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Going to Colombia!

I am going to Colombia next week, for 20 days. I will be in Medellin, Cali and the zona cafetera. If anyone in one of these places wants to meet up, get in touch. I hope to make lots of pictures and stories for this website, and me and my girlfriend are going to make a short documentary about the coffee trade.

By Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) on Jan 4, 2004, 10:31 in Friendly Talkzone.

litost says on Jan 4, 2004, 15:40:

coffee trade Hi Peter, I am from Santa Rosa de Cabal but unfortunatelly not in Colombia right now... however if you're interested in learning first hand about the coffe trade in the region, I have a friend who recently started a new business dedicated to processing and selling coffee, her family's always been in the coffee business and own many farms, she could probably give you some insight for your documentary. If you're interested let me know and I'll get you in touch with her.

Anyways, have fun and don't miss the Termales in Santa Rosa(try going to the San Vicente ones though, they are a little farther but much less spoiled than the traditional ones), and any other questions on the coffee region I'll be glad to help.

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tracyg73 says on Jan 4, 2004, 18:30:

imigration to cali, colombia I am originally from Texas, USA - but have only recently returned after being in London for 16 years. On the way back to Texas I had a 10 day stop in Cali, Colombia. I would like to know if anyone can please help me with immigration laws concerning my return to Cali to work/live.

My profession is IT consultant (IBM systems) and has been for the 16 years in London.

Please let me know if anyone can help.

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sebasenbogotá says on Jan 5, 2004, 11:14:

You shouldnt miss la Feria de Manizales I hope you have a great time, try to do "balsaje en el rio la vieja" in QUindio I have heard is great, my cousin took his french girlfriend and family there and they love it, also go to el "Parque los Yarumos" in Manizales, and all the parks in Quindio. Its a great place to go. Take lot of Picture in "La autopista el cafe" From Manizales to Pereira, landscape is great.

Best of luck, I wish I was there, enjoy it.

Sebas Ocampo
Proud to be a Colombian

Suerte ! Sebas

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 5, 2004, 17:49:

Imigrating to Colombia Tracy, Contact the Colombian Consulate nearest to you. They have websites that outline the various methods for imigrating including fees.
They also have a list of documents that you will need to qualify for a visa, depending on the type you are seeking. Be aware, that everything you submit will have to be translated to Spanish and documented with an official Apostea from the country or state (America) where you live. (we had to get 33 of them at $3. each)
My partner and I have done this and will soon be retiring to Bogota. The process has been intensive, and long term. It has taken us nearly a year to achieve the visas, and the consulate still has not returned the passports (since Dec. 12, 2003) with the Visa stamps in them.
It takes a lot of planning and effort to get any visa, but we hope it will be worth it for you as well as us. My partner is flying to Bogota tomorrow (1/6/04) to begin the process of finding a place to live. We have been warned that it can be difficult because of other foreigners who have precceeded us have been less than honest in their dealings with Colombian landlords. We hear they may want a year long lease and payment in advance for the full year.
Good luck,
Lalo

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 6, 2004, 19:57:

Lalo - Imigrating to Colombia Thank you for the comments - I will contact the embassy as soon as i can. Do you (or indeed anyone else) have any advice on work in the field of IT in Colombia (Cali area)?

Thanks, Tracy

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 7, 2004, 08:43:

hi peter,
I m english and have been living in colombia for over a year and I ve just returned from spending the new year in Armenia.Quindio is an amazing region and I` m sure you ll be able to get as much info as you need,you might get some better advice from Parque del cafe,who have a lot of info on local coffee producers.
I doubt you ll go but "la Linea" the mountainous road from Armenia to Ibague is breathtaking if a little scary going up and down the mountains behind mulas!!!!!
Anyway have a great trip. also the lechona is delicious in this region and the patacones as well!!!!!

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 7, 2004, 16:09:

el nevado del RUIZ i recomend you to go to el nevado del ruiz in CALDAS. it is a snow

capped volcanoe where you could go to get excellent pictures of
Colombian SNOW which an avalanche from it buried the entire city of

Armero,Caldas. It is about an hour and a half from Manizales I have

not been there in 6 years so i dont know if it is dangerous to go

there. Also while in Medellin I recomendo you to go to Envigado it is

about 5 mins from el poblado It is just as safe as el poblado and it

is middle to high class its good to get pictures and theres a stream

in the north part called el salado it is excellent to get pictures

and to go swimming you are surrounded by mountains and there is a

wood bridge like you see on he movies. I prefer envigado than el poblado because here the people are normal not rich and spoiled and

not poor either, it is a good place to go to be in a regular

COLOMBIAN environment.

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francis says on Jan 7, 2004, 16:26:

How do I obtain Colombian work visa if married to a Colombian? I just recently married a Colombian and I am completely in love with Colombia even though I have never been there. Next week I will be traveling to Colombia for 16 days. I will be visiting my husband's family in Bogota, Cartagena and Bucaramanga. I also plan on going to Raquira, Villa de Leyva and Paipa. I will post a picture diary of my trip upon my return to the US. My husband and I hope to move to Colombia next year. How hard is it for a US National married to a Colombian National to obtain a work visa? I am an advertising and marketing professional can anyone refer me to an employment agency that can help me finding work once we have relocated to Bogota?

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 11, 2004, 20:09:

Unaccompanied girl going to colombia I'm a peruvian girl who loves traveling, I've already been to the UK, Argentina and Chile and I'm planning to travel around Colombia in March, I'm reading a lot about Colombia and the most I research the most I want to go there, it's definitely a beautiful place, I'm also aware of the danger and I'm a careful person. I enjoy staying in hostels with dormitory accomodation, does someone have any recommendation about them? and any recommendation for a girl traveling alone?

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whittier909 says on Jan 12, 2004, 10:33:

Going to Columbia in March - Any good people to meet? Where? I should be arriving in Bogota in March. I would like to meet a nice local lady who might take me on a tour and show me the sights as only a local can know them. Is there a program for something like this? I am not referring to a paid "escort" or something like that. I would also like to learn more than my current amount of Spanish (hablo un poco).

Thanks,

Whittier

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Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jan 12, 2004, 10:55:

Hostels For the woman from Peru: www.samexplo.org and the Platypus hostel in Bogotá are two resources. The first should be especially helpful for budget-minded travelers/explorers.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 13, 2004, 14:20:

thanks for hostels info Hey Tinto, thanks a lot for the information, I've visited the www.samexplo.org and already got some information, thanks again... Feli.

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