Medellin Guru First Year Anniversary: Our 20 Most Popular Articles

July 20 is the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Medellin Guru website. So, we look at our 20 most popular articles published over the past year, as well as our accomplishments in our first year.

One year ago, 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 one year, Medellin Guru accomplished the following:

• Published 223 articles with a total of over 447,000 words and over 2,800 photos and videos.
• Published articles from 13 different authors.
• Achieved over 13,200 likes and over 13,500 followers on the Medellin Guru Facebook. Medellin Guru is the first English language Colombia blog to achieve this.
• Surpassed over 540,000 unique visitors and over 1.4 million page views on the Medellin Guru website in the past year.

Thanks to all of our readers over the past year! Here are Medellin Guru’s highlights from our first year:

20 Most Viewed Articles on Medellin Guru – Our Most Popular Articles

Here are the 20 most viewed and most popular articles on Medellin Guru in the past year. Each of these 20 most popular articles had over 15,000 page views. And these 20 most popular articles had a total of over 450,000 page views over the past year.

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 five 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 looking at five popular sports bars in Medellín was our most popular article over the past year with over 52,000 page views.

Guide to Medellín’s Christmas Lights: Alumbrados

2. Alumbrados 2017: A Guide to Medellín’s Christmas Lights

Alumbrados Navideños 2017: we provided a guide to Medellín’s world-class Christmas lights that for the 3rd year in a row won’t be along the river this year.

Comparing Medellin vs Pereira vs Bucaramanga

3. Medellin vs Pereira vs Bucaramanga: 3 Cities of Eternal Spring

Medellín vs Pereira vs Bucaramanga, all 3 are cities of eternal spring in Colombia but which is best to live in. We compare the cities in 14 categories.

The Top 14 Churches in Medellín

4. 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.

Traffic, one of the downsides of living in Medellín

5. 11 Downsides to Living in Medellín: An Expat Perspective

Medellín has a reputation as a good place to live with a good climate and low cost of living. But there are still downsides to living in Medellín.

Shopping at Justo y Bueno

6. Shopping at Justo y Bueno in Medellín to Save on Groceries

Justo y Bueno is a chain of small grocery stores in Colombia. It is possible to save over 30 percent on your grocery bill by shopping at Justo y Bueno.

Medellín dating tips

7. Medellín Dating Tips: Up-to-Date Advice for Foreign Men

You are a foreigner guy and you’d like to meet some Medellín women? We have 11 Medellín dating tips to increase your chances to make a good impression.

14 cheap things for expats in Medellín

8. 14 Surprisingly Cheap Things in Medellín for Expats

One of the benefits of being an expat living in Medellín is that there are many surprisingly cheap things found in Medellín compared to costs in the U.S.

27 Reasons I Chose to Live in Medellín

9. Why Medellín? 27 Reasons I Chose to Live in Medellín

Why Medellín? After traveling to over 40 countries, Jeff provides 27 reasons he ending up choosing Medellín as a great place to live.

The central nave inside Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bello

10. Nuestra Señora del Rosario: A Beautiful Church in Bello

Nuestra Señora del Rosario is arguably the most beautiful church in the Medellín metro area. It’s located in Bello and is definitely worth seeing.

Security in Medellín and Expat Safety Tips

11. 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. We also have 2018 updates on security in Medellín.

Saving at Tiendas D1

12. Shopping at Tiendas D1 to Save Substantially on Groceries

Tiendas D1 is a chain of over 500 small grocery stores in Colombia. It is possible to save over 30 percent on your grocery bill by shopping at Tiendas D1.

Which is the Better City to Live In? Medellín vs Bogotá

13. Medellín vs Bogotá: Which is the Better City to Live In?

Medellín vs Bogotá. We compare the two largest cities in Colombia in 17 categories to see which is the better city to live in for expats.

Getting a Colombian Visa

14. How to Obtain a Colombian Visa – With Up-to-Date 2017 Info

Colombia has many different Colombian visa options, enabling you to stay in the country for a year or more. Colombia also changed its visa rules in 2017.

Colombian street food – Churros

15. Colombian Street Food Options You Really Must Try

Street food seems to be available everywhere in Medellín and there are so many options. We look at 9 Colombian street food options worth trying.

Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, the best hospital in Medellín, photo by SajoR

16. Colombia has 20 of the Best Hospitals in Latin America

Colombia has the best healthcare system in Latin America with 20 of the best hospitals in Latin America. 7 of these best hospitals are located in Medellín.

Parque Sabaneta in Sabaneta

17. Parque Sabaneta: The Nicest Park in the Medellín Metro Area

Parque Sabaneta is arguably the nicest park in the Medellín metro area. And it’s worth visiting particularly during the Christmas season.

Mercado Del Rio: Medellín’s Trendy Gastronomic Market

18. Mercado Del Rio: Medellín’s Trendy Gastronomic Market

The Mercado Del Rio is a large and popular gastronomic market in Medellín with a huge collection of over 50 trendy restaurants in a sizable warehouse space.

Expensive things in Medellín

19. 9 Expensive Things in Medellín, Colombia for Expats

Medellín is known for having a relatively low cost of living for expats. But there are still some expensive things in Medellín compared to U.S. prices.

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

20. 15 Traditional Colombian Dishes You Must Try in Colombia

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

Up-to-Date Colombia Visa Articles

New Colombia Visa Rules

Colombia officially changed its visa rules on December 15, 2017. This was a major change so Medellin Guru published a total of 10 articles about Colombian visas:

1. How to Obtain a Colombian Visa – With Up-to-Date 2017 Info
2. How to Obtain a Colombia Retirement Visa – 2017 Update
3. How to Obtain a Colombia Marriage Visa – 2017 Update
4. How to Obtain a Colombia Resident Visa – 2017 Update
5. How to Obtain a Colombia Student Visa – 2017 Update
6. How to Obtain a Colombia Work Visa – 2017 Update
7. How to Obtain a Colombia Investment Visa – 2017 Update
8. How to Obtain a Colombia Beneficiary Visa for Relatives
9. How to Apply for a Cedula Extranjeria in Colombia
10. Tourist Visas and How to Extend a Tourist Visa in Medellín

Watch out of out-of-date visa information. Due to the major visa changes in Colombia, most websites and blogs now have out-of-date information about Colombian visas. Medellin Guru is the only website with a comprehensive set of articles about the new visa rules in Colombia.

We plan to keep all the content on the Medellin Guru website up-to-date and will update our visa articles as new information is disclosed.

City Comparisons 

During the year we published 11 very popular city comparison articles:

1. Medellín vs Cuenca: Which is the Better City to Live In?
2. Medellín vs Costa Rica: Which is the Better Place to Live?
3. Medellín vs Panama City: Which is the Better Place to Live?
4. Medellín vs Lima: Which is the Better Place to Live?
5. Medellín vs Bogotá: Which is the Better City to Live In?
6. Medellin vs Pereira vs Bucaramanga: 3 Cities of Eternal Spring
7. Medellín vs Cartagena: Which is the Better City to Live In?
8. Medellín vs Cali: Which is the Better City to Live In?
9. Medellín vs Manizales: Which is the Better Place to Live?
10. Medellín vs Barranquilla: Which is the Better Place to Live?
11. Medellín vs Santa Marta: Which is the Better City to Live?

View from El Peñón de Guatapé, photo by Wilc82

Pueblos

During the year we published nine very popular articles about pueblos in Colombia.

1. Guatapé – a very popular pueblo near Medellín known for its huge El Peñón rock and lake.
2. Jardín – a tranquil get-away from Medellin that boosts breathtaking mountain views and less tourists than Guatapé.
3. Jericó – a picturesque pueblo known for its religious attractions, well-preserved colonial architecture and heritage, generous nature all around, hiking, paragliding, amazing landscapes and much more.
4. Santa Fe de Antioquia – known for its well-preserved colonial architecture and cobbled streets.
5. El Carmen de Viboral – the heart of Colombia’s ceramics industry.
6. San Carlos – a hidden gem surrounded by rivers, waterfalls and nature.
7. Abejorral – another hidden gem surrounded by waterfalls and dazzling landscapes with many opportunities for hikers and rock climbers.
8. Barbosa – an overlooked pueblo very near Medellín with streams, waterfalls, natural swimming pools, hiking, horseback riding and many other things to do.
9. Salento – a popular pueblo in Colombia’s coffee region that is definitely worth visiting.

Tayrona National Park – one of the top things to see in Colombia

Top Things to See and Do in Colombia

On the Medellin Guru website, we have been looking at some of the most beautiful places in Colombia in a series of top things to see and do in Colombia. This is due to many readers asking about several of these things to see and do in Colombia.

We have looked at 16 of the top things to see and do in Colombia:

1. Cartagena – Oozing history, romance and sun-drenched beaches, the allure of historical Cartagena is hard to resist.
2. Caño Cristales – the most beautiful river in Colombia, which has also been called the most beautiful river in the world by some people.
3. Colombia’s Pacific coast – often overlooked by tourists visiting Colombia but offering untamed nature and undiscovered beauty that is off the beaten path for most foreign tourists.
4. Las Lajas Sanctuary – the most beautiful church in Colombia, which has also been called the most beautiful church in the world.
5. Parque Tayrona – known for its beautiful beaches and the world’s highest coastal mountain range.
6. San Agustín Archaeological Park – the largest group of pre-Columbian monuments and megalithic statues in South America and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
7. San Jose del Guaviare – a hidden gem and eco-tourism location off the beaten path and offering wildlife watching, jungle trekking and delving into Colombia’s prehistoric past.
8. Ciudad Perdida – the site of an ancient city in Colombia that is older than Machu Picchu in Peru.
9. Salento and the Cocora Valley – Salento is a picturesque pueblo in Colombia’s coffee region and nearby Cocora Valley is one of the most striking landscapes found in Colombia.
10. Popayán – a colonial gem in Colombia best known for its white buildings and churches, it’s a city off the beaten path for foreign tourists but is definitely worth visiting.
11. Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados – a popular national park in Colombia located in the heart of the Colombian coffee region.
12. Rio Claro Nature Reserve – located about three hours from Medellín, Rio Claro is the perfect place to unplug from hectic daily life and enjoy a picturesque crystal-clear river, canyon and tropical rainforest.
13. Desierto de la Tatacoa – the second largest arid zone in Colombia is Tatacoa Desert, which has surreal desert landscapes and some of the best stargazing in Colombia.
14. Carnival in Barranquilla – the second largest carnival in the world.
15. Medellín’s Christmas lights – Medellín’s annual world-class Christmas lights known as Alumbrados Navideños.
16. Medellín’s Feria de Las Flores – Medellín’s world-famous flower festival each year.

The Medellín Metro in El Centro

Transportation Guides

We published 11 very popular transportation guides during the year:

1. Medellín Metro Guide: Updated Guide with New 2018 Fares
2. Medellín Taxi Guide: Updated Guide with New 2017 Fares
3. Medellín Bus Terminals: A Guide to Terminal Norte and Terminal Sur
4. How to Find Cheap Flights in Colombia and Save Money
5. José María Córdova (MDE): A Guide to the Medellín Airport
6. Olaya Herrera (EOH): A Guide to Medellín’s Domestic Airport
7. How to Get to Medellín from the Airport
8. El Dorado Airport (BOG): A Guide to the Bogotá Airport in Colombia
9. Rafael Núñez (CTG): A Guide to the Cartagena Airport in Colombia
10. Medellín Airport Transfer: An Upscale Way to and From the Airport
11. Medellín Scooter Rentals: Explore Medellín by Motorcycle

Graffiti seen during a Comuna 13 tour

Medellín Tours

We published six popular articles about tours in Medellín during the year:

1. Recommended Tourist Itinerary for a Day in Medellín
2. 2 Best Walking Tours in Medellín: Explore the City on Foot
3. Pablo Escobar Tour: Is a Controversial Tour Worth Going on?
4. Inside Comuna 13: A Neighborhood Revitalized Through Art
5. La Sierra Tours: A New Tour Being Offered in Medellín
6. Urban Coffee Tour: A New Coffee Tour in Medellín, Colombia

Mercado Del Tranvía: Medellín’s Newest Gastronomic Market

Restaurant and Café Reviews

During the year we published 33 restaurant and café reviews. And the following were our 14 most popular articles about restaurants and cafés:

1. 5 Popular Sports Bars in Medellín to Watch the Super Bowl
2. Mercado Del Rio: Medellín’s Trendy Gastronomic Market
3. 9 Best Places for Brunch in El Poblado, Medellín
4. 5 Best Independent Coffee Roasters in El Poblado, Medellín
5. Mercado Del Tranvía: Medellín’s Newest Gastronomic Market
6. Randy’s Beach Sports Bar & Grill: The Newest Sports Bar in Medellín
7. Starbucks in Medellín Opens Sixth Coffee Shop in Laureles
8. Chef Burger: A Popular Gourmet Burger Chain in Medellín
9. 12 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in El Poblado
10. Starbucks and Krispy Kreme Open New Shops in Medellín
11. San Carbon: A Popular Steakhouse in Medellín Worth Visiting
12. Contenedores Food Place: A Gastronomic Market in Envigado
13. 8 Top Laureles Coffee Shops: Where to Find Good Coffee
14. Restaurante El Viejo John: Good Colombian Food in Sabaneta

Apartment buildings near Santafé mall in El Poblado, Medellín

Expat Tips, Real Estate, Taxes and the Cost of Living

We also published several very popular articles about expat tips, real estate, taxes and the cost of living. The following are 17 of these popular articles:

• 11 Things Real Estate Agents in Colombia May Not Tell You
• 2017 Unfurnished Apartment Rental Costs in Medellín
• 5 Inexpensive Neighborhoods for Unfurnished Rentals in Medellín
• Apartment Rental Guide: Renting Unfurnished Apartments in Medellín
• Guide to Finding a Furnished Room for Rent in Medellín, Colombia
• Furnishing Apartments: A Guide to Furnishing Apartments in Medellín
• Guide to Buying Computers and Tablets in Colombia
• Comprehensive Guide to Buying and Using Cell Phones in Colombia
• 13 Best Ways for Making Friends in Medellín as an Expat
• Health Insurance in Colombia: How to Sign up with SURA Insurance
• 11 Downsides to Living in Medellín: An Expat Perspective
• Exchanging Money, Receiving & Transferring Money in Colombia
• How to File Income Taxes (Declaración de Renta) in Colombia
• Colombia’s IVA Tax & How Tourists Can Get an IVA Tax Refund
• 11 Reasons Why Medellín is a Top Foreign Retirement Location
• Medellín Cost of Living for a Couple with 3-Year History
• Expat Cost of Living in Medellín for a Single Woman

Help Keep the Medellin Guru Website Up-To-Date

Medellin Guru is the only blog in Colombia that has a policy of not letting articles on our website go out-of-date.

Things change constantly in Colombia. Out of 223 articles published in the past 12 months, 50 articles have already been updated as things have changed or to address reader comments.

Please help us keep the Medellin Guru website up-to-date!

If you see something that is inaccurate or has changed in any of our articles, please let us know in the article comments or via our contact form. And we’ll make updates so that everything on this website remains up-to-date.

The Bottom Line: Medellin Guru Year in Review – Our Most Popular Articles

Thanks to everyone who read Medellin Guru in our first year, particularly to the many readers of our most popular articles. Also, we thank our many email newsletter subscribers.

We have many new and interesting articles in work for our second year. Also, we look forward to continuing to keep our readers informed and bringing you many more popular articles.

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

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