The Solo Traveler's Guide to Surf & Remote-Work Towns

Traveling alone to a place you've never been is a different kind of trip than traveling alone to a surf-and-remote-work town — and the difference matters more than people expect before they go. These towns come with a built-in social structure that most solo-travel destinations don't: a shared surf schedule, coworking spaces where people are used to striking up conversation, and a community that expects to meet new people constantly because everyone else showed up alone too.

Why these towns work well solo

The daily rhythm does a lot of the social work for you. Surf sessions happen at predictable times (usually dawn), meals cluster around the same few cafes everyone already knows, and coworking spaces or dedicated work villas put you in a room with other remote workers by default — you don't have to engineer chances to meet people the way you would in a purely touristy destination or a big anonymous city.

Practical realism, not paranoia

Solo travel safety is mostly about ordinary precautions, not extraordinary risk: pick well-reviewed stays, share your general itinerary with someone back home, keep the same judgment about scooters/water/night travel you'd apply anywhere. None of the three destinations we cover regularly (Canggu, Ericeira, Taghazout) are unusually risky for solo travelers — they're all established enough to have a steady flow of other solo visitors.

Private room or dorm?

This is the real decision, and it's more about work needs than safety. A private room gets you a door that closes and a desk that's yours between calls — worth it if your job needs focus and privacy. A dorm bed is cheaper and puts you directly in the social mix by default, which suits people who want company more than quiet. If you go private and you're staying solo, check whether a solo discount applies — it often narrows the price gap with a dorm more than people expect.

Picking a first solo destination

• New to this entirely, want the most built-in support: Canggu — the highest density of other remote workers and structured social events.
• Want it a bit quieter with an easy escape to a real city if you need one: Ericeira — Lisbon is 40 minutes away if you want a change of pace mid-trip.
• Comfortable with fewer amenities in exchange for lower cost and fewer crowds: Taghazout.

Whichever you pick, going alone to one of these towns tends to feel a lot less "alone" within the first few days than most people expect. Start browsing stays to find your first one.