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Medellin is still a thriving city among expats, digital nomads and general travelers looking to experience the hype, but there are certainly notable concerns about it visiting.
Firstly, prices are not what they used to be as Medellin has far surpassed its ‘hidden gem’ status.
Secondly, crime may be a fickle subject, but it always remains in the back of the minds of those exploring the ‘City of Eternal Spring’, where robberies, scams and other petty crimes occur regularly.
Third, Medellin has lost its sense of authenticity due to the uprising of foreigners. Travelers love to visit places that feel authentic.
The capital Bogota is also in this mix, but on the other hand there is a lesser known city that should almost put you off visiting Colombia.
Super cheap, more authentic and generally considered safe to visit: Medellin’s best alternative may be the beautiful city Bucaramangalocated in the foothills of the vast Andes.
Experience the real Colombia in the ‘city of parks’
Colombia is more than a nation of names with names like ‘City of Eternal Spring’ and ‘City of Parks’, but at least you know what you’re signing up for when you visit.
In the case of Bucaramanga, as you can imagine, it’s great to enjoy the outdoors while being surrounded by all the urban delights that this underrated city brings.
Like Medellin, Bucaramanga is located in a bowl-like setting, with a backdrop of rolling hills and towering mountains that almost invite you to get out and explore.
To entice you even more, Bucaramanga is home Chicamocha National Park (also known as “Panachi”), a highly regarded park where you can hike among breathtaking canyons or ride the cable car for higher views.
But actually, ‘City of Parks’ is more tailored to city parks to get a sense of daily life here through the sights, sounds and tastes of the city.
Bosque Encantado Metropolitan Park and Morrorico Park both offer unrivaled skyline views, while Santander Park is centrally located and makes a great base from which to explore historic buildings, bustling empanada markets and great dining options.
Start your day with a stroll with world-famous Colombian coffee in a city where you never know what weird and wonderful surprises you’ll encounter, like giant ant sculptures fit for apple-bottomed jeans.
‘Boots with fur’ might be a bit of an exaggeration Temperatures of 80 degrees year round.
Bucaramanga is safer and super cheap
You could say that Bucaramanga is what Medellin was: a sunny, green, mountainous city that radiates history, culture and natural beauty. However, regular travelers don’t know about it as it is overshadowed by the plethora of other household names.
While Medellin’s own well-documented problems need to be solved, Bucaramanga is free of rising prices and tourist scams – at least not yet.
According to International lifeColombia’s mid-sized cities are the ultimate places to save money on your travels.
Bucaramanga has almost 3 million fewer inhabitants, but still feels like a big city with timeless charm and an overall cultural ‘wow’ factor.
Eating out can be as cheap as you want, depending on whether you want a quick street meal or a fancy restaurant. For example, an authentic lunch including a drink costs about $5 on average.
Hotels won’t break the bank either. Many boutique hotels cost less than $30, while in places like 4 stars they can go up Hotel Internacional La Triada is just a little something more; not to mention the great location near the beautiful Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia and Santander Park.
Traveling around is the cheapest of all through the Metrolinea about 70 cents per ride.
Bucaramanga’s call to digital nomads
Just as Medellin was once an ordinary city, it is now perhaps better known as an expat/digital nomad haven, more so than in the wild times of Pablo Escobar’s reign.
Bucaramanga has everything digital nomads could want, except an already thriving community of like-minded travelers.
But that is destined to change. Immediately buzzing cafe culture, easy-to-get visas for digital nomads and affordable living costs across the board: why not give Bucaramanga a chance?
International living is also provided clear examples of why digital nomads will be enticed to move here:
- Healthcare – Monthly plans under $50
- Food – $5 for a nice lunch
- Public transportation – $0.70 bus rides, $3 taxis and Uber is in use
- Utilities – About $60 per month total for gas, water and electricity
- Internet – $16
All told, International Living estimates the monthly cost of living at $1,070.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
