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Medellín at night, the valley full of city lights under the mountains
The Americano · Medellín Scouting Trip

Experience Your Future Life in Medellín

Seven nights in the city everybody asks about, plus the towns around it that most visitors never see. Small group, private transportation, and Matt beside you the whole way.

January 27 to February 3, 20277 nightsFrom $2,648 per personSmall group: 6 to 12 guests
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You Don't Have to Figure Medellín Out Alone

Medellín gets more hype than any city in Colombia, and hype is a terrible way to choose where to live. You need to see it for yourself, with someone who can tell you what the brochures leave out.

For seven nights you have Matt beside you. You see the city and the towns around it, ask every question you have, and decide with your own eyes.

The trip

What You'll Actually Do

We cover the city and the valley around it: the center, Comuna 13, the MetroCable, the neighborhoods people live in at different budgets, and the towns that many expats end up choosing instead. Then we head to Guatapé for a night by the lake. You eat very well throughout.

Day by day

The shape of the trip

  1. Day 1

    Arrival and welcome

    We pick you up at the airport in Rionegro and drive you down into the valley. That evening the group sits down together for a welcome dinner.

  2. Days 2 to 7

    The city and the towns around it

    Six full days with Matt, 10 to 12 hours a day, in private transportation. Along the way:

    • Plaza Botero and the Museo de Antioquia
    • Comuna 13, and the story of how it changed
    • The MetroCable, the cable cars that run as part of the city's public transit
    • Neighborhoods from estrato 3 to estrato 6. Colombia rates every address on a scale from estrato 1 to 6, and it shapes rent, utilities and the feel of a street. We walk several, so you see what each budget actually buys.
    • Envigado and Sabaneta, two neighbors of Medellín that many people look at closely
    • Rionegro and El Retiro, up in the cooler hills
    • Guatapé, with the climb up El Peñol and one night in Guatapé
    • Great lunches and dinners all week
  3. Day 8

    Departure

    Breakfast, goodbyes, and you head to the airport on your own schedule.

A sample shape. Exact stops and order are finalized closer to the dates.

What's included
  • Hand-picked hotels with breakfast every night of the trip
  • Airport pickup on arrival day
  • Private ground transportation every day except departure day
  • A welcome dinner on arrival night
  • Matt as your guide, 10 to 12 hours a day, every day except departure day
  • A pre-trip group video call about one week before departure
  • Entry fees: Comuna 13, El Peñol, and the Museo de Antioquia
Pricing

Choose how you'll travel

Prices are in US dollars and exclude airfare. Pay in full at booking, through secure Stripe checkout, or hold your spot with a deposit.

Solo
Solo: $3,195

One traveler, your own private room.

Couple
Couple: $5,295 for two
($2,648 per person)

Two people sharing one room, booked together in one payment.

Or pay a deposit

$500 per person ($1,000 for a couple) holds your spot, exactly like paying in full. The balance is charged automatically to the same card on November 28, 2026, 60 days before departure. We email you 7 days and 1 day before, and you can pay early anytime. The deposit option is open until November 13, 2026.

Book your spot
Questions

Before you book

What exactly is this?

A small-group, hosted trip for people seriously considering living, retiring, or spending real time in Colombia. Over 7 nights we take you beyond the tourist version of Medellín: the neighborhoods people actually live in, at different budgets, the markets, the food, and the day-to-day, with Matt as your guide.

Is this a guided tour or a real-estate pitch?

Neither. There is plenty of sightseeing, but the point is scouting: seeing what daily life actually looks and feels like. Nobody is selling you property, and we deliberately show you the honest tradeoffs.

How big is the group?

Small: 6 to 12 guests. A couple counts as two. Each van holds six guests, so a full trip uses two vans. Big enough to meet interesting people, small enough that nobody gets herded around like a tour bus.

What if not enough people book?

Each trip needs at least 6 guests. We'll confirm whether it's running by December 13, 2026. If we cancel for any reason, including not reaching the minimum, you get a full refund of everything you paid us. Not a credit.

What's the accommodation like?

Hand-picked hotels with breakfast every night, including one night in Guatapé. Book Solo for your own private room, or Couple for two people sharing one room.

I'm traveling solo. Is that fine?

Completely. A lot of people come solo. Book the Solo option and you get your own private room.

How fit do I need to be?

You should be comfortable walking two to three hours a day at a normal pace, but there is no expectation to do everything. You are always free to rest or skip an activity. If mobility is a concern, tell us when you book and we will plan around it where we can.

How do payments work?

Two ways, both through secure Stripe checkout. Pay in full when you book, or hold your spot with a $500 per person deposit ($1000 for a couple). With a deposit, the balance is charged automatically to the same card on November 28, 2026, 60 days before departure. We email you 7 days and 1 day before, and you can pay early anytime. The deposit option is open until November 13, 2026. Either way, your spot is confirmed once your payment is received and you have our written confirmation by email.

When should I book flights?

After your booking is confirmed in writing, not before. Flights: MDE (Rionegro). Please do not buy non-refundable airfare until you are confirmed.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance with trip-cancellation and medical coverage is required. It is how you protect yourself if an emergency means you have to cancel, and it covers you medically while you are here.

What if I need to cancel?

If you cancel 60 or more days before the trip, your payment converts to a credit toward a future trip. Closer to the trip, cancellation fees apply because our costs are committed. You can also transfer your spot to someone else at no charge. Full details are in the Booking Terms.

How hard is the climb up El Peñol?

It's a long staircase, taken at your own pace, with places to rest along the way. The view at the top is worth every step. If stairs are a problem for you, skip the climb and enjoy Guatapé from the bottom; nobody will hold it against you.

Is it safe?

You are with someone who lives here and knows the country, moving as a group in private transportation. We give you a practical safety briefing on arrival. Part of the whole point of coming with us is that you are not figuring it out alone.

Do I have to be on camera?

No. We film some of the trip for content, but appearing on camera is entirely optional and separate from attending. Just tell us and we will keep you out of the footage.

Full details are in the Booking Terms, Payment & Cancellation Policy. Looking for a different trip? See all scouting trips.

Small group: 6 to 12 guests. A couple counts as two. No countdown clocks and no "only 2 left" games: when you book, you pay securely through Stripe, and your spot is confirmed by email once payment completes.

Book your spot

Book Medellín, January 27 to February 3, 2027

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Payment is handled securely by Stripe on their hosted page. We never see or store your card details. Prices are in US dollars.