The Medellín Metrocable is the city's network of cable cars that link hillside neighbourhoods to the metro. The ride most visitors want is the Arví line: take the metro to Acevedo, Metrocable Line K to Santo Domingo, then Line L, about 15 minutes over forest, to Parque Arví. Plan on a half day, and check prices and hours before you go because they change.
In this guide (8)
- What is the Medellín Metrocable?
- How do you get to Parque Arví by Metrocable?
- How much does the Arví Metrocable cost?
- What are the Arví Metrocable hours?
- What is there to do at Parque Arví?
- Is the Metrocable safe for tourists?
- Which other Metrocable line is worth riding?
- Metrocable on your own or with a private guide?
What is the Medellín Metrocable?
The Metrocable is part of the Metro de Medellín system. Cable cars carry people up the steep hillsides where the metro cannot go, and they use the same stations and fare card as the trains. The first line, K, opened in 2004 and put Medellín on the map for urban transport design.
Today there are six lines. Five of them (J, K, H, M and P) are everyday commuter lines, and one, Line L, is built for tourism:
- Line K: Acevedo to Santo Domingo Savio, with a transfer to the metro at Acevedo.
- Line L: Santo Domingo Savio to Parque Arví, the tourist line.
- Line J: San Javier to La Aurora, starting at the metro station for Comuna 13.
- Line H: Oriente to Villa Sierra, connected to the tram.
- Line M: Miraflores to Trece de Noviembre, also connected to the tram.
- Line P: Acevedo to El Progreso, through Doce de Octubre.
For a first visit, Lines K and L are the ones to ride. Line J is the easy add-on if you are already in Comuna 13.
How do you get to Parque Arví by Metrocable?
You need three legs, and the whole trip takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours each way from El Poblado, depending on connections and queues.
- Take Metro Line A to Acevedo station (the northern end of the line is Niquía, so go toward Niquía).
- At Acevedo, follow the signs to Metrocable Line K and ride up to Santo Domingo Savio.
- At Santo Domingo, change to Line L, the Arví line, for the final ride to Parque Arví.
Line L has two stations and no stops between them, so there is nothing to miss. It runs for about 4.8 km. Sources give the ride time as 14 to 15 minutes. Sit by a window: the line crosses a deep green valley and you see the whole Aburrá Valley behind you on the climb.
How much does the Arví Metrocable cost?
Line L has its own tourist fare, separate from the normal metro price, so budget for it on top of the metro and Line K. In April 2025 the city listed about COP 24,500 for foreigners and general visitors using a Cívica card. Colombian residents with a personalised Cívica card paid about 20 percent less, and there are larger discounts for residents of the lower socioeconomic strata.
Fares change. Treat COP 25,000 as a planning number and confirm the current price on the Metro de Medellín site or at the ticket window. Entrance to Parque Arví itself is a separate matter, and some guided activities inside the park cost extra.
What are the Arví Metrocable hours?
The city's last published schedule listed Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The line closes one weekday for maintenance. In 2025 that moved from Monday to Tuesday, and the line also shuts for a few days each year for annual servicing. This year it closed from 19 to 24 September.
Because the closure day and the schedule can change, check the Metro de Medellín announcements the day before. Weekends and holidays are busy with local families, so a weekday morning is the calmest time.
What is there to do at Parque Arví?
Parque Arví is a protected forest park high above the city, on the edge of the municipality of Guarne. The air is cooler than in town, so bring a light jacket.
- Walk the marked forest trails, some on your own and some with a guide.
- Eat at the small food stalls near the station and take a coffee break.
- Look at the views of the valley from the cable car on the way back.
- Join a guided hike or workshop if one is running that day (ask at the park).
Most people spend two to three hours in the park and return the same way.
Is the Metrocable safe for tourists?
The Arví line is a tourist route with staff at both stations and plenty of other visitors, and the cable cars run on the same system as the metro. Use normal city habits: keep your phone in a pocket when you board, carry only what you need, and travel in daylight.
Lines K and L pass over working-class neighbourhoods. Respect people's homes and ask before you take photos of residents. If you want to walk the streets around Santo Domingo, do it with someone who knows the area, not alone.
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.Which other Metrocable line is worth riding?
Line J starts at San Javier station, the same stop you use for Comuna 13. It climbs for about 2.7 km over the hillside to La Aurora, and gives you a different look at the neighbourhoods around the escalators and murals. If you plan a Comuna 13 visit, adding a short ride on Line J costs little time.
Lines H, M and P work well for commuters but have fewer sights. Skip them on a short trip.
Metrocable on your own or with a private guide?
The Metro is easy to use and a good way to see how Medellín lives. A private guide helps when you are short on time, travelling with children, or want the history behind the neighbourhoods you pass. You skip the ticket queues, the transfers are explained, and you can fit the cable car into a wider day.
PH Tours offers private tours in English and Spanish with hotel pickup in Medellín. The city tour is the natural place to fit in a Metrocable ride, and the Comuna 13 tour covers the area around Line J.
Questions travellers ask
How long is the Metrocable ride to Parque Arví?
Line L takes about 15 minutes between Santo Domingo Savio and Parque Arví. The whole trip from El Poblado, including the metro and Line K, is usually 1 to 1.5 hours each way.
Do you pay extra for the Arví Metrocable?
Yes. Line L has its own tourist fare, listed at about COP 24,500 for foreigners in 2025. Check the current price before you go, as it changes.
Is the Metrocable open every day?
The Arví line runs most days, roughly 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (from 8:30 a.m. on Sundays), but it closes one weekday for maintenance and for a few days each year. Check the Metro de Medellín site before you travel.
Which Metrocable line goes to Comuna 13?
Line J starts at San Javier station, which is the metro stop for Comuna 13. The escalators and murals are a short transfer from there.
Can you use the Metrocable with the normal metro card?
Lines J, K, H, M and P use the metro's Cívica card and ticket system. Line L uses the same card but charges its own tourist fare.
