# 1 - Why Retire in Colombia

¡Hola amigos!

Welcome to our eight part series, Retiring in Colombia like a Millionaire. I am Milena, and together with my husband Craig- or Alan as I call him- we invite you to come learn about this overlooked gem in Latin America. In this series you are going to learn the basics about living in this amazing country, and today you are going to learn how we started helping expats in Colombia.

As for myself, I am a proud Colombian from the southern part of the country, and Craig is from Illinois, in the United States. During Craig’s first year in Colombia, our paths crossed and soon love blossomed in my picturesque corner of the county. As a couple, we came to the decision that we would build our future in Colombia, instead of the United States, which is quite the opposite of many Colombians who marry Americans. However, for me I love both Craig and my country, and Craig was also captured by Colombia's natural beauty of majestic mountains, crystal-clear rivers, and lush flora and fauna.

For Craig moving to Colombia has been life-changing. Here he found that he can live a delightful life with a quality that is nearly impossible to achieve in the United States. Despite this, life for him has been far from perfect, and after over a decade of living in this “paradise”, he has had to face the challenges of being a foreigner such as learning to haggle, navigate excessive Colombian bureaucracy, use public transportation, deal with cultural differences, and many more hurdles that he has steadily overcome with patience and determination. During all this time, I have been right beside him, helping him along the way and likewise he has helped me as we accompany each other down life’s meandering path. And it is from our experiences dealing with the challenges of expat life and meeting expat retirees that we realized that we could pave the way for others looking for a quality retirement and a new lease on life.

This is the story of Latin Escape Travel & Living™ and it is our passion to help you explore and settle in Colombia’s Coffee Growing Region, also known as El Eje Cafetero (El A-he Kha-fe-tear-oh). Beyond only showing you the tourist hot spots, we want to immerse you in everyday life; from ordering food, finding a home, navigating the healthcare system, to tackling Colombia’s bureaucracy, and so much more.

Amigos, click the video below to learn more about my wonderful country and make sure to check out our guides throughout this series with useful tips and information.

Remember, “Colombia, the only risk is that you'll want to stay.” (1)

¡Chao!

Milena

Top Five Countries with Direct Flights*

*pertaining to Latin America, South America, and the Caribbean as of 2022 with direct flights from the United States.

Top Five Busiest Airports in Latin America*

*per passengers pertaining to Latin America, South America, and the Caribbean as of 2022.

US & Canadian Cities with Direct Flights to Colombia in 2023

Cities Close To Airports in Colombia*

*two hours or less by vehicle in Colombia.