We collect personal relocation and life-in-Colombia cases here — not tour ads. The catalog is still short: below is an author template, recurring community themes (no names), and where to read next. Send your story on Telegram — we will publish with your permission (anonymous or with your name).
What makes a useful story
Short text (800–2000 words) or bullet points. Specifics beat “Colombia is great”:
- Where you came from, status (tourist stay / visa / cédula), city and neighborhood.
- Starter budget (rent, mobile, healthcare) — ballpark figures, not an exact receipt.
- What worked and what you would not repeat (housing, bank, safety, language).
- One non-obvious tip for newcomers.
No real name or photo required. We only edit spelling and links to guide sections — we do not rewrite your meaning.
Common themes (from chats)
Not personal interviews — repeating patterns so you avoid the same mistakes while we have few full texts.
“Poblado for the first month”
Airbnb in El Poblado → realized prices and noise → moved to Laureles / Envigado on a lease. See Medellín, Housing.
“Arrived without remote income”
Local salaries rarely match a European lifestyle. Sort visa/money first, then move: Before arrival.
“Cartagena for six months”
Beautiful the first weeks, then heat + tourist prices. Often kept as a trip, base in Medellín/Bogotá: Cartagena.
“Phone on the map = papaya”
Theft at metro/walls — almost always with a visible smartphone. No dar papaya.
Read next
- Why Colombia?motivation and expectations
- CommunitiesTelegram, Meetup, KSORS
- Life by citychoosing a base
- Guides and tourismtrips, not relocation
- External articles on the guide home page (“Interesting articles” block)
- 18+ storiesseparate section, not to be confused with this one
Published stories
Empty for now — waiting for the first texts. When material appears, this will be a list with links (anonymous / author name).