I had such a great stay at Balu !
The people and the place were amazing, making it feel like an home rather than just a place to stay.
The common spaces and rooms were beautiful and comfortable, but what really made the difference were Diana and Joe. They’re so kind, welcoming, and always happy to help, whether it’s something in the house or just advice about the city.
Couldn’t recommend this place more. I’ll definitely miss it!
We loved staying at Balu, our trip wouldn’t have been the same had we not stayed there because we met so many lovely people and bonded so quickly. Also love that it’s always clean and they clean your room once a week. Joe & Diana are lovely hosts and make a big effort to make sure everything runs smoothly.
If you're in Medellín for a couple of weeks or longer, and are looking for a co-living setup, Balu is THE place!.
Location: Laureles is brilliant, and the house is perfectly located just off La 70 (the main street). Not too close that it's noisy, but near enough to explore all of the great restaurants, bars, salsa venues easily. All sorts of amenities within walking distance, and good transport links to the rest of the city.
Accommodation: Spacious rooms, perfect for making it feel your own space (i.e. not like a hotel/hostel!). The house is really clean and everyone takes great care of it - it also really feels like a 'home', with shared living space, roof terrace and kitchen. Diana and Joe are properly attentive, caring and knowledgable hosts who are clearly really proud of Balu and make every effort to ensure the people living there get to know each other and aren't just passing strangers who move in and out. If you need anything, they are on hand to help out.
Extras: When you move in you are added to their WhatsApp community which has all sorts of amazing things going on. Run clubs, hiking trips, language exchanges, events, salsa, food recommendations, volleyball, etc! I arrived into Medellín completely solo and it was the perfect way to meet Colombians as well as get to know other foreigners who are living/working in Medellín.
I stayed here in September/October 2025, but ended up staying in Medellín for over 6 months (I had pre-arranged my own apartment) but still felt part of Balu because of the friends I made through these groups! I wish I could have stayed longer.
Gracias Joe & Diana y hasta luego :)
I’ve stayed at Balu multiple times since I’ve been coming to Colombia & it’s been one of my best choices since traveling. The house is beautiful, clean & felt right at home. A great base for remote work as well, desks in all
the rooms, perfect WiFi & most people staying there were also working remote so everyone is on the same vibe. Joe & Diana do an incredible job of making everyone feel welcome and connected. Balu gave me friends & connections that I’ve kept for years. 10/10 , you can tell the effort and care that Joe and Diana put into this to make it a home
I can't imagine there is a better place in Medellin for Digital nomads! Amazing! If you work online or are looking to spend longer in Medellin then Balu Coliving is perfect. Great wifi and internet cable in your bedroom where there's a good sized desk and lovely chair. I also liked to work on the balcony and hear the birds tweet in tune with the hectic city life. Joe and Diana are brilliant and helped me out specifically when I needed help extending my tourist visa! Also they organised lovely gatherings for the birthdays of the guests and all of us always went. We all got on really well and most of us extended because we didn't want to leave the community we had built. Medellin is amazing and this is definitely somewhere where I'd recommend. I've worked remotely for many years and haven't come across a place where I felt so comfortable, safe and welcome than Balu Coliving. I love to join the Run Club and other events that Joe and Diana organise around the city. Always safe, nice people and I met some great friends.
I had a really great time staying in Balu for 1 month! The apartment is clean and well organized, people are very respectful and Diana and Joe are amazing hosts!
Staying at Balu truly made my Medellin experience so special and memorable. The house itself is lovely and super comfortable, and I got lucky to meet a bunch of nice people there. But what really made the difference is how invested Diana and Joe are, they really take care of you and it made a huge difference feeling like I had their support and help if needed. It didn't feel like a big business being run for profit, Balu really came to feel like home. Plus they're fun people to hang out with! Thanks so much for such a great stay xx
I’ve spent eight years as a digital nomad and backpacker, and in that time, Balu has consistently ranked among the best places I’ve experienced. They offer high-quality accommodation at fair prices in a prime Laurelles location. The environment strikes a great balance: it’s clean and respectful for work during the day, yet lively enough in the evenings to connect with fellow nomads over a beer or at a dance class. The owners are exceptionally friendly and always go the extra mile to help. I highly recommend Balu above any other Coliving in Medellín.
