9 Reasons Why Colombia Is A Favorite For Retirees
The Availability Of Flights To North America
Major U.S.-based airlines offer nonstop flights to Colombian cities such as Medellín, Bogotá, Cartagena, Cali, and Cartagena. And because Colombia is in the far northern region of South America, the flights from the U.S. tend to be of manageable duration.
From airports in the southern U.S., nonstop flights to Bogotá range from 3 to 5 hours. Nonstop flights from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport are less than 6 hours.
The Safe Communities
Colombia appears to have long since moved past its dark days of the drug cartels in the 1980s and 1990s, and the expats we talked to all said they feel safe in their Colombian homes.
“I’ve been living in Medellín for three years, and not one time have I felt unsafe,” Bushmaker said. “Just like in the U.S., you need to be cautious in certain parts of town, especially at night.” But as long as you take common-sense precautions, he said, you can rest assured that it is a perfectly safe place to live.
Jacobs suggests heeding the local expression No dar papaya (loosely translated: Don’t show your valuables or put yourself in a vulnerable position). “Dress modestly, don’t flash valuables, and don’t drink in excess — you won’t have any problems!” he said.
Davis acknowledged that friends have sometimes questioned her move to Medellín, given its history as the one-time home of Pablo Escobar, former head of the Medellín Cartel. But the city has changed quite a bit since then. “Locals here will be quick to change your opinion of Medellín and shed some light on the transformation that the city has undergone since the 1990s,” she said.
Having lived in 12 countries around the world, Davis said that “Colombia feels no different, and, frankly, sometimes safer.” Still, she said it would be naive to think the whole country is safe, and it is important to do your research.
The U.S. Department of State states that while Colombia has transformed itself over the past 20 years “from a fragile state into a vibrant democracy,” visitors should still be cautious of things like civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
The State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council website reports that Bogotá and other large cities in Colombia share many of the crime problems that plague big cities around the world, such as mugging, assault, cell phone theft, credit card fraud, and burglary. But it added that Colombia’s tourist areas like Cartagena experience considerably lower crime rates and that crime there rarely turns violent.
The Proximity To Two Sea Coasts
Like its neighboring nation Panama, Colombia is twice blessed in the ocean department, with the Pacific to the west and the Caribbean to the northeast.
The two seas, with their different vibes, offer plenty of choices for retirees and expats. Jacobs, who lives in Cartagena on the Caribbean side, notes that there is a small but active community of expats there.
And on the Pacific side — known as Colombia’s best-kept secret — is the city of Cali, capital of salsa music, gastronomy, and festivals.
Colombia’s coastline totals nearly 2,000 miles, and that means that the country offers countless gorgeous beaches. The choices include standouts like Santa Marta, a captivating city that straddles the mountains and the Caribbean, and tropical island gems like San Andrés, Tintipán, and Baru.
The Amazing Cities
From the mountain setting of Medellín to Bogotá’s bustling capital-city vibe to Cali’s salsa rhythms and Cartagena’s colorful Old Town, Colombia’s cities run the gamut.
Bogotá, the country’s largest city, is known as Colombia’s melting pot, and Davis describes Medellín, the second-largest city, as “a South American Hong Kong — just as mountainous and jungly. Just as chic and hip.”
While all of the major cities are worthy of visits, exploring Cartagena’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is among the bucket-list experiences Colombia has to offer.
Or, for a place rich with indigenous culture, visitors are attracted to the little town of Guatapé, one of the most colorful cities in South America.
The Diverse Activities
As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Colombia is home not only to mountains, beaches, waterfalls, and rainforests, but also to the most bird, amphibian, butterfly, and frog species anywhere in the world.
All of those natural wonders lend themselves to stellar bird-watching, mountain biking, hiking, and scuba diving.
Pro Tip: Even with all its natural wonders, Colombia’s biggest claim to fame might just be its coffee culture. With conditions that produce arguably the finest coffee beans on the planet, Colombia is consistently named one of the places to get the best cup of coffee in the world.