How do I meet people and make friends as a newcomer?

Language exchanges, sports leagues (football, running, climbing), salsa/bachata classes, and coworking spaces are the reliable ways in. Meetup, Facebook expat groups, and WhatsApp community groups are active in Medellín, Bogotá, and Cartagena. Saying yes to invitations early and learning even basic Spanish opens doors fast — Colombians are warm and social, and a little effort goes a long way.

Choose one activity you can repeat every week: a salsa or bachata class, a language exchange, or a walking or running group. Seeing the same people more than once gives you something to talk about. After a session, try a specific invitation, like a coffee nearby, instead of ‘we should hang out sometime.’ For a first meeting, choose a public place you can get to easily. Disclosure: I'm the founder of Pick (pickcolombia.com), a free website built in Bogotá. It connects adults in the same city through shared interests, and AI suggests a first message with a concrete plan. You review it and decide whether to send it on WhatsApp. It works in Spanish and English, with no app to download. It may help you find someone to share an activity with; it isn't a dating app and doesn't organize events or classes.

Eduardo Blandon· 8d ago

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