Walking around downtown areas of Medellin, you will find plenty of gardens and parks in the middle of apartment buildings and busy streets. So, it should come as no surprise that this valley city designated a huge area as its own natural park. We are talking about over 16,000 hectares (approximately 39,536 acres) of forest!
Getting there requires a bit of effort, but what awaits you over the mountain is worth every bit of it. Even if you are not so into nature and hiking, you can still enjoy Parque Arvi. Keep reading to find out what this park has to offer!
Trails for walking, hiking, and cycling
There are many ways you can explore Parque Arvi at your own pace. This huge park offers many trails for different levels of skills. Most people come here to stroll around with friends and family, and even their dogs!
Most trails are easy to follow. The main trail will take you up the hill to a huge lake area where you can see birds flying around. On foot, this will take around 1-2 hours there and back, depending on your walking pace. However, you can get around faster on a bike. Let’s find out how next!
Rent a bike and a personal guide
The best way (and a more fun way) to explore Parque Arvi is by riding a bike. The park offers a bike rental service at the ticket booth. You can join a guided group bike tour which starts every hour, free of charge! The tour will take around one hour as you follow a local guide on a bike. The first tour usually starts at 11 am and the last one at 4 pm. However, the schedule may change due to weather conditions. So, please check on their website prior to your visit.
Keep in mind that this tour is rather short and you have to keep up with the group. You are also required to have intermediate bike riding skills to join. If this is not your cup of tea, there is a better option: Arvi by Bike. This is a new program the park offers for those who want a more personalized bike tour around the park. A personal guide and a mechanic will be with you and your group (there is a minimum two person requirement), and the tour will go at your comfortable pace! A hot beverage and snacks are waiting for you at the cafe after (or you can choose to have them before) your tour, which is included in the tour package! Online reservation is recommended on the official website (link below).
Arvi by Bike
Hours: 11 am (whenever Parque Arvi is open)
Duration: 1.5 - 2 hours
Price: 30.000 COP (around 8.8 USD) per person
Website: Arvi by Bike
The highlight of Parque Arvi
This park is located in the northeast part of Medellin, on the mountain. At one of the viewpoints in Parque Arvi, you can see the whole valley city of Medellin. This is a breathtaking view you should not miss during your visit.
If you’re on a guided tour, your guide will likely take you through a narrow walking trail off-road to get to one of the best viewpoints. It is highly suggested to find the viewpoints with your guide or with your tour group, considering how vast this park is and it is rather easy to get lost. However, as long as you stay on the main trail, this will not be an issue.
Challenge yourself for this beautiful reward on top!
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Explore the local market
Right next to the ticket booth, you will see kiosks selling food, drinks, and even souvenirs. These are run by local vendors and the produce sold are locally grown. Grab yourself a fresh strawberry juice and some empanadas to enjoy before or after your bike tour. You can also buy some for a picnic at one of the viewpoints! Remember to collect your garbage after to keep the park clean!
Fill up your tank with local specialties at Parque Arvi’s restaurants
Many locals come here on Sundays with their family just to have a picnic or enjoy meals at the highest point of Medellin. It is not just the view and ambiance that Parque Arvi offers, but also great food! There are plenty of food options within Parque Arvi. The restaurant complex is located next to the start of the main biking trail.
In our article about Menu del Dia, we mentioned one of the restaurants in Parque Arvi, Cable a Tierra. They serve fresh Colombian dishes and vegetarian options are also available. Enjoy your food while overlooking treetops and surrounded by nature!
Cable a Tierra
Address: Parque Arvi, Antioquia, Colombia
Price: For one full set of Menu del Dia is 23,000 COP (6.7 USD)
Where is Parque Arvi?
Now that you know what to expect at Parque Arvi, you must be wondering where exactly is it? This big park is technically located in Via a Piedras Blancas of Medellin, Colombia, but it covers many areas of Antioquia. It is regarded as a pre-Hispanic archeological site, therefore holding an important role in Colombian history as well.
The park is open every day except Monday at 9 am and closes at 6 pm, just before sundown. However, if you are interested in camping here overnight, you can arrange it with the park management at the ticket booth.
Parque Arvi
Address: Via a Piedras Blancas, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
Hours: 9 am - 6 pm (Tuesday - Sunday, closed on Mondays)
Contact: +57 4 4442979
Website: Parque Arvi
Getting to Parque Arvi
Before visiting Medellin, you should know that using the metro is the best way to get around in this city. From where you are staying in Medellin, chances are you can get to the closest Metro station on a bus or even on foot. Bus fares range from 1,000 COP to 2,500 COP (around 0.3 USD - 0.7 USD). Since you have to pay before you get on the bus, always be ready with the exact change to make your journey easier.
Once you get to the metro station, check the metro map and find a way to connect to Line A (Niquia - La Estrella) toward Niquia. On Line A, stop at Acevedo to continue to Line K (Acevedo - Santo Domingo) and go all the way to the end of the line. From here, there is only one line left, Line L, the cable car that will take you straight through Parque Arvi. This cable car ride itself is enjoyable with a breathtaking view of Medellin from above.
You will only need to pay 2,500 COP (0.7 US) for the whole metro ride (except for the cable car to Arvi which costs 10,000 COP or 2.8 USD) as long as you don’t exit the metro station.
Medellin Metro
Website: Metro de Medellin
Enjoy nature in your own way
Whether it is for a picnic, a casual stroll in the woods or a challenging bike ride around the trail, Parque Arvi is definitely worth a visit. Avoid the rainy season (which is around September - December) to enjoy the park to the fullest!
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