Arví Park Tour from Medellín by Cable Car

From $97 USD per person

Arví Park sits on the eastern ridge above Medellín: a protected forest of indigenous trails, native birds and water streams that most visitors never find, because nothing signposts the way to them. You get there by cable car from Santo Domingo, over the comunas and out of the city grid entirely, then walk into the trees with a guide who knows where the creeks and the natural pools are.

How the day works

• Your guide collects you from your hotel on the private option, or meets you at Santo Domingo cable car station on the shared option.
• You stop at a comuna viewpoint with the city spread out below, and hear how the hillside neighbourhoods and the transport system that reached them changed Medellín.
• You board the cable car at Santo Domingo and ride roughly fifteen minutes above rooftops and hillsides up to Arví station.
• You walk indigenous paths through the reserve, past creeks and native flora, with birdlife the whole way. The park holds hundreds of species.
• You reach the water streams and natural pools, where you can wade or swim if conditions allow, then take the cable car back down. Six hours in total.

What’s included

• Private English-speaking guide
• Private hotel pickup and drop-off (private option)
• Metro cable car tickets (private option)
• Entrance to Arví Park
• All-risk insurance

Not included

• Arví metro cable ticket on the shared option, paid separately on the day
• Meals and drinks
• Personal purchases

Good to know

• Arví Park is closed on Mondays. The tour runs Tuesday to Sunday.
• The park sits well above the city and runs cooler than Medellín’s usual 23°C to 30°C. Bring a light jacket.
• Wear comfortable trainers, light clothing, sunglasses and a cap.
• Bring a change of clothes if you want to get into the water streams.
• On the shared option the Arví cable car ticket is paid separately on the day.
• The tour is fully guided and runs rain or shine.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just take the cable car up on my own?

You can, and plenty of people do. What you will not find alone are the indigenous side trails and the water streams, which are the reason to go with a guide who has walked them.

Is the swimming guaranteed?

No. It depends on rainfall and water conditions on the day, so treat it as a bonus instead of the plan. Bring spare clothes in case.

How hard is the walking?

Moderate, on natural paths through forest with some uneven ground. Closed shoes with grip matter more than fitness.

What is the difference from the botanical garden tour?

The botanical garden tour pairs Arví with the Jardín Botánico downtown across a longer day. This one is Arví itself, with the trails and the water streams.

Why is the tour closed on Mondays?

Because the park is. Arví shuts on Mondays, so the tour runs Tuesday through Sunday.