Why Colombia?
Colombia has the Clearest Spanish in the World…
The capital city of Colombia, Bogotá, is widely known to have one of the clearest and most neutral Spanish accents in the world. Learning a neutral Spanish accent makes it easier to communicate with Spanish speakers from anywhere in the world. The Spanish accents from Spain, Mexico or Argentina are very strong and often not popular with Spanish speakers from other countries (and most Latin Americans actively dislike the Spanish accent from Spain!) If you’re not bothered about learning a neutral accent, the smaller (and warmer) city of Medellín is alleged to have the sexiest Spanish accent!
…And Some of the Friendliest People in the World
Most Colombians are instinctively friendly, and most have a lot of patience for foreigners trying to finish a sentence in Spanish. When you get invited by a Colombian friend to join in some family celebrations (such as Christmas, New Years eve, weddings or birthdays) you’ll be made to feel like one of the family immediately, even if you can only say ‘Hola’ and ‘Gracias’ at the time!
Learn To Dance Like Shakira…
You probably already know that Shakira is Colombian. You might also know that dancing comes naturally to all Latin American (most Colombian babies can dance before they can walk!) But it’s not just salsa here (although Cali is famous for it) – there’s also ballanato, merengue, reggaeton, cumbia, and every other type of Latin American dance. And you won’t have to go far to find a teacher, since every Colombian will be more than happy to teach you.
Incredible Scenery, Even in the City Center
With much on the country on the back of the Andes mountain range, most cities are surrounded by mountains. You can climb (or take the cable car) up the 300m high Monserrate to overlook the incredible views of Bogotá, or climb one of the highest mountains in the world (5775m) just north of Cartagena and look out over the Caribbean sea from the summit.
Caribbean or Pacific Coast – It’s Your Choice…
Colombia has nearly 4,000 km of coastline, half on the Pacific coast, and half on the Caribbean. Both coastlines are stunningly beautiful, and warm, so you’re spoilt for choice.
A Benefit for the Guys:
Colombian is considered to have some of the most beautiful women in the world. (When you’re deciding which city you want to live in, Medellín is the home town of the majority of Colombia models).
The Low Cost of Living
Living in Colombia can easily cost half as much as living in the US or UK, and depending on how and where you live, could even cost 20-30% as much. If you have the option of working remotely via the internet, Colombia could be a great place to enjoy a better lifestyle and save money simultaneously. If you want to take a break from the rat race and live off your savings for a while, you can survive for 2-3 times as long here before you have to go back to work!
Colombia has 7 World Heritage Sites
Colombia has no fewer than 7 World Heritage sites – Cartagena, Los Katíos National Park, Malpelo Island, Santa Cruz de Mompox, San Agustín, Tierradentro and the ‘Cannon Museum’.
Mountaineering & Nature
Colombia has 7 of the 100 highest mountains in the world, give you a huge range of options for mountaineering or walking. It also has 53 protected parks for wildlife and the most diverse range of flora and fauna in the world – one national park in Colombia has more species in one hectare than exist in the whole of North America.
Opportunities for Volunteering
Like any Latin American country, Colombia does have some social issues. There are many opportunities to get involved in charitable organisations here, and it’s also a great way to improve your Spanish.
Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Jungle, Wildlife
If you want to spend some time close to the natural wonders of the world, it’s all here in Colombia, and it’s never too far away from the city that you’re living in.
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- The 1000 Most Used Words in Spanish - Learn these and your comprehension will improve by 300% immediately. This is a real shortcut to learning the language, since about 80% of all spoken and written language is made up of only around 2000 words.
- The Key Spanish Vocab that You Need For Meeting People - make a good impression in the first few seconds of meeting someone, and it won't matter if you make mistakes in your grammar or misunderstand things. This guide tells you the phrases you really need to know - not the formal, old-fashioned greetings you get from the books, but the phrases that people really use.
- 50 Key Shortcuts for Learning Spanish - These tips will give you a vocabulary of about 5,000 words straight off - without having to learn any new words! This guide also includes a simplified set of verb conjugations - it's actually much simpler than it seems in the grammar books!
- The Insider's Guide to Living in Colombia - Filled with information that you'll never find in the travel guides, this introduction will give you an idea of what it's like to live in Colombia. Of course, once you decide to come here, we'll send you an ultra-comprehensive guide that will ensure you are comfortable from day 1, but this guide will help you imagine what it's like to live in South America.
