Top 5 Activities in Medellin
- Wandervogel123 Florian
- Oct 13
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 5
Are you currently in Medellin? Then these top 5 activities in Medellin are perfect for you!
The 5 top GetYourGuide activities in Medellín, based on popularity and reviews, are typically:
Medellín: Guatapé Tour with Boat, Breakfast, Lunch, and Llamas
The tour you mentioned, "Medellín: Guatapé Tour with Boat, Breakfast, Lunch, and Llamas," is one of the most popular and best-rated day trips offered via GetYourGuide in Medellín.
Here are the typical details and highlights of this all-inclusive tour:
🌟 Tour Highlights
Piedra del Peñol (El Peñol Rock): You will visit the gigantic, 200-meter-high monolith. You have the option to climb the over 740 steps to enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of the lake and island landscape. (Note: Admission to the rock is usually not included in the tour price and must be paid locally).
Boat Ride on the Reservoir: A relaxing boat tour across the Guatapé hydroelectric dam, often with music and the opportunity to see the landscape from a different perspective.
Colorful Guatapé: A guided walk through the picturesque village of Guatapé, famous for its colorful "Zócalos" (decorative reliefs on the baseboards of the houses) that represent the culture and history of the residents.
Llama and Animal Farm: A stop at a llama and animal farm (e.g., in Alto del Chocho), which sets this tour apart from other Guatapé tours and provides unique photo opportunities.
Meals: A traditional Colombian breakfast (often Desayuno Paisa) and a lunch (Almuerzo Paisa), with vegetarian or vegan options usually offered.
🚌 Logistical Details
Aspect | Information |
Duration | Typically 10 to 11 hours (Full-day excursion) |
Included | Round-trip transportation in a modern, air-conditioned bus from Medellín, traditional breakfast, lunch, boat tour, certified bilingual guide (Spanish/English), travel insurance. |
Pickup | Often optional hotel pickup or a central meeting point (e.g., at Parque El Poblado or a Metro station). |
Exclusions | The entrance ticket for the Piedra del Peñol (El Peñol Rock) is generally not included in the tour price (must be purchased locally). |
This tour is often promoted as an "all-inclusive" experience because it covers almost all necessary costs for a stress-free day trip.
You can book the tour directly here:
Medellín: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with Street Food & Cable Car
The Medellín: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with Street Food & Cable Car is one of the most important and frequently booked activities in Medellín. It symbolically represents the impressive social transformation that the city has undergone in recent decades.
Here are the typical contents and highlights of this guided tour:
🌟 Highlights and Experiences
Activity | Description |
Graffiti Tour in Comuna 13 | A guided walk through the colourful streets. You will see and learn the stories behind the spectacular street art, created by local artists, which serves as an expression of social change and hope. |
History of the Transformation | Your guide, often a local, will explain the eventful and violent past of Comuna 13 (especially Operación Orión) and how the neighbourhood has transformed from one of Latin America's most dangerous places into a vibrant art and cultural centre. |
Metrocable (Cable Car) | You will ride the Metrocable system (part of the Medellín Metro) up to the higher areas of the neighbourhood. This offers you a fantastic panoramic view of the city and the mountain slopes. |
Electric Escalators | You will use the famous outdoor electric escalators (escaleras eléctricas), which make the steep climb to their homes easier for the residents and were a key project for social integration. |
Street Food & Snacks | The tour often includes tasting traditional Colombian street snacks such as empanadas, patacón, butifarras, or the famous mango ice cream (Mangobiche) with salt and lemon. |
Local Culture | You often witness spontaneous dance and rap performances by local youth and artists, representing the neighbourhood's lively Hip Hop culture. |
🚌 Logistics Details
Aspect | Information |
Duration | Usually 3 to 4 hours. |
Transportation | The tour uses Medellín's public transport system (Metro, Metrocable and/or bus). Tickets for this are usually included in the tour price. |
Starting Point | The meeting point is usually a central Metro station such as El Poblado or San Javier. |
Guides | The tours are led by bilingual guides (Spanish and English), often locals from the Comuna itself. |
Note | This is a walking tour with inclines and steps. Comfortable shoes are highly recommended. It is also recommended to bring some cash (small bills) for tips for the local artists. |
The tour is considered an absolute must for every visitor to Medellín to experience the fascinating history of social change firsthand.
You can book the tour directly here:
Medellín: Coffee Tour with Tasting and Lunch
The Medellín: Coffee Tour with Tasting and Lunch offers a deep dive into Colombian coffee culture and the entire production process.
As Colombia is one of the world's largest coffee producers and the region around Medellín (Antioquia) is part of the coffee zone, you can experience these tours on family-run farms near the city (often just 30 to 45 minutes away, for example, in San Sebastián de Palmitas or Santa Elena).
🌟 What to Expect on the Coffee Tour
Element | Description |
Coffee Production Process | You will go through all phases of coffee production, from seed to cup: 1. Cultivation/Planting: See the coffee plants and learn about the growing conditions. 2. Harvest/Picking: You learn how to manually pick ripe coffee cherries (red fruits) – often putting on the traditional clothing of a Chapolero (coffee farmer). 3. Processing: You see the steps of pulping, fermenting, washing, and drying the coffee beans. 4. Roasting and Grinding: You experience the process of traditional roasting and grinding of the beans. |
Coffee Tasting (Cata) | The highlight of the tour is a professional tasting (Cupping), where you sample different coffee varieties, get to know the unique aromas and flavor notes, and learn how experts assess quality. |
Lunch | A delicious lunch is included in the price, often a traditional Colombian dish (Almuerzo Típico or Fiambre) prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan options are usually available upon request. |
Culture and History | You learn about the family traditions, the importance of coffee for the Colombian economy and culture, as well as sustainable farming methods. |
🚌 Logistical Details
Aspect | Information |
Duration | Usually 4 to 5 hours (excluding optional activities like horseback riding) or longer if the round trip takes more time. |
Transportation | Round-trip transfer from your hotel or a central meeting point in Medellín (e.g., El Poblado) to the coffee farm is usually included in the price. |
Guides | The tours are led by bilingual (Spanish/English) guides or the coffee farmers themselves. |
Recommendations | Comfortable, closed hiking shoes, sunscreen, and insect repellent are recommended, as the farms are located in the mountains. |
This tour offers an authentic and educational experience that allows you to trace the origin of your coffee from the bean to the finished cup.
You can book the tour directly here:
Medellín: Paragliding
Paragliding is one of the most popular outdoor activities near Medellín, offering spectacular views of the Aburrá Valley and the surrounding mountains.
Flights almost always take place in San Félix, a mountainous area northwest of the city, which offers ideal launch conditions thanks to its topography and wind patterns.
🪁 What to Expect from Paragliding in Medellín
Element | Description |
Flight Location | San Félix, about a 30 to 45-minute drive from Medellín. There are several launch sites and flight schools here. |
Flight Experience | This is a tandem flight, where you fly together with a certified, experienced pilot. You need no prior experience; you just need to briefly walk/run to take off. |
Flight Duration | The actual flight time is typically between 15 and 20 minutes. This can vary depending on wind and weather conditions (it might be shorter or, with good thermal conditions, longer). |
View | You will enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Antioquia landscape, the green hills, farms (fincas), and the Medellín skyline in the Aburrá Valley. |
Optional Extras | Many providers offer the option to record the flight for photos and videos (usually with a GoPro). These are often available for an extra charge or included in a "premium package." |
Adrenaline | Upon request, you can ask your pilot to perform some acrobatic maneuvers ("tricks") for an extra adrenaline rush. |
🚌 Logistics and Safety
Aspect | Details |
Total Duration | Allow 3 to 4 hours from pickup to return, as the travel time and waiting for optimal wind conditions take time. |
Transportation | Most tours include round-trip transportation from your hotel or a central meeting point in Medellín. |
Safety | Only licensed and certified pilots are used, along with well-maintained equipment. Travel insurance is often included in the package. |
Weather | Paragliding is heavily dependent on the weather. Flights usually take place in the morning or at midday, as the risk of rain or bad winds increases in the afternoon. |
What to Bring | Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes/sneakers. A light jacket or sweater is advisable, as it can be cooler at altitude. |
Weight Limit | Note that for safety reasons, there is a weight limit for passengers, which is often around 100 kg to 120 kg. |
Highlights: An adrenaline-pumping flight from the mountain in San Félix with breathtaking 360-degree views of Medellín and the surrounding green valleys. This activity is very frequently listed with top ratings.
You can book the tour directly here:
Medellín: Pablo Escobar Tour
The "Pablo Escobar Tour" in Medellín is a controversial and highly popular tourist activity that delves into the city's dark history and the life of the notorious drug lord.
It is important to understand that these tours are controversial in Colombia. Many locals and the government view it critically that a mass murderer and terrorist is being glorified by tourists and demand that the focus instead be placed on the victims and the positive transformation of Medellín.
🛑 Moral Concerns and Tour Focus
Reputable tour operators have changed the focus of their tours in recent years to present the history more respectfully and factually. Instead of glorifying Escobar, the better tours emphasize:
The victims of the drug war and the reign of violence.
The resilience and transformation of Medellín (the change from the most dangerous city in the world to one of the most innovative).
The historical context of drug trafficking and its impact on Colombia.
🗺️ Typical Stops on the Pablo Escobar Tour
Most half-day tours (approx. 4 hours) include visits to the following locations:
Location | Description |
Parque Memorial Inflexión | This is the most important stop. It is a memorial park located where Escobar's luxurious apartment building (Edificio Mónaco) once stood before it was demolished in 2019. The memorial honors the thousands of victims of the Medellín Cartel's violence. |
Cementerio Jardines Montesacro | The cemetery in Itagüí where Pablo Escobar is buried (alongside family members and the drug trafficker Griselda Blanco). |
Barrio Pablo Escobar | A neighborhood that Escobar built in the 1980s for poor families living in a garbage area. This stop serves to understand his attempt to portray himself as a kind of "Robin Hood" through social projects. |
House of Death (Casa donde murió) | The unassuming house in the Los Olivos neighborhood on whose rooftop Pablo Escobar was shot and killed on December 2, 1993. |
La Catedral (Optional/Upgrade) | Escobar's self-built "prison" in the mountains of Envigado. It is now a monastery or a social meeting point and can only be visited with certain tours (often at an extra charge). |
🔍 Practical Information
Duration: Half-day tours usually last 3 to 5 hours.
Transport: Private transport is almost always included in the price, as the locations are far apart.
Guide: A local, knowledgeable guide (often bilingual) is essential to convey the historical and cultural context.
Highlights: A tour that deals with the controversial history of the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. Often, places like his former prison La Catedral or his grave are visited, with the focus on illuminating the historical and social impact on the city. Note: Opinions on this type of tour are often divided, but it remains one of the most sought-after and booked activities.
You can book the tour directly here:
Top 5 Activities in Medellin - A Conclusion
Medellín, the City of Eternal Spring, offers a fascinating blend of urban innovation, vibrant culture, and breathtaking nature experiences. One of the most important activities is the Graffiti Tour in Comuna 13, which brings to life the impressive social transformation of the once most dangerous neighborhood through art, music, and the famous escalators. No less essential is a day trip to Piedra del Peñol and the village of Guatapé to escape the city and both climb the gigantic rock and marvel at the colorful houses of the charming lakeside village. To see the urban transformation from a unique perspective, one should definitely use the innovative public transportation system and take a ride on the Metrocable cable car, ideally up to Parque Arví, which represents a green oasis and recreational area high above the city. In the heart of Medellín, Plaza Botero beckons with an impressive open-air exhibition of 23 monumental sculptures by the famous Colombian artist Fernando Botero, located right next to the important Museo de Antioquia. The experience is rounded off by a Coffee Farm Tour in the surrounding Antioquia region, which conveys the deep cultural and economic significance of the world-famous Colombian coffee.
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