Slow Living in Colombia: Lessons from YAY Sustainable

Travel doesn’t always have to be about ticking places off a list. Sometimes, the most meaningful journeys are the ones where time slows down — where days unfold naturally and you begin to live more in rhythm with your surroundings.

That was exactly the feeling we experienced during our stay at YAY Sustainable, a small eco-hotel tucked away in the Colombian landscape. A place that quietly teaches you how to live — and travel — more slowly.

A place that invites you to slow down

From the moment you arrive at YAY Sustainable, something shifts. There is no rush, no sense of urgency. Nature sets the pace.

The architecture feels open and honest. Natural materials, earthy tones, soft textiles. Nothing is excessive, nothing feels staged. The rooms blend seamlessly into the landscape, inviting light, air and silence to enter.

Mornings start slowly — with natural light instead of alarms.Afternoons are spent barefoot, reading, swimming, resting.Evenings unfold quietly, marked by warm light and simple shared meals.

It’s a place where doing less somehow feels like more.

The philosophy of slow travel & sustainable tourism

YAY Sustainable is built on a simple but powerful idea: travel should give back — to the land, the community and the traveler.

Slow travel here means:

• staying longer instead of moving fast

• respecting local materials, craftsmanship and traditions

• minimizing impact while maximizing meaning

Sustainability isn’t presented as a concept or a label — it’s woven naturally into daily life. From the way spaces are designed to how resources are used, everything feels thoughtful rather than performative.

And perhaps that’s the biggest lesson: sustainability works best when it feels intuitive.

What we brought home with us

Long after the journey ended, the feeling stayed.

Slow living doesn’t disappear once you return home — if you let it follow you.

From YAY Sustainable, we brought back:

• a slower rhythm — fewer plans, more space

• new rituals — unhurried mornings, intentional evenings

• a design mindset — choosing texture, warmth and authenticity over perfection

It reminded us that our homes, just like hotels, can support how we want to live. Calm interiors. Natural materials. Objects that feel grounding rather than distracting.