As part of the little known peripeteia of Basque nationalist exile in Colombia, the figure of Fernando Irusta has been overshadowed by names with greater social allure. Irusta stands out among the rest for his modest personality and laboriousness, both of which merit attention. He held every eligible post within the nationalist movement, demonstrating his ability to understand the different sensibilities among Basque Republican exiles in Colombia. This aspect also led to a rich working life in his adopted country. This article serves to acknowledge these aspects and to give an idea of how this unique brand of Basque nationalist exile operated in a country unused to taking in exiles and immigrants in general.