Top Things to do in Antioquia Department
Top Hotels in Antioquia Department
- 1. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Medellin, an IHG Hotel
- 2. Hotel Novotel Medellin El Tesoro
- 3. Estelar Square
- 4. The Charlee Lifestyle
- 5. Hotel Movich Las Lomas
- 6. Hotel Poblado Plaza
- 7. InterContinental Medellin, an IHG Hotel
- 8. Hotel GHL Porton Medellin
- 9. La Quinta by Wyndham Medellin
- 10. The Click Clack Hotel Medellin
Countries
10 Nature & Parks in Antioquia Department That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Antioquia Department, Colombia including Laguna de Guatape, Parque La Guayacana, La Cueva de los Guacharos, Parque Comfama Copacabana, Parque Municipal El Retiro, Piedra Del Penol, Jardin Botanico de Medellin, Parque Explora, Rio Claro Valley, Parque Arvi.
Restaurants in Antioquia Department
1. Laguna de Guatape
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,567 reviews
Reviewed By sergioruiz5 - Monterrey, Mexico
This tour is a must if you visit Medellin, given that is at a 1hr distance and is a different type of town with an incredible view when you go to the top of the rock (650 steps approximately). I’ve never seen anything like this and with no doubts I’ll go back if I visit Colonia again.
2. Parque La Guayacana
3. La Cueva de los Guacharos
4. Parque Comfama Copacabana
5. Parque Municipal El Retiro
6. Piedra Del Penol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,412 reviews
Reviewed By From_Victoria_BC
Thanks to previous travel bloggers for paving the way and giving us direction for our own trip. Taking into account the previously-shared knowledge, here was our experience: - Took the metro from El Poblado to Caribe and walked across to the gangway to the bus terminal. - Found ticket booth #14 for buses to Guatape with a bus company is called “Sotrasanvicente & Guatape La Piedra”. - We could only buy one-way tickets there and they cost $15,000 each. I believe buses leave every hour and we only waited 15 minutes. - The bus trip took two hours since it was constantly picking up and dropping off travellers, entertainers and vendors of snacks. - Listened for the call for La Piedra and got off the bus then walked up the stairs for 10-15 minutes to the touristy area. - Paid $18,000 to walk up 700 more steps to the incredible lookout, then paid $4000 to take a shared Jeep-like taxi to the town of Guatape. - We had lunch at a locals’ restaurant by the lake for only $23,000 for two people! - Bought a return ticket for $15,000 and saw people buying them right before the bus left so there’s no rush, but don’t wait too long (return schedule is attached). We decided to pass on a tour from Medellin since they were more expensive, left at 7:30 am, and the one we wanted was sold out the night before our final day in Medellín. Here are our total costs per person: $5,100 metro round trip $15,000 bus $18,000 La Piedra lookout $4,000 taxi to Guatape $12,000 lunch $4,000 street dessert $15,000 bus = $55,100 for a lovely day trip!
7. Jardin Botanico de Medellin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,483 reviews
Reviewed By erichA9957PH
This is a good place to enjoy nature in the center of Medellin. The gardens have beautiful flora, and lots of wildlife also - really enjoyed watching the turtles in the lake. Also, the restaurant at the Jardin Botanico is quite good and is a great place for a lunch.
8. Parque Explora
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,254 reviews
Reviewed By Noha11 - Medellin, Colombia
Great place to learn, have fun and spend a full day with the family. Yo can learn about science, latest scientific discoveries, Physics, music and even an aquarium! There are some fast food restaurants around if you want to make a quick stop to reload your energies and keep visiting!
9. Rio Claro Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 311 reviews
Reviewed By 676alexj
SERVICE: I don´t know why so many people complain about the service.... I was very satisfied with the staff, especially David from reception is a super helpful, patient and polite guy who helped with every question I had (speaks very good english) FOOD: Not high class, but absolutely ok. I am vegetarian and for each meal I got a veggie soup and an extra little side dish like cooked eggplants, fried zuccinis, mushrooms, etc. Plus they have a really great variety of salads (one of the bests I have seen in Colombia) and you can go to the buffet a second time and get more :-) ROOMS: I was super happy with my room. I stayed in the El refugio, which I can absolutely recommand to people who don`t mind having a few little animals like insects or bugs in the room. After dinner, I loved sitting at the "open" = no window and listening to the sounds of the nature, reading a book at candle light and then falling asleep. I had no towels in the room, I asked the housekeeping ladies and I got them. At the entrance I was able to pick my room (I didn`t have a reservation), the lady showed me a map and all possibilities including rates. I chose a room at the very end (casa 1, room 9). I wanted to be as far away as possible from the restaurant and acitvity area. I didn't mind the 10 minute walk from the restaurant and the stairs at all. I paid 140.000 COP, which after all, is an acceptable price for a room with a very great view, private bathroom, all meals included. ACTIVITIES (in my opinion, rates are quite cheap for what you get): I did the cave, which was very intersting and exciting. Be prepared to get wet. You will have to swim at some parts. And bring a flashlight, it is dark! I skipped the rafting, it looked quiet boring, the river is slow and not very deep. I did rafting and canyoning in Europe (I think this can not be compared). Instead I rented a tube and walked up the river for about an hour and then I enjoyed a quiet and relaxing 1,5 hour ride with sounds of birds :-), I absolutely loved it! --> I went directly after breakfast before the day visitors arrive and my 2 companions and I had the river almost to ourselves. I skipped Ziplining as well. Much better and longer lines f.ex. in Costa Rica WHAT ELSE: I took the bus from Guatape to Rio Claro. You don't have to go back all the way to Medellin. Take the bus direction Medellin (leaves Guatape at least every hour) and change to one of the big buses in Marinilla. On the road from Medellin to Bogota (road 60) there is a small bus terminal with 3 offices (one is Coonorte) where you can buy your ticket (20.000 COP). From there it takes about 2 hours. Tell the driver to stop at reserva natural rio claro. Do not forget to mention the complete name, otherwise they might let you out further on the street and you have to walk back.... I left my big backpack at the check-in office at the entrance and just took my small one with things for 2 nights (you don't need much, its warm all the time. In case you have forgotten something you can always go back, its only 15 minutes from the restaurant). In total it is about half an hour to walk to the rooms of El Refugio, so I wouldn't want to carry all my stuff there.... AVOID weekends and puentes! I think it can get really crowded with Colombians from Medellin with kids. I was there Monday to Wednesday and there were not many people. The bus to Bogota took a lot more than 5 hours.... 7,5 hour...the road is ok, but only one lane and a lot of big and slow trucks plus some road construction....usual colombian problem.... AFTER ALL: I loved this place! It is great to have a few days very close to nature, birds, swim (the river has just the right temperature), relax, read, walk along the river (the further you go the less people you meet, at the end we were all by ourselves, sooo peaceful), enjoy the sounds of the woods, no WIFI....
10. Parque Arvi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,036 reviews
Ecotourism Arvi Regional Park (Arvi Park), is located 30 km from the center of Medellin (Colombia) in the village of Santa Elena and the municipality of Guarne (Antioquia - Colombia). It is an open park developed on land for public use, created for the enjoyment of the local, national and international community, through the construction of organized tourism, consolidates a conservation strategy and promotion of the potentials and strengths of its cultural and environmental wealth and archaeological heritage, silletero tradition and entrepreneurship of its people, through a proposal for sustainable nature tourism.
Reviewed By AMVTX92 - Mequon, United States
We took the Gondola/metro cable to the park from Medellin. There was a market and we had a lovely time hiking around the park. Some areas were closed due to the Christmas holiday. But it was a lovely afternoon. Many places to stop for food and drink. There was not a park entrance fee. The hike is good for all ages but lots of hills.
