I’ve never really been a “hotel enthusiast” and pick my destinations based on culture, food, and nature rather than staying at a specific hotel… with the exception of Cannúa. I had read about this ecolodge deep in the Colombian countryside built with environmental sustainability at its core and felt it was the perfect weekend getaway from bustling Medellín.
Arriving at Cannúa
To reach it, you’ll have to rent a car or ask the lodge to send you a taxi for the roughly 1.5-hour drive from the city. Soon after you leave the highway you’re surrounded by rolling hills and grazing cows, and will only notice the lodge once you’re really close to it so hidden it is. The lodge’s ten rooms and eight free-standing cabañas appears to blend seamlessly into the surrounding greenery.
Rooms are modern in style with the kind of rustic furniture that immediately makes you feel comfortable. The exposed earthen bricks you see were all crafted on site from the soil of the estate itself, the furniture fashioned from materials recovered during the construction, and the artwork made by local artisans from the nearby villages.
As clean and inviting as the interior is, it’s the view that steals the show through vast windows overlooking the Valley of San Nicolas.
No one would blame you for wanting to stay in all weekend and just stare at this breathtaking panorama.
Modern & Sustainable Colombian Food
Another big draw of Cannúa is its restaurant where you’ll likely spend half of your time gorging on colorful French-Colombian cuisine adorned with a kaleidoscope of edible flowers.
Breakfasts, included in the room rate, were as exquisite as the view of the valley emerging from the morning shadow. Think homemade granola and yogurt, freshly baked breads, local cheeses and jams, fluffy eggs, and of course incredible coffee.
Even the hot chocolate was a beautiful experience (and you get a flower in there too!) as boiling water is poured over a delicious bar of house-mixed artisanal 70% ganache made with cloves and cinnamon.
Lunch and dinner let you taste a bit more the local bounty: Cannúa grows many of the ingredients used in the hotel’s own permaculture garden and forages for non-traditional mountain plants. It all looks like art, tastes like nothing you’ve ever had before, and leaves you feeling so healthy and content. For sustainability reasons, pork and beef are no-nos here, but carnivores will be pleased with the slow-cooked lamb and chicken confit. Also, you’re unlikely to leave anything on your plate, but know that the hotel’s sustainability ethos means leftovers all get composted too.
Experiences
Perch yourself at the bar or relax on the deck sipping cocktails and looking for tropical birds flying between the trees. Hanging out is highly encouraged though you’ll surely be tempted by one of the untaxing activities on offer right here. You can choose between three tasting sessions in this gorgeous setting depending on your vice: chocolate, coffee, or rum.
All are expertly-led by producers. I had the coffee session with the lodge owner himself who sources and roasts his own beans and had me try a variety of brewing methods to appreciate all the nuances of top quality coffee – a delight!
If you’re down for a bit more exercise, don’t miss the chance to venture out on a unique hike. There just happens to be a trail established by pre-Hispanic indigenous people that leads off the property.
A local guide will accompany you on the 15km hike across mountains and villages with views extending over the fertile valleys.
You’ll forage for tropical fruits…
…and less uncommon produce!
You’ll meet farmers and have a chance to glimpse at their way of life.
Growing flowers for export is huge here and large swathes of land are dedicated to hydrangeas and chrysanthemums.
There are mountains as far as the eye can see…
Towards the end of your hike, you’ll see a very familiar sight if you’ve made the day trip to Guatapé: la piedra del Peñol. The hike will indeed end at the village of Guatapé where, not to worry, a car will be waiting for you to bring you back to the lodge after your long hike!
By now you’ll be sweating and will love the last stop at a 210-foot waterfall where you can cool off for a bit.
Perfect place to dig into your traditional picnic lunch, all wrapped up in banana leaves and wonderfully filling.
A short walk brings you to Guatapé and the end of the beautiful hike. This for sure deserves a sundowner cocktail back at the lodge where the only other activity awaiting you is to savor the chef’s vibrant masterpieces to the chorus of forest frogs cranking up as the sun sets.
It totally lived up to my expectations and I was sad to leave such an authentic place that felt so luxurious and connected to its environment and community. It’s the kind of stays that’s a win-win in my book: I got to recharge (and refuel!) in stunning surroundings while also directly supporting the environmental regeneration Cannúa prioritizes.
