Top Tips For Getting Around in Medellin

TLDR? You can get around Medellin with taxis, rideshares, or public transportation.

From bilingual drivers with air-conditioned vehicles and bullet-proof Toyota Land Cruisers with armed security guards to hopping on a local bus with the rest of the city, this guide takes care of all your transport needs in Medellin.

Make sure you don’t miss a thing during your vacation in Medellin with a tailor-made guide to getting to and from your exclusive Casacol vacation rental.

From ride-hailing apps to bulletproof four-wheel-drive vehicles here’s some help getting around Medellin.

Hail a Ride with an App

One of the simplest ways to get around Medellin is right there on your phone.

The two most popular ride-hailing apps in the United States, Uber and Lyft, might not be as popular in Colombia but there are other alternatives that work just as well.

Some of the best apps to help get around in Medellin are InDriver, Didi, Beat, and Cabify. We recommend having them on your phone in case of an emergency.

Metro and Public Transport

Medellin has a great public transportation system and if you’re a social butterfly, let’s face it you’re far more likely to meet someone on a bus or metro than in a private vehicle.

The system is cheap, although it can be a little confusing getting yourself set up at first. You’ll need to get yourself a card from one of the principal stations. But, once you’ve done so, you have a fleet of trams, buses, cable cars, bikes, and a metro system at your disposal.

If you need help making sense of it all, download Moovit, which provides step-by-step guidance on how to get from A to B. And, it provides helpful notifications on when to get off the bus and what to do next. 

Car Rental

If you like to drive and feel like hitting the road on your vacation in Colombia, be warned. The country’s roads wind their way through the mountains. That can be an arduous task for even the most hardened of self-drive fanatics.

If you just love the convenience of having your own vehicle and enjoy putting the pedal to the metal, car rental in Colombia has come a long way in the last few years.

Previously very few people rented a car because it was so affordable to get someone to drive for them. Now, however there are plenty of self-drive options in Colombia.

All of the international brands are present in the international airport in Rionegro or the domestic terminal at Olaya Herrera. One of the best South American companies, Localiza, has a good presence in Colombia.

And, it has a conveniently located office in Parque Poblado. 

Web: Localiza

Address: Cra. 43b #9-33, Poblado, Medellin

Hire a Car with a Driver

If you’re heading out of town or are planning on taking multiple trips around the city during a busy day for whatever reason it’s still very affordable to get someone to drive for you so you can occupy yourself with other matters en route.

Hiring a private vehicle really isn’t as expensive as you might think in Colombia. It usually depends on the mileage you have in mind and the number of passengers.

A Private Vehicle with a Bilingual Guide

If you want your driver to come with a bilingual guide who can fill you in on Colombia’s fascinating history en route then you can’t beat hiring a certified guide with the answers to all your questions.

Scratching beneath the surface of Colombia’s complicated past with an expert on hand will not only elevate your stay in Colombia, but you’ll also be able to download some top tips on what to do on your trip.

For a top-quality experience, we recommend reaching out to Palenque Tours Colombia. They have a great team and the German owner is a stickler for punctuality as well as having one of the most sustainable travel companies in Medellin.

Web: Palenque Tours Colombia

IG: @PalenqueToursColombia

A Bullet Proof Vehicle with Armed Security

Medellin really doesn’t require armed guards unless you feel your profile puts you in a high-risk category.

If you, or your client, is a celebrity, or high-profile business executive and you’d like to ensure you have extra security provided by a local expert, Willy Security is a safe pair of hands. This company has most of the world’s biggest reggaeton stars on speed dial.

Whenever singers J Balvin or Daddy Yankee are in town the team provides the muscle and a fleet of bullet-proof Cadillac Escalades and Toyota Land Cruisers.

The staff also takes care of senior executives from Colombia’s most important companies when they are moving around Medellin on business.

With the most luxurious fleet of bulletproof vehicles in Medellin and fully bilingual security teams, Willy Security delivers peace of mind for those that need it.

IG: @WillySecurity

Helicopter and Private Plane Rental

If you or your client want to travel in style and don’t want to travel in coach, helicopters and most private jets can take off from the Olaya Herrera Airport in the center of town. They make for an altogether more stylish exit stage left.

Private jets and helicopters in Colombia can save a lot of logistical pain. And, they can simplify a trip to somewhere suitably remote.

Depending on the number of people traveling they don’t have to be exorbitantly expensive. There are some spectacular helicopter trips to be had in the region.

Both private jet and plane rental plus helicopter trips cab be organized relatively painlessly through Flapz.app. This is a startup that’s revolutionizing private jet travel in Colombia, Chile, and Mexico.

Web: Flapz.app

IG: @Flapz.app

Getting Around in Medellin is A Piece of Cake

Even though getting around in Medellin can seem intimidating at first glance, it’s actually pretty easy. Regardless of whether you’ll be jet-setting in a private plane or riding the bus, there’s a way to get from A to B easily.

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