IL Postcard

Why You Should Move to Colombia

Date: 11/07/2007

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007
Popayán, Colombia

Learn more about South America in International Living Postcards--your daily escape

Sparkling clean, vibrant, and well-maintained, Popayán (Colombia) has just about everything you could hope to find in a Spanish colonial city. The consistently bright white buildings and the high architectural standard doesn’t just extend for a few blocks around the central plaza, but rather covers the whole downtown area.

It’s the first colonial city that I liked better than my former home city of Cuenca, Ecuador…and that’s saying a lot.

At 5,600 feet above sea level and near the equator, Popayán enjoys beautiful weather throughout year. The highest temperature in summer is around 79 degrees Farenheit, while in winter it cools to a pleasant 72 degrees. The homes don’t need heating or air conditioning, so utility bills are low.

As in many Latin American towns, the central square serves as the social center of the city. Starting at 6 a.m., you can buy a hot cup of coffee, get a shoe shine, or just relax with the newspaper. Later in the day, you’ll find couples strolling, buying ice cream, or chatting with friends. If a local band is putting on a performance, dancers are celebrating a festival, or just about any type of public performance is taking place, chances are this is where you’ll find it.

During our visit, we found several fine dining establishments, and in the nicest, we were able to enjoy a fine, six-course meal (including a glass of wine) for less than $17. A taxi from one side of town to the other was just over a dollar, and a breakfast of rich, Colombian coffee and pastries can be had for around 70 cents.

A newly refurbished three-bedroom apartment in an old colonial building, just two blocks from the square (with a courtyard view), costs $45,000 and rents for $275 per month. I found other apartments for considerably less.

Despite Colombia’s reputation--and the genuine risk of danger in some areas of the country--we felt safe and secure on the streets of Popayán both day and night, as we explored what turned out to be one of our top choices for colonial living in Latin America.

Lee Harrison
Roving Latin America Editor, International Living

Editor’s Note: In the current issue of Latin America Insider, Lee expels the myths about drug lords, kidnappings, and ruthless violence in Colombia….the worst thing that happened to Lee on his trip was being chased by scantily clad women on the beach in Laguito. If you are not yet a subscriber to the Latin America Insider, for this week only you can try it for a dollar. Click here for more info.

Related articles:

- Colombia the Retirement Haven…?

- Live on Your Monthly Social Security in the Colombian Sierra

- South America's Last Coastal Frontier

Related events:

- Lee Harrison will speak at the Live and Prosper in Uruguay Seminar, Nov. 28-30, 2007, in Montevideo, Uruguay