Towns Near Medellín: Day Trips by Bus

Towns near Medellín: which one to choose

Among the towns near Medellín, four make easy getaways with direct buses from the city's terminals:

• Santa Fe de Antioquia: colonial architecture and hot weather, about 55 km away. Great as a day trip.
• El Retiro: the closest, in eastern Antioquia, with a cool climate. Also a day trip.
• Jardín: a coffee town in the Southwest, about 134 km away. Best with at least one night.
• Jericó: also in the Southwest, birthplace of the carriel bag and of Saint Laura Montoya. Best with one night.

Guatapé and the Piedra del Peñol are the best-known trip from Medellín, but they have their own guide; this page covers other options.

A rule of thumb for buses: towns to the west (Santa Fe de Antioquia) and east (El Retiro) are served from Terminal del Norte; towns in the Southwest (Jardín, Jericó) from Terminal del Sur. Always confirm at the ticket window, as some companies sell at both terminals, and buy your return ticket early on holiday weekends.

Santa Fe de Antioquia and the Puente de Occidente

Santa Fe de Antioquia was founded in 1541 by Jorge Robledo and was the capital of Antioquia until 1826. Its historic centre known for its colonial architecture, is a national monument and part of Colombia's network of heritage towns (Pueblos Patrimonio).

It sits at about 570 metres above sea level, so it's hot: bring light clothes, sunscreen and water. Since the Túnel de Occidente opened in 2006, the town is only about 55 km from Medellín.

What to do:

• Wander the historic centre and its squares.
• Visit the Puente de Occidente, a 291-metre suspension bridge over the Cauca River, built by engineer José María Villa and completed in 1895. It's on the outskirts of town.
• Try the tamarind sweets the town is known for.

Around New Year, the Fiestas de los Diablitos run from 22 to 31 December, a tradition dating back to the 17th century.

Getting there: buses leave from Terminal del Norte (Rápido Ochoa, Sotraurabá and other companies). The ride takes around an hour and a half, depending on traffic.

Airport bus with COMBUSES

Visiting the towns at the end of your trip? Head back to Medellín and catch the COMBUSES airport bus from San Diego or Hotel Nutibara, every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day. Your ticket is valid for 30 days, with no fixed time.

Book your ticket →

Jardín and Jericó, in the coffee-growing Southwest

Jardín, founded in 1863, lies about 134 km from Medellín at around 1,750 m. Its main square, lined with traditional houses, faces the Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción, a national monument since 1980. The town has two cable cars, coffee farms and hikes such as the one to the Cueva del Esplendor, about 10 km through forest. It is one of Colombia's Pueblos Patrimonio.

Jericó, founded in 1850, sits at about 1,976 m. It is known as the birthplace of the carriel, the leather bag carried by Antioquian muleteers, and of Saint Laura Montoya, Colombia's first saint; you can visit the house where she was born. It's also a heritage town, with a botanical garden and mountain trails.

Getting there: both have buses from Terminal del Sur. The ride to Jardín takes three to four hours (Rápido Ochoa and Transportes Suroeste Antioqueño, among others); to Jericó, around three hours.

Because of the travel time, a same-day return is possible but tiring. Ideally stay at least one night and, if you have time, combine both towns.

El Retiro, the closest town

El Retiro is in eastern Antioquia, about 30 km from Medellín via the Las Palmas road, at roughly 2,175 m with an average temperature of around 16 °C. It's in the same eastern Antioquia region as Rionegro, home of José María Córdova Airport.

What to do:

• Walk the main square and the old centre, whose traditional houses are protected as part of Antioquia's architectural heritage.
• Visit the woodworking and furniture workshops, a trade practised in town for more than a hundred years and one of its main sources of income.
• See the La Fe reservoir, which supplies water to Medellín.

Around New Year, the Fiestas de los Negritos run from 26 to 30 December, a tradition linked to 1767.

Getting there: Sotraretiro runs frequent buses from Terminal del Norte, and the ride takes about an hour. Bring a jacket: El Retiro is much cooler than Medellín.

Tips for visiting the towns by bus

• Leave early. Holidays and high season bring more passengers, and a morning departure gives you more hours in town.
• Buy your return ticket on arrival or online, especially on long holiday weekends.
• Plan for the weather. Santa Fe de Antioquia is hot; El Retiro, Jardín and Jericó are cooler. Bring layers and rain gear.
• Carry cash. Not every business in a small town takes cards.
• Fares change. Check current prices at the terminal ticket window or on each company's website.
• Fitting it around your flight. El Retiro and eastern Antioquia are close to the airport, but direct buses between the towns and the airport aren't always available; it's usually simpler to return to Medellín and take the airport bus from there.

On a weekend you can do Santa Fe de Antioquia or El Retiro as a day trip and save Jardín or Jericó for an overnight stay.

Places on the map

Frequently asked questions

More Medellín guides

Photo: Panorámica de Jardín, Antioquia, 2022.jpg — Gary Leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0)