Botero Plaza Hotel

Guatapé

by mircaskirca

Guatapé is a pretty lakeside town with brightly coloured colonial houses and a pleasant plaza with a white and red parish church Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen. A quiet town during the week, Guatapé receives more visitors at weekend when it is sometimes packed with Colombian tourists, especially from Medellín. A pleasant promenade along the lake shore fills up with boats that can take you out onto the lake. There is also a canopy across a section of the lake. Several restaurants and small hotels along the lake are available to tourists.

Guatapé is also known for its zócalos, the brightly painted boards along the façade's lower walls that adorn many of the houses. The residents decorated them with intricate sculptures, tied to the family and believes. Calle de los Recuerdos has the best examples of these fascinating public works of art.

There are hourly buses from Medellín to Guatapé. I stopped at El Peñon de Guatapé first. From there you can take a mini chiva to the town. They leave when there are enough people unless you are prepared to pay the price for the whole chiva. Since there were no other passengers I walked to the main road. It did not take long until a beautifully restored oldtimer jeep stopped and drove me to the town.

Horse riding

by JuanGaitan

There are some big farms where you can get a horse for 3, 4 or the time that you want.
YOu can ride a horse through great lakes, mountains and rivers in a completely safe and relaxing environmental.

Parque Explora

by mircaskirca

Open in December 2007, Parque Explora is a large complex (25.000 square meters) with various science museums and displays and the biggest freshwater aquarium in South America. The place is educational and fun. Young visitors can learn about science and technology through interactive experience. Themes include physics, biology, technology, media and geography. They can learn about robotics, make their own snapshot videos and take infrared photos. The interactive display on geography includes an earthquake stimulator and they can watch how a tornado is made.

The aquarium is fascinating and contains the most representative species that inhabit fresh waters in Colombia as well as marine life with all colours of fish, corals and sea anemones. There are displays and information about waterways and ecosystems in Colombia and South America.

Parque Explora is open Tue-Fri 8:30am-6:00pm, Sat & Sun 8:30am-6:30pm (closed Monday). There is so much to do and see that you should allow several hours here. The entry fee depends on how many activities you want to do. Staff are very helpful with the explanations and audio guides are available in Spanish and English.

City Of Eternal Spring

by La_negra

"About Me"

Born and raised in Medellin, I left eight years ago to live in the states, now that I've returned to my beloved hometown, I've made it my mission to learn as much as I can about it, so I can show anyone who's interested, the innate beauty of this valley.

I will sacrifice for all of you and find every possible way to have fun in this town, so keep coming back for my thoughts on bars, restaurants, activities and anything that I can think of.

Until my next post, I bid you farewell, and thank you for loving Medellin as much as I do.