Note: This was originally written in 2019. During his travels, author and podcaster mentioned on comedian that the first thing he likes to do in a new city is to take a bike tour. I followed that move, taking a walking tour my first few days after arriving to get a sense of the areas, following that up with experiencing local marketplaces, bars, and nightlife. Tim Ferriss Ari Shaffir's podcast I traveled to Medellín, Colombia, both to explore for a week on vacation and then to immerse myself in daily life, while working remotely as the creator of , the first cryptocurrency news audiocast app. Coinverse Tours Whether your interest is history, marketplaces, art, or coffee, there is something for you. I have always avoided what I thought of as "traditional tours."  After experiencing RealCityTours "free" city walking tour, where you pay with a tip, it is an experience I will actively seek out on future trips. The free tour was led by a local who was an interactive storyteller. It's best to base your tours on personal recommendations and/or online reviews. I got suckered into a "transformation tour" through a popular hostel chain that was advertised as educational to learn about the positive evolution of neighborhoods. In actuality, it was a drive to three different tourist spots to look around and spend money with the tour guide’s friends. I've had a great experience and received excellent in-person feedback on the tours below. freetour.com : , , and Real City Tours Free walking tour Exotic fruits tour Transformation tour Comuna 13 Medellin Graffiti Tour Urban coffee tour Markets Marketplaces refer to anything from "mom and pop" merchants where everyday people or businesses buy groceries, to hubs with restaurants from around the world. Both are worth exploring. The former lends itself to more adventure. Traditional Marketplaces Plaza Minorista San Alejo 1st Saturday of the month San Fernando Plaza Market Square Envigado Central Mayorista de Antioquia Placita de Flórez El Pulguero Llanogrande Limited to a few times per year Restaurant Hubs Mercado del Río Resources Markets map The Best Markets in Medellín, Colombia by CultureTrip The Best Street Food Markets in Medellín by CultureTrip Social scene Through the handful of nights I went out, I experienced the variety the city offers. I explored a battle of the bands at the hostel, danced to Reggaeton till 4 AM on my birthday at , stepped on a few toes at a local salsa joint, , helped host a rooftop morning yoga and dance party, and saw a new friend DJ. Sellina Buena Vista El Tíbiri My social circle grew through roommates, informal events friends hosted, tech meetups, etc. One of my favorite experiences was . A local friend introduced me to this street where you walk up to a bodega, drink beer, and hang out on the street. People are here every night, and I hear it can get rowdy into the early morning. Calle 66a If looking for the hostel party scene, there are well-known "party hostels" like and the . For bars and clubs, the two main spots are around in El Poblado and in Laureles. Selina Purple Monkey Parque Lleras Carrera 70 An alternative to the bar scene is language exchanges like (Wednesdays), and (Wednesdays and Fridays). Locals and travelers meet in order to practice speaking, listening, and hanging out. El Social Café Ondas Outdoors Within a quick trip from downtown, you can be in the jungle jumping into a waterfall or overlooking the cityscape. The proximity of the locations and range of difficulty in accessing these sites make the samples below easy to get to from downtown. I'm happy I did last minute. I chose this because it was a decent workout, thanks to the ascent, a view of the city, and the opportunity to jump in the waterfall. The waterfall was cold, surprisingly not as cold as Yosemite National Park's waterfall in California during the summertime. Cuevas del Higuerón You can take Uber or public transportation to the trailhead at . Cuevas del Higuerón - Camino Ancestral - Camino Real La Ayurá Next time I'd love to do El Cerro De Las Tres Cruces because of how easy it is to access and the citywide view. The hike up lasts only 30-45 min. To get to the trailhead, take an Uber to which will take you to the start point. Casa de los Bernal Here are more great outdoor adventures. La Ruta hiking Facebook group Parque Arví bike Parque Arví hike Parque Arví night hike ATV tour offered by Rango Hostel Mountain bike descent offered by Rango Hostel Spas After a week of exploring, it is nice to wind down with a massage on the rooftop of the . It took me a while to book the full body massage because I had a hard time understanding what I was ordering due to my Spanish, or lack thereof. The massage was good, costing $50 per hour, about half the cost compared to the states. Diez 10 Hotel If you decide to go to Diez, the following descriptions of the menu will save you my confusion. :  Full body using hot stones Masaje terrenal :  Using coconuts Masaja tropical / nuez de coco Masaja de caña: Using bamboo : Using hot wax Masaja atardecer llanero For a less fancy and highly rated experience, is $40 per hour. Sports Massage Lastly, I explore how to work effectively, Medellín —  Work remotely If you're curious "Why Medellín?" or for the best local flavors, read the following. Medellín —The nomad's hidden gem Medellín —  A taste of classics and the best cacao enjoys sharing and is a researcher and product consultant. Adam Hurwitz travel open info

Follow me

Read My Stories

Too Long; Didn't Read

Developers: Build Less. Deliver More. [Learn how]	

Medellín — Discover the local appeal

Too Long; Didn't Read

Adam Hurwitz

About Author

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN...

Medellín — Discover the local appeal

Too Long; Didn't Read

Adam Hurwitz

About Author

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN...

RELATED STORIES