A restful stopping point on the photo tour  in Columbia last March was an Ecco Lodge called Cannúa Ecolodge. It was a  change of pace,  a chance to reset the energy level between busy urban destinations. Cannúa Lodge is nestled in an area about 50 miles from Medellin and at times made me think of Italy. 

So, what’s an Ecco lodge?

According to AI on google “A ecolodge is a type of ecotourism accommodation, usually in a natural environment, that is designed to minimize its impact on the surrounding ecosystem through sustainable practices like using renewable energy, conserving water, and reducing waste. Unlike standard hotels, ecolodges often serve to support local communities by employing local people, preserving cultural heritage, and educating guests about conservation efforts. 

According to my internet research about Cannúa Ecolodge, “Three young entrepreneurs identified a gap in the market and decided they wanted to create a boutique eco-lodge centered on sustainable development and permaculture design in the protected forests of Antioquia in Colombia’s Central Andes.”

It was delightful. 

Cannúa Ecolodge

Guests could visit the  spa. Enjoy quiet time. The Lodge offered  excursions, including birding, hiking, and coffee and chocolate tasting. The interior was very open, in fact there was no real front door. The climate is so mild in this part of Columbia that no enclosure was needed. I felt very connected to nature. Photography tours can be pretty intense so this venue was a lovely respite.

I enjoyed a long walk in the area photographing the interesting textures and patterns of the fields playing with  a multiple exposure or two.

La Bohemia

I found this house named La Bohemia creative and fun to photograph. I would love to meet the owners and  tour the interior. What do you think it like?

On our way to Medellin, we stopped in this charming village El Retiro for lunch on  a leisurely Sunday afternoon.  I enjoyed the art work in our restaurant, the colorful buildings and the people watching.  My  sense is that  we  experienced  an  authentic  Columbian  village, not  changed  and  adapted  for  tourists. What  a  delight.

 Next up: Bogata. Do join me every other Monday on DesignDestinations.org for more travels around the world. If you’d like to receive email updates about new posts, do sign up on the right hand column of this page.