60-Second Geography

Medellín

• On the banks of the Medellin River sits Cerro Nutibara, one of the seven guardian hills of Medellín. The hill features three major attractions: the Pueblito Paisa, the Nutibara Sculpture Park, and the Carlos Vieco Theater, all popular with incoming visitors. The Pueblito Paisai (Little Town) is a reproduction of a turn-of-the-century Antioquia town, including a stone fountain, babershop, mayor’s home, and a one-room schoolhouse. At the foot of the hill is the Nutibara Sculpture Park, the first of its kind in the country. The Sculpture Park features 10 modern and abstract sculptures by Colombian and international artists. At the northern slope of the hill is the Carlos Vieco Theater, premiering in 1984 and designed by Oscar Mesa, it was named in honor of famous Colombian composer, Carlos Vieco Ortiz.

• The second-oldest museum in Colombia, the Museo de Antoquia is one of the best in the country. The exhibits feature art collections from pre-Colombian, colonial, and modern eras, and many other works donated by known local artist Fernando Botero. In front of the museum is the Plazoleta de las Esculturas, an outside sculpture gallery featuring 23 bronze sculptures, also created by Botero. The public space with the sculptures is a popular place for locals and visitors to congregate and enjoy the Colombian weather.

• A nature lover’s playground, the Parque Arví is a large nature preserve just outside of Medellín that offers hiking, skiing, and camping. Parque Arví was created as a natural sanctuary for both locals and the international community alike. The preserve is accessible by a new cable car up the mountain (closed on Mondays for maintenance) or by automobile. In the park are butterfly enclosures, lakes, beautiful flora and fauna, and hiking trails, which can be explored by guided tours or independently.

• If you love to dance, and if you especially love exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of Medellín, then you’ll want to check out El Tibri, a hidden salsa club with free cover and inexpensive drinks. The club is small to keep the atmosphere intimate, and dancers of all ages can be seen practicing their salsa moves. While not as fancy or posh as bars in El Poblado, the club is popular for its casual atmosphere and cheap beer, making it especially attractive to the younger crowd.

• Just an hour and a half away from Medellín is the eco-tourism hotspot of Guatape, a lakeside village town in Easter Antioquia. Guatape is proud of its natural beauty and splendor, and can be seen from breathtaking heights on a canopy zipline that crosses over the lake. Boat tours are available to take you to see La Manuela, the bombed-out and abandoned lakeside mansion, or Viejo Peñol, the town that was submerged when the reservoir was built. On the weekends, the boardwalk fills up with local vendors selling Paisa food, crafts, and art. You can also partake in hiking, kayaking, fishing, shopping, ziplining, mountain biking, horseback riding, and touring the local museum.

Explore Beautiful Medellín!

Colombian Culture, Caribbean & Lost City

Witness the revitalization of this welcoming country firsthand, savour the meld of Latin-Caribbean flavours with Colombia’s world-famous cuisine, get familiar with Colombian coffee in Calarcá and Minca, relax to the Caribbean rhythms on the coast, climb 1,200 steps to reach the Lost City of Teyuna, watch hummingbirds in the trees from the comfort of a hammock.

Colombia Experience

Sip coffee at its source amidst lush plantations and spend the night at a hacienda-coffee farm, explore the famed city of Medellín and learn about its notorious past, wander the cobblestone streets in historic Cartagena, explore the lush jungle and beaches of pristine Tayrona National Park.

Colombia Express

Witness the revitalization of this welcoming country firsthand, savour the meld of Latin-Caribbean flavours with Colombia’s world-famous cuisine, get familiar with the coffee-region of Calarcá and soak in the Caribbean vibe in Cartagena.