I always thought that I’d want to live on the beach in some out-of-the-way area. When the time came though, a bigger city was the place for me. Medellín in Colombia is physically beautiful. It’s the greenest city I’ve ever been to. The weather is better than any other place I’ve lived.
This café is one of dozens of new businesses springing up to handle the recent tourist upswing in Santa Marta. Things are changing rapidly here as the city goes through a major renaissance.
I have traveled to almost every country in Latin America in search of the top spots for living, investing, and retiring abroad. From the mountains of Honduras to the beaches of Brazil, I’ve discovered hundreds of great lifestyle options. But I’ve never seen anything like Medellín, Colombia.
The morning sunshine is streaming through the open window as I grind rich Colombian coffee bought yesterday at the local shop. Every new day here starts with inspiring views as sunlight spills over the hillside towns on the far side of the valley.
In this video, IL editor Lee Harrison is in Santa Marta, Colombia. At night, Santa Marta comes alive. The waterfront often turns into an impromptu beach party; especially on weekends.
Every day, I walk to work past houses framed with bright bursts of flowers, whose owners unfailingly smile and call out a greeting. I have moved to Chia, Colombia, 45 minutes north of Bogota.
At first, it was every two months. Then once a month. But that wasn’t often enough for Larry Snyder. So in 2008 he packed his bags, and he and his German shepherd, Hans, took a one-way flight to Medellin, Colombia.
If I had to pick just one city for year-round living in Colombia, I’d have to recommend Medellín. Despite the old stereotypes, today’s Medellín is modern and cosmopolitan…clean and safe. And it’s also a great buy right now.
Mention that you’re going to Colombia, and people think you’re crazy. But they haven’t been. My husband Dan Prescher and I are just back…and wow….
Several years ago, just five days into graduate school in California, Robin Finley had what he calls his “ah ha!” moment. “I set my sights on Colombia. I’d been there on a previous trip through Latin America, and it left a strong impression on me.”
Mention that you’re going to Colombia, and people think you’re crazy. But they haven’t been. My husband Dan Prescher and I visited three months ago…and wow…
Foremost is the sunset. It caught me by surprise. When that huge orange ball drops slowly into the emerald-green sea, it brings the beach areas to a halt as everyone stops to watch.
Foremost is the sunset. It caught me by surprise. When that huge orange ball drops slowly into the emerald-green sea, it brings the beach areas to a halt as everyone stops to watch.
At first, it was every two months. Then once a month. But that wasn’t often enough for Larry Snyder. So in 2008 he packed his bags, and he and his German shepherd took a one-way flight to Medellin, Colombia.
Look out BRICs… the CIVETS are coming, and the new Colombia is one of them.
For most people, the words “Colombian Caribbean” conjure up images of Cartagena, Colombia’s famous walled city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. And I’ll admit that Cartagena is an absolute “must see” if you go to Colombia.
Colombia offers everything from fast-lane living in a glamorous city, to a rich life in a colonial setting…from beachside living to life high in the Andes.
Here’s Rule #1 when investigating your potential overseas destination: the mainstream media is not your friend.
My first impression of Bogotá, Colombia was not good.
The city of Cartagena is situated at the top of South America on the Caribbean. East of Colombia’s border with Panama, and 293 miles from Panama City, as the crow flies. It’s a two-and-a-half hour nonstop flight from Miami.
