
Jake Nomada 🌎
@JakeNomada • 32,845 subscribers
12+ years living in Latin America. From abject degenerate to father of 3. Musings on the realities of living in LatAm for sovereign individuals and families 🌎
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Years ago, someone asked me to compare... Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷 vs. Cartagena 🇨🇴 + Santa Marta 🇨🇴 I straight up started laughing, and the guy got a bit offended Then I explained: There's nothing outside of Brazil in *ALL* of Latin America that can come close to competing with a beach city like Rio de Janeiro NOTHING
Jake Nomada 🌎547,477 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

I will continually hype this one city for noobies coming to LatAm... 🇵🇪 LIMA, PERU 🇵🇪 While everyone's obsessed with Medellin, CDMX, or the Southern Cone Lima is quietly becoming one of the best spots in all of LatAm for beginners: → Best food on the continent (not even close) → Miraflores is highly functional and walkable → Perfect weather Q1-Q2 → Relatively safe compared to most LatAm capitals → Easy flights back to USA → Still affordable if you know where to look → Can get by with English The only real downside? The fog and grey skies during winter months Lima doesn't get nearly enough credit for what it offers
Jake Nomada 🌎471,394 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

🇨🇱 SANTIAGO, CHILE 🇨🇱 The most "first world" city in Latin America and nobody's talking about it: → Highest HDI in the region → Modern metro system that actually works → Andes Mountains visible from your apartment → Wine country is a 45-minute drive → World-class hospitals and healthcare infrastructure → Fastest growing tech scene in South America → 90 minutes to the beach, 90 minutes to ski → Safest major capital in LatAm by the numbers → Cost of living 40%+ cheaper to comparable US cities → Real economy with real jobs, not a tourist town The catch? → It's not cheap by LatAm standards → The weather is mid during certain times of the year → Nightlife doesn't touch other capitals in the region → Chilean Spanish will mangle the gringo mind But if you want a city that just works — Santiago is the answer most people aren't considering
Jake Nomada 🌎226,887 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

🇧🇷 SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL 🇧🇷 Nobody talks about this world-class mega-city enough, let's fix that... → 22M people — one of the biggest cities on earth and still underrated → Brazil's economic engine — $400B+ GDP in one metro → Restaurant scene that embarrasses most other LatAm capitals → Infrastructure that actually functions (a rarity) → World-class medical care and hospitals → Largest Japanese diaspora outside Japan = unreal sushi & ramen → No real winter, no real summer — just São Paulo doing its thing, decent weather overall → At least 30% cheaper than CDMX (comparable sized city) → Some of the best nightlife on the continent → Direct flights to NYC, Miami, London, Tokyo, and everywhere that matters → More museums, galleries, and live music venues than most people realize — this city has serious culture What did I miss? Have you spent some time in SP? Criminally underrated or nah?
Jake Nomada 🌎111,923 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

🇨🇴 BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA 🇨🇴 Easily the best city on the Colombian coast... And it's *NOT* even close → 4th largest city in Colombia, on the Caribbean coast → Way cheaper than Cartagena or Santa Marta → The north of the city is legitimately nice → Carnival of Barranquilla is 2nd biggest in the world → Direct flights to Miami, Panama, + Colombian cities → Hot and humid year-round — not for everyone → Most people skip it, that's the point If you made the mistake of visiting Cartagena, you can leave that cesspool and be in Barranquilla in 90 minutes by car HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Jake Nomada 🌎72,324 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

🇲🇽 MONTERREY, MEXICO 🇲🇽 Is this the most underrated "outdoors city" in all of Latin America? You're minutes from canyons that look like Utah, legit mountain summits, and best-in-class canyoneering All of these spots are easily accessible from the city and offer incredible hiking... → Cerro de la Silla: Iconic saddle peak, epic city views → La Huasteca: Dramatic canyons & rock formations → Chipinque: Forest trails + panoramic lookouts → Cerro de las Mitras: Rugged summit, killer vistas → Cañón de la Virgen: Hidden gem, photo-worthy → Cerro El Chupón: Solid urban hike, 360° panoramas Then you can be back at your desk with good wifi by lunchtime Sure, you might come for the tacos... But you stay for world-class hiking 20 minutes from the front-door of your Airbnb
Jake Nomada 🌎65,556 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

🇨🇴 CALI, COLOMBIA 🇨🇴 Gun to my head If I had to spend the next year in one Colombian city and couldn't leave... I'd probably pick Cali → ~3 million in metro; Colombia's third-largest city → $1,500–2,000/mo lives well here; cheaper than MDE → Lush green mountains visible from anywhere in city → Warm but not too hot year-round; 70–85°F → World capital of salsa → Underrated and overlooked by most gringos → Cheap Spanish lessons, great place to learn Downsides: infrastructure lags, traffic is rough, and safety varies wildly by neighborhood (BIGGEST issue) But overall... Cali, Colombia offers low cost of living, great weather, stunning views, and a unique culture that's heavy into salsa dancing
Jake Nomada 🌎56,920 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

If you're a single guy in your 20s or 30s looking to spend 3-6+ months somewhere in Latin America... And you want a place that checks ALL the boxes: - Solid weather year-round - Large metro population - Reasonable cost of living - Friendly locals, easy to socialize - Safe neighborhoods - Decent nightlife - Close to the US Then you need to consider: 🇩🇴 SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 🇩🇴 The city gets ZERO hype compared to Medellin, CDMX, or Buenos Aires But it might be the most underrated option for the average broski - Biggest city in the Caribbean - Zona Colonial has more history than some countries - Direct flights to Miami for under $200 - You can live VERY well on $2-3K/month - The dating scene is criminally underrated - Beaches 1-2 hours away (1-Juan Dolio, 2-Punta Cana) - Way less saturated w/ gringos than the "classics" Most guys overlook the DR entirely because they think it's just all-inclusive resorts and Punta Cana They have no idea Santo Domingo exists Their loss...
Jake Nomada 🌎64,932 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

🇺🇾 PUNTA DEL ESTE, URUGUAY 🇺🇾 Criminally underrated? One of the best beach cities outside of Brazil in LatAm? I would say so... → Some of the best beaches in Uruguay → 4/5+ months of solid beach weather, winters are mild → Surfing, kayaking, sailing — water sports are legit → Safe enough that you'll forget to worry about it → Stunningly beautiful architecture → Things work here — infrastructure, roads, etc. → Atlantic on one side, Río de la Plata on the other → Hospitals + healthcare = great for small beach spot → 10+ international private schools for kids → 10+ hours from US, which probably why it's still good
Jake Nomada 🌎52,693 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

If you have $5,000 USD to your name and need a cheap place to bootstrap and build online income... Where would you go? My answer is simple: 🇧🇴 Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia 🇧🇴 → Largest city in Bolivia — not La Paz → Cost of living is absurdly low → Modern studio apartments are $400-500/month → $1,000/month is all you need to live a great life here → Tropical lowlands, not the Andes most people picture → Fastest growing economy in Bolivia by a mile → Modern malls, solid nightlife → Way more cosmopolitan than you'd expect → Basically unknown to gringos You could stretch that $5,000 bucks for nearly 6-months here while sacrificing very little in terms of quality of life
Jake Nomada 🌎49,805 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

🇨🇴 BOGOTA, COLOMBIA 🇨🇴 Far from overrated, actually one of the most "overhated" cities in all of Latin America Here's why it deserves way more respect than it gets: - Zona T is arguably the best neighborhood in Colombia for expats and locals alike - Weather: 55-70°F year-round, no humidity, no mosquitos - Cost of living: 30-50% cheaper than Medellin for same quality of life - Solid healthcare and hospitals - Real walkability in neighborhoods like Zona T and Chapinero - Great restaurant scene - World-class nightlife - Dating here is wildly underrated The traffic sucks, the taxi drivers are annoying, and yes it rains But overall, Bogota has so much else going for it Have you been? What's your take on the capital of Colombia?
Jake Nomada 🌎49,229 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

🇦🇷 BUENOS AIRES 🇦🇷 - World-class steakhouses - Stunning European architecture - Fantastic walkable neighborhoods like Palermo and Recoleta - Top-tier international schools - Good private healthcare at 1/3 the cost of USA - Safe (if you stay in the right areas) - Rich cultural scene: museums, theaters, bookstores everywhere - Perfect weather 7-8+ months a year - 4-bedroom apartments in premium areas for $300K USD Some negatives? - Economic instability (but that's changing under Milei) - Distance from USA (11+ hour flights) But if you can handle those couple things...
Jake Nomada 🌎53,727 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

I used to despise this city But when you're honest about the *BEST* overall city in Latin America for the average broski... 🇲🇽 Mexico City 🇲🇽 Probably the premier option out there for guys "fresh off the boat" and getting their feet wet Why? - 22M metro population = endless options - World-class food scene (easily top 3 in LatAm) - Solid infrastructure that actually works - Direct flights to USA for under $150 - Can get by w/ English here - Cost of living: $3-4K/month lives quite well - Nightlife + dating underrated - Walkable neighborhoods (Roma, Condesa, Polanco) - Spring weather year-round at altitude - Quite safe overall - International schools + hospitals for families Some guys skip it because they think it's "overrun" these days, which I get But if you stay in the right neighborhoods, CDMX offers everything: → Big city energy for cheap → Convenience + functionality → Culture + history everywhere → Endless things to do → Close proximity to USA The traffic sucks and the altitude takes getting used to But when you add it all up... Mexico City might be the most complete package in all of Latin America Have you spent time there? What am I missing?
Jake Nomada 🌎34,966 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

🇨🇴 El Retiro, Antioquia 🇨🇴 Heard interesting things about this mountain town in Colombia over the weekend → 45 min from Medellín, 30 min from the international airport → Sits at 7,500 ft in the Andes. Year-round spring weather. No AC, no heating → Modern apartments rent starts at $700–1,000/mo. Fincas and houses start around $1,500, but luxury options available for $$$ → Safety is a different universe from Medellín. Not zero risk, as it's still Colombia — but light years from big-city stress → Families take note: Vermont School has its main campus right here. IB World School, bilingual (English/Spanish), Mandarin as a third language, preschool through 12th grade. Cognia-accredited US curriculum. One of the strongest international school options in the greater Medellín area Potentially one of the *BEST* places to raise a family in the whole country...
Jake Nomada 🌎38,946 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

🇵🇦 PLAYA VENAO, PANAMA 🇵🇦 The only beach town in Panama that you can drive to (some islands have it) which offers "Costa Rica vibes" - Small but stunning bay - Decent surfing - Lush, green - Hostels, nightlife, etc. - Rural, still feels off the beaten path Will be here in May...
Jake Nomada 🌎24,937 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce

🇪🇨 QUITO, ECUADOR 🇪🇨 A quick look at one of the least visited, but cheapest capital cities in South America... → Metro Population: ~3M metro - a proper capital city with international airport, modern hospitals, and solid infrastructure, all crammed into a narrow Andean valley that makes traffic a nightmare → Climate Breakdown: Eternal spring at 9,350 ft elevation - highs of 65-70°F and lows of 45-50°F year-round with an afternoon rain pattern, meaning you’ll never need AC but always need a jacket after dark → Best Neighborhood(s): Around Parque La Carolina is best for the average nomad looking to optimize logistics. La Floresta is the nomad/creative hub with cafes and coworking, González Suárez for upscale high-rises with valley views, or Cumbayá if you want a warmer, suburban escape - skip the Centro Histórico for living (great for visits, sketchy at night) → Airbnb Cost Per Month: $600–1,000/mo furnished in a good neighborhood, or $350–550 on a local lease - excellent value considering the infrastructure and the fact that Ecuador uses the US dollar, eliminating currency risk entirely
Jake Nomada 🌎38,962 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

🇵🇦 SANTA MARIA 🇵🇦 The nicest gated community in all of Panama? Santa María has the strongest case... - 1,200+ luxury apartments, townhomes, & single family - 15 minutes to a world-class airport @ Tocumen - Jack Nicklaus 18-hole championship golf course - 340 hectares, 60% dedicated to green space - Walking & biking trails throughout - Gym, pools, tennis + paddle courts - Supermarket, pharmacy, cafés, restaurants inside - 24/7 gated security + controlled access The family behind Copa Airlines calls Santa Maria home... Which should tell you everything
Jake Nomada 🌎19,642 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce

For the single broski who doesn't drink alcohol and stays sober no matter what... Cali, Colombia 🇨🇴 might be the best city in Latin America Why? Salsa Dancing Cali is the self-proclaimed, "Salsa capital of the world" You'll hear Salsa music playing everywhere in Cali In the streets, in tiendas, in taxis, in bars, in nightclubs Salsa music is unavoidable here In practice, this means that there's beginner salsa dancing nights at different bars every single evening, no matter the day These events often have an hour salsa lesson to start, then you dance No need to drink if you don't want to Makes it super easy to go out and be social any day of the week without boozing 🇨🇴 Cali es Cali, lo demás es loma 🇨🇴
Jake Nomada 🌎15,786 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

🇵🇪 CUSCO, PERU 🇵🇪 → Incredibly beautiful city w/ a unique energy to it → One of the most visited places in South America → Tourist trap reputation is earned → 11,000 feet = Altitude sickness is real → Coca tea helps, Pisco sours do not → Machu Picchu is not overhyped, amazing place → Sacred Valley is a must: Ollantaytambo, Moray, etc. → Cheap spot, even with all the tourism → Food scene is genuinely fantastic → Internet is surprisingly solid → Best time to go: May-September. Dry, clear skies Well worth a full week if you're doing Cusco, the valley and Machu Picchu properly
Jake Nomada 🌎15,353 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce