The owners

Kobe and Nele bought the spot of Carpe Diem in 2011 from another Belgian couple. They decided to do the big trip because they felt in love with the natural beauty of Paso del Mango and Carpe Diem more specifically. Nature unbounded. Since then, they have put all their energy and soul in Carpe Diem and as such the place became what it is today.

In the beginning years of their stay in Colombia, Kobe wrote his doctoral research on conflicts and co-management in Colombia’s national parks, which is, by the way, the main reason why all Carpe Diem’s rooms are called after Colombian protected areas. In this context, both Nele and Kobe travelled a lot to all the outskirts of Colombia and are impressed by its natural and cultural diversity.

Nele started this adventure basically without really knowing Carpe Diem and practically jumped in the unknown…however she easily felt in love with all the natural wonders of this region. Despite this, she also rapidly got to know the other side of this paradise, such as spending weeks without energy, daily struggles for drinkable water, no internet connection, and all the other facets that make people saying we are still living in a less developped world. Nele also enjoys dancing and hanging out with friends and family, something she very much misses living here. Being here, Nele wrote her Masters these on teenager pregnancies in Colombia. A lot to write about it, as some 20% of all teenagers in Colombia are or have been pregnant.

Kobe enjoys working on the farm – planting trees, weeding, picking fruits, etc. with all the ups and downs that are well-known for small-scale farmers in less developed regions.

In 2013 Nele gave birth to Boris in the hospital of Santa Marta.   Roxanne was born two years later, at home in Carpe Diem – a lifetime experience!