Hostels in MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA

City Medellin in Colombia- A Magnificent Holiday Spot

Medellín is Colombia’s second largest city and capital of Antioquia Department. Located in Aburrá Valley, northern Andes, it was founded by Francisco Herrera Y Campuzano and named Poblado de San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence Town). It nestles amid the Aburra Valley and is intersected at the point where the Medellin River runs north and south. It is home to a large variety of parks, orchids and tropical birds.

History
In the 1540s, the Spaniards arrived in the Aburrá Valley, though Medellín was founded much later in 1616. The southern part of this city presently known as El Poblado had already begun development. The early settlers here were Spanish Jews who escaped from the Inquisition. They divided the land into small ranches (haciendas) and farmed the land.

They strove to be self-reliant, without focusing on money or tying up with neighboring traders. This made them known as hard working and fiercely independent people.

In 1826, Medellín was made the capital of the Department but was not at the forefront of progress. This city showed first signs of development in the early part of the 20th century when the railroad was developed, leading to a boom in coffee production, which completely transformed the city. In time, the textile business also boomed and today, Medellín is a big and bustling city.

In the 1980s, the city sunk into being the world capital city of the cocaine business under its violent leader Pablo Escobar. Violence and homicide were rampant until his death in 1993, and today Medellín is a safe city.

Popular Places and Monuments
People enjoy themselves at the Fería de las Flores and the Desfile de Silleteros, the two major festivals of flowers. Listen to a combination of Rock, Salsa, Cross Over, Vallenato and Bolero music. People love to go to the two fairs—Colombiamoda and Colombiatex.

A must-see in Medellin is the Pueblito Paisa, a replica of a typical village of Antioquiana, replete with its handicraft shops. At the Plaza Botero, see a number of sculptor Fernando Botero’s works.

This city is also a hub of fabric production, so you can buy good quality fabric from a whole line of cloth stores at reasonable prices. Modest boutiques are cheek by jowl with large plush shops.

Getting Around
It’s easy to travel around in Medellin thanks to the metro, buses and taxis which make city travel quick and easy. Car rentals for the day are common. Taxi drivers are bilingual, so ask them for directions to guide you round the city.

Places of Entertainment
There are over 325 restaurants in Medellin to choose from. However, Colombian cuisine is both regional and varied. It’s typical dishes include sancocho de gallina (chicken soup), arepas de choclo (fresh corn tortillas) and empanadas. Rich Colombian coffee and delicious fruit such as lulo, zapote, guanábana and mamoncillo are must-haves.

Dining options are El Blu, Republica, Mangos, Universal and Palmaia. Parque Lleras is the hub of upmarket restaurants and bars.

Accommodation Options
Medellin offers a range of accommodation—right from bed and breakfast, guest houses, youth hostels and budget hotels to up market hotels. 

Currency
The currency of Medellin is the peso. For more updated news on this, refer to the newspapers or go online.

Group accommodation in Medellín | Cheap hostels & budget hotels