Los Patios Hostel Medellin Colombia
Update 2020: Los Patios Hostel in Medellin Colombia is still accepting reservations despite the ongoing pandemic and limit to travel in South America. At this time, international flights and maritime travel to Colombia remain closed. However, be sure to check here while planning your trip to Medellin and Colombia for the latest updates as the situation is always changing. The good news is, that Los Patios Hostel is offering a really AWESOME deal on bookings. For the entire year of 2020, they are offering 25% off all bookings (Use Promo Code: LOVEPATIOS) AND all bookings are flexible. Essentially, book now and pay later when you are able to travel to Medellin again.
Throughout our travels, we've slept in hundreds of beds, made ourselves at home in a variety of hotels and hostel rooms for a few nights, and tried out many different forms of hospitality. At several points along the way, we've asked each other one question -- what makes a hotel or hostel memorable? Is it a party hostel? Do you prefer a dorm room or a private room? Is it free wifi or a shared kitchen? We are here to tell you, most of that doesn't matter when it comes to finding the coolest hostel that you will remember years down the line. After years of long-term travel, it all comes down to one factor, an experience.
An experience hostel is one of the latest trends in hospitality around the world and is popping up more and more across South America. It is changing the way people travel, especially for the backpacker crowd. Breanne and I will be the first to admit we have developed a habit of not planning in advance. We no longer research ahead of time for tours, restaurants, forms of transportation, or things to do in a destination. It can be downright time-consuming and exhausting. Our laziness (or whatever you want to call it) was a perfect match with Los Patios Hostel in El Poblado, Medellin. We spent only three nights at the Medellin hostel, but we were immersed in Colombian culture and filled our brains with knowledge about the city. This Medellin hostel is located perfectly in one of the trendiest neighborhoods and is very close to the metro station -- a major hub for exploring beyond the backpacker haven.
From the minute we checked in, we were given a schedule of upcoming events. There truly is something for everyone from salsa dancing lessons, bar hopping, yoga, art exhibitions, bicycle tours, and more. We chose to participate in early morning yoga on the rooftop, salsa lessons (you should've seen my dance moves), a cooking experience, art night, and a city tour through Capture Colombia Tours. This is truly the best off all worlds whether you are looking for a party hostel or not there is something for every type of traveler. To say we were busy would be an understatement! It's obvious that the friendly staff work day and night to ensure that their guests have the best experience at Los Patios and leave reminiscing about the coolest hostel of their trip.
The city tour with Capture Colombia Tours through this Medellin hostel was one of the highlights for us. Sara, the curator, took us out and about for nearly six hours. The tour was unique in that it was largely focused around transportation and the tour even begins at the metro station nearby. Medellin has an incredible public transportation system with a metro station in just about every neighborhood. We rode the metro, the tram, and one of the city's many cable cars. Sara provided personal stories and insight into the city as we wandered through the lively city on a cloudy morning. We tasted fresh fruits at the local market, learned about the flower festival, visited Museo Casa de la Memoria (violence museum), and discussed the ways in which Medellin is overcoming its dark past.
The hostel itself is beautifully designed with a thoughtful theme offering both private room and dorm room options. It is a perfect hybrid of a party hostel and boutique hostel mixed which means it is great for every type of backpacker. The rooms themselves are very distanced from the shared lounge and rooftop bar which means you won't be bothered by whatever is going on at the hostel. Each floor in their buildings (Los Patios is comprised of two buildings across the street from one another) have a different Colombian theme. For example, the second floor may showcase the jungle of Colombia while the fourth floor highlights the beaches. There are many signs around the boutique hostel that allow their guests to read more about Colombia, the city of Medellin, and everything it has to offer. We found this to be both fun and educational!
Each building has a large rooftop bar (a backpacker dream), a shared lounge space, and excellent wifi (seriously the fastest free wifi we've had in South America)! This made blogging on the rooftop with a cocktail in hand very enjoyable. Downstairs, the hostel has ping pong tables, pool tables, a large kitchen, and free coffee all day.
Whether you are looking for a party hostel, a boutique hostel, a private room, or a dorm room, Los Patios is the best hostel in Medellin Colombia, we absolutely recommend it. Due to the fact that it is an experience hostel you won't have to do anything but show up and experience the beautiful city of Medellin. Tell the owner, Daniel, and the friendly staff, hi from The Love & Adventure!
Be sure to check out our full guide on Medellin here and check out our other South America content!
For love & adventure,
d