Table of Contents
General
arrival by air
arrival by country
domestic travel
accommodations
story
barrios
security
Sightseeing features
food + drink
nightlife
weather
currency + language
ranking places
Miscellaneous
final word
subjects
General
-foreword-
When I first came to Colombia, it was because I kept hearing from all sorts of Latinos about how great Colombia is, how nice the accent is, and how friendly everyone is.
When I travel to a country, it is always with the ulterior motive of getting to know the country, but also the people, the customs, the food, the drinks, the national drink, the nature, the cities and also the nightlife.
I then decided to book a flight to Bogota and then to visit Medellín.
I've been to Medellín many times now and it's an absolute favorite city in all of Colombia, and that's for a variety of reasons that you'll read about as the block progresses.
Medellín isn't just super beautiful because it's blooming with green. I have never seen so many trees in a city as in Medellín.
In most corners it is very clean, there are many beautiful corners and the state of Antioquia is also super beautiful with its many small villages, rivers and landscapes.
Try it yourself and come by!
getting there
-Arrival air-
Airport
There are 2 airports in Medellin
Rionegro Airport
Rionegro Airport "Aeropuerto Internacional José María Córdova", or Rionegro Airport (MDE) is a Colombian commercial airport and the most important of the city of Medellín and in the Department of Antioquia. It is Colombia's second largest airport and is located in the municipality of Rionegro, about 20 minutes (25 km) south-east of central Medellín by car.
Named after General José María Córdova.
Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport
Olaya Herrera Airport, is the smaller of the two airports (EOH) and is located directly in the city. It only serves national destinations, while Rionegro Airport also serves international destinations.
The airport was named after Colombian President Enrique Olaya Herrera (reigned 1930-1934) and is the only airport included in the list of Colombia's National Monuments.
direct flights
There are many direct flights, straight from the US, from cities like Miami, New York and Washington.
For the Europeans it is a little more cumbersome, as they usually all have to fly with stopovers - but not that bad, as the price is usually much lower.
From Germany, for example, there are Lufthansa flights that fly directly to Bogota, Colombia, but not to Medellín.
Stopover Options
As already mentioned, there is the option to fly between stops.
However, it should be noted here, especially for Europeans, Asians or Africans, that the different options may require different conditions!
· United States
If you fly via the USA, for example, you definitely need an ESTA visa!
Even if you only have a stopover, you always have to "enter" the country!
The link to the ESTA visa is here:
This visa is valid for Europeans for 2 years and should better be bought at least a week earlier as this can take 1-36 hours.
The visa costs around 12 dollars (as of 2022) and does not have to be printed out for the trips.
· Canada
If you are only staying at the airport, you do not need a visa. However, it often happens that the flights are offered with layovers, sometimes longer than 12 hours.
So if you don't want to sit around the airport all the time, you can alternatively see the city.
Flights usually go via Toronto or Montreal.
What is very important, however, is that if you enter the country by air, you need the eTA, which costs around 5 euros once and can be applied for under the following link:
This is tied to the passport and also loses its effect with this or after a maximum of 5 years, more precisely at the Foreign Office.
· Europe
For Europeans it is not a problem to fly via one of the major airports such as Frankfurt, Munich, London, Paris, Amsterdam or Madrid. For Asians and Africans need to get information for their stays.
· Asia/ Turkey
There is also a slightly more cumbersome, but often cheaper way to fly via Turkey, especially from Europe. However, one flies, for example, from Frankfurt to Istanbul (virtually away from the destination) and then back in the other direction to Bogota
Little tip to save money
Most of the major airlines only offer flights directly to Bogota or also with a stopover. To Medellín there are fewer or much more expensive. Here it makes sense to book the flight to Bogota and book an extra domestic flight there, which is very cheap. The bottom line is that the journey is significantly cheaper. On a round trip you can only take Bogota with you. (with this variant plan at least 3, better 4 hours in between, as there are often delays and the migration can take a little longer, depending on the time!)
-arrival land-
Entry from neighboring countries
Entry is possible, especially on a round trip through various neighboring countries such as Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil or Peru.
From Ecuador, for example, you can take the bus from the capital Quito across the border to Pasto. From there you can take a plane and get to the big cities very cheaply.
This is also possible via the other countries, but given the current situation, I would advise against entering Venezuela, as this is currently not very safe and there has been an extreme increase in entries.
domestic travel
-flights-
Domestic flights are usually very cheap!
These often fly back and forth between the big cities several times a day and also frequently between the smaller cities.
It definitely makes a lot of sense to fly between Bogota, Cali and Medellín, with one or the other city you have to think about whether it makes sense.
Since you can also see a lot of the beautiful landscape by bus!
The usual airlines here are Avianca, LAN Latam and Viva.
However, I would prefer the first two, because Viva Colombia really charges extra money for every little thing.
A little hint:
If it is possible to fly with hand luggage, doing so will not only save you time at the baggage carousel and queuing at check-in, but also a lot of money!
Especially in Medellín you can often leave your luggage in the hotel for several days, some charge a small fee, but the bottom line is that you saved a lot.
Alternatively, you can also lock your luggage in some airports.
-Bus-
Traveling by bus is not for everyone, but I have to say that the buses are usually much more comfortable than in Europe and a lot cheaper.
There really is every connection across the country.
However, I wouldn't recommend every route here, as there are routes that go well beyond 13 hours and can be horrific for people who can't sleep on the bus!
However, between the big cities it is best to take the bus to reach the small surrounding ones and to get cheaply from A to B.
Important!
In Medellín it should be noted that there is a "Terminal del Norte" north terminal and a "Terminal del Sur". Certain destinations are only approached from the south or north, you should inquire about this beforehand!
"https://terminalesmedellin.com/ciudades-y-municipios/"
If you are at the wrong terminal, it can sometimes take 1 hour or more to get to the other one, so check beforehand or ask me! 😊
-Taxi/ Uber-
Another very popular method of transportation is the taxi or a transportation app.
Here before first away.
In my opinion, the taxi is not the best and not the safest means of transport.
In addition, the alternatives are significantly cheaper.
There is always a back and forth as to whether the app is legal in Colombia or not.
However, most of them use the world-famous "Uber" app, which is also my personal favorite because it really is the safest.
Alternatively, there is the “inDriver” app, which is usually a little cheaper than Uber, but everyone is qualified for this, no matter what your background story is.
Also, this app isn't officially legal either, so be careful.
More later, which apps are useful in Colombia under the point: Miscellaneous.
accommodations
Hotels
There are numerous cheap and good hotels, many have breakfast included, these usually cost €20-25 and up, there are also cheaper ones every now and then.
There are no upper limits here.
As soon as hotels are on the 10th floor and higher, have pools or even have their own jacuzzi in the room, the prices can rise to over 200€ and more!
Certain hotels in certain districts are particularly quiet, others very noisy and busy, more about that later under the topic "barrios".
My personal favorites are in Medellín, Laureles, Calasanz and Sabaneta.
hostels
Hostels are really everywhere where there is a lively nightlife. Specifically in El Poblado and Laureles.
These are often very cheap, but mostly, as hosters tend to do, with multiple beds in a room, which can be really cool for getting to know someone, especially if you're traveling alone. On the other hand, it's not for everyone either.
If you like party hostels, I can recommend the Viajero Hostel Medellín, for example.
AirBnB
Another good alternative is AirBnB. Apartments are offered here that can be booked for a certain period of time.
AirBnB are often much cheaper than certain hotels and also offer advantages if you are traveling as a group and all want to stay in one apartment.
You should consider these points:
· There are always service fees and cleaning fees.
For one night or 10, it doesn't make a difference, so it's usually not worth booking for just one night.
· There are some AirBnB's that increase their prices as soon as a person joins, even if the apartment is actually intended for 3 or 4 people. The low price is tempting at first, but you should always check the price again shortly before booking.
· An advantage for long-term stays is that many BnB's offer monthly or even weekly discounts, which can sometimes add up to 40 or even 50%!
story
General
Medellín is in a hollow, the city resembles a cauldron and therefore looks remarkable, especially at night.
The city is almost 1500m above sea level, which is very high by European standards. The city alone has around 3 million inhabitants, with the surrounding cities, which are actually cities in their own right, but still form Medellín. It comes with the metropolitan region to over 4 million inhabitants.
The surrounding towns are as follows:
· Caldas
· La Estrella
· Sabaneta
· Itagüí
· Envigado
· Belle
· Copacabana
Girardota
Barbosa
Medellin has a total of 16 districts (comunas) and an incredible 256 neighborhoods!
There are two major football clubs in the city of Medellin
· Atletico National Medellin (green-white)
· Independiente Medellin (blue-red)
The games can be very interesting, especially when you see the passion of the fans.
However, I would advise against the "El Classico" because this can often lead to outbreaks of violence, especially after the game, but there is always a good atmosphere!
Not forgetting what is naturally associated with Medellin is…
Pablo Escobar
Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria ("El Patrón" or "Don Pablo" called, born December 1 , 1949 in Rionegro, † December 2, 1993 in Medellín) was a Colombian drug lord, drug smuggler and terrorist. Large-scale drug trafficking, industrialized for the first time in criminal history, made him one of the richest people in the world as head of the so-called Medellín cartel. He is regarded as one of the most powerful and brutal drug lords to date.
Source from Wikipedia – to read the entire article
Hacienda Napoles
In 1979, Escobar bought a 3,000 hectare ranch near Puerto Triunfo on the Magdalena River for $63 million and developed it into a luxurious country estate. The manor house included an airfield, a heliport, a bullring, six swimming pools, a gynecological examination room, a zoo, artificial lakes for water skiing, and a complete road network. The Hacienda Nápoles had comfortable sleeping arrangements for over 100 people. The entrance was adorned with the sports plane that Escobar used to handle his first cocaine shipments to Medellín.
This was Pablo Escobar's private zoo, which he had built mainly for his children. Today it is used by the government.
A trip is possible from Medellin and includes a complete excursion. This starts very early in the morning, usually around 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning, since the journey by bus to the hacienda alone is 4 hours.
La Catedral
La Catedral was a three-acre country estate that served as Pablo Escobar's private prison from June 19, 1991 until his escape on July 22, 1992. It is located in the hills a few kilometers above Envigado.
The Medellin Cartel
Along with the Cali cartel, the Medellín cartel was the world's largest cocaine exporter from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. It was managed by Pablo Escobar, among others, and concentrated its activities from the Colombian city of Medellín to the sales markets in the USA, with a focus on Miami and Florida.
Source from Wikipedia – to read the entire article
There are numerous attractions that can be booked such as trips to Hacienda de Nápoles, La Catedral, Pablo's Houses, Walking Tours, Museums and much more. You are also welcome to contact me.
barrios
As already mentioned above, there are numerous districts and barrios, some better, others worse or less recommendable.
In general, you have to be careful everywhere, like anywhere in the world, because something can always happen.
More on that in the next point under security.
El Poblado
The best known and one of the most popular districts with tourists is El Poblado. One of the safest neighborhoods. However, it is precisely here that pickpockets are very common, so you just have to be a little careful or just keep your cell phone in your hand, especially in the evenings when the crowds are gathering.
There are numerous bars and discotheques here, the main action takes place around the street 10 "Calle 10". The streets around it are a bit quieter, so recommended for a hotel.
Especially in the evening, a lot of prostitutes meet around the “Lleras” park, where you have to be careful when it comes to mobile phones and wallets.
However, there are many good bars where you can have a drink and then go partying. In addition, El Poblado is very nice to look at, with many small restaurants, all surrounded by green.
· Laureles
Laureles is almost the Colombian or local El Poblado, where Poblado is mainly visited by gringos or foreigners, Laureles is mainly very popular and visited by the locals.
In any case, Laureles is highly recommended, as there is also a very large street called “La 70” here, where bar is lined up and a lot of music is played, from classical Colombian music to electro and reggaeton.
There are also numerous good restaurants. The neighborhood is also very safe.
· Stadium
Estadio, as the name suggests, is the barrio where the stadium is located.
Here you can walk around the stadium during the day and then drink a fruit shake or eat some fresh fruit prepared.
Towards evening the streets become much busier, especially when one of the two football clubs is playing. It's best not to stay here for too long, as it can get pretty rough.
But I would definitely recommend watching a football game!
El Centro (centre )
A good place for cheap shopping, eating out or seeing a sight or two.
Here, however, it is very important to be careful that nobody's smartphone is stolen.
Even as soon as it gets dark, it is not advisable to stay in the center, as certain figures are hanging around and security is no longer guaranteed.
A small hint:
The hotels here are very cheap, but not recommended, since the crowd is appropriate and going out for a moment is not really the best choice.
· Sabaneta
A very quiet city, part of the Medellin metropolitan area. Sabaneta is very quiet, very beautiful and also very safe. I highly recommend this part of the city, despite the fact that it is a little removed from neighborhoods such as Laureles, Estadio and the center. It is about 15 minutes by car to El Poblado.
· Envigado
Also part of the metropolitan area. This is similar to Sabaneta, a very quiet part of the city and is a little closer to El Poblado.
security
General
In general, one can say that Colombia is portrayed as being much more criminal than it really is. From my experience, with a bit of common sense and if you're not out of luck, it's a relatively safe country!
Of course there is stealing here and sometimes robbery, but one must not forget that Colombia is a developing country. Despite all this, the people are very warm, nice and courteous.
Barrios Poblado and Laureles
I think both neighborhoods are very safe. The crime rate is certainly much lower here than in other quarters. However, you have to watch out for handbag thieves, especially at night. Because this happens very quickly.
When you're distracted, there's a bustle of crowds and alcohol has been involved.
Just selling cigarettes and chewing gum and also the prostitutes in Parque Lleras.
Some of these people with bad intentions, who are really very few, are able to pull their smartphone or wallet out of their pocket without anyone noticing, unfortunately I noticed this from some tourists, so always be careful. 😊
raids
You read reports on the subject of muggings from time to time, but I have to say that in many months that I have been in Medellin, I have never heard anything in this direction, which I am glad about. But I don't think that happens unless you're walking through various alleys with your cell phone at night.
barrios
There are, of course, numerous barrios that I wouldn't recommend, especially when it comes to going up the mountains, which is what's called a shanty town. These are not normally visited as a tourist.
center
The center in particular is not recommended because the theft rate is relatively high here. It's ok to see one or the other sight, preferably with a driver. Especially not at night.
Narcotics - Robbery
Especially here I would like to go into this again, since it happens again and again that men in particular are drugged with a certain narcotic (usually via the drink) on a date and then robbed.
This ranges from simple theft to stealing and withdrawing credit and debit cards.
In individual cases, it is also about very professional gangs that even give you digital money, such as bitcoins and co. rob! So always be careful and never leave a drink unattended on a date. Otherwise you can enjoy this to the fullest - including the dates! 😉
Sightseeing features
Now let's get back to a nicer topic. The sights, after all, you want to see and experience something here.
From historical places, to modern and beautiful graffiti areas, to party miles, to viewing platforms with restaurants, to beautiful places and lakes in impressive nature!
Comuna 13
The Comuna is a barrio that used to be less busy and peaceful than it is now. This is actually one of the barrios not to go to, but this is an exception.
There are lots of stalls, artists, bars and music.
A lot of graffiti. The city has poured a lot of money into the neighborhood to upgrade everything a bit. Everything looks very neat and it's the only neighborhood that has escalators!
I highly recommend the Comuna as it is very beautiful. Numerous walking tours are also offered here. You can also contact me for this!
Castillo's Poblado
Right in El Poblado there is a place where numerous small palaces and castles cavort. It looks like a fairytale land. This is definitely worth seeing, especially if you don't come from countries like Germany, France or Great Britain, where there are many castles.
Park Arvi
A large park far above Medellin. Park Arvi is one of my favorites as it is very quiet, mostly natural and completely cut off from everything despite the big city.
Perfect for a walk, hike or to meditate.
There are other options such as horseback riding through the park or just eating out with a view of the forest.
The best way to get to Park Arvi is to take a taxi to the "Estación Acevedo Metro" and from there take the so-called Metro-cable. This includes 3 stops before going to the final part to Park Arvi. This all takes a little time but brings with it an impressive view.
Please note: To use the Metro cable you need a card, which you can also buy on site and top up directly.
Garden Botanico
The botanical garden is relatively central in the middle of Medellin. This is also definitely worth a visit. Admission is free, all you need is an ID document at the entrance.
The park closes in the afternoon. Especially around midday it is very nice to go for a walk or to sit in the park and enjoy the variety of plants.
la 70
As mentioned before, the Laureles neighborhood or specifically "La 70" is a very nice place with many restaurants and lots of greenery around and also very fun if you want to go out in the evening.
Poblito Paisa
A small place on top of a small hill. There are various drinks, traditional food and some accessories. This is definitely worth a visit. In addition, there is a nice view over the city around it. You can also take one or the other nice photo here!
Sabaneta Park
The center of Sabaneta. As mentioned before, it is very quiet and safe here. The park is very nice with lots of trees and benches. The buildings around the park give the impression of a small beautiful village. Especially during the Christmas season it is very nice here with lots of lighting and decorations!
El Penon de Guatape
Probably one of the most beautiful places outside of the city of Medellin. The Peñón and the village of Guatapé. A huge lake, unique, colorful and an absolute highlight!
There are 3 different attractions to see:
Peñón
Here there is the stone, which by the way is one of the largest in the world. You can climb this. If you want to face the challenge - at an altitude of 2,135 m and over 700 steps, this is quite an achievement. – The view is always worth it!
Pueblo Guatape
The village of Guatapé, where you usually stay unless you have booked a hotel around the lake. Here you can go out to eat, stroll through the streets and buy a few things.
Lake Guatape
The lake is breathtaking, from the air the blue glowing water looks like a dragon or a sea serpent with lots of twists and turns of the lake.
The shape alone is spectacular.
There are also numerous attractions such as boating, jet sky and more. Besides, there is also
There are actually 2 options to get to Guatapé.
· Option 1 – by taxi or Uber
This can easily be called from the street or via an app. The price is around
the 150,000 pesos and makes sense for groups
· Option 2 – by bus
My clear favorite is the bus, as it doesn't take much longer and is much cheaper
is. It costs about 30,000 pesos per person from Terminal del Norte
straight to Guatape.
It is best to travel to Guatapé on weekdays as it is quite busy
fewer visitors are there!
If you need help booking hotels in Guatapé, I'm here for you!
Zoo Hacienda de Napoles
Another great attraction is the Zoo – Hacienda de Nápoles. However, this is 4 hours away by bus and takes a whole day. But if you want to get to know the story of Pablo Escobar better, you shouldn't miss it. The variety of animals is also incredible. Above all, there are free-roaming ostriches, donkeys and even zebras!
Valle de Cocona
An incredibly beautiful valley is the "Valle de ocona". Approximately 4-6 hours from Medellin depending on traffic. A very natural and quiet place. Surrounded by pure nature and a very clear and pure river makes the place a real paradise!
food + drink
Typical food
There is some very good typical Colombian food.
Colombian cuisine is very meat-heavy and also relatively substantial! The typical ingredients are meat, rice, beans and plantains. Examples of this are:
· Sancocho - A very traditional dish that comes in various forms
variants offered. It is a nutritious soup with meat, corn, etc.
Bandeja Paisa – A platter of various ingredients such as meat, beans,
rice, avocado, etc.
· Empanadas – small dumplings filled with rice, chicken, beef or potatoes
· Arepa – small pastries made from corn
· Ajiaco – A Colombian chicken soup with assorted potatoes
and corn on the cob
Typical drinks
beers – probably the most popular drinks in Colombia
Most are lagers and tend to be very smooth in taste.
· Club Colombia – Dorada lager beer
· Club Colombia – Roja red beer
· Club Colombia – Negra Dark
· Aguila Light Lager
· Aguila lager beer
· Pilsen Pilsner
· Poker camp
· BBC – Bogota Bier Factory various beers
· 3 Cordilleras various beers
Micheladas
For many, especially Europeans, it is very untypical or even unthinkable for Germans to serve the beer as Micheladas.
Here an ordinary beer is taken, this mixed with lime juice, which is understandable so far, especially when it's hot outside as a refreshment.
However, the rim is served with salt and sometimes even ice cubes in the beer. But you can drink it quite well!
rum
Probably the best known rum is the Rum de Caldas (part of the metropolitan area of Medellin).
There are different variants here.
Another rum is the rum of the same name “Ron de Medellin”.
Aguardiente
Aguardiente antioqueño – there are a wide variety of variants, with and without sugar in 3 different colors (label), the color of the liqueur is always clear.
The taste is similar to a Greek ouzo, which comes from the Arnis flavor. The liqueur should be drunk ice cold and is so easy to drink.
juices
The juices tend to be very sweet as there is a lot of extra sugar added as Colombians like it a lot.
Order food - Rappy
To be able to easily order food, there is a huge selection via the “Rappy” app. A profile must be created here, the address and the hotel or accommodation entered and a means of payment added, alternatively cash payment is also possible.
Usually it's easy. However, problems occur from time to time, especially during the first use, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
You can really order anything in Colombia, from a headache pill to shopping to all kinds of food from restaurants.
nightlife
bars
la 70
As already mentioned, there is bar to bar and there really is something for everyone! To get here by taxi, just look for Calle 70 or pick a certain bar or restaurant like Brutal or Modongo's and you're in good hands.
El Poblado
Especially in Poblado (Calle 10) and Laureles is the ideal location to go out in the evening to eat, drink and then go partying. Both zones are very safe and best reached by taxi if you are not already staying there.
There are also many rooftop bars with spectacular views!
- Envy Rooftop
- 360 rooftop
- LaZotea Rooftop
- Mosquito
Sabaneta and Envigado
Here, too, there are certain zones where you can have a drink, but where it is much quieter.
Preferably I would always choose Poblado and then Laureles.
clubs
There are certain places where you can go out very well in the evening. Most clubs have reggaeton and electro clubs. Salsa, Bachata and co. of course there is!
Especially in the following neighborhoods there are many clubs to go out:
Poblado – Calle 10
Reggaeton:
- Perro Negro (Black Dog)
- Mirada
Electric:
- Salon Amador
- Sonorama
- Klock
· Laureles – La 70
- Brutal
- Discoteca 70zo
· Manrique *
- Zenith (Room Festival)
- Heaven
*In Manrique, a little more caution is required, as there are all sorts of people cavorting here, with many motorbikes, where cell phones can often be stolen! So it's best to take a taxi directly to the club and back to the accommodation in the same way.
Itagui _
- Viuz
- Icono
- Prana
- Palmahia
- La chula
Afterhour Clubs
Since the clubs in Medellin all have to close by 4:00 am at the latest, many party-loving people are still drawn to the after-hours clubs. There is one, for example, in Poblado - even if this is directly in Medellin, otherwise there is the option to go to Itagui.
From Poblado, for example, the big party buses go directly to the after-hour clubs in Itagui!
In Medellin, El Poblado:
- Klock – Calle 10
In Itagui:
- Viuz
- Seven
weather
General
The weather in Colombia, especially in Medellin, is actually permanently in spring mode. The sun really shines every day and the temperatures are usually between 20 and 30 degrees.
At night it rarely falls below 17 degrees, unless you are on a higher part of town, where it gets much fresher!
Rainy season
The rainy season usually begins in March/April and lasts until around the end of June.
It rains much more often, but it never gets really cold. The sun can still be seen every day!
resistance
The weather is sometimes very changeable, but as already mentioned, always blessed with sunshine. So it can be that the sun shines in the morning, it rains at noon and it's nice again in the evening!
sunrise and sunset
The sun rises very early, roughly at 6:00 am, sometimes earlier and sets again at 6:00 pm. So it's light for 12 hours and dark for 12 hours.
There is hardly more than half an hour difference between summer and winter time (which is not changed here, as in Europe, for example).
natural disasters
Fortunately, Medellin is spared from this, there are no tornadoes, tsunamis or earthquakes! For that matter, it's very safe here!
currency + language
currency
The official currency in Colombia is the Pesos Colombiano . Unfortunately, I can't give the exact course because it always jumps back and forth. In the last few weeks, however, this has always jumped back and forth between 4200 and 4600 pesos - 1 € or 1 $. So you can see that the pesos is very low.
Alternatively, you can of course also pay with dollars here, with euros it is a little more difficult.
However, you have to keep in mind that paying with the dollar always offers a worse exchange rate than the current one.
national language
The national language is Spanish , English is also sometimes spoken, but mostly very poorly or not at all.
It therefore makes sense to learn the basics or download an offline/online translator.
Usually you get along quite well as the Colombians are very sociable and even if there are language barriers they go out of their way to help.
ranking places
My personal ranking of places when you have to go that wrong route, be it due to time constraints or simply when you just want to visit certain places.
1. Guatape
a spectacular landscape with many possibilities!
2. Valle de Cocona
the untouched nature and tranquility makes the place a unique experience!
3. Comuna 13
the graffiti tour, simply a beautiful and remarkable corner of Medellin!
4. Arvi Park
the calm and relaxed atmosphere just makes the place very special!
5.La 70
the 70 is my personal favorite to go out with all the colombians!
6. Poblado
after the 70, my number two as it is also very relaxed and pleasant to go out!
7. Hacienda de Napoles
The hacienda, far from Medellin but still definitely worth a visit for the story of Pablo Escobar and also to see the multitude of animals!
8. Poblito Paisa
The small village in the middle of Medellin, always worth a visit!
9. Jardin Botanico
a quiet, serene place to relax or have a picnic!
10. Castillo Poblado
The little burgers in the middle of Poblado!
11. Parque Sabaneta
if the time is right, you can always take Park Sabaneta with you, especially at Christmas time!
Miscellaneous
visa regulations
The entry requirements are relatively simple. Almost everyone can enter the country very easily. Especially for Europeans:
- 3 months entering as a tourist, without problems (MIG Colombia)
- 3 more months can be extended easily online!
- Even after the 6 months you can probably extend it again, I've often been told, but officially there is "only" the maximum 6 months
Living in Medellín
If you decide to live in Medellin, you need a work or study visa after 6 months at the latest.
But since this part will be very detailed, I will write another block for this, especially with this topic!
With the visa process you definitely have to bring time.
Since each process takes a long time and new documents have to be submitted again and again.
If you have already gone through this process, you know what the processes are like and get everything done a little faster!
Especially for the study visa, the processes are roughly according to this scheme:
Cover letter from an agency (lawyer)
· Submission of some documents like ID etc.
· Payment of legal fees (approx. 3 million pesos – approx. 750€)
· Payment for the actual studies (approx. 1 million pesos – approx. 250€)
· Submission of other documents for the government
· Getting permission to study
· Visa obtained
As soon as you have received the visa, you also have the right to apply for a foreign identity card.
This is exactly how you can then open a bank account with the permissions, the visa and the ID "Cedular" to pay any bills.
With the visa and the bank account you can also rent an apartment afterwards, as you need the ID and the bank statements from the last few months.
Useful apps
The following apps are very useful in Colombia. It is best to download them beforehand. I am happy to help you!
Above
The transport app, which is probably known to almost everyone, makes a lot of sense for Colombia, as it is in high demand and, in my opinion, is the safest option.
When booking a ride, this is binding. You get the number plate, the name and, if you are hired, a pin to book a desired transport.
The prices are usually significantly cheaper than the usual taxi.
Tip: A little hint here. As soon as it rains, the prices of the Uber increase enormously! You can pay in cash or with a Visa or Master Card.
inDriver
The alternative to Uber! Officially not legal, so use at your own risk.
However, this app is used very frequently and is used on average 10 times more than Uber.
The big differences are as follows:
- You have to choose the fare yourself, especially at the beginning
little difficult to estimate, alternatively you can also look in Uber and the
then set the price
- InDriver is significantly cheaper than Uber
- As a tourist you can only pay in cash here
- The drivers often have little or no cash with them, so pay appropriately,
otherwise you have to get the change alternatively in a shop or similar
- All Uber drivers are checked for driver's license and certain
criminal backgrounds, with InDriver any driver can drive, just like that
as information
A little tip: As soon as it rains, it is best to use the InDriver app, as prices do not increase here. You can also set significantly lower fares in the app than in the Uber app.
rappy
The best app to order food, groceries or things from the pharmacy! Once registered and a credit card deposited (or alternatively by cash payment) you can already order.
Please note that the credit card entered must first be verified!
Here an amount x is debited from your credit card. This must be verified once under the settings. Attention, there are only a few attempts here!
The amount must be in dollars, this is important to note if your credit card is traded in euros or any other currency!
The card should then be verified and you can order! 😊
Before arriving Medellin
vaccinations
This is certainly an important question.
No vaccination is required here that you normally do not already have.
However, I have to say right away that a lot of vaccinations are recommended, especially from Europe, but are not necessary!
If your trip does not go to the Amazon, but only to the coast and the big cities, you do not need a special vaccination.
Yellow fever, hepatitis and rabies vaccinations are often recommended.
- The money fever vaccination is not required here.
- You should have hepatitis by default.
Rabies helps against the bites of monkeys and bats, but it is very rare that one encounters any here. It should also be remembered that the rabies vaccination consists of 3 doses, which are not exactly well tolerated and also take time, so plan in good time!
mobile phone insurance
Insurance definitely makes sense. This is not intended to spread panic, but rather as a precautionary measure, as it is well known that it is better to be safe than sorry.
Mobile phone insurance is relatively cheap, of course theft protection is important to me!
Should the situation arise that the mobile phone is stolen, the police report must be obtained from the "Fiscalia General de la Nación" in Medellin or in Envigado.
international health insurance
Travel health insurance should always be mandatory for people who travel a lot! Because you never know when something will happen!
It should be remembered that you always have to pay in advance, but this is usually reimbursed by the international health insurance company!
A recommendation from personal use is, for example, the DEVK, which has a low annual fee and covers the most important things!
Or alternatively via the following link via the ADAC (from Germany)
SIM card
A SIM card definitely makes sense if you are staying in Colombia for more than 3.4 days!
The big providers are Claro and Tigo, in addition there is also WOW
The good thing here is that all cards are prepaid and work without registration!
That means you buy them for about 5000 pesos (about 1.50 €).
The packages are included, here you can book minutes, internet or combination packages.
These are very cheap.
For longer stays you have to book a new package every now and then. All you need is your cell phone number and that's it.
Combo packages are available for 20, 30 and 40,000 pesos.
Paisa
The designation of the natives living in Medellin. You will definitely hear it often!
There are also special words that are used specifically in Colombia and Medellin, such as "Chimba" similar to cool or "que chimba!".
customs
What may sound very strange to some is completely normal here, including, for example:
- Hot chocolate with cheese
- Ice cream with fruit and grated cheese
- Chips with lemon
- Mango with salt and pepper
- Beer with lemon, salt and ice cubes
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final word
So, that was my detailed report about Medellin in Colombia. I hope you were able to get a better impression of how life works, what the country and the city of Medellin has to offer.
Of course, you have to experience the hospitality, the landscapes and the nightlife for yourself.
Colombia is one of my absolute favorite countries and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to embark on this adventure!
Thank you for your time and I am happy about subscribers and your feedback!
Thanks a lot
your Kevin Travel!
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