The Shocking Truth About Living in Medellin Colombia For 3 Months: The Good The Bad The Ugly

Oct 2, 2022 • By Leonidas K. • 6 min read

Colombia Travel

After living in Sao Paulo Brazil, it was time to venture into Colombia for a living and working adventure.

Medellín and Beyond: A Digital Nomad’s Colombian Adventure

After nearly three months exploring Medellín, Colombia, it’s time for me to pack up and set out on new adventures. As a digital nomad, I seek fresh places that spark inspiration. Medellín delivered on that front with vivid sights and vibrant culture.

I last lived in Medellín seven years ago but barely scratched the surface back then. Returning in late 2022 allowed me to dive deeper into everything this energetic city and surrounding region offers. In this blog, I’ll recap my recent Medellín highlights, recommendations and lessons learned. Whether you’re passing through town or sticking around awhile, let’s see why Medellín seduces so many to come.

Arriving in Medellín

I landed in Medellín and headed straight to the Poblado district to live with a long-time buddy from Canada. We rented an apartment together in the Manila neighborhood. This area caters heavily to tourists and expats given the walkability, nightlife and safety.

In terms of partying, Parque Lleras used to be the hotspot, but it declined rapidly after the 2019 Venezuela crisis. Too much petty crime and seediness. The action shifted just a few blocks uphill to Provenza. This stretch has become the place for safe wandering between cafes, restaurants and clubs.

As for the vibe itself, Medellín sits in a valley surrounded by towering mountains. The climate stays spring-like year-round, hovering around 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) most days. Pleasant would be an understatement.

Top Neighborhoods and Day Trips

Over my nearly three months, I explored as much of the city as possible. Here were some of my favorite excursions:

Comuna 13 Tour

This favela-style neighborhood has transformed itself over the past 20 years. What was once extremely dangerous territory occupied by narcos, guerrillas and paramilitaries now overflows with tourists. The government finally regained control through military force. These days you can ride the outdoor escalators up the hillside, take in epic views and buy souvenirs without fear.

Guatapé and El Peñol

A popular day trip, Guatapé’s claim to fame is a massive granite rock called El Peñol. The 650 steps to the top lead to awe-inspiring vistas of the surrounding lakes and countryside. Afterwards, wander the sleepy colonial town with its colorful architecture and lakeside cafes.

Arví Park (Parque Arvi)

Ride the Metro cable gondola up into the mountains to this natural reserve. The views back down on Medellín alone warrant the trip. Make sure to stop at the little “store” hiding in the woods for some wicked marijuana beer too!

Downtown and La Candelaria

I toured the historic downtown La Candelaria district twice, once solo and once on a group tour. It can get sketchy due to higher crime, so vigilance is key. Nonetheless, the area provides a window into Medellín’s past through old churches, bustling markets and the Palace Museum with its stunning art exhibits.

Pueblito Paisa

Check out this miniature reconstruction of a traditional Antioquian town in the hills above Medellín. It’s tiny but offers great photo ops along with shops and restaurants built in the colonial style.

Nightlife, Dancing and City Views

In a city renowned for parties, I made the most of the nightlife:

Provenza (in El Poblado)

This ever-buzzing street in Poblado overflows with clubs, bars and eateries. Grab a sidewalk table for people watching over craft beers. Or hit the dance floor later on. I recommend coming here with a group. Most hostels will bring you here as well during a “pub-crawl”.

Calle La 70 (70th Street)

Similar to Provenza but much larger in scope, this street stretches through the Laureles neighborhood with neon-lit destinations pumping reggaeton and salsa. Most locals come here in big groups.

Salsa Clubs

I frequented Son Havana in Poblado and Laureles for a few fun salsa sessions. Social Club won me over for having more space and additional music like bachata and African rhythms.

Chiva Bus Bar Crawl

No seat belts necessary as this tricked-out party bus transported us between Christmas light displays with nonstop drinking and dancing. A wild local tradition. I recommend you find a bus that suits your demographic, otherwise you risk being with people who are either too young (kids) or too old (seniors).

Cerro de las Tres Cruces

Hike 40 minutes up this hill to take free outdoor fitness classes at the top with fellow health nuts. Oh, and the panoramic views of Medellín serve as nice bonus motivation too!

Paragliding Over the City

After taxiing up to the launch area in the mountains, I ran off a cliff and started soaring over the city by parachute. What a rush on a clear, sunny day! Hopefully your parachute opens the first time 😉

Parting Tips from Medellín

While parts of Colombia still warrant caution, Medellín continues to elevate its safety and infrastructure. Nonetheless, here are my key takeaways for future visitors:

Remain vigilant at night, even in safe areas like Poblado and Laureles
Use Taxi apps always. Uber now lets you hail a regular taxi and pay with card
Brush up on Spanish since English is rarely spoken
Realize locals view time differently; don’t expect punctuality
Fly domestic from the small airport in the city center (Olaya Herrera)
Extend your tourist stay easily online if wanting to stay a full 6 months (Costs only $30)

The vibrancy of Medellín leaves a powerful imprint on most who pass through. I achieved my core aims of adventure and inspiration across three months in this Colombian gem. The mountains, the salsa, the overabundance of things to do – Medellín doesn’t disappoint as a digital nomad hub or general travel destination.

Soon it will be off to Florianópolis, Brazil for beach life and hardcore Muay Thai training. But Colombia will remain etched in my memory thanks to Medellín and its joyous grip on all who get close enough to feel it.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, share it with someone who loves travel.

AI Disclaimer

In the hopes of efficiency, I used Claude.AI to write a blog post based on my Video Review of Medellin, Colombia, which you can check out above.

The AI was used to write the blog post, but Leonidas still had to edit it for truthfulness, relevance to my personal adventure (the AI likes to invent a lot of things I didn’t do) and ensuring it all made sense 😉