Best Medellín Day Trips: Well-known & Hidden Gems
Editeur
Update
Wondering what to do around Medellín? Don’t just stick to classic spots like Guatapé.
Here is a list of the best excursions (1 to 4 days) from Medellín that I love to organize for myself and my friends when I’m in Antioquia—I live in this department of Colombia.
Edit 04/2024: We completely revised this article.
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BEST MEDELLIN DAY TRIPS: THE WELL-KNOWN
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The most visited
TPMT note: 9.5/10
VISIT GUATAPE
Transport: 2h
Price: $
Difficulty: 3/5
Duration: 8h
A stunning view and a colorful village.
Guatapé is a colorful colonial village located on the shore of an artificial lake and near a 200-meter monolith (the Piedra del Peñol), which can be climbed via a 740-step staircase. It’s the most well-known excursion from Medellín.
+ The view from the top of the Piedra del Peñol is magnificent.
+ The streets are colorful and photogenic.
+ You can explore the area by tuk-tuk.
– Very touristic.
- Buses depart every hour from the North Terminal in Medellín until 6pm.
- It takes 2 hours to get there.
- You’ll need 5-6 hours on-site.
- 740 steps to climb to the top of the Piedra.
- Avoid going during the high season.
- Buy your return ticket from Guatapé to Medellín a few hours in advance.
- Stop at the Piedra first, then visit Guatapé.
© Tomplanmytrip
Cultural
TPMT note: 9.5/10
VISIT A COFFEE FARM
Transport: 1H30
Price: $$$
Difficulty: 2/5
Duration: 9h
Discover the daily life of an adorable family that grows coffee.
A charming family welcomes you to explore the world of coffee. After a hearty and delicious breakfast, you will visit the plantation to learn about all the steps involved in making this delightful beverage, from seed to cup. Then, you’ll move on to the tasting stage, where you’ll learn how to distinguish between good and bad coffee.
+ A very comprehensive coffee experience.
+ Delicious traditional breakfast and lunch.
+ A charming Colombian family.
– A little bit far from Medellin.
- Wear long pants and good shoes for walking in the plantation.
© Tomplanmytrip
Village
TPMT note: 9.5/10
VISIT JERICO
Transport: 2H30
Price: $$
Difficulty: 1/5
Duration: 2-3 days
A colonial village nestled in the mountains.
Not very visited by tourists but popular among Colombians for religious festivals, Jerico is an authentic colonial village on a hillside with fantastic views of the surrounding peaks and the Cauca Valley. It’s the perfect place for hiking, visiting a coffee farm, or mingling with locals in the large central square surrounded by colorful houses.
+ The most beautiful coffee farm in Antioquia.
+ Lovely colonial streets.
+ Many artisans.
+ A stunning view of the Cauca Canyon.
- Go to the South Bus Terminal in Medellín and take a 2.5-hour bus to Jericó. Check the bus schedule here.
- Don’t miss the visit to Ariel’s Finca.
- Bring a jacket. It gets cool in the evenings.
- Despertar is my favorite hotel.
© Tomplanmytrip
Village
TPMT note: 9.5/10
VISIT JARDIN
Transport: 3H30
Price: $$
Difficulty: 1/5
Duration: 3-4 days
A colonial village surrounded by waterfalls and coffee plantations.
Still preserved while increasingly opening up to tourism, Jardín is a picturesque and peaceful colonial village. Here, you can savor the authenticity of the Antioqueño lifestyle and learn more about coffee culture. It’s a fantastic destination for hiking enthusiasts, waterfall lovers, and bird watchers, as well as for those who enjoy canyoning or horseback riding.
+ Good restaurants.
+ Numerous activities to fill your days.
+ Delightful atmosphere in the village.
+ Excellent hotels.
- Go to the South Bus Terminal in Medellín and take a 3.5-hour bus to Jardín. Check the bus schedule here.
- Avoid going on weekends, especially if the following Monday is a holiday (too crowded).
- I love the horseback ride to Chorro Blanco and the Seven Waterfalls trek.
- Plantación is my favorite hotel.
© Tomplanmytrip
Nature
TPMT note: 8.5/10
SLEEPING AT RIO CLARO
Transport: 3H
Price: $$$
Difficulty: 2.5/5
Duration: 2 jours
A nature reserve with a beautiful river.
Rio Claro is a nature reserve crossed by a stunning river. Besides the many activities offered (rafting, hiking, caving), you can sleep in a lodge immersed in lush nature.
+ Numerous activities (with or without guides).
+ A beautiful nature (river, fauna, and flora).
+ Rooms surrounded by nature.
– Organisation un peu chaotique.
– Speak Spanish only.
Take a bus from the North Terminal in Medellín towards Bogotá (3 hours) and ask the driver to drop you off at the entrance – it’s best to use your Google Maps to show him where to stop.
Here is the Site.
- Bring insect repellent, a jacket for the evening, water shoes, and a headlamp.
- No cell service or Wi-Fi.
- The lodge (my favorite accommodation) is a 10-minute walk from the entrance.
- It is possible to visit in one day from Medellín (12-13 hours), but we don’t recommend it.
© Tomplanmytrip
Cultural
TPMT note: 8/10
VISIT SANTA ELENA
Transport: 45 min
Price: $$$
Difficulty: 1.5/5
Duration: 6h
Visit a flower farm above Medellín.
Santa Elena is a district of Medellín, home to many families who cultivate (and export) flowers and preserve the family tradition of “Silleteros.” Every year, these families create beautiful “silletas” (floral arrangements) to parade during the city’s most important festival, “La Feria de las Flores.”
+ Beautiful landscapes.
+ Close to Medellin.
+ Adorable families, deeply attached to their traditions.
+ A bit off the beaten tourist path.
– Difficult to organize without an agency.
- There are many flower farms in Santa Elena (check Google Maps).
- The easiest way is to hire a driver or book a tour from Medellín.
- Contact the farm to ensure they are open.
- It’s best to visit a few weeks before La Feria de las Flores.
- There are excellent restaurants in the village.
© Tomplanmytrip
Village
TPMT note: 8/10
VISIT SANTA FE DE ANTIOQUIA
Transport: 1h30
Price: $
Difficulty: 1/5
Duration: 6-7h
A beautiful colonial town, the former capital of Antioquia.
Santa Fe de Antioquia is a beautiful colonial village with impressive churches, pleasant plazas, and a historic suspension bridge (still in working condition) over the Cauca River.
+ The charming streets with white facades.
+ A fascinating history.
+ The view from el Puente del Occidente.
– You can quickly get bored if you’re not with a guide..
– it’s very hot.
- Departures every 20 minutes from the northern terminal.
- Less than 1h30 to get there.
- It’s more enjoyable with a private tour.
- Try to avoid weekends.
- You can also meet gold miners.
- Gift idea: Santa Fe is famous for its filigree jewelry and tamarind sweets.
© Tomplanmytrip
Culturel
TPMT note: 8/10
CARMEN DE VIBORAL
Transport: 1H30
Price: $
Difficulty: 0.5/5
Duration: 6-7H
The Colombian capital of ceramics.
El Carmen de Viboral is a small town known for its colorful handmade ceramics. You can see them while walking through the streets (they are used as decoration) or visit one of the many shops. It is also possible to watch the manufacturing process and make your ceramics.
+ An excellent activity for families.
+ Perfect for bringing a souvenir home.
– Few things to do, except ceramics.
– Activity only in Spanish.
- Take a “flota El Carmen” bus at the North terminal in Medellín.
- The ceramic tour is at fixed times (twice a day)—Google Maps.
- Website.
- It’s better to go during the week (less crowded).
© Tomplanmytrip
Park
TPMT note: 6/10
HACIENDA NAPOLES
Transport: 3H
Price: $$
Difficulty: 2/5
Duration: 15H
The former home of Pablo Escobar turned into an amusement park.
Visit a family theme park, Hacienda Nápoles, which includes a zoo and water attractions.
+ An activity for families to have fun. The park is gigantic.
+ The largest concentration of hippos (outside Africa).
– Far from Medellin
- With a tour departing from Medellín or a private vehicle.
- 13 km of trails inside the park.
- Google Maps.
- Website.
- Protect yourself from the sun.
- Consider a brief visit to the village of El Doradal.
- It has nothing to do with Pablo Escobar’s former home.
© Jess Kraft
BEST MEDELLIN DAY TRIPS: MY HIDDEN GEMS
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Cultural
TPMT note: 9.5/10
TAKE A CACAO TOUR
Transport: 2h
Price: $$$
Difficulty: 2.5/5
Duration: 10h
Interesting visit to a small cacao farm.
You will leave in a jeep with your bilingual guide to visit a cacao farm near San Francisco. While tasting delicious chocolates made on-site, you will discover the entire process of creating a good chocolate bar. You can even cover your body in it before bathing in a waterfall.
+ A lovely family.
+ A delicious lunch.
+ A very complete day (culture & nature).
– A little bit far from Medellin.
– It’s expensive.
- With an agency from Medellin.
- You can stay overnight in the area to combine this activity with rafting or a hike. The price will become more attractive overall.
© Tomplanmytrip
Adrenaline
TPMT note: 9.5/10
GO RAFTING
Transport 2H
Price: $$$
Difficulty: 3.5/5
Duration: 1-3 days
A river with crystal-clear waters and incredible landscapes.
From El Poblado, you depart by jeep to explore the stunning rivers around Cocorna and San Francisco by raft. With a mix of class 2, 3, and 4 rapids, it’s the perfect balance between challenge and fun.
+ The landscapes are breathtaking.
+ The company is taking legal action to preserve the site.
+ Logistics and guides are top-notch.
+ Many routes for all levels.
– It’s a bit far from Medellin (2-3h)
- These are shared tours, but you can book a private tour if you come in a group.
- I loved the two-day excursion on the Rio Verde. After a good meal, we spent the night in a hammock by the water. Incredible!
- You can combine rafting with a cultural tour, such as coffee or chocolate, or go paragliding!
- The water flow is higher during the rainy season.
©Tomplanmytrip
Nature
TPMT note: 9.5/10
VISIT SAN RAFAEL
Transport: 2H40
Price: $$
Difficulty: 2.5/5
Duration 3 days
A stay surrounded by crystal-clear waters.
I love the Bizcocho area, 10 minutes from San Rafael. It’s an excellent base for spending a day in Guatapé, swimming in beautiful rivers, and taking a guided tour of a chocolate plantation.
+ ideal to combine Guatapé with other experiences.
+ Some great accommodations.
+ Easy to go swimming in the river.
+ Cool chocolate tours.
– Many insects.
- Take a bus from the North terminal in Medellín to San Rafael (3 hours) and ask the driver to drop you off at El Bizcocho.
- Arrange a chocolate tour at Finca El Toche.
- Flag down the bus on the side of the road to return to Guatapé.
- Contact Esmeralda to arrange great hikes.
- I love the hotels Ecolodge Raices and Casa Luan.
- Don’t go on weekends (too crowded).
© Tomplanmytrip
Adrenaline
TPMT note: 9/10
CANYONING
Transport: 4H30
Price: $$
Difficulty: 4/5
Duration: 2-3 days
San Carlos is a paradise for canyoning.
Get off at San Carlos and explore the waterfalls with Manuel, a great bilingual (English/Spanish) local guide.
+ Many outdoor activities: canyoning, hiking, tubing.
- Departures to San Carlos from the North terminal in Medellín are every hour with the bus companies Transoriente and Coornote. The travel takes 4 to 5 hours.
- Contact Manuel (this page).
- My favorite hotel is Finca Betel.
- I enjoyed the Ruta El Chispero because it’s a very complete aquatic course: jumping, hiking, and rappelling.
- You can also reach San Carlos from Guatapé and San Rafael.
© Tomplanmytrip
Nature
TPMT note: 9/10
RIO MELCOCHO
Transport: 3H30
Price: $$
Difficulty 3.5/5
Duration: 1-3 days
The clearest river in Antioquia.
Melcocho is a beautiful river accessible only from a nature reserve located in the El Retiro district. You can spend the day there or stay overnight to enjoy its crystal-clear waters better. I recommend staying at La Isla to experience an authentic adventure with a charming family from the reserve.
+ A beautiful nature.
+ A lovely family offering many packages.
– It’s not easy to get there from Medellín.
– A lot of people on weekends.
- You need a reservation to enter this nature reserve.
- Given the distance, I recommend staying overnight and arriving in the morning.
- During the week, you will need to contact the jeep yourself to go from Pailania to El Retiro.
© Tomplanmytrip
Hiking
TPMT note: 8.5/10
BELMIRA
Transport 2h
Price: $$
Difficulty: 4/5
Duration 12h
The closest páramo to Medellín.
The páramos are a beautiful ecosystem typical of Colombia. Once you arrive in Belmira, get ready for a 5 to 6-hour hike with a local guide (600m of positive elevation gain), through stunning landscapes and viewpoints.
+ The only páramo you can visit in a day from Medellín.
+ A very diverse flora as you pass through different ecosystems.
– Long day from Medellin.
- You can take a bus (2h20) with Expreso Belmira (from the North terminal in Medellín) to meet your local guide in Belmira.
- Or book a tour from Medellín (with private transport).
- It regularly rains in the páramos—bring a raincoat.
- The best season is from December to March and from July to August.
© Tomplanmytrip
Village
TPMT note: 8.5/10
CONCEPCIÓN
Transport: 2H
Price: $
Difficulty: 1.5/5
Duration: 8h
A peaceful colonial village.
Concepción is the perfect choice if you want to visit a colonial village near Medellín that’s completely unknown to foreign travelers. You’ll love its charming, colorful streets, rivers, and delicious desserts.
+ A pretty village easy to visit.
+ Natural pools nearby (Matasano).
+ Can be visited in a day.
- Take an early bus from the northern terminal in Medellín with the SotrasanVicente company (2 hours).
- Visit the village and its surroundings. You can get in touch with Paraiso Concha.
- Better to go during the week (fewer people).
- Buy your return bus ticket a few hours in advance.
© Julián Holguín
Hiking
TPMT note: 8/10
CERRO TUSA
Transport: 1H30
Price: $$
Difficulty: 4.5/5
Duration: 9-10h
The world’s biggest natural pyramid.
Cerro Tusa is a mountain with a very sharp appearance (hence its nickname as a natural pyramid), peaking at 1850m at the foot of the village of Venecia. The ascent is brief (around 1h30), but the last section is very steep (about 60 degrees).
+ A lovely view from the top of a narrow summit.
+ You can visit the village of Venecia.
– The steep gradient makes the hike quite unpleasant. You go there for the “challenge” more than anything.
- From the south terminal in Medellín, take the bus with Flota Fredonia to Venecia (departures every hour, 1h30 trip).
- Book a guide with the tourism office. Here.
- Take a tuktuk to the base of Cerro Tusa. 2.5km trail.
- Start as early as you can.
- While a guide isn’t required, it contributes to the local economy, and the cost is very affordable.
- Afterward, you can take a dip at Cerro Tusa Spring.
© Tomplanmytrip
Favorite experiences From Medellin
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Medellin: Guatapé colourful village and the piedra del peñol 1d
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1 Day
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Stroll through the colorful streets of the colonial village and marvel at the view from the Belvedere.
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Medellin: All about chocolate on a cacao farm 1d
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Learn the secrets of making chocolate, a delicacy that leaves no one indifferent.
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Medellin: Adrenalin rush rafting on the rio calderas 1d
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Feel the thrill as you approach a rapid and share those emotions with your crew.
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Medellin: Rafting, bivouac and adventure on the Rio Verde 2d
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Discover an unforgettable experience that combines adrenalin, wonder and sharing in an untouched natural environment.
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