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Italy
A humble person who makes you feel at home, available to meet any requests and needs. Creative and a supporter of "trueque," or the exchange of organic and artisanal products.
7 months ago
What a lovely message! 💛 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us these recommendations; we receive them with a lot of affection.
The lights on the stairs seem very important to us and we will keep them in mind. And we also love the idea of organizing more tours and experiences so that those who come can get to know Santa Elena better and all the beauty around it. 🌿
Thank you for helping us keep improving La Granja.
A big hug from the mountain.
United States
Juan is a really nice guy who is very knowledgeable in permaculture. Making arepas and bartering them in the market was a true local experience. However the internet was broken when I got there which was pretty important
about 1 month ago
Benjamin, thank you very much for sharing your experience! 💛 We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed learning about permaculture and living something so ours as making arepas for barter, or as we say, “the day without money.” Those are the moments we most enjoy sharing at La Granja.
We’re very sorry about the internet issue and we appreciate you mentioning it; we’re continuing to improve. Thank you for taking a piece of this mountain with you. 🌿
A hug from Santa Elena, La Granja.
Switzerland
Juan is very kind and open hearted. We had a very fun and interesting experience. But we want to emphasize that in our opinion it is not really a permaculture. The farm is a bit messy, but our private room + bathroom were very clean. The work for us consisted of: making Arepas from scratch on the first day, exchanging them on the market in Medellin on the second and working in the greenhouse. The community there really depends on the volunteers and people who rent a room there. We recommend this host, if the permaculture aspect is not too important for you. Thank you Juan😊
6 months ago
Thank you very much for sharing your experience! 💛 We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the days at La Granja and the exchange with our community.
We just want to kindly clarify that we do work with permaculture. 🌿 A living farm is not always seen as “orderly” in the traditional sense; permaculture aims to work with natural cycles, utilize resources, and create sustainable systems.
Thank you for coming, helping, and sharing.
A big hug from Santa Elena, La Granja.
United Kingdom
Juan provided us with a lovely place to stay and with good quality home cooked food. The tasks were varied and different each day and the area was very nice for when we had free time to relax.
I sometimes found it difficult to communicate with Juan this is mainly because of my poor Spanish but I would recommend this more to people with better Spanish levels
9 months ago
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 💛 We're glad to hear that you enjoyed homemade food, the different tasks each day, and the tranquility of Santa Elena to rest and get to know the area. 🌿
We know that language can sometimes be a challenge, but it is also part of meeting, learning, and sharing across cultures. We will keep looking for ways to make communication easier for everyone.
Thank you for being part of La Granja. It will always be your home around here!
United Kingdom
The tasks were varied, we helped to use materials Juan had available to improve the cabins and develop the space for a new cabin. We also made arepas from scratch which we took into Medellin to trade for fresh produce. The breakfast and lunch provided were tasty and showcased local meals and ingredients well. It was a true Spanish immersion so it would help to brush up on specific construction vocabulary beforehand. The accommodation was private and included a comfy bed. The bathroom was modern and relatively private but didn't have hot water yet, this was only available in Juan's bathroom.
9 months ago
United States
Honestly my experience was limited since i spent most of it recovering from an illness :(( but Juan was largely nice about that! it is quite a lot colder in Santa Elena than Medellín or other parts of Colombia so check the weather and bring warm clothes
over 1 year ago
United Kingdom
I really enjoyed my stay at Juan del Bosque. I felt very welcomed into the community there - even with my very basic Spanish. Juan taught me some Spanish through sharing songs in Spanish and teaching me the meanings of the lyrics. We spent some evenings singing with the guitar which was really fun and a unique way to learn! We also went to the market where Juan exchanged churros for food - I couldn't believe how much food he managed to exchange! It was a great experience, the tasks were sometimes challenging but he was flexible in when these were completed in the day.
over 1 year ago
Luxembourg
I truly enjoyed my stay at the Granja Juan del Bosque. Juan is a very warm, welcoming and adaptable host that cares for your well-being and likes to teach spanish. Work is mostly easy and laid-back but can be physical at times. The farm is situated in a really peaceful and quiet environment and you'll meet many locals of the community surrounding the farm and get a unique opportunity to learn about the culture and their way of life, which is an extremely enriching experience. The meals are delicious, traditional and authentic as most ingredients come directly from the farm.
over 1 year ago
Canada
Our host met us at the airport and had arranged our 45 minute drive. I should have mentioned to him that I get motion sickness on windy roads. The views were amazing and the way to Juan's property along a steep incline was memorable. It's best to be fit to volunteer there. I love the creativity involved in using local materials and reusing everything, thanks to Juan. I also accompanied him on his barter day where he traded bread and baked goods for fresh market produce. That was awesome!
over 1 year ago
Canada
Juan is an extraordinary guy. His place is very rustic but quite functional. He has a vegetable garden, a green house and several chickens and roosters, and a cat. Juan gave us the chore of renovating the cabin we were staying in with found materials. I found it rather challenging but satisfying. Veronica and I were surrounded by Spanish speaking people which was was great for improving our language skills. We had time to connect with everyone there. We felt welcomed into the local community. We got to visit the forest and parks nearby .
over 1 year ago
Thank you very much, friends, and for all the help! God bless you and keep you safe always! I feel very fortunate to know you and to share,
