My time here was excellent. What made it so exceptional were undoubtedly the hosts. Thanks to their tailor-made itinerary, I experienced the Antioquian pueblos and peoples—including the city of Medellin—in a manner that only a local with access to the rich history, culture, and “paisa” Spanish of this land would. Indeed, I probably would not have experienced this beautiful land to the extent that I did, acquired new friends, and eaten remarkably delicious food if not for the extremely attentive, kind, and helpful hosts.
So remarkable were my first few days that I decided to extend my stay for several more days. Even though we added more destinations to the original itinerary, there were still a lot more places to explore. Next time I visit (hopefully soon!), I will stay for a lot longer than a week.
While tailor-made itineraries ensures that one explores prominent and lesser-known places in the gorgeous land of Antioquia, it also helps to arrive well-informed about traveling and other general expenses, so that one can properly negotiate prices. Most things in Colombia will be inexpensive for your average traveler using US or European currency, but it is also only normal that these travelers get charged a lot more than a resident of Antioquia.
In short, I was fortunate to have found this beautifully decorated hotel, ran by exceptional hosts, in the middle of Rionegro. If your plans and budget allow, consider staying here for longer than a week.