Villages near Medellín

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The villages nearby Medellín come in all shapes and sizes. Colonial villages where time seems to have stood still, villages from which you can do all kinds of adventurous activities and…. villages with houses in “all the colors of the rainbow”. For a nice day trip or multi-day trip to villages near Medellín, there is therefore a lot of choice.

Check out some of the options below. For your convenience, we’ve listed approximate travel times from Medellín and the bus terminal you should get to: the bus terminal del Norte, a 20-minute drive from El Poblado, or the bus terminal del Sur, a 10-minute drive from El Poblado.

Colombia My Way

How to get there.

Bus Terminal del Norte

  • 4 min. walk from Caribe subway station (line A)
  • Cab ride 20 min. from el Poblado

Santa Fe de Antioquia

  • 58km/1.5h
  • One of the most beautiful colonial towns in Colombia, with the Puente de Occidente bridge.

Read our tips for Santa Fe de Antioquia

Guatapé

  • 83km/2h
  • “Most colorful town in Colombia,” near the monolith el Peñol
  • Read our tips for Guatapé en el Peñol

Cocorná

  • 81km/2h
  • Paragliding “hot spot”
photo:orienteantioqueño

    San Rafael

    • 110km/3h
    • Off the beaten track. Rainforest, natural pools, waterfalls
    • Good to combine with Guatapé (1h)
    photo:viajaremverano

    Aldea Doradal (Santorini Colombiano)

    • 172km/3.5h
    • Greek-style village
    • Fun to stroll through the few streets of the village, if you happen to be in the area. Aldea Doradal is located 19 km from Rio Claro Reserva Natural and 1 km from Hacienda Nápoles.
    • You can also stay overnight there, including at hotel Aldea Plaza
    photo:Octavioprensaturismo

    San Carlos

    • 113km/4.5h
    • Village not accessible 10 years ago due to security concerns
    • Waterfalls, natural pools

    Bus Terminal del Sur

    • 3 min. walk from Olaya Herrera Airport
    • 20 min walk from el Poblado subway station (Line A)
    • cab ride 10 min. from el Poblado

    Fredonia

    • 52km/1.5h
    • Green hilly landscape with coffee plantations and coffee vincas

     

    Jericó

    • 108 km/3h
    • Authentic village with 17 churches, well “hidden” among coffee plantations
    • Read our tips for Jericó

         

        Abejorral

        • 90 km /3h
        • Off the beaten track, base for extreme sports such as rock climbing
        • From here you can reach Casa en el Aire and Ecoparque los Saltos, among others.

        Jardín

        • 128 km/4h
        • Traditional coffee village with a cozy village square, in the middle of beautiful nature
        • Read our tips for Jardín

        Tamesis

        • 107 km/3.5h
        • Authentic village, not yet as well known as Jardin and Jericó
        • Indian petroglyphs, adventure activities

        #ColombiaMyWayTips

        Don’t feel like spending a few hours on the bus, but still want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Medellín?

        Then the high-altitude Santa Elena (2500m) east of Medellín is an option. The village is known for its flower farms and Medellín’s annual flower festival Feria de las Flores.

        You can do hikes in the forest and there are a number of eco hotels and glamping sites, in the middle of nature.

        Read here the travelogue about our own experience, with information and tips about Santa Elena.

         

        Colombia My Way

        Santa Elena

        20km from the center of Medellín

        • Easiest to reach by cab (approx. 40 min, COP80,000/€20)
        • Or by bus from Placito de Flores (approx.50min) or via Parque Arví for the scenic, long route (metro-cable car-bus).