By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-07-21 05:46:22 | Updated at 2026-08-08 10:25:10
2 weeks ago
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Bottom Line Up Front
Today’s verdict: Colombia’s president-elect lost his first test in Congress, with a Centro Democrático senator taking the Senate presidency 56-45 on votes from Petro’s bloc — leaving the tax reform filed on Monday in the hands of a chamber the incoming government does not control.
01
De la Espriella’s first defeat. Honorio Henríquez took the Senate presidency 56-45 over the president-elect’s candidate, with Petro’s Pacto Histórico backing him.
02
The tax reform is filed. The outgoing government filed its fifth reform on Monday, targeting about 23 trillion pesos from higher earners and companies.
03
What it means. The measure that reaches 183-day residents’ worldwide income now sits with a Senate the incoming government does not command.
What changed since yesterdayColombia’s new Congress installed on Monday and handed the president-elect a defeat, electing a Centro Democrático senator as Senate president with votes from Petro’s bloc. The outgoing government filed its fifth tax reform the same day.
Good morning. Your LatAm expat nomad daily guide opens on Colombia’s Senate upset, the tax reform filed on Monday, and Peru’s approaching handover.
The president-elect’s candidate lost the Senate presidency 56-45, a defeat 18 days before he takes office.
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Key Points
- The Senate result. Honorio Henríquez took the presidency with 56 votes to 45, with one blank ballot.
- An unusual alliance. Petro’s Pacto Histórico backed the Centro Democrático candidate against the president-elect’s pick.
- Read it precisely. Henríquez is from the right, so this is a control failure inside the incoming coalition, not a left-wing win.
- The tax reform filed. The outgoing government filed its fifth reform Monday, targeting about 23 trillion pesos.
- For residents. Nothing changes before the August 7 handover; the incoming government can adopt or drop the bill.
- FX steady. Colombian markets reopen today; the Brazilian real at 5.11.
00Status Changes Since Yesterday
| Colombia transition | Congress installed | Senate lost by the incoming bloc | Handover Aug 7 |
| Colombia tax | Reform expected | Reform filed | The incoming government decides |
| Peru election | Unchanged | Seven days out | Inauguration Jul 28 |
| Oaxaca culture | First Lunes del Cerro | Mezcal fair runs | Second Lunes Jul 27 |
| Argentina money | Unchanged | Unchanged | Monotributo deadline Aug 5 |
01Visas & Residency
| Colombia | The fifth tax reform was filed Monday, targeting about 23 trillion pesos, mainly from higher earners and companies. It now faces a Senate the incoming government does not control, and can be adopted, modified or dropped after August 7. | Nothing changes for residents before August 7; track the bill if you are tax-resident. |
| Peru | The inauguration is July 28. The digital-nomad permit still cannot be filed, and naturalisation now takes five years. | Nothing changes at the border before July 28; watch the migration appointments. |
| Argentina | Health insurance is checked at entry, and officers can refuse a “tourist” judged to be settling. The Monotributo deadline is August 5. | Carry compliant insurance; recategorise if you bill local clients. |
| Mexico | Employer-sponsored work visas face tougher audits; the income route and visa-free tourism are unchanged. | Employer-sponsored applicants should expect more paperwork; retirees are unaffected. |
| Costa Rica | San José’s airport e-gates for US and Canadian travelers remain in final testing. | Expect locals-only gates at first; keep planning for staffed lanes. |
02Cost of Living & Money
These are the most recent rates against the dollar, with Colombian markets reopening after the holiday. Argentina’s Monotributo recategorisation deadline is August 5.
| Brazilian real | 5.11 | firm |
| Mexican peso | 17.46 | little changed |
| Colombian peso | 3,368 | markets reopen |
| Chilean peso | 924 | flat |
| Peruvian sol | 3.42 | steady |
| Argentine peso | 1,489 | official; blue ~1,515 |
| Uruguayan peso | 40.12 | firm |
Colombia’s filed reform targets about 23 trillion pesos, focused on higher earners and companies, and would reach 183-day residents’ worldwide income and assets. It must pass a Congress the incoming government does not control.
| Mexico City | US$800–1,500 (Roma Norte) | US$1,800–3,500 |
| Playa del Carmen | US$900–1,400 near the beach | US$1,700–3,600 |
| Mérida | US$500–800, bills often in | US$1,100–1,500 |
| Oaxaca | US$400–750 | US$1,600–2,400 |
| Medellín | US$500–1,200 (El Poblado) | US$1,200–1,800 |
| Bogotá | US$550–1,300 furnished | US$1,200–2,850 |
| Buenos Aires | US$800–1,300 (Palermo) | US$1,500–2,000 |
| São Paulo | US$950–1,900, condo fees in | US$1,800–2,500 |
| Rio de Janeiro | US$690–1,190 (Botafogo) | about US$2,000 |
| Florianópolis | US$700–1,400 | US$1,250–2,000 |
| Lima | US$600–900 (Barranco) | US$1,300–1,600 |
| Santiago | US$550–900 (Providencia) | US$1,200–2,000 |
| Montevideo | US$600–1,000 (Pocitos) | US$1,500–2,200 |
03What’s On
Today (Tuesday). Oaxaca’s Feria del Mezcal continues, in the tail of the city’s biggest fortnight. Colombian markets reopen after the holiday.
This week. The Guelaguetza’s second Lunes del Cerro falls on July 27, and the mezcal fair runs to July 28.
Later. Medellín’s Feria de las Flores opens at the end of the month, and Peru inaugurates its president on July 28.
04Art & Culture
Oaxaca’s Guelaguetza continues to its second Lunes del Cerro on July 27, with the Feria del Mezcal running alongside to July 28. It remains the region’s busiest cultural week.
Medellín’s Feria de las Flores follows at the end of July, and Mexico City has Harry Styles on July 31. Southern-cone cities keep their winter programmes.
05Food & Coffee
Oaxaca is the place to be, with mezcal tastings and festival food through the week. Book ahead, as the city stays full.
Buenos Aires has returned to its winter rhythm after the World Cup. On the Caribbean coast, sargassum keeps beach days pointed at the northern beaches and the cenotes.
06Community & Safety
Colombia. Bogotá returns to normal after Monday’s holiday parade and marches. Politics stays noisy through to the August 7 handover, but daily life is unaffected.
Mexico. Oaxaca remains at capacity for the festival, so book accommodation and transport ahead. Cities are otherwise calm.
Argentina. Buenos Aires is calm, with the tournament over and normal service resumed.
07What to Watch — July 21–August 10
Mon Jul 27Oaxaca’s second Lunes del Cerro.
Tue Jul 28Peru’s presidential inauguration.
Fri Jul 31Medellín’s Feria de las Flores opens · Harry Styles in Mexico City.
Wed Aug 5Argentina’s Monotributo recategorisation deadline.
Fri Aug 7Colombia’s presidential handover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Colombia’s new Senate president?
Honorio Henríquez of the Centro Democrático, elected with 56 votes to 45 over Alfredo Deluque, with one blank ballot.
Why does the result matter?
Petro’s bloc backed him against the president-elect’s candidate, showing the incoming government does not yet control the Senate.
Was the tax reform filed?
Yes. The outgoing government filed its fifth reform on July 20, targeting about 23 trillion pesos.
Does the reform change my taxes now?
No. It is a bill that must pass Congress, and the incoming government can adopt, modify or drop it after August 7.
What are the latest exchange rates?
The dollar buys roughly 5.11 Brazilian reais, 17.46 Mexican pesos and 3,368 Colombian pesos. Argentina’s blue dollar sits near 1,515.
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