Hacienda Nápoles: Tickets, How to Get There and What to Do

What is Hacienda Nápoles?

Hacienda Nápoles was the ranch of Pablo Escobar, built in the Magdalena Medio region, with an airstrip, a private zoo and large grounds. After he died and the state seized the property, it became a public park. It now operates as a theme park, and the land belongs to the Colombian state, run under a concession.

The grounds now hold water parks, rides, wildlife sanctuaries and museums. The site is also where Escobar's hippos came from, which is why the hippos are still the best-known part of the story, and why the park is a mix of fun and heavy history.

How much do tickets to Hacienda Nápoles cost?

Entry is by passport. Prices below are from a 2025 article and the park says prices vary by season and passport, so check the official site, haciendanapoles.com, before you book. Buy only on the official site, as the park warns about fake sellers.

• Básico: about COP 89,000 for adults and COP 75,000 for children. Park access and animal areas.
• Safari: about COP 139,000 for adults and COP 111,000 for children.
• Premium: about COP 199,000 for adults and COP 163,000 for children. Adds the water attractions and lets you enter on three consecutive days.
• Parking: about COP 28,000 for a car and COP 16,000 for a motorbike in 2025.

Food inside is not included, so budget for lunch. Premium and Safari adult passports include free vehicle entry if you stay in the park's hotels.

How do you get from Medellín to Hacienda Nápoles?

The park is at kilometre 165 of the Medellín to Bogotá highway, in Puerto Triunfo (the area of Doradal). By car it takes 4 to 5 hours from Medellín, depending on traffic, roadworks and weather. Puerto Triunfo, the nearest town, is about 10 minutes away.

• Private car or tour: the simplest. You leave early, drive about 4 to 5 hours, spend the day, and return at night.
• Public bus: buses toward Bogotá and the Magdalena Medio leave from Medellín's bus terminals and stop at Doradal and Puerto Triunfo. You then need a local transfer to the entrance. Check times and plan for a late return.
• Group tour: some operators run day tours from the city. Compare what is included.

What can you do at Hacienda Nápoles?

The park is large. These are the main areas listed on the official site.

• Parque Congo: more than 20 rides, including the tallest free-fall tower in Colombia.
• Water attractions: waterfalls, slides, pools and rivers, including the Pangea and Aventura Acuática areas.
• Aventura Jurásica: life-size dinosaur figures.
• Wildlife sanctuaries: more than 1,000 hectares of forest and lakes with rescued animals, and the hippo area.
• Museums: African cultures and a memorial museum about the violence of the drug trade.

You cannot do everything in one day. Choose between the rides, the water area and the animals, and head first to what matters most to your group.

What are the opening hours?

In high season the park opens every day. In low season it opens Wednesday to Sunday and on Monday holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closes on non-holiday Mondays and Tuesdays for maintenance. The ticket office opens at 8:00 a.m. Check the calendar on the official site before you plan, as seasons and hours change.

Arrive at opening time. The drive from Medellín means you cannot start at 9 a.m. unless you leave at about 4 a.m., which is why many visitors stay the night.

What happened to Escobar's hippos?

Escobar's private zoo included hippos from Africa. After the hacienda was abandoned, the hippos escaped and bred in the Magdalena River basin. Colombia declared them an invasive species in 2022. Authorities have sterilised some and are looking at other controls. Estimates put the free population well over 100 animals.

At the park you see hippos in a controlled area. Do not approach hippos anywhere in the wild. They are dangerous.

Is Hacienda Nápoles worth it?

It is worth it if you want a full day out of the city with children, or if you are interested in Escobar's story and the hippos. It is less worth it if your time in Medellín is short, because the drive takes most of the day.

If you mostly want Escobar history, a city-based Pablo Escobar tour covers the key places in Medellín in a few hours, with no long drive. Many travellers do both over a longer stay.

What should you bring and know before you go?

• Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes if you plan to use the water areas. It is much hotter in the lowlands than in Medellín.
• Sun protection, a hat and plenty of water.
• Cash and a card, as prices inside the park are higher than outside.
• Comfortable shoes, because the sanctuaries involve a lot of walking.
• Your passport QR or confirmation, saved on your phone in case of weak signal.

Because the hacienda is in a low, hot area, plan your outdoor time for the morning, and keep the rides and the pools for the afternoon.

Should you go with a private tour?

With a drive of this length, a private vehicle matters. You are picked up at your hotel, travel in comfort, and decide when to stop for breakfast and when to head back. For families with children, that control is the main benefit.

PH Tours runs the Hacienda Nápoles tour as a private trip from Medellín, in English and Spanish, and also offers a Pablo Escobar tour in the city. Ask us on WhatsApp which one fits your time.