How To Visit Parque Arvi Medellin – Day Trip to Parque Arvi

Parque Arvi is a nature preserve covering more than 39.5 acres located just outside Medellin. It is easily reachable as a great option for a day trip from Medellin and as the park is located on a plateau between 2,200 and 2,600 meters above sea level it’s a great cool place to hike. There are villages here within the Parque Arvi reserve, an ecological reserve, natural forests, and more than 54 kilometers (33 miles) of walking trails. As Arvi Park is connected to the Medellin metro system, it’s easy to visit Parque Arvi Medellin for a day or longer.

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Why visit Parque Arvi

The climate of Medellin is superb.  European spring-like temperatures mean that it’s a pleasant environment, as the city is located at 1500 meters above sea level.  However, it’s an enormous city and when you want to escape and spend time in nature, Parque Arvi is a great option.

It is free to visit Parque Arvi – aside from your travel costs – so when you’re looking for a change of scene from Medellin, hop on the metro system (there are full details later in this article on how to get to Parque Arvi), bring a picnic and spend the day in the park.

When to Visit Parque Arvi

The park is open every day apart from Monday unless Monday is a public holiday and then the park is open.  We also recommend avoiding Saturdays and Sundays – i.e. weekends, for a quieter time! Be sure, before you visit Parque Arvi, that your travel insurance covers you at this altitude. Read our guide here for more details.

Parque Arvi Maps

There are maps of Parque Arvi available at the ticket desk, they are free.  They’re not great, but here’s a copy of them below.

What to do in Parque Arvi

The area of Parque Arvi is enormous and while you can come here to just spend time at a higher altitude and to experience the metro cable route, which is stunning in itself, you’ll want to plan what you’ll spend your time on.  Here are our recommendations on what to do in Parque Arvi Medellin.

Explore Parque Arvi

Most visitors to Parque Arvi come to explore the higher altitudes, escape from the city, and to have a walk in a natural environment.  And that’s exactly what we did.   When we traveled to Parque Arvi and Medellin, the trails were only open to guided hikes, so we spent our time exploring the roads, the market, and the cultural center and enjoying the relative peace and quiet from Medellin.

Bring a picnic, spend a little time up here, or take one of the organized and guided tours of Parque Arvi and you’ll learn a whole lot more about the park and the flora and fauna of the area.  There’s a lot to do up here!

Visit the Parque Arvi Market

Located at the entrance/exit to the cable car, this market is specifically to highlight regional craft people and farmers.  You’ll find artisanal foods, drinks, and handicrafts.  Anything you buy here will be directly helping the rural communities that live and work here in the Parque Arvi area.

Hiking in Parque Arvi

There are a host of trails that you can hike in Parque Arvi – and you can check out the individual trails here.  – note that while we visited Arvi, all the trails were only accessible with a guided tour. You do NOT need to prebook at the time of writing (Feb 2024) – and you can read more details about the guided hikes here.

Guided tours cost COP$50,000 for foreigners, (prices February 2024) and can be booked from the ticket office as you arrive off the cable car.   Most, the guided tours of Parque Arvi are conducted only in Spanish.

If you’d like to take a guided tour of Parque Arvi and would like it to be in English, then we recommend the following tours:

• Six-hour private Parque Arvi Tour from Medellin with English Speaking Guide
• Scooter Tour of Parque Arvi and Horseback Riding 

Night Hiking in Parque Arvi

Night hiking tours of Arvi include transport to and from Medellin to Santa Elena, where the tours start.  You’ll get hot drinks and water, and understand the fauna and flora of the area.  Your guides will share with you stories and legends of the park and you’ll also get refreshments and marshmallows to roast on the campfire.  Two glasses of wine are also included as well as a guide and interpreter.  Ask at the ticket counter. You can also book tickets for Nights in Parque Arvi directly with the park.

Go Biking in Parque Arvi

You can rent bicycles in the park and cycle around Parque Arvi – there are plenty of reasonable roads here.  If you bring your own bike, then be aware that you’re only allowed to take bikes on the Medellin metro lines A and B from 2000 – 2300 from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 1600 to 2300.

Park management provides guided bike tours on one of the trails through the park as well as on the road. Tours last from 2-3 hours, and you can decide to just rent a bike yourself and explore yourself, or take a tourist guide with you.  You can book your bikes and tours online directly with Arvi Tourism.

Go Bird Watching in Parque Arvi

There are 70 species of birds to be found in Parque Arvi, including the Arvi bird that the park is named after. You can organize a specific bird-watching trip with the management of Parque Arvi – it includes your transport from Medellin and a return.  

Where is Parque Arvi Medellin?

Parque Arvi is located in the region of Santa Elena, a rural community above Medellin.

How to get to Parque Arvi

The easiest way to get to Parque Arvi is to take the Medellin metro system.  This is also the cheapest way to go to Parque Arvi.  From Poblado metro station it will take you around an hour to get to Parque Arvi.

Of course, you can take a taxi from Medellin to Parque Arvi – the length of time it takes and the cost will depend on where you are traveling from in Medellin.  Ask at your hostel or hotel if this is the option you want to take.  We do NOT recommend taking a taxi to Parque Arvi from Medellin as you’ll miss out on the superb views from the cable car systems that the Medellin Metro offers you.

How to take the metro to Parque Arvi

For full details on how to use the metro in Medellin and how to buy tickets – read our post here.

First, take the metro to Acevedo station (A line)

From wherever you start your metro journey in Medellin you need to arrive at the Acevedo metro station.  This is on the A line of the Medellin metro.

At Acevedo transfer to the K-Line Metrocable line to Santo Domingo

From Acevedo, you need to go upstairs and keep right to transfer to the K line metro cable car to Santo Domingo station.  Be sure to follow the transfer area, as this means that you will get your travel all the way to Santo Domingo for the single ticket fare.

At Santo Domingo transfer to the L Line to Parque Arvi

You need to buy a ticket for the L Line.  The ticket from Santo Domingo to Parque Arvi costs 13,700 pesos per person each way. (February 2024 prices)   This cable car ride to Parque Arvi from Santo Domingo takes about 20  minutes.  Even if you don’t spend much time in the Park it is worth taking this cable car trip (if the weather is clear), as the views are quite stunning.

The line from Santo Domingo to Parque Arvi is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 0900 until 1800.  On Sundays and public holidays, the line is open from 0830 to 1800.  The cable car to Arvi Park is closed on Mondays as the park is closed on Mondays.

How to Return from Parque Arvi – what to know

Check the last car time as you arrive at the Parque Arvi cable car station.  Usually, the cable car closes at 1800, and you will want to arrive there by 1730, as there are usually lines to leave the park.  If you arrive after this time you will need to take a bus to return to Medellin.

What to Wear to Parque Arvi

Parque Arvi is located at a higher altitude than Medellin – you will be spending time at between 2200 and 2600 meters above sea level.  Parque Arvi is typically colder than Medellin, so bring layers.  There’s also the potential for a little more rain here than in Medellin.

We recommend bringing the following to Parque Arvi

• Wear walking shoes/sneakers
• Layers – including bringing a warmer layer
• Sun cream
• Sunglasses
• A sunhat
• Check the forecast to see if you need a waterproof jacket
• Cash – the ATM here (Bancolombia) is notoriously unreliable
• Water/snacks – although of course there are vendors and Tiendas here to replenish your supplies.

Parque Arvi FAQs

Here are our reader’s most frequently asked questions about Parque Arvi Medellin – if you have a question that we haven’t answered in this article then please drop us an email or post your question in the comments and we’ll answer it for you here.

What are the opening hours of Parque Arvi?

Parque Arvi is usually closed on Mondays.   If Monday is a public holiday then the park is open but closed on the Tuesday of that week.

How much does it cost to visit Parque Arvi?

Parque Arvi is free to enter.  If you choose to take the Medellin Metro cable system to Parque Arvi, then the cost of transport is your standard metro ticket (2,355 pesos), plus 10,000 pesos each way on the Santo Domingo to Parque Arvi cable car.  You can book guided hikes, bike riding, horse riding, and other activities in Parque Arvi, and these all have a cost attached to them.

How do I get to Parque Arvi?

The easiest way to get to Parque Arvi is to take the Medellin Metro and cablecar system – there are details included above in this article.

How long does it take to get to Parque Arvi?

It depends on where you travel from in Medellin.  From Poblado metro station it will take about 60 minutes.  The cable car from Santo Domingo to Parque Arvi takes about 20 minutes.

How long to spend in Parque Arvi?

We recommend Parque Arvi as a day trip from Medellin, but the length of time you spend here in Parque Arvi will depend on the activities that you want to undertake.

Is there an ATM in Parque Arvi?

Yes.  There’s an ATM near the metro cable station, but it is notoriously unreliable.  We recommend taking cash out from Medellin.  Read our full guide to ATMs in Colombia here.

Is there anywhere to buy food and drink in Parque Arvi?

Yes.  There are cafes and restaurants in Parque Arvi.

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Where to Stay in Medellin, Colombia

The two key areas of the city of Medellin that are best to stay in for first-timers are El Poblado and Laureles.  You’ll find a good selection of accommodation in both these areas of Medellin, plus all the infrastructure you’ll need to visit Medellin.

Where to Stay in El Poblado, Medellin

There are a host of places to stay in El Poblado, Medellin – here’s our pick of the luxury places to stay in El Poblado, Medellin, mid-range places to stay in El Poblado, Medellin, and budget accommodation in El Poblado, Medellin.

Hotel York Luxury Suites, Medellin–El Poblado: The Hotel York Luxury Suites in El Poblado units include cable TV, a kitchenette, a private bathroom with a shower, air-conditioning, and a coffee machine. This top hotel in Poblado, Medellin also has an outdoor pool, a bar, a shared lounge, and free WiFi. There’s also a restaurant and a fitness center at this fabulously luxurious hotel in El Poblado, Medellin. Read more reviews and check room rates and availability for the Hotel York in Medellin here.

Lettera Hotel, Medellin–El Poblado: The Lettera Hotel in Poblado provides accommodation with air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom with a shower and hairdryer, an iron, a safety deposit box, a balcony in some rooms, an iron, a mini-bar, and a desk. This mid-range hotel in El Poblado, Medellin also offers continental breakfast, airport transfers, and free WiFi. There’s also a garden and a terrace here. Check room rates and availability for the Lettera Hotel in Medellin here.

574 Hotel, Medellin–El Poblado: The 547 Hotel is in a great location in El Poblado and this budget Medellin hotel has rooms that are spacious with a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, air-conditioning, a mini-bar, bed linen and towels, and balcony in some units. The budget Medellin hotel also offers continental breakfast and there’s free WiFi. This affordable hotel also offers laundry services and this is a great budget hotel option in El Poblado. Read more reviews and check room rates here.

Where to Stay in Laureles

There are a host of places to stay in Laureles – here’s our pick of the luxury places to stay in Laureles, mid-range places to stay in Laureles, and budget accommodation in Laureles.

Inntu Hotel, Laureles, Medellin: The Inntu Hotel is centrally located in the Laureles area of Medellin and rooms here have their own private bathrooms with hairdryer, air-conditioning, sound-proofed rooms, a desk, and a flat-screen TV. This great Laureles hotel also offers laundry, dry-cleaning, and ironing services, and an on-site coffee house and restaurants for dining options. The Inntu Hotel in Laureles, Medellin, has spa facilities offering massages, spa treatments, and other wellness packages. There are great scenic views at this top Medellin hotel from both the sun terrace and garden area. The Inntu Hotel is a great luxury hotel in Laureles. See room rates and availability for the Inntu hotel here.

Hotel Laureles Plaza, Laureles, Medellin: The Hotel Laureles Plaza is in a great location in the Laureles district of Medellin–Laureles. The rooms here at Medellin’s Hotel Laureles Plaza have their own flat-screen TV, private bathroom, air-conditioning, a hot tub in some units, and a wardrobe. This mid-range Medellin hotel also serves continental or a la carte breakfast in the morning, and has an airport transfer service, family rooms, a bar, and free WiFi. The Hotel Laureles Plaza is a great hotel option in Laureles. Check out rates and availability of Hotel Laureles Plaza here.

Hotel Torre Primavera, Laureles, Medellin:  The Hotel Torre Primavera is located at Calle 40 in Laureles, Medellin and is a great budget option in Laureles. The units here at the Hotel Torre Primavera include a TV, a private bathroom with hot water, maid service, and free WiFi access. If you are looking for budget-friendly accommodation, Hotel Torre Primavera is a good option when visiting Medellin. Find out more about Medellin’s Hotel Torre Primavera’s room rates and availability here.

Travel Tips for Exploring Colombia

• Read our guide to travel insurance for Colombia
• Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.
• Our Colombia Travel check list is here
• Get online immediately in Colombia with an eSIM
• Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Colombia > discount coupon here
• Arriving by air? Book your airport transfer with Welcome Pickups.
• Make sure you have the right travel adapter for Colombia
• Book the best Colombia tours and guides on GetYourGuide and Civitatis
• Read about ATM fees in Colombia
• Save money in Colombia with a Wise debit card
• Book Buses in Colombia with Bookaway
• Book accommodation in Colombia with Booking.com

Where Else to Go as a Day Trip from Medellin

While there are many things to do and places to explore in Medellin, it’s also a great place to base yourself to spend time in the surrounding area.  Full details of our recommended Medellin day trips are here – including how to get to Guatape – the number 1 day trip from Medellin – and how to visit the stunning community of Comuna 13, as well as how to explore Medellin and its surrounds using the fabulous Medellin metro system.

Final Words on Exploring Parque Arvi, Medellin

Heading up to the cooler climate of Parque Arvi is a fabulous way to see a completely different side of Medellin. This is a great place to go for a hike, to experience a little nature, and to take a tour with a local. It’s a great way to spend a day and you can access it all on Medellin’s fabulous public transport system.

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