Medellín, Colombia

Goodbye Colombia, Our Wild Ride Through Medellín

Why Medellín? Mountains, Malls & A Mix of Everything

We’d heard so much about Medellín—this huge, lively city nestled deep within the Andes Mountains—and we were curious to see what all the hype was about. I’m a sucker for mountains, and Tilly was excited by the idea of city life and shopping malls, so it seemed like a win-win for our travel trio.

In true traveller style, we decided to take an overnight bus from the Caribbean coast to get there. About 10 hours in total, with reclining seats (a small but sweet luxury!). The real magic moment? Waking up at sunrise, looking out the window, and showing Tilly the Andes Mountains. I just sat there saying, “Oh my gosh… you learn about these in school—but we’re actually IN them!”

That moment summed it all up: why we’re doing this. Travelling, learning, and living outside the ordinary box of school, work, and routine. It was one of those little life pauses that fills your heart and makes the tough bits worth it.

Where We Stayed – Peaceful Envigado

When we arrived in Medellín, we chose to stay in a quieter area just outside the city called Envigado. We’d heard it was safer and more family-friendly, and that definitely felt true. The coffee shops, bars, gyms, and eateries were all within walking distance, and the vibe was chill—less chaos, more calm.

But I’ll be honest, from the moment we arrived, something in my gut felt... off. There was just this uneasy feeling in the city itself—especially when we sat in traffic and watched things unfold from the backseat. I always follow my intuition, and mine was whispering that we needed to stay aware and alert here.

Trying to Settle Down

Despite the edgy vibe, we did try to slow things down a little. We’d been on the go for months, and we were starting to feel it. We even considered staying in Medellín for four weeks—the gym was great, the food was delicious, and the malls were massive (Tilly loved browsing, and Joe even got his teeth corrected and whitened, which made him smile extrabright!).

We’d talk about how this could be a good place to pause for a bit. But the tension never really eased.

New teeth (I'm still trying to get used to them 😅)

Girls Just Wanna Feel Safe…

One thing that started to weigh heavy was the lack of freedom for me and Tilly. Across much of our journey, we didn’t feel safe going out alone—especially after dark. The only places we ever felt okay doing that were Boquete (Panama), Lake Atitlán (Guatemala) and El Salvador (which felt surprisingly safe!). But Medellín? Definitely not.

As a white British family, we stood out, and we felt it. Especially in the evenings—we wouldn’t walk anywhere, let alone with shopping bags, because it felt like you were being watched. We stuck to Ubers only, and even then, we were always on high alert.

The Incident That Changed Everything

The final straw came after a trip to the shopping mall. We were heading back to our accommodation in an Uber when something happened that completely shook us up. (If you've watched our YouTube, you’ll know the details.)

It was one of those moments that clings to your soul—you can’t shake it off. And in that instant, I knew: we were done.

Joe sorting out plans!

We’d spent six months living out of bags, constantly alert, without true personal space, and we were tired. Joe was tired of being our full-time security guard, and I could see it was wearing on all of us. Travel is meant to be freedom, not constant fight-or-flight mode. Our life savings were disappearing, and we weren’t even having fun anymore.

We called friends and family that night, told them what had happened, and everyone agreed: get out of there. Now.

A Beautiful Goodbye – A Skateboard, A Smile & a Moment of Kindness

Before we left, we had one last mission.

We had promised ourselves that when we hit 2,000 subscribers on YouTube, we’d do something kind for someone else—a way to give back and spread a little light during our travels. Joe had the idea to buy a brand-new skateboard and gift it to a kid who looked like they’d really appreciate it—just like he would have when he was younger.

We headed to a local skatepark, and it didn’t take long before we found the perfect moment. A young lad was skating on a clearly broken board—it was obvious it was holding him back. Joe leapt into action and handed him the brand-new board. The boy's face lit up as he told us he was competing for his school in just a week, and really needed a new skateboard. The universe had totally lined it up.

That simple moment gave us all the feels. After everything we’d been through, to leave Colombia on such a positive and heartfelt note reminded us exactly why we travel—to connect, to share, to leave something behind beyond just footprints.

From Colombia to Southeast Asia – A Bold Leap

I didn’t want to go back to the UK. I’m too determined to give up, and I knew we just needed a fresh start. So what did I do?

I booked six flights across three days and moved our family to Southeast Asia.

Yep. Just like that.

Was it emotional? Absolutely. But no regrets. We came to Central and South America to explore for ourselves, to learn, to see the truth beyond the brochures. And we did that. Now it’s time for the next chapter—with smiles on our faces and peace in our hearts.

Final Thoughts – Travel Teaches You Everything

Medellín was beautiful, challenging, inspiring, and tough all at once. We made memories, had hard conversations, and got honest with ourselves about what kind of life we want to live.

And now? We’re in Asia, breathing new air, feeling safe, and ready to keep chasing the dream—of freedom, joy, and maybe even finding our forever home somewhere along the way.

Let’s go!!