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Trip Report
Medellín - Colombia
Party, fun and nice walks. Medellín is one of the most nocturnal cities that I have ever known, despite that we can do many walks in nature and cultural activities.
+ 27
South AmericaColombia90 days / May - June - July 2019
Highs & Lows
Spring all year!
The city has a lot of pollution
Itinerary Overview
Tuve la suerte de disfrutar Medellín al máximo, estuve allí unos 3 meses. Es muy fácil conseguir un voluntario en un refugio y el costo de vida no es mucho. Conocí a muchos artistas, eso me pareció muy interesante. Aunque la historia de la ciudad es un poco triste, debido a su pasado violento, la gente suele ser muy amable y hay muchos turistas con los que compartir recorridos o salir a bailar a discotecas. Durante el tiempo que estuve allí noté que la cultura está en un proceso de cambio impresionante, las nuevas generaciones se han apropiado de los espacios y los han convertido en ambientes muy artísticos. Las calles tienen muchos murales y grafitis, hay muchos DJ tocando en vivo en los clubes y podemos encontrar músicos tocando en las calles.
COOLTO Art Lodge Many restaurants, bars and clubs.
17+- La Provenza es una zona rosa de la ciudad, aquí encontramos los mejores restaurantes, hoteles y discotecas. Este sector siempre está lleno de turistas.
The streets are very beautiful, there are many trees and vegetation. All the stores have well-groomed facades and the people are very friendly.
- At night the atmosphere changes completely, there are many people partying here. Sometimes it can be a bit dangerous, due to crime and excessive drugs and alcohol.
Most of the discos play reggaton or salsa, typical music of this region. But we find some places a little more alternative where there are djs and dancehall, electronic music, or rap sounds. In particular, these places were my favorites, there were many young people wearing very striking clothes, you could drink delicious cocktails and have interesting conversations.
Manila Tranquility, delicious food and friendly people.
2+- Manila is a sector that is still very touristy but there are also many family houses. There are many hostels and restaurants. The area is very quiet and has a very warm atmosphere.
If you want to know the city and you don't like noise, partying and nightclubs, this is a perfect place for you. It also has a lot of vegetation in the streets and we find better prices for accommodation.
- There are very good quality restaurants and cafes. We can find food from different parts of the world.
I visited some cafes where they play good music, they offer you books and you can even appreciate some works of art by local artists.
Arví Park Medellin Colombia Escape to nature!
2+Sometimes the city can be a bit overwhelming and this park is a nature reserve that is located in one of the mountains that surround Medellín.
- It takes about 50 minutes from the metro station "El poblado" to the station "Acevedo", there you must take the cable car to the station "Arvi" this climb lasts 20 minutes.
Upon reaching the top we find a small museum and a bazaar of peasant products. I got a bit upset going up the cable car, since going up so fast makes me dizzy, and I took advantage of this area to recover, there are bathrooms and shops to buy drinks and food.
- The walks are incredible, the landscapes beautiful and the forests seem like a fairy tale.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
In general, large cities have very serious pollution problems. Medellín does not escape from this situation. However, the area of "El poblado" has a lot of vegetation and the air feels a little cleaner. In the center of the city there is a lot of car traffic, the streets are quite dirty and the noise can become unbearable. I particularly avoided being in the center.Anything go wrong during the trip?
At night you have to be careful, it can be unsafe. They tried to mug me, but luckily there were other people in the place who prevented this from happening.Restaurant recommendations?
The traditional food of the area is very similar throughout Colombia, but in Antioquia there is a typical dish called "Bandeja Paisa", it is a combination of many things that are delicious, so the dish cannot fail. We also find many restaurants with excellent cooks, some can be a bit expensive but worth it.Tips you would give a friend?
I think Medellín is one of the best places to party. I had very good times and met very funny people. There are also several attractions that are easily accessible by public transport.Packing tips?
Here it is spring all year round! The weather is super friendly, there are rainy seasons so it would be good to always have a waterproof jacket. But in general I recommend loose clothing and a light coat for the night.Transportation Tips?
There is public transport and the tickets are cheap. At some times of the day they may be collapsed and it is not advisable to travel at those times. Anyway, the Metro is very nice and has stations in all the tourist spots.Any surprises?
In August the flower festival takes place, there are concerts in different parts of the city, fairs and activities.Booking details?
We find thousands of hostels throughout the city, but many tourists prefer to rent furnished apartments for a few days. Both options are good, although I prefer hostels because many people meet there and fun things happen.
Lodging
Coolto Art Lodge: I worked as a volunteer at this hostel for about a month and a half. It was an incredible place! It had a local bar, music recording studio, art gallery and multi-brand clothing store.
Albaka Hostel: Here I volunteered for another month and a half. It was a quiet hostel with very friendly people, very clean and neat.