Subscribe to International Living Magazine Now and Save up to 35%
Learn More about subscribing to International Living Magazine
Imagine being able to do what you love, every day of your life. Chris Cajoleas is doing just that. “I’ve been in Colombia for four years now and I just love it,” says the Bradenton, Florida native. “I am a social person and love to be active.
When Aaron Brabham decided to move to the Colombian city of Medellín nearly a year and a half ago, he knew exactly what type of place he wanted to live in. “I’m really a penthouse kind of guy,” he says. “I was looking to live in the lap of luxury for much less than I could back in the U.S.”
The first two times I visited the town of Santa Marta, on Colombia's Caribbean coast, I was a tourist who just wanted to relax on its superb beaches, eat its amazing, fresh seafood, and soak up its vibrant nightlife. And Santa Marta delivered.
Colombia ranked in the top five of several categories in International Living’s 2017 Global Retirement Index, including healthcare and climate. The country’s turbulent past is well behind it, and today it’s a country that’s gaining the attention of people wanting to retire outside of the U.S. either full- or part-time.
Most people hear "Colombia" and think cocaine kingpins and drug cartels. But that reputation is seriously out of date. Colombia is fast being discovered as the hottest new destination in Latin America.
There is a good reason why nearly every Colombian town has a parque principal (central park). It represents everything that is important in Colombian life and culture: religion, family and community, and food.
Have you ever heard of "scope creep"? It's often defined as a project that has seen its original goals expand while it is in process. I define it as what happens when you renovate your home.
Year round, the flowers are in bloom, the birds serenade you with their songs, while the sun rises and sets at the same time every day...it's no wonder that Medellin is nicknamed The City of Eternal Spring.
Joseph Hogue loves the flexibility that living and working in Medellín has given him. "I usually work a regular 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. workday from my home," says the 40-year-old from Iowa.
The warmth of the sun on your face, gentle sea breezes blowing in your hair, the lovely aroma of warm salt air mixed with just a touch of fresh seafood, waves breaking on the sandy beaches and amazing sunsets…Santa Marta is a delight for all of your senses.