Who would want to live in Cartagena?  Anyone who likes to live on the cusp.  [the dividing line between 2 very different things]  -  Cartagena's culture exceeds that of many locations in latin America, there is art, both visual and literary, [the writer Gabriel García Márquez has a house in Cartagena, there is the well known Cartagena Film Festival which is held each year, and the plastic arts that I saw in the museums and galleries were of good standing and fairly prolific for a city of less than a million souls.] In addition, there is architecture, there is food, wine, beaches, boating, wind surfing and the pleasures of the flesh. There is also the possibility of becoming a casualty of Colombia's 35 year old civil war, a decidedly more interesting end then being run over by a Ford Taurus in Chicago.  Statistics show that 80% of the death toll of Colombia's civil war consists of non-combatants, so you could become an interesting statistic without much effort. Just leave town in a car traveling in most directions and you'll run into a war of sorts. Living in Cartagena is like living in Cape Town.  It's a nice place to live, but you can't leave the city proper because you're surrounded by a ring of danger, both real and imagined.  Cartagena began as a walled city and after five hundred years it is, in an oddly unique way, still a walled city. To be sure, expats live in Bogota and Medellin.  [Since this article was written Medellin has become an expat haven with numerous expats moving there to take advantage of lower prices, the excellent weather, and the fact that there has been a significant drop in criminal problems over the past few years.] - How To Disappear In Six Easy Lessons - Guerrillas In Our Midst - The Walled City Of Cartagena - by Roger Gallo

Large Map Of Colombia State Maps Of Colombia

Real Estate In Colombia Real Estate In Colombia - Current Listings - Is Colombia a good place to invest in Real Estate? Colombia has lower prices than most nations in South America. It is becoming more attractive for foreign real estate investors and retirees. As crime and violence diminished Colombia becomes a better place to live, we believe that Colombia real estate can be an exceptional investment. -  The arrival of foreign visitors to Colombia has jumped 65% since 2002, to 925,000 last year, according to Carlos Alberto Zarruk, Colombia's deputy minister for business development, who oversees tourism. - List You Property - Advertise Your Property - Real Estate In South America - Also see Real Estate By Type - Islands, B&B's, Plantations - Offshore Real Estate Library - Vineyards For Sale Worldwide - Offshore Yacht Broker - International Real Estate Index

Articles & Resources on Living & Investing in Colombia

Nightlife in Medellin  - During university spring break most students and their families tend to travel and visit other family members, which then cause the city life to slow down. Parque lleras is by far the most popular area for foreigners to go out and enjoy a night full of drinking and partying with people from all different backgrounds.  Each street is jam packed with restaurants, bars, pubs and discotecas.  All sorts of music can be found at these places from your typical Latin dances such as salsa to crossover music, reggaeton and even 90’s American rock.  It is typical to see a lot of girls and the wealthier class.  This is a perfect opportunity to mingle and become more immersed. When taking a stroll through the park you will quickly identify the places which most appeal to you.   It is important to keep in mind that the drinks are somewhat expensive and that many clubs/discotecas charge a cover fee.  For those looking to wander and party around in a fun zone while enjoying the sight of beautiful women, dancing and meeting others; Parque Lleras is the place for you. MORE >>>

Social life for expats in Medellin, Colombia   -  Parque Lleras is the best place for visitors to meet up with others, as within this park you will find a diverse atmosphere of people from all over the world as well as natives.  There are many bars/restaurants/danceclubs such as Office Licor, Divino Cielo, Juan Valdéz, Bascilia, Hooters, and Thaico.  Here you can dance to salsa, bachata, merengue, vallenato and reggaeton.  Other popular social areas in Medellín include Rio Sur, La Strada and Barrio Colombia.  Rio Sur offers a more quite setting with classier bars situated outside which allows for a beautiful time with a group of friends or with a partner.  La Strada is an elegant/higher class area which has very nice bars and restaurants.  Here you can find many successful business people both native and foreign.  Barrio Colombia is situated in the industrial zone.  These dance/nightclubs are directed towards a full night of dancing and hardcore partying which consists of crossover music. MORE >>>

China Loves Colombia – The USA? - In May 2004, the United States initiated negotiations with Colombia to establish a free trade agreement. Referred to as the Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA), negotiations were successful with the agreement being drafted and signed on November 22, 2006 by both the United States and Colombia, pending Congressional review and final approval by both Colombia and the U.S. Colombia’s unanimous Congressional approval came in 2007, with a few minor amendments. Colombia’s Constitutional Court review concluded that the Agreement conformed to Colombia’s Constitution and signed their approval in July 2008. Since that time, the “agreement” has essentially been held hostage by the U.S. government, awaiting congressional approval … in other words, pending U.S. demands and “ransom”. If and when implemented, the CTPA would eliminate duties on nearly 80% of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial products to Colombia. Additionally, 7% of U.S. exports would receive duty-free status within five years of execution. Ten years after implementation of the agreement, additional duties and fees would be dropped. Colombia would be able to join the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA), which would eliminate Colombia’s trade limitations on information technology products.

Investing in the rapid growth of Colombia - Are you looking for the next land of opportunity? Does talk of massive government debt, bankruptcies, foreclosures and unemployment have you singing the blues? Escapeartist is about to provide you with an insider tip to the next ‘in’ location. We are talking about a location where all the smart  money is moving to, a country vast with resources, a beautiful culture and probably the most attractive women on planet earth. (It’s true) – Names like Sam Zell (Billionaire) and Carlos Slim (Billionaire) and many others are investing in Colombia right now. Why are they investing? Why are tourism rates in Colombia skyrocketing? Why is the Colombian stock market returning double digit returns? Why is Colombia leading the Latin American rim in attracting foreign direct investment? Escapeartist has the insider scoop on Colombia and we are going global with it! – We were on the front lines of Costa Rica, Belize, Dominican Republic, Argentina and NOW Colombia! Escapeartist has partnered with Investment Group Colombia to provide our readers with authoritative articles that are written by Escapeartist readers who actually live the Colombia Escapeartist Dream  right now.  Escapeartist over the next few months will be providing special coverage of Colombia and we will be getting the truth from the ‘frontline’ early adopters, the market mavens, pioneers of the international Colombia lifestyle!

Realizing the quality of life that Colombia offers  - Imagine waking everyday to fresh air,  clear sunny,  skies,  and 70 to 80 degree temperatures…365 days per year! Add to that, being surrounded by landscapes of varying shades of emerald,  lime,  jade, and chartreuse greenery and crystal clear, cool, cascading waterfalls, fed by warm tropical rains that fall mostly in the dead of night… and hearing the wonderful and unique songs and calls of colorful exotic birds and animals. And imagine too,  feasting on an almost endless variety of fresh exotic fruit or juice for breakfast–lulo, mango, papaya, maracuya, tomate de arbol,  mora, nispero, melon, pitaya, curuba,  guayaba,  zapote,  sandia,  granadilla, tamarillo,  baby banana, cherimoya, et al… and sipping truly fresh-from-the-local-mountains coffee. These are all things you can commonly experience living in the beautiful land of Colombia. Or, if you prefer, you may choose to wake each morning high aloft a multi-story apartment or condo building overlooking endless miles of sandy beaches, with crashing waves and expansive vistas of the Atlantic Caribbean Seas… temperatures here,  a bit warmer,  but moderated by almost constant off-shore breezes… fresh seafood and fish for lunch… maybe snorkeling or scuba diving a pristine coral reef in the afternoon… enjoying fine dining and learning salsa dancing in the evening.

Next Thing You Know Jed was a Millionaire… in Colombia - By Jim Sikora -  With our continued interest and dedication in providing you with the true picture of Colombia, Investment Group Colombia here explores the latest news regarding one of the more promising investment fields, crude oil production and mining.   Now ranked number one as the country that best protects its investors and number three as the most business friendly country in Latin America, Colombia is attracting billions of dollars in outside petroleum and mining investment funds.  This is the result of low tax and royalty rates as well as liberal and attractive business incentives for both private-sector producers and investors. Ranked behind both Brazil and Venezuela, Colombia is now South America’s third-largest oil producer and is projected to be producing in excess of 1.2 million barrels of crude per day by 2012.   According to government sources, that is nearly twice current production levels.  Colombian oil industry association president, Alejandro Martínez, said in April that the nation’s daily production average would reach 800,000 barrels per day (bpd) for 2010. State-owned Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) is responsible for 82 percent of current production.  Ecopetrol stated earlier this week that in April of last year it broke an 11-year-old export record, selling 403,510 bpd of crude oil and refined products.  The previous record had been established in July of 1999, with Ecopetrol exporting 398,275 bpd of oil and refined products.  Ecopetrol is the fourth-largest oil company in Latin America behind Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., Petrobras and Petroleos Mexicanos.

Into The Amazonian Badlands - Remote Amazon - Outlaw territory is where we were headed. After the 84th km the National Police and Marine patrols became more frequent and visible. The land begins to roll into the foothills of the Cordillera Azul that will itself rise into the Andes 300 km to the West. It was the week before Christmas and six years after the first time I had set eyes on this land. I fell in love with this hill country back then even though, unbeknownst to me, the place was off limits to US government personnel. The notable exceptions being the usual CIA operatives and Special Forces “advisors”. However, I was and am a civilian contractor and therefore not subject to the same restrictions as visiting royalty. Peasants are expendable. I love it still, the sense of newness and adventure as fresh as six years ago. At one time in the past, this part of the country was under the control of the Sendero Luminoso, idealistic, cold-blooded Maoist rebels. Zona Roja. Indian Country, a term used by the grunts of another war in another land to describe hostile territory. An apt expression in that the area in question greatly resembles the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Quality of Life and Cost of Living in Bogota - When I retired a few years ago I discovered that for the most part, old people in the US are forced into doing old people things, generally with other old people.  I knew I wanted more than that. I had lived for the previous 15 years on a beautifully wooded ranch in a pretty rural area near Houston in Texas, but by the time I stopped work, it was surrounded by upscale subdivisions, shopping malls and Walmart.  Prior to my retirement, I had travelled much of Europe, Central and South America, and was always evaluating potential retirement locations. When I realized that my Company was going to force me into retirement (I love them for it), I spent a great deal of time surfing the net, my favourite site being escapeartist.com reading articles, and trying to determine the real cost of living in various countries.  It really is impossible unless you actually go to these places, and stay for at least three weeks. I went to Panama, Chile, (I really liked Chile),  Costa Rica, Mexico (the colonial towns), Guatamala (yuk!), Spain, and Canada.  My eventual selection was based on family situation and climate.  I am married to a Colombian and came to know Bogota really well through Christmas and other holiday visits.  Although the city has a reputation for crime, drugs and violence, I felt that it was an exaggerated perception;  there are many population centres in the United States that suffer just as much from these afflictions.

Private Trust Banking – 21st Century Offshore Banking- Imagine the setting: A beautiful tropical island, no clouds in the sky and palm trees gently swaying in the breeze.  Wealthy, well dressed people are sipping an exotic cocktail in the shade, their luxury yachts nestling in the harbor. An expensive car pulls up and a man with a white suit steps out with a large suitcase which he proceeds to take into the bank opposite the sidewalk. The scene cuts to the manager´s office where the well-dressed man clicks open the case to reveal stacks of 100 dollar bills …. A sly smile creeps across the manager´s face ….. A good setting for a 007 movie maybe, as well as being many people´s image for how the offshore banking industry works. However, that particular scenario does not exist – indeed it never has and the fact that it remains a popular idea in Hollywood movies and works of fiction only goes to prove how poor general understanding of the offshore industry actually is. MORE >>>

How To Bank Offshore

Under The Shade Of The Mango Tree - Into The Colombian Amazon  - Lying on the edge of Europe facing out to the Atlantic Ocean sits Ireland, one of Europe’s smallest countries and often described as ‘The Emerald Isle”.  A beautiful country characterised by vibrant, colourful cities set amidst endless unspoilt green fields, Ireland is now officially the best place in the world to live.  Combining increasing wealth with traditional values gives Ireland the conditions most likely to make its people happy, according to the Economist’s quality of life assessment for 2005. Add to this its longstanding reputation for a green and clean environment and Ireland has become a very desirable spot to live in.  Already 60,000 Americans have claimed a piece of Irish soil as their own, planning to live out their days in the Celtic gem and many of our Europeans neighbours are following suit. Property Market Overview - Ireland’s desirability comes at a cost. Increasing wealth, resulting from the Celtic Tiger boom years has pushed property prices up to one of the highest levels in Europe. Consequently, property in Ireland is not cheap. A recent International Monetary Fund study revealed that Irish house prices are overvalued by 10-20%.

Viva COLOMBIA: Heart of Heaven, Heart of Hell - The Pros and Cons of Living and Working in Colombia - There’s an old saying about Colombia,“When God was creating the world, He put gold into South Africa, some was left over, so He threw it into Colombia. "He put coal into Appalachia, but there was some left over, so He threw it into Colombia. "Then God distributed minerals like Iron and Nickel, again there were some left over, so He threw them into Colombia. "Brazil received tropical fruits and Emeralds, there were some of these left over too, so He threw them into Colombia. "The Middle East got a pot full of oil; the remainder God poured into Colombia. "Flowers went into the South Pacific islands, there were some of these left over as well, so He threw them into Colombia." "Wait a minute," a watching angel said to God. "Do you realize that you’re making Colombia one of the most powerful nations on earth?"  "Yes," God replied, "but don’t worry, I haven’t given them their politics yet." Americans are very afraid of going to Colombia and for good reasons. In recent years, inflation has devalued the peso by half, a virtual civil war has been waged unchecked for nearly 40 years, rates of crime and violence have been among the highest in the world at times, and of course, there’s the “drug problem”. So why would anyone consider coming here?

Retiring In Cartagena In Colombia - Colombia, are you nuts? You might well ask this question if you haven’t visited this enchanting city and not many North Americans have. Cartagena is a jewel in the Caribbean and I’m not the only one who feels that way. Cartagena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a favorite vacation and retirement destination for many thousands of Europeans and Colombians. Let’s put one thing to rest right now, Cartagena, Colombia is a very safe place to live or visit. In fact, it is far safer than many cities in North America. Perhaps if you knew a little bit about the city and its history you’d understand why it is so special. Cartagena de Indies, Colombia is named after the famous city of Cartagena, in Spain. It was founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredia as an Amerindian trading post and it prospered and started to grow. In 1552 fire reduced the small town to ashes and Governor Heredia (the same) decreed that all buildings be made of stone from that point forward. This decree is one of the reasons so many colonial buildings have survived to the present day. Because of its well-protected harbor Cartagena became the staging area for the Spanish treasure fleets. The plundered treasure from Peru and Ecuador was ferried up the Pacific coast to Panama, taken across the isthmus by mule train (no canal in those days) and loaded on the Galleons which then made the short sail to Cartagena where they were provisioned and picked up more treasure brought down the Rio (river) Magdalena from the interior of Colombia. In order to protect the ships carrying these goods, so they would not have to sail out into the Caribbean and down the coast, the Spanish built a canal from the mouth of the Magdalena to Cartagena 114 Kilometers long.

Live In Colombia Special Issue Real Estate Opportunity in Medellin Colombia - By John Lamac Living in Medellin Colombia - By Tom Ocean Influential Women in Colombia - By Phyllis Davis Take Time to Smell the Roses (at the Colombia Flower Festival) - By George Prieto Gold Mining Opportunity in Colombia - By Jim Sikora Colombia Moda – Colombia’s Fashion Extravaganza - By Don Ewert (Expat Commodity Alert) The Acai Opportunity is Now Yours - By Don Ewert Ground Floor - Going Up! Buying Medellin Real Estate - By John Lama Living Overseas Classifieds: An EscapeArtist Resource Much More: In current issue >>>