OLSA International Free Medellin Survival Guide Workshop
CERTIFIED SPANISH UNIVERSITY STUDENT TEXTBOOK
Thank you for attending the Medellin Survival Guide Workshop! The content below displays and/or expands on the information presented during the OLSA International Free Medellin Survival Guide Workshop.
CITY DESIGN
Medellin is made up of 16 ‘comunas’ (districts within the city limits). Each of these comunas is subdivided into ‘estratos’ (socio-economic neighborhoods) numbering from Estrato 1 thru Estrato 6; with Estrato 6 being the highest. In Colombia, the lower estratos pay a smaller percent on their monthly utility bill (and other civil services), where as the higher estratos pay a higher percent.
As can be seen by the map comparison, the ‘hot spots’ are most often found in the lower estrato neighborhoods. There are a couple exceptions which are El Volador hilltop/vista point in Estadio and Parque Lleras in El Poblado.
Overall, Medellin is fairly safe for a big city. However, for increased safety it is recommended to stay clear of these ‘hot’ areas when possible and to always keep on mind the Colombian saying, “No dar papaya”, which loosely means not to display your valuables.
TRANSPORTATION
Medellin has one of the best transportation systems in all of the Americas. This system consists of a full city metro train rail, metro cable gondolas (which connect at the San Felix and Acevedo metro stations), colectivo city buses at each metro station, city buses with various routes and thousands of taxis.
In addition, although technically illegal, several international transportation applications are prevalent and often used by locals and foreigners.
If you are going to have a long stay in Medellin you may also be interested in using the Encicla free bicycle system. These very obvious blue bikes with a nice basket on the handle bars may be used for an hour at a time with no charge. To use the bikes for additional time, simply check it in at one of the many check points and then check it back out. You can register for the Encicla system here.
HOSPITALS
There are a number of hospitals and clinics in Medellin. The two most popular for foreigners in an emergency are PABLO TOBÓN URIBE which is located north of the Estadio/Laureles neighborhoods and CLINICA LAS VEGAS which is located in the El Poblado neighborhood.
If all you need is a simple non-emergency procedure, you are welcome to visit any clinic nearest to you.
IMPORTANT – If you do not have international or travel insurance, you must prove sufficient financial solvency (cash/credit) to cover the costs of any consultation or medical emergency you may face, or you will not be admitted to the hospital.
5 STEPS TO EXTEND YOUR TOURIST STAMP
STEP 1
Check the Requirements:
Before starting the process, make sure you meet all the requirements:
-Passport with at least 6 months of validity.
-Copies of the main page of the passport
-Page with the entry stamp to Colombia.
-Information about your place of stay in Colombia.
STEP 2
Complete the Online Application:
Go to the Colombian Immigration Portal and complete the form in the “Extension of Stay” section with your personal information. Attach the required documents and end the application.
STEP 3
Wait for the Response from Colombian Immigration:
Once you have sent your application, you must wait for Immigration to respond to you by email. In this email, they can inform you if you need to go to their offices, if any additional documents are required, or if your extension has been pre-approved.
STEP 4
Extension Payment:
If you receive a notification that your extension is pre-approved, you must follow the instructions in the email. Access the link provided, using the username and password indicated, to complete the extension payment. It is important to make the payment within the indicated period to avoid complications.
STEP 5
Receiving the Extension Certificate:
After making the payment, Immigration will process your final application. You will receive the extension certificate issued by email, which will indicate the start and end dates of the extension of your stay in Colombia.
THIS AND THAT
PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS
Expand your vocabulary while you stay in Colombia, or even afterward! Take a look at our BLOG of ESSENTIAL WORDS AND PHRASES as well as other BLOGS we create!
While you are here, take advantage of all the activities OLSA provides for our students and the language-learning communities of Medellin. Scan the QR code to join our OLSA Activities Club – It’s free!
DON'T FORGET TO PICK UP YOUR SHIRT!
The following original t-shirts are on sale at OLSA International. Each shirt represents one of our Colombian 10 Commandments!
IMPROVE YOUR SPANISH IN MEDELLIN OR FROM HOME!
Improve your stay in Medellin with some practical Spanish classes! Don’t settle for filling out worksheets that you could download for free off the internet. Actually listen, process and speak Spanish in real time with native Spanish-speaking teachers! This way, when you are on the streets of Colombia, it won’t be the first time you have heard/spoken Spanish! You can even take Spanish classes virtually before/after your trip to Colombia!
HELP US REACH MORE PEOPLE!
Would you be willing to help us reach more people with our FREE Medellin Survival Guide Workshop? If you felt you learned something during our workshop we would be blessed if you would give us a great review in Google Reviews! We really appreciate it!
