Medellín Travelers Recommend

Under the reign of notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar and his cartel, Medellin endured a reputation as the most dangerous city in Colombia. To understand today’s cosmopolitan Medellin, it’s helpful to understand rise and fall of Escobar. Here are your options for Pablo Escobar history tours in Medellin. 

Highlights

• Explore Medellin neighborhoods such as El Poblado, La Paz, and Comuna 13, as well as Barrio Pablo Escobar, where many houses were built by the drug lord.

• See the Monaco building, known as ground zero for the war between Pablo’s Medellin cartel and the rival Cali cartel, on a guided tour.

• Listen as a knowledgeable tour guide narrates Escobar’s life, from trafficking drugs and smuggling cocaine into the United States to his assassination attempt and death.

• Visit the cemetery where Escobar is buried; see La Catedral, Escobar's hybrid “jail vacation home;” or eat at one of Escobar’s favorite restaurants.

• Combine an Escobar tour with other Medellin sights such as Pueblito Paisa, Botero Plaza, and Parque de las Luces.

• Enjoy a more personalized experience with a small-group or private tour.

Three days in Medellin gives you plenty of time to tour the city’s highlights, learn about its history and how it’s changed since the days of Pablo Escobar, soak up the natural beauty of the region, and even head farther afield to explore another Colombian destination. Here are some tips for how to spend your three days.

Day 1: History and Culture

Few cities have undergone the kind of changes Medellin has experienced over the past few decades. Learn more about this history during a sightseeing tour of the Antioquia capital. Explore on foot, by bike, or by public transportation as you visit points of interest such as Plaza Botero, Parque Lleras, the Spanish village of Pueblito Paisa, and the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica. In the afternoon, continue your city tour to some of the many sites associated with drug lord Pablo Escobar for a greater understanding of the life and times of Medellin’s infamous son, or spend some time visiting one of the city’s excellent museums, such as the San Pedro Cemetery Museum, El Castillo Museum, Modern Art Museum, or Museum of Antioquia. Finish off your day with a traditional paisa meal in the home of a local family.

Day 2: Outdoor Adventure

Near perfect weather and a picturesque location in a green valley give Medellin the nickname the City of Eternal Spring. Take advantage of the natural appeal with a day spent in the great outdoors. There are plenty of options, depending on your preferred level of adventure; go horseback riding along backcountry trails, zip through the countryside on an ATV, zipline through the jungle canopy of a nearby nature reserve, or soar high above the city while paragliding. Choose your own adventure à la carte, or combine several into a full day of fun. For something a little more low-key, consider a stroll through the Medellin Botanical Garden or a ride on the aerial cable car instead. Once the sun goes down, head out on the town for an evening bar crawl or salsa dancing tour to some of the city’s local hot spots.

Day 3: Into the Countryside

There’s so much to do within day-trip distance of Medellin that your biggest challenge will be deciding what you most want to see. Active travelers might choose to climb the 700 steps to the top of the El Peñol inselberg for stellar views over the surrounding hills and lakes, while those interested in Colombian culture won’t want to miss the colorful cobbled streets of Guatapé or the colonial architecture of Santa Fe de Antioquia. Foodies should head to Jardín to tour coffee plantations and learn about the growing and production process or to the mountain town of San Francisco for a cocoa-making workshop. Back in Medellin, head to the trendy neighborhood of Parque Lleras, also known as the Zona Rosa, to top off your stay with dinner and drinks.

Modern Medellin, the capital of Antioquia and home of the late Pablo Escobar, sits in a verdant valley surrounded by jagged peaks, with springlike weather throughout the year. This modern metropolis packs plenty of cultural appeal as well. Here’s how to make the most of your 24 hours in the City of Eternal Spring.

Morning: City Sightseeing

There’s a ton to see and do in Medellin, so get your bearings with a sightseeing tour around town. Options are plentiful; opt for a general tour on foot, by metro, and via aerial cable car to see the city’s colonial churches, plazas, and public art, or choose a tour that caters to your particular interests—anything from street art to the sculptures of Fernando Botero. To get a sense for just how naturally beautiful Medellin really is, treat yourself to a morning helicopter flight high above the city.

Afternoon: Pablo Escobar

This afternoon, walk in the footsteps of Medellin’s most infamous son, Pablo Escobar, with a guided excursion to some of the drug lord’s most notorious haunts. See the soccer field Escobar built for the local community, the Monaco Building where a rival cartel tried to assassinate his family, the family home where he was killed on the roof, and his unassuming gravesite in a local cemetery. Hear stories of the cartel kingpin while learning more about how his legacy has impacted modern Medellin.

Night: Salsa Dancing

After your busy day of sightseeing, let loose with a favorite Colombian pastime, salsa dancing. Join a local for an evening of drinking and dancing at salsa clubs where paisas (Medellin locals) go for a night out on the town. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more low-key, opt for a food tour of a local neighborhood (Sabaneta or Envigado) to sample specialties such as buñuelos (cheese balls), chicharrón (pork belly), and locally made sausage.

Grown in rich volcanic soil at high altitude on the shaded slopes of the Andes mountains, balanced and bold Colombian coffee is considered some of the best in the world. Whether you’re a coffee-loving visitor or a newbie to the beverage, here’s what you need to know about coffee tours from Medellín.

Highlights

• Discover one of Colombia’s most famous exports: coffee.

• Visit a working coffee plantation in the Andean foothills to learn about how coffee goes from bean to cup.

• Learn about the history of Colombian coffee and the story of Juan Valdez.

• Combine a coffee farm tour with other Medellín adventures, such as a horseback ride, sightseeing tour, or a visit to the scenic Guatape Rock.

Top Colombian Coffee Plantations

Much of Colombia’s coffee is grown in the Coffee Triangle (Eje Cafetero), on the western slopes of the Andes mountains. Founded in 1892, La Victoria Coffee Plantation is one of the oldest working coffee plantations in the country and a great place to learn about how beans are processed using water-powered generators. At Hacienda Venecia in Manizales, visitors trace coffee from the bean to the cup during an interactive tour. Finca El Ocaso in colorful Salento promotes sustainable coffee production through practices such as organic composting.

Colombian Coffee History

During the 16th century, Jesuit missionaries arrived from Europe and introduced coffee plants to Colombia. According to local legend, a village priest would assign his parishioners the task of planting a few coffee trees instead of a more traditional penance; the practice was then picked up by the archbishop of Colombia, and an industry was born. In 1835, Colombia began exporting coffee to the rest of the world. The South American nation has remained one of the world’s most successful coffee producers, thanks in part to a wildly successful marketing campaign launched in 1959 that introduced coffee drinkers around the globe to the fictional character Juan Valdez.

With two days to spend in Medellin, Colombia’s City of Eternal Spring, you’ll have enough time to explore the city’s monuments and museums, learn about its dark history with Pablo Escobar, and head into the surrounding hills to soak up the region’s natural beauty. Here are some tips for how to spend the ultimate 48 hours in Medellin.

Day 1: Around Town

Morning: Kick off your time in the capital of Antioquia with a city sightseeing tour by car, on foot, or by bike. Learn about the city’s colorful history as you see the statues of Plaza Botero, gaze at the street art of Comuna 13, and visit some of the sites associated with the notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.

Afternoon: Take some time this afternoon to explore one of the city’s excellent museums. Learn about the art of Fernando Botero at the Museum of Modern Art, stroll the manicured gardens of the Castillo Museum, or take a deep dive into Colombian history at the Museum of Antioquia. Visit alone or with a local guide for added insight into what you’re seeing.

Night: All that sightseeing has likely worked up an appetite. Unwind and refuel this evening over dinner in a local Medellin home with a Colombian family. Gain insight into the day-to-day life of modern paisas (Medellin residents) while feasting on traditional bandeja paisa (a dish made with beans, black pudding, chorizo, and fried egg).

Day 2: Into the Hills

Morning: Get an early start this morning for a day of adventure and fresh air. Explore the city’s natural surroundings on a leisurely horseback ride, take an ATV tour of the valleys and mountainsides, or get above it all with a paragliding flight over the city for a bird’s-eye view.

Afternoon: Back in town, use this afternoon to explore the culinary landscape of the city. Learn about Colombia’s coffee heritage during a tasting experience and brewing workshop, tour a local market to sample exotic fruits, or get hands-on during a cooking class.

Night: It would be a shame to leave Medellin without experiencing its thriving nightlife. Polish off your trip with the ultimate night out on the town. Join a local for a Medellin bar crawl customized to your interests, from sipping cocktails in El Poblado to salsa dancing in the Zona Rosa.

With historic clubs and a fiery dance scene, Medellin is one of the world’s best destinations for tango. It’s the perfect place to show off your moves on the dance floor, pay your respects to a tango legend, or head to a historic club to groove to the sounds of live tango music. Here are some ways to discover tango in Medellin.

Take a Tango Tour of Medellin

Check out Medellin tango landmarks on a guided tour of the city’s hot spots and historic tango destinations. After exploring the city, take in the steamy style of some of Medellin’s best dancers during a live performance of tango dancing and music.

Discover Medellin Nightlife

If you prefer your tango music with a side of salsa, a bar crawl is a great way to check out the scene, where many dance floors offer a mix of dancing styles. Most bar crawls include fun perks such as skip-the-line access to hot clubs, free drinks, and discounts, as well as the security of a guide and driver to take the stress out of planning a night on the town.

Celebrate the Legacy of a Tango Great

One of Argentina’s most legendary tango dancers, Carlos Gardel, died tragically in Medellin, and the tango-loving city remembers him with a monument and exhibits at Casa Gardeliana—the Medellin tango museum. Some tours combine a visit to Casa Gardeliana with a live tango show, so you can make a tango day of it.

Fernando Botero, Medellín’s most famous artist, is best known for his exaggerated bronze statues of people and animals, which are on display in cities around the globe. Whether you want to snap selfies with his statues or see some of his lesser known paintings, this is the city to do so. Here’s what you need to know.   Museum of Antioquia The Museum of Antioquia in El Centro is home to one of the largest collections of Botero paintings in the world. Twelve separate rooms display 118 of his paintings, plus another 500 19th- and 20th-century works from other artists around Colombia. Botero-themed walking tours of the city often include admission and a guided tour of the museum collection.   Plaza Botero (Plaza de las Esculturas) The city’s largest concentration of otero sculptures can be found at Plaza de las Esculturas, more popularly known as Plaza Botero. The space features 23 bronze statues donated by the artist himself, depicting men and women, animals, and mythical creatures. Just about every city sightseeing tour stops for a photo op in this busy plaza. ** San Antonio Plaza** Perhaps two of Botero’s most interesting statues stand in San Antonio Plaza. The first of the pair of birds is typical Botero: fat and happy. The second, situated only a few steps away, has a hole torn through its torso. Known as the Pájaro de Paz (Bird of Peace), the latter was blown up by a FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces) bomb in 1995, so Botero created another alongside the original.