Frequently Asked Questions
YES, if you will study more that 3 months, we can offer a student visa until 1 year and half . EHE Spanish school will assist in student visa application. For more inquiries Whatsapp: +573174042271
It really depends on your lifestyle!
Accommodation can be as little as USD$80 per month. Some accommodation options are able to include meals, which can total to USD$190 per month.
If you like to eat at the local restaurants, this can be costlier, with lunch upwards of USD$1.6 per meal, and dinner upwards of USD$3.3 per meal.
It is possible to live comfortably with USD$300 – USD$400 per month.
If you’re interested in travelling frequently, be sure to budget more.
Pack light clothes, all year around it is warm and raining. Temperature ranges from 17-25 degrees Celsius. An umbrella or raincoat is necessary. A light jacket for colder days will be helpful. What do I need to pack?… Check out this blog for more information: .
The opening hours of most stores is between 9am-12pm and 2pm-6pm. 12pm-2pm is time for people to have a siesta (nap).
On Sundays, most of the shops will be closed from afternoon other than restaurants.
Typically, restaurants close at 9pm-10pm.
There is a farmer’s market open on every Thursday and Sunday, full of fresh produce.
US dollars are great to bring when travelling abroad. In Colombia we use the Colombian Peso. Socorro is predominantly a cash society, so bringing pesos along with you is recommended.
Unfortunately, there is no place to exchange money in El Socorro, but the nearest place where you can exchange your money is San Gil, just one town over (and a 20 to 30-minute bus ride away).
You are able to get cash out at the local ATMs with your home credit, debit, or travel cards. If you transfer money through Western Union from your city, you can always get your cash from an office near the central park in El Socorro.
Yes, You need a travel adaptor. It depends where you’re coming from. In Colombia the power sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 110 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz.
Although the locals can drink the tap water, it is not recommended for foreigners to drink the tap water! Stay hydrated with store-bought water or bring a filtered drink bottle.
You can find some great Colombian cuisine in Socorro, ranging from arepas to soups. Head to the local market to buy some exotic fruits. Fresh fruit juice is never hard to find either. If you’re missing food from home, there are great restaurants with pizza and buffalo wings too.
Weekends are a great opportunity to visit other beautiful towns and cities of Colombia. Socorro in a great location, close to beautiful small towns and not too far from big cities!
San Gil is a 30-minute bus ride away, which is great for adrenalin junkies who are interested in outdoor activities like kayaking, rafting, canyoning, bungee jumping, paragliding and flying fox. And you can’t forget about the natural waterfalls, mountains and rivers!
If you’re in search for the city scene, Bucaramanga is only 3 hours away by bus and if you take a 7-hour overnight bus to Bogotá you’ll be there by sunrise!
El Socorro has many accommodation options available which can suit a range of budgets, and it is a very quick process to find accommodation. Because El Socorro has many students, there are many student accommodations available, as well as apartments or private rooms. Here at EHE Spanish School we will help you on your search for accommodation.
One thing to note is that El Socorro’s climate is very hot and like many small towns of Colombia, there is no hot running water.
Yes! If you’re in need of Wi-Fi, be sure to find an apartment that has Wi-Fi included. EHE Spanish School has Wi-Fi available for students.
If you need to purchase a SIM card, local mobile providers such as Movistar and Claro are easily found in El Socorro. You can purchase packages which allow you to have unlimited Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter message usage too!
Ensure that you come with an unlocked phone or research if your phone will be able to work in Colombia.
The perks of studying in a small town, like El Socorro, is that everything is within walking distance. You won’t need to worry about long commutes to school at all.
Although Uber is not available in El Socorro, there are plenty of taxis or busses available. Within El Socorro, the taxi fare is standardized at 4000 Colombian Pesos (USD$1.3) or if you want to catch the public bus it will cost 1600 Colombian pesos (USD$0.53).
It’s one of the safest locations, due to the small and friendly community. The people of El Socorro are always willing to help. You can walk the streets freely alone at all hours of the day. But, as a general rule of thumb for travel, do not leave your belongings unattended. For larger cities around Colombia, it is important to keep your belongings close to you at all times!
Read more: Is Colombia safe?
EHE Spanish school will assist in student visa application, ranging from 3 to 18 months. For more inquiries Whatsapp: +573174042271
Most of the locals in El Socorro are only Spanish speaking, what better way to learn a language than to fully immerse yourself into the language. The teachers are all native Spanish speakers and specialize in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. There are one on one classes, as well as group classes, to suit your learning style or budget.
A large population of El Socorro are students who study at one of the two local universities. People from all over Colombia come to study in El Socorro, and it is a great chance to get to know the different Spanish accents of Colombia.