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Medellín, known as the City of Eternal Spring thanks to its ideal climate, is Colombia’s second largest city after its capital Bogotá. Medellín is located in the department of Antioquia and its metropolitan area is home to some 4 million people. Once known as the most violent city in Latin America, the assassination of its infamous drug lord in December 1993 and subsequent emphasis on infrastructure and human development has reshaped the city into a global powerhouse and tourist destination. Here are 8 reasons why Medellín is worth visiting!
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1. Heartwarming Transformation Story
Established in 1616 by Spanish conquistadores searching for gold, Medellín rose to notoriety in the late twentieth century as the world capital of cocaine production and smuggling. Coupled with the illicit drug empire was political instability and crime; Medellín had a staggeringly high daily rate of homicide and kidnapping. Within a decade following the death of Pablo Escobar and a whirlwind of social programs to transform the city, Medellín’s homicide rate fell by 95% and it now ranks as safer than USA’s top cities. Twenty years ago, the streets of Medellín were often empty as its people lived in terror. Now, the city is a bustling metropolis full of life, colour and sound.
The best way to appreciate this transformation is by hearing it from the people who have lived it. I signed up for two FREE walking tours which brought Medellín’s story to life for me and I highly recommend them. While the tours are free, tipping is encouraged as these locals don’t actually earn a salary– they rely on the benevolence of tourists. The city isn’t perfect; crime and petty theft by street thieves still exist, but the city has come a far way from its darker days. Once you’re careful and ¡no dar papaya! as the locals say, you should be fine. Check out:
- Downtown Medellín: Real City Tours
- Comuna 13: Zippy Tours
2. Advanced Public Transport System
Medellín is the only city in Colombia with a robust public transportation system. The metro connects metropolitan Medellín via several trains, buses and six cable cars. Medellín is located in the Andes, South America’s highest mountain range, and many of the city’s barrios were informally developed and lack roads. As such, cable cars are the best means by which to connect these residents to the city. The metro system was confusing at first but became clearer over time. You can purchase tickets using cash or card, or invest 10,000COP (about US$2.50) and get a metro card to save time. Even better, the metro runs every few minutes and only costs a few cents USD per trip. They get pretty crowded, but are always clean because paisas appreciate the connectivity offered by the metros so much that they play their part in maintaining it.
Otherwise, I got around using Uber. Ubers are recommended over taxis in Medellín, as taxis sometimes overcharge foreigners.
3. Expansive Gastronomy Scene
Bandeja paisaThere are so many options for food on every block. I noticed less reliance on international fast food franchises which is super admirable, and more emphasis on traditional cuisine: empanadas, tamales, pan de queso, buñuelos, arepas and the traditional dish of bandeja paisa. Bandeja paisa is a huge platter consisting mostly of ground beef, pork, sausage, fried ripe plantain, beans, rice, avocado, salad, arepas and topped with a fried egg. I left the egg off but had everything else. They say no trip to Medellín is complete without it.
Best burgers ever at Bonfire Burger & GrillThat being said, international cuisine is readily available too. Special mention to the Bonfire Burger & Grill which served the best burgers my partner & I have ever tasted in our lives– so good that we dined there twice in our 5 day trip. I make it a point of duty to try each country’s beer so I had the Andina and 3 Cordilleras craft beer. Both were pretty good! While in Medellín, look out for Colombian chocolate and coffee. Their chocolate was great, but I wasn’t a fan of the coffee, no offense. I’m super picky about coffee having grown up on Jamaica’s Blue Mountain Coffee, but you be the judge.
4. Super Affordable
Colombia ranks alongside Peru as the most affordable country I’ve visited so far. For starters, their exchange rate is roughly 1USD to 4,000 pesos. Getting used to currency in such large denominations was a little annoying, but that’s besides the point. Their prices are mind-bogglingly low. Here are three examples:
- I stayed at the Sixtina Plaza Hotel, a 3-star boutique hotel in Itagüi which is 5 minutes drive from Medellín, and paid US$30 for two per night in 2024. That rate includes breakfast and access to the hotel’s sauna and hot tub. Crazy, right? That costs 2-4 times the price in Panama or Jamaica.
- An average dinner + drink at a restaurant costed 25.000- 30.000 COP per person, roughly US$6-8.
- Each metro ride costs 2.880 COP (less than 1USD), and each Uber costed on average 9.000 to 18.000 (US$2-5) per ride.
That being said, as Medellín grows as a digital nomad + tourist destination, the city is undergoing gentrification so things could change one day. I only hope that locals aren’t too affected by this process the way we’re being negatively affected by soaring housing and food prices in Kingston, Jamaica. But for now, take advantage of Medellín’s affordability while it lasts.
5. Nature Is Everywhere
Standing outside a government building in Downtown
The city’s commitment to green and sustainability is impressive. The buildings and streets are lined with living walls, huge monsteras, philodendrons, palms and other tropical plants. It was amazing to witness. They also have dozens of public parks, football fields and playgrounds for locals to enjoy.
Parque Arví is a 40,000 acre nature reserve on the outskirts of Medellín which includes trails that date back over 1,500 years. There’s a free option to enjoy the park but getting access to the best trails with or without a guide, signboards, the picnic area and restrooms cost 60.000COP (US$15) per person for foreigners in 2024. Getting there is an adventure; you need to take the metro cable cars- lines K and L. It was a fascinating (albeit slightly scary!) ride as I witnessed the change from dense ghettos to sparse rural districts and finally thick lush rainforest.
6. Great Hospitality
Colombians, and by extension paisas (inhabitants from the Antioquia region in which Medellín is located), are super friendly and helpful. They are very proud of their country, and I found them quick to welcome foreigners and share recommendations. On my walking tours, we got excited waves and holas from the schoolchildren, and the adults would say things like Bienvenidos (welcome) and bendiciones (blessings), señores. During a Colombia vs. Peru football match, locals quickly made room + found 2 empty stools for my partner and I at a crowded neighbourhood bar in Itagüí. Most paisas are not fluent in English, but would slow their speech, whip out Google Translate or use broken English to be understood, so fret not if your Spanish isn’t great.
7. Beautiful Art Scene
Medellín is a kaleidoscope of art and colour with murals, graffiti and sculptures on every block. Medellín has dozens of galleries and museums to explore but I only had enough time for Museo de Antioquia. Founded in 1881, this interesting art museum is home to numerous pre-Colombian works as well as the work of famous international and local artists, most notably Fernando Botero. Botero is known for his disproportionate and sometimes grotesque but oddly interesting sculptures and paintings. Admission in 2024 costs 25.000 COP (about US$6) per person for foreigners.
Botero selflessly donated 23 bronze sculptures to the San Antonio Park (also called Plaza Botero) located outside this museum so everyone can enjoy his art whether or not they have money. My favourite Botero was the Pájaro (bird) because of the story behind why there are two of them. One was bombed in 1995, killing 23 people. When the Mayor tried to have its remnants removed, Botero said no. Instead, he sculpted a replacement and had it placed next to the original as a reminder to his people about their dark history but bright future ahead.
8. Vibrant History
Last but not least, Medellín has a rich history with dozens of interesting cathedrals and other historical buildings to admire. You’ll pass a few on the Real City walking tour, and others I spotted while riding the metro.
Wrap Up
With only 5 days to explore Colombia, I chose Medellín after researching 3 other cities, namely Cartagena, Barranquilla and Bogotá. At the end of my trip, I’m still confident that I made the best choice as Medellín lived up to my expectations. Have you ever visited Medellín or is it on your bucket list? Sound off in the comments section below. More Colombian posts are coming up over the next 3 weeks. Subscribe not to miss a beat!
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