About Jimbeam7

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Some Forum Posts:

Colombia: Can you drink the water in Colombia:

I've been drinking tap water all over Colombia for ten years without a problem including at my small town finca. That said there are some pueblos that have bad water best to ask first outside of the cities.

Colombia: Thinking of moving to Colombia:

CC is correct that you should bring as little as possible. Expect total costs to be $12 to 15k without insurance which could run another $5k. If you don't have Colombian wife you will also pay 20% import duties. The wife and I moved almost everything - mostly because she refused to turn loose of anything. Customs went though everything unpackingeverybox and repacking but not allways into the same box. Nothing was pilfered along the way but every piece of furniture recieved damage - pretty sure that was from the Colombian side of the move. As far as buying rual property here I do not concure with CC, there are plenty of areas that are quite safe but you would need a local contacts to steer you in the right direction. You should rent first in your chosen area because it could take years to sell if you chose poorly.

Colombia: Cali Expats, I need your help!:

I live in the mountains about an hour out of Cali - lived here 6 months but have been visiting regularly about 10 years. We have reason to go into Cali at least once a week - some weeks 3 times. Personally I do not like Cali 1) It's too hot for me and I come from Texas. 2) Polution - as soon as I get back to the finca I feel the neen to shower off the Cali visit. As far as security Cali seems a bit less safe tha BOG or MED but not enough to base a decision on. Everything you might need is available and flights are dependable unlike BOG.

Colombia: Bringing my cat from Panama:

Think twice for bringing cat for a short time. The following is from last September when we brought our dog: We arrived at our new home in Colombia last week and I wanted to share or experiance with bringing our dog - a 25 pound Australian Terrier. We got all the last minute documents done for Simon (our dog) and drove to Houston dropped Simon off at the cargo area and made our flight without incident. Our flight was to Bogota and I gave us 7 hours to get the dog through customs and make our connection on to Cali. But then we ran head on into Colombian bureaucracy – it’s quite impressive. We were told it would only take 10 or 15 minutes to clear Simon through customs but it seems that’s only for hand carried dogs when they fly cargo they’re treated like cattle. We arrived at 5AM and found that the cargo area doesn’t open till 8AM – no problem right? At 8AM we received a list of 12 offices (really 12), we had to go to with paperwork. First stop was to go to the bank and pay a fee, but the bank doesn’t open until 9AM – it’s starting to get aggravating. So we wait till 9 and continue the shuffle from office to office returning to the bank at one point to pay a different fee. At some point I realized we would not make our noon connection so I sent the wife to check into a Hotel with all our 9 suitcases (she had been waiting in a taxi van until then) as I continued the shuffle. Twice I had to go to a store an make copies because there were no functioning copiers in the building. Finally at 2:30PM we were permitted to rescue Simon; he had been the kennel since 8:30PM the night before – a full 18 hours. Simon was quite the trooper he did not pee in the kennel for the 18 hours. The following day we made our flight and arrived at our finca at about 5PM Friday 9/23/16 only a full day late.

Colombia: Safety in Cauca:

I live an hore outside of Cali and have traveled extensivly thoughout Cauca since 2007. I consider travel in this area to be safer than visiting the 3 largest cities of Colombia. That said I would not travel rual areas at night and always inquire localy about the specific area you intend to pass through or visit. Colombians generally think any place they don't know personally is dangerous, so try to find someone personal knownledge to ask.

Colombia: Best health insurance?:

@ Nuevo 69 with diaberes it's unlikely you'll be able to purchase insurane at any price. I recently went though this at 60 and just squeeked by. They give extensive health exams that you must pass by I doubt that they would even let you take the exam. 65 yrs seems to be the cut off If you don't have your insurance in place by then you can't get it.

Colombia: Expired Tourist Visa / Irregular Status:

Hi this is my first post here, the wife and I live on a finca about an hour north of Cali. Regarding an expired visa - I would not recomend just waiting and paying the fine when you are ready to leave. Both the police and military often stop people and check documents. If you are carrying a passport they always check and make sure the visa is not expired. This has happened to me walking on the steet in Bogota and Cali, several times traveling cross country by bus, and while driving. I for would not like to find out how long I would be held up if my visa was expired.

Date Joined:

12/16/2016

Total Posts:

11

Posts/Day:

0.10