Saturday

Nature's wonders & nightlife

Conéctate con la naturaleza en el Parque Arví, experimenta las tradiciones colombianas en Santa Elena y disfruta de la vida nocturna de Medellín en un sábado lleno de energía.

Morning Activity

You've spent the week at one of Medellin's best Spanish Schools. Today your homework is an adventure to Parque Arvi, a massive urban nature reserve near the Santa Elena town that’s open daily from 5am to 5pm.

Hiking, bird watching, bike riding and horse riding are the most popular things to do here. There are plenty of authentic food options in and near the park and you can also organise to enjoy a picnic. Take a guided tour if possible; ask your guide questions about flora and fauna using vocabulary you've learned throughout the week.

To get there you’ll need to take the Metro Line A to Acevedo. From there transfer to the Metro Cable (cable car) K line and travel to the third and final station Santo Domingo. Here you need to transfer to a second Metro Cable, direct to Parque Arvi.

Reserva - reserve
Excursión - hike
Sendero - trail
Mapa - map
Observación de aves - bird watching
Paisaje - landscape
Vegetación - vegetation
Fotografía - photography
Picnic - picnic
Río - river
Fauna - fauna
Flora - flora
Guía de naturaleza - nature guide
Tranquilidad - tranquility
Explorar - to explore
Bosque - forest
Mirador - lookout point
Refugio - shelter
Comida típica - traditional food
Cabalgata - horseback riding

Quiero un mapa para explorar el parque.
I want a map to explore the park.
Este sendero es tranquilo y tiene mucha vegetación.
This trail is peaceful and has a lot of vegetation.
¿Dónde podemos hacer un picnic cerca del río?
Where can we have a picnic near the river?
La guía explicó que aquí se pueden observar muchas especies de fauna.
The guide explained that many species of fauna can be observed here.
Explorar el bosque y hacer fotografía de la flora local es una experiencia muy relajante.
Exploring the forest and photographing the local flora is a very relaxing experience.

Explore and Describe:

Exercise: Walk along a trail and describe the landscape, using phrases like “El bosque tiene mucha vegetación” or “Este sendero es perfecto para la observación de aves.”

Goal: Practice observation and descriptive vocabulary, linking language with nature.

Ask for Directions:

Exercise: Ask a park guide or fellow visitor for directions to different areas in the park. Use questions like “¿Dónde está el mirador?” or “¿Cómo llego al área de picnic?”

Goal: Gain confidence with directional language and interact with others in a natural setting.

Join a Nature Tour:

Exercise: Join a nature tour (if available) and try to ask questions about local flora and fauna. For example, “¿Qué tipo de animales viven aquí?” or “¿Cuáles son las plantas más comunes en esta reserva?”

Goal: Engage in guided conversation and build comprehension skills through active listening.

Photography Challenge:

Exercise: Take photos of specific plants, animals, or landscapes and describe them to a friend in Spanish. For example, “Tomé una foto de un árbol muy alto con flores coloridas.”

Goal: Connect vocabulary to real-world items, reinforcing memory through description and visual association.

Afternoon Activity

After all that outdoor exploration and fresh air, head to the charming town of Santa Elena, located just a hop, skip and jump outside of Parque Arvi.

Santa Elena is famous for its flower-growing industry which is celebrated every August with Medellin’s largest cultural event the Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival).

In the town center you can eat local specialties, drink a warm coffee (Santa Elena is colder than Medellin) and buy local handicrafts. A tour of a flower farm is a must to understand the local culture of the Silleteros (flower farmers). On the weekend you’ll probably catch a market in the town square.

Remember that the cable car finishes at 6pm so head back early otherwise it’s a long bus ride back to Medellin.

Artesanía - handicraft
Flores - flowers
Cultura - culture
Tradición - tradition
Silleteros - flower carriers
Finca - farm
Colorido - colorful
Taller - workshop
Exhibición - exhibit
Feria - fair
Campo - countryside
Familia - family
Patrimonio - heritage
Estilo - style
Decoración - decoration
Aroma - scent
Festividad - festivity
Representación - representation
Historia local - local history
Arte floral - floral art

Quiero ver las artesanías típicas de Santa Elena.
I want to see the typical handicrafts of Santa Elena.
Este campo está lleno de flores de muchos colores.
This field is full of flowers of many colors.
¿Cómo celebran aquí la tradición de los silleteros?
How do they celebrate the tradition of the silleteros here?
La finca ofrece una exhibición de arte floral, representando la cultura local.
The farm offers a floral art exhibit, representing local culture.
La historia de la festividad de las flores es parte importante del patrimonio de esta comunidad.
The history of the flower festival is an important part of this community’s heritage.

Engage with Artisans:

Exercise: Visit a local artisan’s stall and ask about their crafts. Use phrases like “¿Cómo hace esta artesanía?” or “¿Cuánto tiempo tarda en crear un adorno?”

Goal: Practice engaging questions, learning about traditional handicrafts and local culture.

Describe the Flowers:

Exercise: Walk through a field of flowers and describe their colors, scents, and shapes. Use phrases like “Estas flores son muy coloridas” or “El aroma es agradable.”

Goal: Build sensory vocabulary related to flowers and nature, enhancing descriptive language.

Ask About the Silletero Tradition:

Exercise: Approach a guide or local and ask about the Silletero tradition. Try questions like “¿Qué significa ser un silletero?” or “¿Cómo se celebra esta tradición en Santa Elena?”

Goal: Engage in meaningful conversation, practicing comprehension and connecting with cultural heritage.

Create Your Own Floral Art:

Exercise: If a workshop is available, participate in creating a small floral arrangement. Introduce yourself to others and ask for help if needed, using “Me llamo ___, ¿cómo puedo hacer un arreglo floral?”

Goal: Practice conversational skills in a workshop setting, using Spanish to navigate instructions and introductions.

Evening Activity

As evening falls, join a hostel pub crawl for an exciting night out whilst experiencing Medellin’s vibrant nightlife! This is a great way to meet locals and fellow travelers while practicing your Spanish in lively settings - don’t hesitate to strike up conversations!

Many of the city's hostels organize these social outings, taking guests to a curated selection of bars, clubs, and local hangouts.

Pub crawls typically cost around $20 per person and include free or discounted drinks at the participating venues. You’ll find flyers in most hostels or ask the receptionist.

Crawl de bares - pub crawl
Amistades - friendships
Conocer - to meet
Interacción - interaction
Diversión - fun
Noche - night
Conversación - conversation
Compañero de fiesta - party companion
Guía de pub crawl - pub crawl guide
Discoteca - nightclub
Ambiente - atmosphere
Entrada - entry
Trago - drink
Red social - social network
Risa - laughter
Grupo - group
Salud - cheers
Recomendación - recommendation
Fiesta - party
Música en vivo - live music

¿Dónde empieza el crawl de bares?
Where does the pub crawl start?
Es una gran oportunidad para hacer amistades y practicar conversación en español.
It’s a great opportunity to make friends and practice Spanish conversation.
La guía del crawl nos llevará a varios lugares con ambiente animado.
The pub crawl guide will take us to several places with a lively atmosphere.
Cada bar tiene un estilo único y es divertido conocer personas en cada parada.
Each bar has a unique style, and it’s fun to meet people at each stop.
El crawl termina en una discoteca con música en vivo, ideal para disfrutar de la noche.
The crawl ends at a nightclub with live music, perfect for enjoying the night.

Introduce Yourself:

Exercise: At the start of the pub crawl, introduce yourself to a new group member in Spanish. Use “Hola, soy ___, ¿de dónde eres?”

Goal: Practice conversational introductions, creating an opening for social interaction.

Ask for Recommendations:

Exercise: At each bar, ask the bartender or a local for drink recommendations, using “¿Qué bebida recomienda aquí?”

Goal: Build vocabulary around social interactions and ordering, enhancing confidence in casual settings.

Describe the Atmosphere:

Exercise: At each stop, describe the bar’s atmosphere to a friend. Use phrases like “Este lugar tiene un ambiente divertido” or “La música en vivo aquí es excelente.”

Goal: Practice descriptive language, linking vocabulary with the ambiance and energy of each venue.

Join a Group Conversation:

Exercise: Participate in a group conversation, asking questions and sharing opinions on topics like favorite drinks, music, or nightlife in Medellín. Try “¿Cuál es tu lugar favorito aquí?” or “Me gusta esta música, ¿y a ti?”

Goal: Engage in multi-person interactions, building conversational fluency and listening skills.

Saturday

Morning Activity

Afternoon Activity

Evening Activity

MONDAY: Embracing the Urban Canvas

TUESDAY: Art, Nature & Science

WEDNESDAY: Market, Salsa & Language

THURSDAY: Artistic & Culinary Experiences

FRIDAY: Local & International Influences

SATURDAY: Nature’s Wonders & Nightlife

SUNDAY: Recovery & Reflection