Medellin: Day 1

After a slight delay on our bus (and an unplanned arrival at the wrong bus terminal), we arrived in Medellín.

We stayed at Noah Boutique Hostel. They were very friendly and helpful (a welcome change after Cartagena).

El Poblado is a pretty trendy neighborhood; it gave off European vibes. We had a quick lunch and then had a warm uphill walk to the Pablo Escobar Museum.

The museum was an interesting experience, not just from the perspective of the content. The tour guide seemed to glorify Escobar, most likely due to the fact that her "boss" is Escobar’s nephew, Nicholas.

Nonetheless, we learned and saw some interesting things. The bullet proof cars and stories about pilots being trained to fly and carry the drugs in extreme conditions really stuck out to me.

She also kept asking if we wanted a picture while shaking a model Escobar's hand... like... no... he was not a good person. I definitely would like to learn more about the Medellín Cartel and its effect on Colombia. We intend to visit another museum while in Colombia to learn about the harm Escobar and other cartels caused throughout Colombia.

We went to the biggest grocery store we've seen yet, and it was mildly overwhelming! It seemed to have everything: a bar with customers sampling spirits, others drinking the wine they had selected from the shelf; a fresh bakery, a cafe, a live BBQ; a huge amount of fresh fruit and veg! Allan and I were not prepared and wandered around aimlessly. Finally, a big water and a couple of bananas (disappointing, I know) later, we were on our way back to the hostel and out to find some dinner.

Due to all the night buses, we kept it a pretty chill night. We also needed to get up early to head out for the all day tour in Guatapé 🏞️.

Noah boutique hostels Medellín
9/10
Facilities: 😀
Comfort: 😀
Location: 😀
Cleanliness: 😀
Value for money: 😀
Staff: 😀

Summary: Truly a home from home. Amazing staff.

Good: Noah’s goal is to feel like a home from home and it really did feel like that. Noah was by far the most welcoming and friendly hostel we stayed at in Colombia. We always felt safe. Staff allowed us to check into our room early after arriving on a night bus the first morning. They also allowed us to store our luggage for free when we headed to Salento for a couple of nights (Salento is highly recommended). After returning to Medellín two hours earlier than planned due to the bus driver thinking he was a racing driver, staff allowed us to sleep on the (sheltered) terrace for free and provided us with blankets. They then offered us with free breakfast and allowed us to use the shower, despite us officially checking out three days prior. Great location with massive supermarket a five-minute walk away and the nearest metro station around a 10-minute walk away.

Bad: The manager was genuinely interested in feedback, both positive and negative. At the time, we couldn’t provide any meaningful feedback/suggestions. 5% card fee. In hindsight, the 5% card fee is excessive given the actual fees for credit card payments are no more than 3% in Colombia (we weren’t charged a fee at our hostel in Bogotá). However, a 5% card fee seems common in Colombia. Furthermore, the twin room with shared bathroom was tiny and right next to reception, which could be loud at night/early morning. We knew the room was tiny before we booked but we didn’t know it was located next to reception, with the only window opening towards the reception area. We had to ask for the TV volume to be turned down one night, which, to be fair was lowered immediately. Please note, I’ve still given Noah 9/10 and each of the individual ratings the best rating despite these comments.Read more