Colombia…. When I told my friends and people in general of my plans to not only travel but live in this South American country, many tried to warn me against it. Of course, they know of my adventurous spirit and that I love going to countries that are very off the beaten track. However, they would point out its dangerous reputation with drugs and violence and particularly the negative travel advisories that the Canadian government would write.
Yet, I have been here for almost two years, and I have no plans to leave. I have experienced a Colombia completely unlike the public perception of the people of the so-called “1st World. People live normally, in relative safety, and with high levels of development in the cities. Yes, they still have a some fear from the dreadful past of the FARC terrorist organization and the notorious drug lord, Pablo Escobar. Yes, there is poverty and the crime associated with poverty in general. Nevertheless, in my opinion, it is the most organized Latin American country I have been to so far (I had traveled to or worked in Bolivia, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic). It does not have the levels of poverty I have seen in the other countries and it has a developing middle class.
It is a land of unspoiled opportunity, whether for experiencing Colombia or for investing in it. Are you looking for amazing cuisine? Colombia has it. Are you looking for real estate ventures? Colombia has it. Cheap living? Rich culture and history? Some of the best dancing in the world? Business or project opportunities? The Andes, the Caribbean, and the Amazon all in one country? Colombia has it all! It is a country ripe for almost any project or dream because few have taken advantage of what Colombia has to offer due to the negative perception people in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere have of it. In this article, I will be highlighting its opportunities for tourists, expatriates, and investors alike in terms of tourism and easy living.
Colombia is developed enough to be easy for travel for almost any type of traveler, but not so much that it loses its authentic, historic charm. It is a country of two worlds. It promotes creating modern and burgeoning innovative strategies for urban development as well as maintaining traditional history, culture, and livelihoods. It boasts of incredible diversity in natural wonders as well, thanks to not being overly explored as well as to its five completely different natural regions: the Andes Mountains, the Caribbean, the Pacific, the Amazon, and the Llanos (grassland plains).
It is a country fascinating not only for its culture but for its national multiculturalism. Although the country does not yet have an intensive international multiculturalism, it does have a rich collage of many different cultures in each region of Colombia. The people of the modern cities are also influenced by these traditional cultures through their cuisine, their way of thinking and doing, their festivities, and their values. Each region is almost like a world of its own.
The Caribbean Coast (White-Sand Beaches and Aqua-Coloured Waters, and Colorful)
On the famous north-eastern side of Colombia, we have the Caribbean Coast. This coast is bursting with colour, fruits, fun music, and alegría (the Spanish word for “happiness”). The Caribbean Coast is also where the main tourism takes places, thanks to its white-sand beaches, abundant snorkeling and diving opportunities, sunny and hot weather, and quite safe reputation. It is perfect for those who look for more the luxurious, tourist experience or for the Caribbean beach dream. Although it is not as unspoiled as other parts of Colombia, it is not to be missed.
Cartagena (Tropical Seaside City of Colonial Charm and History)
The Caribbean has one of the most spectacular colonial cities in Latin America, Cartagena. You feel like you are experiencing the Caribbean Spanish colonial era as you walk on cobblestone streets between the brightly-coloured historic buildings covered in exotic flowers and plants and climb the stairs of an ancient wall lining the sea with crashing waves. You can go to the very large Castle of San Felipe de Barajas that has unique passageways and views of Cartagena. Take a cheap boat with the locals to Boca Chica, or take a still inexpensive organized tour boat. There you will find a quiet beach with a Spanish Colonial fortress that you can enter. It has spectacular views of the ruins and the ocean and holds surprises within. You will find a crab or two and other interesting (and harmless) critters.
Buy a bowl of fruit from one of the ladies dressed in her Caribbean traditional clothing on the street, who may later hold a whole bowl of fruits on the top of her head. Eat some ceviche, a popular dish on both Colombian coasts made from either raw or cooked prawns, calamari, sea snail and other seafood that you can pick from. Or, you may eat Cazuela de Mariscos (a thick, delicious seafood soup similar to seafood chowder). Try the many exotic fruits you do not even have at home. Drink fresh natural juices and cocktails while you are on a lively beach in the Boca Grande district or while observing the most transparent waters of the pristine white coral beaches of Barú a close bus or car-ride away.
Many people fall in love with the very joyful, dance-loving, relaxed, honest, and open-minded Costeños (people of the Caribbean coast). They love to sing to their traditional folk music of Vallenato and dance to the fast rhythms of salsa and to the funky sound of dancehall-influenced Champeta. Not only are they guaranteed to make you smile, they also love to help you. One time when I was not feeling all too well in Parque Tayrona on the Caribbean Coast, the man who rented me a hammock asked what was wrong. I told him I was feeling weak. He told me he would come visit me later. Sure enough, a couple hours later he showed up with a local man of the park after searching the park for medicinal herbs to cure me. Generally, Costeños of all background whether rich or poor will be eager to help you out!
Cartagena is definitely the number-one spot to invest in if one hopes to make money from tourism, hotels, apartment rentals, or hostels. During the numerous holidays and high seasons, the hotels and hostels are bursting with tourists from Colombia and from around the world, but throughout the year you will see many, many tourists walking on the historic streets. They guarantee a sizeable year-long profit, despite the higher real estate costs (that is, being expensive for Colombia).
Santa Marta (The Old City Amid the Picturesque Seaside Mountains)
From Cartagena, you may travel up the coast to Santa Marta. The second-most touristic city on the Caribbean Coast, Santa Marta has a slightly different appeal than Cartagena. It is South America’s oldest existing colonial city, being founded in 1525 by the Spanish conqueror Don Rodrigo de Bastidas. Its history is not the only thing that is beautiful about the city. Santa Marta is nestled in front of scenic mountains and has spectacular beaches nearby, ones more gorgeous than those found in and very near to Cartagena. Its quaint modern Latino neighbourhoods are also very pretty. It is a definitely a gorgeous city to not only vacation in, but also to live in.
Jorge Diazgranados Lacouture, a long-time resident of Santa Marta tells more about his beloved city. He says it holds the name Perla de América (“Pearl of America) because of its diversity in climates, from its hot seaside to the cold, snowy Andean mountains of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Colombia’s tallest peaks are found here, Simón Bolivar and Colon.
Santa Marta is also well-known for the incredible scuba-diving you can take take advantage of in its waters. In the neighboring fishing village Taganga, you will find the cheapest and most amazing scuba diving opportunities and schools in all of Colombia. Just a short car or taxi-ride away, Taganga also has a great and unique nightlife. Even when staying in Santa Marta, you can go to its most famous and fantastic discotheque. It is a sizeable dancing place placed on a cliff outside over-looking the beach-port and ocean below. On a moonlit night, while dancing in the fresh, windy air, you have an excellent night view of the colorful fishing boats docked far down underneath the cliff. It is a popular place for locals and foreigners alike, dancing to all types of Latino music as well as mainstream electronica.
Additionally, close to the city in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, you can go on a 4-7 day organized trek to Ciudad Perdida (“The Lost City”). These are magnificent extensive ruins on top of a mountain among many other tropical mountains. The archaeological site could be considered Colombia’s Machu Picchu, but built by a different indigenous culture called the Tayrona. It used to be a great city, and it has more than a hundred unique stone terraces with marvelous views of the jungle around and below.
Santa Marta is another excellent place to invest in for tourism and accommodation for tourists. Almost as many tourists stay in Santa Marta and the villages around it as in Cartagena throughout the year. The prices are much cheaper for real estate than in Cartagena (and in general everything else is cheaper as well). The city is also has a port that trades with all parts of the world, so it could have potential in commercial business. According to the resident Diazgranados Lacouture, Its greatest export are bananas due to being inside the “Banana Zone” of Colombia. It distributes the fruit to Europe and to other international regions.
Parque Tayrona (The Park of Fantasy-Like Tropical Scenery)
Another gem close to Santa Marta is the Parque Tayrona. It is difficult to describe the dream-like quality this maritime park has. The extremely large park has many tall, green mountains as well as the most perfect translucent ocean waters and white beaches. The scenery is truly breath-taking and unique. On the hike you can take to the first camping spot, there are spectacular beaches bordered by gigantic boulders. These boulders are also dispersed on the beaches. It looked like giants placed them perfectly on the beaches. When I was hiking there, there was an early morning mist, and it really seemed mystical. On another very white, sandy beach, individual tropical trees grow on the beach itself, allowing themselves to be enveloped by the waters of the ocean from time to time.
The park actually has a quite a few options for accommodation in and around it, anything from hammocks or camping to luxury suites. However, the most popular options for many are the camping or hammocks option. It is a park after all, with deliciously cool nights and zero mosquitos in some campgrounds. The most famous area for renting hammocks is at the multiple-floor gazebo on top of a large, rocky hill over the most famous beach of the park, called Cabo San Juan de Guia. This beach has crystal-clear, warm water, and it goes quite deep near the edge. Thus, it feels like you are entering the deep-end of swimming pool! Relax, however, the waters are completely safe to swim in and to float in gently. The beach is surrounded by incredible views of the jungle mountains close-by, the palm forests, and the hilly/rocky tropical landscape that makes it so intriguing.
The park also has some anthropological features. There are indigenous peoples still living in the park in the original way they lived. They are the Kankuamo, one of the four indigenous cultures of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region. They are quiet, but not hostile.They are friendly. They smile at you with a big grin and acknowledge you but do not say anything. There are villages inside restricted areas of the park where they live that tourists are not supposed to do, but occasionally of the indigenous people will venture out of these zones. After a couple hour steep hike, there are also more archaeological ruins and some reconstructions at El Pueblito. These ruins were made by the same Tairona people that made the Ciudad Perdida, and it too used to be a great city of theirs.
Santiago de Cali (Salsa, Sports, and Cinema)
I currently live in Santiago de Cali, the proclaimed “World Capital of Salsa”, “Sports Capital of Colombia”, and “Capital of Cinema”. It is a short flight-away from any part of the country and a 9-hour bus ride from Bogotá. This city is heavily influenced by indigenous and African roots. Although it is an urban city, it receives fresh and mostly organic products from the local countryside and most people still have the values, hospitality, and general worldview of people living in the villages surrounding it.
Cali is a medium-sized urban city flanked by gorgeous, tall green mountains with a very artistic Bohemian historic neighbourhood called San Antonio. There are many different types of neighborhoods, from scenic to artsy, from cheap to expensive, and from natural to developed, but all neighbourhoods are green with lush vegetation. The climate is perfect for those who like a dry tropical climate with relatively little rain. The city has many options for cheap living and cheap tourism. Almost every product is cheaper here than elsewhere in Colombia, if it is not imported. The real estate and rental values in Cali are one of the cheapest for a city like Cali. You can rest in anything from tranquil hostels, or party hostels more for backpackers, or even in a top-class international hotel. I imagine it would also be a great place to invest in for business since not many think of coming here to invest and since it is an modern city surrounded by natural wonders that has lots to offer with many eager, hard-working locals.
Salsa dancing is a popular pastime here. The salsa dancing here is completely unique to Colombia due to its complicated footwork and emphasis on styling. You will find the fastest and best technical dancers of salsa in the world here in Cali. You will hear salsa music everywhere as well as other popular types of Latin music. Yet, there are many niches of international and modern music and dance. It is also heavily influenced by the African Pacífico culture from the Pacific Coast and the department of Chocó. The Pacífico culture is quite fascinating, with a musical tradition that reminds me of Caribbean music, witches, Africa, happiness, and mourning. Somehow it reminds me of it all at the same time! Caleños still believe in magic and witchcraft thanks to Pacífico roots. I myself have driven to believe due to some peculiarities I have seen here. Many Caleños have an intense connection to nature and people still. You can feel their energy, and may see some things that you have never seen before…
The mountains and the surrounding areas close to Cali hold so much to offer in terms of sports as well as adventure tourism, with no security concerns. There is a great infrastructure for sporty people in the area especially thanks to its Olympic Stadium and the area around it. Caleños love sports and you can see many playing soccer, basketball, or just on their daily run. Cali and around it is rich in hiking, rock-climbing, horseback riding, adrenaline sports, etc. Much of it is just on the outskirts or even within the city! On the weekends, you can go to Pance, a park that has a wide, clean river. You can explore its waterfalls or just relax by swimming in the river.
Pacífico (Wild Ocean and Beaches, Crystal-Clear Rivers, Humid Jungles)
For the more adventurous, another popular river about two hours away by bus or by car is called San Cipriano, in the Pacífico Department. It has the most crystal-clear water I have ever seen in a jungle river. The jungles surrounding it is musky, deep, rainy, and very humid. I would have never thought the river could be so clear. You can be there for a day or a few. you can discover its treasures on your own, or you can go further with a guide to nature trails and even more fantastic waterfalls and pools of water. I also saw five toucans very close all at once!
Less than an hour away from his river you will find the Pacific Coast. Although it is not as popular as the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, it is unspoiled by touristic ventures and possesses a certain wildness. Although Buenaventura is not a recommended destination for almost anyone due to security reasons, Bahía Málaga is, an hour away from Buenaventura by fast boats. It is a maritime park that has incredible natural beauty and wildlife both in its ocean and in the sea cliffs and tropical rainforests bordering the bay. Whether you would like just like a relaxing beach trip at one of its few hotels with generous service or want adventure tourism, you can find it here. You can take a safe kayak trip to the sea caves and jungle lagoons connecting to the ocean, take a boat to see the whales (and dolphins if you are lucky) only 15 minutes away from the village Juanchaco, watch the locals dance energetically to the African beats of Pacífico music, walk along and swim in the refreshing ocean lined with virgin beaches surrounded by jungle, and rest in a clean, basic bungalow or cabin while eating cheap but delicious seafood and hearing the parrots speak to each other. It has a feeling of authenticity hard to find in other touristy locales.
San Agustín (Archaeological Monuments, Spirituality, Going Back in Time)
About eight hours away from Cali heading south to the department of Huila, you can find yourself “lost” in time, in San Agustín. The town itself is not the main destination, nor is the glorious San Agustín Archaeological park. The area is a whole package. This region was home to the San Agustinian pre-Colombian cultures. They were tribes and groups of people, who were primarily semi-nomadic fishers, though they also hunted and gathered. Some groups even performed small-scale agriculture. Despite being not being sedentary (they they did not always live in the same place) and despite not being a large, organized civilization, they were able to create huge statues and columns with both highly intricate, realistic and symbolic carvings of nature and people for burial tombs of people who passed away. It was thanks to the centralized power of the chiefs of the tribes as well as the strong unification of the communities that they were able to accomplish these feats of ancient handicraft.
Just on the outskirts of San Agustín is the San Agustín Archaeological Park. It is a UNESCO site, and is deemed to be not only South America´s biggest assemblage of spiritual megaliths and statues, but also the world’s largest cemetery with intricate religious monuments for the dead. You can also take a two different trips by jeep and horse to spectacular canyons, lusciously green mountainous landscapes, waterfalls, petroglyphs (carvings in rock), and to even more of these magnificent statues in amazing natural locations. The village itself has some of the nicest, most honourable, and talkative people you will ever meet! The food there is also very delicious, cooked traditionally far away from any urban or modern interference.
There are a few options for staying in and around San Agustín. Though there are not so many luxurious options, but some of the hostels and fincas (country houses) are amazing if they are right outside San Agustín. Many of them are clean, have a beautiful property, rustic, scenic, and reside in natural country areas. They have the ultimate country feel with a bit of luxury for a content day’s rest or night´s sleep.
San Agustín was also a spiritual experience. I found myself going through a personally tough time when I was in San Agustín, and these megaliths full of positive energy and connection gave me the strength and healing to carry on. San Agustinian cultures believed in energy being in everything and in everyone, and it would connect everything together. They were forces to heal and to give life, like the replenishing energy of the water of a river…or to destroy, like a powerful shaman seeking revenge.
BOGOTA (Urban, International, Business-Savvy, and Regionally Diverse)
Bogotá…The epicentre of Colombia. I once lived in this fast-moving, work-oriented city, for more than a year. The huge, metropolitan capital city of Colombia has nearly 10 million inhabitants and is very different than the rest of Colombia. It is best described as both a melting-pot of the diverse regional peoples and customs and a hub for foreigners and international business.
It is the economic and political heart of Colombia, and it has some of the best universities found in the country. It is the city of the most professional jobs, and the most well-paying ones as well. You can find people and find things from all over Colombia in this one city, as well as people and things from all over the world. Many people however love rock and/or electronic music, and many younger people seem to follow a decisively indie/alternative trend.
Due to its economic nature, it is the perfect place to do business and to start up new economic endeavours. However, it also has excellent opportunities for higher education and if you are interested in the socio-political organization of the country.
Elegance and formalities are what sets Bogotan apart from the rest of Colombians. That is not say that other Colombians are not elegant or formal. However, most Bogotanos do seem to be living representations of these two concepts. They are also generally much more reserved than the rest of Colombians. However, you will still find them to be more helpful and warm than people in your own country.
The climate is mild and temperate, with short rainy periods during the week. It is not cold enough to snow, but you need a good jacket for sure. Nor is it ever really hot…
Wait, there’s..more??
I could write days on the many other fantastic regions of Colombia, ones that I have gone to and ones I have yet to discover. There are so many regions I have not been able to write about…The ocean desert of the Guajira and its interesting ethnic peoples, the highly organized and innovative “City of Eternal Spring” called Medellin with majestic panoramic views, the adventures one can embark on in the Amazonian rivers, the mountain-climbing one can do in the austere Andean mountain ranges of the Cocuy and Los Nevados, and so on. I have only written about the ones I have been to, and even then I had to cut down the article. Colombia has so many different superb regions of many different types of environments, both social, natural, and even economic. There is much more to see, do, and explore in this diverse and spectacular country. Colombia awaits everyone with open arms to explore its infinite possibilities!