How Caobo Became Nomadico Medellin

Kevin Scholten
3 days ago
4 min read

Some of our best partnerships didn’t start with a perfect setup.

2023: Looking for a coliving home in Medellín

In 2023, we were looking for a place to open Nomadico in Medellín.

We were already speaking with another home when they mentioned Bernardo and Carol. They were friends of theirs and suggested we should connect.

So we did.

From the very first visit, it just felt easy - apart from my poor Spanish. Luckily, Bernardo’s English was a lot better than my Spanish.

They were open, warm, curious - and clearly cared a lot about what they had built.

Not built for coliving (at first)

There was one issue though.

They had just built six studios, designed for short stays on Airbnb or Booking. Nice spaces, with desks to work and really well thought through (solar powered) - but fully private.

No shared kitchen.

No living room.

No natural place for people to spend time together.

And for us, that’s usually where it stops.

Coliving needs shared space to work.

We spoke about it openly and explored a few ideas, without forcing anything.

Weekly dinners at home with a Colombian family

Bernardo and Carol lived next door.

So we came up with a simple idea:

we would host the weekly family dinners at their home.

It meant guests would step out of the studios and into a Colombian home for the evening.

After finding a coworking space nearby to partner with, we decided to give it a go.

Nomadico Medellín was live.

I was still in Medellín for another month, so I moved into one of the studios myself.

It turned into a really special time. Partly helping to get things started, but mostly getting to know Bernardo and Carol better.

From a day trip to Santa Fé with the whole family, to late jacuzzi nights with Bernardo (usually with a steady flow of rum), it gave me a much better understanding of who they are.

Their energy, their openness, and also their determination.

Yvonne, the first Nomadico guest

"I stayed at Caobo with Nomadico in August 2023, after my cousin’s wedding in Medellín. I had planned to stay one extra month, but ended up staying five.

Carol and Bernardo were the warmest, most caring hosts, and a big reason I stayed so long. From the family dinners to late nights making arepas, practicing Spanish in the jacuzzi, and chatting and dancing until late - it all felt very special.

I’m certain I’ll be back… and probably won’t want to leave again."

Caobo 2.0 (The Renovation)

After about a year of working together and hosting the Nomadico community, Bernardo and Carol shared some big news.

They wanted to go all in.

Caobo 2.0 was going to happen.

They decided to fully renovate their home next to the studios into a proper coliving space - with shared areas, a garden, kitchen, rooftop, and a dedicated coworking floor.

The result is something they really built with care and intention. It’s a beautiful space, and the community clearly loves it. I haven’t seen 2.0 in person yet - but that will change this year or the next. Also looking forward to finally meeting Mocca (🐶).

Alejandra, the 120th guest

"The most beautiful part of Nomadico Medellín is the presence of its local owners. I’m very passionate about ethical tourism, and unfortunately many colivings operate in a “bubble.”

Here, you feel real integration with the local community. Bernardo and Carol’s story (why they created the coliving) would be lovely to feature on the website, as it perfectly captures the project’s soul. Their involvement made a big difference.

Carol’s arepa classes and Bernardo’s stories about growing up in Medellín offered genuine connection and cultural depth. Having their kids and dog around some of the time, and seeing them join family dinners, created such a beautiful sense of home."

From a hospital bed to building a home for digital nomads 🩵

A life-threatening experience changed Bernardo’s perspective on life - and eventually led him and Carol to create Caobo, and later partner with Nomadico.

Meet B&C (as we call them) in the video above, where they share their story and show you around Caobo 2.0.

Credits: @joy.malonza

#community #solar_energy #dream

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A few numbers:

First Caobo 1.0 guest: August 2023
174 guests hosted
Average stay: 3 weeks
1 in 4 guests have returned
12 permanent workers and more than 23 local people in total contributed to building Caobo 2.0.
It took 11 months to build
First Caobo 2.0 guest: March 2025