Medellin, Colombia
I arrived in Colombia after a flight via Lima (Peru). Colombia wasn’t my first time, but Medellin was. Many people have told me that it’s lovely, and there are also a lot of digital nomads there. So, I wanted to check it out, too. I planned my trip a long time ago in such a way that my inbound flight to South America is to Lima, and my return flight to Europe is out of Medellin. Always use direct flights to Madrid since most flights go via Spain. I didn’t book anything in between and wanted to keep it more spontaneous. I prefer to book long-distance flights much in advance and, if possible, with a return flight, which usually makes it much cheaper.
In Medellin, I rented an Airbnb in a touristy area where many Digital Nomads are also staying, El Pobaldo. It’s a very modern and secure area of the city. There are also two wework co-workings not far away. One is within walking distance, and one big building up the hill is reachable in approx 10 minutes by scooter. I felt great in that area; my apartment was lovely and very central, with a nice co-working nearby and many bars/restaurants just around the corner. My daily routine was quite dull, but I liked it. I was very productive and got many things done. I also had holidays but decided not to do much other than go to the office and work on some of my personal projects.
One day, I rested and did a day trip to Guatapé. A touristy place close to Medellin. It was very nice. I booked the trip via Airbnb Experiences, and we had a lovely group of English-speaking people together. Guatapé is a small village near an artificial lake. It looks like a painting but has a not-that-happy history. We went on a boat trip there and crossed many extraordinary properties with amazing views. Many famous people choose to buy their holiday place in this area; one such was no one else than Pablo Escobar, who had a Finca “La Manuela” there. It’s located directly at the lake, and we passed by with the boat.
But the most famous spot of Guatapé is the massive rock (El Peñól de Guatapé), from which you can overview this fantastic landscape. To reach the top of the rock, they build stairs on one side – 708 steps, to be exact. We took it as a challenge and competed for the fastest up there. We were crazy fast up. I made it below 10 minutes but was out of breath at the top. The view was breathtaking, too, with such lovely scenery—green hills with islands and the blue water.
On the weekend, sometimes in the evening, I met some locals. I was lucky to get to know some locals who had time to go around with me and showed me some lovely places in the city. Comuna 13 is an artistic and colourful neighbourhood; Parque Explora, a scientific centre; Parque Arví, a national park, or just hanging out and grabbing food. In Medellin, you can reach nature within just 10- 15 minutes of driving from the city. It’s so green everywhere, and they also develop buildings in that style. I loved that. Since Medellin is built into a valley, cable cars are part of the public transportation system. So when travelling by metro, you can switch and jump into a cable car, which brings you up the hill, which is still a residential area. A friend of mine lived somewhere up the mountain I once visited. We ate local food with the family (sister and mother) and had Arepa. I knew the dish but hadn’t had it for a while.
Another day, I went to the touristy neighbourhood called “Comuna 13.” It’s up the hill and very colourful. A lot of art is visible everywhere, and we wandered through the streets, visiting small exhibitions in old houses. This area has a very special touch, and I enjoyed it in the company of my friends.
One weekend, I went for a short hike with a friend from Couchsurfing. We crossed a small river and followed the stream until we reached a local coffee place with self-made coffee. Colombia is famous for its coffee, so I had to try it even since I’m not a coffee drinker.
