, hotels, and many beach area homes. The quality of the service can vary greatly though and that can make all the difference when you need to stay connected. Suffice it to say that #Internet is available in many coastal locations and rural satellite internet is connecting remote areas on both coasts. The main issue is to make sure that the internet you have access to checks all the boxes for your needs.

And be sure to enjoy those gorgeous Costa Rican days – offline too! You don´t have to wait more. Contact us by Whatsapp or using this form.