New members of the Colombia forum, introduce yourselves here - 2024

My name is Stefan, 41 years old and originally from Austria. I have been living in Mexico with my wife Claudia (30, from Slovakia) for 1.5 years with minor interruptions. We returned to Mexico after the birth of our daughter Madeline in November 2023.

Although we are still convinced that it was the right step to leave Europe and we love Mexico and especially the climate and the people very much, we have not yet found what we are looking for and do not feel that we are in the right place. Therefore we are now visiting Colombia for 6 weeks and based on our experiences and our feeling we will make a decision.

In general, we would like to live in a community or co-living complex where people with similar ideas (independence from the state, more freedom for our children) pursue the same goals (to live as self-sufficiently as possible, community garden etc.), according to the old values and virtues (respect, integrity).

However, as this takes a long time to find the right people and land (and the clock is ticking!), our alternative would be to find a nice secluded plot of land and build our paradise there and possibly grow over time.

We love spending time in nature and enjoy every second with our daughter. We are looking forward to learning more about the country and meeting as many new and interesting people as possible.

@stefanvienna83

Hello and welcome on board Stefan !

Feel free to open your own topic on the Colombia forum to seek advice from members already settled there.

All the best

Bhavna

@Julien

Hi All,

I'm Steve from Illinois. I'm here because I am intim moving to Columbia.

Steve

Hi All,

I'm Justin from Wisconsin. I have been living in Colombia for 2 years and joined the site to connect with other expats.

@medellintours

Welcome on board Justin !

Glad to have you on the forum.

Feel free to participate on the Colombia forum to interact with members.

All the best

Bhavna

@Julien morning from WI. wife and i planning to move to Meddelin in coming months. she is from Chile so Spanish no issue; me different story. we have lived  in Miami and Abu Dhabi (7 years). We have condo in San Miguel de Allende MX for cold getaway and leasing. we will be visiting mid next month to look  at condos. recently released from job due to system poor financial performsnce. i am a PM for healthcare planning and construction and would like to do PT. we plan to relocate last quarter of 2024. wife has friends there so transition should be easier. thanks

ill Jackson

@Bjcamel201229

Welcome on board !

You have quite an experience already with expatriation. I hope you'll have a smooth transition to Colombia.

If you have any questions, feel free to open a new thread on the Colombia forum to seek advice from members.

All the best

Bhavna

@Julien buenas días. Mi nombre es Eric. I live in the US now but will be coming to Barranquilla for work, school, music, and the beach. I have been trying to contact two consulates for the visa unsuccessfully. Should I just go to one? Muchas gracias

    @Julien buenas días. Mi nombre es Eric. I live in the US now but will be coming to Barranquilla for work, school, music, and the beach. I have been trying to contact two consulates for the visa unsuccessfully. Should I just go to one? Muchas gracias
   

    -@ericgarside

On a side-note... are you SURE you want to come to Barranquilla? There's literally nothing here except cliques, loneliness, suffering, and extremely loud music. It sounds like you're more of an artsy and beach person... why not look at Santa Marta (beaches) or Cali (music and culture) instead

Hello,

My name is James, and I am currently living in the US and planning to move to Colombia after I retire. Joined the group to gather information on the process and visa options available. I am also teaching myself Spanish from several sources .

The forums are very informative!

Thanks

Hello, my name is Carol and I am planning to move into Colombia in the next few months, I am originally from Spain, have lived in Southindia over ten years doing humanitarian voluntary work as a translator, am also a writer on the side. After India I came back to Europe for the last few years, now joining a company that allows me to work as a digital nomad from anywhere, due to personal considerations as well as job related travel considerations, I chose Colombia. I was there in March, just had the most beautiful experience with the people, and i love its nature.

@ccebhei  Be sure to consider Quindio.

@jstrain thank you, I will.

Maybe I could ask you, what is the best way to get my salary before having the visa? I will reach and only after some months apply for the digital nomad visa, so I am looking for the best way to get my salary (USD) monthly, without losing so much to change and charges. I was under the impression you could open a Bancolombia account with passport, but I just spoke with them, and they said it´s not possible, only with a cedula.  My normal bankaccount is in Spain. I posted a (longish) question to that already few days ago but did not get a reply, so maybe it was overlooked, and maybe you could give me some guidance? I would be highly grateful!

Dear Members I was never to blow my horn so what you see is what you get. Yes I crawled out of the rubbish bin where many young people may have put me into, at 86 not out with 5 languages under my belt with worldly mind as I never paid attention to numbers in years. Recently have returned from a independent trip in Mexico and planning another one to Colombia in Jan. Yes I have had this infection through out my life called "THE TRAVELL BUGG" At one stage my friends called me the Globe trotter, but these days show me a person that has not travelled? Good luck to them . No matter what Marvelous places one sees one always remembers the encounters of people that one has and will meet it is the dressing on the Cake. Be courteous; as one never knows where that person has come from neither where he or SHE is heading for. I wish heath as the rest in life is TRIVIA . Alex y alguna veces Alejandro 

Hello everyone

My name is Fernando Camacho, born and raised here in Colombia. I am a graphic , web designer and photogapher in Bogota. Ended up in this forum because I rent an apartament which I have been renting to expatriates 10 years ago.

Bogota is a great place to live, there are many things to do and much to enjoy carefully.

Wish everyone a great stay.

@fcamacholo

Hello and welcome !

Feel free to create an advert in the Housing section should you want to offer rental services.

Regards

Bhavna

Hello All,

Just moved to Medellin for the next three months. Living in Estadio and looking for people to meet for coffee, meals, and other social activities.

Reach out if you are in the city and want to meet up.

I am Jacob from the US east coast, work in IT/ AI development, and came to SA to work on my Spanish and meet new people. Cheers!

im Gordon from Canada i lived in Buenventura and popayan and cali and Medellin . i have a hard time finding long terM apartment rentals . they always want to charge me tourist pricing . can anyone help me .  I’m moving to Cartagena and getting my retirement visa . i have already got a celuda ID but i separated from my common law spouse . I was in Popayan but it was getting dangerous with the guerrillas in the area . im moving to Cartagena in October .

Hey there everyone,

I am new to the forum. I am interested in moving from Colorado, USA to Medellin. I'm doing tons of research on the process and would love any advice on how to move forward. I have two young children (6 and 8) and would like to keep them in Montessori school. If you have any suggestions for Montessori schools, housing, activities, etc. I work remote so that's not an issue. I also would love to hear about experiences living in Medellin as black americans.

Thanks

Hello everyone,

I'm planning to sell my home in Florida and move to Bogotá early next year. Will be looking to rent a furnished place for a year to start, hopefully near the Suba/Gratamira area.  Still trying to secure a digital nomad job that I can do from anywhere.  Also planning to study Spanish as soon as I settle in. 

I have been to Bogotá twice, as well as Spain, México, Cuba... and although I've never studied Spanish in a classroom I can usually hold a conversation in it.  So will have a lot on my plate, with figuring out a job, visa options, apartment, and language classes, but thankfully I have no time constraints. 

Eventually plan to check out Cali, Medellín, and Cartagena, but I prefer cooler weather, so anticipate feeling most at home in Bogotá. (Will not miss the heat and humidity of Florida at all!)

😎✈️🇨🇴

@Colt75

Hello and welcome on board !

Feel free to read the Living in Colombia guide for expats to gather as much info as possible and to open a new thread on the Colombia forum to seek advice from members.

All the very best

Bhavna

Hola everyone

I’m out. Working on one step at a time. Relocating to a state that’s tax free. Then on to cali Colombia. The city isn’t written in stone, but as for right now that’s the plan.

Hi everyone, I'm glad to come here. I like to draw and read

@Julien

I am Ron from Pennsylvania, USA.  I will retire in a few years an am considering Colombia as my post-retirement domicile. I am on-line friends with several Colombian natives and at a minimum, I think I would enjoy an extended vacation as a "get to know ya" trip for the country and culture.