Going on a vacation to Medellin is always entertaining, since the city is very energetic and there’s always something to do. However, visiting with you kids involves slightly different considerations. While some destinations like Parque Explora are great for the whole family, others (such as some museums) will probably leave your children asking when it’ll be time to leave.
There are also logistical details to plan for, such as knowing the location of an English-speaking pediatrician, or having access to car seats during guided tours. Some people take care of these details on their own, but others use a company like Medellin Tours to take care of things for them.
Why hire a Medellin tour company when touring Medellin with kids?
For most people, their kids are a handful even on good days. When they’re in another country, it can be tricky to really take in the sights when all their attention is spent looking after their children. There are also technical details like the ones mentioned above. What happens if one of the kids needs medical attention? How will they make sure their younger kids will have car seats, so they can go along with them for car rides?
With Medellin tours, you won’t just get tour guide services; you’ll be able to enjoy a seamless tourism experience thanks to our detail-oriented services. When helping clients with children, we can provide access to skilled English-speaking pediatricians, car seats to use during guided tours, strollers for use during walking tours, nanny services if you want to have a romantic night out, etc.
If you need help finding places that your kids will love visiting, we can take care of that too. There are plenty of family-friendly activities to do in and around Medellin, from glamping to Ferris wheels.
Parque Explora
Despite the name, Parque Explora isn’t actually a park; it’s a science museum that’s packed with more than 300 interactive exhibits. There’s also a freshwater aquarium, which is the largest in South America. If you’re interested in experiencing the top-rated activities in Medellin, this is a great place to start – it’s ranked #2 on the “things to do in Medellin” listing on TripAdvisor.
In addition to the massive aquariums, there’s also a terrarium that contains turtles, snakes, frogs, and a variety of other reptiles. Hopefully none of your family members are frightened by lizards, because you may see a few roaming freely around Parque Explora! Other highlights include a planetarium, cafés and restaurants, a 3D movie auditorium, a modest television studio, and an outdoor dinosaur exhibit.
Glamping
This activity, which is a form of high-end camping, has been increasing in popularity around the world. Glamping is becoming increasingly popular in Colombia as well, especially in spots that are common tourist destinations. This includes Medellin and the surrounding areas. The Antioquia region, where Medellin is located, contains 17% of the country’s glamp-sites.
What makes glamping so great for families? Well, it provides the opportunity to get close to the region’s gorgeous natural environment, without requiring you to go without running water or electricity. Higher-end glamping sites even include amenities like jacuzzis, hot tubs, spa facilities, water sport activities, restaurants, and more. There are a ton of glamping accommodations near Medellin to fit all budgets, and big enough to include all of the kids! At the very least, you could expect a fun family outing in nature, the opportunity to feel pampered, and possibly one of the more memorable experiences of your trip for both you and the kids.
Hacienda Napoles
Located in Doradal, which is near Medellin, Hacienda Napoles was once the residence of Pablo Escobar. Since Escobar was once the world’s most powerful drug trafficker, he had plenty of money to deck out his favorite home – and that’s exactly what he did. Hacienda Napoles tours are a great option for families for many reasons. Visitors can still see evidence of his extravagance, such as part of his car collection and other memorabilia. There’s also a Jurassic Park exhibit, a savannah tour, an awesome water park (especially for those ages 2-17 and adults also!), a theme park/zoo that contains exotic animals like hippos. There are “lazy rivers” and a few hotels to choose from on the property!
If you book a guided tour of the property, you’ll get more background on Escobar’s life, the transformation of the property to help support the local area and create an awesome place for families to spend time together at a very reasonable price (and with excellent service). Of course, Medellin Tours provides transportation to and from Hacienda Napoles and can even arrange 2 or 3 day stars.
Viva Envigado
Viva Envigado is a Western-style mall is supposed to be the largest in Colombia, with almost 400 shops located within. They offer goods like clothing, home decorations, sporting goods, and footwear – and of course, a wide array of food stalls.
However, your kids probably won’t be interested in picking up some new sneakers. What they will love exploring, though, is the Happy City arcade center. This space has a ton of games and other fun activities for your kids to enjoy; there’s even a Ferris wheel that takes on new passengers all day long!
Barefoot Park
This park is located right in the middle of Medellin, and is designed to encourage visitors to take their shoes off. The space is completely barefoot-friendly, with smooth grass lots, Zen bamboo gardens, shallow pools with sandbars, and fountains where you can soak your feet or splash around. Barefoot Park is a regular hangout spot for many locals, and plenty of tourists spend time there as well. You’ll probably see other families enjoying a picnic, as well as business professionals, people walking their dogs, and more.
Cable cars to Parque Arvi
Most of the destinations you visit in and around Medellin will be a blast, but in this case, you can also have fun getting there as well. The city has a highly efficient cable car system, which can take you from the center to Parque Arvi. On the trip there, you’ll have unparalleled views of both the city and the park. The kids will have a blast looking out over the forests and animals, climbing the mountain. The cable cars are probably a couple hundred feet above the ground, so if you’re little ones are really scared of heights you might need to blindfold them or reconsider :)
We offer daily cable car tours to Parque Arvi and our guide can bring along all of the necessities for the kids as well!
After arriving, you and your family will be able to choose from several different activities. Mercado Arvi is a place where you can buy cakes, fresh fruit, coffee, handcrafted souvenirs, jewelry, and more. There are also hiking trails of various lengths and difficulties, picnic areas, bicycle and horseback riding, etc.
There are tons of options if you’re touring Medellin with kids
Even if some of the standard tourist activities aren’t suitable for families, there are just as many highlights that everyone will enjoy. Whether you’d prefer to stay in the city, or you want to experience the outdoors up close and personal, there’s something for everyone here.
