The island of Siargao in the Philippines hosted the 2nd edition of the Nomads in Paradise Conference with 140 participants—a week-long event uniquely tailored to digital nomads and entrepreneurs from around the world.
Siargao has long been known for having the best waves in the Philippines, attracting surfers and backpackers. However, in recent years, improved internet connectivity has also drawn digital nomads to the island.
Jan Richter, the main organizer of Nomads in Paradise, has been living on the island for the past two years. He decided to put the island on the digital nomad map by organizing the conference.
“Siargao boasts a thriving community of both local surfers and digital nomads. Unlike many other islands, the nomad scene here is a unique blend of local Filipinos and international residents, not just Westerners. The island also has a strong entrepreneur community, with many local business owners who run side ventures in Siargao while managing primary businesses in cities like Cebu or Manila”, shared Jan Richter.
“Additionally, Siargao is a stunning tropical island with beautiful beaches and a lively social scene. It’s a popular party destination, attracting visitors from across the country on weekends. There are endless activities, including island hopping and exploring the vibrant mix of entrepreneurs, locals, and digital nomads.” he continued.
From Nov. 10 to 17, attendees dived into a packed week of productivity, networking, personal growth, and entertainment, designed to help them enhance their skills and forge lasting business and personal connections.
“There were around 140 people attending the conference, including staff, speakers and special guests like government officials. There were 25 different countries represented” shared Jan Richter.
The confrence came with a lot of positive feedback from the atendees and also local digital nomad community but it was also well recieved by the local governent and local Philippino community.
“The Department of Tourism attended our closing, and one of the mayors joined our opening. Even local politicians are supportive, and we haven’t heard anything negative from the community. Everyone is enthusiastic that we’ve put Siargao more prominently on the digital nomad map. Attendees repeatedly told me the island is a true paradise and that the event lived up to its name.” added Jan Richter.
Following the success of the event, the Nomads in Paradise conference is already scheduled for 2025, tickets are already available.
Interest in digital nomads isn’t limited to Siargao; the Philippine government has also shown its support by launching a digital nomad visa in May 23 with tax breaks but latest update might suggest otherwise. The visa, which is valid for up to two years, has relatively simple requirements: a minimum monthly income of $2,000, proof of remote work, health insurance, and a clean criminal record.
Recommended: Digital Nomad Events Calendar 2024/2025 (All the evens for digital nomads in one place).
Conference Structure
The Nomads in Paradise conference features three distinct parts, or “cores.”
Core Part I: Conference (Keynotes & Workshops)
Digital nomads immerse themselves in workshops and talks led by notable international speakers. The main objective was to connect with other remote workers and entrepreneurs at the elegant Ocean 101 Resort.
Some of the mains keynotes this year included:
- The must-knows from 6 years of making businesses shark-proof by Ruth Cremer, entrepreneur, author and long-term consultant of the German „Shark Tank“
- Unlocking Efficiency: The Mindset for Optimizing Your Business by Dev Chandra
- From Virtual Assistant to Nomad Cruise by Johannes Voelkner, founder of Nomad Cruise
- How to set up a Home base that pays for your nomad lifestyle, by Holger Metter
- From Manila to Madison Square Garden (and back!) by Erwin B. Valencia – The inspirational journey to becoming the first ever Filipino, raised and educated in the Philippines, in the NBA— and the journey back home to fully be in service of the next generation.
..and many more (see the full final schedule here).
Core Part II: Connection
Here, attendees focus on fostering interaction and well-being through activities like yoga, 30-second pitch sessions, evening networking events featuring live music and local food, and even speed-dating!
Core Part III: Adventure
Considering the classic maxim that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, organizers have a series of adventures across Siargao. Activities include the signature island-hopping tour, a land tour, and group surfing lessons.