Popular Sports and Hobbies Among Expats in Colombia

Keeping up your hobbies (or finding new ones) is a real part of feeling settled in a new country — here's what's available in the main cities.

Running and cycling

Medellín and Bogotá have good bike lane infrastructure and organized running groups — Bogotá's Sunday Ciclovía closes main roads to cars, a genuine local experience.

Golf and tennis

Private clubs in the main cities offer memberships for foreigners, though generally at considerable cost compared to other activities.

Hiking and mountaineering

The Coffee Region, the areas around Bogotá, and the Sierra Nevada offer options from day hikes to multi-day treks like Ciudad Perdida or El Cocuy.

Water sports

The Caribbean and Pacific coasts offer diving, surfing, and kitesurfing depending on the specific area — San Andrés for diving, and certain Caribbean beaches for surfing and kitesurfing in wind season.

Expat groups by hobby

Beyond formal clubs, many expat communities organize informal groups by specific interest (photography, hiking, reading) through social media — a more affordable and social way to find your activity.

Dance as a social bridge

Salsa classes (especially in Cali) and other Latin dances are one of the most effective ways to socially integrate while learning something new — very popular among expats of all ages.

Amateur leagues and team sports

Amateur soccer, basketball, and volleyball have informal leagues in the main cities, some specifically aimed at foreigners — a good way to make friends with the added benefit of regular physical activity.

Yoga and wellness

Yoga and meditation studios have grown considerably in El Poblado, Laureles, and equivalent zones of Bogotá, many with English classes specifically aimed at the growing international community in those cities.

Book clubs and art

Reading groups in English or other languages, along with painting, ceramics, or photography workshops aimed at foreigners, offer a calmer alternative to physical hobbies for those who prefer lower-social-intensity but equally enriching activities.

Music and performing arts classes

Music, theater, and dance schools in Medellín and Bogotá welcome foreign students of all ages — a less common but effective way to integrate through creative expression shared with local Colombians.

Climbing and mountain sports

Suesca, near Bogotá, and several destinations around Medellín offer accessible rock climbing on day trips — local climbing communities tend to welcome foreigners interested in joining regular outings.

Lesser-known freshwater water sports

Beyond the coastal sports already mentioned, some regions of Colombia offer freshwater water sports many expats don't know about — kayaking and stand-up paddle on the Guatapé reservoir near Medellín, or whitewater rafting on rivers near San Gil, offer water sport alternatives without needing to travel to the coast, a practical option for those living inland who still want water-related activities.

How each city's climate favors different hobbies

Medellín's constant mild climate favors practically any outdoor activity year-round without significant seasonal restriction, while Bogotá's colder climate means certain outdoor sports (running, cycling) require more adaptation to lower temperatures, particularly in the mornings; and Cartagena's humid heat favors water sports but limits comfort for intense land activities during the hottest hours of the day. Choosing hobbies compatible with your specific city of residence's climate, rather than trying to exactly replicate the same activities you had in your home country without considering local climate, considerably improves your practical experience of staying active.

Sports volunteering as a way to give and connect simultaneously

Some expats with significant sports experience find particular satisfaction in volunteering as coaches or mentors in local community sports programs, especially aimed at children and youth in under-resourced neighborhoods — this combination of sharing your sports passion while positively contributing to the local community offers a considerably deeper form of connection than simply practicing your hobby in isolation, and many community sports organizations in Medellín and Bogotá actively welcome foreign volunteers with relevant experience.

Private clubs as a medium-term investment

For expats planning several years of residence, some private sports clubs (tennis, golf, swimming) offer memberships with a considerable initial affiliation fee but relatively moderate monthly cost afterward — evaluating the total membership cost over your planned length of stay, compared to pay-per-use alternatives, helps determine whether this higher initial investment is justified based on your real time horizon in the country.

Mountain hiking and trekking as a recurring hobby

Beyond one-off tourist excursions, some expats adopt mountain hiking as a regular hobby, taking advantage of Medellín and Bogotá's proximity to accessible mountain trails for weekend hikes — joining organized hiking groups, common in both cities, offers both physical activity and regular socialization opportunity with a consistent group of people sharing an interest in exploring the country's mountain geography.

Dance classes as a cultural and social entry point

Learning salsa, bachata, or typical Colombian dance not only offers recreational physical activity but also a particularly effective path to connecting with local culture, given the central role dance plays in Colombian social life — many expats report this specific activity significantly accelerates their social integration beyond what other purely sports or physical hobbies achieve.

Trying activities you might never have considered back home

Many expats genuinely report that trying a distinctly Colombian activity, salsa dancing, tejo, or a local sports league, rather than seeking out only familiar hobbies from home, becomes genuinely one of the most memorable and integration-building parts of their time in the country, and genuinely showing up even without prior skill is usually all it takes to be welcomed in.

Frequently asked questions

Which sport is easiest to start as an expat in Colombia?

Running and cycling are the most accessible since they don't require expensive membership and there are active organized groups in Medellín and Bogotá to join easily.

Are there amateur leagues open to foreigners?

Yes, many soccer and other team sport leagues accept foreign players without restriction — asking in local expat groups is the fastest way to find an active team near you.

Genuinely showing up consistently, even to just one weekly activity, builds community faster than you'd expect.

Genuinely, staying active socially here opens more doors than staying home ever will.