Your first days in your home in Colombia

Great question! I spent my first six months in Colombia traveling to places recommended by Colombians and expats. One place I was loathe to visit, despite many recommendations, was Salento, because I knew it was very "touristic." I finally decided to visit and landed a week before the lockdown three years ago. I was able to convert my Airbnb cabaña into a rental and ended up staying for 13 months. I went back to the US for almost a year and came back more than a year ago to the same place. For me as a 73-year-old, it was important to have support, and the Colombian family I rent from live on the same property have "adopted" me. I pay monthly for my furnished cabaña, which includes utilities, internet, bottled water, and company whenever I want it, privacy when I want to be alone. It's been wonderful to become part of daily life here. I know many people here and am very much welcomed in the community. I take the bus to Armenia for medical appointments and to buy things not available in Salento. It does make all the difference that I speak Spanish, can't imagine living here without it.

Paddy:  I was very interested in your post on this subject.  I am 74 and disabled, with the intention to move to Armenia  this fall, at least for a test run.  A key part of my plan is to hire caregivers there to help me with daily routine and enable me to have a little mobility.  My goal (and cautious expectation) is that I will find the same sort of welcoming and friendship that you found in Salento.

Recommendations to find and employ

caregivers in Armenia.

Ask around at the hospitals patient services desk

for recommended individuals.

Read up on the levels of such care that are often

available for seniors so you know what you will

be lookiing for.

Study español between now and when you arrive

in Armenia or Colombia, as unskilled

caregivers in Armenia may not be able to speak

much if any English unless they have assisted

Expats previously.

cccmedia

On my first entry I checked into a motel for a few days then did couch surfers for a week while I found a family to rent from. Renting from a family was a great experience as I had sort of build in care keepers and tour guides.

lpd

My Colombian bride and i reside in Houston. We have discussed the possibility of returning to her hometown of Cali when I finally retire, hopefully in 2026. I myself do not wish to reside in Cali due to the hustle and bustle of the city. We are considering the possibility of looking at Dapa because of the cooler climate or perhaps Armenia or Pereira, in the Coffee Triangle.

Armenia, Quindío.

Armenia has excellent shopping malls, mild climate,

a large medical district, at least two casinos,

the jungle-in-a-city Parque de la Vida and

eateries with tasty food.

Give it a good look.

cccmedia

mild climate
-@cccmedia

Cuenca average highs are in the mid 60s, I think. Last week I was walking to Supermax and thought, "damn it is hot". When I got home I checked the internet and it said 75 degrees high.   Aremenia averages about 80 degrees year-round and was up to like 83 degrees recently.  I am wondering how I will handle the heat when I visit.

One method is to stay at the Mocawa Plaza Hotel,

my personal fave, and enjoy its rooftop swimming pool.

The pool was climatized on weekends and during

major holiday periods, but on a warm weekday,

that shouldn't matter much.

A walk on the wild side, a.k.a. Parque de la Vida,

followed by a swim at nearby Mocawa, is a plan.

Note... prices have gone up along with inflation,

so the old days of $51 USD per night rates at

Mocawa Plaza may be gone.

cccmedia

@cccmedia

Larm Colombia says

Also the weather is ideal, and you do not always need air conditioner or fan. Actually, the citizens born in Bucaramanga do not use any of these.

I would imagine most condo buildings in Buca don't have air conditioners. What is a delicate expat living long-term to do?

@jstrain i dont know howxeasy it is to get a pensionada visa for a 74 year old with disabilities now a days.

The new Visa Regs eequire a medical and psycological evaluation, plus emergency medical and evacuation insurance.

And without a visa , no EPS  and you definitely wont qualfy for Medicina prepagada

But you could come down 6 months a year and pay for assisted care and health care out of pocket. It is a fracción of the cost of the US.

Anyway, all the best to you.

I first came in 2004 I think, to Cali and it was still kind of a war zone.

Still is sometimes when the indigenous and guerrillas from Cauca invade.

Armenia is probably my favorite little city in Colombia, even thiugh I live in Manizales now.