The short answer: stay in El Poblado, and in El Poblado, stay in Barrio Manila. It is the quiet, leafy corner of the neighbourhood, close enough to Provenza for a night out and far enough from it to sleep. Vivus La Martina, a boutique hotel of 20 rooms, is on Calle 13 in the middle of it.
What a remote worker needs
A place to stay for two or three weeks has to do three jobs at once. It has to be comfortable enough to live in, reliable enough to work from, and social enough that you meet people. Most places do one or two.
- A proper desk in the room, and a quiet place for the calls you cannot lose
- Somewhere to work that is not your bed: a café, a rooftop, a coworking desk
- People around when you want them, and privacy when you do not
- Someone who knows the city and answers at 3am
Why Barrio Manila
El Poblado is the easiest part of Medellín to land in. Manila is the calm side of it: tree-lined streets, local cafés, and Provenza's restaurants and nightlife close by without being under your window. Laureles makes a good afternoon out when you want more Spanish and a different rhythm.
How Vivus La Martina fits
Every stay includes coworking. In the house there are three more places to work: your room, the rooftop, and Nuestro Coffee and Bakery at street level, open every day from 7am to 5pm. The rooftop has a jacuzzi and a bar, and the front desk is staffed around the clock.
The community is the part that is hard to find elsewhere. Every Tuesday there is a pre-party before Gringo Tuesdays, the city's big language exchange. Every Saturday there is a BBQ with a house DJ, then a night out together. The Vivus members club gives you perks at partner bars, clubs and cafés across the city.
Why two or three weeks
Long enough to keep your full work routine from day one, and still have time for the city, the language and the people. That is the idea behind Vivus: living without sacrifices.
See the rooms, the events and the Manila map, or book your stay.