Medellín, Colombia: A Guide To An Underrated Backpacker Destination
Situated in a narrow valley, Medellín packs the punch of a city twice its size. Its skyline reaches for the heavens, setting high-rise apartments and office buildings against a backdrop of jagged peaks in every direction.
Medellin is the second-largest city in Colombia with over two million people living and working here. This city has now risen to be one of the best places to visit in Colombia
Flying to Medellín from Santa Marta
When you start your trip up in the Caribbean area of Colombia you have a few options to start heading South towards the larger cities. If you have the time, taking a bus and making stops in small villages along the way is the best option. If you are short of time, domestic flights within Colombia are very cheap and easy to book. I used Kiwi.com and booked a flight out of Santa Marta to Medellian for $45USD.
Santa Marta has both an International and Domestic airport, so if you also are looking to head to your next country you can fly out of this little airport. Once you arrive at the airpport via taxi, it is really easy to get checked in and go through security. The airport is very clean, and the people working there are very friendly. I flew VivaColombia and had a very positive exprience with both the checking in process, and the flight itself.
Once arriving in Medillin, you can hop on a local bus to take you into the city. It took me a minute or two and asking a few people for help to figure out where the bus picks up and what bus to take. It was a long ride, but worth the exprience and the savings. They drop you off just at the entrance to the center of city right near the metro station. There you will find a bunch of taxis waiting to pick people up.
Accomidations Medellin
You can find a lot of options for places to stay. The most popular for backpackers is staying in the El Poblado, which is Medellín most popular neighborhood for foreigners. Along the little quiet streets you can find a lot of different hostels, and Air B&B apartments. The neighborhood also features nice restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops.
Picking A Hostel
In a city as large as Medellín, you can find a hostel that meets the needs and expectations you have for your trip. For example, you can find a hostel that is good for digital nomads, or one that is best suited for solo travelers, or of course the typical party hostel. For me, what I look for is location and a hostel with a kitchen since I like to cook some of my meals to save money.
You can check out a list of some of the top hostels in the area on Booking.com, or click HERE to read our tips to booking a hostel you must know about.
Food In Medellin
Traditional Colombian food is not well known as a special cuisine around the world, but local favorites are very delicious. In Medellín you can find favorites like Arepas and Bandeja Paisa all over the city. Both dishes are also a staple with street food vendors. I eat mostly only street food while in Medellin to save money, but to also experience the culture out in the busy city streets, and small Comuna’s in hills.
Public Transportation In Medellin
MetroRail
I was so impressed by the metro system in Medellín. It was easy to figure out, clean, and safe. The rail abd cable car system is the onloy metro system in all of Colombia. Medellin's Metro runs North to South and Centre to West across the city. It's composed of two lines (A & B) that, together, host 27 stations, including ones that will leave you at key touristic sites in the city such as the Plaza de Botero and the Botanical Gardens.
MetroCable
The MetroCable is composed of 3 lines (J, K, and L). You can take the MetroCable to visit Comuna 13, Biblioteca España or Parque Arvi. If you're heading to Parque Arvi, you'll need take line K of the MetroCable and then transfer to line L, also known as CableArvi. To make this transfer, you'll need to buy a separate ticket for CableArví . You can also just ride the MetroCable to get some amazing panoramic views of the city.
Walking Tour and Comuna 13
Tour The City By Foot
The best way to explore a new city and also make some new friends is to link up with a group on a free walking tour. I used Real City Tours while in Medellín and the tour was fantastic. The guide spoke perfect English and was happy to answer all of our questions, and was so patient with us as we crossed the city for three hours. On the walking tour you will also get your first crash course in using the MetroRail system.
During the tour you will discover some of Medellin’s most traditional parks, squares and streets, while learning about the city’s history, culture and people.
Comuna 13
Just a few short years ago, Comuna 13 was considered the most dangerous area in Medellin, Colombia—itself the most dangerous city in the world. Tourists didn’t dare set foot here—they had no reason to—and many locals lived in the ramshackle suburbs that cling to a mountain on Medellin’s western fringe.
Today things have changed dramatically, with the Comuna overtaking a massive transformation. The area is no longer associated with gangs, police raid, and violence. However the history of this neighborhood remains in its peoples stories, and the street art that is beautifully displayed all over the Comuna.
The free walking tour of Comuna 13 is visited daily by tourist due to the regions improvements in infrastructure and access, which include a MetroCable line, and six outdoor escalators. The tour will take you from the bottom of the Comuna all the way to the top, stopping along the way to admire the art and learn about the artist who painted them. On our tour, our guide took us to her home and shown us the typical living situation for most residents, while also telling us her own stories about the dark history of the area. You can learn more about the history of Comuna 13 HERE
Futbol (Soccer) In Medellin
A kid peeks over a large flag of the local Futbol Team “Altetico Nacional”.
It is no secret that Futbol is a big deal in all of Latin America. This is 100% without exception to Medellín and the local soccer team Alteico Nacional. On gameday the entire city shuts down, so that everyone can watch the game. In the hours leading up to the game the team flag fly’s outside of every buisness and every home. People go out wearing team jerseys, and vendors roam the streets selling more team merchandise.
You can watch the game at any bar and feel the passion and tension of the fans hoping for a victory. When the team scores a goal the ground shakes, and the roar of people can be heard for miles. Once the game ends, and hopefully in a victory it is a huge party all over the city,.
If you are lucky enough to be in Medellín a home game you must go and experience the magic.
Nightlife In Medellin
Medellin has a very live nightlife. Just blocks from the Poblado neighborhood is tons of bars and clubs to choose from. You can also walk to one of the party hostels and join up with one of the bar hoping nights. Th bar hop is led by a few locals, and it’s a lot of fun.
Salsa Dancing
As you night grows into the later hours, you can find some really great Salsa Dancing bars and clubs. The locals will dance the night away in such elegance and the energy of this romantic dance reverbs throughout the bar. We found a small bar, where people sort of just sat in one big circle so others can dance Salsa. I’m not the best dancer, but some local girls did their best to teach me. I preferred to just sit back and watch the professionals dance, it was like a love story was playing out on the dance floor (pure magic).
Note: It is safe at night in most of the tourist neighborhoods. Just be smart about what you do, and always protect your belongings
The People
The people in Medellín are so happy to have you visiting. They are extremely welcoming, warm and friendly. I also found them to be very patient with me and my broken Spanish. Like is most Latin countries it is better to try Spanish and be bad at it, then to just force English onto the locals.
Don’t be suprised when a local comes up to you, gives you a big hug and a kiss on your cheek. Then smile and say “Welcome to Colombia!”
Other Places To Visit In Colombia
My trip in Colombia was not long enough to see more of the country. Some other places to visit are:
Bogota: Bogotá is Colombia’s sprawling, high-altitude capital
Cali: Cali is known as the salsa capital of Colombia, if not the world, and for this reason alone, it is a popular place to visit for those with extra time in the country.
Salento: Salento is an Andean town in Colombia, west of Bogotá. It’s known for its coffee estates and verdant scenery
Guatape: f you're in Medellin and fancy an escape to the country, then Guatapé is a great option for a day-trip or a weekend away.
Check Out Our Full Travel Guide To Colombia
Read our complete travel guide for any budget, that follows my backpacking trip in Colombia .