Silent Retreats in Colombia: How to Choose

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More and more travellers come to Colombia not only for its cities and coffee, but to stop for a while and sit in silence. If you are looking for a silent retreat here, these are the questions worth asking before you choose.

Three kinds of silent retreat

• Fully silent intensive courses. Often around ten days, with fixed start dates, many hours of sitting meditation each day and complete silence throughout. Powerful, but demanding, especially for a first retreat.
• Semi-silent retreats. Silence is held for part of each day, typically the night and morning, with time to talk, ask questions and connect later in the day. A gentler way in, and easier to fit into a trip.
• Yoga or wellness retreats with some quiet time. Lovely for rest, but silence is usually a small part of the experience rather than its heart.

None is better than the others. The right one depends on your experience, how much time you have, and what you are looking for.

What is a semi-silent retreat?

A semi-silent retreat combines periods of noble silence with times when conversation is welcome. Noble silence means resting from talking, and ideally from phones and reading too, so the mind can settle. Without the constant exchange of words, you begin to notice your thoughts and feelings more clearly, and many people find they sleep and rest more deeply within a few days.

It gives you the depth that silence brings while keeping the experience warm, human and approachable, so it suits complete beginners and experienced practitioners alike. You do not need to be Buddhist, flexible or “good at” being silent.

Questions to ask before you book

• How much silence, and when? All day, mornings only, or optional? Can you choose more silence if you want it?
• What is the teaching? Which meditation tradition, and is it guided? Clear instruction matters most when you are new.
• How many hours of practice a day? And can you rest when you need to?
• Fixed dates or flexible? Some retreats start on set dates; others let you arrive any day.
• How long? Is there a minimum stay, and can you extend?
• Phones and Wi-Fi? Are you asked to hand in your phone, or simply invited to set it aside?
• Rooms and food? Shared or private rooms, vegetarian meals, dietary needs.
• How easy is it to reach? A long, complicated journey can eat into a short retreat.
• What is included in the price? Accommodation, meals, classes, transfers, treatments.

How long should you stay?

Three nights is a lovely first taste: enough to feel the mind begin to slow down. With six or nine nights, the silence has time to deepen, sleep improves, and many people find their practice becomes their own. If you are unsure, start shorter; you can always come back for longer.

What the first days feel like

The first day or two can feel restless. Without conversation and screens, the mind is often louder at first, and tiredness you did not notice may surface. This is normal. Around the second or third day most people begin to settle: meals taste fuller, nature seems closer, and the quiet starts to feel like rest rather than effort.

Where La Casa de Loto fits

La Casa de Loto is a small semi-silent retreat in the mountains of Guatapé, about 80 minutes from Medellín airport (MDE). Noble silence is held from 9 p.m. until 2 p.m. the next day, and you are always welcome to keep full silence for your whole stay. Each day includes guided open-awareness meditation, traditional Hatha yoga and breathwork, and vegetarian meals, with no more than 10 guests at a time. You can arrive any day and stay 3, 6 or 9 nights.

If you are looking for a strict ten-day intensive with many hours of formal sitting, a dedicated course may suit you better. If you would like real silence with gentle guidance, nature and space to rest, we would love to welcome you. See the retreat experience or retreats & prices.

Preparing for your silent retreat

• Let family and work know you will be mostly offline.
• Reduce caffeine and screen time a few days before; it makes the first days easier.
• Bring comfortable layers, a notebook if you like to write, and an open mind.
• Come with no expectations. Whatever arises is part of the retreat.