What to expect during the Medellín City Bike tour:
We’ll provide the bikes and necessary safety equipment; all you have to do is show up! Your guide will be fluent in both English and Spanish, and they’ll be able to tell you all about the scenic spots you’re cycling through. And of course, you’ll get the chance to stop and take photos along the way.
The city is mostly located in a valley, so much of the Medellín city bike tour will be on level ground. However, there will be a few inclines that could challenge your endurance. If you’d prefer to avoid some of these steep slopes, the guide can easily adjust the tour route as needed.
The average Medellín city bike tour takes around two hours, but this can vary based on how fast you prefer to go. The bikes we’ll be using are built for cross-country use; most of Medellín’s roads are an easy ride, but there are a few spots where a sturdier bike comes in handy. If some of the passengers are on the shorter side, we have smaller bicycles for them too. We’ll provide helmets, gloves, and rain jackets in case of random showers. If you’d prefer a less physically demanding tour experience, we also have electric bikes!
Highlights of the Medellín City Bike Tour
This tour can be customized to a certain extent, here is the information of some of the places that are part of the normal route.
- Cerro Nutibara
Cerro Nutibara is most well known for the Pueblito Paisa, a replica of a traditional Antioquian village. The Pueblito is worth visiting just for the tourist experience, but what’s really impressive is the view. This hill is on the outskirts of Medellín, so you’ll be able to see the entire city from the top.
- Park of the Lights
Also known as Plaza Cisneros, the Park of the Lights was once an area that was known for mostly shady activities. Thanks to Medellín’s social renewal of the past couple of decades, though, it’s now known for much more positive things. The park is filled with 300 pillars, which reach up to 78 feet in height. By day, they provide shade; by night, they’re illuminated. The effect is like a forest of shining trees and is pretty remarkable to see, even in the daytime.
- Barefoot Park
Even if you’ll just be passing through on a bike, Barefoot Park is definitely worth a visit. It was designed in 1998 to encourage people to take off their shoes and connect with nature. There’s a zen bamboo garden, shallow pools that are surrounded with sandbars, and fountains where people can splash their feet in the water. The entire space is meant to promote relaxation and comfort, and it’s popular among young and old residents (and tourists!) because of the calming atmosphere.
- Botero Plaza
One of the most prominent artistic features of Medellín is the presence of large bronze sculptures, crafted by Maestro Fernando Botero. He’s famous not just in Colombia, but worldwide for his unique artwork. Botero’s sculptures can be seen here and there throughout the city, but the Plaza de Botero is by far the best outdoor collection of his work. There are also some of the best museums of Medellin here and nearby. The 23 sculptures in the Plaza were donated to the city in 2002, and have made the spot a landmark for locals and tourists alike.
Where to go if you have your own bike
Medellín is a very bike-friendly place, with more than 100 km of bike paths throughout the city. If you wanted to hop onto a bike and explore the area on your own, here are a few recommendations.
- Ciclovia
This isn’t a destination as much as it is an event. Every Sunday, a long stretch of road is closed to vehicular traffic between 7 AM and 1 PM. This road goes from Envigado in the south, to El Centro in the north. If you want to see the city without having to deal with traffic, this is the perfect opportunity.
- La SiCLeada
Another urban cycling initiative is La SiCLeada. This weekly cycling event involves over 1,000 cyclists that join up to ride about 20 km through Medellín, starting at 8 PM each Wednesday.
- Alto de las Palmas
This could be one of Medellín’s most popular routes among cyclists, both because of the challenge, and because of the rewarding views at the top of the climb. It’ll be 17 km uphill towards the Rionegro airport; once you reach the top, you can take a break for the spectacular views, then enjoy the exhilarating return trip back to the city.
Whether you’re taking a guided Medellín city bike tour, or you’ve opted to create your own Medellín tours, you’ll definitely enjoy taking in the sights and sounds of this vibrant city!
