medellin tours in english

THE 10 BEST Medellin Tours & Excursions

Medellin tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Coffee & Tea Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Guatapé Tour: Piedra del Peñol with Boat Tour, Breakfast, Lunch

2. Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with Street Food

3. Guatapé Piedra del Peñol excursion + Gastronomic tour and cruise on the dam

4. Coffee Tour In Horse Riding and Lunch In Medellin

5. Full day to Guatapé from Medellín

6. Guatape Rock & Coffee Tour & Picturesque Town: Private Tour

7. Medellín Oasis Spa: Hydrotherapy + Thematic Relaxing Massage.

8. Pablo Escobar Shared Tour of Medellin

9. Private Tour in Pablo Escobar and Comuna 13 Medellin

10. The dream of flying

11. Coffee Half-Day Tour in Medellín: From the Seed to the Cup

12. Day Trip To Guatapé with Boat Ride and Lunch

13. ATV Tour 3 Mountains Medellin

14. Medellin's Nightlife, Make Friends, Free Entries, Local Party

15. Pablo and Comuna 13 with Cable Car

16. Medellin: Horseback Riding Adventure In Nature (Don't Overpay)

17. Half-Day Coffee Tour at Family Farm Close to Medellín

18. Guatapé & Coffee farm, all in one day

19. The best private tour to Guatapé and Helicopter ride + Guatapé's rock +Boat ride

20. Electric Bike City Tour Medellin, Viewpoints, Local Snacks and Drink tastings

21. Coffee Tour and Lunch in Medellin

22. Medellin Day Trip Horseback Riding Local Food Cultural Immersion

23. green connection

24. Guatape & Paragliding Private Tour: Nature and Adventure in One Great Day

25. Full-Day Zipline, ATV and Horseback Riding Private Adventure from Medellín

26. Private Tour To Guatape From Medellin

27. Medellín Tour: Themed Vehicles, Tram Ride and Metrocable

28. City Tour from Medellín

29. Guatapé Full Day Private Tour

30. Coffee tour in Medellín with tastings and transportation

What travelers are saying.

• Lisa Davie, FL 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesomely visual and fun. Very informative, visual, and fun tour. Andres our very knowledgeable guide and historian was awesome. The street food tastings were yummy, the entertainment and neighborhood activities were very lively and cultural. I’m proud of the inspiring transformation of Comuna 13. Read more Review of: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour and Street Food Written April 27, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour and Street Food
• Guatape Tour, Piedra del Peñol Including a Boat Tour, Breakfast and Lunch
• Pablo Escobar Shared Tour of Medellin
• Guatapé Piedra del Peñol excursion + Gastronomic tour and cruise on the dam
• Day Trip To Guatape: Boat Ride and Lunch Included
• Camantours Medellin
• Tourguides Medellín
• Beyond Colombia Free Walking Tours Medellin
• Viaja Medellin
• The Andes Adventure Travels
• LandVenture Travel
• SAGTOURMEDELLIN
• Medellin Travels
• Green Bike Tour Medellin
• Willi's Best Guide Medellin
• El Dorado Adventure Trips
• Antioquia Adventures
• Medellin City Services

• (+57) 300 468 8755
• [email protected]

Private tours for the most exciting destinations within Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia by a professional English – speaking – bilingual, certified tour guide. As a professional tour guide in Medellín Colombia for the past 15 years I guarantee you´ll have the most unforgettable experience from the moment of your arrival to the moment of your departure. In Medellín you will enjoy exciting ecological and urban destinations where Colombian culture, history and lots of good fun is abundant. As your official tour guide in Medellín you will quickly see beauty, pristine weather, excitement around every corner in tandem with all the safety and security Wingman Tours has to offer. Let us be your one stop shop for any and all adventures you are seeking in Medellín Colombia.

professional English-speaking tour guide

Wingman Adventours

Airport pickup, the rock of guatapé, amazing waterfalls near medellín.

Discover these hidden waterfalls located two and a half hours away from Medellín and enjoy what this oasis has to offer!

Amazing ATV´s tours

Santa fe de antioquia.

Pueblito Paisa is a replica of a traditional Antioquia town and it’s one of the most popular attractions of Medellín.

Paragliding "San Felix"

You only live once! (YOLO!) Free yourself and fly as high as dreams can take you! Experience a pulse racing flight over the beautiful landscape of the city of Bello, just north of Medellin. You won’t regret checking this off of your list of things you have only dreamt of doing.

City AdvenTours

Pueblito paisa, coffee tour in medellín, pablo escobar "the real truth".

Need help? Call me now at (+57) 300 468 8755

Our policies.

That Medellin Wingman Adventours rejects explotation,Pornography, sex tourism and all forms of sexual abuse of minors, illegal and unsustainable wildlife Trade and supports the conservancy of cultural atractions and social patrimony at our touristic destination as stated in law 1336 of 2009.

our guarantees

Nuestras normas y Políticas

Wingman esta De acuerdo con la Ley 679 de 2001 y Ley 1336 de 2009, mediante la cual se dictan disposiciones para prevenir y contrarrestar la explotación, la pornografía y el turismo sexual con menores de edad, de conformidad con lo establecido en dichas leyes, todas las personas deben prevenir, bloquear, combatir y denunciar la explotación, alojamiento, uso, publicación, difusión de imágenes, textos, documentos, archivos audiovisuales, uso indebido de redes globales de información, o el establecimiento de vínculos telemáticos de cualquier clase relacionados con material pornográfico o alusivo a actividades sexuales de menores de edad.

• Local Fruits and Market Places
• Barrio Transformation Tour Including Comuna 13
• Medellin Prime Parks
• Cultural Tour
• Street Art Tour Including Comuna 13
• Express Coffee Tour
• + VIEW ALL TOURS
• Medellín City Tour – Full Day
• 3 Day Colonial Coffee Trail
• Guatapé y el Peñol
• Jardin Coffee Tour
• Jericó Mother Laura Coffee Tour
• Palmitas Coffee Tour
• Colonial Santa fé de Antioquia
• 2 Day Coffee Tour
• Amazing Arvi Natural Reserve
• Full day private Terrific tombstone tour in Medellin
• Paraglide The Andes
• Helicopter Tour
• ChristmasTour
• ATV Adventures

UTV private tour in Medellin

• Silletero Tour
• Local Comedy Show
• Water Rafting
• Spectacular Skydiving from Medellin
• +VIEW ALL TOURS
• Accommodation Services
• Airport Transfers
• Medellin 3 Nights 4 Days
• Medellin 6 Nights 7 Days
• Colombia 10 nights 11 days: Cartagena, Medellin and Bogota
• Full-day Pablo Escobar by Carlos the Ex-Cop
• Half-day Pablo Escobar by Carlos the Ex-Cop
• Pablo Escobar Packages Tours
• Guatapé Pablo Escobar Full Day Tour
• Pablo Escobar Escape Route
• Pablo Escobar group Tour

» Tours in Bogotá

» Tours in Cartagena

• » More Destinations
• ¡Work with us!
• Our portfolio

View UTV Tour

How Our Family Travels: Colombia - First Stop, Medellin!

Top things to do in medellin.

EXPRESS COFFEE TOUR

BARRIO TRANSFORMATION

GRAFITTI TOUR

MEDELLIN PRIME PARKS

GUATAPÉ TOUR

Pioneering in tourism.

Providing reliable  High Quality  bilingual touristic and transportation services all year round to the areas of interest in an around Colombia with a highly qualified team of professionals with enough experience and knowledge ready to attend and show to the visitors the history.

Latest car models with AC

Fully personalized services

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Personal accidents insurance policy for travelers

Special service for persons in any physical disability

Only company to guarantee your satisfaction or your money back.

NEW NATIONAL TOURS

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NEWS ARTICLES & BLOGS

The 53 best cities in the world in 2022

Medellin’s Tourism Challenge: Telling the Right Story of Its Violent Past

House of Memory Museum

Top Things To Do in Cartagena

Cartagena, Colombia. A place you can’t miss

3 Vibrant Produce Markets You Can’t Miss in Medellin, Colombia

Medellín: la ciudad de las flores, del metrocable… y de pablo escobar.

Narcotours: Netflix fans uncover the real life of Pablo Escobar – video

Do you have a question?

(+57) 311 341 3715, [email protected].

Terms and Conditions • Against child pornography • RUES • SIC • RNT • National Tourism Registry

#WEDONTALLOW The exploitation, pornography, sexual abuse or sexual tourism of children and teenagers (Law 678 of 2001 of Colombia). We do not support illegal trade in flora and fauna (Law 17 of 1981 and Law 1333 of 2009), nor the carrying, distribution and consumption of drugs. Medellin City Services supports the work of UNICEF by committing itself to the protection of the rights of children and adolescents in Colombia.

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Top Tours in Medellin, Colombia

Medellin tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Coffee & Tea Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Guatapé Tour: Piedra del Peñol with Boat Tour, Breakfast, Lunch

2. Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with Street Food

3. Guatapé Piedra del Peñol excursion + Gastronomic tour and cruise on the dam

4. Coffee Tour In Horse Riding and Lunch In Medellin

5. Full day to Guatapé from Medellín

6. Guatape Rock & Coffee Tour & Picturesque Town: Private Tour

7. Medellín Oasis Spa: Hydrotherapy + Thematic Relaxing Massage.

8. Pablo Escobar Shared Tour of Medellin

9. The dream of flying

10. Coffee Half-Day Tour in Medellín: From the Seed to the Cup

11. Half-Day Food Tour Visiting the Best Viewpoints in Medellín!

12. Day Trip To Guatapé with Boat Ride and Lunch

13. ATV Tour 3 Mountains Medellin

14. Medellin's Nightlife, Make Friends, Free Entries, Local Party

15. Pablo and Comuna 13 with Cable Car

16. Medellin: Horseback Riding Adventure In Nature (Don't Overpay)

17. Half-Day Coffee Tour at Family Farm Close to Medellín

18. Guatapé & Coffee farm, all in one day

19. The best private tour to Guatapé and Helicopter ride + Guatapé's rock +Boat ride

20. Wine Pairing Experience in Medellin

21. Electric Bike City Tour Medellin, Viewpoints, Local Snacks and Drink tastings

22. Coffee Tour and Lunch in Medellin

23. green connection

24. Guatape & Paragliding Private Tour: Nature and Adventure in One Great Day

25. Full-Day Zipline, ATV and Horseback Riding Private Adventure from Medellín

26. Private Tour To Guatape From Medellin

27. Medellín Tour: Themed Vehicles, Tram Ride and Metrocable

28. City Tour from Medellín

29. Guatapé Full Day Private Tour

30. Coffee tour in Medellín with tastings and transportation

What travellers are saying.

• Lisa Davie, FL 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesomely visual and fun. Very informative, visual, and fun tour. Andres our very knowledgeable guide and historian was awesome. The street food tastings were yummy, the entertainment and neighborhood activities were very lively and cultural. I’m proud of the inspiring transformation of Comuna 13. Read more Review of: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour and Street Food Written 27 April 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour and Street Food
• Guatape Tour, Piedra del Peñol Including a Boat Tour, Breakfast and Lunch
• Pablo Escobar Shared Tour of Medellin
• Guatapé Piedra del Peñol excursion + Gastronomic tour and cruise on the dam
• Day Trip To Guatape: Boat Ride and Lunch Included
• Camantours Medellin
• Tourguides Medellín
• Beyond Colombia Free Walking Tours Medellin
• Viaja Medellin
• The Andes Adventure Travels
• LandVenture Travel
• SAGTOURMEDELLIN
• Medellin Travels
• Green Bike Tour Medellin
• Willi's Best Guide Medellin
• El Dorado Adventure Trips
• Antioquia Adventures
• Medellin City Services

With us you get to know and enjoy Medellín.

Really. Really.

We are dedicated to walk and study every corner of the city and its surroundings.

Our tours are kind of cool

They are designed to give you a wonderful experience.

We take care of your comfort and peace of mind.

Are you sure

We are an agency supervised by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

Learn more with us

Get to know and read our book Medellín Up Close – Medellín de cerca .

Find more information on our blog and social networks.

Enjoy the best tours in Medellin

We are happy to receive your visit

We accompany, guide and inform you so that you can enjoy and understand our territories to the fullest.

A cool experience with quality information

Medellín de Cerca’s tours are designed to be unforgettable. We transmit what we have learned during years of study, in a fun and entertaining way.

We do not tell the typical rosy story

Just as in the movies, real-life stories have difficult, joyful and funny moments; complex relationships between characters; events that continue to have consequences long after they have occurred. We transmit you a very complete vision of our reality.

Security and support

You are not alone in hiring a guide. Medellín Up Close – Medellín de Cerca is a formalized tourism agency registered with the Colombian Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and supervised by the Colombian Superintendence of Industry and Commerce. This gives you security and support in different situations.

Our services

Private tours.

Exclusive guided tours for you and your group. The trips are made in cars, vans or minibuses, depending on the number of members.

Plans (soon)

Activity packages that last several days. They include transportation, lodging, meals, guided tours and experiences.

Transfers to and from the airport

At any time of the day, night or early morning. Request your service during business hours.

Customers say we are excellent!

See what our customers are saying on Google .

Read what our customers have to say on Trustpilot .

Medellín de Cerca© Tour

Receive a copy of our bilingual book Medellín Up Close – Medellín de cerca at the beginning of the tour and use its blank pages to write a travel diary that you will keep as a souvenir of your stay in the city.

Get to know the most essential of Medellín. In this tour you can walk through the most iconic places of the city and take the best pictures that will remain for your memories.

Graffiti Tour Comuna 13

Escalators and urban art tell a story of violence, struggle and transformation in a community that continues to celebrate life with joy and hope.

City Tour + Grafitour Comuna 13

Dedicate a full day to visit the most traditional tourist sites of the city and the emerging site of interest in the escalators and graffiti of Comuna 13.

Guatapé and El Peñol Tour

Delight in the magic of the landscape and the exuberance of the Piedra del Peñol or Peñón de Guatapé, navigate the Peñol-Guatapé dam and immerse yourself in the traditional charm of a colorful town adorned with sockets.

Pablo Escobar Tour: the horror of narco-warfare

It covers some of the places that marked Escobar’s life and understands the narco phenomenon from different points of view, without limiting itself to the accounts of the media and traditional authorities and institutions.

Santa Fe de Antioquia Tour

Considered one of the most charming and beautiful towns in Colombia. Old objects and constructions will make you imagine how people lived in the region up to four centuries ago. You will learn about some of the events of the Spanish conquest and colonization.

River and Railroad Adventure Tour

Enjoy a unique Colombian landscape: the tropical rainforest, an exciting day of rafting on a fast river, and a trip in handcrafted carriages along the railroad track of the old Antioquia Railroad.

Gastronomic Tour: City & Local Food

Explore the city while enjoying local foods, traditional preparations and the best export-type coffee, in carefully selected places recommended by Medellín de Cerca .

Silleteros and Flowers Tour in Santa Elena

Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the paisa tradition! Meet the silleteros directly and share with them at any time of the year. You will better understand what it means to be paisa and you will be able to make a silleta with your own hands.

Shopping Tour

On this tour you will be able to purchase souvenirs , clothing (seasonal, classic, underwear), footwear, jewelry and accessories, made by the most prestigious local designers and brands, as well as by the most outstanding independent designers.

Coffee Tour: Cultivation and Tasting

Immerse yourself in a traditional coffee farm, plant a bush, pick the beans and go through the process to obtain a delicious cup of specialty coffee. You will learn how to prepare and taste coffee as the experts do.

Reconnaissance Tour of El Poblado

Learn how to find your way around the area of El Poblado. Recognizes the ideal places to access different products, services and activities that are interesting and important for tourists.

Unique benefits for our users

Excellent local guides.

Our guides are native people who have traveled and studied the territory for years.

Personalized attention

You choose: schedules, meeting and ending point, time of stay, etc.

In English or Spanish

Choose the language you understand best to get more and better information.

Tailor-made

You can make variations or customize your tour, without exceeding the time of the service, without additional costs.

Guaranteed quality

We put our knowledge of the city at your service and choose the best for you. Good taste pays off!

Travel in comfort and safety

We transport you in comfortable and safe vehicles that comply with all the norms and standards for the provision of tourist services.

You will be able to solve doubts and count on our support, through our customer service channels.

Medical assistance

In all our tours you are covered by an assistance policy, in case of a medical emergency.

For booking any of our private tours , you will receive as a gift a copy of our original book Medellín Up Close – Medellín de cerca .

When booking any of our tours , you will be able to add copies of our book with an exclusive discount for clients.

Increased comfort, customization and flexibility

Medellín de Cerca tours are only available in private mode. These are the main advantages of our service:

Customized start time You choose from a wide range of possibilities. If you are late, there is no risk of missing the tour .

Passenger pick-up location We will pick you up at the address you specify. You don’t have to travel to a meeting point.

Additional stops You can make unplanned stops. Making a purchase or exchanging foreign currency are some examples.

Time in activities You decide how much time to spend on each activity. The entire experience has a maximum duration; you manage the timing.

Individual requests Turning on the air conditioning or opening the windows; adjusting the volume of the music… Simple things that make a difference are under your control.

Space and comfort Use the space in the vehicle as you see fit. Just remember to always use it responsibly.

Reservations

Have you already decided what your next experience will be? Click on the service category to proceed with the reservation.

Medellin Up Close – Medellin Up Close

Bilingual (spanish-english).

It addresses aspects of the city’s traditions, history, landscaping, infrastructure, places, gastronomy, daily life, celebrations, rituals and art.

Practical, artistic and collectible

Its content and format are very useful for tourists, who can use it as a guide or as a souvenir .

It reveals information that both residents and visitors to the city should master.

An ideal gift for your loved ones, anywhere in the world.

Our Services

COMUNA 13 TOUR

GUATAPE TOUR

PABLO ESCOBAR TOUR

RENTAL TRANSPORT

SANTA FE DE ANTIOQUIA TOUR

Are you interested.

We are here to help you! If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact us via WhatsApp. Our team will be delighted to assist you with whatever you need. Click on the WhatsApp icon below to start a direct conversation.

Explore More: Highlighted Events in Medellin

Christmas lights of medellin.

The magic of the Christmas season with the famous light. A sea of bright lights and colors. It usually begins in late November or early December and lasts until mid-January of the next year.

The leading event in the clothing industry in Medellin. Explore the latest fashion, accessories, and design trends while enjoying high-fashion catwalks. It starts in the second half of the year between July and August.

Flower Fair

Medellin pays homage to the floral industry of the region. Enjoy the silleteros parade, flower and antique car exhibitions, concerts, and more. It takes place during the first half of August and lasts approximately one week.

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Latest reviews

• Comuna 13 Free Tour 10.00 04/03/2024 Eva United Kingdom I travelled with teenagers

I was great. I had fun

71 excursions and activities in Medellín

Guatapé Day Trip

Comuna 13 Free Tour

Pablo Escobar Tour

Tour of Guatapé + Boat Ride

Paragliding in Medellin

Transfers in Medellín

Medellin Coffee Tour

Chiva Rumbera Night Tour + Street Food Tasting

Rionegro Shooting Practice

Experience a rush of adrenaline with this shooting practice activity in Rionegro. You'll feel just like James Bond for a day!

Medellín Full Day Tour

Chorro de las Campanas Waterfall Trip

Civitatis eSIM Card Colombia

Comuna 13 Street Art Tour in 3

Discover the urban art culture of Medellin on this graffivan (graffiti-van) tour of Comuna 13. We'll discover a different side of this Colombian city!

Medellin Electric Bike Food Tour

In this electric bike food tour of Medellin, we'll delight in the most traditional flavors of Colombia while pedaling through the City of Eternal Spring.

Medellín Outskirts Quad Bike Tour

Civitatis Travel Insurance

Medellin Free Walking Tour

Free Food Tour of Medellin

Tropical fruits, fried treats, delicious empanadas, arepas and the best Colombian coffee – you can enjoy these and more on this  free food tour of Medellin .

El Poblado Free Tour

Other attractions in medellín that might interest you.

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What to do in Medellin: Trips, tours and places to visit

Find amazing things to do in medellin discover true adventure view tours.

DISCOVER GUATAPE ENJOY WATER SPORTS, THE MONOLITH GRANITE ROCK AND MORE! View the tour

VISIT COMUNA 13 and BE PART OF A ONE OF A KIND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE View the tour

SEE THE ENTIRE COFFEE PROCESS AND ENJOY THE FINAL PRODUCT in a FARM LOCATED IN THE CHARMING ANTIOQUIAN COUNTRYSIDE View the tour

Tour packages.

If you’re planning what to do in Medellin, you’re about to embark on an unforgettable adventure. From indulging in its exquisite cuisine to exploring charming towns like Guatape nearby, this city has it all to offer.

If you’re a nature enthusiast, you’ll find the perfect setting in its surroundings to both unwind and experience extreme sports. Furthermore, Medellin is a city brimming with culture and art, where every corner tells a story. And how can we not mention the iconic Colombian coffee, an essential part of the local identity?

Get ready to immerse yourself in a complete experience of tourist attractions in Medellin. Whether it’s a captivating city tour of Medellin, discovering places to visit in Medellin, or enjoying thrilling day trips, this city has something for everyone. So come and visit Medellin, and get ready to be amazed.

City Tour + Comuna 13

Arví Wellness + Coffee Tour

Explore the beauty of the Arví Park, immerse yourself in the world of coffee and relax in a sensory coffee spa. Discover the itinerary with an ancestral tour, tasting and wellness in a natural environment.

Approx. $55.00 USD

Explore the essential tourist places of Medellin with our new tour: discover representative places such as Pueblito Paisa, Pies Descalzos Park and Plaza Botero. An unforgettable experience of culture and breathtaking landscapes awaits you.

Approx. $31.00 USD

Coffee Tour + Horseback Riding

Discover the authentic Antioquia at the Arrieros farm in San Sebastian de Palmitas. Immerse yourself in the coffee culture and explore lush landscapes on a guided horseback ride. Includes transportation, full coffee experience, and traditional lunch.

Approx. $74.00 USD

Take a Look at Our MOST POPULAR TOURS

Hacienda Nápoles Tour

Approx. $58.00 USD

Embark on the Hacienda Napoles tour, a wild and aquatic adventure. From a safari surrounded by African animals to exciting water attractions, this unique destination in Medellin awaits you with transportation, breakfast and a safari passport full of attractions.

Paragliding Tour

Approx. $70.00 USD

Experience the thrill of paragliding over the Colombian Andes with certified instructors. Discover Medellin from the heights in a 15 to 25 minute flight after a comfortable ride from the city.

Guatape - El Peñol Tour

Approx. $32 USD

Explore Guatape, an Andean tourist town famous for water sports and panoramic views. Discover the Peñol, a granite monolith with steps to the top, which offers breathtaking views. Enjoy a guided tour, typical lunch and boat ride.

Coffee Tour in Medellín

Approx. $80.00 USD

Explore on horseback, hike and discover a coffee farm in the beautiful Antioquian countryside. Learn about the process of growing and harvesting Colombian coffee by hand. Enjoy tastings and typical lunch, supporting local farmers.

Santa Fe De Antioquia Tour

Approx. $42.00 USD

Explore the wonderful Santa Fe de Antioquia and its main tourist places in our historical tour, in which you will visit the hanging Bridge of the Occidente, the Cathedral, and more. In addition, you will enjoy transportation, breakfast and lunch.

Approx. $57.00 USD

Discover the beauty of Antioquia while riding exciting trails on our ATVs. Unlock the ultimate adventure on a thrilling 60 minute ride with guide and helmets included.

WHY CHOOSE US?

Wide Variety of Tours Find an array of tours, activities, and day trips with a variety of destinations for you to explore and choose from. Whether you're wondering what to do in Medellin, seeking a thrilling city tour of Medellin, or planning to uncover the most captivating places to visit in Medellin, we have the perfect options for you.

Value for Money We understand the importance of your budget. That's why we offer affordable tours at fantastic prices, so you can experience Medellin to the fullest without crushing your wallet. Get the most out of your journey when you visit Medellin with us.

Amazing Places Prepare to be amazed! Discover unforgettable landscapes, beautiful locations, authentic views, and one-of-a-kind cultural experiences that will leave you spellbound. Our carefully curated tours ensure you see the best of Medellin's beauty.

Wide Variety of Tours Find an array of tours, activities and day trips with a variety of destinations for you to explore and choose from.

Best Support Team Your comfort and enjoyment are our priorities. Our hospitality-savvy and knowledgeable guides are fluent in both English and Spanish, making your experience seamless and informative. Get ready for an enriching tour of Medellin like no other.

Convenient Arrangements Leave the stress behind. We strive to provide safe travel and take care of all the necessary arrangements, giving you a worry-free experience from start to finish. Choose us for convenience and peace of mind when exploring day trips and more in Medellin.

LATEST POST

Best Museums in Medellin, Bogotá, and Cartagena: Exploring the Rich Cultural Heritage of Colombia

Tour reviews.

I had a wonderful time during the trip. The guide was informative, friendly and attentive to our entire group! I definitely plan to be a returning customer and recommend this to my friends and family!

Medellin Flower Festival: La Feria de Las Flores 2023 Highlights

© Local Tours Medellín 2023 All Rights Reserved

Medellin City Tours and local english tour guides to discover Medellin’s region

Taylor made trip to Colombia

Would you like to travel to Colombia with a travel agency? Compare the offers of our local partners

On one of our recent trips to Colombia, we discovered the work of Cathy and her local travel agency offering guided tours of Medellin in english .

With her, we visited Moravia, a neighborhood totally off the beaten track, with a striking history and symbolic of Medellín’s transformation. A great guided tour of a neighborhood we’d never have set foot in without Cathy, who supports a community gardening project in the area.

After this wonderful experience, we decided to give you the chance to discover authentic Medellin with a english-speaking guide .

What’s more, Cathy also offers tours in english around Medellin (Guatape, Jardin, Jerico, Santa Fe de Antioquia, etc.)

Related posts

• What to do in Medellin
• Around Medellin
• Where to stay in Medellin

Travel Poster “Café de Colombia”

Buy our beautiful prints to get a taste of Colombia at home

Disclaimer : we apologize in advance for any grammatical or syntactic errors, as our native language is not English (we're a Colombian-French couple), so we hope you'll forgive us and still enjoy the information we share with you! Please note that all the information on our blog is based on our own experience, and is checked and updated regularly.

City tours of Medellin

Tour guide to discover medellin and its region.

For the past 10 years, Medellín has been a city in the throes of change, whose transformation is in itself an inexhaustible source of discovery for travelers. Cathy offers guided tours of Medellin in english to discover the region, its culture and its people .

Comuna 13: Street Art and lunch with local people

Tour content A tour that starts in downtown Medellín and draws on its history, then moves on to the hills of Comuna 13 to discover street art, and ends with lunch with a local family.

Contribution of this tour to the community Support for the women’s collective, victims of the armed conflict, who are developing a process of reconstruction through handicrafts and cooking.

Moravia: transformation and community gardens

Tour content Immersion in the Moravia district, around a former open-air landfill that has now been rehabilitated into community gardens. A fascinating visit where we meet the people behind the gardeners’ guild project, described in detail in our post Moravia and the Sowers of Life .

Contribution of this tour to the community Support for the local gardening collective

La Sierra: Medellin’s past and present

Tour content This one-day tour begins with a visit to the Medellín Memory Museum, followed by a visit to the once-infamous La Sierra district (comuna 8), where you’ll be welcomed by young people who will show you where they live. Here, history is intertwined, and the visit is punctuated by lunch with a local family.

Contribution of this tour to the community Support for the “La Sierra es otro cuento” educational project.

Local experiences

Cathy also offers local experiences to immerse you in the paisa culture and atmosphere of the city of Medellín:

Market discovery and cooking workshop A dive into the atmosphere of Medellín’s popular market to taste local products. The tour ends at a family home, where you’ll discover the chef’s best recipes.

Salsa Night Learn the basics of salsa in a family’s living room, then set off to practice your skills in Medellín’s two most famous salsa bars. The tour ends with a concert!

Contribution to the community Support for host families

CONTACT CATHY FOR A City TOUR in MEDELLIN and its region IN english

To contact Cathy directly, our local partner in Medellin, you can use the form below . You won’t pay any more, but it will let her know you’ve come from us.

IMPORTANT: If you don’t hear from our partner within 72 hours, please check your SPAMS first before contacting us.

Discover Medellin’s surroundings

Guided tours of medellin and surrounding area in english.

Cathy also offers tours of the region around Medellin , always with an eye to responsible tourism. Each experience is an opportunity to participate , meet families and discover great local initiatives.

Ecotour: from vegetable garden to plate

Half an hour from Medellín, you’ll discover a farm like no other, run by an artist committed to a permaculture process. On the program: picking, tasting of garden produce and discussions about a different way of farming today.

Contribution to the community Support and visibility for a local, ecological initiative

Guatape needs no introduction! Here we take you to discover the must-sees of this village of a thousand colors and the view from the famous Piedra del Peñol.

Community contribution Support for local trade

Coffee tour

Drive to a coffee-producing finca 1h30 from Medellín. The family is developing organic production based on permaculture. It’s an opportunity to discover the cultivation of coffee, Colombia’s national heritage, and another way of producing the black gold!

Contribution to the community Support for a family of independent producers practicing permaculture

Santa Elena

Mentioned in our post on things to do around Medellín , Santa Elena is the village of the silleteros! This ancient tradition of floral art culminates each year in the Ferria de las Flores de Medellín parade. An opportunity to discover the entire production process at a local flower farm and share a meal with the family.

Contribution to the community Support for a family of silleteros in Santa Elena.

2 or 3-day stays in a beautiful village

Discover the medellin area in english.

Finally, the local travel agency also offers 2 or 3-day trips to villages a little further from Medellín, for a deeper immersion in the rural culture of the coffee region. Each of these trips is also an opportunity to support interesting and hopeful local projects .

Jerico was one of the highlights of our 2018 trip! It’s a sublime village lost in the mountains, where you can gently feel the days go by in an authentic local atmosphere. We invite you to spend 2 days and 1 night there and discover all its secrets.

Contribution to the community Support for local business and a host family

This 2-day, 1-night visit immerses you in the world of a Colombian artist who is developing eco-building and permaculture projects in Fredonia, a village 1h30 from Medellín. A participative stay where you can take part in various workshops (ceramics, ecoconstruction, cooking…)

Contribution to the community Support for a local artist developing eco-responsible projects.

Spend 3 days and 2 nights in one of the most beautiful villages in the coffee region , Salamina, located 5 hours from Medellín. Discover how coffee is grown, take part in the reforestation of the Samaria Valley by planting a wax palm (Colombia’s national emblem) and stop off in Aguadas, another heritage village, for a participatory hat-making workshop!

Contribution to the community Support for the Samaria Valley reforestation project, coffee producers, local businesses and host families.

Who is Cathy and what does her local travel agency offer?

Responsible tourism in medellin.

Cathy has been based in Medellín for a while now, and founded her travel agency in 2017. As Cathy explained to us during our first meeting, the idea behind this travel agency is to manufacture another way of discovering Medellín and its region in direct contact with local people.

But what makes Cathy’s trademark, that little extra that makes the difference , is the idea that every visit, every discovery must involve a meeting with the local population , must contain a moment of sharing and must support local initiatives .

Responsible tourism

The travel agency is committed to responsible tourism , and every guided tour we offer has been designed to enable encounters with a family, an association or a local initiative. In this way, every activity benefits local communities .

This is where the travel agency’s work really comes into its own. You’re not just visiting a neighborhood, a village or a region. We benefit from a genuine intercultural exchange that we certainly wouldn’t have had the opportunity to experience otherwise, and our visit supports relevant initiatives and Colombian families.

Contacts for visiting Medellin and its region in english

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Vacation rentals and appartment where to stay in medellin, the state of responsible (or sustainable) tourism in colombia, scuba diving on the pacific coast, visit guatape travel guide: best things to do in one of colombia’s most colorful villages, indigenous travel agency to discover the sierra nevada of santa marta, angélica & samuel.

We are Angélica and Samuel, a French-Colombian couple, professional photographers and web editors specializing in travel to Colombia. We created this blog to change the image of the country, help you prepare your trip and inspire you to discover Colombia in a different way!

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6 thoughts on “medellin city tours and local english tour guides to discover medellin’s region”.

Hello Angelica and Samuel,

Very interesting blog, thanks for sharing. Do you know any guides who also give tours in Spanish in the city of Medellín?

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,

Bruno Thank you very much

Hi, yes there are freetours in English and Spanish, we talk about them in our article on things to do in Medellin: https: //mytriptocolombia.com/visiter-medellin/

Buenos dias, we’re back after three weeks of a wonderful trip to Colombia. During our stay in Medellin, we were lucky enough to discover Cathy’s agency. In just a few hours, she was able to organize our visits to Medellin and the surrounding area. With her and a French-speaking guide, Maria, we visited Santa Fé and met the gold miners of the rio Cauca; a grandiose day. With Joseph, we visited the historic center, Comuna 13 and had lunch with the locals; another superb day. Thank you Cathy, we wish you every success in your projects. Hasta luego.

Hi and thanks for your feedback! We’re delighted you had a great experience with Cathy’s agency 🙂

We are 3 and arrive in Medellin on February 15 We’ll be in Colombia for 2 1/2 weeks I’m thinking of doing Guatape and Salento before gradually heading north Are you available on that date? What would you recommend?

Paul, Sophie and Luc

Hi there, to contact Cathy’s agency please use the form in the article . Thank you and enjoy your visit!

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June 18, 2023

English-Speaking Bilingual Guides in Medellin

So you’ve planned your trip to Medellin, and you’re excited to take in the sights and sounds of this colorful city. There’s just one problem – you don’t speak much Spanish. This is a dilemma that most tourists in Medellin experience. They want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, but there’s a pretty significant language barrier in the way. Fortunately, there’s a solution to this problem: simply hire a bilingual guide in Medellin ! A lot of Medellin Tours have bilingual guides, since so many English-speaking tourists visit the city each year. This is invaluable if you want to truly enjoy all the places you visit, but there are other advantages as well. 

Why hire a bilingual guide in Medellin?

In a nutshell, it’s because this will open up the city of Medellin for you. Rather than having to stop every five minutes to type unfamiliar words into a translation app, you can simply ask your guide what something means. If you want to buy something, the guide can help you navigate the purchase. When you want to find the restaurants or bars that are preferred by locals, they’ll have plenty of recommendations.

Why language barriers get in the way of international travel

For some people, part of planning an international trip involves learning the basics of the other country’s language. They might use an app like Duolingo, or even take formal lessons. However, it’s estimated that to achieve even intermediate proficiency in a language, you’d have to spend about 240 hours practicing it. If you’re only going to be traveling for a couple of weeks, that doesn’t really seem like it’s worth the effort.

This is why most tourists who are headed to Medellin simply hop on the plane and hope for the best. While it’s true that you can still have an amazing time in Medellin without speaking Spanish, you’ll still be missing out on certain aspects of the experience. It will be a lot harder to understand and absorb the culture, for example. A lot of your communication will probably end up happening through elaborate hand signals, and vice versa. This will get the job done, but it will also force each interaction to be as basic as possible.

The main benefits of having a bilingual guide in Medellin

As it turns out, there are several important benefits to hiring a bilingual guide in Medellin.

It’s like getting a new passport to a different culture

A regular passport lets you access other countries; a bilingual guide will work in a similar way with Colombian culture. When you can communicate in the same language as the people around you, you’ll feel more like you belong there. Even if you aren’t exactly part of a new social circle as a tourist, you can still feel like you’ve gotten to the heart of the culture you came to explore. 

It will help you build your knowledge of another language

Even though a tour guide is very different from a language tutor, you can still take advantage of their help to familiarize yourself with the most basic elements of Spanish. Just pay attention to words that come up regularly – these will likely be the most useful ones to learn. Assuming you’ll be navigating the city on your own as well as with a guide, spending some time with a bilingual tour guide can give you more confidence to keep cultivating your budding Spanish skills. This could eventually come in handy as you make purchases, ask for directions, inquire about restaurant or hotel recommendations, and much more. Even if you don’t know the first thing about conjugating verbs, the people you’re talking to will get the gist, and appreciate the effort you’re making as well.

It will let you explore more than just the touristy parts of Medellin

There’s a ton of authentic Paisa culture to be found in Medellin, but there are also plenty of areas that are almost entirely designed for tourists. These can be fun to explore, but if you want to get the full experience, a bilingual guide in Medellin can take you off the beaten track. They’ll know about which restaurants will blow your mind, and which ones are just tourist traps. They’ll be able to recommend bars, bike rental companies, the best locations for day-trips out of town, and more. In other words, they can be the key that unlocks the city for you.

It will keep you from getting scammed

Just like in any other major city in the world, Medellin has plenty of people who are willing to rip off tourists at the first opportunity. For example, you could be engaged in a seemingly friendly conversation while an accomplice runs off with your phone. To a tourist, being approached by a random local may not seem that unusual; to a guide, however, the scam will be obvious. Another common type of scam is nicknamed “ gringo pricing ”; this is where vendors hike up their prices for clueless tourists. A bilingual tour guide won’t be clueless, though. They’ll call out the vendor for their dishonesty, and also inform you about what common items typically cost, so you won’t be taken in by this scam again.

It will give you greater awareness of your surroundings

Whether or not you’re always the designated map-reader of the group, it can be tricky to get acquainted with your surroundings in a new city. And when that city is as big and energetic as Medellin, it can be even trickier. If you’ll be spending more than a couple of days in the city, it can be helpful to know how to get around. Services like Uber or Didi will come in handy, but having a bilingual guide who can explain all the different neighborhoods would be even better.

If you want to truly experience Medellin, make sure you hire a bilingual guide

Taking an international trip can be life-changing, and a bilingual guide can be an integral part of making that happen. If you want to make the most of your visit to Medellin, you should consider an English-speaking guide as an essential part of the trip.

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8 Cool Medellin Tours and Day Trips That Are Actually Worth It!

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You’ll find the best Medellin tours and day trips right here!

Medellin is a popular buzzing city in the middle of Colombia and is loved by many who come to visit. What was once a dangerous and deadly city is now an innovative and bustling megalopolis drawing in over half a million tourists a year.

The city is steeped in history, surrounded by lush rolling green mountains, and is a playground for visitors to explore.

While the city itself offers tons of things to do, it’s a great base for day trips too!

Below I’ll share some exceptional activities for you to do on a Medellin tour plus some well worth it day trips. 

Planning Your Medellin Trip NOW?

Here is the quick low down on the best day tours in Medellin! These are my top 3—don’t miss out on these tours.

?? Top experiences and tours I absolutely loved doing:

• The Comuna 13 walking tour is 100% a must-do in Medellin, so you can understand the history.
• Visit the iconic El Penol and Guatape . This is the most popular day tour from Medellin, and very worth it!
• Chase and swim in waterfalls just outside the city! Since I’m a professional waterfall chaser, it’s no surprise it’s in my top 3.

? Where to Stay

• Best budget spots ($17+)
• Best 4-star hotels ($60+)

? Safety Travel insurance is a must, and it doesn’t have to cost much— Here’s what I use.

Table of Contents

1. Arenales Waterfall Hike

2. comuna 13 – a must do medellin tour, 3. paraglide medellin tour, 4. beer and club tours in medellin, 5. coffee tasting tour, 6. street food tour, 7. guatape and el penol (most popular medellin day trip), 8. santa fe de antioquia, pablo escobar tour, jerico as a medellin day tour, jardin as a medellin day tour, 2-week colombia itinerary: exploring the andean coffee region, a guide to jerico, colombia—don't miss this charming pueblo, a guide to jardin, colombia—the prettiest pueblo you ever did see, 5 things to do in salento, colombia that aren't cocora valley, trekking in los nevados national park: 3-day paramillo del quindio summit (colombia), medellin tours and day trips that are actually worth it.

You’ll find there are a ton of different things to do just outside the city and even more things that are “day trippable” from Medellin but are all of them worth it? Which are the best? Are there any Medellin tours not worth doing?

Hey, we’re all different, but here are some of the Medellin day trips I LOVED, would recommend, wish I did, and even a few I would NOT recommend.

I hope this helps you decide which day trips from Medellin are best for you.

Who knew just 25 minutes outside of a massive city, there’d be a vast verdant nature park with cascading waterfalls. If you’re new here, hey! I really like waterfall hikes. So if there’s one near me, I’ll find out about it, and I’ll do it!

And I was pretty surprised to find one in Medellin so easily. The Arenales area of Enivgado is a perfect little day trip from Medellin without having to go too far out of the city.

I’m SO happy I got a guide for the hike up here because I would have never found the waterfall (more on this in a sec). Just do the tour that I did —It was awesome!

The waterfall is very much worth the effort. After taking some pictures I ran in to cool off and to wash off the dirt and sweat from the hike. The waterfall doesn’t look supermassive but it’s quite powerful and while the water is pretty cold, it was perfectly refreshing.

The trail is quite easy to do with some river crossings and a couple of areas where you have to semi-scramble up some rocks and tree roots. But otherwise, nothing too tricky. I went with a guide named Andres, and he was delightful and a lot of fun! Just make sure you bring plenty of water and wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet.

Doing This Hike Alone?

You can take one of the buses from here (ask which one goes to Arenales) and you’ll be on your way. The route is pretty windy once you’re out of the city, but it’s not too long, so those that get car sick should be fine.

Once you’re up at Arenales, things are certainly a bit confusing, though! If you’re keen on doing the waterfall hike up here, I’d highly recommend getting a guide. There’s a map just outside the bus stop, but it’s less than helpful, and there’s no map for the trail on Google or Maps.Me.

And after reading, I found many others didn’t find their way successfully either. Several paths are winding and threading the area, so getting lost is very easy, not to mention we crossed several streams on our hike, and there are no signs along the way. So yeah, if you like aimlessly wandering over river crossings and around a million detours while sweating buckets, by all means, come up here alone!

Otherwise, just do the tour I did!

This is one of those “must-dos” in the city, and you won’t regret doing this Medellin tour. Comuna 13 was once of the scariest and most dangerous neighborhoods in Medellin not too long ago. From illegal settlements and displacement to high homicide rates and gang activity, this neighborhood has done a 180 and is now one of the most visited areas in Medellin.

Walking around the comuna could not be any easier. You can take a quick metro or taxi and walk around all by yourself. I’m ALL for doing things myself, particularly when it comes to walking around a town or city. However, walking around Comuna 13 without a guide would be doing yourself a disservice.

If you want a few snaps for the ‘Gram with the graffiti walls, I won’t judge nor stop you, but PLEASE know this area is so much more than just a photo-worthy spot. Every spray-painted mural represents a story about the community’s past, and you wouldn’t be able to fathom the history that lies beneath with each splash of paint.

I learned SO much on my Medellin tour , and I’m so glad I didn’t go here alone just to wander aimlessly.

In this Comuna, there’s also the famous outdoor escalator which is, of course, included in the tour and has a deep history in itself as well. Each wall my guide Kevin pointed out told the next segment of the story of Medellin and quite literally helped me paint a picture in my mind of what this area was like not that long ago.

I really can’t recommend taking a tour in this area enough, and the tours are very reasonably priced and help out the local community. The guides all live in this neighborhood and have strong ties to the history and community here.

You’ve been staring at all those beautiful green hills and mountains that surround Medellin, did you ever think it would be cool to jump off them? A bit crazy? A bit daring? Yes, but all possible with a half-day tour from Medellin!

Strap up and paraglide over Medellin for an insane adventure! You’ll glide right over the deep dramatic valley, soar over rivers and forests, and wave hello to the entire city just like a bird. It’s surely one of the most thrilling tours in Medellin.

My friend Daniel made me highly regret not going paragliding in Medellin or Jerico (more on this in a bit). So don’t miss out like I did and take the leap (literally)!

RELATED: How to Find The Best Travel Insurance For Your Trip

We LOVED 3 Cordilleras and drank their pale ales almost every night (while watching Netflix, of course,), only after we left Medellin did we realize they had a brewery with tours and fun events happening randomly throughout the month! Total fail. If you like craft beer, the scene is just reaching Medellin, and 3 Cordilleras seems to be one of the first on the train.

We are picky with our beers, and we think they do a pretty decent job, particularly when compared with the competitors in the country. 🙂 

If drinking for you is all about enjoying the nightlife, then try this bar-hopping tour , which includes five of the best places to party.

The bars and clubs you visit will depend on which night you go, but you could enjoy dancing to reggaeton, playing drinking games, hookah pipes, or enjoying a cocktail on a rooftop bar.

Unlike the craft beer scene, coffee isn’t new to Colombia.

And the coffee here is no joke. While they export a lot of the quality beans, if you go straight to the farm, you’ll be able to grab ahold of the good stuff before it flies off to another country!

Oh, AND learn how they make that cup of hot brewed goodness, that makes life better each and every morning, that drink you can’t live without (well, at least I can’t). The process is astonishing. Seriously, it’s crazy how much work goes into these little beans.

Take a coffee tour day trip from Medellin if you’re not planning on taking one anywhere else. This is part of the coffee region, after all.

To round out all your drinking experiences, trying some local food is a must.

This walking tour will take you through Medellin’s Poblado neighbourhood, where you’ll also see some great graffiti. You’ll meet five different food vendors and try their snacks, as well as hearing their stories.

Along the way, you’ll visit two rooftop bars, where you can get photos of the city from above and take some time to relax.

RELATED: 15 Adventurous Things To Do in Colombia

Medellin Day Trip Tours

The Medellin tours above weren’t too far from the city but the rest require more time to get to. You’ll need a full day for these.

Guatape is probably the most popular day tour from Medellin, and there are three significant reasons why I think this is perhaps the best day trip from Medellin…

• It’s gorgeous, yes, it’s true what you’ve heard/seen.
• It’s just too easy! There are tons of tours and opportunities to go there, so why not?
• It’s JUST a day trip from Medellin and not much more. As in, I don’t recommend you go to Guatape on your own to spend extra time there…

Let me explain myself on #3 a bit more… El Penol is the beautiful large rock that you will climb to get “that” view. It’s stunning, said to be the best view in the world (it’s not), and makes for an epic snap and way to spend your day.

Guatape is a cute and vibrantly colorful town not too far from El Penol and is worth a wander.

The square has a lovely church, the promenade along the water makes for a relaxed stroll, and the colorful buildings will beg for a feature on your Instagram, BUT that’s about it! Guatape is definitely a town “made for tourists” and I wouldn’t want to waste a few days staying here.

Just Do Guatape and El Penol as a Day Trip!

I’m SO happy we didn’t decide to make this easy day trip from Medellin on our own. It would have cost around the same or more, been more of a headache to coordinate, and we probably would have missed out on a few other stops we did on the tour because doing it yourself would take longer.

This is the exact tour I did, and they did a fantastic job.

Everything was highly organized, and nothing was annoying or cheesy. They provided transport and then sufficient time for you to wander and explore El Penol and Guatape yourself.

They included a nice local meal, the bus was air-conditioned (thank god), and the guide did commentary while you were on the bus moving on to the next place.

It was a cool tour, and I was prepared to hate it (ha!). There was also a lovely boat ride included that glided you right up and towards El Penol, which was a nice touch. You also got to float past an old home base of Pablo Escobar.

Making a day trip to Guatape is 100% worth it, and I can’t recommend it enough, but like I’ve laid out here, I think it’s only worth a day trip, don’t make an effort to DIY this one.

Only 1.5 hours from Medellin, Santa Fe de Antioquia is a perfect escape for a Medellin tour away from the craziness of the city. Santa Fe is a place where cowboys roam the streets and green mountains adorn the backdrop.

For some reason, locals know about the charm of Santa Fe yet, foreigners haven’t caught on to this spot as a Medellin day trip.

Stroll through the cobbled streets, marvel at the old-town charm, wander down vibrant colored alleyways, discover a hidden beer scene, step into the ornate churches, and stuff your face with local specialty desserts.

Should You Do These As A Day Trip From Medellin?

BONUS! I have a few more than seven items on my list of Medellin day trips. BUT… Are they worth just making a day trip or do they deserve more?

I didn’t have much interest in doing a Pablo Escobar tour, mostly because it’s not my thing. But for those that are interested in doing one and perhaps are wondering why I don’t have it listed here as a recommended day tour from Medellin, this post may explain a bit why.

It’s a grey area. The locals hate it. It’s putting money in the pockets of people who were tied to a man who scarred a nation…

There’s a lot here; it’s heavy, and it’s was something I didn’t want to support nor was that interested in anyway. It’s something to think about if you’re planning on coming here to do one! You may want to rethink it.

Hot damn, I fell pretty hard in love with Jerico, and while I have this on my list of day trips from Medellin, I can not urge you enough to reconsider your plans on visiting Jerico as a day trip. It deserves more than just a quick hop over, and I won’t go too much in detail here because I have a whole post on Jerico, Colombia , but if you can swing it, stay longer!

IF you have no time to pop down and spend a few days in Jerico, I get it! But a day tour makes it possible to get here from Medellin without you regretting all your life choices.

If you were to do this trip yourself as a day trip from Medellin, you’d probably hate yourself.

The buses will take much longer to get you down here, and you’ll have all but a couple of hours to enjoy if that. 

If you come here on a  day tour from Medellin , not only will you have a private guide throughout the entire trip, you’ll have a private car, which makes life oh, so much easier. You’ll ride the cable car, which offers the best views of the city, as a well as visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer.

Jerico has some cool hikes, a seriously relaxed mountain vibe going on, cowboys and horses roaming the streets, gorgeous views, opportunities to go paragliding, and a pretty happening hammock scene (my kind of scene!).

So whatever amount of time you have, if you want to see Jerico, definitely don’t think about going down for the day by yourself, it’s too hectic, don’t listen to other posts which recommend this!

Jerico Day Tour Hack:

Take a tour, like the one here OR use my genius hack that I just made up before going to Jerico…

When you book the tour , let them know you won’t be returning to Medellin with the group… So not only do you get an excellent tour around Jerico with a local and a private drive down there, you get a private transfer to the next town on your trip!

It’s genius, I know, I’m amazing, what can I say? Seriously though, it’s a great tour (no, not sponsored!) and a great way to move on to the next town if you’re heading south anyway like I was.

RELATED: Guide to Jerico, Colombia

I thought I loved Jerico…. Until I made it to Jardin . And then I was torn.

I loved Jardin SO MUCH; it hurt to leave. But let’s get this out of the way, the only reason I’m listing Jardin in my post about day trips from Medellin is for two purposes…

• I have a guide to Jardin, Colombia , that you should probably read if you’re interested in going.
• I’m here to warn you that Jardin is NOT A GOOD DAY TRIP FROM MEDELLIN!

I honestly have no idea why other posts have Jardin as a recommended day trip from Medellin; it’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.

RELATED: Guide to Jardin, Colombia

Jardin is about four hours by bus away from Medellin; I’m not sure in what world that’s considered a day trip. Eight hours of driving round trip and about zero hours to explore the town for a day sounds fucking awful.

Jardin is exceptionally deserving of a trip for a few days, don’t miss out!

IF the only way you can see Jardin is by a day trip, then I’d recommend doing a highly recommend tour like this one so you have private transfers which will be much quicker.

More Around Colombia

I hope this helped you plan which tours in Medellin you want to take!

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Nina Ragusa is an adventurer, messy bun master, breakfast fan, and full-time travel blogger. She's been abroad since 2011 and blogging on Where in the World is Nina? for nearly as long. Nina helps people like you move around the world while making money. She loves talking about how to work abroad and online to travel longer! Read more about Nina

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Not everyone travels just to get an Instagram worthy photo. Some of us actually take time to enjoy where we are. People like you are ruining travel.

LOL ok Joe, thanks for the unsolicited feedback. PS – I lived in Medellin for nearly three months, hardly going there for an Instagram photo. I hope you have a better day tomorrow and perhaps use your time in a more productive way other than trolling a stranger’s blog. 🙂