How I Lived a Whole Week in Colombia for Less Than $50 — And Still Had the Time of My Life

I still remember standing outside the small airport in Medellín, watching the rain drizzle over the lush green hills, with exactly $53 in my wallet and a reckless belief that this week would change my life. It did.

The Unexpected Couchsurfing Blessing

My trip began with a gamble: I had arranged a Couchsurfing stay with a university student named Alejandra. What I didn’t expect was how her family would adopt me like a long-lost cousin. They fed me, showed me the hidden corners of their city, and laughed at my Spanish — lovingly, of course.

Meals That Cost Pennies, Memories That Were Priceless

Colombia’s food scene is a dream for anyone on a tight budget. I ate arepas for breakfast (around $0.30), empanadas for lunch ($0.50), and fresh juice that tasted like the jungle itself. One night, I splurged — a bandeja paisa and a beer for $3.50. It felt like luxury.

Local Buses, Real Conversations

Instead of taxis or Ubers, I rode the local buses. Not only did this save money (each ride was about $0.70), but it also gave me some of the most beautiful conversations of my trip. One man told me about his past life as a coffee farmer and how climate change is shifting everything. It felt more like a documentary than a bus ride.

Free Tours and Honest Stories

In Bogotá, I joined a free walking tour from Bogotá Free Walking Tour. Our guide didn’t sugarcoat anything — from Pablo Escobar to political unrest — but he also showed us the street art, the resilience, and the poetry in every corner.

When Things Went Wrong (And Right)

On the fourth day, I lost my only debit card. I panicked. But the kindness of a local hostel owner, who let me stay one night for free in Cartagena, reminded me that humanity still works. That night, I sat on the old walls of the city, eating a mango with salt and chili from a street vendor, watching the sunset melt over the Caribbean. I nearly cried.

Internal Link

If you enjoy this kind of budget travel, check out my story on how I traveled across Asia for under $15/day.

External Tip

If you plan on traveling Colombia on a budget, use Rome2Rio to figure out the cheapest routes between cities — it saved me over $10 on my last leg.

The Final Day: What I Took Home

My last morning was spent hiking a trail just outside Medellín with two new friends I met through a local travel forum. We didn’t spend a single peso. We just talked, laughed, and watched the clouds move like stories across the sky.

This trip wasn’t about surviving on $50. It was about realizing how little you need to feel connected, grounded, and alive. And Colombia gave me all of that, and more.

Until next time,
wanderease