What makes Columbia so special. It is the wide variety of areas which include lush, green coffee plantations along the Andes Mountains, sparkling crystal beaches, and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta—the 18,700 foot, snow-capped mountain which is only 26 miles from the Caribbean Coast.
The country is the second most bio-diverse in the world. Located in the north of South America, it has coastline on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, borders the Darien jungle to its west, and the Amazon to its east. With 1,889 species of birds, Colombia is home to 20% of all species on earth. Tucked away in the eastern part of the country is Caño Cristales, the river dubbed a “liquid rainbow.” This river of five colors is one of the country’s many natural gems.
The people are warm and accepting. They welcome foreigners with music, dancing, interesting local food, and of course festivals. Nearly every city and town has a festival to celebrate some aspect of Colombian life.
Medellin, Colombia’s second largest city, hosts Feria de las Flores (flower festival) in August, followed by the International Jazz Festival in September. And every December they present the most spectacular display of Christmas lights in the world.
Depending on what you are looking for, life can be laidback with relaxing beaches in the coastal town of Taganga, to the culture-rich capital city of Bogota, filled with theaters, churches, and the Gold Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts. Trendy nightlife, upscale shopping, and an array of imaginative restaurants can be found in both Bogotá and Medellín, as well as several other large cities. Many cities in Colombia offer a first-world lifestyle for significantly less than the cost of living in the U.S.
Columbia ranks fantastic healthcare. Many of their hospitals rank top in Latin America.
The people of Colombia and its government have worked hard to overcome the former harsh reputation of the country. More than two decades have passed since the infamous days of Pablo Escobar and much of the country is now vibrant and thriving. Multinational companies in the technology, mining, banking, and healthcare sectors have a major presence in Colombia.
Getting from one area of the country to the other is rather easy. Bus travel is inexpensive. However, due to the mountainous area around most of the country, journey times can be long. On the positive side, you can spend the hours soaking in all the magnificent scenery. Many airlines provide services between major cities. Domestic flights are reasonably priced and make for much shorter transit, allowing you to spend more time exploring your destinations.
Colombia is steadily growing as a popular retirement haven.
Why would you want to live in Columbia:
Pros
World Class Health Care
The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks Colombia´s health system #22 out of the 191 countries it reviews. That is better than Canada which ranks #30 and the U.S. which ranks #37. Twenty of the top 49 Latin-American hospitals are in Colombia. Foreigners are eligible to sign up for the national public health insurance plan, Entidades Promotoras de Salud (EPS), once they are residents and have obtained a cédula (national ID card). There is no age limit and pre-existing conditions are covered after an elimination period. Premiums range between $30 and $80 per month, depending on your financial status. Co-pays for laboratory tests, imaging, and other diagnostics use a tiered system which is tied to your income. These range from $2 to $10 per visit.
Getting a retirement visa is easy.
The income threshold is quite low, and the documentation process is very straightforward. If you are receiving Social Security, then you would apply for the pensionado category visa. With as little as a $738 monthly benefit you qualify for the visa. You must provide official proof of the income to accompany your application. If you are too young for Social Security but do receive a monthly private pension or 401K distribution of at least $2,459, then you can apply for the rentista category visa. You must submit apostilled documentation of your benefit along with your application. Both of these visas are valid for three years. There are no medical-related questions on the applications for either one.
You will experience life at a slower pace.
Colombians have a very family-centric culture, much like the U.S. was back in the 1950s and 1960s. They have Sunday dinners at grandma´s house, and large parties with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. They balance work time and recreational time. Offices close between noon and 2 p.m. so that employees can have a lunch break. Many Colombians go home to eat their big meal of the day.
