Carlee Flanagan

“Colombia es CHIMBA – let me hear you say it,” our tour guide of Medellín’s Comuna 13 exclaimed. After having us chant along, the local guide, who grew up in the neighborhood explained the popular Colombian word’s meaning: a slang term that’s synonymous with ‘awesome’ or ‘sick’… but it wasn’t always known this way. Older generations may shake their heads, as it once had a negative connotation, and during the city’s peak of violence in the 1980s and 1990s, it was a common word used in Medellín’s street slang. As we walked through Comuna 13, which was once grimly branded as the ‘murder capital of the world’ during years of cartel, paramilitary, and guerrilla violence, we found streets now alive with colorful graffiti artwork and murals, many proudly featuring the word chimba. With the help of new infrastructure, community efforts, and social programs, Comuna 13 is now a bustling area of Medellín filled with artwork, music, and dance—what feel like badges of identity, resilience, and pride of overcoming. Just like the city, the word chimba feels like a linguistic and cultural reflection beyond just a slang word—it’s a symbol of transformation: the community taking something once seen as vulgar or painful and rebranding it as awesome, powerful, and theirs. Locals like our tour guide are determined to showcase more than just the reality of Medellín and Colombia’s safety. They want the world to see the vibrancy, culture, and color that make Medellín the truly chimba city it is today. I’m here to tell you that chimba it was! We spent six days in this lush, historic, and endlessly vibrant city—an experience that felt like a gift at every turn. Here were just a few favorites along the way.

Our days here would begin at sunrise. That’s what we decided when we first experienced the magic of Antigua in the early morning hours. Golden rays lit up the dormant Volcán de Agua in the distance, just before the colorful colonial buildings framing cobblestone streets began to glow beneath a blue sky. If the sky was clear enough, we would catch a glimpse of Volcán de Fuego erupting in the distance with billows of smoke rising above it. The city awoke slowly—the scents of coffee wafting through the streets—as women adorned in traditional, colorful Mayan attire sat sidesaddle on motorcycles or in tuk-tuks sputtering by on their daily commutes. Panaderias selling sweet breads threw open their doors, colorful fruit stands began to decorate city corners, artisans began setting out their handwoven textiles on display for tourists to browse, and every bougainvillea-draped side street revealed a glowing postcard-ready scene. We fell in love with those early sun-drenched moments in Antigua, always followed by a visit to one of the many coffee shops on each corner to embark on a caffeinated chat about what would lie in the day ahead.

Mexico City is having a moment. Teeming with life, culture and phenomenal food, CDMX is one of the largest urban centers in the world. From girls trips filled with vintage shopping and live music to romantic getaways complete with phenomenal meals and dancing the night away, there’s something for everyone. Mexico is one of my favorite countries with so much to offer. ‘Ciudad de Mexico’ delivers a unique and authentic experience that feeds the senses and soul. Here’s my ideal trip to CDMX – indulge!