Colombia was never a place I thought I would vacation with my kids. I didn’t know much about the country. What little I did know was unfortunately associated with its violent history, thanks to years of news reports and movie propaganda. It wasn’t until I came across a beautiful photograph in an issue of National Geographic magazine that I saw a different side of Colombia. And I knew I had to visit.
Once again, a photo had a tremendous impact on me and led me to explore destinations I might not have otherwise considered.
So one magazine photo and countless hours of research later, our bags were packed, and we were off on our trip to Colombia. We spent a weekend in Medellín to kick off our ten-day trip to Colombia. While there is so much to see in Medellín, I do think it’s possible to get a good understanding of the city in 48 hours.
Colombia has undergone an immense transformation over the years. In the 1980s and 1990s, Medellín was the thoroughfare for the cartels’ drug transports. However, after years of violent fighting, drug wars, and too many unfortunate deaths to count, the country finally emerged from its dark past. In 2013, Medellín was awarded the most innovative city in the world title. Once considered the most dangerous city on earth, it has now become a city of transformation and reinvention just waiting to be explored.
Medellín is a city with lots of learning potential for kids. Whether you explore by foot or tram, hike up a huge rock, or wander a massive park, your kids will hopefully walk away with a love and appreciation of this city just as we did. Here are our recommendations on the best activities to do with kids in Medellín:
Hire a Guide and Take a Half-Day Tour of Medellín
One of the best ways to explore a new destination is with a local guide. Not only will you gain a familiarization of the city, but you might even learn some fun facts along the way! We booked our tour with Medellín Day Trips, and our first stop was to Plaza Botero. Plaza Botero is an open-air plaza, home to 23 over-sized bronze sculptures. While it was fun for the kids to see the unique sculptures, there were many people around, and it seemed a little dicey to me. Historically, this is a wonderful place to stop at, but if I had to skip one thing from our trip to Medellín, this would have been it.
Medellín Metrocable
Our next stop was to take the Metrocable and explore the barrios from above. The Medellín Metrocable is an urban transportation system connecting residents from the steep hillside barrios to the bustling city center in minutes. What used to take more than two hours by public bus, now takes only 20 minutes on the Metrocable. It was originally built to improve residents’ quality of life in these isolated communities and is still used by locals, but it has quickly become a top tourist attraction in Medellín.
Getting a birds-eye view of Medellín’s unique neighborhoods while learning some history from our local guide was a fantastic introduction to Medellín. The aerial view from the Metrocable provided us with a glimpse into the neighborhoods below we might not have seen otherwise.
We took the J line from San Javier to the furthest stop at La Aurora. This particular line travels over some of Medellín’s most impoverished areas, but the views are some of the most striking. It takes about 30 minutes to go from one end to the other, and we just rode it for the duration without getting off at La Aurora. I would recommend doing this during the day as it might not be the safest for foreigners at night.
Comuna 13
Our last stop was a walking tour of Comuna 13. Once considered the most violent area of Medellín, today, this neighborhood has become a cultural hotspot. Comuna 13 was not a place for tourists to visit years ago. Yet, now people flock here to see the stunning graffiti artwork, be wowed by local performing dance troupes, and marvel at this city’s innovative achievements.
It’s best to explore Comuna 13 with a local guide as they can explain the neighborhood’s history while you walk the streets. On the walls, buildings, and staircases throughout Comuna 13, many local artists have painted incredible murals symbolizing the neighborhood’s colorful history. The youth of the neighborhood took to the walls to fight back against the violence with graffiti. Many more local artists followed suit, and today the neighborhood is filled with murals as reminders never to forget the violence that marred the past as they look to a brighter future.
Don’t forget to grab a green mango popsicle at one of the stands throughout Comuna 13. It keeps the kids happy and helps support the local businesses.
We booked with Medellín Day Trips, and the cost was $130,000 pesos per person ($37 USD) for a half-day tour. Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation are included, as is all transport.
Take the Tram to Parque Arví
You can spend more than a few hours exploring Parque Arví, a large ecological nature reserve located on Medellín’s outskirts. There are 33 miles (54 km) of walkable trails and hiking, cycling, picnicking, and horseback riding options. As we only had a short time in the afternoon to explore, we decided to take the tram there to have a late lunch and explore the immediate grounds.
You can rent bikes, go horseback riding, or even hire a boat to explore Piedras Blancas. Park Arví is relatively safe, but as it’s a huge park, I recommend hiring a guide or staying on the more accessible paths.
There’s a vegetarian restaurant here where I had one of my favorite meals in Colombia – the kids too! Cable a Tierra is a unique restaurant only about a five-minute walk from the Metrocable station. Be sure to check it out!
The park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. While you may explore this large park on your own, you might consider joining the regularly scheduled guided tours that begin at the Interpretation Center El Tambo. The cost is $30,000 pesos per person ($8 USD) for the guided tour.
Visit Guatapé
It takes about two hours to reach Guatapé from Medellín. Once there, make sure you climb El Peñón de Guatapé, the gigantic monolith jutting 200 meters into the air. Worshiped hundreds of years ago by the Tahamies Indians, it is unknown whether they ever reached the top of it. But in 1954, three climbers ascended this rock using a series of boards wedged into a crack. Years later, a staircase was built into the gap, and now it is a prominent tourist attraction.
The staircase built into one side of the rock leads you up 649 stairs to reach the top. Don’t forget to climb the last set of stairs of the three-story tower. Here you will reach the top viewing level with incredible 360-degree views of the Antioquia valley and lakes below.
After hiking El Peñón, drive the quick 45 minutes to the town of Guatapé and enjoy a meal in the colorful village. Wander the streets and search for the vibrant zócalos. Zócalos are stunning 3D depictions of village life adorned along the walls of homes and businesses in this quaint village. Some zócalos illustrate popular images of the town, such as sheep or flowers. Others may define what the business represents. Each zócalo is unique and tells a different story.
We added a stop along the way to a local coffee plantation, and this was one of the kids’ favorite parts of the day’s trip. Besides learning hands-on how to make coffee, they got to try it too. I’m not sure coffee is their drink of choice, but it sure is fun to try something you have made yourself.
Spend a Few Hours at Parque Explora
Parque Explora is one of the more popular museums in Medellín. It’s a child-friendly, interactive, science and technology park that has over 300 hands-on experiences. It is also home to the largest aquarium in South America. It even has its own Planetarium. This is a wonderful place for kids to create, experiment, and learn while having fun.
Located in the north of Medellín, Parque Explora is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. All children over the age of two are required a ticket. Individual ticket prices are $20,000 pesos ($5 USD). There is also the Family Plan for a family group of four people that costs $68,000 pesos ($18 USD). Both tickets include access to the Aquarium, Dinosaur Exhibition, and the interactive room. Tickets to the Planetarium need to be purchased separately.
Explore Jardín Botánico
If you need an escape from the hustle and bustle of Medellin, then Jardín Botánico is the place for you. Set in just over 13 hectares, there are more than a thousand species of plants waiting to be discovered. Wander through the gardens and explore the Butterfly House for a small fee. If you would rather explore with a guide, there are regularly scheduled tours on Tuesdays at 11 a.m., Thursdays at 2 p.m., and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. No need to register ahead of time; just meet at the Grandfather Tree.
Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry to the Garden is free.
Get your Thrills out at Parque Norte
If you have amusement park aficionados, then head on over to Parque Norte for hours of excitement and thrills. There are 30-plus attractions and water rides too. And it is open year-round!
The hours at Parque Norte are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays hours begin at 10:30 a.m. and run through 6 p.m.
The entrance cost is $5,500 pesos ($1.50 USD) for the use of the grounds only. The Extreme Bracelet is $38,000 pesos ($10 USD) for unlimited use of most attractions, and the Fusion Bracelet is great for the little ones and is $25,000 pesos ($7 USD).
***
Colombia, and in particular Medellín, left me speechless. Although it wasn’t a country that was on top of my list of places to travel to, it greatly surpassed my expectations. Unfortunately, many people still have certain perceptions of Colombia and may choose not to travel here. As in most places we travel, allowing our kids to see a part of the world different from the one they live in can be pretty remarkable.
Whether your kids enjoy climbing the massive rock of El Peñón, sitting back on the aerial tram and watching the neighborhoods pass by, participating in a hands-on coffee tour, or wandering the streets of Comuna 13 – I think they will each walk away with a better understanding and appreciation of the country of Colombia. So pack those bags and start planning your trip to Medellín now so you can experience the beauty of this lovely country for yourself.
Leave a Reply