Learn Spanish in Colombia

Immerse yourself in the heart of Spanish culture

About Medellín Eco Hostel

Eco hostel farm school is a small Spanish, yoga and organic farming center founded by me: Paola Perez in 2012 and located the colorful town of Guatapé in the beautiful countryside of Antioquia.

I started as a small farm keen to learn, teach and grow as much CLEAN food as possible with volunteers around the world. By coincidence, the volunteers asked to be taught Spanish and I was not a Spanish teacher or a teacher at all. My farm was designed to encourage innovative and sustainable lifestyle techniques but, the volunteers convinced me that I was able to teach multiples teachings, I took the risk and started to teach Spanish. With time, I loved teaching and teaching and teaching.

We offer lessons in both Spanish and English as I thought: “We all deserve to be bilingual.” Especially now that Colombia is in the world´s eyes.

This Spanish practice detox week is a quality program offered to those who knows intermediate or advanced Spanish in a charming countryside with breathtaking views of the mountains, vegan food and the vegetable garden. It is an opportunity to spend time practicing while hiking and live in a rural Eco Hostel near the waterfalls and in the beautiful landscape of Guatapé.

Why Learn Spanish in Colombia

Discover the magic of learning Spanish in the heart of Colombia, nestled in the picturesque town of Guatapé. Known for its vibrant colors and breathtaking natural beauty, Guatapé provides an idyllic backdrop for an immersive language learning experience. Here, in this serene yet lively locale, Spanish is not just a subject to be studied; it’s a living language that resonates with the rhythms of daily Colombian life. Our school embraces this ethos, offering a unique opportunity to absorb Spanish through structured lessons and the rich tapestry of local culture and traditions. Imagine learning Spanish as you wander past brightly painted buildings, engage with friendly locals, and explore the lush landscapes that make Guatapé a jewel of Colombia.

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What our students are saying

“The entire experience at the farm was wonderful. Paola creates an atmosphere with her energy, excitement, and expectations for everyone who is staying in this micro-community, whether for a day or a few weeks. It was really impressive how fast everyone started functioning like a family. The peaceful setting combined with delicious meals consumed with the group at every meal really built relationships a lot faster than at most other places I’ve stayed. Paola is very passionate and disciplined about her students learning and about living true to her beliefs, which makes her energy and perspective very contagious. Paola helped set up a variety of fun excursions around Gautape, which is a beautiful town and full of activities for everyone; great little cafes, street food, friendly people (language exchanges), boat tours, hiking, rock climbing, quiet strolls around town, etc etc I enjoyed the farm so much it made it hard to go out and partake in the rest of the activities.

In just one short week at the farm, I have been deeply impacted and I will carry a new perspective on how I live my daily life.”

– Brian Bauer

“My girlfriend and I arrived in Colombia and realized that we were woefully unprepared to communicate in Spanish. Studying at the eco-hostel was by far the best thing that we did.

Classes run for 2 hours every day, you share all your meals with your teacher and fellow classmates and you can enjoy the beautiful mountains, gardens, and nature surrounding the home. Paola, the owner, and teacher, is a warm and friendly person who greets you with a hug and always has a smile on her face, and will make your time staying there so much better.

We are now completely equipped to communicate everything we need in Spanish, have a large vocabulary that is growing every day, and can even have some conversations in Spanish. We learned much more than ‘just the basics’, and are so thankful for it.

Thank you everybody at the finca for a beautiful and enriching experience!

Love Josh + Ish xoxo”

– Joshua Sharma

“We went to Eco Hostel to get some Spanish under our belts and recover after a rough spot during our travels.

The setting is fantastic. In the country, you can have breakfast outside and watch the beautiful birds come to feed. The town is roughly a half-hour walk and it is a really great wee place! The buildings are fantastically decorated and there are some nice spots to have a coffee or a beer and take in the surroundings.

The Spanish course is intense. It would probably pay to get some Spanish basics down before you start. There was a lot of grammar and not any travel-specific stuff. But I learned a lot in the time I was there, and feel like I have been given a good foundation to build on during my travels!

The food is good, everyone takes turns cooking and washing up, which makes the place feel like home. Paola is a wonderful host who is welcoming and warm.

We had a great two weeks. When the weather is hot during the day there are some good swimming spots, including a weird water park. La Piedra has a great view from the top and is an easy trip.

Thanks Paola!”

– Kelly Hoskin

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Our full immersion learning experience includes:

Practicing group exchange with a Spanish speaking native people in town
Conversational Spanish through hiking for 3 hours 9 am to 12 pm Monday to Thursday
Every day, hiking to the mountains, viewpoints, waterfalls, and walking tour in Guatape to practice Spanish
Yoga and meditation Monday to Friday 1 hour and 30 minutes
An opportunity to learn about simple sustainable living practices, life in the countryside, and best practices for a well-balanced, healthy, vegan diet.
Lodging & sleeping accommodations at Eco Hostel (tranquil and quiet place for one week). All included
Plant-based vegan meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner for one week) GLUTTEN FREE!!
IF YOU NEED GRAMMAR CLASSES, LET US KNOW TO ORGANIZE A GRAMMAR COURSE FOR YOU PRIVATE OR IN GROUP

Prices

One week ( from Sunday dinner to Friday after breakfast)

Spanish Practice, Hiking, Yoga, and Meditation: $250 USD per person
Spanish Practice, Grammar Course, Hiking, Yoga, and Meditation: $300 USD per person

Private rooms available

IF YOU NEED GRAMMAR CLASSES, LET US KNOW TO ORGANIZE A GRAMMAR COURSE FOR YOU PRIVATE OR IN GROUP

Extra Activities:

Vegan Cooking & Dessert course: $50 USD
Salsa Therapy: $40 USD
Thai massage: $35 USD
Climbing the Rock: $60 USD
Cacao tour: $40 USD
Coffee tour: $20 USD
Boat tour: $20 USD

Climbing the Rock, Coffee and Cacao tours on Fridays

Daily Schedule

6:30 am to 8:00 am Yoga and Meditation

8:00 am to 9:00 am Breakfast

9:00 am to 12:00 pm Hike & Spanish Practice

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm lunch

1:00 pm Grammar course

2:00 pm Thai massage

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Salsa Therapy

5:00 am to 7:00 pm Vegan cooking class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Dinner

Climbing the rock- Coffee and cacao tour on Fridays

Lodging Information for Students

Accommodation:
Is provided in one of the shared sleeping areas (with max 3 students per room NO BUNK BEDS). We supply sheets, pillowcases and blankets.

Private rooms are available. Email us at ecohostelmedellin@gmail.com or send us a WhatsApp for pricing.

Food:
(breakfast, lunch, and dinner) is fully plant-based vegan (very tasty and natural). The local diet is heavy on rice, beans, chickpeas, lentils, potatoes, yuca (cassava), plantains, corn, and plenty of vegetables from the garden.

GLUTTEN FREE!!

Eco Hostel is a fully PLANT-BASED Vegan establishment. This means you can take this as an opportunity to detox your body for 1 or 2 weeks please take our vegan cooking course for learning about nutrition

For more information about the Eco Hostel, the setting, and sleeping arrangements please send us an email: ecohostelmedellin@gmail.com

Schedule of Classes
To see the start dates of all classes offered & to check availability, please send us an email to ecohostelmedellin@gmail.com

Payment
You must pay a deposit in advance to reserve your spot. The remainder of the tuition fee will be accepted upon arrival in Colombian pesos ONLY.

Cancellation Policy
A cancellation fee will be applied for any changes or cancellations. Please understand that since there is limited space, when you reserve a spot, it prevents another student from participating and we need to turn folks away. So cancellations affect various folks.

The $100 USD deposit will not be refunded in case you decide not to assist to the course.

Directions to the hostel

Coming to Eco Hostel when in Guatapé

Take a moto taxi/ motochiva or tuc tuc. $12,000 cop max. (please ask for the Price before taking the transportation). Tell them to take you to La escuela de Español (They know me as spanish school).

Coming from Medellin to Guatapé

To/From Medellín: Direct buses from Medellín leave from the Terminal del Norte (directly connected to the Caribe Metro Station), passing through El Peñol and the entrance to La Piedra on the way to Guatapé (about two hours).

Return buses to Medellín fill up quickly on weekends – buy your ticket in advance

Coming from Airport to Guatapé

You can take a bus from the airport that goes to Medellin and ask the driver to leave you at the bridge Medellin-Bogota highway–(Puente de la autopista Medellin-Bogota)

Go under the bridge and when you at the highway please wait for the bus that says ‘ Guatape or San Rafael.

We look forward to meeting you.

**To participate in any of our courses or for lodging at the Eco Hostel, you must receive a confirmation in advance. Same day reservations are possible, only if we have available spaces. Please make sure to receive a confirmation via email or phone before heading our way.

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