Parks & Plazas
Articles about Parks & Plazas from Medellin Living — expat guides, news and first-hand experience in Medellín, Colombia.
Waterfall Hiking Near Medellín: The Best Trails to Cascada La Miel and Surrounding Nature Spots
Short on time? Nature spots leading to the famous Cascada La Miel range from waterfall trails to forest viewpoints, showcasing Antioquia’s natural beauty.
Cycling the Green Corridors of Medellín: Best Urban Bike Routes and Rental Tips
Short on time? The Medellín River Green Corridor is one of the best urban bike routes in Medellín.
Where to Run in Medellín: A Guide to the Best Trails & Circuits.
Short on time? Medellín offers an excellent variety of running routes, from flat urban circuits and riverside paths to demanding mountain climbs. Ciudad del Río and Parque Lineal La Frontera work well for easy runs,…
Medellín for Kids: 8 Family-Friendly Activities Around the City.
Short on time? Medellín is a surprisingly family-friendly destination with interactive museums, amusement parks, botanical gardens, cable car rides, animals, outdoor art, and activities for children of different ages.…
Best Hikes Around Medellín (2026 Guide): Scenic Trails, Waterfalls, and Mountain Views
TLDR? Medellín is surrounded by excellent hiking trails, from quick city viewpoints like Cerro Tres Cruces to waterfall hikes, forest paths, and multi-day mountain adventures. Medellín is famous for its food, nightlife,…
A Few of the Top Parks and Nature Trails Around Medellín
Medellin is one of the most developed and innovative cities in Colombia. Although industrialized, it still preserves a lot of nature around it and even within the urban area. On the outskirts of this city, you can find…
The Ultimate Guide to the Museo de Antioquia
There’s no doubt that Medellin is a city full of culture, art, and good museums. Speaking of museums, if you love strolling through galleries and taking in some culture, then you have to check out the Museo de…
Jardín Botánico: Your Guide to Medellín’s Botanical Gardens
Jardín Botánico is Medellín’s botanical gardens. Located adjacent Universidad metro station, the gardens frequently host festivals and special events.
The Ultimate Guide to Medellín’s Parque Arví
Medellín is the perfect combination of urban sprawl and nature – the city’s famous orange buildings contrast with patches of green and attract culturists and nature-lovers alike. Not only is Medellín’s landscape…
5 Medellín Parks: Less Well-Known But Worth a Visit
We visit 5 Medellín parks worth a visit: Canal Parque Gabriel Márquez, Parque La Presidenta, Uva Ilusión Verde, Cerro La Asomadera and Cerro El Volador.
Romera Ecological Park: A Relief for the Senses
A visit to Romera Ecological Park provides a break from loud city life and an opportunity for bird-watching and nature without venturing too far.
Parque de La Floresta: A Calm Oasis in a Bustling Urban Center
Parque de La Floresta is a charming, relaxing oasis in the bustling urban zone of La America.
Parque Poblado: A Popular Place to Meet and Drink Outdoors
Parque Poblado is the ideal outdoor spot to meet up with friends for a drink before a night out in Parque Lleras.
Parque de Los Deseos: At the Center of Culture and Science
Parque de los Deseos is an open-air, interactive, public space adjacent to Universidad de Antioquia, and beside the Planetarium, Parque Explora, and Jardin Botanico.
Parque Lineal La Presidenta: A Green Space in Poblado
Parque Lineal La Presidenta is a pleasant spot of green space in Poblado which is home to a great farmers market on Sundays.
Listening to Our Readers: Updates to the “Best Of Medellín” Based on Your Input
We at Medellín Living like listening to our readers, and based on your input we have revised half of our “Best Of Medellín” stories from the past year.
Parque Norte: Medellín’s Year-Round Amusement Park
Parque Norte is Medellín’s amusement park close to Parque Explora and the Botanical Gardens. It’s popular with families and can be a good place for a date.
Zoo Revolution: The Renovation of Medellín’s City Zoo
Larry reports on the plans underway to renovate Medellín’s city zoo.
Parque Explora: Aquarium and Interactive Museum of Science and Technology
Enjoy a variety of interactive museums and explore Latin America’s largest freshwater Aquarium at Parque Explora.
Plaza Botero: 23 Sculptures by Colombia’s Fernando Botero
Home to 23 abstract sculptures by the world-renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero, Plaza Botero is an open-air museum located in the heart of Medellín.
The Best Parks in Medellin
Ryan’s picks for the top five parks in Medellin, including Parque El Salado in Envigado, Parque Arvi and Parque de los Descalzos.
Parque El Salado: Envigado’s Secret Tranquility
Parque El Salado is an ecotourism park in the mountains above Envigado. You can go for a hike, ziplining, or simply relax by the running stream.
Hacienda Napoles: Pablo Escobar’s Former Home Turned Theme Park
Hacienda Napoles, located 4 hours east of Medellin, is the former home of Pablo Escobar. In recent years, it has been turned into a theme park.
A Brighter, Cleaner Parque de Las Luces
Parque de las Luces was unveiled in 2005 to clean up the Plaza de Cisneros, a landmark space in the southwest area of downtown Medellin.
Parque de Los Pies Descalzos: A Place to Kick Up Your Feet
Parque de Los Pies Descalzos was built by EPM 14 years ago. It translates to “Barefoot Park” because there are several places to kick off your shoes.
Parque Bolívar: The Culture and History
Parque Bolívar is one of Medellin’s oldest parks, and pays tribute to Colombia’s liberator from Spain, Simon Bolivar.
Pueblito Paisa: Mock Antioquian Village Atop Cerro Nutibara
Pueblito Paisa is a mock Antioquian village situated atop Cerro Nutibara, a hill occupying a central location in the Medellin valley.
Parque Lineal Ciudad del Rio
Parque Lineal Ciudad del Rio is a swath of public green space that runs behind the buildings of the Ciudad del Rio apartment complex.
Parque Arví: Discovering the Flora, Fauna, and History of Santa Elena
Parque Arví is an eco-reserve located in Santa Elena. It’s easily accessible from Medellin via the metro and metrocable system.
Medellin Zoo: Exploring the Zoologico de Santa Fe
The Medellin Zoo, or Zoologico de Santa Fe, is a 63-year old zoo in the heart of Medellin, featuring hundreds of mammals, reptiles, and birds.
5 Weekend Activities in Medellin
Each year thousands of tourists from around the world travel to South America to experience the beauty, various cultures and natural environments. Peru is the most visited destination for its cultural and historical…
3 Local Tips for Getting Off the Beaten Track
The following is a guest post by Josian and Michael at Off2Colombia.com. Medellín is one of the most popular cities for backpackers in Colombia. Full to the brim with things to do and see, it’s clean, sunny and has some…
Biblioteca EPM & Parque de las Luces
Located next to Parque de las Luces, Biblioteca EPM, offers a quiet and peaceful place to relax, study and/or attend cultural events.
Parque Biblioteca Leon de Greiff
Parque Biblioteca Leon de Greiff is a library in Barrio Boston, a neighborhood in central Medellin.
Metrocable to Parque Arvi & Piedras Blancas
Medellin continues to look for ways to expand Colombia’s only metro system. By all accounts, the metrocable system which extends from the train line up into two different neighborhoods in the city has proven a success.…
The 17th Annual Orchid Show at Jardin Botanico
Every year in Medellin, an orchid show is held at Jardin Botanico as part of the annual La Feria de las Flores (Flower Festival).
Fatman & Robin
Take a stroll in the center of Medellin, and before too long you’ll come across a square full of fat people. No, this isn’t the Big Mac Fan Club Monthly MeetUp, this is Parque Berrio/Plaza Botero, and the…
Botanical Gardens
For the picture of the week, here’s a quick shot of the lake in the Botanical Gardens. There are a bunch of ducks and very pretty lily pads that I enjoyed quite a bit. The gardens are very nice…and free. If it was in…
Parque Berrío
Parque Berrio is located in downtown Medellin, and includes the famous Plaza Botero.