What is a Finca?

Fincas in Colombia are equivalent to American recreational homes, such as shore houses, ranches, cottages, villas or cabins. Historically owned and accessed only by the wealthy, sharing technology such as AirBnB has led to the popularization of finca rentals for visitors traveling to Colombia as much as for locals of the region.

Finca literally means to “farm”, but don’t expect that the fincas in Colombia are anything like your typical farmhouse. While some fincas may be the home to basic farm animals such as chickens or cows, most of them are simply beautiful homes full of great amenities for a weekend stay.

Where to Rent a Finca in Colombia

In the Antioquia region of Colombia, there are many locations to find the perfect finca. The weather and activities you are looking for will determine where you should focus:

• For tourists looking for hot weather, with a focus on relaxation and a good time, head West of Medellin. There you’ll find Santa Fe de Antioquia, San Pedro, and San Jeronimo. These locations are about an hour to an hour and a half from Medellin.
• Tourists in Colombia looking for cooler weather with more to do outdoors should stay in the Rio Negro area, or el Oriente. This area is very close to the airport, making it convenient for travelers. You’ll need a light sweater/sweatshirt at night.
• To the South La Estrella, Caldas, and further beyond into coffee country, there’s the eje cafetero. Guatape is another popular destination for fincas but can lead you into 2-4 hour traffic jams on the weekends because of its popularity.

What To Look for When Renting a Finca in Colombia

1. Finca Prices

Finca prices will vary depending on how luxurious the house is, the type of pool/outdoor area that it has, and the number of people it sleeps. There are popular websites such as AirBnB that tourists to Colombia can rent from. We like AirBnB because of the guarantees it provides the renter. However, you’ll find more favorable rates when renting directly or through local websites renting in Colombian Pesos. Finca rentals can run as low as $100 per night for a group of ten, and we’ve seen fincas that cost over $1,000 per night … but they sure are extravagant!

2. Room Accommodations

When renting a finca, you’ll need to have a good sense for the number of people sharing the experience with you, and what the needs of the group are. Fincas tend to have at least two to three sets of beds in different sizes per room. So if there are a large number of couples going on your trip, you may want individual rooms for each couple. Also, note that most fincas have “double beds” which is the equivalent of a full-size mattress in the United States. Europeans may be more accustomed to smaller bed sizes, but we recommend that Americans carefully consider what kind of room each person requires to sleep comfortably. In our experience, Queen and King sized beds are far and few between in Colombia.

Families or groups or more open to sharing rooms, bunk beds and even blow up mattresses. After all, the more the merrier! But make sure you understand how many people fit comfortably in each room.

3. Pool Rentals and Safety

One really important thing to remember is that pools at fincas tend to be completely accessible. Families with small children must be super vigilant about water safety. People at fincas tend to be there to party, and may not be as aware of where the kids are at all times. We recommend that kids are carefully monitored, even when wearing life jackets or inflatables. Many fincas boast that they have children’s pools, but even two feet of water can prove dangerous to toddlers.

4. Amenities

Most fincas do NOT include basic amenities such as towels, covers, and even simple things like a coffee maker. Read the disclaimers! Some fincas even want you to bring your own bedsheets. Air conditioning may be available only in the bedrooms, but that isn’t always a given. If you have kids, we highly recommend that you bring extra blankets. The rooms get cold at night and you don’t want to give them a reason to get out of bed!

Because fincas tend to be located in remote areas, internet access is spotty, and not all finca owners provide Internet at their homes. This is really important for tourists coming from Europe and the United States, who depend on WiFi to communicate with their families. The other key thing to note that is fincas in hot areas such as Santa Fe de Antioquia don’t typically have hot water in the showers. It’s not something locals are accustomed to having.

5. Cleanliness

Look closely at the pictures. Are the walls clean? Are they only showing pictures of the outside of the house? If the house looks OLD and dirty, then it’s likely the mattresses, pillows, and furniture are also old and, well, overused. Ask if the mattresses have mattress covers, and if the finca has caretakers that keep the place clean on an ongoing basis. The first time we rented a finca the mattresses were so gross that we ran out and bought extra covers to put layers between us and the mattress. Use your gut instinct based on the images they display.

6. The Downside

• Toilets: We have invited many friends to visit fincas with us. What they find most strange is that finca owners do NOT want visitor to flush toilet paper down the pipes under any circumstance. We know… it’s weird. But the plumbing and septic tanks at fincas fill up quickly. While it may seem super gross, use the garbage cans with baggies appropriately. You don’t want to go running from the finca because of plumbing problems! Finca staff see this as perfectly normal and expect this behavior from guests.
• Drinking Water: We HIGHLY recommend AGAINST drinking the water no matter what. Buy water and make sure you using it for drinks at all times. We also recommend that kids don’t brush their teeth with water from the finca, but rather keep bottled water for them next to their toothbrushes!
• Critters: Finally, look out for critters. While most finca owners fumigate often, Colombia is home to scorpions, some nasty spiders and of course the evil mosquito. Take an extra minute to buy a bug killer and make sure the kids are kept well covered in bug repellant. If you see bats at night, don’t be alarmed. The more bats you see, the less bugs you’ll have the next day! But you will see bats sometimes drink from the pool late at night.

In summary, while we end with a note of caution, weekends in Colombia are best spent in the countryside. The drive alone is worth any bug you encounter. It’s the best way to experience a local’s life in Colombia.

If you or your family are considering a trip to Colombia, contact us and we’ll happily provide some guidance and tips on what do to in Colombia, and how to find the best finca in Colombia to suit your needs. Our team is bilingual and also available in the United States!