A Journey Through Medellin Architecture: Top Sites for Backpackers and Design Enthusiasts To Explore
Once known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” Medellín has undergone a remarkable transformation from a dangerous city to a beacon of modernit
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BACKPACKING COLOMBIA
Colombia is an unbelievably exciting county with friendly people and a diverse culture, it has become synonymous with Narcos and has tourism dedicated to this genre. For backpackers the transport is manageable/ fairly good, the hostels are world class and not expensive and the same can be said for the rest. You can go from a morning paragliding to a rooftop pool to fantastic food before partying into the night. The backpacking community here is extensive here, you will find everyone from digital nomads, seasoned travellers and first time solo traveller. You will easily make friends for life.
Bogotá
Spanish
Colombian Pesos
BACKPACKING COLOMBIA MUSTS STOPS
Backpacking Colombia
North to south we will be backpacking Colombia from Cartegena to the deepest darkest jungle in Leticia, prepare for everything from beaches, to stunning mountains, to the incredible landscapes of the desert before stepping foot into the Amazon jungle and the town of Leticia where Peru, Colombia and Brazil meet.
BACKPACKING ROUTE
CAPURGANA
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Backpacking Colombia
Capurganá
If you have checked out our San Blas blog you will know we hit Capurgana having taken the speed boat option through Colombia SOOO we will start our journey in this tiny town. You will get you passport entry stamp here and whilst it is tiny, there are places to explore. The area is only accessable by boat so your onward journey will be from the dock here. If you are looking to go to Cartagena or Medellin, you will need an early start and have a long day ahead arriving at either place deep into the night. However there are buses to both destinations just a quick walk from the dock on the other side. We will go into this more in a blog post below, However Capurgana is a cute little place for a lot of relaxation so lets explore this area.
Eat
Sea food
Drink
Local beer
Do
Hike
Explore the town
Find the beaches
Travel
Walk
Stay
Hostels
Time
1-2 Days
To
Cartagena
CARTAGENA
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Backpacking Colombia
Cartagena
The landing point if you take on the Darien gap by sail boat, Cartagena is a bustling hot stop for not only backpackers but domestic and international tourists. A large city with Spanish colonial architecture, it will feel a thousand miles away from the solitude of the ocean crossing flinging you back into the thick urban life but with white sand beaches, diving options and a big night life. We are building this section out travel back soon.
To
Medellin
MEDELLIN
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Backpacking Colombia
Medellin
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Medellín, Colombia's "City of Eternal Spring," is an exciting city for backpackers. It has a warm climate, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. The friendly "Paisas" (north west Colombians) make visitors feel welcome.
Surrounded by lush mountains, Medellín offers natural beauty and outdoor activities like hiking in Arví Park or paragliding at a fantastic price. The city's dynamic art scene is highlighted by colourful murals in Comuna 13 and the Museum of Antioquia, featuring works by Fernando Botero. Medellín's cultural richness includes the annual Festival of the Flowers and a lively nightlife allowing you to salsa all night long.
Innovative urban projects like the Metro Cable and Comuna 13 escalators symbolise the city's progress and offer breathtaking views. Food enthusiasts will love traditional dishes like "bandeja paisa" and vibrant street food but there is also many international restaurants for your to get your fill
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Day trips to Guatapé and Santa Fe de Antioquia add to Medellín’s allure, making it a must-visit for adventurous backpackers.
Eat
Bandeja Paisa
International
Vegan
Drink
Fresh Coffee
Aguardiente
Chicha
Do
Party
Paraglide
Guatapé Trip
Hike
Football Game
Narco Tours
Walking Tours
Shop
Travel
Uber
Shuttle
Walk
Bus
Train
Cable Car!
Stay
Hostels
Hotels
Air BnB
Time
4-6 Days
Where to Stay In Medellin
The are a number of excellent places to stay in Medellin, however from experience we would recommend Hostel Viajero Medellín. It has comfortable modern rooms in a cool building in a cool area. The rooftop has a bar and hot tubs with great views and the basement holds a big kitchen and communal area. You can also get breakfast and book your excursions through the hostel.
Our second choice (but equally as good and just around the corner) is Los Patios Hostel. It is worth checking each to see which is better on price if that is a driver for you as both hostels are excellent places to stay. We booked out paragliding through Los Patios even though we were staying in Viajero! The only other indicator I can give is that Los patios seemed to have a slightly younger vibe than Viajero! There are many other places to stay but if you are hitting the 'usual travel trail' these two will not be far off the lips of any one going to or coming from Medellin.
Viajero
Exterior
Guatapé
Town
What To Do In Medellin
Party (Gringo Tuesday)
Your night to meet fellow backpackers and party hard. Medellin (and Bogota) have a 'Gringo Tuesday' talk to your hostel when you arrive and sign up, if you don't fancy the pre party, you can always head straight to the final location. Be sensible with how you get home
Guatape Day Trip
This is a must whilst in Medellin, on the trip you will head to the town of Guatape where you will find oincreaible stucco/ adobe decoration to the town, you will head to the iconic climbable rock where the views from the vtop are frankly stunning. On our tour we also got a boat trip to a little island in the lake complete with a beer and swim before heading back to the hostel.
Paraglide
For me this was a first and I remember it like it was yesterday, head to Los Patios and here you can book onto a paragliding session. You will be taken up to a launch location from which you will have unreal views across Medellin, the tandem flight does not last long but your pilot will ask if you want to experience some G force and spin you around like a crisp packet in a tornado. Views and a thrill what more could a backpacker want?
If you are in town whilst a football match is going on then GO. Even if you do not like football, they love there football in Colombia and you will end up with a stadium experience unlike any you have ever had before. If you are really brave head to the home standing section where you will not stop bouncing and singing for 90 minutes!
I have put this in but I want to make a caveat to sustainable and respectable travel. Of course Medellin is infamous because of one Pablo Escobar, however a lot of the people are trying to move away from the narcos chapter, its not hard to understand why when so much violence and devastation was a daily occurrence. Visit the museum for sure as at the end of this day, as much as it was a deadly chapter, it is still part of Colombian and Medellins history. What may be a better option if you are trying to choose is perhaps the art tour of Comuna 13.
Medellin
Stadium
Comuna 13
Housing
A tour of Comuna 13 is a must, this place once had the highest homicide rate in the whole of Colombia. Its architecture is a marvel, dense and unique, however as mentioned this area is trying to reinvent itself as the comuna of art. The story of the people here is as unique as the buildings and art, its a sobering story and one that will leave you thinking deep into the night. Do not miss a Comuna 13 tour.
If you are more of an adrenaline junkie, then an ATV tour could well be your bag, if you head off with Los Patios, then you will head up to the Aburrá Valley for a lot of 4 wheeled fun. The only down side, its not cheap and there are probably better places in Colombia to have fun on an ATV!
Walking Tours
Ok so boring Jack here, but I love a walking tour in a city. In fact its usually the first thing I book in when arriving into a city, why? Because you get tips and tricks of where to go (or not) you get a better understanding of the area and its culture and Medellin is no different, in Medellin there are multiple to choose from, head to the historic centre for the best insight into the history of Medellin.
Salento
or
Bogotá
The capital of Colombia is one for those who are looking for a city with incredible architecture and a lot of art including one of Colombias most famous artists Fernando Botero. A multitude of great hostel options are awaiting you here.
Bogotá
Tatacoa
Tatacoa
One for the highlight reel, take the bus to Neiva from Bogota to get here before venturing into the most beautiful Colombian desert. The desert is accessible from Neiva but we stayed in Villavieja for a few days to really get the feel for the desert. The area is famous for its geology and star gazing, but also has some really cool hostels that are less frequented by most backpackers.
Leticia
Welcome to the Amazon. Taking a flight into Leticia, this small town acts as your springboard for getting into the Amazon rainforest. One of the greatest expeditions you will EVER take.
Leticia
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