Colombia Mountain Yoga & Meditation Retreat: Semi-Silent Stays Near Medellín

The meditation taught here comes out of the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, specifically the open awareness teachings of Dudjom Rinpoche. Rather than trying to control the mind or chase a special state, the practice is about recognising thoughts, emotions and sensations as passing events within awareness. Sessions are given in plain, accessible language — beginners get enough guidance to feel supported, and experienced meditators are given room to go deeper on their own. No prior experience is needed. The 12:00 p.m. silent sitting ('You and Your Mind') runs 20 to 60 minutes with no guidance at all; teachers will answer questions before and after if you have them.

Each day also includes a two-hour Hatha yoga and pranayama class, drawn from classical Indian and Tibetan traditions. It's gentle and alignment-based — not about effort or achievement, but about releasing tension and preparing the body for stillness. Classes are taught by experienced, qualified teachers and are open to every level, whether it's your first time on a mat or a long-standing practice.

What separates this from a typical yoga retreat is the structure of silence. Noble Silence runs every morning until 2 p.m. and begins again at 9 p.m. — no verbal or non-verbal communication during those hours. Breakfast and lunch are eaten in silence; dinner is shared in conversation, though guests who want to stay in silence can take dinner privately in their room. It's a rhythm borrowed from temple life, and it's the reason people describe the place as an antidote to modern noise rather than a holiday with classes attached.

The retreat was founded by Pema, a Buddhist meditation teacher and yogi with more than fifteen years of practice, mainly in the Dzogchen teachings of the Dudjom Tersar lineage. Before this he was a professional musician; after losing both parents young, music was his refuge until a period of personal crisis shifted how he understood his own mind. That led him into years of Buddhist study, yoga and wandering retreat, with teachings from the Dalai Lama, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, and his guru, Loppon Jigme Rinpoche. He eventually landed in the Colombian mountains and built La Casa de Loto as a place for people of any background to slow down and start or deepen a practice.

Getting here takes some effort, which is part of why it's quiet. The retreat sits around 80 minutes from Medellín International Airport (MDE) and two hours from El Poblado. A private driver can be arranged for roughly 220,000 COP from the airport or 320,000 COP from El Poblado, per vehicle one way. Alternatively you can bus or Uber to Guatapé and take a tuk-tuk — locally a motochiva — from the main square, about seven minutes. Check-in is 2:00 p.m. and check-out is 11:00 a.m. There is no parking on site.

Accommodation is in eco-friendly cabins in nature. You choose between a shared room, a small private room, or a private forest cabin. With a maximum of eight guests, the place stays intimate. Rates start from 35 USD per night and include daily guided meditation, Hatha yoga and pranayama, and three organic vegetarian meals.

What's included

- Daily guided open awareness meditation sessions - Two hours of Hatha yoga and pranayama each day - Daily silent sitting ('You and Your Mind') - Three wholesome vegetarian meals daily - Breakfast and lunch in Noble Silence, dinner shared - Afternoon tea - Evening fire - Accommodation in a shared room, small private room, or private forest cabin

What's not included

- Travel to and from La Casa de Loto - Private driver transfer (approx. 220,000 COP from MDE or 320,000 COP from El Poblado, per vehicle one way) - Optional treatments - Optional sauna - Travel insurance - Personal expenses