Travel Guide South America Colombia Medellin
Medellin is Colombia's second largest city with around 2.5 million inhabitants in the city and a million or so more in the metropolitan area. It's located in the Aburra Valley at an elevation of almost 1,500 metres above sea level.
Botero Plaza is the place that many visitors head to when visiting Medellin. It is in this square that many of Botero's famous bronze statues are placed. Across from the plaza is located the Museo de Antioquia, which houses many more statues and paintings by Botero. The museum also shows many 19th and 20th century national and international artists.
Medellin is possibly the best place in South America to either try paragliding, or to get certified in it. The mountains surrounding the city are often filled with paragliders. A week-long intensive course usually costs around US$400, including all the materials. It is worth checking that your teacher speaks fluent English!
This is the biggest and most prized festival of the local "Paisas". Consisting of a whole week of events, concerts, parades and parties it cumulates in the beautiful parade of the "silleteros" who design inspiring flower displays which they carry on their backs from the nearby municpality of Sana Elena to the centre of Medellín to cheers of the huge crowds. Not to be missed.
Average high and low temperatures are very constant throughout the year: 27 °C or 28 °C during the day and 16 °C or 17 °C at night. Records are only 33 °C and 10 °C respectively, giving the city an almost spring-ish climate year round. Almost, because precipitation is relatively high as well, with 1,600-1,700 mm a year. December to February is the driest and and April-June and August-November the wettest months.
José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) is about half an hour from the city. Destinations include Bogota, Miami, New York City, Panama City, Caracas, Lima, Quito, San José, Fort Lauderdale, San Andres Island, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta.
Taxis are plentiful and cheap.
A very well organised (the pride of the local "Paisas") metro system has two lines that cover the elongated city well. Travelling above ground it gives great views of this andean urbanisation. Due to the poorer communities being forced to build up into the mountains, the first and only cable car used for public transport has been built to allow better access to the city's more humble residents. The cable cars offer great views and are often frequented by tourists.
Many buses also sprawl the city but the system is somewhat disorganised and should be avoided by passers-by as to not get lost.
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lleras Park Hostal | Carrera 39 #8-72, El Poblado Zona Rosa | Hostel | 79 |
| Casa Kiwi Hostel Medellin | Carrera 36 # 7 - 10 | Hostel | 85 |
| Global Hostal Colombia | Carrera 35 #7-58 Zona Rosa | Guesthouse | 82 |
| Hostal Tamarindo | Calle 7 #35-36 El Poblado | Hostel | 93 |
| Hotel Conquistadores | Cra 54 # 49-31 Medellin | Hotel | 72 |
| Samán Hostel | Cl 10 N° 36-24 | Hostel | 92 |
| Sunshine Hostel Medellin | Calle 9 43c - 36 | Hostel | 87 |
| The Pit Stop Hostel | Cra 43e, No 5 -110, Patio Bonito Poblado | Hostel | 85 |
| Tiger Paw Hostel | Car. 36 No. 10-49 | Hostel | 88 |
| Yellow HouseHostel | Carrera 81a 47a - 48 La Floresta | Hostel | 92 |
| Black Sheep Hostel Medellin | Transversal 5A #45-133 Patio Bonito | Hostel | 89 |
| Sophia's House | Calle 37 D #82A-27 Laureles | Hostel | 97 |
| Palm Tree Hostel Medellin | Carrera 67 N° 48 D-63, Barrio Suramericana | Hostel | 100 |
| El Arupo Hostel-Medellin | Carrera 33N7-135 Barrio El Poblado | Guesthouse | 90 |
| Ram Hostal | Calle 11A 42 05 | Guesthouse | 97 |
| Casa Blanca | Transversal 5A No 45-256 | Hostel | 83 |
| 61Prado Guesthouse | Calle 61 #50a-60 | Guesthouse | 85 |
| Club Vip Medellin | Carrera 41, Sur 21 161 | Hotel | - |
| Palm Tree Hostal | Calle de San Pablo 26 | Guesthouse | 93 |
| Waypoint Hostel | Carrera 48 B # 10 Sur - 08 | Hostel | 91 |
| Chillhouse | Transversal 34 Sur #31E59 | Guesthouse | 100 |
| Geo Hostel | Carrera 35 No 8A-58 | Hostel | 96 |
| La Campana Hotel Boutique | Calle 11A # 31A - 70 | Hotel | - |
| Casa Mayde | Calle 10 37-39 | Guesthouse | 97 |
| Hotel Florida Medellin | Carrera 70 Nº44B - 38 | Hotel | - |
| Secret Buddha Hostel | Calle 94B Sur No 51-121, Inmaculada 2, La Estrella | Hostel | 93 |
| Lake View Hostel | Guatape, Antioquia | Guesthouse | 97 |
| The Wandering Paisa Backpackers Hostel | Calle 44 A No. 68 A 76 Laureles. | Hostel | 95 |
| Arcadia Hostel | Calle 11A, No. 31A-188 Las Lomas 1, Poblado | Hostel | 90 |
| La Casa Colombiana | Km 15 Via Santa Elena, Medellin | Hostel | 89 |
| Hostel Lucana | Transv 39B 70 91 Avenida Nutibara | Hostel | 36 |
| Hotel Porton Medellin | Carerra 43 A # 9 sur 51. Avenida el Poblado. | Hotel | - |
| Best Western Cyan Suites | Carrera 29C #10c - 100 | Hotel | - |
| Art Hotel | Carrera 41 # 9 -31 | Hotel | 87 |
| Paraworld Adventure Hostel | Calle 11A 43D 22 | Hostel | 94 |
| Calle 10 Hostel | Calle 10 43D-D5 El Poplado | Hostel | 96 |
| Urban Buddha Hostel | Circular 73 A 38-55 Laureles | Hostel | 100 |
| Hostal Antiguo | CL 52 A CR 55 45 | Hostel | 100 |
See also International Telephone Calls
The country calling code to Colombia is: 59
To make an international call from Colombia, the code is: 005
4-72 is the unusual name of Colombia's postal service. They have post offices throughout the country, which are open usually from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday and sometimes on Saturday mornings as well. That doesn't apply to all offices though, only the larger ones in the big cities. But for example along the Caribbean coast, offices tend to close between noon and 2:00pm. But even at the ones that are officially open all day long, it might be difficult to get anything done during those hours. For domestic services, sending letters and postcards is mostly reliable but takes days, for international services don't hold your breath. Eventually, a postcard or letter might arrive in the country of destination but it's almost not worth it. For parcels, you are better off using companies like FedEx, DHL or UPS.
Utrecht (58%)
sirwhale (21%)as well as Rraven (12%), Hien (5%), Ofelia (5%)
Help contribute to this article to share the ad revenue.
We don't currently have any Travel Helpers for Medellin
This is version 26. Last edited at 10:35 on Jan 23, 12 by sleepBot (+2). 10 articles link to this page.

Except where otherwise noted, content of this article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License