In March 2025, I spent a full month in India, travelling from the Himalayan region in the north all the way down south via Delhi and Mumbai to Goa. I work freelance for several clients, which means I rely on a stable internet connection and a proper desk setup to stay productive. Finding a good place to work from in India isn’t always easy, unless you are in a major city or lucky enough to find a proper coliving space. It can be quite tough to find accommodation that provides both a proper desk as well as a reliable Wi-Fi connection. On top of that, my partner also works remotely, so even if there was a desk, it wouldn’t be a great setup to share.
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If you’re a digital nomad in South Goa looking for a good place to work from, I have the perfect place for you! We spent almost two weeks at Jungle by Sturmfrei hostel in Palolem Beach. It’s located just a minute walk away from the stunning Palolem Beach, is the perfect spot for remote workers. The hostel offers a dedicated air-conditioned coworking space, with a strong and stable internet connection – even during Goa’s occasional power cuts! Continue reading this blogpost to learn more about why Jungle by Sturmfrei is one of the best places for digital nomads in Goa.
About North and South Goa in India
When I first started researching Goa, I wasn’t quite sure where to go. Many people say North Goa is more for those looking to party, while South Goa is much more relaxed and laid-back. I intially spent a week in Anjuna at Nomad Gao Coliving. While I liked the coliving setup itself, I didn’t enjoy Anjuna at all. The town felt hectic, and the beach was even worse. There was just a certain vibe I didn’t connect with, it’s hard to put into words.
If you ask me whether to visit North or South Goa, my clear answer is: go south! Specifically south of Vasco da Gama. My personal favourite in South Goa was Palolem Beach, a small, peaceful beach town with plenty of lovely restaurants and cafés, and a wide, sandy beach. Palolem has a super laid-back atmosphere that made me feel comfortable from the very first moment.
There’s great mix of restaurants offering traditional Goan and Indian food, as well as healthy, Western style options. You can swim in the ocean, go kayaking in the Palolem backwaters or join one of the many yoga classes. For me, Palolem Beach was the perfect place to unwind after the hustle and bustle of traveling through India.
The best time to visit South Goa
In general, the best time to visit Goa is between November and April. November to February is the peak tourist season with pleasant and dry weather and daytime temperatures ranging between 21 and 30 degrees Celsius. As you get closer to April, it gets much hotter, but less crowded. I visited Palolem Beach in March, with temperatures ranging between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius and the town feeling not too busy.
From May to September, Goa experiences monsoon season. Heavy rainfall and high humidity are common, and many beach cafés, and hostels close for the season or operate with reduced hours. While not everything shuts down, the overall vibe is much quieter and travel logistics can be trickier.
How to get to Palolem Beach
I personally took the train coming from Mumbai to Goa. There are also two airports in Goa: Manohar International Airport (GOX) which serves the northern part of the state, and Dabolim Airport (GOI), located in Vasco da Gama, which is much closer to Palolem Beach. If you have the choice, I highly recommend flying into Dabolim Airport, as it’s only 1.5 hours away by taxi from Palolem Beach.
A taxi ride from Dabolim airport to Palolem Beach should cost around 2500 Indian Rupees (roughly 30 Euros). There is no direct bus service between these locations. While there are buses in Goa, there’s no direct bus service from the airport to Palolem, so a taxi is usually the easiest and most convenient option.
Being a digital nomad in Goa
Being a digital nomad in Goa is doable, but you need to find the right place to stay. Many hotels and guesthouses don’t have reliable Wi-Fi, and often there’s no proper desk or workspace. Also, with Goa’s high temperatures, you need air conditioning in order to stay productive. There aren’t many dedicated coworking spaces in Goa, especially in the southern parts. I personally don’t feel comfortable working from cafés for hours and hours. These days, more and more places don’t even offer Wi-Fi anymore to avoid digital nomads setting up there for the day (totally understandable).
While looking for a place to work from in Goa, I came across Jungle by Sturmfrei in Palolem. Their website advertised a proper coworking space, which sounded amazing! Since I wasn’t enjoying Anjuna any longer, I booked 10 nights at Jungle, looking forward to finally getting some productive work done and enjoying the laid-back beach life.
About Jungle by Sturmfrei in Palolem Beach
Jungle by Sturmfrei is a hostel located right in the heart of Palolem Beach. It’s a three-storey building with a few air-conditioned dorms and private rooms – some of which are more spacious, perfect for digital nomads in Goa staying longer than the usual three nights. The real highlight of the hostel is the rooftop area, which has some hammocks and a chillout zone. On the other side of the rooftop is the coworking space, overlooking some palm trees.
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Room options
Jungle by Sturmfrei in Palolem offers both dormitory beds and private rooms. I stayed in the deluxe private room which, which is larger than the standard one. The room was super spacious, and since we stayed for 10 days, we really appreciated the regular cleaning service they provided. One of our favourite things about the stay was waking up to the sound of the jungle and the peaceful, quiet atmosphere – a rare luxury in India.
Coworking experience
The coworking space at Jungle in Palolem Beach features a long communal table set up at the side of the walls with around 15 chairs, making it a simple yet functional setup for remote work. The room is air-conditioned and also equipped with a few fans. There are power outlets along the tables to charge your laptop. Depending on the outside temperatures, the AC could feel a bit weak at times but overall the climate was comfortable enough to work. The chairs and tables are kept simple.
Overall I quite enjoyed working from this coworking space in South Goa. Most of the time, it was just three of us working from there, which made for a focused environment. I really liked that the coworking space overlooks palm trees. The Wi-Fi was fast and reliable, even during power cuts.
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I’d suggest doing calls or meetings outside the coworking area, simply out of respect for others working there. But that depends on how many people are around. As far as I know, the coworking space at Jungle is purely for hostel guests, but I imagine they’d be open to host other people too – just send a message to ask!
Food & drinks
The amazing thing about Jungle by Sturmfrei is the Boho Café, located right at the entrance of the hostel – it’s kind of part of it. Boho Café in Palolem Beach offers a lovely menu with a mix of local Indian dishes and Western-style breakfast and dinner options. They also serve amazing coffee (possibly the best in town), which you can even take up to the coworking space. Overall the setup was super convenient, as you didn’t necessarily have to leave the hostel to grab a quick bite or a coffee break. Another great perk: free drinking water is available throughout your stay.
If you feel like exploring, there are plenty of great restaurants and cafés just a minute’s walk away, serving delicious Indian curries to fresh salads and smoothie bowls. Palolem Beach really is a dream when it comes to nourishing and healthy food options.
Social life & community
The hostel regularly hosted evening events like an open mic night and even planned a party for the Holi festival. In general, they are trying their best to help guests socialize. It was easy to get in touch with the locals working at the hostel. Since Jungle attracts a mix of tourists and remote workers, the social vibe can vary depending on when you are there and who else is sharing the experience with you. However, with plenty of activities happening in Palolem – like yoga classes and local gatherings – you should find a way to connect with new people during your stay.
Location
Jungle by Sturmfrei is perfectly located right in the heart of Palolem Beach. Great restaurants and cafés were all within walking distance, as well as shops and small supermarkets. The beach is less than a minute walk away from the hostel and could be accessed by just walking on a sandy path. At night, I could even hear the waves from our room – dream!
Personal highlights & conclusion
What I loved most about my stay at Jungle by Sturmfrei in Palolem was the perfect balance between being productive and enjoying my time. I was able to get my work done with a reliable internet connection while also having a great time exploring the area. I absolutely fell in love with Palolem town, the beach and all the amazing cafés. We also went kayaking in Palolem backwarters which was a great way to relax and spot some local birds.
Click here to book your stay at Jungle by Sturmfrei in Palolem!
For me, Jungle by Sturmfrei is hands down the best place to work from as a digital nomad in Goa. It has the best location in Palolem, a comfortable and functional coworking space, and reliable internet – basically everything a digital nomad in Goa could ask for.
