Metrocable and Parque Arví
Two cables take you from the valley to the forest at about 2,400 meters high: line K, over the northeastern neighborhoods, and line L, the tourist cable that reaches Parque Arví.
Buy Round Trip and Save 10%
Medellín ↔ Medellín Airport (MDE)
From
Medellin Sandiego Bus Stop
To
Medellín Airport (MDE)
Departure date
Today
Passengers
1 Adult
Line K from Acevedo
Four stations and about 2 km over the hillside, with transfer from metro line A.
Tourist Line L
4.6 km from Santo Domingo to Arví, with its own fare separate from the metro ticket.
Closes One Day a Week
Line L and the park stop one weekday for maintenance, usually on Tuesday.
Bring a Jacket
Arví is about 2,400 m high: it's colder than in the valley and rain is frequent.
How the Metrocable to Parque Arví Works
To reach Parque Arví by Metrocable, there are three segments:
- Metro line A to Acevedo, in the north of the city.
- Metrocable line K from Acevedo to Santo Domingo Savio. It was the first Metrocable line in Medellín, inaugurated in August 2004. It measures about 2 km and has four stations: Acevedo, Andalucía, Popular, and Santo Domingo Savio. It is paid with the same metro fare.
- Metrocable line L from Santo Domingo Savio to Arví. It opened in February 2010 as the first tourist line of the system. It covers 4.6 km with only two stations and passes over forest to the park entrance.
Line L has its own fare, separate from the integrated metro ticket. There are differential rates: residents of strata 1, 2, and 3 and Colombians with a personalized Cívica card pay less, while foreigners or those using a bearer card pay the full fare. Buy the ticket at Santo Domingo Savio and check the current price at the ticket office.
From line K, you can see how the cable connects with the neighborhoods of the northeastern hillside; from line L, the landscape changes to forest and farms.
Metrocable Arví Schedules and Closure Day
According to the Metro of Medellín, line L operates from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Line K opens earlier, from 4:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. on Sundays and holidays.
Line L and Parque Arví stop one day a week for maintenance, usually on Tuesday. When that day is a holiday or during peak season, the Metro may change the schedule, as happened during the 2026 Flower Festival.
The park's tourist services operate from Wednesday to Monday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the park closes on Tuesdays.
- Line L also has longer scheduled closures for maintenance; for example, it was suspended from September 19 to 24, 2026.
- Before going, check the official channels of the Metro of Medellín and Parque Arví.
- The service of line L ends at 6:00 p.m.: don't stay until the last minute on the trails.
Bus to the Airport with COMBUSES
Arriving in Medellín via José María Córdova Airport? Take the COMBUSES bus to Hotel Nutibara, walk to Parque Berrío station, and continue by metro to Acevedo to take the cable. Ticket from 20,000 COP with luggage included.
What to Do in Parque Arví
Parque Arví is a large natural reserve in the Santa Elena district, east of Medellín. It covers about 16,000 hectares between Medellín, Bello, Copacabana, and Guarne, with natural forest, streams, and about 54 km of trails.
- Guided and self-guided trails: the park organizes guided tours and also has marked routes to do on your own. Ask at the information point, near the cable arrival plaza.
- Chorro Clarín: one of the natural attractions the park highlights on its tours.
- Fauna and flora: natural forest, birds, and plants native to the Antioquian mountains.
- Silletera farms: Santa Elena is the land of the silleteros of the Flower Festival, and some farms welcome visitors.
The park is designed for leisurely walking: there are short routes near the cable arrival and longer ones that go into the forest. Bring some cash for food, activities, or guided tours that have a cost.
If you're going with children or older people, choose a short trail: the terrain can be wet and slippery.
Tips for Visiting Parque Arví
Some tips to make the most of your day at the Metrocable and Parque Arví:
- Leave early: arrive at Acevedo in the morning to have time on the trails and return before the cable closes.
- Go on weekdays if you can: Sundays and holidays tend to be busier.
- Bring a jacket and raincoat: the park is about 2,400 meters high, much higher than Medellín, and the weather changes quickly.
- Shoes with good grip: dirt paths become muddy with rain.
- Water and something to eat, especially if you're going for a long hike.
- Don't leave trash and stay on marked trails.
If you only have half a day, you can go up to Santo Domingo Savio on line K, look at the city from above, and come back down; for the park, reserve at least a full morning.
Getting there from downtown is easy: from Parque Berrío station, next to Plaza Botero, take line A north to Acevedo and switch to the cable there.
Places on the Map
Acevedo Station
Acevedo Station, metro line A, Medellín
Transfer from metro line A to Metrocable line K.
How to Get ThereSanto Domingo Savio Station
Santo Domingo Savio Neighborhood, Comuna 1, Medellín
End of line K; here you pay and take line L to Arví.
How to Get ThereArví Station (Metrocable line L)
Parque Arví, Santa Elena district, Medellín
Arrival of the tourist cable and park information point.
How to Get ThereFrequently Asked Questions
More Guides to Medellín
Photo: Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)