ippzipleddyf US airlines offer 24hr free refunds.

Also, be sure to say Colombia vs. Columbia or you’ll get lots of dirty looks and comments 😉

It’s a lesson well learned and as we mature in life we become more wiser with our decision-making. I also feel you on the vagabond lifestyle…I’m too spoilt and privileged to live that way. 😊

And it’s likely due to having done that lifestyle that we’re ever more appreciative and grateful for our privilege now. Practicing poverty, even in the past, is a good catalyst for growth.

ghyqzkzi One of my favorite and most rewarding experiences I ever had in Colombia was a friend from Ibagué and I decided to travel across the llanos with the least amount of money possible. We hitchhiked, camped, worked for food and brought homemade sampa (costs like 9000 COP for like a month worth of food :joy:). We hitchhiked from Ibagué to Arauca (with the exception from Orocué>Trinidad, Casanare and Tame>Arauca). In one month of travel we spent a total of 50000 COP 😂

Yeah… you might not want to risk seeding any kind of doubts in those situations. If they smell any kind of deviations from their norms/scripts, you might find yourself in a little room having a less than fun time :slightly_smiling_face:. If you can afford it on your credit card, it’s just as much work to buy and cancel within 24hrs vs. other options.

I'm living in the area, but probably won't be around for the mo

Anyone in Bogota and into Techno? I just bought a ticket to a Techno event for Saturday (Jeff Mills is playing). If anyone wants to join, hit me up :)

into techno but not in bogota! 😬

I'm gonna be in Medellin sometime during next week I think, I'm gonna hit you up. Maybe we can go together to an event :)

stupid question I presume but the ticket does not have to be a return flight (i.e., back to Mexico)? Figured I might check out Lima and Peru after Medellin, so I'd just book a flight there..

ebbqdnpsrxha that’s right - just needs to be proof of onward travel out of the country. I wonder if you tell them that you’re leaving via bus to Ecuador or canoe to Brazil they’d let you pass!?

Yeah, I contemplated to do something similar but not sure if it'd work!

So, get a refundable ticket, but try out the method above. If they don’t like it, be like - ohhhh duuuhhhhhhh that’s right here’s my flight back just in case. Report back!? 🙏

Ah sorry mate, I'm kinda set on Lima already haha!

urfebhexmilq oh, definitely. Just tell them that you’re going to Lima via bus through Nariño? :wink:. And if they don’t like that, then show the ticket!

Nobody cared about my return/onward ticket when I entered Colombia 2 days ago. But better to be on the safe side. It maybe also depends on where you're coming from and what passport you have.

Copa airlines made me book a return flight or they wouldn't let me check in. So I went with the book a refundable flight and cancel method

I’m down too! 👍

i’m down bro!!

Hi folks,

what gym would you recommend for a 3-month membership in the Poblado area? Do gyms in Columbia even accept temporary members?

Thanks!

Are you looking for personal trainer or no?

Smart fit let me pay month by month

ocrajuhpaxw something is seriously wrong with me as I keep making that same mistake lol

xjxsvuzhmlpj All good my friend just want you to be safe haha

🛬 ynmuald just arrived in 🏖 Cartagena, #colombia

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I just got a notification about a language exchange event on fb. It sounds fun - maybe I'll see you guys there.

sending you a PM

There’s also Body Tech

update no test is needed if you have a full vax set (like a single janssen)

🛬 djrlqxi just arrived in ⛰ Medellín, #colombia

🛬 duyekcsfddq just arrived in ⛰ Medellín , #colombia

partyparrot

Any district / hotel recommendations for Medellin? Nomadlist page recommends Envigado. Would you guys agree?

Not been to Envigado yet, but there's a bit less co-working opps; though it's apparently a nice chilled out family / hipster area.

Sounds good, thank you for the tip 👍

Did anyone flew from Brazil to Colombia recently? I don't know if the covid test is required or not if fully vaccinated? I think not, but I don't want to be rejected at the border for this if so 😅

Not necessarily has to be considered a first point of arrival. If you can speak Spanish then you should try to immerse yourself in the local neighborhoods like Laureles, Envigado etc.

I'm based in Bombona for me its in the center of everything and I'm like 10-15mins away from the hotspots.

The best thing about being there is that i am forced to speak Spanish. Every time I visit Poblado…the Colombians who work there always feel compelled to speak English with me - not the experience im looking for. Another thing, Poblado is too commercial and gringo-esque. It's ok for going out and having fun but that's about it.

You can do better if you immerse yourself with the locals and network yourself around.

I am planning my first international trip to medellin in August. Trying to book an air bnb. But also wondering what I should plan as far as cell service? Any pointers?

That's the thing I don't speak Spanish at all and had my difficulties here in Bogota because nobody seems to speak English. So maybe Poblado is not too bad for someone like me.

I would definitely recommend Poblado in that case.

noeiye download the app Busuu to start learning quickly. You'll get the basics down in no time!!!

I was in Sabaneta and my wife is fluent but when I was out shopping or whatever, there was pretty much no english. I was actually surprised because of how little english there is compared to SEA, I felt SEA was easy mode in terms of english. Poblado on the other hand is pretty easy.

I think I might be going to the wrong (right?) places in Poblado lol; hardly anybody speaks English IMO so far

If you start talking spanish, they will always default to spanish.

May be that, possibly. Though at the same time, if I struggle - they'll let me do so instead of switching.

🛬 mxmufi just arrived in ⛰ Medellín, #colombia

I flew from Russia and they wanted both

Anyone know if it's possible to buy a prepaid SIM for Data at the airport in Medellin?

There's no way around it; learning a new language is difficult, awkward and uncomfortable for a while. You just have to get used to it. What really helped me was live with roommates that didn't speak English and force myself to go hang out with people who didn't speak English. Even better if you live in a working class neighborhood because you'll stand out as a foreigner and therefore more people will chat and want to hang out. Take a class or two of a subject you enjoy (officially or just to audit) that isn't Spanish as a foreign language at La Universidad Nacional (suramericana is a good neighborhood to live in btw) or La Antioquia (nice location as long as they aren't in paro :stuck_out_tongue:); not only will this help you obtain a student visa super easily you'll make friends and learn a ton of Spanish via classes you enjoy.

not specifically Brazil (and since it's not on the special list of 7-8 restricted countries it shouldn't be different) a full vaccine scheme of 14+ days old is accepted

I flew in Saturday and the immigration guy did check my vaccine certificate, and that was it

do taxis accept credit cards?

i never took that option, just heard it second hand

well i mean, i'm looking on the internet tripadvisor too, and people tend to exaggerate and it becomes chinese whispers, especially when they want to illustrate a point

Not sure how long you're staying but make sure you get a SIM card that's active beyond 30 days. I heard some providers block the cards after that..

Claro was about to block mine at 90 days, not 30

30 days is good enough for me. I heard they only block if hyou don't register your phone with your SIM to avoid people using stolen phones. Shouldn't be a problem to do either

Awesome, thank you for your help prayskin-tone-5prayskin-tone-5

Just arrived yesterday. Any meetups?

Where can I recharge my Claro SIM card? I tried doing it online multiple times but it just doesn't work, no helpful error message. And I kinda don't want to go somewhere without Internet and realize Google Maps showed incorrect information. Any help is appreciated, I'm located in El Poblado, Medellín.

There’s a Claro in Santa Fe mall

qafxze you can also do it at most supermarkets/checkout lanes

Thank you very much guys!

you cannot recharge online with a foreign card, their system just doesn't like it

so the mall option is the easiest for the first time

Okay this explains the errors, thank you

It's a little pricier but I'm now using mobilerecharge.com|https://mobilerecharge.com now almost anywhere I go.

Amazing, thanks. Gonna keep this in mind for the next time.

Does Colombia currently require a negative covid test to enter?

Not if you're fully vaxxed

damn missed this

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Another good service for global top-ups ding.com|ding.com