Green in more ways than one.
It ’s only fitting that the “ City of the Eternal Spring ” has of necessity blossomed in late year — and it ’s only getting greener . Medellín wows at first glimpse . Brick skyscraper tower from its urban center with pops of trees in public parks throughout the Aburrá Valley . Amid a green Andes Mountains backdrop , you see aerial line cars servicing cliffside neighborhoods once difficult to get at . With an eco - friendly transportation organization anda new five - plus mile burrow that cut through the Andes Mountainsbetween theJosé María Córdova International Airportand Medellín ’s city centre , theColombian cityhas never been more accessible . And things are only looking up from here .
In August 2021 , Medellín ’s governmentunveiled big plan to become Latin America ’s first ' Eco - City . ‘And afterColombia elect its first - ever left - lean president in June — who has promised sweeping fleeceable criterion , including the end of new oil exploration — it ’s never been easier to bolster the metropolis ’s commitment to being aSmart Tourism Destination . The architectural plan call for cutting carbon emanation by 20 pct , doubling wheel lanesand public exile itinerary , and electrify all public transport by 2030 .
Medellín is a city of adventure . come in find the urban center ’s undecomposed swanky glamping with canopy beds , outside escalators ring by colorful murals , rich chocolate and aji pepper dishes , and topical anaesthetic make for to protect the gorgeous tropical nature surround . Here are the greatest ( and some of the green ) escapades that await .
doleesi/Shutterstock
Get around via gondola, metro, and outdoor escalators
Yellow taxis , mega truck , and stain bikes endlessly zigzag in Medellín dealings kettle of fish all hours of the day . Skip the cab and opt for a ride withinMedellín ’s multifaceted metro system , which includes the tram , jitney , and rail — the only Metro organisation in Colombia . The rail system stretches across more than 31 kilometers and 27 place . Plus , a head trip is only about $ 1 one - agency .
Do n’t stop at the rail , though ; hop on a Metrocable gondola ride . democratic stops along the style include the National ParkParque ArvíandSan Javier / Comuna 13 , nursing home to graffiti nontextual matter tours galore .
In Comuna 13 , a quintessential Medellín experience is takingthe outdoor public escalator through the neighborhood , block at restaurants , souvenir collapsible shelter , and street art coloring the journey . Even more impressive than the escalators is the Comuna 13 turnaround account , once the city ’s ground zero for guerrilla - drive dispute , and now it ’s the nerveless piazza to be .
John Coletti/The Image Bank/Getty Images
Munch on morsels at a sustainable farm
Yes , Colombia and Antioquia ( the state that Medellín is a capital of ) are heaven for coffee buff and coffee farms . But there is so much more that is grown in this rich - soil region as well . To get sustainable Colombian farm bliss , SiembraViva — an organic farm roughly 30 instant east of Medellín inthe flower - farm - filled town of Santa Elena — offersSunday guided tour of its priming coat .
The experience includes planting and harvest home action , a home - cooked repast at its Herbario restaurant , and even a blind veg tasting . The farm grow Brassica oleracea botrytis , spud , carrot , zucchini , and dozens of other fruits and vegetables , so ensure your taste bud are on their A - game .
These Nature Oases Blend Urban Farming with City Life
Welcome to the best Agrihoods in the country.
Play with turtles and see some biodiversity
perverse to what you ’ll detect in the clunk , rooftop - taproom - cladEl Poblado neighbourhood , the area is family to more than just party creature . There are cute turtles from local rivers that are being rehabilitated , too . Isabel Romerois a local angel to shelled friends and operate theTortugario Estación Cocorná : Centro de Conservación de Tortugafrom her home on the banks of the Magdalena River .
Via herInstagram pageboy , she operates hitch of her turtle sanctuary , hosts environmental education talks , and drives onward a subject matter of like for the local ecosystem and wildlife . You ’ll want to make this excursion a full - day or all-night tripper , as it can take a few hours to get to the sanctuary .
7 Ways to Be a More Earth-Conscious Traveler
Here’s how to make a big impact with just a few small changes.
Dine in the best restaurants and the heart of a botanical garden
In the heart of Medellín is theJardín Botánico Medellín . Just a stone ’s stroke from the Universidad metro stop , this nearly 35 - Akka common is home to more than 4,500 species of flowers , 140 - plus specie of hiss , and one of the best restaurants in town , In Situ . An open - air concept with floor - to - roof windows opening to the garden grounds , this graceful staple offers seasonally enliven pastas , lamb and steak cuts , and more .
Another colossus in the freshest - ingredient blank space isElcielo Restaurant , with Michelin Star honour - winning chefJuan Manuel Barrientosat the helm . Book a booking well in advance at Elcielo and save some stomach space for its 20 - plus course tasting , with sensorial experiences like bathing your hands in chocolate ( and eating the hot chocolate off your hands , too ) .
For shorter dining affairs , Crepes y Wafflesis arguably Colombia ’s most dear chain , where waffles are top and crepes are ingurgitate with outside element that execute the culinary spectrum . And for the best on - the - fly ball empanada in townspeople , hitEmpanadas El Machetico las de Nicofor the crispiest morsel and mate it with some spicy ají sauce . There may be a mob of locals around its front counter , but that ’s how you ’ll have it away you ’ve arrived at the correct spot .
SiembraViva
Book a home base that matches your itinerary’s vibe
In such a select - your - dangerous undertaking city , it ’s only appropriate that Medellín ’s hotels are as diverse as it gets . In the heart of one of the city ’s most upscale neighborhoods , Provenza , you may take to glamp atBambú Glamping Ecolodge , which has canopy beds and open courtyards catering to the backpacker crowd . On the swank front , Hotel Dann Carltonsits along the metropolis ’s mega - mall and depository financial institution - linedGolden Mile , Click Clackin el Poblado is insert quietly forth from the company epicentre of Parque Lleras , andFactory LoftsinLaurelesprovides comparatively soft and cloud - like beds in a city that loves firm ones .
For the part ’s utmosteco - conscious retreat , Cannúa Lodge — approximately 40 minute of arc east of the external airport — offer sustainably built , dress shop - style quarters with panoramic mountain views . Among the experiences you could book are coffee , rummy , and chocolate tasting , as well as sundown hikes up a nearby sight .
RicardoImagen/E+/Getty Images
Diego Grandi
El Cielo Restaurant
Click Clack Hotel
