Medellín is famous for its food, nightlife, art, cafés, and spring-like weather. But one of the best parts of the city is easy to miss if you only stay in El Poblado: the mountains.

The Aburrá Valley is surrounded by green hills, cloud forests, rivers, waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints that make Medellín one of the best cities in Colombia for hiking without going too far from urban comfort.

Whether you want a short morning workout, a relaxed walk through nature, a Sunday waterfall plan, or a serious mountain challenge, there’s a trail around Medellín that fits your level.

Here are some of the best hikes around Medellín for scenic trails, waterfalls, and mountain views.

Cerro de las Tres Cruces

Cerro de las Tres Cruces is probably the most popular urban hike in Medellín, and for good reason. It’s short, intense, easy to access, and gives you one of the best panoramic views of the city.

This is a favorite among locals who want a quick workout before or after work. The trail climbs steadily, so even though it is not very long, you will definitely feel it in your legs.

Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with wide views of Medellín surrounded by mountains. There are also outdoor gym stations at the summit, so a lot of people combine the hike with calisthenics or a short strength session.

If you’re visiting Medellín and want a quick, active plan without leaving the city, Cerro Tres Cruces is one of the easiest hikes to add to your schedule.

• Duration: 20 to 40 minutes
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: Around 1.2 kilometers each way
• Best for: Quick workouts, city views, beginner-friendly hiking

Arví Park

Arví Park is one of the most accessible nature escapes from Medellín. You can reach it by Metrocable, which already makes the trip feel special before the hike even starts.

This is a great option if you are new to hiking or want something calmer than a steep mountain climb. The park has several trails, so you can choose between a relaxed walk or a longer route depending on your energy level.

The atmosphere is peaceful, with native plants, forest paths, small streams, picnic areas, and plenty of space to disconnect from the city. Guided tours are also available if you want to learn more about the local ecosystem and history of the area.

Arví Park is especially good for travelers who want nature without needing a complicated day trip. It is simple, beautiful, and very Medellín.

• Duration: 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the trail
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Distance: Around 1 to 3 kilometers
• Best for: Beginners, families, relaxed forest walks, Metrocable views

Cerro El Volador

Cerro El Volador is another excellent option if you want a short and easy hike inside Medellín. It is located within an ecological park and offers open green spaces, gentle trails, and wide views of the city.

The hike to the top is not too demanding, making it a good choice for beginners or anyone who wants to enjoy nature without committing to a long route.

Once you reach the summit, you’ll get a clear look at Medellín’s skyline with the surrounding mountains in the background. Sunset is one of the best times to visit because the light makes the city views even better.

This is a practical hike for travelers who are short on time but still want to experience Medellín’s outdoor side.

• Duration: 20 to 45 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: Around 2 to 4 kilometers
• Best for: Easy hiking, sunset views, quick city nature plans

Cuevas del Higuerón

Cuevas del Higuerón is one of those hikes where the ending makes the whole route worth it. The trail leads you through caves, farms, pine forest, and eventually to the beautiful Cascadas del Higuerón.

At the beginning of the hike, the caves give the route a more adventurous feeling. As you continue, the landscape changes into traditional countryside views, with horses, farms, and forested sections along the way.

Near the end, you’ll start hearing the sound of water before reaching the waterfalls. It’s a refreshing and very photogenic spot, especially if you want a Sunday plan close enough to Medellín to do in one day.

This hike is not extremely technical, but it is longer than the quick urban trails, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

• Duration: 3 to 4 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Distance: Around 7 kilometers
• Best for: Waterfalls, Sunday hikes, forest trails, countryside views

La Catedral to Arenales Hike

The La Catedral to Arenales hike starts in Envigado, at the site known for being Pablo Escobar’s former prison. From there, the trail moves through mountain landscapes, pine forests, waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints.

Along the route, hikers can pass places like Chorro de las Campanas and Salto del Ángel before reaching the Arenales viewpoint. The combination of forest, water, and mountain views makes this one of the more memorable hikes near Medellín.

This trail is more demanding than Cerro Tres Cruces or Arví Park. Some sections can be steep, muddy, and slippery, especially after rain. Good shoes are not optional here. They are the difference between enjoying the hike and suffering through it.

If you want something more adventurous but still doable as a day hike, this route is a strong pick.

• Duration: 2 to 4.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
• Distance: Around 12 kilometers round trip
• Best for: Waterfalls, forest paths, longer day hikes, experienced beginners

Cerro Quitasol

Cerro Quitasol, located in Bello, is a solid choice if you want a less crowded and more rugged hiking experience near Medellín.

The route combines open terrain with forest paths, and the climb becomes more demanding as you approach the summit. It is not the easiest trail on this list, but the reward is worth the effort.

From the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Aburrá Valley. Since the trail is more rugged than Medellín’s most popular urban hikes, it’s better suited for people with some hiking experience.

Go prepared with proper shoes, enough water, and sun protection. This is not the trail where you want to improvise.

• Duration: 3 to 5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
• Distance: Around 5 to 7 kilometers
• Best for: Fewer crowds, rugged terrain, panoramic valley views

Cerro Tusa

Cerro Tusa is not a casual walk. It is one of the most intense hikes near Medellín and should only be considered by experienced hikers who are comfortable with steep, exposed, and physically demanding terrain.

The mountain is famous for its sharp triangular shape, which makes it one of the most recognizable peaks in Antioquia. The trail starts manageable, but it gets much harder as you approach the summit.

The climb is short compared to multi-day hikes, but the steepness makes it serious. If you make it to the top, you’ll get 360-degree views of rivers, mountains, and rolling green hills.

This is a bucket-list hike for many people, but don’t underestimate it. Go with experienced hikers or a guide, and avoid attempting it in bad weather.

• Duration: 3 to 5 hours
• Difficulty: Very difficult
• Distance: Around 5 kilometers
• Best for: Advanced hikers, steep climbs, dramatic summit views

Cascada La Miel

Cascada La Miel is a peaceful waterfall hike near San Rafael, ideal if you want something more natural and less crowded than Medellín’s most popular trails.

The area has dense vegetation, clear rivers, rock formations, and waterfalls surrounded by lush forest. It feels more remote and adventurous, which is part of the charm.

The hike can be challenging depending on the route and conditions, but the payoff is a beautiful waterfall where you can relax, swim, and cool down after walking.

This is a good option for travelers who want a more off-the-beaten-path nature plan and don’t mind spending more time outside the city.

• Duration: 2 to 5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
• Distance: Around 9 to 10 kilometers
• Best for: Waterfalls, swimming, quieter trails, adventurous day trips

Salto del Buey

Salto del Buey is perfect if your ideal hike includes a postcard-style waterfall without a brutally difficult trail.

The route is relatively easy, with no major steep sections or complicated terrain. That makes it accessible for most travelers, including people who want the reward of a waterfall without committing to a technical hike.

The scenery is the main reason to go. Expect green landscapes, fresh air, and one of the most beautiful waterfall settings near Medellín.

You can also combine this plan with a visit to cafés in La Ceja, making it a full day trip with nature, coffee, and mountain-town atmosphere.

• Duration: 1 to 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: Around 3 to 4 kilometers
• Best for: Waterfall views, easy hiking, La Ceja day trips

Páramo del Sol

Páramo del Sol is one of the most rewarding hiking experiences near Medellín, but it is also one of the most demanding. This is not a quick morning plan. It is a real high-altitude expedition.

The route gives hikers a chance to experience one of Colombia’s most unique ecosystems: the páramo. These high mountain landscapes are cold, misty, fragile, and completely different from the tropical feel many travelers expect from Colombia.

Most hikers should plan 2 to 3 days for this trek. A guide is highly recommended because the trails can be difficult to navigate, the weather can change fast, and the altitude adds another layer of difficulty.

The highlight is reaching Alto de Campanas, one of Antioquia’s highest points. For serious hikers, this is one of the biggest outdoor rewards in the region.

• Duration: 2 to 3 days
• Difficulty: Advanced
• Distance: Around 30 to 40 kilometers
• Best for: Experienced hikers, multi-day trekking, high-altitude landscapes

Tips for Hiking Around Medellín

Before heading out, keep a few practical tips in mind. Medellín’s weather is beautiful, but the mountains can change quickly, especially in the afternoon.

• Start early: Morning hikes are cooler, clearer, and usually safer. Afternoon rain is common.
• Bring cash: Some parks, trails, or rural areas may charge small entrance fees or only accept cash.
• Stay hydrated: Medellín’s altitude and steep hills can surprise you, even on shorter hikes.
• Use sun protection: UV rays can be strong, even when the sky is cloudy.
• Wear proper shoes: Trails can get muddy and slippery after rain.
• Check safety conditions: For less-known routes, hike in a group or go with a local guide.
• Respect the trails: Don’t leave trash, don’t damage plants, and avoid entering private property without permission.

Best Hikes Around Medellín by Travel Style

If you’re not sure which trail to choose, here’s a quick way to decide:

• Best quick workout: Cerro de las Tres Cruces
• Best beginner-friendly nature escape: Arví Park
• Best easy city hike: Cerro El Volador
• Best waterfall day hike: Cuevas del Higuerón
• Best adventurous day route: La Catedral to Arenales
• Best less-crowded mountain hike: Cerro Quitasol
• Best advanced challenge: Cerro Tusa
• Best peaceful waterfall escape: Cascada La Miel
• Best easy waterfall plan: Salto del Buey
• Best multi-day expedition: Páramo del Sol

Experience the Outdoor Side of Medellín

Hiking around Medellín is one of the best ways to understand the city beyond restaurants, nightlife, hotels, and cafés. The mountains are part of daily life here, and they give travelers a completely different perspective of the region.

You can keep it simple with a short climb up Cerro Tres Cruces, take the Metrocable to Arví Park, chase waterfalls near La Ceja or San Rafael, or plan a serious trek through Páramo del Sol.

No matter your fitness level, Medellín has a trail that can fit your trip. Add at least one hike to your itinerary, and there’s a good chance it becomes one of your favorite memories in the city.

The post Best Hikes Around Medellín (2026 Guide): Scenic Trails, Waterfalls, and Mountain Views appeared first on Medellin Living.

Routine makes us forget the good things we deserve. One of them is pampering ourselves.

Massages are one of the ways that I personally love to pamper myself. Not only are they relaxing, but for digital nomads and those like me who spend hours hunched over a computer, they can be real game changers.

If you’re looking for a place where you can just close your eyes for an hour and have someone work out the knots and kinks in your back, this is the guide for you.

Here are the best spas and massages to check out in Medellín.

Celestino Spa

Located right in the center of Parque Lleras, where a lot of El Poblado’s action takes place, is the Celestino Spa.

The spa was opened as part of the hotel’s 2022 renovation, and boy, was it a great addition.

As soon as you enter, you’ll feel like you’re stepping into the forest. The soothing music, sweet essential oils, and dim, botanical decor instantly relax you.

In terms of the treatments, there are four packages to choose from:

• Botanic Experience: A facial, a one-hour massage, and a 15-minute body scrub followed by either a sauna or Turkish bath.
• Classic massage: A one-hour relaxing massage with your choice of scented or unscented oil, herbal tea, volcanic rocks, and aromatherapy.
• Deep tissue massage: A one-hour massage designed to work out the kinks in athletes’ bodies after a day of training.
• Aromatherapy Experience: A one-hour Swedish massage using essential oils and aromatherapy and a facial treatment.

Aside from these experiences, you can also choose to add on to your massage with a sauna or Turkish bath or a coffee or dead sea salt scrub.

Now you can also experience the ultimate experience at The Wellness Zone with a rejuvenating mix of Cold Plunge, Sauna and Jacuzzi services overlooking Medellín.

No matter how you choose to customize your trip to the spa, it’s definitely a visit you’ll want to repeat.

Website: https://celestinospa.com

Address: Carrera 37 # 8 A 60 Via Primavera, Medellín, Antioquia

Landmark Spa

Located inside Landmark Hotel in Manila, El Poblado, Landmark Spa is a solid pick if you want a relaxing massage without leaving one of Medellín’s best areas for food, cafés, coworking, and boutique hotels.

The spa focuses on restorative body treatments, with massage options designed for travelers, couples, digital nomads, and anyone needing a reset after walking around Medellín or spending long hours at a laptop.

One of the best parts of the experience is the hotel setting. Landmark combines a calm spa atmosphere with access to a modern hospitality concept that includes restaurants, a gym, a rooftop pool, and panoramic city views, making it easy to turn a simple massage into a full wellness break in El Poblado.

Landmark Spa is especially convenient if you’re staying in Manila, Provenza, Parque Lleras, or nearby apartment rentals and want a clean, polished, easy-to-book spa experience close to Medellín’s main tourist zone.

Website: https://spa.landmarkmedellin.com/

Address: Calle 14 #43D-85, Manila, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia

Nirvana Spa

Nirvana Spa is no newbie to the world of wellness and relaxation. They’ve been around for 20 years, so I’d say they know what they’re doing.

They offer facial and body treatments, each of which involves aroma therapy and a scrub that will leave your pores feeling fresh and clean.

Nirvana offers yoga and pilates classes, which makes it a good place to work out and stay fit as well as to just get a relaxing massage.

They’ve also got aqua-wellness classes, so if getting into the swimming pool and healing that way appeals, this might be the spot for you.

Another top benefit of this spa is that they’ve got a rooftop jacuzzi. You can take in sweeping views of the city as you soothe your sore muscles.

Website: https://www.nirvanaspacolombia.com/

Address: Cra. 34 #34-11, Medellín, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia

Akzara Thematic Spa

Akzara is a really interesting spa, that feels a bit more like a wellness retreat than your standard massage parlor.

They have two real packages here: rituals and basic massages.

Your basic massages are deep tissue massages or relaxing massages that are exactly what you’d normally expect out of that kind of treatment.

Rituals, on the other hand, are extended treatments that last for an extra hour or two. They include some sweet additions such as:

• Facial massage
• Facial cleaning
• Body scrub
• Welcome drink
• Private jacuzzi
• Snacks
• A cup of wine
• Hot rocks
• Thermal candle

Whatever you choose, you’ll be in for a treat. The massages are super relaxing and are just what you need after a long week at work.

Website: https://www.akzaraspa.com/

Address: Calle 10 # 36-32 Piso 2, sector, Medellín, El Poblado, Antioquia

Viva Spa Poblado

There’s a lot to cover at Viva Spa Poblado, because they’ve got just so many treatments. Here, you can pick between a massage, body treatment, spa day, facial treatment, or relaxation ritual.

The massages can be volcanic rock massages, classic massages, or a back massage. I like the back massage because that’s where I tend to feel the most sore.

In terms of the body treatments, you can pick between mud therapy, chocolate therapy, or fruit therapy. All of them involve a basic body scrub and mask and then rinsing you off so you can get a massage.

If you’ve got a special occasion coming up and want to treat someone, I highly recommend you check out this spa’s packages. They have special spa day deals for just about every holiday on the calendar, so you can get some great discounts.

Website: https://vivaspapoblado.com/

Address: Cra. 36 #8a – 40, Medellín, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia

Inn Aqua Spa

Inn Aqua Spa is another famous spa place in Medellin. It offers various spa and massage services, personalized treatments, and facials. Tourists love this place because of its relaxing ambiance and friendly staff.

Inn Aqua Spa is equipped with a personal water circuit. One of its most famous services is hydrotherapy, a therapeutic and anti-stress treatment that allows clients to obtain balance physically and mentally.

Inn Aqua Spa’s Hydrotherapy helps you achieve peace of mind and serenity through programmed circuits with hydromassages, thermal shocks, foot bucks, sauna, and hydro jet massages.

Handmade massages at Inn Aqua Spa feature liberating massage and lymphatic drainage.

• Liberating massage: release pain, tension, fatigue, and stress in the head, back, and neck
• Lymphatic drainage: involves slow and smooth movements to improve lymph circulation, organic fluid retention, and inflammation

Website: https://innaquaspa.com/

Address: Tv. 39 #74 B 10, Laureles – Estadio, Medellín, Laureles, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Sousa Spa y Belleza

Sousa Spa y Belleza has a ton of different spa packages for you to choose from. Their options are pretty cheap, so you won’t have to break the bank to rest and relax here.

In terms of what to expect, you can pretty much guarantee you’re going to get a good massage. The masseuses here will work your kinks out with a vengeance, so I’d recommend opting for a medium pressure even if you usually go for harder pressure.

There are a lot of add-ons that you can go for, too.

If you don’t just want a massage, you can also add on a jacuzzi, Turkish sauna, body scrub, or facial. Whatever you pick, the service is great.

At the end of your treatment, you’ll be treated to either a glass of champagne or a cup of hot tea. Considering the cold and rainy weather in Medellin’s damp season, I went for the tea.

You can also throw parties here.

They’ll decorate the spa and treat you to a cake and champagne at no extra cost. That’s a nice perk!

Website: https://www.instagram.com/sousaspa_/

Address: Cll 13 # 43D – 58, Medellín, Antioquia

Sol y Color Spa

Sol y Color is a much more basic place to get a massage. You won’t get any jacuzzis or glasses of champagne here, but they still give you a great massage.

The spa itself is pretty small, with just two different rooms for massages and body treatments.

Your spa package is pretty basic, including relaxing music and aromatherapy, but not coming with a ton of add-ons.

What you can add-on, and what I personally love, are the volcanic stones. The hot stones are one of my favorite parts of a massage, so you can bet your bottom dollar I went for this.

You can also opt for a facial cleaning if you enjoy those. The facials take a long time though, and they’ll have to book you after your massage is up.

If you’ve got time to kill, however, I’d say go for it, as they really leave you feeling fresh.

Website: https://solycolorspa.com/

Address: Cra. 43E #12 – 42, Medellín, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia

Brassia Estética

Brassia Estética offers spa and massage services, but it’s most famous for its excellent and spacious relaxation area for an authentic experience. This spa and massage center houses trained professionals who will cater to your preferences for ultimate relaxation.

Brassia Estética uses innovative tools and machines, giving you the best of both worlds. Services include the following:

• Body hydration and exfoliation rituals
• Muscle relaxation massage
• Geo-bambu
• Volcanic stones
• Water circuit with a Turkish bath
• Hot pindas or herbal bags
• Jacuzzi

This aesthetics and spa also offers products you can use for a better relaxation experience at home.

Website: https://esteticabrassia.com/

Address: Cq. 3 # 74-49, Laureles – Estadio, Medellín, Laureles, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Ciel Spa and Wellness Center

Ciel Spa and Wellness Center is literally what you need when you want to relax after spending the entire day shopping. You can find it near El Poblado’s Golden Mile near the Santa Fe Shopping Center.

Ciel Spa and Wellness Center offers deep tissue massage, waxing, facial cleaning, and additional treatments. Locals love this wellness center because of its prime location and friendly staff. Plus, it’s relatively affordable compared to other spa centers.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/cielspamed/?hl=en

Address: Cra 48A #10 sur 191, El Poblado, Medellín, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

5 Elementos Spa and Wellness Center

5 Elementos Spa and Wellness Center is ideal for all genders, offering various massage services for relaxation and relief. Its common services include chocolate therapy, volcanic stone massage, mud therapy, deep facial cleansing, weight reduction packets, Jacuzzi, and more.

5 Elementos Spa and Wellness Center also takes pride in providing personalized care treatments with its wide variety of highly-qualified trained professionals.

Website: https://www.spa5elementos.com.co/

Address: Cra 48A #10sur-191, El Poblado, Medellín, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Zen Exclusive Massage and Spa

If you want a cheap massage in El Poblado, this is the place to go. You can get a 60-minute massage here for much cheaper than I’ve found in other parts of Poblado.

Zen Exclusive’s spas aren’t super fancy. You get a pretty standard massage, choosing from:

• Express massage
• Classic massage
• Sports massage
• Therapeutic massage
• Thai massage

They also offer add-ons such as volcanic rocks, wine or chocolate therapy, two sets of hands (aka another masseuse), or a facial cleaning.

I’d recommend the two sets of hands. It’s pretty incredible. You have two people working on you at the same time and you really feel them working out all the kinks.

Just don’t fall asleep!

Website: https://zenspamasajes.com/

Address: Carrera 43A # 6 sur – 26, C.C. Rio Sur, Local 515, Medellín, Antioquia

Zenzone Spa and Massages

Defined as a conscious massage, this spa seeks to not just give you a great massage, but to help you put pain and discomfort behind you.

Gentle vibration, heating therapy and music therapy are some of the services this El Poblado spa offers.

The reason I put Zenzone on the list, despite it being a bit farther to the south than most of us would like, is the fact that they can really help with back pain.

Forget the chiropractor, Zenzone is a place where the masseuses help you put pain and discomfort behind you once and for all.

Website: https://zenzone-mindful-massage-sas.business.site

Address: Carrera 32d #9-17 Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

IVY Wellness Center and Spa

After a long day of sightseeing, head to IVY Wellness Center and Spa for a soothing therapy experience. IVY Wellness offers 15 different massage types lasting for an hour or two. It guarantees all the therapists are certified with a world-renowned experience.

Another fact that sets this spa service unique is its usage of 100% almond oil or coconut oil. Plus, you’ll be amazed by how the staff can speak English and Spanish. Some types of massages offered include the following:

• Fat and Cellulite Reducer massage: uses cupping and heat to allow fats to loosen
• Deep Tissue massage: ideal for tight muscles for athletes or fitness addicts
• Head, Sinus, and Scalp massage: use eucalyptus to relieve congestion from allergies or colds
• Hot Stone: deep massage that penetrates inside the muscles, releasing soreness and tightness
• Lomi Lomi: Hawaiian origin that uses forearms when massaging
• Love Handle Reducer: hard massage to loosen fat
• Lymphatic Massage: gets rid of bloating and inflammation
• Prenatal massage: relieves pain and tension in pregnancy
• Reiki Therapy: removes negative emotions and energy
• Shiatsu Massage: uses elbows and fingers for relieving sore muscles

Website: https://ivylaureles.com/wellness-center/

Address: Cq. 4 #73-64, Laureles – Estadio, Medellín, Laureles, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Vitalite Spa

Vitalite Spa offers relaxing spa and massage services in its aesthetic clinic, making you feel calm and beautiful. Its services include:

• Deep hydration and facial cleansing treatments
• Body scrubs and massages
• Hydration and body relaxation procedures
• Hydrotherapy in volcanic stones and jacuzzi
• Body toning and shaping

Address: Cra 43 A #8 Sur 15, Oficina 407 – 409 Torre Oviedo, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Sports Massage Medellin

Sports Massage Medellin specializes in deep-tissue massages meant to relieve muscle pain and fatigue. This massage center features educated professional therapists who are well-equipped with the types of pain and tension experienced by athletes.

Some of the common services offered in Sports Massage Medellin include reflexology, facials and cleanings, unlocking of the spine, myofascial release, and square lumbar relaxation.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/MASAJES.RELAJANTES.Y.DEPORTIVOS.MEDELLIN/

Address: Cra 42 # 9 – 13, Parque poblado, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

El Garage Spa

El Garage Spa is a spa salon for men. It’s part of the El Garage Salon, which always aims to provide authentic and unique services for a relaxing experience. El Garage Spa was an additional physical care service exclusively for gentlemen. This gives them a safe space where they can relax and welcome tranquility.

Services at this salon aim to provide treatments to revitalize, balance, and energize your body. Generally, you can choose from three types of massage: relax, relieving, and hot stones.

• Relax: daily massage routine to gain simple relaxation, which your body needs.
• Relieving: stronger than Relax Massage but not more painful; can help dissolve muscle contractures from stress, lack of rest, and poor posture.
• Hot Stones: use chocolate mixture instead of traditional oil, help alleviate physical disorders by improving energy flow

Website: http://www.elgaragebarbershop.com/spa/index.html

Address: Carrera 43A 6 Sur 26 Rio Sur Mall, Floor 3, suite 325, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Atman Yoga Foundation and Spa

For mental and physical wellbeing, nothing beats yoga to help put your mind and body into balance.

Whether you are a regular practitioner comfortable throwing a handstand scorpion or the formidable face pose, or if you’re just starting out on your journey to peace and happiness through yoga, Atman Yoga Foundation is your yoga family in Medellin.

Here, you can work on your flexibility and strength with some of the most hospitable people on earth.

The school organizes very special weekend gatherings in the Jardín Botánico, a beautiful and FREE place to work on your asana.

Additionally, they coordinate overnight yoga retreats in Atman’s leafy Vanadurga ashram near San Rafael, three hours drive from Medellin.

Website:Atman Yoga Foundation

Address: Tv. 5d #39-71, El Poblado, Medellín, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Dra Lucia Castro Anti-Aging Clinic and Spa

You can’t miss this purple anti-aging clinic in Poblado. Beyond the terrible name and the gaudy mirror glass lies a four-story temple dedicated to your every indulgence and the healthy pursuit of human optimization.

There’s a long menu of fantastic spa treatments that will leave you feeling recharged and rejuvenated.

The multiple pools of the Mexican-style Cenote are a special place to reinvigorate aching limbs and revive weary spirits, and the quirky massage rooms are fun even if they feel like an amorous trip to one of Medellin’s thematic love motels.

There’s botox, collagen, and chocolate massages on tap and machines that will tone even the flabbiest of gym-shy midriffs and glutes.

Website:https://clinica-antienvejecimiento.com/

Address:Cra. 34 #11b-10, Poblado, Medellín

BioXcellerator Spa

This business promises to take years off your life. And, it promises to ease some of the wear and tear of a misspent youth.

As a result, beaten-up celebrities, ex-MMA fighters, sportsmen, and millionaires with a Peter Pan complex have all made the trip down to Medellin for stem cell treatment with BioXcellerator.

If something’s been bugging you for years and you’re ready to give it a shot, the revolutionary treatment has yielded some miraculous results at a fraction of the cost of similar treatments in the USA.

Website:BioXcellerator

Address:Torre Medica, Cra 25a #1a Sur-45, Ste. 733

Check Out One of the Best Massages in Medellín

The city of eternal spring isn’t just about architectural and cultural beauty; it’s also about personal beauty, too. Part of personal beauty and taking care of yourself is treating yourself to a day off.

Don’t stop listening to your body. Take a rest day in Medellin and check out one of the best massages in Poblado.

Looking for more fun activities in Medellin? Subscribe to our Newsletter and access our free Medellin traveler guide + receive 15% off for future bookings with our hotels and rentals!

The post 2026 Guide to the Best Spas and Massages in Medellin appeared first on Medellin Living.

One of the biggest things I miss about living in America has to be good BBQ, and I got used to eating it whenever I wanted.

It’s the little things that are taken for granted so I get really excited when I hear about BBQ in Medellín, especially ribs which are my favorite food.

Picking the best ribs in Medellín was a lot of fun, but really challenging. All of the choices are judged by flavor, quantity, tenderness, price and location. Feel free to add any suggestions in the comments below.

1. Humo

Carrera 35 #8A-45, Poblado

Humo is located in El Poblado on Via Provenza. I had high expectations with this restaurant because of all of the great reviews  I had heard about it and thankfully I was not disappointed. I can easily say these are not only the best ribs in Medellín, but the best I’ve ever tasted in my life.

The meat fell of the bone and it was extremely juicy and flavorful. I could probably eat these ribs every day and not get tired of them.

I ordered the serving of 300 grams of the pork ribs with a Kansas City BBQ sauce for 21,000 pesos ($10.50) but they also offer 600 grams for 37,000 pesos ($18).

It was plenty for me because I had also ordered a few appetizers and the ribs were also served with a side of mango salad.

2. MU

Carrera 34 # 7-1 a 7-99, Poblado

Funny enough, I found this restaurant the night I ate at Humo. I was walking around Via Provenza and saw the sign MU Fukin Good Ribs.

After looking them up, I saw that they were open Thursday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight. The restaurant is very dark and romantic with candles on each table.

I decided to go that Friday with my family for dinner. They serve spare ribs to share and if you don’t want ribs you’re at the wrong restaurant because it’s all they offer. They are a “costillería” or rib house and one of the few in Medellín.

Their drink specialty is the Mojito and it’s delicious. I’m very picky when it comes to my mojitos and theirs will probably be my favorite for a while.

They have two different serving sizes for two or three people. These meaty ribs will leave you licking your fingers.

3. Federal Ribs

Carrera 35 #10B-17, Poblado

Federal Ribs was a restaurant recommended to me by Ryan. I decided to go with my brother to try it out. They serve six different types of ribs and offer both a half rack for 22,900 pesos ($11) and full rack for 36,900 pesos ($17.50).

The meat fell of the bone and was perfectly juicy. I decided to try the ribs bathed in a reduction of espresso, caramel and balsamic sauce. It sounds like a weird combination but I was pleasantly surprised by the savory flavor of it.

Each plate is served with two sides of your choice. I picked buttery corn on the cob and coleslaw.

4. Mundos

Km 7, Llanogrande, Glorieta aeropuerto (traffic circle near JMC airport)

Located in Llanogrande, I decided to take my sister to Mundos when she came to visit us last month. I had already heard a lot about the ribs. The portions were enormous and I couldn’t finish the plate by myself.

After speaking with the owner he informed me that the ribs are wood-roasted and trust me when I say it makes a huge difference. They have three options and I picked the Texas smoked Baby Back ribs.

I had eaten at Mundos before and it’s a very popular steakhouse serving certified Angus Beef. Every time I eat there I am pleasantly surprised and these ribs definitely lived up to my expectations.

They were mouthwatering and dripping in BBQ sauce. I like my ribs messy and I had fun with these.

5. Ocio

Carrera 33 #7-21, Poblado

In talking to Dave as I prepared this post, he insisted that we include Ocio based on his recent birthday dinner, where he tried their short ribs.

He told me they were some of the best ribs he’d had in Medellín, and given he’d tried the ones at Humo and MU as well, they must’ve been excellent.

In his review, he wrote “I opted for the short ribs (39,000 pesos, $20), which Mark F highly recommended. When the bowl of ribs arrived, the portion size seemed small, but looks can be deceiving. On top of a healthy amount of fat and the rich caramel sauce, there were no bones. It turned out to be too much for me to finish.”

The sad part about finishing this post is that I no longer have a valid excuse to go out and eat ribs everyday, but you, dear reader, get to go out and try every restaurant and let us know which ribs you liked best.

The post Best Ribs in Medellín appeared first on Medellin Living.

The Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana also known as the UPB is a private university that has been a fundamental part of Medellín since 1936. Its first location was the Medellin campus but it has since expanded to a total of five campuses throughout Colombia.

It offers classes from preschool through graduate school, with some students starting their education as preschoolers and graduating as PHD students.

Location

The UPB is located in Laureles, on “la 70 and Nutibara”. The campus has a total of 21 main buildings and facilities. The school is so well-known that you can hop into a taxi and they will know exactly where to go because it located in the center of the city.

It has three different entrances, one on la 70, one in front of Unicentro (a mall in the area) and one on Nutibara.

Programs

The university is known for having the oldest Industrial Design program in Colombia, one of the first nanotechnology program and the first video game design engineering program in the country.

It is also known for having one of the oldest and best law schools, a top fashion design program, the most popular communication/public relations program and some of the best engineering majors as well.

The UPB has a separate location in Robledo, which is specifically for the Medical school/hospital. The Medical program is also one of the best in all of Colombia.

Language Classes

The language school offers seven languages, English, Italian, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese and Spanish.

The schools Spanish program is one of the few to offer assistance when applying for your TP-3 visa, or student visa as well as your PIP-2 to stay in Colombia for up to 90 days.

Most of the language programs offer up to ten levels and the classes are small and personalized.

Sports Facilities

The university is known caring about the student’s character development as much as the development of the intellect and this is due to it being a Catholic university.

They are building human beings, not intellectual robots, who actively participate in the world around them.

They have invested a large sum of money into the sports facilities around the campus. It boasts two public soccer fields, a running track, and a pool, a coliseum and tennis courts. The multiple soccer teams, the rugby team and the ultimate Frisbee team all use the soccer field.

The university has a full-sized gym open to adults and teens above the age of fifteen. The gym offers different memberships; you can pay for a day, a month, a fourteen day pass, or longer terms like three months, six months or a year; available for students and tourists.

The coliseum is used for basketball, volleyball, handball, “microsoccer” (indoor soccer in a smaller field) and other sports. The coliseum is also used for concerts and many other events.

Campus in General

The campus offers bicycle parking zones by almost every building and is becoming pedestrian friendly

Throughout the entire university you can find green areas/path that will lead to a boulevard of little fast food huts. You can choose from the greasy, fried typical Colombian food, to the healthy fruit shack and everything in between.

Right in front of the boulevard is a large seating area commonly known by the students as Comfama because of how full it tends to be.

If you don’t feel like sitting in this crowded area there are places all around campus to sit in the grass or some picnic tables under the shade of the numerous trees all around campus.

Safety

The school is very protective of its students and multiple guards can be seen at any time around campus. It is enclosed with a fence and students can only get in with a special school ID.

Visitors must present themselves at the one of the three guard gates within the circular campus with some form of identification to get in.

The university looks forward to foreign students who either want to take a language class or want to proceed to university studies once they have completed the required courses in Spanish.

The post An Introduction to Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (UPB) appeared first on Medellin Living.

J Alvarez, one of my favorite reggaeton singers, is playing a live show at Palmahia Discoteca this Saturday, March 1.

For price and ticket info, visit Ticket Express.

The post Se Acabo El Amor – J Alvarez appeared first on Medellin Living.

Bogotá boasts its own version of the Bermuda Triangle, an area of the city in which many travelers unfamiliar with the sprawling capital just hope to pass through without getting lost and to arrive at a popular destination on the other side.

At the base of this scalene-shaped sector of the capital are two very popular areas: Centro and La Candelaria.

Centro is known for being a bustling hub of commerce with historical sites such as the Museo del Oro (the Gold Museum, which houses many of the country’s pre-Colombian gold artifacts) and the next-door Cerro de Monserrate (the hill with a beautiful church and farmer’s market atop it, accessed either by taking a trolley or walking up a winding path).

I’ve done the Monserrate three times, twice walking, once making the climb to more than 10,000 feet in less than 40 minutes. A second trip to the Gold Museum can wait until my folks or some other visitors are here.

La Candelaria is the area where most hostels are found, where it’s hard to tell the difference between art and graffiti, and you’ll find a lot of history here as well if you stroll to Plaza de Bolívar, the location of some of the government’s most important buildings, and several popular museums such Museo Botero.

At the top end of the triangle is Chicó, home to the Zona Rosa, the area of the city that everyone goes to see and be seen. Been there, done that too.

On this trip, I promised myself I would spend much more time in two areas I have really wanted to get to know better: Chapinero and La Macarena.

I think I succeeded.

Thursday, Nov. 14, Alegria’s Hostel, La Candelaria

Even though I planned to spend more time in different neighborhoods, I couldn’t travel to the capital without seeing my friend Alegria Meza, who owns my favorite hostel in La Candelaria.

Always comfortable, I love that her hostel is in an old house with colonial architecture. I’m a big fan of architecture.

But I didn’t get too comfortable because I had some exploring to do in the Bermuda Triangle. (Yes, I realize I’m silly.)

I met a friend for dinner at La Gloria, a Peruvian/sushi spot in La Macarena, a once-dangerous neighborhood known for the artisan culture that is making it an up-and-coming place to live.

She got one of the chaufa dishes, basically Peruvian fried rice, while I went for sushi, one of them with tuna, the other with eel. She had never tried sushi before, so I refrained from telling her that one of the rolls I ordered was filled with a sea creature that most people consider disgusting.

My dad did something similar with me when I was 7, telling me the eel on top of his rice was chicken so I gave it a try because almost every kid likes chicken. I was hooked on eel after that.

It worked on my friend too, and now she likes sushi, the result I was hoping for because everyone should enjoy sushi, maybe not enough to write a competing post like Dave and I did, but enough to have it once in a while.

It was late by the time we were done eating so we went our separate ways and planned to meet up the next day. I just had to move first.

Friday, Nov. 15, Chapinorte Guest House, Chapinero

While Alegria’s Hostel is my favorite in the most popular part of the city for hostels, my favorite hostel overall is Chapinorte Guesthouse, an apartment-themed lodging location that a friendly Spaniard owns.

I had stayed here once before but only for a night, when I was in the big city to get a Visa. I fell in love with the place immediately, as well as the neighborhood, but didn’t really get a chance to get to know it.

As I walked around, I realized that this part of the city is quite the university hub, a district with a handful of them, and I got a lot of exercise exploring almost every corner.

It was good to see Antonio again too. The owner of Chapinorte Guesthouse, he’s in the process of building a beautiful finca in Carmen de Apicala, a pueblo in the Tolima department, less than 2 hours south of Bogota.

I had a good time talking to Antonio, looking around and taking pictures, purposely trying to get lost, just to get a feel for the area.

There seemed to be a good mix of restaurants in the area and if I had not eaten just before or wasn’t about to eat just after going there, I would have tried one. Next time.

I do love this aspect of the community, that parts of one of its main streets, Avenida Caracas, is closed to vehicle traffic on Sundays so people can walk and ride their bikes, something on my second pass through the area. But before I got there, I made another pass through La Macarena.

Sunday, Nov. 17, La Macarena

Buried in my computer with occasional interruptions from my new friend Moka, Alegria’s dog, and a break to eat at Patisserie Francaise, the great French restaurant across the street, I didn’t do anything but work on Saturday when I was back at her hostel.

That meant I had to make the most of my Sunday, my last day in the city.

I walked to La Macarena, which isn’t far from La Candelaria, just 20 minutes away or so, and noticed a street fair taking place. Happens every Sunday apparently.

Then I moved on to the heart of the neighborhood, first passing the Planetario de Bogota, then the bullfighting stadium, then back to the streets where I found La Gloria as well as other ethnic restaurants I’d probably enjoy, everything from Brazilian to Italian.

I love the colorful buildings here. They make me smile. Bright colors always do.

A break from walking was needed, so I took the bus to the Chapinero, recharged and ready to get off public transportation and back on the footmobile as I made my way to Gaira Cafe Cumbia House, famous singer Carlos Vives’ restaurant in Chicó.

I took a few pics but mostly I was daydreaming, as I’m wont to do, and enjoying the rare great weather. Everyone in Medellin complains about the cold and rainy weather but I was fortunate, it wasn’t like that when I was there, like so many of my past trips to the capital, so I guess I brought some spring weather with me.

I was pretty hungry after all the walking and I didn’t take long to eat a dish of pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes and tasty barbecue sauce, and live music followed our meal.

Now comfortable in the capital’s triangle, I started making mental notes for my next neighborhood to explore in this metropolis of 10 million.

I think I’ll go with the Usaquen, a northeast enclave just north of Chicó. I won’t have trouble getting there. I’m getting pretty familiar with this city.

The post A Bermuda Triangle in Bogota appeared first on Medellin Living.

On the afternoon of June 24, 1935 Carlos Gardel, tango’s most popular singer/composer, was en route from Bogotá to Cali for a performance.

Upon landing at Olaya Herrera Airport, Gardel’s plane crashed into another on the ground, and all but three passengers on board perished.

As a result of Gardel’s death, Medellin was forever linked to the world of tango. Ironically, if the plane’s fuel tanks had been full when they departed Bogotá, they would’ve been able to fly direct to Cali, but as fate would have it, they weren’t.

The cause of the crash has been the subject of much debate. Popular theories include a weather disturbance at the airport, a rivalry between the pilots operating the two planes, and reports of an errant gunshot meant for Gardel, but hitting his pilot instead.

In order to further explore the history of tango in Medellin, I recently went on the Carlos Gardel Tour offered by ZORBA Travel.

Plaza Gardel and Olaya Herrera Airport

At 5PM on a Saturday afternoon, Juan, my bilingual tour guide, picked me up in Ciudad del Rio. Our first stop was Plaza Gardel, located outside the Olaya Herrera Airport.

On November 4, 2003, the plaza was dedicated to Carlos Gardel. The focal point is a statue of a tango singer with a guitar, and a couple dancing. Plaza Gardel is used regularly to host open air events, such as musical performances.

Walk into the airport from the door facing Plaza Gardel, and you’ll see a collection of plaques and memorials to the singer.

Plaza Cisneros

Juan and I walked back to his car, as the sun was setting, and drove toward Centro. Along the way, we picked up his friend, a serious tango aficionado.

Together, the three of us drove first to Plaza Cisneros (aka Plaza de las Luces).

Juan pointed out the old train station across the street from the plaza, and explained that in the early 1900’s, Medellin was developing as an industrial hub within Colombia, and migrant workers were coming into the city from the surrounding countryside via train.

At the time, Plaza Cisneros was a big marketplace, filled with bars and prostitutes. It was exactly the kind of environment where workers liked to drink away their hard-earned money on the weekends.

In Buenos Aires, it was in similar immigrant ghettos that tango first developed.

Salon Malaga

From Plaza Cisneros, we headed to the nearby Salon Malaga. Established in 1957, it’s Medellin’s oldest milonga (tango bar).

As soon as we exited the car, I could hear live tango music. Juan mentioned that the area around Malaga was once similar to Plaza Cisneros, with lots of bars and prostitutes, making it popular with the migrant workers.

Located in the shadow of the San Antonio metro station, I’d never actually noticed Salon Malaga before. Yet here we were, stepping back in history.

It was hardly 7PM, but the bar already had its share of patrons, complete with tables reserved for those arriving later.

We walked past the tango singer, and walls plastered with old photos and tango memorabilia, toward the back of the bar. I ordered a beer, and later, bought an Argentine-style empanada offered from a basket by two men in black shirts and aprons.

After 30 minutes of listening to the music, and taking in the atmosphere, we left for the next stop on the Carlos Gardel Tour.

Dance Lesson at Escuela Mayor de Tango

From Centro, we began driving west, and up the mountains toward Robledo, a working class district of Medellin I’d never visited.

Our destination was Escuela Mayor de Tango (Carrera 80 #77BB-02, Barrio La Pilarica), run by Jose Gabriel Alvarez and his wife.

Upon arrival, there was a politician using the space to talk with residents. We waited patiently for that event to wrap up, and then entered the milonga.

The walls were covered in Jose’s paintings, depicting tango scenes as well as famous works by Vincent Van Gogh. Juan informed me Jose had also previously worked as an architect.

It was here that I would partake in a private tango lesson by Jose’s wife.

I was feeling a little rusty, and concerned that I’d forgotten everything I learned from my four private lessons in Buenos Aires last year.

To my surprise, I began remember the basics, and during the hour of practice, I also learned a new move.

Meanwhile, regular patrons began to arrive for a night of tango dancing.

Dinner Show at Patio del Tango

Our last stop of the night was a familiar one, Patio del Tango in Barrio Antioquia. We arrived at 9:30PM, and the entertainment was already under way.

Before we took a table, Juan pointed out a poster in the back of the restaurant, featuring old black and white photos from Carlos Gardel’s life, and the plane crash in Medellin.

There was even a photo of what was purported to be Gardel’s corpse (something I didn’t need to see before sitting down to eat).

As for dinner, I opted for the chicken with chimichurri sauce (not included in the price of the tour). A little after 10PM, after watching several dance performances and wrapping up dinner, Juan dropped me off back at my building.

There’s more to Medellin than salsa and reggaeton. Whether you’re a tango aficionado, or simply looking to do something different, I highly recommend the Carlos Gardel Tour.

It runs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 5PM, and lasts 5 hours. Pick up and drop off from your hotel is included, as is a bilingual guide. For more info, and prices, check out ZORBA Travel.

________

My Carlos Gardel Tour with ZORBA was provided at no cost, in order to experience and write about it here.

The post Carlos Gardel Tour: Discovering the History of Tango in Medellin appeared first on Medellin Living.

Writer’s note: This is part one of a two-part story.

BUCARAMANGA — The plane landed on a plateau overlooking the city, a beautiful view common in Colombia but still breathtaking every time.

I have wanted to go to Santander for some time now. I had read about Bucaramanga and Barichara, and a couple of nice places in between.

I have arrived, I thought to myself, as I walked through Bucaramanga’s airport.

After an hour in the air, I took a taxi into the city, to KasaGuane, a modern hostel in the trendy Nuevo Sotomayor neighborhood east of downtown. I wanted to stay in Bucaramanga’s version of Parque Lleras, at least for my first two nights in the city, so that’s all I booked, two nights.

Buca, as locals call it, is a city of 1 million known for its nightlife. With 10 universities, it’s no surprise the rumba here is alive and well.

Too bad I couldn’t get to it immediately. I had homework to finish first. That’s right, homework. I’m two classes away from earning my TESOL certificate at Penn State.

I realized something else: completing any task on an empty stomach is hard to do, especially when your tummy is rumbling.

After I settled in at KasaGuane, I headed to Martín Vaz do Mar, a seafood restaurant about four blocks away overlooking Parque Las Palmas. The service was a little slow but the layout was nice.

It looked expensive, and it was. The ceviche I ordered cost me 18,000 pesos, about $9. But it might have been the best ceviche I ever had.

Finishing my homework was no problem now. Or so I thought. For some reason, the time I was there, the wi-fi was wavering more than Mitt Romney. But two of the owners at KasaGuane, two friendly Brits named Tim and Milo, were getting it fixed.

By now, I’m sure it’s up and running again. And at least I was able to get online a couple of times. I couldn’t pick up any wi-fi on my laptop in San Gil. But I’ll get to that later.

That first night I called my friend Isabel. I met her a few weeks earlier, shortly after I returned to Medellín from Florida. Daniel, the first friend I ever made in Medellín, introduced me. She was in town visiting family and when I mentioned I hoped to someday visit Bucaramanga, she offered to show me around.

The Highlights

1. The Food

Especially the seafood, a nice surprise in eastern Colombia.

Isabel and I went to a place near Kasa Guane called Cafe con Arte. We both got the mixed grill, although I got the carne, she got the seafood. I had chicken and steak with onions and red peppers that the chefs put in a huge chunk of maduro (sweet plantain) that they had carved like a canoe.

Isabel had a mix of shrimp and robalo with onions and peppers that were placed on a kabob. Each plate cost 22,000 pesos, or around $11.

The next night, I ate some of the best sushi ever at Biako Wok. My favorite roll was filled with salmon, avocado and cream cheese and was enveloped with a thin strip of maduro. Just that one roll cost 23,000 pesos, $11.50.

That’s expensive even in the United States. It was worth it, though.

2. The Music

I visited Isabel at the Universidad de Industrial Santander on Friday morning and she invited me to her music class.

One of the music genres was bambucos, a folksy music that features the guitar, the tambourine and an instrument called the bandola, which looks like a mix of an ukulele and a violin, and is picked like a guitar.

3. KasaGuane

The location was great, the rooms were clean, the price was right (only 20,000 pesos, or $10, for a dorm; 40,000 pesos, or $20, for a private room), and Tim and Milo could answer any questions I had. Best of all, there were really interesting people staying there.

I met a guy named Duncan who made his way to Colombia from Seattle, on his motorcycle. The only other form of transportation he used was the boat to get from Panama to Colombia since there is no safe road connecting the countries.

There was a guy there named Max from Argentina, and another guy named Fabian, a native of Bucaramanga, who invited me to have a couple of beers with them. And there was Dave, an Alaskan who had been backpacking through South America for three months.

4. New Friends

The people of Bucaramanga are not always as outgoing as the people of Medellín when you first meet them. But just be friendly and humble and they’ll warm to you. They did with me.

Fabian was really nice. So were Isabel’s friends, Angelica and her brother Johan — the four of us went out Friday night to a club called Conga & Bongo, where we danced salsa and merengue. And when Dave overheard me asking Milo about how to find the bus to San Gil, he asked to come along.

My plan was to return to Bucaramanga on Monday, but that changed.

The post Bucaramanga: Discovering the Food, Nightlife and Culture of Eastern Colombia appeared first on Medellin Living.

The more time I spend in Colombia, the more I begin to appreciate how easy and inexpensive the domestic air travel is in the country.

In 2009, I experienced my first 25-minute flight from Bogota to Medellin, and later flew back to Medellin from Barranquilla after celebrating Carnival. By bus, both those trips can easily average 12 hours, and sap you of your energy in ways quick, cheap flights will not.

Specifically, Colombian buses are known to have air-conditioning on full blast, the whole trip, thereby turning the cabin into a freezer. You can also expect loud Latin music, which I like as much as the next guy, but not for 12 hours straight.

In 2010, I flew from Cartagena to Medellin, and between Medellin and Cali several times.

This year, I flew back and forth from Santa Marta during my recent trip to the coast.

Almost all of these flights were booked within a week of departure, and often within just a few days because I tend to procrastinate.

My carrier of choice is Aires, the Colombian discount airline recently purchased by the much larger LAN Airlines.

I used Avianca in 2009, and while they still may be cheaper for certain routes, especially when booked in advance, I’ve yet to see any meaningful savings should I choose them over Aires.

Both the Aires and Avianca websites are available in English, and easy to use. I realize some may argue this point, but I’ve used both enough to stand behind it.

Sales result in e-ticket information being emailed to you. I normally take note of the confirmation number, and simply show up at the ticket counters with my passport (a required form of ID for foreigners traveling within the country by air).

I’ve never had a problem with lost baggage, including the time I flew Avianca from Madrid to Bogota in 2009, and my Aires flight from New York City to Cartagena (via Bogota) in 2010.

Aside from the same-day flight booked from Santa Marta to Medellin when I was feeling sick, all my one-way domestic flights within Colombia have been $100 or less.

I realize this still might be a lot for backpackers or frequent travelers to cover, but as I enter my mid-30’s, and travel full time for my job, it seems like a cheap price to pay.

Which do you prefer for long trips in Colombia, buses or planes?

________________

This post was written by Dave, and brought to you by TravelRepublic.

The post Domestic Air Travel Made Easy appeared first on Medellin Living.

[Update: As of November 2013, the restaurant appears to have closed.]

I first noticed Bijao when I arrived in Medellin two years ago.

Set back from the sidewalk, and lacking the open air atmosphere of most restaurants in Parque Lleras helped distinguish it.

I also noticed the white tablecloths, and thus associated the food inside with a higher standard, yet I still wasn’t motivated to visit until I read on their website that Anthony Bourdain had eaten there when he was in Medellin to film the No Reservations Colombia episode.

While Bijao wasn’t featured on the program, if the restaurant’s nuevo Latino cuisine was good enough for Mr. Bourdain, it was surely good enough for me.

Luckily, Phil of Dimensional Heart Traveler would be back in town for a few nights, and was up for trying it out.

The bonus of his company was his background as a chef in California.

Based on Phil’s schedule, our dinner was on a Monday evening, so we had the restaurant to ourselves (at least the first of the three floors).

The interior design was elegant, and a sliding glass door opened along one side of the room to let in fresh air.

Our waiter, who was able to cover most of the service in English, informed us that the restaurant was in the midst of switching its menus.

As a result, we were given temporary 8 x 11 paper menus, which happened to lack prices, though neither of us felt the need to ask about the cost of individual dishes.

A complimentary serving of 4 fresh arepas was brought to the table, along with a mild yellow salsa.

In regular Colombian restaurants, the little arepas are typically the consistency of cardboard, so it was a nice surprise to bite into these and find they were melt-in-your-mouth soft.

To get the full nuevo Latino experience, we ordered two appetizers. I picked the chorizo Argentino with chimichurri sauce.

The chorizo were wrapped in phyllo dough, which made for a wonderful presentation (and photo).

Phil went with the Caribbean crab with papaya guacamole. I’m not much of a crab connoisseur, however the claws are one of the best parts, so I sucked the soft meat out of one with little to no effort.

I was left wanting more, but luckily we had our entrees on the way, except we forgot to order them when we picked the appetizers out.

We’d unintentionally extended our dinner, but given the lack of other tables, it could’ve been a lot worse.

To pass the time, we each took a second glass of red wine.

My tuna entrée arrived, and it looked almost too pretty to eat.

4 pieces of tuna were seared lightly on both sides, and presented in 3 different ways.

They all tasted delicious, and the tuna was perfectly cooked, though given my penchant for sushi, I would probably request less cooking time if I were to order the dish again.

My only suggestion, which I mentioned in the post-dinner survey, was to use less of the sea salt, which adds a crunchy texture at the expense of overpowering the other flavors.

[Editor: The following day, I received an email from the restaurant apologizing for the heavy use of salt…the only time I can recall a personal response to a dining survey, and a clear indication of their attitude toward customer service.]

Phil’s New Zealand rack of lamb was both presented and cooked perfectly.

And then it was time for my favorite course, dessert. I was hoping they had something with chocolate, but no such luck, which was kind of a surprise.

We went with our waiter’s recommendation…

This dessert gets big points for presentation, and clearly reflects Bijao’s dedication to nuevo Latino cuisine.

The passion fruit ice cream and tangerine mousse (served in the shot glass) were both full of fruity flavor, and the Aguardiente-flavored cookie was a nice touch.

To close out our meal, we ordered cafe con leche (we are in Colombia after all).

A 3-course dinner for two, including 4 glasses of wine, tax, and 10% tip came to 280,000 COP ($160, or $80 each).

Based on the atmosphere, and quality of food and service, the same dinner could easily be twice the cost in New York City or Miami.

While the entrees ran about $30 each, you can experience Bijao on a budget by skipping the wine ($8 glass) and coffee, and sharing an appetizer.

The post Bijao Restaurant – Nuevo Latino Cuisine appeared first on Medellin Living.