Positive Impact collection

Antioquia, Colombia

Cannúa

A panoramic lodge surrounded by Antioquia's forests

Rustic bedroom with thatched roof, large window overlooking greenery, and modern furniture.

A retreat driven by permaculture

Experience the height of relaxation at Cannúa, set on nine hectares of protected forest between the Antioquian mountains in Colombia’s Central Andes. The San Nicolás Valley opens out ahead while impressive biodiversity neighbours the lodge, including more than 80 bird species; with that said, the views are sensational here, no matter where you place yourself.

Cannúa’s conscious architecture, rooted in the philosophy of permaculture, makes this possible, creating harmony with the encircling veil of greenery. Compressed earth blocks shape its blueprint, which extends to private rooms and cabañas that delight in glorious valley vistas.

Cabañas emerge from a cloud forest; they seem to float along the mountainside. Their wraparound windows rise to the ceiling, bringing you even closer to nature’s colours. Step outside to a private balcony, from where you can revel in golden sunsets and the ever-present feeling of peace.

Organic gardens and food forests grow the ingredients for the lodge’s restaurant, which specialises in an artful take on Colombian cuisine. You can learn more about local flavours through workshops like coffee tasting and sampling fine Colombian rum and vegan chocolate.

Curated adventures take you deeper into the surrounding Colombian countryside. You can paraglide over the Corcorná Valley, or those who prefer to stay on the ground can explore nearby pueblos (quaint towns retaining their original charm) and hike along a pre-historic trail that winds past farmland and a cascading waterfall. Around the lodge, a permaculture tour gives you an insight into its sustainability ethics, and bird walks let you spot emerald toucanets and Andean motmots in their natural habitats.

Highlights

Recharge amid the pristine nature of the Colombian countryside

Marvel at the far-reaching vistas of San Nicolás Valley

Sleep to the rhythms of a cloud forest in a cabaña

Dine at the onsite restaurant combining masterful techniques and organic, Colombian flavours

Take part in workshops like Colombian coffee, rum and vegan chocolate tasting

Explore the surrounding area by hiking a pre-historic trail

Set off on bird walks and permaculture tours around the lodge

Illuminated buildings nestled in a lush green hillside at night.

Modern multi-story building with large windows amidst lush greenery under a blue sky with clouds.

Sun rays over rural landscape with greenery and two houses with tiled roofs.

Rustic bedroom with a bed, hanging chair, and balcony overlooking a green landscape.

Lush green Colombian landscape with farmland, mountains, and cloudy skies.

Terrace dining area with wooden furniture and hanging basket lamps overlooking a treed landscape.

A person in a blue jacket tending to plants in a lush garden.

Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your trip, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Start planning

The impact of your stay:

As a guest, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about permaculture’s mindful philosophy from expert ecologists and discover how the lodge embodies this practice.
Your stay directly supports environmental regeneration, one of Cannúa’s core priorities. The lodge has transformed surrounding farming pastures into a thriving food forest and is working to develop it into a civil society forest reserve, recognising the vital role civil societies play in forest management and conservation.
You’re helping to protect the region’s diverse fauna and flora. The lodge works closely with local biologists and botanic experts on various conservation projects, including educating nearby communities on how biodiversity can lead to increased income through sustainable practices that help minimise poaching.
Your stay helps make a positive impact on local communities through the lodge’s ongoing dedication to social empowerment initiatives, which focus on education, health and clean farming methods to help reduce the environmental footprint in agriculture. Cannúa hosts events to educate corporate groups on responsible living and provide English lessons in local schools, as well as training opportunities for employees in areas like biology and customer service.
You can also participate in their curated educational programmes to learn more about the lodge’s sustainability efforts and how you can contribute to environmental conservation and protection.

→ Find out more

Trip Inspiration

Get inspired with our Colombia example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

9 Day trip

Colombian Art, Culture and Cuisine

Ceviche in Cartagena, Museums in Medellin and Botero's Bogota

From

$0 pp

11 Day trip

Colombia's Hidden Highlights Tour

Charming colonial towns and the mystical mountains of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

From

$0 pp

Day trip

Active Adventure in Colombia

Hiking, cycling, paragliding and tubing through Colombia's magical landscapes

From

$0 pp

Plan your trip to Colombia

Whatever you want from your adventure in Colombia, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Start planning

Places to combine Cannúa with

Around Mérida

Hacienda San Jose

Tucked into the tranquil countryside of the Yucatán Peninsula, just 30 minutes from Mérida and near the village of Tixkokob, Hacienda San José is a historic hotel that offers a glimpse into the layered past of southeastern Mexico. Once a cattle ranch and henequén plantation, the hacienda was originally constructed in the 18th century and later transformed into a boutique luxury hotel in 1999. Its restoration was not only architectural, but a revival of place, memory and cultural identity. Ancient Mayan building techniques were honoured, colonial-era structures were carefully preserved, whilst modern comforts were introduced.

The main house sits amidst lush tropical gardens, with stone pathways leading to tranquil courtyards and a striking swimming pool. The hacienda’s 15 guest rooms retain their 19th-century layout and aesthetic of earthy hues, airy interiors and handcrafted furnishings. For those seeking further seclusion, four original Mayan villas have been lovingly repurposed into private suites. Each features a shaded terrace, outdoor Jacuzzi and garden views that offer a sanctuary surrounded by centuries-old ceiba trees and stone walls laced with vines.

The restaurant serves regional dishes prepared with local ingredients. Meals can be enjoyed indoors or set privately in the gardens, under candlelight and stars. Meanwhile, the spa offers treatments that draw on ancestral healing practices, using native herbs and traditional techniques to create an atmosphere that nourishes both body and spirit.

Beyond the hacienda’s gates, the wonders of Yucatán await. The golden city of Izamal, known for its pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary Mexican heritage, is located 30 kilometres away. A day trip to the legendary Chichén Itzá, 110 kilometres east, offers a deeper understanding of the civilisation that once shaped this land.

Barichara

Casa Barichara

Casa Barichara is a gorgeous boutique hotel looking out across the town with its red-tiled roofs and cathedral dome. It’s the perfect spot for a few days of downtime in this spectacularly pretty part of Colombia.

Designed by Ezekiel Alarcón, the simple but comfortable villa features exposed wooden beams, terracotta roof tiles and white-washed walls, invoking the Spanish colonial history of Colombia.

There are six bedrooms as well as chill-out areas such as the lounge, sunny terrace with a pool and hammocks in which to laze away the afternoon.

Bogotá

Four Seasons Casa Medina

The beautiful Four Seasons Casa Medina was the creative vision of Santiago Medina Mejia, a Paris-educated artist and architect from Medellin. He salvaged local architectural treasures, such as stone columns and hand-carved wooden doors from two recently demolished colonial convents, to create was declared a monument by the country’s Ministry of Culture in the 1980s.

The hotel features 62 rooms and suites, where beamed ceilings and aged leather accents coupled with fresh, contemporary touches making them a sophisticated blend of old and new.

The hotel has two restaurants; the lively La Bodega that focuses on tapas and Colombian coffee, and Castanyoles Raciones y Tapas, where guests chave the option to dine in the beautiful glass atrium with Spanish tiles, living walls and drop lights.

There is also a gym and a spa with treatment rooms, relaxation room and steam room.

The Coffee Triangle

Sazagua

Surrounded by peaceful gardens and beyond these, tranquil countryside hills that ripple on forever, Sazagua is a lovely little boutique-sized guesthouse that triumphs in both comfort and character.

A surprising level of mod cons are installed in its ten very spacious rooms including WiFi and flat screen TVs, and there’s a small spa with a sauna and treatment rooms offering massages and other wellness remedies.

The house is in the style of a typical Colombian farmhouse with eclectic details such as colourful colonial tiles and furniture and indigenous inspirations and art, to more international antiques and furnishings. However, its wraparound balconies and central courtyards root the hotel firmly in the region and welcome in its serene views and laid-back countryside temperament.

The food is good and the menu is fairly bold for the scale of the hotel. The staff have also helped seal Sazagua’s reputation as being one of the best places to stay in the area, and are immensely friendly and helpful.