Have you ever thought of living and working on your laptop in Medellin for a little while?

Meet Cal Bailey, who runs Mountain Leona travel blog he started after two years on backpacking around the world. And today, he is sharing everything he knowns about Medellin, so you know the best places to stay, drink coffee and be productive for a day of work in Colombia's second largest city.

Medellin, is an increasingly popular choice for digital nomads. Two of the main criteria nomads have are decent WiFi and good coffee, and Medellin can certainly offer these.

Of course the city has many more charms that make it such an attractive spot for nomads to settle for a while; the city is more cosmopolitan than ever, and over the last ten years or so, countless cafes, restaurants and bars have popped up.

Nightlife is a big deal here, and people love music and dance. The city is relatively inexpensive, so it won’t dent your budget to kick back and relax here for a while.

The people of Medellin are known as ‘paisas’ and they are renowned for being incredibly friendly and helpful; this significantly affects the friendly vibe of the city and as Medellin is now safer than ever, it is one of the most popular Colombian destinations for solo travelers.

Where To Stay In Medellin – The Best Areas

Digital nomads and solo travelers in general tend to gravitate toward the El Poblado area, first and foremost.

South and West of the city centre at the nomads’ favoured places: aside from El Poblado, Ciudad del Rio, Laureles, Floresta, and Estadio.

El Poblado is generally more expensive as it attracts more tourists. However a double room in a shared home should only cost around $330USD a month. If you want your own space, or more of it, consider a one-bed apartment for around $700 per month.

If you want to be around nightlife and general fun, the area near Parque Lleras in Poblado has countless bars, discos and restaurants. Again, these are not the cheapest, but there’s certainly fun to be had. Paisas like to dance into the early hours all week long!

Booking.com

For cheaper rents, check out Ciudad del Rio, which is near to El Poblado. A basic room in a shared apartment would cost more like $200 per month, whereas a one-bed apartment would be more like $600. Cheaper still (or roughly the same dependent on your preferences) would be Laureles, Floresta or Estadio in West Medellin. You’re looking at a minimum of around $200 for shared and $500 for your own space respectively.

Although El Poblado is the most popular choice, the latter options have an authentic Colombian feel that El Poblado can’t quite match. They’re also in close proximity to the football stadium and a public sports arena, and there is a major university there.

Naturally there are lots of young people around, so it should be easy to make friends of various nationalities.

In terms of fun, the authentic local rumba may appeal; head for La 70 near the football stadium. However, you don’t have to worry about boredom wherever you set up – each neighbourhood has something to offer in terms of entertainment.

Medellin Apartment

Image: This 2-bedroom apartment costs only $55 USD per night. Right in the heart of El Poblado.

How to meet people in Medellin

Most digital nomads are not so interested in a predominantly solitary life while on the road. Half of the fun of this lifestyle lies in meeting new people, but how you go about this often depends on local culture and customs.

One of the easiest ways to make friends in this busy, cosmopolitan city is to seek out like-minded types.

In Medellin, coffee shop culture has well and truly taken hold, and now that locals and visitors are drinking it so reliably, Colombia’s coffee industry is no longer just about export. Many cafes now offer not only delicious local specialty coffees, but also great vibes and slick styles.

These are pleasant environments in which to while away a working day, and they’re also prime spots for solo travelers to mix with like-minds, making friends and extending networks.

Hanging out in digital nomad hotspots is an obvious strategy, and the below tips on the city’s best cafes and co-working spaces will help you to meet all kinds of people from freelancing travelers to local entrepreneurs. Sit on shared desk areas in co-working spaces and it should be easy enough. The organizers often arrange workshops and community events for their customers too, so don’t miss out on those.

You might also want to meet expats, who are great at advising on local living, customs, best places and activities. You can’t go wrong with Facebook expat groups, as they are generally the first port of call for most expats feeling their way into a new life abroad.

For specific interests, sign up to meetup.com; I was originally tipped off about this site by seasoned traveler Sam Ross from the Hammock Hombre, and it has served me well. Wherever I’ve been in the world, I’ve been able to meet other travelers and great networking contacts through MeetUp.com. I can now also highly recommend it!

If you stay in a hostel on arrival, hang out in the shared areas and get talking to people staying. Some may be in the same boat as you; they might be solo travelers looking for a fun night out, or they may simply have useful information to pass on.

Where To Find Wifi & Work In Medellin

Digital nomads in Medellin know they can depend on fast internet speeds and stable connection through the city. You can even get free WiFi in the streets and parks, so you should always be able to get online.

However, for good concentration and productivity of working remotely, you’ll probably opt for a favourite café or coworking space like most other nomads.

Coworking Spaces In Medellin

If you’re in El Poblado, your co-working space of choice will probably be Siembra Coworking. The facilities are great and they’ve got a wonderful garden; you can try the space out for a day for free, and their organic coffee is excellent… if you happen to be there on a Friday, you’ll get a free beer too.

Another great Medellin co-working space is Casa Redonda in Laureles, which has a great café and highly professional working set up… this place is so modern that you can even bring your pets!

Check out Atom House for a community driven co-working space that covers all bases. Many start-ups have got off the ground here, but it’s a good spot for solo workers who need peace and quiet too. It’s open all hours, and there’s even an auditorium with 60 seats if you need to do a presentation; that’s also used for fun (and educational) events you might wish to attend.

Selina CoWorking El Poblado Medellin

Image: Selina Co-Work is a great option if you are living the El Poblado area. A hot desk will only cost you $100 USD per month.

Cafes Worth Visiting In Medellin

When in the El Poblado area, you can’t go wrong with Botanika Lounge. It sounds cool, and it is.

The WiFi connection is great and you can plug it and every table.

Another choice café in this area is Cafe Zeppelin which has great food at as little as $4, and then there’s Pergamino Cafe, which will be a favourite with coffee connoisseurs – you simply can’t beat their brews.   

In Ciudad del Rio, Cariñito Cafe is the one for those who like a quiet environment. El Poblado Is usually busier and noisier, so this spot makes for better concentration. They’ve got excellent coffee and a large terrace area too.

If in Laureles, Algarabia Café is a good choice. The views are scenic, so you’ll be able to look out over the green park while getting your work done. In Floresta, Hostal Ondas is a nomad favourite, thanks to its ground floor café and co-working area upstairs.

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