We look at the eight best pueblos near Medellín worth a visit including Guatapé, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Jardín and Jericó. We also look at four hidden gem pueblos near Medellín that you won’t find in most of the English language guidebooks. In 2026, these same pueblos are not only great escapes from the city but also increasingly attractive bases for digital nomads, thanks to improving internet connectivity, better mobile coverage, and more remote‑work‑friendly accommodations.
Some of these best pueblos near Medellín are fairly close to the city. So, they can be easy day trips from Medellín. while others, because of distance and the quality of their “liveability” for remote workers, are better suited for long weekends, multi‑week “workations,” or even seasonal stays. Whether you are planning a quick visit or scouting your next remote‑work base, the following eight pueblos (plus four hidden gems) are all worth having on your 2026 radar.
10 Best Pueblos Near Medelllín
Picturesque Guatapé is a very popular pueblo to visit from Medellín. It’s a great place for a day trip or a weekend getaway from Medellín. In my opinion, no trip to Medellín and Antioquia would be complete without a trip to Guatapé. Located next to the massive man-made lake that was created for a hydroelectric dam built in the 1970s, it’s now a lakeside pueblo with many sidewalk restaurants and cafes plus water activities in the area
Also, there is El Peñól de Guatapé, which is a gigantic rock with incredible views. One of the most popular things to do in the area is to climb this huge monolith rock near the pueblo, which offers fantastic views of the area. If you visit during the weekends, you’ll typically see the pueblo packed with Colombian tourists and, on Saturdays and Sundays, the boardwalk fills up with local vendors selling art, food and souvenirs; during the week there are far fewer tourists, so you’ll have the pueblo more to yourself with the colorful locals
For digital nomads in 2025–2026, Guatapé is increasingly used as a high‑energy “second base” rather than just a quick excursion, thanks to a growing number of accommodations and cafés offering fast, stable Wi‑Fi suitable for video calls and cloud‑based work. The compact, walkable center, frequent buses from Medellín and easy access to outdoor activities make it especially appealing if you want a few weeks of lakeside living without being too far from the city.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 4/5
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Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Long‑stay visitors can shift from tourist mode to local mode by integrating into weekly rhythms instead of racing through a checklist of attractions. Join the lake community through recurring wakeboard, paddleboard or kayak sessions to build routine, friendships and movement into your workweek, spend half or full days at family‑run coffee farms learning the bean‑to‑cup process and returning on subsequent weekends to deepen relationships and understand rural life, and link up with local runners or hikers to explore lesser‑known forest paths and waterfall routes over several outings, using early mornings or off‑days for progressive exploration.
From Medellin to Guatapé
Location: about two hours east of Medellín – depart from the North Bus Terminal (Terminal Norte).
Guatapé is easy to get to. It’s only about two hours away from Medellín. So, you can go for a day trip or stay longer. Also, Guatapé is extremely colorful with the homes painted many colors and many have additional decorations.
If you are planning to use Colombia’s digital nomad visa to stay for many months or even up to two years, Guatapé works especially well as a flexible second base where you can balance high‑speed productivity with a very local paisa lifestyle, and expatrouop.co specialized legal team can guide you step by step through your 2026 visa process so you can focus on work and life by the lake.
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Colonial Jardín is a tranquil get-away from Medellín that boasts breathtaking mountain views and fewer tourists than the popular pueblo of Guatapé. All the travel guidebooks recommend Guatapé as a ‘must-do’ day trip from Medellín, but if you are looking for a longer weekend break, to a destination with fewer backpackers, then the valley pueblo of Jardín is just the ticket.
Jardín (pronounced har-deen) is one of the most well-kept colonial towns in Colombia. Most noteworthy, it’s virtually unchanged architecturally for the last 140 years.This quaint pueblo is bursting with vibrantly colored houses which pop-out against the surrounding green of the banana-leaf and ceiba tree-covered mountains.
It’s a place where men ride down the unpaved side streets on horses with cowboy hats, where locals congregate around the central square on a Saturday night, and where it is okay to take life a little bit more slowly. For those wanting a quiet retreat from the bustle of Medellín, it’s a perfect getaway: the pueblo, with less than 20,000 people, offers both the tranquility of whiling away the day in a hammock or reading a book and a haven of outdoor adventures nearby for nature lovers.
In 2025–2026, Jardín is also becoming a favorite base for digital nomads who value a slow pace and deep focus, as more guesthouses and cafés now provide reliable Wi‑Fi and comfortable spaces to work a few hours each day before heading out on hikes or coffee-farm visits. Its small size, walkable streets, and strong local culture make it especially attractive if you want to stay for several weeks, improve your Spanish, and build routines that balance remote work with immersion in rural Antioquia life.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 4/5
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Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Long‑stay visitors in Jardín can ditch the 10‑hour “all‑in‑one” tour format and structure their weeks more like a Jardineño, with recurring learning and nature routines instead of rushed checklists. Commit to intensive Spanish immersion through group or private classes (for example, at a local school such as Hablea) so you can fully participate in community life, then volunteer with eco‑projects, cultural initiatives or hospitality exchanges to connect with residents and other travelers while giving something back to the region you’re calling home. Use free days and weekends for extended nature exploration, visiting Cueva del Esplendor, hiking multiple miradores and joining multi‑day birdwatching or cloud‑forest walks, and spend unhurried time at local fincas learning about beekeeping, pollination and coffee cultivation, turning a simple tour into an ongoing relationship with nearby farms.
From Medellin to Jardín
Location: about 3 to 4 hours southwest of Medellín – depart from the South Bus Terminal (Terminal Sur).
The bottom line is that Jardín is a great place for a weekend getaway from Medellín and is worth visiting.
Santa Fe de Antioquia is known for its well-preserved colonial architecture and cobbled streets. And it’s the perfect pueblo for a day trip from Medellín.The weather is nearly perfect in Medellín almost every day. The people are friendly. The mountains are beautiful. But sometimes, you just need to escape the city.
Sometimes you just want a change of scenery and some fresh air. And Santa Fe de Antioquia is a good place to go. Also, a road-trip to Santa Fe takes you through some spectacular landscapes. Founded in 1541 by Jorge Robledo, Santa Fe de Antioquia reigns as one of the oldest settlements in the region. It is also one of the best-preserved pueblos in Colombia.
Affectionately called by some ‘The Mother City’, Santa Fe was originally the capital of Antioquia; however, in 1826 the Government of Antioquia moved to Medellín, taking with it all the money for investment in infrastructure and consequently leaving Santa Fe a beautifully preserved pueblo where time has essentially stood still. When you stroll through the town, you will encounter a plethora of architectural gems, from historical churches to bougainvillea-lined plazas, all of which have been declared a national monument.
By 2025–2026, Santa Fe de Antioquia has also become a popular “workation” spot for remote workers who want a warm-climate colonial setting within easy reach of Medellín, with more boutique hotels and cafés now offering stable Wi‑Fi and quiet corners for a few hours of laptop time. Its walkable center, reliable transport connections, and strong sense of history make it an appealing choice if you want to spend several days or a long weekend working part-time while immersing yourself in one of Antioquia’s most emblematic heritage towns.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 4/5
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Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Long‑stay visitors in Santa Fe de Antioquia can treat the town as a base for slow, layered cultural immersion rather than rushing through a checklist of sights. You can enroll in multi‑day or recurring filigree silver jewelry workshops to get to know local artisans, use days off for rafting or river excursions on the nearby Cauca River, and repeat heritage‑focused walks around colonial churches, plazas and monuments to practice photography and better understand its National Monument status, while full‑day visits to nearby coffee farms such as Finca El Porvenir or similar haciendas let you learn cultivation, processing and tasting in stages so a one‑time tour becomes an ongoing relationship with the region’s coffee culture.
From Medellin to Santa Fe de Antioquia
Location: about 1.5 hours northwest from Medellín – depart from the North Bus Terminal (Terminal Norte).
Santa Fe de Antioquia popular due to its well-preserved colonial architecture, cobbled streets and many things to see and do.
Jericó in Southern Antioquia is known as the Athens of the Southwest and proudly displays all the necessary ingredients for the perfect touristic destination.It has religious attractions, a well-preserved colonial architecture and heritage, generous nature all around, hiking and paragliding, and Jericó is one of the best coffee towns in Colombia, which is culturally rich.
Any nature lovers, walkers, hikers and paragliders will be content with what the landscape of Jericó has in store. This little pueblo is located in the foothills of the Western Mountain Range at a height of 6,400 feet (1,950 meters) above sea level and overlooks the canyon of the Rio Cauca, which is the second longest river in Colombia, so Jericó offers incredible viewpoints. These are many of the reasons why Jericó should be on your bucket-list while you are in Antioquia or even in Colombia. If you want to discover an authentic side of Colombia, a blend of nature, sports activities, a religious destination, well-preserved architectures and identity, visit Jericó.
If you want to discover an authentic side of Colombia, a blend of nature, sports activities, a religious destination, well-preserved architectures and identity, visit Jericó. For 2025–2026, it is also emerging as a calm, culture-forward base for remote workers, as more guesthouses, eco-lodges and cafés offer reliable Wi‑Fi and quiet spaces where you can work a few focused hours each day before heading out for hikes, paragliding, or coffee-farm visits
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 4/5
Coworking and Laptop‑Friendly Spots
Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Jericó is particularly well‑suited to 2–4‑week or longer stays built around routine and gradual immersion. You can join community‑oriented hostels or coffee farms for structured work exchanges, typically a set number of hours per week in hospitality, gardening or social projects, in return for room, board and deeper local integration, then dedicate at least a week to learning traditional leathercraft with local artisans, including the iconic Carriel bag that represents Jericó’s heritage. Weekends lend themselves to paragliding over the Cauca Valley, longer hikes and trail days to waterfalls and high viewpoints, while permaculture and eco‑living workshops at local ecolodges focused on organic gardening, soil care and garden‑to‑table cooking help align your stay with more sustainable everyday practices.
From Medellin to Jericó
Location: about three hours south of Medellín – depart from the South Bus Terminal (Terminal Sur).
Located only about three hours from Medellín, discover what is considered one of the best pueblos in Colombia.
Barbosa, Antioquia is a pueblo or small town located only about 35 minutes from Medellín. Surprisingly, Barbosa is off the beaten path and it’s a hidden gem, as it surprisingly hasn’t yet been discovered by many foreign tourists. This is due to Barbosa not being in any of the English-language Colombia guidebooks and not much information about this pueblo is available on the Internet.
Barbosa is a close and great getaway from Medellín with streams, waterfalls, natural swimming pools, hiking, horseback riding and many other things to do nearby, and it’s located at the northern end of the Aburrá Valley. In addition, Barbosa has trails linking the town with surrounding villages, so there is ample opportunity for hiking or horseback riding while being surrounded by nature for those who like getting off the beaten path; this is also a kid‑friendly location with many water activities for children.
But it’s located so close to Medellín that it makes for a very easy day trip, and there is enough to do in Barbosa and nearby to make it a nice weekend getaway location as well. In 2025–2026, this proximity and rich outdoor offer also make Barbosa increasingly attractive for digital nomads who want a more authentic, nature‑heavy base while staying within commuting distance of Medellín’s metro system, with more guesthouses and cafés now offering workable Wi‑Fi and flexible stays for “outdoor office” routines.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 4/5
Coworking and Laptop‑Friendly Spots
Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Barbosa is well suited to a recurring “outdoor office” routine rather than a one‑off excursion. Instead of visiting just one swimming spot, you can structure your weeks around exploring different waterfall areas and natural pools in the surrounding hills with local guides or hiking groups, spend repeated visits at nearby family‑run cocoa and coffee farms to learn harvesting, roasting and preparation step by step, and use long weekends for guided treks into more remote valleys and river areas where you stay with rural families, share local food and discover higher, less‑visited waterfalls. To mix in a bit more adrenaline, guided ATV outings into the nearby mountains let you learn about regional crops such as avocado and trout farming while building confidence on off‑road tracks.
From Medellin to Barbosa
Location: about 35 minutes northeast of Medellín – depart on a metro bus from the Medellín metro Niquía station on Line A.
o, it you don’t have time to visit one of the Antioquia pueblos that are located further away, Barbosa is a much closer option that is worth visiting.
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San Carlos is a small pueblo near Medellín that hasn’t yet been discovered by many foreigners. But it’s a hidden gem surrounded by mountains, rivers, waterfalls and nature.We were looking for a new pueblo to go to on a long weekend. And a Colombian friend recommended San Carlos. So, I went and I was amazed by all the water activities and hiking available near this small pueblo. Unfortunately, my friend didn’t tell me how long some of the hikes are in the area or I would have spent more time there.
In addition, San Carlos can be seen as a major success story of a troubled pueblo in Colombia with a bloody past that has completely turned things around with the help of the Colombian military and it is now considered a safe place to visit. San Carlos is a small pueblo near Medellín that is definitely worth visiting, particularly if you like hiking and nature. And it’s completely off the beaten path of foreigner tourists.
For 2025–2026, San Carlos is also becoming increasingly attractive for eco‑minded digital nomads, as more central accommodations and cafés offer usable Wi‑Fi while the town continues to position itself as a base for waterfall routes, canyoning and birdwatching rather than mass tourism. If you want a quieter, nature‑first “workation” within reach of Medellín, San Carlos is one of the most compelling options to add to your Antioquia stay.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 3.5/5
Coworking and Laptop‑Friendly Spots
Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
San Carlos lends itself to a slow‑living itinerary measured in weeks rather than days. You can spend different weekends visiting a variety of named cascades and swimming holes, such as La Cascada, Charco Negro and other well‑known charcos, instead of trying to see everything in a single trip, weave in time at local reserves or farms that teach agroecology, permaculture and low‑impact living so workshops fit alongside your regular remote‑work hours, and join professional guides for advanced canyoning and rappelling routes where controlled descents and natural slides are taught over several days. After focused workweeks, dedicate full “piedra‑style” summit days to ascending the region’s large rock formations or panoramic viewpoints around San Carlos, enjoying sweeping views of the hydroelectric landscape and surrounding mountain ranges as your reward.
From Medellin to San Carlos
Location: about 4 to 5 hours east of Medellín – depart from the North Bus Terminal (Terminal Norte).
When I visited San Carlos, I didn’t hear English once in the three days and two nights I was there. Furthermore, some local shopkeepers told me there are rarely foreign tourists in the pueblo.
For digital nomads who want their 2026 Colombia season to revolve around water, forest, and focus, San Carlos can work as a retreat‑style base, especially when combined with a valid stay authorization such as the digital nomad visa, which lets you commit to longer, healthier routines while your migration paperwork is handled by a specialized team.
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Abejorral is a small pueblo only about three hours from Medellín that hasn’t yet been discovered by many foreigner tourists. But it’s a hidden gem with dazzling landscapes that is a perfect opportunity for hikers and rock climbers to escape Medellín.
Abejorral is a small pueblo that currently has a population of about 20,000and its economy is primarily related to agriculture, cattle raising, mining and floriculture, though there is growing interest in tourism thanks to its traditional architecture and dramatic scenery.
However, it’s hoped that tourism will increase in the area. Abejorral has tourism opportunities, since it has old houses of typical Antioquia architecture. And there are also waterfalls and dazzling landscapes nearby. The pueblo of Abejorral is quaint, colorful and traditional. The colonial architecture that is so popular in Colombia is displayed prominently here, leading the historical center of the town to be considered a Colombian National Monument in its own right.
Abejorral is a picturesque pueblo that makes for a great weekend trip from Medellin. Also, it’s off the beaten path of foreigner tourists, so you likely won’t hear much English.For remote workers in 2025–2026, this also means a quieter “deep-focus” environment with a handful of guesthouses and rural stays now offering workable Wi‑Fi and simple workspaces, making Abejorral an appealing choice if you want to combine serious hiking and cliffside viewpoints with concentrated work blocks away from big-city distractions.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 3.5/5
Coworking and Laptop‑Friendly Spots
Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Abejorral fits especially well for one‑ or two‑week deep‑focus sprints paired with high‑impact outdoor adventures. You can spend weekdays in an “aerial office” setup at a cliffside lodge, combining quiet morning work blocks with afternoon activities such as rappelling, cable‑assisted swings and other supervised high‑exposure experiences that take advantage of the canyon setting, then devote several days to walking and photographing the protected historic center, where façades, churches and street scenes have changed little over the decades. Round out your stay by joining local guides for hikes into the Buey River canyon area, visiting viewpoints, rock formations, caves and wildlife sanctuaries at dawn or dusk, and planning high‑altitude picnics on nearby Cerro‑style peaks for sunrise or sunset views over southwest Antioquia and the canyon system.
From Medellin to Abejorral
Location: about three hours south from Medellín – depart from the North or South Bus Terminals (Terminal Norte or Terminal Sur).
But there are many things to do, especially if you have an adventurous streak. And the area around the pueblo features spectacular views of the Colombian countryside.
A traditional craft in Colombia that is often less highlighted is the country’s world-renowned ceramics industry. And the heart of that industry lies in the small pueblo El Carmen de Viboral near Medellín, which is definitely worth visiting. El Carmen de Viboral is located only 34 miles (54km) from Medellín in the Eastern Hills, making it an easy cultural day trip if you are based in the city.
Colombia’s ceramics industry is also starting to become more well-known and is quite interesting. El Carmen de Viboral has the added benefit of not yet being on the foreign tourist trail, which makes a visit there all the more authentic.This unassuming pueblo is a hidden gem, still waiting to be discovered by foreigners. It’s full of pottery shops and a number of still surviving workshops. The brightly colored ‘Ceramics Street’ adds to its charm. And it’s the perfect day-trip from Medellín to learn about the ceramics history in Colombia and to pick up a bargain souvenir.
The pocket-sized pueblo of El Carmen de Viboral can justifiably claim to be the heart of Colombia’s ceramics industry. This is because there are still several factories and workshops in existence that produce artisanal, individually hand-decorated ceramics. he ceramics production in El Carmen de Viboral focuses primarily on exquisite tableware, kitchen utensils, washbasins, candlesticks and vases, and its renowned tradition of ceramics making has even placed El Carmen de Viboral on the world map, with pieces owned by the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and former U.S. President Barack Obama.
For 2025–2026, this strong craft identity also makes El Carmen de Viboral especially appealing to “creative nomads,” who can spend mornings working online from local cafés with solid Wi‑Fi and afternoons learning traditional techniques in nearby talleres, turning the pueblo into a small but inspiring base for remote work and hands-on making.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 4/5
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Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Instead of simply buying a plate as a souvenir, El Carmen rewards multi‑week stays built around learning and collaboration. You can enroll in multi‑session or multi‑week ceramics workshops at local factories and studios where artisans guide you through molding, decorating and glazing pieces with the town’s traditional under‑glaze techniques, join countryside agroecology projects that mix small‑scale agriculture, animal care and eco‑construction while you maintain a regular remote‑work schedule, and spend weekends at markets and open studios meeting multi‑generation ceramic artists and other “slow travelers” who have chosen El Carmen as their seasonal base. Many cultural and sustainability projects in town also look for help with photography, video and online storytelling, giving nomads the chance to trade digital skills for experience, networking and local recognition.
From Medellin to El Carmen de Viboral
Location: about 1.5 hours east of Medellín – depart from the North Bus Terminal (Terminal Norte).
Keep in mind to have a coat when you visit Carmen de Viboral. The average temperature is 18º Celsius (64º Fahrenheit). Take sunscreen and protect yourself as much as possible with a hat or cap if you are going to be exposed to the sun.
9. Támesis – The “Green Balcony”
Often called the “Green Balcony of Antioquia,” Támesis is a small town in the southwest of the department, surrounded by dramatic mountains and deep valleys that make it especially attractive to nature‑focused travelers and remote workers. In recent years it has shifted from a niche adventure‑tourism stop to a serious base for nomads who want immersive contact with nature while still keeping a stable work routine.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 4/5
Coworking and Laptop‑Friendly Spots
Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Támesis is ideal for multi‑week eco‑nomad routines that mix focused work with a gradual discovery of the valley and its heritage. You can make repeated outings with local or indigenous guides to ancient rock art sites around the Cartama Valley to learn how to read the petroglyph symbols and their cultural context, join guided caving and river trips where multi‑hour or multi‑day outings reveal rock formations, underground streams and clear jungle pools, and arrange stays on or regular visits to local coffee farms to learn regenerative practices, planting, harvesting and roasting so that weekends or days off become an ongoing agricultural apprenticeship rather than a one‑time tour.
From Medellín to Támesis
Location: Támesis lies roughly 100–105 km southwest of Medellín, with a typical road travel time of about 3 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
Public transport: Direct intermunicipal buses to Támesis depart from Medellín’s Terminal del Sur (South Bus Terminal), which is the main hub for southern Antioquia routes.
The journey is scenic and generally pleasant; however, travel times can vary depending on traffic and road conditions.
10. Concepción – The Colonial Sanctuary”
Concepción is a small National Heritage town that has preserved its colonial essence since the 18th century, with cobbled streets, whitewashed houses, wooden balconies, and a striking main church that give it one of the most “frozen‑in‑time” atmospheres in Antioquia. By 2026 it functions as an exceptionally quiet frontier for digital nomads who want near‑total escape from city noise while still maintaining enough connectivity to work with clients abroad.
Digital Nomad Viability Score: 4/5
Coworking and Laptop‑Friendly Spots
Long‑Stay Immersive Activities
Concepción rewards long stays that revolve around quiet observation and simple routines rather than packed itineraries. You can spend days or weeks doing “living heritage” photography of colonial façades, doors, balconies and everyday street scenes in a town that has largely resisted modern architectural change, then dedicate your weekends to nearby waterfalls and charcos—such as La Chorrera‑style cascades and swimming holes a few kilometers away—to cool off and reset between workweeks. With very little English spoken, regular visits to corner shops, cafés and nearby farms also become informal Spanish lessons with locals and farmers, allowing a month‑long stay to significantly boost your fluency.
From Medellín to Concepción
Location: Concepción is about 60–75 km northeast of Medellín, with a typical road journey taking roughly 1.5 to 2 hours depending on route and road conditions.
Public transport: Buses or shared transport normally depart from Terminal del Norte, often heading first toward San Vicente Ferrer and then continuing on to Concepción, with the full trip usually around two hours.
Ensure you take the route via Barbosa, which takes just over 90 minutes. Avoid the route via San Vicente if possible, as it is significantly longer and involves unpaved roads
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The Best of Medellín, Colombia
Besides this article about the eight best pueblos near Medellín, Medellin Guru has several more articles about the best and top places and things to do in Medellín including:
- 35 Top Things to Do in Medellín and Nearby: Top Tourist Attractions
- 21 Best FREE Things to Do in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 17 Top Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Medellín and Nearby
- 14 Best Malls of Medellín – the Ultimate Guide to Medellín Malls
- 12 Best Museums of Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 8 Best Pueblos Near Medellín Worth Visiting
- 7 Best Panoramic Views of Medellín
- 5 Best Neighborhoods in Medellín
- 2 Best Walking Tours in Medellín
- 14 Top Churches in Medellín Worth Visiting
- 22 Best Mobile Apps to Use in Medellín and Colombia
Also, Medellin Guru has several more articles about the best restaurants and coffee shops in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley:
- 19 Best restaurants in Laureles in Medellín
- 15 Best Restaurants in Envigado, Colombia
- 15 Best Restaurants in Sabaneta, Colombia
- 14 Best Pizza Places in Medellín: The Best Pizzerias in the City
- 13 Best Burgers in Medellín: Best Burger Places in the Aburrá Valley
- 12 Best Steakhouses in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 12 Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in El Poblado
- 10 Best Mexican Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Colombian Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Italian Restaurants in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley
- 9 Best Places for Brunch in El Poblado
- 5 Best Independent Coffee Shops in El Poblado
- 8 Top Coffee Shops in Laureles
- 5 Best Nano/Micro Breweries in Medellín
The Best Pueblos Near Medellín – Problems with the Travel Guidebooks
The English language Colombia travel guidebooks in my opinion don’t do a good job of covering the best pueblos near Medellín. The most widely sold travel guidebook about Colombia is the Lonely Planet Colombia Travel Guide.
In August 2018, Lonely Planet published a new edition of their Colombia guidebook. And in my opinion, this new Lonely Planet guidebook isn’t much better than the previous edition published in 2015. I reviewed the 2018 Lonely Planet Colombia travel guide in a separate article.
For example, the 2018 Lonely Planet Colombia (Travel Guide) only includes three pueblos near Medellín: Guatapé, Santa Fe de Antioquia and Jardín. So, they are missing five of the eight pueblos in our best pueblos near Medellín list.
Throughout Lonely Planet’s Colombia travel guide they are missing many of the best things to see and do in Colombia including a number of the best pueblos. Plus there are inaccuracies and out-of-date information.
Other English language travel guidebooks about Colombia are also missing many of the best pueblos near Medellín. So, unfortunately some of the best pueblos near Medellín remain hidden gems that are off the radar of foreigner tourists visiting the city.
The Bottom Line: 10 Best Pueblos Near Medellín Worth a Visit Including Hidden Gems
There are many pueblos located near Medellín that are worth visiting but some have fewer things to do. The eight pueblos highlighted in this article were chosen because they offer plenty of activities nearby and are truly worth spending time in.
Four different writers for Medellin Guru wrote detailed guides to all eight pueblos in this list, and you can click on the link in the heading of each pueblo above to find these guides, which include the best things to do, where to stay and how to get to each destination. Within a 4‑ or 5‑hour radius of Medellín there are literally dozens of pueblos, and almost all of them still don’t appear in English‑language travel guidebooks.
For 2025–2026, many of these towns are also evolving into attractive “workation” and digital‑nomad bases thanks to better internet, more flexible accommodations and a growing remote‑worker community, so this list now doubles as a starting point for choosing where to live and work outside the city for a few days, weeks or even months. The plan is to keep exploring more pueblos near Medellín and to update this article whenever new hidden gems prove they belong on any list of the best pueblos near Medellín worth visiting, and potentially, worth working from.
What is your favorite pueblo near Medellín?
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