Last week I told you some of the archive has aged and some of it is still dead-on.
This is which is which.
6 categories the red-blooded broski asks about most, 3 cities each, and 1 city I’d pull from the list today. 17 of the 18 are in the archive. The other 1 is only on the call.
4 days left.
Click here to grab: The Nomada Collection —> before it’s gone.
The Classics
These cities haven’t changed as much as social media wants you to think…
Bogotá, Colombia 🇨🇴 It’s kinda cold, lots of rain, and the traffic is still horrific if you have to leave the expat bubble. But Bogotá still offers some of the best nightlife of any capital on this list. Zona T hasn’t slowed down since I wrote the guide in 2022, but many other areas have become popular with my friends living in the city.
Lima, Peru 🇵🇪 Gray 6 months a year, but the other 6 months? Still might be the most underrated capital in Latin America for a single guy. Have a couple of friends living there full time and loving it.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷 Ipanema and Leblon really haven’t changed much. Rio shall stay Rio forever. The most beautiful big city in the world, bunda all over the beaches, and an edgy vibe that makes you never want to work from a cafe. Still good.
Dirt Cheap
Living well on $2,000 a month all-in is still viable…
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia 🇧🇴 A friend of mine pays $700 a month in Equipetrol, the best zone in the city, and everything else in the city is priced similarly cheap. Starting to take off.
Asunción, Paraguay 🇵🇾 The cheapest capital on the continent (minus maybe Quito) that is still a great place to live. Chill, expat friendly, and $2,000 a month is enough for a single broski to live a decent life.
Bucaramanga, Colombia 🇨🇴 Colombia is so much more expensive than it used to be. Bucaramanga is still good value in 2026.
Beach Spots
Maybe these should be more under the radar beach spots, but when in Rome and sh*t. Interesting spots if you’re looking for an adventure mixed in with beautiful beaches and bunda…
Isla Margarita, Venezuela 🇻🇪 The beach island has been gringo-free since 2015 and it’s priced like it, although you’ll spend cash here to get western amenities and services. Going here soon…
João Pessoa, Brazil 🇧🇷 The easternmost city in the Americas and the Northeast beach town all the homies rave about. Seems cheap too. Some Europeans, few Gringos.
The “El Dorado” Beach Town ⁉️ I’ve never typed the name and I’m not starting now. It’s the reason the $147 call option exists…
Under the Radar
Wanting to go where no other gringo hath gone before? Well, except me…
Lechería / Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela 🇻🇪 Where Caracas money, the kind with yachts, goes to the beach, with marinas and 0 gringos. Heading here soon too…
Montería, Colombia 🇨🇴 Cattle money and costeño women, plus…I mean you’re really only gonna go for one reason, but the city is surprisingly nice in the high-end areas.
Posadas, Argentina 🇦🇷 Argentine prices (not the bargain they once were) with Paraguay across the river, and Iguazú is 4 hours up the road. I could easily do a month here and be happy.
University Towns
All 3 ranked in the 11-university post in Vol. I…
Córdoba, Argentina 🇦🇷 Argentina’s student capital. Nueva Córdoba is where you want to be.
Manizales, Colombia 🇨🇴 10s of thousands of Colombian college students all packed into one small city. Might not be the time right now, however, due to the earthquake.
Xalapa, Mexico 🇲🇽 Universidad Veracruzana runs the town and the fog rolls in most afternoons. Potentially underrated?
Mountain Cities
Yes, the one everyone knows is still here and a few from a country that may turn over a new leaf soon, or not…
Medellín, Colombia 🇨🇴 Eternal spring is still eternal. The city has changed, but still a great long-term base for guys with their sh*t together.
Caracas, Venezuela 🇻🇪 The Ávila mountain sits over the city, everything is priced in dollars, and the nightlife is supposedly decent right now.
Mérida, Venezuela 🇻🇪 Home to the highest cable car on the planet and a massive student population at Universidad de Los Andes. Cheap as can be too. Favorite spot of a buddy, as well.
The 1 to Skip…
Mazatlán, Mexico 🇲🇽 My guide is from back in the day, when the city was semi-safe. Currently, that might not be as accurate as before. In July 2026, the city logged 36 homicides in a single month, up from 5 to 9 a month before that, and 6,000 soldiers are posted there through the off-season because the Chapitos and the Mayos, the 2 halves of the Sinaloa Cartel, took their war south. Pretty malecón, pretty women. Not right now. The guide’s still in Vol. II so you can see what it was.
The Nomada Collection…Gone with the Wind?!
83 posts. 917 pages. 3 PDFs.
14 of the 19 cities above have a full Gringo’s Guide in Vol. II, and the beach and university rankings are in Vol. I.
$47 gets you the 3 PDFs. $147 gets you the PDFs and 1 hour on a call with me, which is where “El Dorado” gets named.
Both offers end midnight Central, October 1. Then the posts come down.
GET ‘EM HERE.
Enough of me fluff for today…
Ya tu sabes,
Jake Nomada
