Cloud Forest, Medellín, Colombia (March 24, 2026)
One of my super powers is meeting and connecting with friends from around the world. Lately, it’s been more challenging with my lack of fluency in the Spanish language. But after the “¿Qué pasa?” and typical response, “Muy bien gracias. ¿Y tú?” It was clear that none of us were native Spanish speakers. We were all strangers in a strange land.
I connect with Loral and Abby from Connecticut in a gondola
Loral and Abby are in college in Connecticut and visiting Medellín was a last minute decision. Abby came here regularly for summers growing up and Loral wanted to see this part of the world. Me too.
Check out this part of Medellín’s metro. No kidding. It’s included!!!
To get to one of the most famous Cloud Forests in Colombia, Felipe and I took a “regular” metro (i.e. the train kind) but then transferred to this gondola. No, it wasn’t special or extra, this was simply a transfer from a train to a sky metro. This gave new meaning to an “uptown” transfer. We went about 1,000 feet straight up over Medellín.
Epic. Felipe and I witnessed everyday people from Medellín, taking a gondola ride … home. The gondola stopped three times at different elevations. Some got on, others got off. We stayed until the very top. The final gondola had us transfer and that’s when we met Loral and Abby — riding up the stretch of the gondola overlooking the more than 16,000 acres of cloud forest (one of the most famous in the world).
Here’s the thing. In the morning, right out of my bedroom window, I see the very mist that makes these cloud forests so special. For example, this was my view this morning at around 6am.
The myst is spectacular. Especially as the sun is rising. BEAUTIFUL!!!
Aren’t these pictures incredible? Right outside my sliding glass door opening to the back yard. The myst is just below the mountain as the sun begins to rise. It’s breathtakingly gorgeous. By the way, why am I up and out of bed before 6am? This guy:
The “Northern Screamer” is a perfect name for this bird
My backyard neighbor is a “Northern Screamer” who was here before Felipe’s house was built and isn’t shy about reminding us all about that FACT. Momma, papa, and two babies live right outside my sliding glass door and mark their territory with … you guessed it, high pitched screams. The are especially loud when Felipe’s German Shepard, Mila, goes out in the morning and startles them.
Mila outside checking out the Northern Screamers
But I digress. Today was all about taking a gondola to the top of Medellín and exploring the 16,000 acres of cloud forrest.
View from near the top of the gondola overlooking Medellín
Much of the exploration happens above the cloud forest in the gondola itself. You see the vast 16,000 acres in every direction. So when you finally arrive, you’ve already taken in much of what the forest has to offer. Now it’s time to get hiking on a trail loop that will connect you deeper into nature. The trees, the old vines, birds, and unique plants found only here in Colombia.
The hike itself was more challenging than I expected as half the trail was covered by old root systems and my ankles weren’t ready for this. Even walking slowly, navigating over the top of complex root systems tests just how strong and flexible your ankles really are. More than once I had a brief slip and the recovery cost me some comfort in my feet. No injuries, just a few near misses.
Canopy cover as viewed from the deck provided
I think what I love most about hikes like these is the deep connection with nature. The smell of the pine. The clean, crisp air. Hearing birds chirping and then stopping as you approach. A rustle in the bushes letting you know a small animal is nearby. And all the trees. So … many … trees. This dense forest reminds me of my time in the Amazon Rainforest, albeit much less humid and significantly more altitude. Perhaps a better comparison is Bend, Oregon’s high mountain dessert. Mountain nature trails have a similar connection to the mountain while maintaining a deep, dense forest of trees of all varieties.
Ultimately, this felt like forest bathing and it was refreshing.
