🇨🇴 Colombia — The Passport

Cody Brunner · Jun 07, 2026 🇨🇴 Chia, Colombia

Hola 👋

Hey everyone I am Cody, an American expat and software developer. I've called Colombia home since October 2020. I am a permanent resident and have resided in La Sabana (mostly Chia) while living here. I was married to a colombiana; however now it's just me and my dog Max...

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Marcus Williamson · May 17, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Anyone done the retirement visa through the Houston consulate recently?

Pre-move research mode. I'm Houston-based, planning the M-pensionado route. I've heard the Houston consulate is fast but I want first-hand from someone who's been through it in the last year. Timeline, document gotchas, anything you'd do differently?

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D Daniel Rojas · May 16, 2026

Coworking spaces I've toured in Medellín (Laureles + Poblado)

Toured 4 spots — ranked by how I actually use them. Names lightly anonymised; DM for specifics.

We Work Poblado

Manila branch. Fastest wifi I've measured, real community, day passes available.

Boutique cowork (Laureles, near 1ra Sur)

Quieter, plant-filled, fewer events. Best for heads-down weeks.

Bigger Poblado spot

Fancier, more expensive, more events — good if you want the networking.

View full list (4) →

Sarah Kowalski · May 16, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

El Poblado vs Laureles vs Envigado — my 4-week neighborhood hunt

I've been in El Poblado 3 months and I'm planning my move. Spent the last 4 weeks walking around Laureles and Envigado and here's my real take:El Poblado: amenities are amazing, English everywhere, you'll never feel "in Colombia" exactly — feels like an expat island. Pricey....

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M María Camila Restrepo · May 16, 2026

My grandma's ajiaco bogotano

Traditional Bogotá chicken-potato soup with three potato types. My grandmother made this every Sunday and now I make it for my staff once a month.

6 servings 110 min medium Colombian

View recipe →

Chris Davidson · May 15, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

My $1,500/month budget in Medellín — 2-week update

2 weeks in. Pre-tax breakdown of week 1-2 actuals:Furnished 1BR El Poblado: $850/moGroceries (cooking 5-6 nights): $90 so far → est $180/moEating out (10x in 2 weeks): $130 → est $260/moCoworking day passes: $40Transportation (Uber + Metro): $35Phone (Claro plan):...

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James Whitmore · May 15, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

WIN: Got my cédula extranjería on the first try

After three years of visa renewals, I finally went through the full cédula extranjería process and got it on the first appointment. Key was having all documents apostilled fresh (within 6 months), bringing physical copies of everything (not phone scans), and arriving 30...

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M Matt · May 15, 2026

Which Colombian city is your Colombia?

33 votes View discussion →

María Camila Restrepo · May 15, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Setting up an S.A.S. in Colombia — what foreigners ask me about

As an attorney I set these up regularly for foreign-owned small businesses. Top questions I get:Can a foreigner own 100%? Yes.Do I need a Colombian partner? No.What does it cost? ~$1,500 USD all-in for incorporation, opening accounts, RUT.Timeline? 2-3 weeks if you have...

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Sarah Kowalski · May 15, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

Guatapé day trip — go early, take the boat

Did Guatapé last Saturday. Recommendations:Leave Medellín by 7am. The Peñol traffic is brutal after 9.Climb the Peñol first, before town. 740 steps. Worth it. Do it before you eat lunch.Take a boat on the lake. $15-20 USD for an hour. Captains will tell you stories. Bring...

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Karen Stevens · May 15, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

My first private hospital experience (Fundación Santa Fe Bogotá)

Kidney stone, 2am, taxi to Fundación Santa Fe in Bogotá. Three things I want US people to know:Walk-in to private hospital ER is fine. They take cash, card, or international insurance.CT scan happened within 90 minutes of arrival. In Seattle I would have waited 4-6...

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Megan Lopez · May 15, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

Best café in Usaquén for actually working — recommendations?

Looking for a Usaquén café with: real wifi, outlets at most tables, low music, not crowded between 9-1, and won't pressure me to leave. Bonus for good coffee (table stakes here so not too worried).

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Sarah Kowalski · May 15, 2026 🇨🇴 Colombia

Opening a Bancolombia account — what worked, what didn't

3 attempts. 3rd worked. What helped:Bringing my cédula extranjería AND my passport (they ask for both).Going to a branch in El Poblado that's used to foreigners, NOT a random branch downtown.Going Tuesday morning, NOT Friday afternoon.Having a Colombian phone number already...

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Mike Thompson · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Salento, Colombia

Salento vs Filandia — which is the real coffee experience?

Hot take from a recent finca-buyer: Filandia. Smaller. Less touristy. Still has the colorful balcony charm. Better food in town. Salento is gorgeous but it's basically Cocora Valley's overflow parking lot at this point.Both worth a visit. If you have to pick one for a...

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Brian Fisher · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

Internet speeds by neighborhood — Bogotá data, 1 year of measurements

I work fully remote and I've been measuring my home internet every workday for a year. Movistar fiber in Chapinero: median 380 Mbps down, 220 up, 99.4% uptime over the year. Two outages over an hour. One outage over four hours.Friend in Suba: ETB fiber, similar speeds, more...

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Jennifer Lawson · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

Bogotá day trips worth doing — Suesca and Guatavita

Took two weekend day trips this month:Suesca — climbing town, 90 minutes north. Sandstone cliffs, great hiking, small mountain town energy. Get there before 9am to avoid the crowds.Guatavita — colonial replica town near the actual El Dorado lagoon. About 2 hours. Easy hike to...

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Jennifer Lawson · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

Got asked for codeudor (cosigner) — what worked for me as a foreigner

Landlords here often ask for a Colombian codeudor (cosigner). As a foreigner, you usually don't have one. What worked for me in Chapinero: paying 4 months upfront in exchange for waiving codeudor. Some landlords also accept a póliza de arrendamiento (rental insurance, costs...

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A Amanda Rivera · May 14, 2026

Old City vs Bocagrande — which is for actually living?

14 votes View discussion →

Jennifer Lawson · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

Where to find imported groceries in Bogotá

For my fellow Anglos who need their peanut butter and "real" cheese sometimes:Carulla — the most "international" grocery; reliable for most imported brandsPomona — premium and slightly cheaper than expat-CarullaOlímpica/Surtimax — Colombian-mainstream but they have a...

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Ozzy G. · May 14, 2026 Pinned 🇨🇴 Colombia

Barranquilla Basics for Newcomers

Barranquilla is a Caribbean city, but it is not a beach resort.It is more business-oriented, family-centered, social, hot, practical, and river-connected than many newcomers expect. The Gran Malecón along the Magdalena River is one of the city’s most important public spaces,...

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Hola 👋

Anyone done the retirement visa through the Houston consulate recently?

Coworking spaces I've toured in Medellín (Laureles + Poblado)

El Poblado vs Laureles vs Envigado — my 4-week neighborhood hunt

My grandma's ajiaco bogotano

My $1,500/month budget in Medellín — 2-week update

WIN: Got my cédula extranjería on the first try

Which Colombian city is your Colombia?

Setting up an S.A.S. in Colombia — what foreigners ask me about

Guatapé day trip — go early, take the boat

My first private hospital experience (Fundación Santa Fe Bogotá)

Best café in Usaquén for actually working — recommendations?

Opening a Bancolombia account — what worked, what didn't

Salento vs Filandia — which is the real coffee experience?

Internet speeds by neighborhood — Bogotá data, 1 year of measurements

Bogotá day trips worth doing — Suesca and Guatavita

Got asked for codeudor (cosigner) — what worked for me as a foreigner

Old City vs Bocagrande — which is for actually living?

Where to find imported groceries in Bogotá

Barranquilla Basics for Newcomers

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