I spent 3 weeks in Colombia, and I was wowed by the tropical nature and kind-hearted locals. But most importantly, I was amazed by Colombian dating culture, which was why I came to the country, hoping to explore it.
I’ve met so many singles, married couples, and international families that I was inspired to share my Colombian journey with you.
Fasten your seatbelts, and let’s dive into the peculiarities of dating in Colombia as a foreigner!
Where to meet Colombian women and men?
A unique thing about Colombian people is that they have the superpower of making you feel at home.
Trust me, after my plane landed and I found my way out of the airport, I caught a feeling that I was returning to a place that I’d already been to. I was so excited to meet new people and create new memories, and I just felt adventure in the air.
So, I hope that your tea is ready, as I’m bringing my tea about all the good and bad of Colombian relationship culture.
Let’s start with the actual ways you can find single Colombian women and men.
Online dating Colombian woman or man
And we are starting with a healthy dose of stats; as you know, my inner Virgo likes to add numbers to the mix:
- 17.6% of Colombian girls and guys use online dating on a regular basis
- 25-44 years-olds use online dating sites the most
Statistics show that online dating is quite popular, but in reality, the numbers are much higher. Every person to whom I asked the question, “What is the best way for a foreigner to find a Colombian partner?” answered “online!”. And I’m not just talking about younger generations.
Really, searching for a hot Colombian woman or guy is much easier when you have a dating profile. Why?
- You get access to a wide pool of single Colombian women and men.
- You can date from home and find someone before traveling to Colombia.
- It’s cheaper as you don’t spend on dates, travel, accommodations, etc. before you are sure that you like a particular person.
With the development of technologies, online dating has become an inseparable part of dating, and it combines well with the open-minded Colombian dating culture. So, if you want to date Colombian women or men, it’s worth checking out reliable dating sites.
But hold on your horses!
NOT EVERY DATING SITE WORKS!
Many Colombian women and men are online, but you need to pick a legitimate and suitable place to stay safe and meet your dating goals.
A rundown of online dating options in Colombia
To help you out, I’ve made a rundown of all the main types of online dating sites that are popular among Colombian men and women aged 18-65:
- Casual dating platforms. These are sites and apps for NSA relationships, friends with benefits, or hookups. Though the dominant religion, Catholicism, has a big influence on Colombians, casual relationships and platforms for them are quite popular.
- International dating services. These are popular among Colombian singles who are tired of machismo culture (and many other reasons) and who seek partners abroad. International sites, like TheLuckyDate, have many Latin women and men, as well as singles from all over the world.
- Mono-national dating apps and sites. These are basically the same as international platforms, but they specialize just in singles from Latin America (like La-Date) or just Colombia (ColombiaLady). Mono-national sites are good for staying concentrated on one “type” and starting dating faster.
- Mail order bride sites. That’s a place to look for a spouse. Mail order bride sites can be international and mono-national, but their main peculiarity is that they connect family-oriented people who are interested solely in serious relationships and potentially marriage.
These are all the main options you have, and if you need recommendations of legit dating websites, here are a few I personally tested.
Offline dating Colombian girls and guys
I had a blast experiencing Colombian culture and dating peculiarities firsthand during my trip. It was fun and cute to see people holding hands and having romantic surprises, and I was even lucky to witness a proposal!
But let’s go back to meeting your potential Colombian boyfriend or girlfriend offline. Well, it’s possible, as it’s the most common way people meet in the country as well as in the world. Romance all over the world is quite similar—dates, food, conversations, sex…
But coming to Colombia as a foreigner is not actually that easy. You need to be aware of a few things:
- Not all Colombians like to date foreign men, but from my experience, most Colombian women are into French charm and, well, American charm as well. My friend Sam found even more dates than me.
- You should know Colombian dating etiquette as though Colombian dating is quite similar to Western relationships, more traditional gender roles have their influence. It’s actually true for all of South America.
- Not all Colombians speak English. The language barrier is a thing. The country has low proficiency, so brushing up on your Spanish is a smart move. But Colombian Spanish is another challenge in itself.
Offline places to meet a single Colombian girl or guy
Here are a few categories of locations that can help you navigate the dating scene in Colombia if you choose to search for single Colombian women or men offline:
- Bars (in the evening)
- Salsa clubs
- Nightclubs
- Social gatherings
- Coffeeshops
- Group dates
- Hobby clubs
- Volunteering
I can’t know for sure where your future Colombian woman or man is, but I believe that these locations are worth checking out.
Even though traveling to Costa Rica and dating a Colombian offline brings so much excitement, searching offline is another story. Colombian girls have a thing for game playing, and it makes it really hard to meet a nice girl just around, as they just don’t take foreigners seriously.
As for me, I think finding someone you like offline rather than flying over to an IRL date is a way more effective and stress-free way. Oh, and you get a way wider choice of beautiful women or attractive men.
Recommendations by Philippe Berry: The first date locations in Colombia
- Envy Rooftop Bar or Bendito Seas Rooftop Bar for an unforgettable first date close to the sky in Medellin. Just imagine all the twinkles of the night city and a glass or two of a good red wine that makes all good girls go wild.
- Old city of Cartagena for an artistic date. You can plan both daytime and nighttime dates in Cartagena’s old city, which is full of lovely boutiques and artisan shops. And there are so many tourist attractions that can spark so many conversations. Let your date be your personal Cartagena guide.
- Get into dance swirls with your date in Zona T in Bogota. Colombian women expect men to dance, as moves are just in their blood. If you are good with your groove and ready to have some fun, a dance date can be a lot of fun. However, if you can only do a robot dance, you better stay away from these options, as Colombian men on the dance floor can make any guy insecure.
Tips for foreigners on how to navigate the dating scene in Colombia
Navigating the dating culture in Colombia can be easy if you know how. Here are some tips that I’ve noted that can help you become a pro at dating in the country.
🐴 Get on that horse
RomComs and telenovelas set a standard for romantic gestures. Well, you don’t need actually to get on that horse, but flowers, chocolates, and all the standard signs of romance are expected and very appreciated. Even when dating a Colombian man, a girlfriend is traditionally making presents and surprises in the relationship.
😚 Don’t push intimacy
From what I experienced, one-night stands are not that popular among Colombian women and men. They happen for sure, but though dating a Colombian means enjoying a lot of public displays of affection, there are varying degrees of it, and you need to see what your partner is comfortable with. If you get yourself a good girl, you’ll be waiting more than for a third date.
👪 Family approval is a big thing—put on your best “suit”
Most Colombians are tight-knit with their extended family. That makes family approval a big thing. No huge!
So, many Colombian women told me that their family rejected a Colombian man, and they followed their lead. I can’t imagine something like that with American women.
So, get your best manners and bring more than two gifts when you’ll meet each other’s families. Note that meeting the family often happens much earlier in Colombia, but at the same time, it doesn’t mean the engagement stage.
🐸 Get used to a dose of jealousy
Forget about having a female friend or a male best friend if you are a woman. A big peculiarity of Colombian dating is that girls and guys have a great sense of “ownership,” and they don’t want to share a “mi amor.”
And believe me, you don’t want to see what happens if you do…
Conclusion
Colombia met me with open arms, and I had a time in my life exploring Colombian culture, going on dates, enjoying Colombian coffee, and so much more.
Most Colombian couples and singles were so easy-going that I managed to get so much useful information for you. I hope that you’ll use my advice wisely and meet your dream Colombian girl or guy and fall in love.
Bon chance! 💖
