Must-see attractions in Medellín & Zona Cafetera

  • Medellin / Colombia - July 15, 2017: urban cityscape of the colorful Comuna 13

    La Comuna 13

    Medellín

    Once one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Medellín, the Comuna 13, which clings to the mountainside above the San Javier metro station, has…

  • Steep canyon rising above Rio Claro.

    Reserva Natural Cañon de Río Claro

    Around Medellín

    Within the boundaries of this private nature reserve, the river has carved a stunning canyon from its marble bed. You can visit the spectacular Caverna de…

  • Piedra del Peñol

    Guatapé

    Also known as El Peñon de Guatapé, thanks to the fierce rivalry between the towns it straddles, this 200m-high granite monolith rises from near the edge…

  • Hacienda Venecia

    Zona Cafetera

    This hacienda has won numerous awards for its coffee. It offers a tour in English that includes an informative presentation about Colombian coffee, an…

  • Cueva del Esplendor

    Around Medellín

    Located at 2200m amid beautiful landscapes, this spectacular cave has a 10m waterfall gushing through a large hole in the roof and is Jardín's most famous…

  • Museo de Antioquia

    Medellín

    In the grand art deco Palacio Municipal, Colombia's second-oldest museum (Museo Nacional in Bogotá is the oldest) houses one of the country's most…

  • Museo Casa de la Memoria

    Medellín

    This harrowing museum dedicated to the urban conflict in Medellín is a must-visit for travelers wanting to fully understand the city (and Colombia). There…

  • Cerro Cristo Rey

    Around Medellín

    You'll spot this lookout point with its white Christ statue from the center of Jardín. Take the modern cable car (round trip COP$5000) up for fantastic…

  • Catedral de Manizales

    Manizales

    Plaza de Bolívar’s south side is dominated by the odd but impressive Catedral de Manizales. Begun in 1929 and built of reinforced concrete, it is among…

  • Monumento a Los Colonizadores

    Manizales

    Located atop a hill in the neighborhood of Chipre, this massive monument to the city's founders was crafted from 50 tonnes of bronze (including keys and…

  • Museo del Oro Quimbaya

    Armenia

    This excellent museum showcases the fine work of indigenous pre-Columbian Quimbaya goldsmiths, as well as fine ceramics and ceremonial items. There are…

  • Butterfly Garden of the Quindio Botanical Garden.

    Jardín Botánico del Quindío

    Zona Cafetera

    Armenia's excellent 15-hectare botanical garden has the best mariposario in the Zona Cafetera. The 680-sq-meter butterfly house is shaped like a giant…

  • Parque Nacional Natural (PNN) Los Nevados

    Zona Cafetera

    One of Colombia's most awe-inspiring national parks, PNN Los Nevados encompasses 583 sq km of rugged terrain in the heart of the Colombian Andes. Its…

  • Hacienda Guayabal

    Zona Cafetera

    This slow-paced working coffee farm near Chinchiná is a great place to come and unwind while surrounded by cafetero culture. It runs an excellent tour…

  • Museum of modern art building in Medellin, Colombia.

    Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín

    Medellín

    Set around a refurbished industrial building in Ciudad del Río, 'El MAMM' showcases changing exhibitions of contemporary art. The large new wing houses…

  • Monumento a la Raza, located in La Alpujarra, the public square of Medellin, Colombia.

    Monumento a la Raza

    Medellín

    Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, Colombia's favorite designer of monuments, has a number of pieces around Medellín, but the most impressive work is this one in…

  • Recinto del Pensamiento

    Zona Cafetera

    Set in the cloud forest 11km from Manizales, this nature park has a fine mariposario (butterfly enclosure), several short walks through an impressive…

  • Los Yarumos

    Manizales

    This 53-hectare municipal park offers panoramic views of the city and adventure activities. Popular with locals, free activities include a short guided…

  • Hacienda Nápoles Adventure Park

    Around Medellín

    A somewhat bizarre safari-themed adventure park built on what was Pablo Escobar's favorite farm. While Pablo's hippos are still around, the park…

  • Recuca

    Zona Cafetera

    This tourism-oriented coffee farm offers tours that provide insight into life on a finca. Visitors get to throw on traditional clothes, strap on a basket…

  • El Cerro de Moravia

    Medellín

    The densely populated neighborhood of Moravia was once Medellín's municipal rubbish dump with an open-air mountain of trash surrounded by a large shanty…

  • Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe

    Medellín

    Adjacent to the Berrío metro station, this striking black-and-white Gothic Revival building designed by Belgian architect Agustín Goovaerts is one of…

  • Cerro Nutibara

    Medellín

    On top of this 80m-tall hill, 2km southwest of the city center, sits the kitschy Pueblito Paisa, a miniature version of a typical Antioquian township,…

  • Casa Museo Pedro Nel Gómez

    Medellín

    Located in the house where the artist lived and worked, this fine museum has an extensive collection of pieces by prolific local painter Pedro Nel Gómez …

  • Puente de Occidente

    Around Medellín

    This unusual 291m bridge over the Río Cauca is 5km east of town. When completed in 1895, it was one of the first suspension bridges in the Americas. José…

  • Parque Arví

    Medellín

    Accessible by the fantastically scenic Metrocable Linea L from the Santo Domingo interchange (COP$4850 one way, 15 minutes), Parque Arví is a big chunk of…

  • Torre de Chipre

    Manizales

    The 30m-high spaceship-like lookout point has 360-degree views of the dramatic mountainous terrain surrounding the city. If you're brave you can walk…

  • Cerro Volador

    Medellín

    Protecting a tract of the forest that once covered the entire Valle de Aburra, this hilly municipal nature reserve is a popular place to exercise away…

  • Cueva de los Guácharos

    Around Medellín

    A less visited cave and a great alternative to the Cueva El Esplendor excursion, Cueva de los Guácharos is reachable via a six-hour round trip from Jardín…

  • Jardín Botánico

    Medellín

    One of Medellín's nicest green spaces, the botanic gardens cover 14 hectares, showcase 600 species of trees and plants, and include a lake, a herbarium…

  • Caverna de los Guácharos

    Around Medellín

    This is a spectacular cave, about 1km long, featuring numerous marble caverns, soaring high and hollow like great cathedrals, connected by a fresh stream…

  • Reserva Natural Gallito de la Roca

    Around Medellín

    This small nature reserve right on the edge of town is the scene of one of Jardín's most impressive natural sights. Early each morning and again in the…

  • Reserva Natural Acaime

    Zona Cafetera

    At Acaime there are basic private rooms and a large dorm, and you can usually get a hot chocolate (with a chunk of cheese). You’ll also see up to 15…

  • Plaza de Bolívar

    Manizales

    The city's main square has the mandatory statue of Bolívar, by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, here known as Bolívar-Cóndor since the sculptor endows Colombia's…

  • Museo Clara Rojas Pelaéz

    Around Medellín

    Located in an elegant old house on Jardín's plaza, this museum contains a diverse mix of exhibits detailing the history of the town, including pre…

  • Museo de Arte Religioso

    Around Medellín

    This museum occupies the former Jesuit college constructed in the 1730s, next door to Iglesia de Santa Bárbara. It has a fine collection of colonial…

  • Casa del Arriero

    Guatapé

    The oldest and biggest house in Guatapé is still occupied by descendants of the original owners, who sometimes leave their front door open so visitors can…

  • Parque de la Vida

    Armenia

    If all the concrete is getting too much, stop by this tranquil park located in a valley in the middle of the city. It features both gardens and forested…

  • Basilica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción

    Around Medellín

    Towering over the central plaza, this imposing 20th-century neo-Gothic church seems more than a little out of place in such a small town. Its gray granite…