Day trips · Medellín · Colombia
5 best day trips from Medellín
Where to go when you want a day away from Medellín, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Medellín is Guatapé and El Peñol (About 2 hours by bus). The closest option is Santa Elena flower farms, about 17 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Santa Elena flower farms (17 km)
- Most popular
- Guatapé and El Peñol
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guatapé and El Peñol | 80 km | About 2 hours by bus | Bus from Terminal del Norte, or an organised tour | First-timers, Families, Couples |
| Santa Fe de Antioquia | 55 km | About 1.5 hours by bus | Bus from Terminal del Norte via the Túnel de Occidente | Culture, Couples, Quiet stays |
| Jardín | 130 km | About 3–3.5 hours by bus | Bus from Terminal del Sur | Couples, Culture, Quiet stays |
| Santa Elena flower farms | 17 km | About 45 minutes by road | Taxi, bus or Metrocable to Arví, or an organised tour | Culture, Families |
| Jericó | 110 km | About 3 hours by bus | Bus from Terminal del Sur | Culture, Quiet stays |
The day trips
80 km · About 2 hours by bus
1.Guatapé and El Peñol
El Peñol is a huge granite monolith with a 700-step staircase to the top, looking over the islands and inlets of the Guatapé reservoir. The nearby town of Guatapé is known for zócalos — colourful relief panels decorating the lower walls of its houses — and boat trips on the reservoir.
- Getting there
- Bus from Terminal del Norte, or an organised tour
- Best for
- First-timers, Families, Couples
55 km · About 1.5 hours by bus
2.Santa Fe de Antioquia
The former capital of Antioquia, founded in 1541, has whitewashed colonial streets, churches and a warm climate much hotter than Medellín. The Puente de Occidente, a 19th-century suspension bridge over the Cauca River, is a few kilometres away.
- Getting there
- Bus from Terminal del Norte via the Túnel de Occidente
- Best for
- Culture, Couples, Quiet stays
130 km · About 3–3.5 hours by bus
3.Jardín
A colourful coffee town in the mountains of southwest Antioquia, with a cobbled main square, a neo-Gothic basilica, coffee farms and waterfalls nearby. It is a long day trip, so many visitors stay overnight.
- Getting there
- Bus from Terminal del Sur
- Best for
- Couples, Culture, Quiet stays
17 km · About 45 minutes by road
4.Santa Elena flower farms
In the hills east of the city, the silleteros farming families grow the flowers for the Feria de las Flores and carry them on wooden frames (silletas). Farm visits explain the tradition, and the area is close to Parque Arví.
- Getting there
- Taxi, bus or Metrocable to Arví, or an organised tour
- Best for
- Culture, Families
110 km · About 3 hours by bus
5.Jericó
A colonial town in coffee country known for its colourful balconies, many churches and as the birthplace of Saint Laura Montoya, Colombia's first saint. A cable car and botanical garden overlook the town.
- Getting there
- Bus from Terminal del Sur
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Medellín?
Guatapé and El Peñol. El Peñol is a huge granite monolith with a 700-step staircase to the top, looking over the islands and inlets of the Guatapé reservoir.
+How long does it take to get from Medellín to Guatapé and El Peñol?
About 2 hours by bus — Bus from Terminal del Norte, or an organised tour, about 80 km.
+How long does it take to get from Medellín to Santa Fe de Antioquia?
About 1.5 hours by bus — Bus from Terminal del Norte via the Túnel de Occidente, about 55 km.