After a few days in Medellín, we check out of the Welcomm Spa and stuff our belongings into a 13-seater van for the 2-hour drive to Guatapé. Here, surrounded by mountains and glittering man-made lakes, we settle into a relaxed itinerary that doesn’t take us much further than the grounds of our Airbnb.

Sep 01

Before retreating to the hills, we stop by one of Guatapé’s landmarks, Piedra el Peñol, a towering rock formation set with seven hundred and fifty steps to allow visitors to reach the summit. Maybe it’s the heat, hunger, or we’ve been getting little sleep, but I’m wholly content with the ground view.

From the Piedra, we visit the town center, starting in Plazoleta de Los Zócalos and making our way through slanted streets and alleyways awash with color. There’s not much ground to cover, so after buying pan de queso (cheese bread) and some iced drinks to answer the heat, we’re back on the bus en route to our Airbnb.

We arrive at a two-story lakefront villa bordered by lush trees and flowering plants. Inside, floor-to-ceiling windows flood the open-plan kitchen and living room with warm afternoon sun.

On the dining table, Chef J has served crispy pork belly alongside mini slices of baguette and whipped butter. Two charcuterie boards follow; violet blossoms are scattered over a spread of cold cuts, cheeses, nuts, and fruits—appetizers to hold us over until dinner. The starters are exquisite, and I tell the chef as much, thanking him for the beautiful display.

I’m one of the last to arrive for dinner, and when I do, I’m greeted by an animated atmosphere. Music swirls through the air, interlaced with lively chatter and the clink-clink of shot glasses filled with smoky mezcal. Dinner is served: platters of juicy oven-baked chicken, creamy potato bake, brightly colored vegetables, and an ice-cream-topped brownie.

Eating turns to celebrating as the last bits of dessert are scraped from our plates. For the rest of the night, we take photos together, our dresses forming a mosaic of bright oranges and pinks. We scream-sing our favorite songs, nearly drowning out the speakers, and kick off our heels to dance barefoot. We laugh and play, and (for some of us) let happy tears roll down our cheeks.

Sep 02

We start the day with a flexible itinerary. Most girls relax at the villa, while some of us head to the lake to kayak. 

Dressed in swimsuits and clip-on walkie-talkies to stay connected to the main house, we hike down a dirt path to retrieve our kayaks and drag them downhill to the lake. We’re not far from the shore when we realize that what looked like a bed of rocks from afar is actually mud, adding an extra layer of difficulty to launching the kayaks.

Determined, we trudge through, planting one foot after another into the cool but decidedly nasty mud until we can push the kayaks onto the water. The effort feels worth it when we paddle out onto a serene lake, tinted aquamarine and speckled with sunlight.

Later, as the sky’s blues melt to black, we gather again for dinner. This time, more pork belly is served on tostones (twice-fried plantains), followed by ajiaco–a traditional Colombian soup eaten with white rice, sweet corn, and avocado.

Our routine mirrors the previous evening: we talk and eat, giggle and dance, and end the night in pajamas, laughing through rounds of Cards Against Humanity until it’s time to hug our goodbyes.

***

We traveled to Colombia to celebrate one of my best friends – Yemi – for her bachelorette. Looking back, my most memorable feeling on this trip was joy—joy for the blessing of female friendships, joy from watching Yem glow under the warmth of all the love she received, and joy because travel continues to gift me some of the most beautiful moments of my life.

Good To Know

Stays: Book our lovely Airbnb here. The Airbnb hosts recommended our private chef and he was excellent! 

Transportation: We hired a driver to take us from Medellin to Guatape, and then back to Medellin to catch our flights. 

Flights: I flew from San Francisco to Medellín roundtrip via Panama City on COPA Airlines. I researched and tracked flights using Google Flights. The “Track Price” feature allows me to monitor ticket prices in advance, and book when they are most affordable.

Language: For the short time I was in Colombia, I spoke a mix of Spanish and English, but found that English was spoken in some places, especially in hotels and sit-down restaurants. 

Money: Carry cash to spend at places where cards are not accepted like neighborhood cafes and street vendors. Generally, service providers like Chefs or Drivers will prefer that you pay them in Cash. Bank transfer is also accepted if this is something you have access to. 

Change your USD or other currency to Peso at a money exchange (cambio). Note that the Colombian Peso is volatile, and money exchange establishments often charge a fee to change USD to Peso. As of Aug/Sept. 2024, a good exchange rate was $1 USD to ~3400-3600 COP. 

Altitude: MedellÍn and Guatapé sit at a high altitude, so if you start experiencing lightheadedness or nausea, this could be the reason. Here are some of my tips: stay hydrated with water, take slower steps/rest after strenuous movement, and pack your preferred nausea medication in case symptoms persist. Note: this is not medical advice, just tips that have helped me while visiting high altitude cities.

As always,

Thank you for reading!

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Same footprints, Different sands