Solo travel just keeps growing in 2023 as people seek adventure and alternative lifestyles.
And Latin America remains one of the most popular places to do it, thanks to hugely popular destinations like the 3 featured below.
All 3 of these hotspots boast generally favorable weather, laid-back lifestyles, fantastic food, and vibrant communities of remote workers.
What’s more, these 3 locations recently ranked among the fastest growing already established hubs for digital nomads, according to new data from nomadlist.com.
Mexico City is said to have grown 152 percent in popularity as a remote work hub since 2018, with Playa Del Carmen growing 129 percent and Medellín growing 123 percent in the same timeframe.
So, why are these destinations so hot with solo travelers right now?
Mexico City, Mexico
On your first visit, the huge metropolis of Ciudad de México (CDMX) can be a little overwhelming.
It’s one of the biggest and most densely populated cities on Earth and is packed with stellar attractions such as the striking Palacio de Bellas Artes, the former tallest building in Latin America the Torre Latinoamericana, and the Metropolitana Cathedral.
One of the things solo travelers and digital nomads love about CDMX is that it’s bustling – there’s always something happening in one of its trendy neighborhoods.
Some of the best examples are the Roma, Juárez, and La Condesa districts of the city.
These neighborhoods allow you to live a more authentic existence in the city and are packed with cool bars, hip restaurants, fantastic nightlife, and thriving art scenes.
Despite what you may think, CDMX does not rank among the most unsafe places in Mexico.
The most recent Mexico Peace Index positioned the city as the 17th safest state in the country out of 32, ahead of popular states such as Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur.
To help you stay safe and enjoy a positive experience in the city, simple acts such as being careful with your possessions, sticking to the touristy areas until you have your bearings, and not using public transport alone at night can help.
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Nestled in the heart of the stunningly beautiful and hugely popular Riviera Maya coastline, Playa Del Carmen is a beach town that solo travelers have taken to their collective hearts.
From trendy beach clubs like Martina and Mamita’s to cool craft beer lounges like Chela de Playa and Colectivo Mexicano Cervecero, this town has a host of places to meet interesting and like-minded travelers.
Playa has a very international feel due to its popularity with travelers around the world and is subsequently welcoming and friendly to LGBTQ+ visitors.
For digital nomads based here who need to take a break from work, the sparkling seas offer terrific scuba diving and stand-up paddleboarding.
You could even take a dip in a freshwater cenote, such as the nearby Cenote Azul or Cenote Tula.
Playa is super easy to get to, with Cancún airport just a 45-minute drive away, and is also ideally located to take in nearby historic Maya sites such as Chichen Itza and Tulum.
Best of all, with Mexican locations, is that you can stay up to 180 days without a visa if you are a U.S. citizen.
Medellín, Colombia
Let’s be honest: the weather can have a huge impact on how much we love a destination as travelers.
This is probably one reason why Medellín in Colombia is popular – it’s known as the City of Eternal Spring due to its moderate and comfortable year-round climate.
The city has many vibrant and colorful festivals, such as the Feria de Las Flores (Festival of Flowers), which takes place from late July into early August and showcases the hundreds of species of orchids famous to the region.
Medellín’s neighborhoods are dotted with cool cafés and trendy restaurants, but perhaps the hippest place is Laureles.
This area of the city was recently named the coolest neighborhood in the world on account of its chilled parks and cafés by day and buzzing culture and nightlife by dark.
Medellín is generally safe. However, there has been some crime against tourists documented in recent months, but we have some tips to help you avoid becoming a statistic and enjoy your time in the city.
One thing that can help you to get along better in Medellín and the two Mexican destinations listed above is to learn a little Spanish – not only will it help interactions be smoother, but you will understand more of what is being said around you.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com