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La Piedra del Peñol rising above the Guatapé reservoir

Day trips from Medellín

Private days out to Guatapé and El Peñol, Jardín, coffee farms and waterfalls, with a local guide and pickup at your hotel.

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PH Tours Medellín:
  • Private: only your group
  • Hotel or Airbnb pickup in Medellín
  • English or Spanish
  • 5.0 on Google
  • 5.0 on Tripadvisor
  • Local guide Felipe (“Pipe”)
  • Plan it on WhatsApp

One day, one place
Done properly

Colourful zócalo houses on a cobbled street in Guatapé at dusk

Private day trips with a local guide

Medellín sits in a valley with mountains, lakes, small colonial towns and farms within a few hours' drive. Which trip is best depends on how much time you want to spend in the car, and what you like to do.

PH Tours Medellín runs private trips in English and Spanish, led by local guide Felipe (“Pipe”). You get pickup at your hotel or Airbnb, a comfortable vehicle and your own schedule. Tell us your dates and how many days you have, and we will help you choose the trip that fits.

Plan it on WhatsApp

Coffee plants with ripe red cherries on a farm near Medellín

Choose your day trip

Guatapé & El Peñol
About 2 hours from Medellín
La Piedra del Peñol rising above the Guatapé reservoir
Jardín
About 3 to 3.5 hours from Medellín
Cathedral towers and colourful balconied houses on the main square of Jardín, Antioquia
Hacienda Nápoles
About 4 to 5 hours from Medellín
Hippo with its mouth open in the water at Hacienda Nápoles
Coffee farm
Just 30 minutes from El Poblado
Coffee plants with ripe red cherries on a farm near Medellín
Cisneros: railway & waterfalls
About 1.5 hours from Medellín
Red wooden railway station of Cisneros, Antioquia
Salto del Buey
About 2 hours 15 minutes from Medellín
Salto del Buey waterfall dropping into a green canyon, Antioquia

Closer to town,

just as memorable

Short on time? These private trips start and finish the same day, right next to the city.

  • ATV tour
    Off-road ATV driving along a muddy forest trail

    ATV tour

    ATV tour near Medellín on rural trails with safety gear. Beginners welcome, private for your group.

    View the tour Plan it on WhatsApp
  • Comuna 13
    Large street mural beside the outdoor escalators in Comuna 13, Medellín

    Comuna 13

    A private Comuna 13 tour: street art, outdoor escalators and the real history of the barrio, with pickup at your hotel in Medellín.

    View the tour Plan it on WhatsApp
  • Medellín city tour
    Botero sculpture in front of the black-and-white Palacio de la Cultura, Plaza Botero

    Medellín city tour

    A private Medellín city tour: Plaza Botero, the Metro, Pueblito Paisa and local stories, with hotel pickup, a comfortable vehicle and your own guide.

    View the tour Plan it on WhatsApp

How to choose your day trip

Match the trip to the traveller, not only to the photos you have seen. One good place with time to enjoy it beats two quick visits. Avoid combining two far-apart places in one day.

  • First visit and one free day: Guatapé and El Peñol
  • Travelling with young children: a coffee farm or Guatapé
  • History fans: Hacienda Nápoles
  • Hikers and photographers: waterfalls, or Jardín if you can give it two days
  • Short on time: a coffee farm

Drive times are approximate and change with traffic, weekends and holidays, so add margin.

Read the full guide: best day trips from Medellín

Colourful zócalo houses on a cobbled street in Guatapé at dusk
Cathedral towers and colourful balconied houses on the main square of Jardín, Antioquia
Coffee plants with ripe red cherries on a farm near Medellín
Red wooden railway station of Cisneros, Antioquia
Hippo with its mouth open in the water at Hacienda Nápoles
Salto del Buey waterfall dropping into a green canyon, Antioquia

What guests say

5.0 Google5.0 Tripadvisor
“Amazing tour with Felipe. He is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Medellín and he makes the tours fun with his humour. Transportation was very comfortable and he suggested some great places to eat while we were sightseeing.”
Google review
“Felipe was excellent! The Tahoe was comfortable and perfect for our party of 5. Felipe was a great guide; knowledgeable and encouraging. He was patient with the kids. I highly recommend and we will do this again next time we are in Colombia.”
Google review
“We took a tour with PH Tours to Guatapé in early February, we were two families with 4 young kids. Felipe was extremely knowledgeable, laid back, patient and kind. We had a blast on this tour and highly recommend it to anyone looking to travel to Medellín.”
Google review
“PH Tours Medellín made my time in Colombia unforgettable. He was extremely knowledgeable as he took us through Comuna 13, Guatapé, Medellín, and several other places around Colombia.”
Google review
“Andre was fantastic. From the start, Andre was very communicative and prompt. He greeted us warmly, made us feel immediately comfortable, and our whole family felt safe in his care.”
Google review
“Antonio and his family at the coffee farm were so wonderful when we visited. We stayed at the farm for 6+ hours because we were having such an amazing time.”
Google review
“THE BEST TOUR in Medellín!!! Our tour guide, Felipe, was energetic and informative of the history of Guatapé. Do not hesitate to book with PH Tours, you will not be disappointed!”
Google review
“We did a full day tour in Guatapé and also wakeboard in the lake, unforgettable experience that you cannot miss!”
Google review

Frequently asked questions

What is the best day trip from Medellín?

Guatapé and El Peñol is the most popular, about 2 hours away. It combines a colourful town, a lake and a big view in one day.

How far is Guatapé from Medellín?

About 2 hours by road, depending on traffic.

Can you visit Jardín from Medellín in one day?

Yes, but it takes around 3 to 3.5 hours each way, so it is a long day. Leave early or stay one night.

What day trips from Medellín are good with kids?

Guatapé, a coffee farm and Santa Fe de Antioquia have short or gentle activities. Hacienda Nápoles has a water park but a long drive.

Are day trips from Medellín safe?

Popular routes like Guatapé and Santa Fe de Antioquia are well travelled. Go in daylight, avoid night driving on mountain roads and use a trusted driver.

Cathedral towers and colourful balconied houses on the main square of Jardín, Antioquia

Ready for your day trip?

Tell us your dates and how many days you have, and we will help you choose.

Plan it on WhatsApp

Moments from

our tours

@ph.toursmedellin