It was one of the most genuinely charming hostels I have every visited (and I have visited quite a few).

You can tell that the owner, Oriana, has invested a lot of tender loving care into every aspect of the hostel and the result is a cross between a secret garden and your favorite aunt’s house.

The location in the Provenza neighborhood is very good. The surrounding area is home to some of the trendiest restaurants and cafés in Medellín, so you won’t be short of dining options.

From the very attractive tree-lined street, you go through some large wooden doors and enter the welcoming outside terrace – an area which is due to become a small restaurant serving traditional Colombian food.

Flowers and plants are everywhere, with a bright and light decor. It has a warm, welcoming personality with its chilled out relaxation area and the little oasis of a garden.

Everything seems to ooze charm regardless of its role. From recycled tables to the wooden mounting for the TV.

The size of the hostel makes it comfortable and cozy. It has five rooms, four of which are shared (there are three four-bed dorms and one six-bed dorm) and one which is private with a double bed and bunk beds, along with an en suite bathroom.

Read More: Best Hostels in Prague

The price is comparable to others in the area, with the four-bed dorms priced at 25,000 pesos ($10) and the six-bed dorms at 27,000 pesos ($10.80), while the private is 85,000 pesos ($34) for two people, plus an extra 27,000 pesos per person should you wish to make it a triple or quadruple.

The rooms aren’t modern. In fact, I would describe them more as rustic, but with the TLC given to the decor it still feels classy and homely.

Each room has a blackboard with the name written on in some stylish calligraphy, and there are big lockers with space to help clothes escape from the backpacks.

The outdoor chill out area has a hammock and relaxed seating area with people happily watching a film, or there is a selection of instruments by the main reception should you feel the urge to jam.

Only open three months, the hostel is already attracting rave reviews. As they make improvements, a small bar at the back and the new restaurant, I only foresee this hostel getting better.

I predict the only problem they will encounter is that it will become too popular for its capacity and people who don’t book far in advance, might not have the pleasure of staying here.

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Photos courtesy of The Garden of Blues Hostel.

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Essentially it means you stay outdoors in a big posh tent, i.e one that has enough space for luxury items like a TV and a cupboard.

Bambu Glamping City Hostel is therefore aiming to offer a slightly different experience from your normal hostel. It is tucked away a few blocks up from Parque Lleras next to the stream that runs through Poblado, Quebrada La Presidenta.

Indeed from the first view, you see that there is a deliberate intention to have an outdoorsy feel. Two big pieces of Bamboo host the hostel’s welcome sign and as you enter it feels more like an old house, than a modern hostel.

It is cosy and compact inside. There is a huge map adorning the small dining room next to the kitchen and it has a kitsch, cool kind of feel to it.

The dorms are your standard eight bed affairs with four bunk beds, nothing to write home about, however it is the outdoor area where the hostel differentiates itself.

Outside is littered with lots of wooden tables in a spacious area dotted with hammocks and log-based seating. It is going for a rustic and authentic campfire type of vibe.

Indeed the air feels fresher, you see some chickens merrily running around and you forget that you are in a very urban area.

The pièce de résistance is situated at the rear of the outdoor area. Two, you guessed it, tents. Built on wooden platforms. Here comes the glamping.

Read More: Cheap Hostels in Paris

The interior of the tents are pleasant with wooden floors, sizeable king size beds, a TV and cupboard for your belongings.

It feels like you should be on an African safari rather than the 500 meters down the road from the center of Poblado. Everything is clean and although lacking air-conditioning, I could imagine it wouldn’t be too uncomfortable to spend a night inside.

Prices for the dorms start from 25,000 pesos ($10) per person per night and your authentic glamping experience is valued at 50,000 pesos ($20). Reasonable and competitive in the Medellín hostel stakes.

It also just got awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2015 which shows they must be doing something right to keep the guests happy.

If your idea is to get away a bit from the main nightlife areas of Parque Lleras, while being close enough to stroll in, and you fancy something a bit different, then this could be your go to option.

It would be a bit like when you were a kid and you camped outside in your garden, but you get a TV and you are allowed to watch it…

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On the same road as popular bars such as El Social, next door to a plethora of restaurants (including Lenteja Express) and a hop, skip and a jump from Parque Lleras, the address of the hostel is hard to beat.

The exterior has plants adorned with outdoor tables and parasols while the entrance lobby is more of a cross between a designer shop and boutique hotel.

As you head up the small stairs, you enter a hostel and the more familiar sight of rooms with bunk beds reveals itself.

The rooms are fine, clean and modern. Each room has a digital code to unlock the door. There are lockers and a bathroom inside the room.

The double bunk beds look like the standard ones you see across the globe, and there are no views from the dorms given they’re on the ground floor.

The hostel has three levels. The first floor has the aforementioned 8-bed dorms, and the layout is relatively cosy. There is a small indoor patio, alongside a well-equipped kitchen.

The second floor features private rooms. This has an altogether more hotel feel to it with TV’s inside the rooms, a modern design and large double beds.

There are double-paned windows to cut down on the noise in the street-facing rooms. This is important as I imagine there is a lot of noise given the central location.

There are a couple of nice touches, with a little nook home to a funky looking seating arrangement and a small choice of books, as well two computers (free for use) for those travellers who have somehow lost their iPhones, tablets or laptops. God forbid.

The big surprise/advantage of the hostel is the third floor or terrace. It is infinitely more spacious than the rest of the hostel and is a completely open plan.

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Guests can play table tennis or use the lounge area with TV/Playstation and board games.

The terrace has some artificial grass with chaise lounges and views over the city. So now hostels have terraces with comfortable space for sunbathers. Who knew?

In total there are four dorms and four private rooms, so the hostel is on the smaller side. The ambience is relaxed, and purposefully so.

The owners decided to not have a bar to make sure that it is a more “familiar” vibe and not a party atmosphere, however with its proximity to the nightlife, it isn’t a remote getaway and will be sure to attract those keen on sampling the nearby bars and clubs.

The cost of the rooms is reasonable with dorms at 27,000 pesos ($11) per person per night and private rooms starting from 90,000 pesos ($36) for the room. A family room with double bed and double bunk bed is 150,000 pesos ($60).

Wi-Fi is included, as is breakfast that includes an arepa, eggs and cereals.

All your tours to the usual tourist destinations, Santa Fe and Guatape, can be booked from the friendly and welcoming reception.

Although the downstairs dorms make it feel a bit compact, the terrace is a great lounging area and the hostel will be a good choice for those who want to be close to the action, without going all out on the party side.

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All photos are courtesy of Geo Hostel, except the exterior shot, which is by David Lee.

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Editor’s note: This post was updated on June 11, 2017. It’s sponsored by International House Medellin Hostel. We thank them for their support.

Finding the right hostel can change your trip. Profoundly.

Your hostel is where you make new friends, partake in local activities, create memories.

There are a handful of good ones to choose from in Medellín and the surrounding area, so I’m going to do my best to narrow it down to the best hostels in Medellín. It goes without saying that these hostels are clean, the staff friendly. It’s tough to choose. But here goes…

International House Medellin Hostel

Calle 32B #66C-06, Belén

International House Medellin Hostel, also known as IH Medellin, has been near the top of The Best Hostels in Medellin on Trip Advisor for several years in a row now. The owner, Joel, personally takes care of his guests by hosting occasional barbecues and community dinners on the hostel’s famous rooftop terrace, equipped with a professional, restaurant-style kitchen.

With a dedicated T1 fiber-optic internet line to the building, IH Medellin is one of only a handful of hostels in Colombia with this technology, making it the perfect destination for backpackers and professional digital nomads. Private two-bed dorms and shared dorms for groups of 4, 6, 8 and/or 10 are available, with 4 modern bathrooms on each floor.

The hostel is well located within a two-minute walk of buses that go directly to historic downtown and to El Poblado.  These same buses take you to Medellin’s famous metro system.  Nearby as well are many venues of the Feria de las Flores and the football/soccer stadium.

Located in a quiet, residential neighborhood, the hostel has great views of a huge public sports complex equipped with a free open-air weightlifting area, swimming pools (there is an entrance fee, but they also have free entry certain hours during weekdays), running track, basketball courts, as well as free aerobic and yoga classes that are open to the public. Despite its central location in the city, the neighborhood itself is lush and green, with lots of trees, parks and fresh air.

Just stop by reception for help booking the most popular city tours in Medellin, including the Pablo Escobar Experience Tour, Free City Walking Tour, Mountain Bike tours, paragliding, graffiti tour through the famous “comunas” and trips to the upper outskirts of the city via the aerial cable cars that terminate in a huge forested reservoir that connects with nearby traditional villages and towns.

At IH Medellin private Spanish lessons and salsa dancing classes can also be arranged.

This hostel review was written in collaboration with International House Medellin Hostel.

Happy Buddha Boutique Hostel

Carrera 35 #7-108, Poblado

Easiest choice ever. For any story I’ve written.

The only problem is, it took me a while to actually go see how great Happy Buddha Boutique Hostel is.

The mission here is to give backpackers the comfort and elegance of a hotel with the social atmosphere of a hostel. Just look at these amenities:

• Chic décor
• Stylish bar terrace
• Pool and ping-pong tables
• En suite bathrooms with complimentary soap, conditioner, shampoo and towel
• In-room flat screen TVs, free Wi-Fi
• Free breakfast (eggs and hot dogs, bread and sometimes calentado)
• Spacious lockers with shelves and charge ports for your electronics
• Electronic key cards for each room
• Individual bunk bed lights
• Balconies
• 24-hour bilingual reception

You can’t go wrong at this place, and it’s only going to get better. There soon will be another Happy Buddha, in Guatapé. (Editor’s note: Book your stay at the Guatapé location here.)

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Arcadia Hostel

Calle 11A #31A-188, Poblado

Love the Greek theme, love the owner’s commitment to get better, love the wall outlets at each bed.

The last one is especially important, something I didn’t notice until I went there recently to take some pictures.

During my travels I’ve gotten tired of scrambling to find wall outlets to charge my electronics. At Arcadia Hostel, you can lie in the comfort of your bed while you charge them and use them at the same time.

Spyros, the Greek owner, said he soon will put curtains up with every bed, to help people sleep. And he’ll continue his popular Greek barbecue on Sundays, of course.

If the Happy Buddha is booked full, which it often is, go to Arcadia.

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The Wandering Paisa

Calle 44A #68A-76, Laureles

With a bar and lounge inside that stays open just late enough to get everyone ready to go out, The Wandering Paisa is kind of a mix between a party hostel and a place to relax.

I’ve been there a couple of times, once to hang out at the bar and watch people sing karaoke. It was our first stop before we went to Son Havana, a popular nearby club.

The Paisa is only a block from La 70, the nightlife strip that connects Estación Estadio with Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. Maybe you can pregame at the Paisa bar, then move on to one of the top spots in the area.

You have lots of options here.

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Urban Buddha

Circular 73A #38-55, Laureles

Urban Buddha (different ownership than Happy Buddha Boutique Hostel) is the tranquilo option. On a weekend, anything can happen because it’s in Laureles, one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, but the hostel is usually quiet during the week, La Feria de las Flores aside.

Amenities such as the koi pond, the garden and the eclectic art add to the atmosphere, and activities such as paragliding are offered. And if there are enough people staying, it’s not unusual for Mariano, one of the owners, to cook up one of his specialties: paella. He comes from a family of chefs so it’s not to be missed.

Oh, and full disclosure: after staying at the Buddha in the spring, I returned from two months of traveling in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay to find a position open. So I took it.

Sure, you can say I’m biased. But would I work somewhere if I didn’t like it? (The answer to that, by the way, is “no.”)

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Hostal Rancho Rueda Libre

Santa Elena (see map on hostel Facebook page for directions)

So it’s a little outside Medellín. That’s what makes Hostal Rancho Rueda Libre great.

It’s where you go to get away from the city, from the chaos and congestion.

For those unfamiliar with Santa Elena, it’s all about nature. With so much green and so many bird species there, you can’t help but feel relaxed.

There are comfortable rooms, or if you prefer, you can camp outside. This finca/hostel is in the middle of a mountainous paradise, a gateway to your peace of mind.

Hostal La Finca

San Jerónimo

Like Hostal Rancho Rueda Libre, this is another place to go to get away from the city. But it’s hot at Hostal La Finca so bring your swimwear and take advantage of the beautiful pool.

Or, if you want something more natural, go to the creek and waterfall down the hill from the hostel.

I brought my parents here when they were visiting last year and they loved it.

Just remember to bring your bug repellent. You’re in the middle of nature, about 20 minutes outside the town of San Jerónimo, and the heat attracts the mosquitos.

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The Pit Stop

Carrera 43E #5-110, Poblado

The Pit Stop is great.

There’s a lot of energy, but you can still relax, especially because they have a big, nice pool there. It’s the reason two of my friends from Bogotá stayed there instead of at the Buddha. If you really like this amenity, remember the driest months in Medellín are January through March and June through August.

There’s also a volleyball court and basketball court/soccer field at the hostel, along with a bar with a pool table.

The location, though, might be a bigger draw. The hostel is in El Poblado, only a five to 10-minute walk from Parque Lleras, the city’s primary nightlife zone, or zona rosa. You won’t be bored.

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Casa Kiwi

Carrera 36 #7-10, Poblado

If you want to party, Casa Kiwi is the place.

That’s the main reason I’ve been there.

I had some friends staying there on a couple of occasions and the place was hopping, enough that there was not much need to go anywhere else if you didn’t want to. But if you do, the hostel is in the heart of the Zona Rosa, just a few blocks from Parque Lleras.

The outdoor deck overlooking the street is great, like being at a bar in a Jimmy Buffet song. The place also offers a (very) small rooftop pool and a pool table near the bar.

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Palm Tree Hostel

Carrera 67 #48-63, Suramericana

Palm Tree Hostel sits in one of the most underrated neighborhoods in the city, Suramericana, just east of Estadio Atanasio Girardot.

It’s a great place to relax and get away from the touristy areas of the city. If you want to learn Spanish by practicing with the people in the neighborhood, it’s a great place.

Inside, you’ll find a quaint, clean place, a setting made for getting to know other travelers.

The Exito supermarket is right next door if you prefer to cook your own food instead of eat out at what seems like a million restaurants.

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Geo Hostel

Carrera 35 #8A-58, Poblado

One of my friends insisted I had to include Geo Hostel, so I stopped by.

I love the modern look. It seems like a really comfortable place to stay.

It’s clean and the staff was really friendly when I went there to look around.

The Via Provenza location is also near lots of great restaurants and nightlife, so you might not even spend much time in the hostel, no matter how nice you think it is.

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What’s your favorite hostel in Medellín?

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