Medellin Guru 2018 Year in Review: Our Most Popular Articles

Medellin Guru 2018 – as the year comes to an end, it’s time to revisit the most popular and most discussed articles of 2018 on the Medellin Guru website.

On July 20, 2017, Medellin Guru was launched, with a goal to provide up-to-date articles about Medellín and Colombia to help expats by covering the best places and best things to do, along with useful travel tips, living tips and experienced expat tips while also offering amazing photos.

In the past 18 months, Medellin Guru published 300 articles with well over 3,700 photos. In addition, we are working hard to keep all this content up-to-date. Already over 100 articles have been updated since originally published.

In 2018, the Medellin Guru website had over 1.5 million page views during the year and over 50,000 unique visitors to the website each month.

Also, in 2018 we reached over 15,000 followers on Facebook, which makes Medellin Guru the most popular Colombia blog in English about Colombia in less than two years.

Medellin Guru 2018 – Our 20 Most Popular Articles

Here are the 20 most popular articles published in 2018 on the Medellin Guru website. And each of these articles received over 10,000 page views in 2018. Also, you can click on the heading for each article to see the article.

Ay Wey Bar & Grill, one of 5 popular sports bars in Medellín

 1. 5 Popular Sports Bars in Medellín to Watch the Super Bowl

We look at 5 popular sports bars in Medellín, which are good places to watch major sporting events like the Super Bowl, World Cup, World Series or NBA finals.

This article about sports bars is the most popular article published in 2018 on the Medellin Guru site with over 57,000 pageviews in 2018 and over 4,800 shares on Facebook.

Security in Medellín and Expat Safety Tips

2. Is Medellín Safe? Security in Medellín and Expat Safety Tips

Is Medellín safe to visit? Follow our expat safety tips to reduce the risk of being a victim of crime. In this article we also have 2018 updates on security in Medellín.

This is the second most popular article published in 2018 on the Medellin Guru site with over 38,000 pageviews in 2018.

The Top 14 Churches in Medellín

3. Top 14 Churches in Medellín: The Beautiful Churches in Medellín

Medellín and the Aburrá Valley area have many beautiful Catholic churches. We look at the top 14 churches in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley, which are worth seeing.

Escobar’s Grave showing wear with no flowers during a visit in January 2018

4. Pablo Escobar’s Grave: An Unfortunate Tourist Attraction

Pablo Escobar’s grave in Medellín has unfortunately become a tourist attraction due to the popular Narcos series. Pablo Escobar tours stop at his grave site.

Feria de las Flores 2018 Schedule of Events

5. Feria de las Flores 2018 Schedule of Events and Expat Tips

Medellin’s biggest annual festival, La Feria de las Flores 2018 (Festival of Flowers), ran from August 3 – 12. We provided a guide with tips for visitors.

Lechona – one of the traditional Colombian dishes you must try in Colombia

6. 15 Traditional Colombian Food Dishes You Must Try in Colombia

Colombia isn’t well known around the world for Colombian food and its cuisine. But there are a number of delicious traditional Colombian foods worth trying.

Colombia has 23 of the Best Hospitals in Latin America

7. Colombia has 23 of the Best Hospitals in Latin America

Colombia has the best healthcare system in Latin America with 23 of the best hospitals in Latin America. And nine of these best hospitals are located in Medellín.

Carnaval de Barranquilla 2019: Second Largest Carnival in the World

8. Carnaval de Barranquilla 2019: Second Largest Carnival in the World

We provide an insiders’ guide to Carnaval de Barranquilla 2019 in Colombia, the second largest carnival in the world, which is on March 2 to 5 in 2019.

Pablo Escobar Tour: view of Medellín from La Catedral, Pablo Escobar’s prison during the early 1990’s

9. Pablo Escobar Tour: Is a Controversial Tour Worth Going On?

Going on a Pablo Escobar Tour in Medellín has unfortunately become popular with tourists due to the popular Narcos series. But we have seven tour alternatives.

The Viva Envigado Mall in Envigado

10. Viva Envigado: A Guide to the Largest Mall in Colombia in Envigado

Viva Envigado is the largest mall in Colombia and the newest mall in the Aburrá Valley. It opened on October 5, 2018 in Envigado with about 400 shops.

Colombia Holidays: A Guide to the Many Festivos in Colombia in 2019

11. Colombia Holidays: A Guide to the Many Festivos in Colombia

Colombia has more public holidays than most countries with a total of 18 holidays during the year. We provide a guide to all the Colombia holidays in 2019.

Colombians celebrating Christmas, something that Colombians do on a completely different level

12. Twelve Things Colombians Do That Foreigners May Find Weird

We look at 12 things Colombians do that foreigners visiting may find weird. But living in Colombia you get to experience different cultures and habits.

Barbosa, Antioquia: An Overlooked Pueblo Near Medellín Worth Visiting

13. Barbosa, Antioquia: An Overlooked Pueblo Near Medellín Worth Visiting

Barbosa is a pueblo located less than an hour from Medellín. It’s a great getaway from Medellín with streams, waterfalls, hiking and many other things to do.

Alumbrados Navideños – Medellín Christmas lights from last year

14. Alumbrados: A Guide to the 2018 Medellín Christmas Lights

Alumbrados Navideños: we provide a guide to the world-class 2018 Medellín Christmas lights that for the fourth year in a row aren’t along the Medellín river.

Medellín vs Panama City comparison

15. Medellín vs Panama City: Which is the Better Place to Live?

Medellín vs Panama City, Panama. Both are rated as top foreign retirement locations for expats and we comprehensively compare the two cities in 21 categories.

Guide to Buying and Using Cell Phones in Colombia

16. Comprehensive Guide to Buying and Using Cell Phones in Colombia

Colombian cell phone services are easy to establish for foreigners but there are a number of regulations. We provide a guide to buying and using cell phones in Colombia.

The Best Malls in Medellín

17. Thirteen Best Malls in Medellín: The Ultimate Guide to Medellín’s Malls

Paisas love to shop and Medellín has many shopping malls. We look at 22 of largest malls in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley to find the 13 best malls in Medellín.

From Scotland to Living in Medellín: Steve’s Story

18. Expat Story: From Scotland to Living in Medellín: Steve’s Story

Steve is an expat from Scotland now living in Medellín. He tells his story about how he discovered Medellín, married a Colombian and now has a business.

The Medellín Metro in El Centro

19. Medellín Metro Guide: Updated Guide with New 2018 Fares

In January 2018, Medellín increased metro system fares. So, we provided an up-to-date Medellín Metro guide with tips for using the metro in Medellín.

Medellín Museums: 12 Best Museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley

20. Medellín Museums: 12 Best Museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley

We look comprehensively at all 26 Medellín museums including museums in the Aburrá Valley to find the 12 best museums in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley.

Medellin Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Medellin Guru 2018: Expat Tips

In 2018, Medellin Guru published several articles with expat tips that were very popular with readers. The following are our 14 most popular expat tip articles:

1. Is Medellín Safe? Security in Medellín and Expat Safety Tips
2. Comprehensive Guide to Buying and Using Cell Phones in Colombia
3. Health Insurance in Colombia: How to Sign up with SURA Insurance
4. How to Find Cheap Flights to Medellín and Colombia and Save Money
5. Medellín Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Answers to Questions
6. Apartment Rental Guide: Renting Unfurnished Apartments in Medellín
7. Guide to Colombian Currency and Avoiding Counterfeits
8. Guide to Travel with a Pet to Colombia: Travel with a Dog or Cat
9. Guide to Buying Computers and Tablets in Medellín and Colombia
10. Scopolamine: The Realities of Devil’s Breath in Colombia
11. How to Get a Colombian Drivers License in Medellín and Colombia
12. Guide to Grocery Shopping in Medellín with Tips to Save Money
13. How to Find Street Addresses in Colombian Cities and Using Maps
14. Expat Guide: How to Make International Phone Calls in Colombia

Best Pueblos Near Medellín Worth a Visit Including Hidden Gems

Medellin Guru 2018: Travel in Colombia and Pueblos

In 2018, Medellin Guru covered many places to travel in Colombia and many pueblos. These articles were popular with readers. And here are our 22 most popular Colombia travel and pueblo articles from 2018:

1. Barbosa, Antioquia: An Overlooked Pueblo Near Medellín Worth Visiting
2. Las Lajas Sanctuary: The Most Beautiful Church in Colombia
3. San Carlos: An Amazing Undiscovered Pueblo Near Medellín
4. Caño Cristales: The Most Beautiful River in the World
5. 8 Best Pueblos Near Medellín Worth a Visit Including Hidden Gems
6. Popayán: A Well-Preserved Colonial Gem in Colombia Worth Visiting
7. Jericó, Antioquia: A Picturesque Pueblo Near Medellín Worth Visiting
8. Ciudad Perdida: A Guide to Hiking to the Lost City in Colombia
9. Parque Tayrona: A Guide to Tayrona National Natural Park
10. Top 12 Things to See and Do on Colombia’s Pacific Coast
11. Desierto de la Tatacoa: A Guide to the Tatacoa Desert in Colombia
12. Top 15 Things to Do in Bogotá: Top Tourist Attractions
13. Top 12 Things to See and Do in San Jose Guaviare
14. El Carmen de Viboral: Heart of Colombia’s Ceramics Industry
15. Abejorral: A Picturesque Pueblo Near Medellín Worth Visiting
16. Los Nevados: A Guide to Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados
17. San Agustín Archaeological Park: Colombia’s Ancient Statutes
18. Top 16 Things to Do in Santa Marta: Top Tourist Attractions
19. Top 17 Things to Do in San Andrés: Colombia’s Caribbean Island
20. Hacienda Napoles: Pablo Escobar’s Former Estate Turned Theme Park
21. Top 20 Tourist Attractions in Colombia: Top Things to do in Colombia
22. 16 Top Things to Do in San Gil: Colombia’s Adventure Capital

Medellín vs Buenos Aires, Argentina

Medellin Guru 2018: City Comparisons

We published several popular city comparisons in 2018. In each comparison, we comprehensively compare the two cities in many categories to see which is the better place to live in for expats.

1. Medellín vs Panama City
2. Medellín vs Manizales
3. Medellín vs Lima, Peru
4. Medellín vs Barranquilla
5. Medellín vs Santa Marta
6. Medellín vs Buenos Aires, Argentina
7. Medellín vs Chiang Mai, Thailand
8. Medellín vs Alarve, Portugal

El Dorado Bogotá Airport (BOG), photo by EEIMGuru

Medellin Guru 2018: Transportation Guides

We published several transportation guides in 2018 that were popular with readers. And here are the 11 most popular transportation guides we published in 2018:

1. Medellín Metro Guide: Updated Guide with New 2018 Fares
2. Cali Airport Guide: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport (CLO)
3. Medellín Scooter Rentals: Explore Medellín by Motorcycle
4. El Dorado Airport (BOG): A Guide to the Bogotá Airport in Colombia
5. Medellín Bus Terminals: A Guide to Terminal Norte and Terminal Sur
6. Olaya Herrera (EOH): A Guide to Medellín’s Domestic Airport
7. Rafael Núñez (CTG): A Guide to the Cartagena Airport in Colombia
8. Medellín Taxi Guide: Updated Guide with New 2018 Fares
9. Guide to Travel with a Pet to Colombia: Travel with a Dog or Cat
10. Pereira Airport Guide: Matecaña International Airport (PEI)
11. Bucaramanga Airport Guide: Palonegro International Airport (BGA)

Andrés Carne de Res opens in Medellín

Medellin Guru 2018: Top Restaurant Articles

We published many restaurant reviews in 2018 including some articles looking at the best restaurants in a category. Here are our 15 most popular restaurant articles published in 2018:

1. Randy’s Beach Sports Bar & Grill: The Newest Sports Bar in Medellín
2. Mercado Del Tranvía: A Popular Gastronomic Market in Medellín
3. 12 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in El Poblado
4. Andrés Carne de Res: A Popular Bogotá Restaurant Opens in Medellín
5. 8 Top Laureles Coffee Shops: Where to Find Good Coffee
6. San Carbon: A Popular Steakhouse in Medellín Worth Visiting
7. Toro Restaurante: A Popular Steakhouse in Laureles, Medellín
8. Restaurante El Viejo John: Good Colombian Food in Sabaneta
9. El Rancherito: A Popular Chain of Colombian Restaurants in Medellín
10. Pizzeria Centro: Good Thin-Crust Pizza in El Centro in Medellín
11. Crepes & Waffles: A Popular Chain of Restaurants in Colombia
12. Federal Ribs: A Popular Chain of Rib Restaurants in Medellín
13. Mercado Del Rio La Strada: Medellín’s Newest Gastronomic Market
14. 9 Best Steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
15. 13 Best Pizza Places in Medellín: The Best Pizzerias in the City

Scarlet Macaws at Zoológico Santa Fe in Medellín

Medellin Guru 2018: Kid Friendly Things to Do in Medellín

In 2018, Medellin Guru published several articles about kid friendly things to do in Medellín.

Many readers have asked for this as more foreigners are traveling to Colombia with kids and many couples living in Medellín have kids. Here are our 10 most popular kid friendly things to do articles published in 2018:

1. Barbosa, Antioquia: An Overlooked Pueblo Near Medellín Worth Visiting
2. Alumbrados: A Guide to the 2018 Medellín Christmas Lights
3. Piedras Blancas: An Ecological Park Near Medellín Worth Visiting
4. Parque Zoológico Santa Fe: A Guide to the Medellín Zoo
5. Movie Theaters: The Ultimate Guide to Movie Theaters in Medellín
6. Parque Explora: Medellín’s Interactive Museum and Aquarium
7. Planetario de Medellín: A Guide to Medellín’s Planetarium
8. Bowling in Medellín: A Guide to the Bowling Alleys in the City
9. Museo del Agua: A Guide to the Popular Medellín Water Museum
10. Hacienda Napoles: Pablo Escobar’s Former Estate Turned Theme Park

The Bottom Line: Medellin Guru 2018 Year in Review

Thanks to everyone who read Medellin Guru in 2018. We have many new and interesting articles in work for 2019. And we look forward to continuing to keep you informed in the new year.

We are always looking for feedback and suggestions. Are there any topics you would like us to cover in 2019? Please share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.

Also, you can see our article about the Medellin Guru first year anniversary where we looked at our 20 most popular articles and accomplishments in our first year.

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