Medellín is one of those cities people either become obsessed with or completely misunderstand. Some travelers arrive expecting a Narcos theme park with salsa music. Others show up expecting a digital nomad utopia where everyone drinks $6 cold brew while discussing passive income beside a rooftop infinity pool. The truth sits somewhere in the middle.

There’s a moment that happens to a lot of people in Medellín. You land in El Poblado because every blog, influencer, and YouTube thumbnail tells you to. You spend three days drinking overpriced cocktails under neon signs while someone from Ohio explains “the real Colombia” to another tourist from Germany. Eventually you realize you crossed an ocean just to sit in a district that feels like a Miami startup conference with reggaeton.