The second week in Medellín, Colombia offered opportunity to explore more dining options and cafés within the Laureles area. Making a habit of midday workouts also allowed the exploration to feel seamless within the weekday routine.

Getting familiar with the surrounding businesses and knowing where to grab certain items was also made possible. During this second week, the comfortability when roaming the streets and seeing familiar faces at shops made strolls feel a little more at home.

The currency conversion mental math aspect started feeling natural. After a while, converting Colombian pesos into your home currency requires less thought with each purchase. This has become an expected phenomena as more time is spent in LATAM countries.

The end of the week closed with a short trip back home to the United States, specifically Miami. That Sunday night marked the return to Medellín, ready to continue exploring the city and settling further into everyday nomad life.

If you're a United States citizen and want to visit Colombia, it's useful to have a quick mental math formula in your head for assessing purchases. Simply divide the Colombian peso amount by four, drop three zeros, and you'll arrive at your approximate cost in USD. This prevents having to pull out your phone every time you want to decide on a purchase.

Another topic worth mentioning is the ride from Medellín's international airport (José María Córdova International Airport) to the Laureles barrio. It's often said that the views once exiting the tunnel from the airport are immaculate. This was certainly the case, as you're able to view a large portion of the city from your seat. If experiencing this at night, you'll see the city lights sprinkled across the horizon. During the day, the mountain landscape becomes visible alongside the incremental architecture of the homes and buildings throughout the valley. It's worth paying attention during this portion of the ride.

When leaving the airport and needing to obtain cellular service via a SIM card, do so at your local Claro store once you've settled into your room. Claro data rates are slightly more expensive at the airport compared to locations within the barrios. If using publicly available Wi-Fi until after check-in is doable, i’d recommend this route.

If your living quarters don't offer laundry services and you're staying in Laureles, there happens to be a chic laundry and brunch-style establishment on Calle 39 called Lavato Laundry & Brunch. You're able to do your own loads or request that the staff take care of everything. The cost for a single person's weekly bag of laundry is around $15 USD, and they accept both card and cash payments.

It's also worth looking into the services your Airbnb or hotel provides. Amenities such as massage services, group and solo excursions, weekly room cleaning, and linen changes upon request can make longer stays much more convenient.

Regarding Provenza, this is by far the place to experience Medellín's nightlife and strongest social scene. There is also a high police presence throughout the area, which minimizes opportunistic offenses. A good drop-off location, if not staying within walking distance, is anywhere off Calle 10. A couple of places worth checking out are Coyo Taco and Atlanta Bar. As the night progresses, expect to be approached regularly by vendors and club promoters. Politely declining and avoiding eye contact will usually minimize these interactions.

One drink worth trying before your trip to Medellín concludes is Colombiana Avena. It's sold daily by street vendors, as well as at restaurants, cafés, and supermarkets. This traditional, ultra-creamy oat beverage is served ice-cold and heavily spiced with cinnamon and cloves. It's made by slow-cooking whole oats with milk and spices until thick, chilling the mixture, and blending it until completely smooth. It's a staple found in nearly every Colombian bakery and is typically paired with warm, cheesy breads.

A recommendation before entering LATAM and starting your trip is to purchase a backup or travel phone prior to arrival. This travel phone becomes the device you use whenever outside of your room or hotel.

One rule of thumb that I follow: the main phone never leaves the room. This prevents the loss of data and other pertinent information stored on your primary device if something were to happen while you're out.

The travel phone can be as simple as a flip phone or a lower-grade smartphone. My device of choice is the Samsung Galaxy A17, which can typically be purchased for around $180 USD.

When traveling as a digital nomad through developing countries, it's best to get in the mindset of carrying what you actually need instead of your entire digital life. When configuring your travel phone and deciding which apps to install, keep one question in mind: If a stranger had my phone and my passcode, what information could they access?

Apps on my travel phone include WhatsApp, Messages, one social media platform of choice, Google Maps, rideshare apps, the camera, and a photo album that is not automatically backed up. Any remaining bloatware or pre-installed apps are removed. This allows the phone to function as needed, with enough entertainment to pass the time but not so much that it becomes a liability in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

If you wish to include a work communication channel, such as Slack, that is an option. My preference is to set my status to "Away" whenever stepping away from my workstation during business hours, so I have no work logins on the travel device. If that isn't an option for yourself, having one work communication channel installed is completely reasonable.

Lastly, I recommend using a different phone number than your primary device. Installing a local SIM card allows you to communicate through WhatsApp and standard messaging using a local number. In many countries, a month's worth of mobile data can be obtained for around $30 USD, depending on your data storage selection.

The primary drawback is that bank authorization codes won't be received until you're back with your main phone, so carrying a sufficient amount of cash is a good precaution in case a card transaction is declined.

As of late July 2026, Colombia offers a potential pathway to citizenship, but the qualifying period does not begin through ordinary tourist stays or a Digital Nomad Visa alone. For most foreign nationals, the standard requirement is five continuous years as the holder of a Resident Visa. This is reduced to two years for applicants married to a Colombian citizen, in a recognized permanent partnership with one, or who have Colombian children. Latin American and Caribbean citizens may qualify after one year, while Spanish citizens may qualify after two years. An absence from Colombia lasting one year or longer interrupts the continuous-residence period.

Applicants may also need to demonstrate knowledge of Colombian history, geography, the Constitution, and Spanish. The listed naturalization fee is COP 350,000, although citizenship remains discretionary rather than automatic after meeting the minimum requirements.

Global Country Reforms & Updates

Colombia: Migration service fees increased for 2026. A first-time Cédula de Extranjería now costs COP 294,000, a duplicate costs COP 293,000, and a Certificate of Migratory Movements costs COP 89,000. The latter may be needed when documenting immigration history for residency or citizenship procedures.

Source: Migración Colombia, Resolution 0599 of February 10, 2026.

The Vietnam electronic visa remains valid for up to 90 days and may be issued for either single or multiple entries. The government lists a processing period of three working days, with fees of USD 25 for single entry and USD 50 for multiple entry.

Source: Vietnam Immigration Department, National Electronic Visa System

Mexico’s 2026 immigration-document fees now include MXN 11,141 for a one-year temporary resident card, MXN 16,693 for two years, MXN 21,143 for three years, and MXN 25,058 for four years. A permanent resident card costs MXN 13,579, while authorization to perform paid work carries an additional MXN 4,341 fee.

Source: Mexico’s Diario Oficial de la Federación, 2026 update to Article 8 of the Federal Rights Law.

Explore more of Medellín through the YouTube channel, featuring additional POV walks, neighborhood clips, and everyday scenes from across the city. The link is below.

A curated selection of partner newsletters and publications covering travel, remote work, global mobility, and location-independent living. Explore this week’s recommendations below.

Medellín continues to feel more familiar each week. Next week’s issue will bring more firsthand observations, practical relocation insights, and lessons from building a location-independent routine abroad.

Until next dispatch,
Structured Nomad