Things to do in

Medellín

Discover the city of Guatapé on a guided tour from Medellín and learn about this colorful city from your guide. Board a sightseeing cruise to the breathtaking Piedra del Peñol followed by lunch. Start your morning with pickup from your accommodation in Medellín and travel to the vibrant city of Guatapé. With your guide, explore the colorful streets with their artistic tiled facades and fascinating history. Then, board a boat and sail through the reservoir. Enjoy panoramic views of Casa Museo, La Cruz, Piedras del Marial, Piedra del Peñol, and the ruins of the Pablo Escobar's vacation home. Learn about the sights from your guide. Disembark and visit the imposing Piedra del Peñol. Explore your lush surroundings with plenty of great photo opportunities, particularly if you choose to climb this impressive monument. After, regain your strength with a delicious lunch. Make one more stop at the Plaza de Zocalos and admire the colorful murals and the history behind them. After the tour, be returned to where you were picked up.

Depart Medellin early in the morning. Enjoy a scenic drive to the Piedra del Peñol. You’ll have 1.5 hours to climb the 742 steps to the top of the historic rock and return to the base.  If you do not want to climb to the top, there is plenty to do at the base, with many shops selling local artisanal goods and many cafés as well. Enjoy a traditional lunch at the Piedra del Peñol or along the boardwalk in Guatapé. Take a guided tour of Guatapé, and then board a boat for a cruise on the Guatapé Reservoir. You will then start the return journey back to Medellin.

Meet your guide in the metro station to begin the tour and experience Medellín like a local. Learn all about the stations and key points in the city as well as how the metro system helped shape the new Medellin. When arriving at the connecting station, hop on a cable car up the hill. As you go, admire the panoramic views of the city and find out about its evolving history and troubled past. At the top, stop to sample local snacks and take a short ride on the bus toward the Comuna 13 district. At the Comuna 13, the real fun begins. An enthusiastic guide will explain all the positive changes made to transform what was once one of the most dangerous communities in South America into a symbol of the new Medellín. You will have time to take in all the amazing street art and ride the electric outdoor escalators to the top observation deck, which offers incredible views. Listen to insights about Medellín, interesting stories from the guides, meet locals and learn about the library that works as a community center before returning to Poblado metro station.

Start with pickup from your hotel located in the El Poblado neighborhood or the meeting point in Parque Lleras. Drive 45 minutes to arrive at the launching pad where you will have a great view over the Medellín region. Rely on high-quality gear and instructions from professional and reputable staff. Receive an introductory lesson, and then fly out over the Aburra Valley over the beautiful scenery. See spots such as the Medellin River, the El Quitasol hill, the Garcia barrage, and the Picacho hill, with the spectacular backdrop of the mountains. After your flight, return to the city of Medellín.

Head out to San Sebastián de Palmitas, just 45 minutes from Medellín, to begin your unique coffee tour. After hotel pick-up, set off for a coffee-making farm and enjoy listening to a brief history about the origin of the coffee and how it was first brought to Colombia. Take the chance to dress in the typical costume of the paisa muleteer, including hat, poncho, paruma, and the tail of a rooster. Later, move on to a coffee plantation to carry out the coffee harvest, reducing the mixture to a pulp and finally, drying it. After these activities, sit down for a refreshing drink of musilago (coffee juice) and a tea made from the coffee pulp. Savor a typical dish from the region made of banana with honey and cheese. Hear your guide explain some techniques on how to prepare and drink coffee and have a short tasting of different coffees and servings. Later, try a typical dish of the paisa muleteer consisting of rice, yuca, ground beef, boiled egg, sausage, and banana. Try preparing your coffee to your own taste with the information you have just learned from your guide. Finally, receive a pack of coffee as a gift and have the chance to buy farm products at the shop. If the option is chosen, also experience a 2-hour horseback ride through the farm to some viewpoints. All instructions will be given to inexperienced riders.

The tour starts and ends at the Poblado metro station. You will take three main types of transportation: metro, cable car and bus. You will walk through the graffiti district and take the escalators. After taking the metro, you will enjoy riding the metro cable, you will see the houses on the mountain tops, visit a spectacular viewpoint and learn about the evolution of the city's transportation system. Then you will take a bus to the graffiti district, from where the walking tour will begin. You will be amazed by all kinds of art expressions, such as graffiti, oil paintings, graffiti printed clothes, music shows and dance shows. You will visit a very authentic neighborhood, full of art, music, food and friendly people. During the tour, you will see spectacular graffiti, which are painted by local artists. The guide will explain the meaning of the main graffiti and answer any questions you may have. You will also enjoy street performances such as break dance, rap or trova (traditional musical genre). You will also be able to see multiple options of snacks and traditional Colombian street food. In addition to all of the above, you will visit the best viewpoints of the neighborhood, from which you can see much of the city. During the tour the guide will explain the historical events related to the time of violence in the neighborhood, such as the military operation that liberated the neighborhood from the guerrillas in 2002 and how through the union of the community, the graffiti, the investment in the metro cable and the construction of the escalators, the neighborhood is a clear example of transformation and social development, becoming the most visited place in Colombia and one of the most visited in the world. Finally, the guide will take you to a bar with the best viewpoint of the neighborhood, where a drink is included and you will be able to get to know the other travelers in more depth. Join us, explore the most authentic neighborhood of Medellin and meet other travelers!

Discover the political, social, and economic context of drug trafficking in Colombia on an eye-opening tour. Learn about Pablo Escobar's life, death, and impact. Visit Comuna 13 to see the inspiring transformation of what was once one of the most dangerous places in the world with a local guide. After pickup from your hotel in Medellin, head to Cementerio Jardines Montesacro to visit Pablo Escobar's grave. Discover different perspectives and points of view on Pablo's history. Gain an understanding of the context in which Pablo Escobar grew up and what made him who he was. Next, see Los Olivos Antioquia, the rooftop where Pablo Escobar died. Discuss the political and economic context of Columbia in the eighties and nineties. Discover the impact the drug lord's legacy still has. Then, visit Parque Conmemorativo Inflexión, a memorial to the victims of narco-terrorism. Finally, explore Comuna 13 and its history. Marvel at street art and stories of Colombians whose strength and resilience turned this previously violent area around. Unpick stereotypes and discuss the importance of education.

Enjoy Pablo Escobar's former farm that has been transformed into a theme park to be enjoyed by everyone from kids to adults. When entering Hacienda Nápoles, you will encounter a world of fun with pools for the family, lazy river, dinosaur replicas, bird world, an African museum, and much more. You will also be shown Escobar's main house, known as La Mayoría. Visit the Memorial Museum, where you will learn about the life of the drug lord and see the first airplane he used to send drugs abroad. Explore different wildlife habitats and be amazed as you encounter tigers, elephants and other creatures from the wild. The tour will last throughout the whole day as it is a long way from Medellin, but expect lots of fun! There will be breakfast included and plenty of places to eat lunch at the park.

Hop into a van in Lleras Park and drive from Medellín into the mountains. Once arrived, warm up first in a parking lot with your 550cc ATV quads take a short test over an obstacle course. Receive instruction and safety tips from an experienced guide throughout the activity.  Enjoy a ride in the majestic mountains of Antioquia, in a natural reserve surrounded by pure Colombian nature, various trees, flowers, and fauna. Stop at a couple of view points to take amazing photos. Return to Medellín after an exhilarating day exploring the countryside.

Get an insight into Colombia's troubled past on a private guided tour of the formerly dangerous district of Comuna 13 in Medellín.   Discover a replica of an old village at Pueblito Paisa on Nutibara Hill, and get stunning views over the rooftops from one of the city's few conserved ecosystems. Make your way to Comuna 13 to learn how the most notorious neighborhood in the country has reinvented itself. See stunning examples of street art and graffiti that puts the political and socio-economic story of the area into context. Once the center of the gang wars and guerilla activity, the area has been transformed by the local community with the help of government projects such as a giant escalator that runs up the hill. Visit the Botanical Garden and other sustainable city projects such as the charismatic Park of Desires, and the iconic sculptures by Fernando Botero on Botero Plaza.