Tips for digital nomads: remote working in Medellin

Hello! If you've stumbled upon this, you may be considering remote work (or travel!) to Medellin. There is a ton of info out there on what to do in Medellin, and this is by no means exclusive, just a collection of my thoughts to help you get started. My recommendation after reading this is that you take the time to Google and craft your own experience. I do that every time ahead of going somewhere new and always find gems that are just right for me.

I ask 2 things of you, as a reader: (1) If you find any other places or activities you love, please add them in the comments! I'll check them out next time and others can check them out too. (2) If you have any questions on the below, please reach out to the places directly. 😊

Where I stayed:

Poblado. It was my second time in Medellin and both times I stayed in the same neighbourhood. If you love food like I do, it is one of the neighbourhoods with the most restaurants to check-out. Plus, if you are not fluent in Spanish, they are very used to English speakers in this area and most places will help you practice your Spanish too. All you have to do it try! It is also a very safe neighbourhood to stay in (for solo-female digital nomads as well). That said, I always recommend being extra careful with carrying cellphones or money visibly (not just in Medellin, but anywhere you are not from).

My favourite places to work from:

(1) My apartment

Yes, I know you can't go there. I share this as #1 because if you are looking to go to Medellin (or anywhere for that matter) as a digital nomad, I would suggest you get an apartment with strong, reliable internet that you can always work from. This should be table stakes if you are going to be working away!

(2) Yellow House Coffee: https://goo.gl/maps/ZT97jSLrFhYiWk9YA

I loved this place because the staff is incredibly kind and it has a coworking on the top floor that has a great table set-up and is quiet enough to spend a number of hours at. It is also a little further away from the main area of Poblado, which make it less visited. Food options are a bit more limited though, so you may have to leave for lunch!

(3) Pergamino (there 2 locations in Poblado, I prefer this one: https://goo.gl/maps/DhhyCcZ2Znia6t6g8)

This is the place where many digital nomads tend to go. There are always a lot of people working there. They have really great coffee and a good assortment of food options, including breakfasts and lunch, so you really can sit here all day. For me, it is a bit loud at times, but if you don't mind the noise, it is an excellent option.

My favourite restaurants:

Caveat -- we all like different foods! I am sharing my top 3, but know that Medellin has a HUGE variety of INCREDIBLE restaurants. I tried some other ones on impressive lists, but these were still my favourite that you may not stumble upon, if you focus on the lists that are out there.

(1) Terrazzo Medellin: https://goo.gl/maps/dT6UzoybG7Y4ziSt6

If I had a list of my top 10 Italian restaurants around the world, this would have secured a spot (and I've been to Italy)! I would recommend the Trufada pizza, the Pappardelle al telefono and the Tortellini de Salmon ahumado (but you really can't go wrong, almost everything is at least an 8.5/10!). I promise, you will not be disappointed. If you want to try all 3, I recommend going with at least 2-3 humans or being ready to take food home.

(2) Alambique: https://goo.gl/maps/Ed7G1LSts1KQAjSn7

If there is 1 restaurant you have to go to in Medellin, it is this one. The ambiance is super unique and the food is incredible. It is for sharing though, so if you can, I'd recommend going with a group of 4-6 people for your first time so you can try more dishes. The brisket and the carrot cake were my two favourites. You cannot go here solo, unless you are prepared for A LOT of leftovers.

(3) Panorama rooftop: https://goo.gl/maps/fCVQPioQwWpAtrvy8

This is a casual rooftop right in the middle of it all in Poblado. Decent food and a great environment. You feel like you are in the trees and it generally is not too busy!

(4) Noir Cafe: https://goo.gl/maps/vrNTuRMUPy3vr2NE6

This place is lovely if you want a relaxed coffee or a place to go think! If you check it out in the evening, the drinks are amazing. I'd recommend the black margarita.

My favourite tours and activities:

Comuna 13

This is one of the most unique and amazing places in Medellin. The art and culture plus the history are inspiring. I'd definitely recommend this tour and hope you get Alex as your guide. Here is the link: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/742711

Guatape

I highly recommend visiting! It is such a magical place. You can go for a weekend or for the day. I went for the day this time around and would highly recommend the tour I did (here is the link: https://www.viator.com/tours/Medellin/Tour-a-Guatape/d4563-42677P1?m=63070&nid=VR.3b0914f6-724f-4a02-bcbe-acd76354fe92.VT_EMAIL_TRV&pid=P00090548&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=Guatape). I loved it because it was super well run and I felt there was enough time to do everything.

Paragliding

I have to say, this was probably my favourite thing I did in Medellin. You can take an uber to St Felix and get a ticket there, or you can book through a tour company. I used Capture Tours Colombia (https://www.capturecolombiatours.com/) because they were super responsive via whatsapp and do a pick up from wherever you are. It is cheaper if you go in a group for transportation!

Coffee Farm

There are a ton of different farms to visit. A friend chose this one for us and it was lovely. A great way to learn about coffee and get out of the city. The nice thing is they pick you up from wherever you are staying, so a complete experience. https://www.viator.com/tours/Medellin/Coffee-Tour-in-Medellin/d4563-70874P2?m=61408&nid=VR.71c7ee3a-8d03-47eb-a578-a91c28abff43.VT_EMAIL_TRV&pid=P00090548&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=Coffee

Fruit tasting and cocktail making

Medellin has so many unique fruits! This fruit and cocktail making class is a super interesting way to learn more about all the diverse fruits that grow in the region plus a fun way to play around with their flavours. The host is amazing, too! https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/919194

Spa

For a relaxed activity, I would 10/10 recommend this spa. https://goo.gl/maps/nvszC5PYasLW4htK9

 --

If you are still reading, hope it helps! Please remember to add any gems you find in the comments.

Happy remote working! 😊

#medellin #remotework #digitalnomad