Acres of Diamond
ENESFR
Medellín's El Poblado district at sunset, seen from a rooftop
Downtown Bogotá seen from above Calle 26
Aerial view of high-rise buildings in Medellín, Colombia
Wax palms rising from a green mountainside in Colombia
A large cut diamond resting in an open palm
A diamond merchant examining a stone through a loupe
Fine jewellery displayed in a lit showcase in a diamond store
Shoppers at the street window of a jeweller full of watches, rings and bracelets for sale
Rings, necklaces, bracelets and diamonds laid out for sale on a jeweller’s counter
Three volcanoes rising above Guatemala City
Medellín's El Poblado district at sunset, seen from a rooftop
Downtown Bogotá seen from above Calle 26
Aerial view of high-rise buildings in Medellín, Colombia
Wax palms rising from a green mountainside in Colombia

Colombia

Season One, in scouting. The team is working in Bogotá and Medellín on coffee and cacao, Medellín’s technology sector and new tourism corridors.

Episode status

  1. Planned
  2. ScoutingCurrent stage
  3. In production
  4. Released

Photographs: Joel Duncan, Alejandro Alfaro M, Juliana Morales Ramírez, Yehuda Weisel on Unsplash

Film in production
Colombia — first look0:45 · A short film on what this episode sets out to find.

At a glance

Capital
Bogotá
Official currency
Colombian peso (COP)
Main languages
Spanish; Indigenous and Creole languages are co-official in their territories
Time vs Los Angeles
3 h ahead2 h ahead while California observes daylight saving time · UTC−5
From Los Angeles
≈ 5,600 km / 3,480 miGreat-circle distance, LAX → BOG

Why it matters for the diaspora

Within a few hours of each other, Colombia offers coffee and cacao country, Medellín’s technology scene and new tourism corridors. We are scouting stories in Bogotá and Medellín, with returnees at the centre of each one.

Sectors the episode will examine

  • Coffee and cacao
  • Medellín’s technology sector
  • Tourism corridors

Filming base: Bogotá & Medellín

The investment-promotion agency

ProColombia

The government agency that promotes foreign investment, non-mining exports and tourism. Its investment portal, Invest in Colombia, is linked below.

Official website — ProColombia

Agencies are named as each country’s official investment-promotion body. Their appearance on this site does not imply a partnership; none exists until it is agreed in writing.

On the route ledger

Route ledger: great-circle routes from Los Angeles to the five Season One capitalsMap of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America showing routes from Los Angeles International Airport to Mexico City, Guatemala City, San Salvador, Santo Domingo and Bogotá, with distances and episode status. The same information is given in the table that follows.Mexico≈ 2,500 km / 1,550 miScoutingGuatemala≈ 3,530 km / 2,190 miPlanned · Episode 2El Salvador≈ 3,730 km / 2,320 miPlanned · Episode 1Colombia≈ 5,600 km / 3,480 miScoutingDominican Republic≈ 5,110 km / 3,170 miScouting
Great-circle distances computed with the haversine formula (mean Earth radius 6,371 km) between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the main international airport of each capital, rounded to the nearest 10 km and 10 mi. Outlines: Natural Earth.

What the diaspora should know

Verify before you commit.
Incentives, permits and land titles should be confirmed directly with the official agency and the public registries, and reviewed by licensed local counsel.
Plan for the exchange rate.
Costs and revenues in pesos convert to and from dollars at a rate that moves; budget for that difference and for transfer costs.
Two tax systems may apply.
United States citizens and residents generally report their worldwide income. Take advice from a qualified cross-border tax professional before you invest.
This is reporting, not advice.
The episode documents what officials and returnees say on the record. Nothing in it is a recommendation to invest.

Did you return to Colombia and build something?

Tell us what worked and what nearly stopped you. Nothing is published without your written consent.

Share your return story Get notified at launch