FincaRaíz and Metrocuadrado together account for over 3.6 million monthly searches on Colombia's rental market. If you're looking for a long-term apartment in Bogotá, these two portals have the most comprehensive and up-to-date inventory of any platform — by a wide margin. The only problem: they're entirely in Spanish. This guide walks you through both portals step by step, decodes the key terminology, and shows you exactly what to look for (and what to avoid).
🌐 The Browser Translation Setup (Do This First)
- Chrome (desktop): Right-click anywhere on the page → "Translate to English." This works well on both portals. Set it to automatically translate Spanish pages in settings.
- iPhone (Safari): Tap the AA icon in the address bar → "Translate Website." Works on both portals.
- Android (Chrome): Tap the translate icon that appears in the address bar. Set to auto-translate Spanish.
- Important: Translation is imperfect for Colombian real estate terms — use the glossary below to fill in the gaps.
Part 1: Using FincaRaíz
Go to fincaraiz.com.co and Set Your Search Type
On the homepage, you'll see two main tabs: Arrendar (Rent) and Comprar (Buy). Click Arrendar. Below that, select Apartamento (apartment) or Casa (house) from the property type dropdown.
Enter Your Location
In the location search bar, type the neighborhood name directly in Spanish: "Chapinero," "Chico," "Usaquen," "Parque 93," "Rosales," "Teusaquillo," etc. FincaRaíz uses these neighborhood names exactly as they appear in Spanish. You can also search by "Bogotá" to see all listings across the city.
Apply the Price Filter (Precio)
After your initial search, use the "Precio" filter to set your monthly budget. All prices are shown in Colombian Pesos (COP). To convert: divide by 3,700 for a USD equivalent. Set your range to slightly above your actual budget — you'll negotiate down.
Filter by Bedrooms (Habitaciones) and Bathrooms (Baños)
The bedroom filter shows as "Habitaciones" (rooms). Note that Colombians count bathrooms separately — 1 hab is a one-bedroom apartment; 2 hab is two bedrooms. An "apartaestudio" is a studio with no separate bedroom. Filter these to match your needs.
Look for the "Amoblado" Filter
If you need a furnished apartment, look for the Amoblado checkbox in the filters. Unfurnished listings are "Sin amoblar" or "No amoblado." Note: many listings don't specify — check the description and photos carefully. See our unfurnished in Colombia article for what to expect.
Read the Listing Carefully — Then Contact
Use browser translation on the listing description. Note the "Administración" fee (HOA, separate from rent), any parking included, and the contact type: agency (inmobiliaria) or direct owner (propietario directo). Direct owner listings often carry a "propietario" badge and typically allow more flexible documentation.
Part 2: Using Metrocuadrado
Navigate to metrocuadrado.com
Metrocuadrado's homepage defaults to a "Compra" (buy) view. Look for the Arriendo tab at the top of the search form and click it to switch to rentals. The interface is cleaner and more modern than FincaRaíz — Chrome's translation handles it well.
Use the Map View for Neighborhood Targeting
Metrocuadrado's map view is superior to FincaRaíz. After searching, click the map icon to switch to a geographic view. This is particularly useful for understanding exactly where listings are located relative to parks, transit, and the neighborhoods described in our neighborhood guide.
Note the "Estrato" Field in Listings
Metrocuadrado listings prominently display the property's estrato (1–6 socioeconomic classification). This tells you a lot: Estrato 4–6 means premium utility pricing but premium neighborhood quality. Estrato 1–2 means subsidized utilities but lower-income neighborhood context. See our estrato guide for full detail.
Check the "Características" Section
Each listing has a Características (Features) section. Look for: Área (size in m²), Piso (floor number), Antigüedad (building age), Garaje (parking), and Conjunto (gated complex vs standalone building). These details don't translate perfectly in Chrome — use the glossary below.
Essential Spanish Real Estate Glossary
| Spanish Term | English Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arriendo / Arrendar | Rent / To rent | Core term for rental market |
| Amoblado / Amueblado | Furnished | Should include furniture; verify appliances |
| Sin amoblar / No amoblado | Unfurnished | May lack fridge — see our guide |
| Apartaestudio | Studio apartment | Open plan, no separate bedroom |
| Administración | HOA / Building fee | Separate from rent; COP 150K–800K+/mo |
| Estrato | Socioeconomic tier (1–6) | Affects utility costs significantly |
| Habitaciones | Bedrooms | "1 hab" = 1 bedroom |
| Baños | Bathrooms | "2 baños" = 2 full bathrooms |
| M² / Metros cuadrados | Square meters | Multiply by 10.76 for sq ft |
| Fiador / Codeudor | Guarantor / Co-signer | Usually required; see our guide |
| Póliza de arrendamiento | Rental insurance | Alternative to fiador |
| Propietario directo | Direct owner listing | No agency fees; more documentation flexibility |
| Inmobiliaria | Real estate agency | 8–10% management fee; more formal process |
| Conjunto / Conjunto cerrado | Gated residential complex | Includes security and amenities |
| Piso | Floor number | "Piso 8" = 8th floor |
| Garaje / Parqueadero | Parking space | Often COP 150K–300K/mo extra |
| Depósito | Deposit | Technically illegal under Ley 820 |
| Canon | Rent amount | "Canon mensual" = monthly rent |
| Contrato a término fijo | Fixed-term lease | Standard 12-month Colombian lease |
| Preaviso | Notice period | 3-month written notice required |
Red Flags to Watch For in Listings
⚠️ 6 Listing Red Flags on Colombian Portals
1. Price too far below market: If a 2BR in Chico Norte is listed at COP 800K when the market is COP 3.5M–5M, it's almost certainly a scam or bait-and-switch. Check our price guide to calibrate expectations.
2. No photos or stock photos: Any serious listing has real interior photos. Missing photos or suspiciously perfect stock images are a major red flag.
3. Contact via WhatsApp only: Legitimate agencies have office phones and addresses. WhatsApp-only listings from "owners" who can't meet at the property are frequently scams.
4. Requesting payment before viewing: No legitimate landlord or agency asks for any payment — deposit, first month, or "reservation" — before you've physically visited the property and signed a contract.
5. Listing duplicated across platforms: Scammers often scrape real listings from FincaRaíz and repost them with different contact information. If a listing appears on multiple platforms with different phone numbers, verify the owner through the official platform contact system.
6. Administration fee not mentioned: Legitimate listings almost always specify the administración (HOA) fee separately from the rent. A listing that hides this is setting you up for a higher-than-expected monthly cost.
How to Contact Owners Effectively
Both portals offer in-platform contact forms and direct phone/WhatsApp numbers on listings. Here's how to approach initial contact as a foreign renter:
💬 Sample Initial Contact Message (Spanish + English)
Spanish: "Hola, vi su apartamento en FincaRaíz y me interesa. Soy extranjero con visa válida y cédula de extranjería. ¿Podría darme más información sobre los requisitos y disponibilidad para una visita?"
English: "Hi, I saw your apartment on FincaRaíz and I'm interested. I'm a foreigner with a valid visa and cédula de extranjería. Could you share the documentation requirements and availability for a viewing?"
Sending both builds confidence that you're a serious, documented renter — the biggest concern for Colombian landlords dealing with foreigners.
FincaRaíz vs. Metrocuadrado: Quick Comparison
| Feature | FincaRaíz | Metrocuadrado |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly visits | 1.95M | 1.72M |
| Total inventory | Largest | Second largest |
| Mobile experience | Good | Better |
| Map view | Basic | Superior |
| Premium neighborhood coverage | Strong | Very strong |
| Budget neighborhood coverage | Very strong | Moderate |
| Direct owner listings | Yes | Yes |
| English interface | No (translation needed) | No (translation needed) |
| Best for | Maximum inventory search | Premium neighborhoods + map search |