Getting Outdoors in Cerro El Volador in Medellin

TLDR? Cerro el Volador is a green oasis in the heart of Medellin.

Although Medellin is famous for bars and nightlife, there’s a lot more to the city than just that. Medellin also has beautiful hikes, lots of greenery, and is full of places for you to enjoy some nature. 

The Cerro El Volador is one of those green places, and is a pretty popular place within the city. 

If you haven’t already checked it out, you should! Here’s a quick guide to Cerro El Volador and what to expect there!

What Is Cerro El Volador?

The Cerro el Volador is the biggest urban park in the city. The name literally translates to “the flyer hill”, and when you arrive, you can easily see why. 

The hill gets strong winds that blow in from the north of the Aburrá Valley, which is perfect for playing with gliders, kites, and other fun airborne toys. Plus, from the top of the hill, you will be able to see the 360º view of Medellin

Spanning a whopping 262 acres, this park is a great place to go bird watching, too. In fact, the park is home to more than 106 species of birds. Robins, swallows, canaries, and mirla are just some of the birds that you will see here.

There are also 48 species of trees in the park. Plus, you can see gorgeous plants such as African tulips, yellow Guayacan, and pink Guayacan.

What to Do in Cerro El Volador

This park is not just a stunning viewpoint of the city. It’s also a place where you can enjoy your favorite activities with your favorite people. 

For one thing, there are some great trails to stroll along. By walking or hiking through the park you’ll get to learn a bit more about the indigenous people of Colombia and the impact they’ve had on Medellin. If you’re not sure which trails to check out I’d recommend heading to the Indian trail. 

It’s also worth heading over to the open air butterfly garden. Although the garden isn’t as extensive as that of the Botanical Gardens, it’s still a pretty cool place to swing by. 

Other activities you can enjoy in the park include: 

• Birdwatching
• Paragliding
• Picnics 
• Camping
• Hiking
• Biking
• Kite flying

The park also offers guided tours to learn more about the history of Medellin. That’s definitely worth going on if you haven’t already!

How to Get There

The entrance of this park is located close to the National University, in the Comuna 7, Robledo.

There are a couple of different ways to get there, depending on how you prefer to get around.

Metro

The metro is quite frankly probably the easiest way to get to Cerro El Volador (an dthe cheapest).

Just take the A line down to San Antonio Station. Then, you’ll need to transfer to the B line and get off at the Suramericana Station. 

It’s about a 20-minute walk from the Suramerica station up to the park. Or, if you don’t want to wear yourself out before you get to the park, you can take a taxi from there. This shortcut only takes you about five minutes.

Bicycle

Hardcore exercise junkies might find that biking from their Casacol property is the perfect warm-up for what’s to come at Cerro El Volador.

You can rent a bike from the Encicla bike share system. The system is actually part of the metro network, and you get your first hour on the bike for free. 

And don’t worry, you don’t need to be a Colombian citizen to rent a bike. You can just sign up on the website. Once you plug your information into the page, it’ll tell you where to find the closest station to grab a bike from.

Going up the hill with your bicycle will take you around 10 minutes. It’s a bit of a workout though, so be prepared!

Walking

As long as you’re not headed there at nighttime, you can always walk to Cerro El Volador!

It’s approximately two miles away from the Laureles sector, and it will take from 30 to 40 minutes to get there. Of course, it all depends on how fast you can walk! 

If you’re staying in Poblado, Provenza, or another area of Medellin, then it’s better to take the metro. You’d have a bit of a hike to walk out to the hill.

Tips for Having a Good Time at Cerro El Volador

Before you race out to the park, there are a couple of pro tips to keep in mind. 

For one thing, you should definitely pack some sunscreen as well a waterproof jacket in case it rains. The weather in Medellin can change at the drop of a hat, so you should always be prepared!

I’d also recommend bringing some water and a snack. You’ll find street vendors there, but it’s never a bad idea to have something on hand. 

Speaking of snacks, when you get to the top of the hill, there are some great vendors selling classic Colombian snacks. Make sure to get a cup of guarapo, a drink made from sugar cane. 

Get a Breath of Fresh Air in Medellin

The nature, the variety of birds, and the quiet atmosphere at Cerro El Volador are the perfect place to get a breath of fresh air during your stay in Medellin. 

Who knows? Maybe it’ll become a regular hang out spot for you.

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