City review: Medellín
For a long time the only awareness I had about Medellín was through the T.V show Narcos. Much of the show was set in Medellín with the city being home of the Medellín cartel, headed by a certain Pablo Escobar. Despite the problems from drug trafficking, Medellín has come a long way to become one of the most visited tourist locations in Colombia.
So what’s there to do in Medellín?
Communa 13
Historically one of the most dangerous areas of the city, Communa 13 has gone through serious change to become a tourist hotspot.
I consider Communa 13 to be a bit more of an ‘in your face Camden Town’. What I mean by that is Communa 13 is essentially now a big market and, if you stick to the main streets, it’s entirely tourist friendly.
Communa 13 sprawls up one of Medellín’s hills and due to the nature of the way the area was built, it can feel claustrophobic.
There are several ways to get around the Communa. You can look at one of the several guided tours which come highly recommended. Despite the suggestions, I explored the Communa 13 at my own pace which suited me best because I was able to have a kick-about with some of the local kids. Something that may be difficult if you’re on a tour.
The atmosphere is cool in Communa 13. There’s street food and impromptu dance battles around every corner. The Communa is based around a series of escalators and if you stay round them, you’ll be completely safe. It’s just like anywhere that’s busy- keep an eye on your valuables.
In terms of the time needed to explore Communa 13, you can easily spend the majority of a day here. It’s easily accessible from the Medellín public transport- albeit with a small walk.
Athlético National
To find out what the football was like, please follow the link. If you get the chance, you should try and catch a game- the atmosphere is great and it’s a top way to spend your evening.
El Poblado & Manila
Medellín has developed a reputation as a party city and for a visitor, El Poblado is where the fiesta is.
Walking round El Poblado in the day is cool, it’s very green and there is an abundance of bars and restaurants.
At night the alcohol starts to flow and in the main square there’s a lot going on.
However, I found El Pablado a bit too much. The area reminded me a Greek party island in the sense there’s a load of very loud bars all focused on getting drunk.
Something to keep in mind is there is certainly a shadier part to El Poblado- a lot of people go to Colombia looking for this side of the country so just watch out. Medellín seems to be the centre of Colombia’s ‘sex tourism’ industry and nowhere does it seem to be more prevalent in El Poblado.
However, if you walk 5 minutes down the road, it can lead you to Manila- a much more relaxed area with quieter restaurants and bars. There is one bar called foxy pub which serves a variety of craft beers and has friendly locals- it's certainly worth spending an evening there.
Parque Arví
Parque Arví is a great way to get out of the hustle of the centre of Medellín and is well worth a visit.
The park is located on Medellín’s public transport service and to get there, you have to take the gondola up. It’s a good ride as the gondola journey provides unique views of the city.
The gondola is expensive compared to the rest of the public transport system so make sure your transport card is topped up- or you have cash to do so.
Once at the park, there is plenty to explore. Take your time nosing through the market stores, there’s plenty to take in and I’d recommend the strawberries with chocolate sauce. I went on a walk to a small waterfall called ‘Chorro Clarín’, the scenery and environment was tranquil. There’s plenty of paths to go on walks though, it’s great to explore at your own pace.
Parque de Bolívar
Located in the heart of Medellín, this area is the centre of bustling market businesses and a little less ‘touristy’ than other parts of the city. The area is lined with markets and bars, and you can easily spend a few hours getting lost in it all.
Near the park, there is the Plaza Botero where the Museum of Antioquia and the Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe Museum. I didn’t go to either, but if you’ve got the time, I’m sure they’d be worth checking out.
My favourite building in the area was the National Palace Mall. Here there is an abundance of fake merchandise in a surprisingly good looking building- it's worth checking out.
Arepas Arepapuess Sede is also in the area, it’s a famous arepa joint. If you want to try some of the local cuisine, this is the place. Just be careful of the potential indegestion.
The legacy of Pablo Escabar
The city still remembers Pablo and in some ways it feels like he is idolised. In Communa 13 you can have a photo with a Madame Tussauds-esque model of Pablo next to a drug trafficking plane. In Parque Arví, there is a building named after him. It’s a strange dynamic.
Apparently, at some point in his life, Pablo owned an area next to the airport in the city of Medellín. This, even now, is an area controlled by traffickers and is a complete no-go zone, unless you are accepting the certainty that you are putting yourself in harm’s way.
Overall, the city of Medellín is interesting and well worth a visit. However, I would not prioritise a trip to Medellín over popular city in Europe- unless you had a specific reason to go.
