I am extra excited about this blog by Ayla. After all, she is a huge travel fan and we know each other from when we both lived in Valencia for a while. We lived there in the same coliving in the Cabanyal neighborhood. Together with her boyfriend Matthias, she had come to Spain by motorcycle. To be envied! This couple has already made many beautiful trips and regularly combine it with work. Hi, I’m Ayla! As a part-time digital nomad and founder of Boldly Branded NL, a marketing agency that supports entrepreneurs – specifically coaches and therapists – in the strategic use of Instagram, I have the opportunity to combine traveling with my work. And I am all too happy to do so! Last fall, my boyfriend and I packed our carry-on backpacks for our first digital nomad adventure outside of Europe. In three months we discovered three countries in Latin America: Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala. In three parts, I am happy to share my experiences and tips with you, starting with Colombia.
My choice of remote working
My love of travel was in there from an early age; as a child I fantasized about living abroad. Now I live in Vienna, a place that truly feels like my home. But I’ve learned that “home” doesn’t have to be tied to one place. Similarly, I have lived in Helsinki, Valencia and Malta, where I also feel at home. These experiences made me realize that I don’t want to be completely tied to one place. This is why I decided to start my own remote company, so that I have the freedom to live and work wherever and whenever I want. Whether that’s a month in Spain or in Japan, it’s all possible.
The start of our Colombian adventure
Colombia has been on my list for some time, and rightly so: it is a country with a rich culture and beautiful nature. Truly something to go and see and experience for yourself. Our Colombia adventure began during the holidays in Medellín, which quickly became my favorite destination for digital nomads. We stayed in Laureles, a laid-back neighborhood full of cozy eateries and coworking spaces. Pergamino quickly became our go-to cafe. The perfect place to flip open your laptop and spend a few productive hours working, often combined with a delicious brunch! Since we weren’t exactly doing slow travel, my workdays looked different than back home in Vienna. I usually worked in the mornings and we kept afternoons free for fun things. This also worked out well with the time difference, since it was evening for my clients in Europe. Before leaving, I lightened my workload a bit so that this would also be feasible. Something I can definitely recommend when you are on the road so much. Many digital nomads choose slow travel for a reason! Something to think about if you are considering this lifestyle as well.
Travel is full of ups & downs
From Medellín, we traveled on to northern Colombia. Here we explored Cartagena, Santa Marta, Minca and even spent a night in a hammock in the national park. A very different experience from Medellín and not entirely without setbacks either. Arriving in Cartagena, my friend got sick, which meant we didn’t see much more than the inside of our room for a week. Our abode also turned out to be less comfortable than hoped, in the middle of a somewhat unsavory neighborhood that already had me wary during the day and without a window for fresh air. At such times we did miss the comfort of our home for a while. It wasn’t all bad though, we still managed to do some fun things and luckily the adventure wasn’t over yet!
A short stop in the salsa city: Cali
Our next stop was Cali, the salsa capital of the world, located in southwestern Colombia. Here we stayed just two nights, passing through on our way to Salento. It’s a fun city with a rawer edge. I personally like that because you see a lot more of the real culture. We did stay in the boho neighborhood of San Antonio for safety. A colorful hotspot for expats and digital nomads!
Tranquility in the mountains of Salento
Salento was a real breath of fresh air. This bustling mountain town had everything: the peace and quiet we needed, cozy restaurants and top Airbnbs that were perfect places to work. Ideal for us digital nomads! In Salento, we left our schedule open, which gave room for spontaneity. We had planned to maybe visit another place between Salento and Bogotá, but since Salento felt so good and we were ready for some more routine, we decided to stay longer. We did not regret this for a moment!
The last stop in Colombia: Bogota
And before we knew it, we were already at the end of our Colombian itinerary: Bogotá. This metropolis is really not to be missed. Whether you like sniffing culture, going out or exercising in nature, Bogotá has it all. Ideal for those who want to stay a little longer. Just keep in mind that Bogotá is a mega big city, so research well where best to stay. My recommendations are the northern part of Chapinero or La Candelaria.
My tips for Colombia
Looking back on my time in Colombia, I learned a lot. Based on that, I am happy to share some tips for those considering this, or a similar, trip:
- Schedule rest days: Traveling alone can be exhausting; consider if you’re also working. Allow yourself time to take a break every once in a while as well. Possibly on a beautiful beach in the Colombian Caribbean?
- Be flexible with your itinerary: Leave room for spontaneous decisions. This can enrich your experience and bring you to places you might otherwise have missed.
- Book the right accommodation: A good workplace is worth its weight in gold. Get accommodations with working wifi and space to work. And no, the bed doesn’t count. We stayed mostly in Airbnbs, but also consider colivings – a cozy setting to get to know other remote workers and at least the work set-up can’t go wrong!
- Buy a local sim card: You don’t want to depend on wonky wifi, and in Colombia sim cards are a bargain. Purchase one as soon as you can, but skip the airport prices – it’s much cheaper out there.
Our trip through Colombia was an unforgettable experience, filled with a few setbacks, but mostly fantastic moments! For anyone considering a trip to Latin America, I can’t recommend it enough. If you have any questions about our trip, want to know more about the life of a part-time digital nomad or simply want to chat, you can always send me a message on Instagram. Meanwhile, part 2 of my story has also been published. In it I tell about my month of remote work in Mexico.
