Day trips
Colonial towns, a giant rock over a lake, coffee farms and a flight over the valley. All of them leave from Medellín in the morning and get you back by night, except Jardín.
Climb the 740 steps of the Piedra del Peñol for a view over the islands of the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir, then walk the streets of Guatapé, where houses are decorated with painted relief panels called zócalos. A boat ride on the reservoir fits in the same day.
Tip: Start early to climb the rock before the midday heat and the weekend crowds.
Founded in 1541 and capital of Antioquia until 1826, the town keeps its stone streets, whitewashed colonial houses and old churches. It sits low in the Cauca valley, so it is much warmer than Medellín, and the Puente de Occidente, a suspension bridge finished in 1895, is a short drive out of town.
Tip: Bring sun protection and light clothes. Access to the Puente de Occidente has changed with repair work over the years, so ask in town whether you can walk across.
A coffee town in the mountains of southwest Antioquia, with a colorful main square, a large stone church and waterfalls in the hills around it. It is about 3 hours each way, so it works much better as an overnight trip than as a day trip.
Tip: If you only have one day, leave very early and plan to spend most of it in the main square and a nearby coffee farm.
Several farms in the hills around Medellín offer tours that walk you through the coffee plants, explain how the beans are picked and processed, and finish with a tasting. Don Leandro Coffee Farm, on the old road to Guarne near Parque Arví, is one of them and runs tours in English.
Tip: Book ahead and confirm the meeting point, since some tours start at the Arví station and others pick you up in El Poblado. You can combine it with Parque Arví.
Official siteSan Félix, a rural area of Bello north of the city, is where most tandem paragliding flights over the Aburrá Valley take off. You fly with an instructor for a short flight over green hills, with Medellín spread out below.
Tip: Book with an established, licensed operator and ask about their safety record. Flights depend on the wind, so keep the morning flexible.
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