5 Medellin Tours every Backpacker should Experience NOW

medellin tours

Medellin Tours are abundant. You will learn this immediately upon arriving to Colombia. To make sure you don’t get caught up doing the wrong thing, I will cover 5 tours that will provide lasting memories of undoubted value while in Medellin.

Time. The ruler of all. Some of us backpackers have far to much of it whereas others only have a small window of freedom. With this tiempo libre, (Free time) we have many variables to balance. Distance, price, value and many more. With the vast amount of Medellin tours to choose from, you may feel overwhelmed about which ones to pick.

Luckily for YOU, I have experienced a majority of what these Medellin Tours offer and can help you cut through all the noise. Whether it be a late start to your day after a night of partying or the early bird worming type tour, use this post to help make a better decision about where your day is heading.

Best Medellin Tours Guide 2022

  • Guatape
  • Paragliding
  • Free City Walking Tours
  • Communa 13
  • Futbol Match
  • More Colombia Things to DO

Guatape Day Trip

Guatape is a must do day trip or a multi day trip. Ideally you can stay longer but if not, head here early and make a full day of it. Why should you visit this lovely Colombian city?

  • The crisp, non polluted air.
  • Tranquility and slower pace of life
  • El Penon – The reason everyone comes
  • Outdoor Activities – Hiking to hidden waterfalls, Biking, Wake boarding, Paddle boarding
  • Guatape is ONLY 2 hours from Medellin

These are just skimming the surface of what Guatape provides. Tours are offered here but I would recommend going on your own as it’s way cheaper and very easy to do on your own.

If you decide to go your own, follow these easy directions:

  • Get to Caribe Norte Station & find window 9/14 & buy your ticket.
  • Whatever time is departing next, get on that bus and be in Guatape about 2 hours later.

Parapente - Medellin Paragliding

I know this might stretch some of yours budgets but for what it’s worth, it’s worth it. Parapente or Paragliding in Medellin, is not a cheap activity elsewhere in the world but for around $40 in San Felix, you can have the sky to yourself for about 15-20 minutes.

Getting here? Book your tour from your hostel or other booking agency you might know. I chose GTopik & it was an excellent choice top to bottom. Safety instruction, English spoken, everything to make the trip that much more worthwhile. 

The trip is about one hour from Medellín & if done solo I would suggest taking a bus from Caribe station to save some pesos. If in a group of 3 or more, the hired van is about the same price.

Free City Walking Tours

This is a MUST. Informative, enticing, hilarious, everything. Try and do this as early as possible on your trip so you really get the most of Medellín. They are popular and get booked quick, so check your schedule & plan your days accordingly. 

They also offer other PAID tours but with what I’ve seen & heard, the juice is worth the squeeze. Book Here

Communa 13 Tour

medellin tours

One of the most popular tours in Medellín & probably will be yours too. This tour gives you a look into one of the most historically violent barrios of Medellín & the recent transformations that have taken place. 

From the installment of the escalators to the outstanding artwork of Chota, music & break dancing this tour will touch your soul, just like the hoards of children in Communa 13 will do. Enjoy & listen, as it will be a class of learning not about Colombian history but yourself as well.

Colombian Futbol Match

I add this to the “tours” list because going to a Colombian Futbol match is an immersive Colombia culture tour. The passion these fans express is a display of the countries cultural pride. 

Many hostels offer packages of tickets & drinks with other hostels & I recommend checking this off your list this way. 

Sitting in the Sur section or Norte will take your Colombian experience to the next level with constant cheering, dancing, jumping, yelling, crying, laughing & whatever verb you can add to the list. 

Vamos! If you’re lucky, Atlético Nacional will be in town and you will see the city come to life.

Other Medellin Tours to Consider Now

Exotic fruits tour – Do you choose destinations based on foods? This tour will dive into the fruits of Colombia & explain the process of seed to market of what you’re about to consume. Done by the same company as the Free City tours, these guys know what they are talking about.

Pablo Escobar – A primary reason many travelers end up in Colombia. This tour will take you around Colombia to many of the important spots that were involved with Pablo. It’s an interesting look at his life especially in his barrio and some of the old artifacts that remain.

Urban Coffee tour – Don’t want to spend a day out in the coffee fields or pay the exorbitant price to do so? Stay local & much cheaper but still learn about the coffee of the region & the importance it plays in Colombian culture. I have yet to do this but badly want to.

Best Places to Visit in Colombia Guides

Interested In more activities or need additional help for your time traveling throughout Colombia?

Follow my guide to maximize your time in this chaotic city: 

☕️ The Best Medellin Cafes To Visit in 2022

✈️ The Best Cities to Visit in Colombia This Year