5 Must See Places To Visit in Medellin, Colombia

  

This city used to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world, now it is a cultural mecca for tourists and digital nomads. Medellin, Colombia should be on everyone's bucket list for travel. Recently, I visited this vibrant city and I have to share my top 5 must see sights. 

First, a few tips and tricks to get to Colombia using points and miles. There are several airlines that fly to Medellin including Copa, United, American and even Spirit. As always, be sure to check prices on several websites including airlines and travel portals. 

I found flights through the Chase Travel Portal on Copa Airlines for 54,000 points for two round trip flights. I used my Chase Sapphire Reserve account to book these so I got 1.5:1 value for my points. Right now, you can get a 60,000 point bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Preferred, two of my favorite cards and hands down, my favorite flexible points. These cards can make a huge difference in your strategy when you combine your Chase Ultimate Reward points from your other cards too. 

No problem ordering vegetarian meals in advance, but choosing seats on Copa Airlines was tricky. If you don't want to buy seats, you are assigned at check in. They assign seats based on when you check in and start assigning from the back of the plane to the front. 

So on the way to Medellin, I checked in 24 hours in advance and ended up in the back row. However, on the way home, I delayed check in about 5 hours and ended up in row 9. Woohoo! 

Copa Airlines was very pleasant. Seats were adequate. Service was fine. I had heard they were strict with luggage, but no one checked either way and we were able to carry on a bag and a personal item. They did require us to check in at the desk before going through security even though we had checked in online to confirm our passports. 

Arriving in Medellín? Navigate the transportation scene like a pro. Either pre-arrange a driver or master the art of Uber meetups. While Uber operates in a grey area, it's widely used and budget-friendly. For the ultimate local experience, dare to try an Uber Moto!

U.S. travelers will find Colombia refreshingly affordable. Savor local cuisine for pocket change, rest your head in comfortable accommodations for around $50 a night, and zip around the city in Ubers for less than the price of a latte back home.

Now, let's explore Medellín's must-see attractions:

1. Immerse yourself in the vibrant street art of Comuna 13 - Tour this neighborhood with a local who talks about the history, the graffiti, the art and famous escalators. Besides seeing the sights, taste local food like mango ice cream and empanadas. This tour is a winner and it only costs $20 per person.    
   
   
   
2. Escape to nature in Parque Arví - The journey is part of the fun to reach this ecological nature reserve. Take the metro to the end of the line Santo Domingo and then two funiculars to the top of the mountain. It should cost you approximately 3,000 pesos to reach Santo Domingo and 12,500 pesos to ride up on the funicular. You will feel like you are spending the day in the mountains here. Besides hiking or walking the trails, you can shop at local vendors. Guided tours cost 50,000 pesos, but you can also just walk the trails on your own. 
   
   
   
3. Delve into history with a Pablo Escobar tour - This tour was a highlight of our trip. Guide Juan met Pablo Escobar and tells a lot of personal stories about the crime boss. He also walks you through this important part of city history from the memorial to Escobar's grave. 
   
   
   
4. Marvel at the views from Guatapé and El Peñol - Guatape is a made for Insta town with a street with umbrellas hanging throughout the streets. Be sure to notice the beautiful 3D paintings on the sides of the buildings. Then challenge yourself to climb 704 steps up to the top of El Penol. This is a great day trip from Medellin. 
   
   
   
5. Discover the heart of the city in Downtown Medellín with a FREE walking tour - I love FREE walking tours! The guides are local and not only talk about the sights and history, but share personal stories about what life is like in their country and city. Take a half day to walk through the crowded streets of downtown, look at the giant bronze statues in Plaza Botero, art in Centro Cultura and the beautiful National Palace Shopping Center. 

Don't forget to wander through El Poblado, indulging in mouthwatering empanadas and arepas along the way.

If you would like help planning your Colombian vacation using points and miles, join my Travel Coaching Program, book a consulting session with me or chat with the AI Travel Bot on my website.