The Medellín Group Villa Rental Guide

Medellín is a wonderful city for traveling together: mild weather all year, excellent restaurants, easy day trips and a good supply of large private homes. Booking one for ten, fifteen or twenty people is a different exercise from booking a hotel room, though. This guide covers what to check, the rules you should expect, and the questions worth asking before you pay.

1. Start with the sleeping plan, not the headline number

A listing that says “sleeps 20” tells you very little. Ask for — or look for — a room-by-room breakdown:

• Bedrooms vs. beds: how many people share a bed, and are any “beds” sofa beds, trundles or mezzanines?
• En-suite bathrooms: for adult groups, a private bathroom per bedroom avoids morning queues and awkward sharing.
• Air conditioning: many Medellín homes rely on the spring-like climate and have none. If your group sleeps better cool, confirm A/C bedroom by bedroom.
• Room parity: if couples are splitting the cost equally, similar rooms avoid friction. If not, decide early who gets the primary suite.
• Kids and grandparents: look for cribs and high chairs, ground-floor bedrooms, and how stairs and pool areas are laid out.

2. Choose the area for your group’s style

El Poblado

The upper residential streets of El Poblado have the largest concentration of big private homes with pools, a short drive from the restaurants of Provenza. Best for groups that want privacy at home and the city’s dining scene nearby. Read our El Poblado neighborhood guide.

Laureles

Flat, walkable and residential, with houses rather than estates. Good for mid-sized groups (8–12) who want to walk to cafés and parks.

Envigado and the eastern hills

Quieter and more local to the south; the countryside around Rionegro and Llanogrande to the east, near the airport, has country houses with large gardens but longer drives into the city.

Guatapé

Many groups add a couple of nights at the reservoir, about two hours away. See our Guatapé travel guide.

3. Understand the house rules before you book

Large homes in Medellín are usually in residential neighborhoods, and the rules reflect that. Expect:

• A firm occupancy limit. The maximum number of guests is not negotiable, and visitors who are not registered are generally not allowed to stay over.
• Quiet hours and no parties. Colombia’s national police code (Law 1801 of 2016) covers noise and neighborhood coexistence, and most hosts prohibit events, DJs and sound systems. A birthday dinner is fine; a party for outside guests usually is not. If you are planning a celebration, say so up front.
• Guest registration. Lodging providers in Colombia register their guests, and foreign visitors’ details are reported to the migration authority. Expect to send a photo of each guest’s passport or ID before arrival.
• Zero tolerance for exploitation. Colombian law strictly prohibits the sexual exploitation of minors, and lodging providers are required to help prevent it. Reputable hosts will refuse entry to anyone who is not on the registration.
• Pets, smoking and damage. Check the policy on each — some homes welcome one pet with notice, most prohibit smoking indoors, and some ask for a damage deposit.

4. Know what is included — and what costs extra

Service levels vary widely between homes that look similar in photos. Ask specifically about:

• Housekeeping: daily, every few days, or only at check-out? Does it include dishes and laundry?
• Security: is there an overnight attendant, an alarm, a gated entrance?
• Pool: is it heated? At Medellín’s altitude, unheated pools can feel cool, especially in the morning.
• Chef and staff: is a cook available, at what cost, and how much notice is needed? Who buys the groceries?
• Transport: can the host arrange airport pick-up and vans? A group of 12 with luggage needs more than two sedans.
• Utilities and internet: is there a backup for power or Wi-Fi if someone needs to work?

5. Payments, deposits and cancellations

For large homes, payment is often split: a deposit to confirm the dates and the balance some weeks before arrival. Read the cancellation terms carefully — group trips change more often than couples’ trips, and deposits on large homes are frequently non-refundable. If you pay in a currency other than Colombian pesos, check whether you are charged in pesos (your bank converts) or in dollars at the host’s rate, and whether your card charges foreign-transaction fees.

Booking through a large platform and booking direct both have advantages. Platforms add their own payment protection and dispute processes; booking direct usually means fewer fees and a direct line to the people who run the home. Whichever you choose, make sure you receive a written confirmation with dates, guest count, total price, payment schedule and cancellation terms.

6. Plan arrival day

Most international flights land at José María Córdova (MDE) in Rionegro, 45–60 minutes from El Poblado. Coordinate flight times so the group arrives in one or two waves, and send the host your arrival times and passenger list. Check-in is often mid-afternoon; if your flights land early, ask about luggage drop-off or plan a lunch on the way. A welcome orientation — Wi-Fi, appliances, pool, emergency contacts — saves a lot of questions later.

Our homes for groups

• Villa Bonita Estate — El Poblado. Up to 19 guests in eight en-suite bedrooms with A/C, heated pool and jacuzzi, two Turkish-style steam rooms, daily housekeeping and overnight security included. Partner private chef available on request.
• Casa Bonita — Laureles. Up to 10 guests in five bedrooms, open-air jacuzzi, A/C in four bedrooms, walkable to cafés and parks.
• Vista Bonita — Guatapé. Up to 8 guests in three bedrooms, private hot tub and mountain views, for the lake part of your trip.

Questions about your group’s plan? Message us on WhatsApp or write to hola@clickbnb.io.