At a Glance
A quick trip to Medellin and nearby villages – There was this time when a friend said, “we’re going to Colombia, you should come along.” I rarely turn down an offer like that, so I was in – even if I had to take a red eye and make a long weekend of it. I should mention that my friend’s family is from Medellin, Colombia; therefore, it was a great opportunity to see it from the perspective of a local.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Medellin. We spent the afternoon exploring local sights, ending with dinner and drinks in an area called Parque Lleras. It’s a lively, mostly pedestrian zone full of restaurants, bars, and music.
Day 2 – Day trip to Santa Fe de Antioquia. We rented a taxi/van at a flat daily rate to visit the nearby town of Santa Fe de Antioquia. We explored the town and went horseback riding. After returning to Medellin late in the afternoon, we went for dinner and show at a very unique restaurant called La Mayoria. The show is dancing horses!
Day 3 – Climbing La Piedra. We took another day trip by taxi/van. Our first stop was La Piedra. The name means ‘the rock,’ which is apt as it’s a massive rock formation. To get to the top, you climb 740 stairs. At the top, you can enjoy the amazing views with a snack and cold drink. We then continued to the village of Guatape. The best word to describe Guatape is colorful as almost every building is painted in bright colors and intricate murals.
Day 4 – Feria de Las Flores. On our last full day, we stayed in Medellin for the famous Feria de Las Flores parade. Look it up! It’s a major festival in Medellin that occurs every August. We ended the day with dinner at Pueblito Paisa. It’s another amazing pedestrian zone of shops and restaurants.
Highlights
Say hello to Rocky Valdez – I enjoy opportunities to go horseback riding when I travel. However, this was the best horseback riding I have ever done on a trip. We did the typical nose-to-butt line of horses until we got out of the town of Santa Fe de Antioquia, but… once we got to the rural dirt roads outside the town, they actually let us gallop and just have fun with it! My horse was named Rocky Valdez, and together we explored some gorgeous countryside.
La Piedra – Yep, we walked up a huge rock. It’s 659 stairs on crisscrossing flights of stairs to the top, then 81 more stairs to a topmost viewpoint. That’s a total of 740 stairs. It was a lot of work to get to the top, but so worth it. Check out those views! La Piedra is approximately 200 meters tall and was formed by erosion. It’s a granite remnant that didn’t weather or erode like the surrounding bedrock. Thus, a big rock sticking out of the ground. There are really no words for this one, so I will just say that the views were spectacular.
Guatape – It’s as cute a small town as you will see anywhere. It feels like every surface is drenched in color. There is a main square with a church, and small roads and alleys break off in all directions. It was fun to wander and try to absorb it all. Every line of sight deserved its own photo.
Feria de Las Flores – This annual festival began in 1957 and showcases the culture of the area. It lasts more than a week and includes a parade, concerts, and pageants. It’s the social event of the year, and we got to experience the parade. Each float and display that went by was a complex, colorful arrangement of flowers. Most impressive were the people carrying large round flower displays on their backs. The crowds were having a great time, and vendors sold various snacks and drinks. It’s a street party at its best.
The Toad on the Road 