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Antioquia

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Antioquia is a department in the Andino region of Colombia. It is famous for its many coffee plantations. As of 2010 it is advised to stay out of rural areas due to the presence of guerrilla groups like FARC and ELN in northern and nortwestern Antioquia. [1] Landmines are common in the countryside, making much of the area a danger zone. There are also many paramilitary groups operating in this region.[2] Due to the high amounts of violence in the region the Australian Foreign Office advises against travelling to Antioquia. This travel warning was issued in December of 2010 [3]

El Poblado neighborhood in Medellín

Regions[edit]

Cities[edit]

  • Medellín - Considered by many as the best city in Colombia. Medellín is home to the famous yearly "Flower Festival" in August and the first (and still only) metro system in the country: "Metro de Medellín". Home City of Juanes, Fernando Botero and René Higuita. The metropolitan area is surrounded by many small towns which have become virtual suburbs of the city. These include Envigado, Itaguí, Sabaneta and Caldas (south); Bello, Copacabana and Girardota (north). The spread of the city east and west is limited by topography.

Other destinations[edit]

Jardín: A typical small town in Antioquia
  • Capurganá even though outside of Antioquia it is easier to get there from Medellín by plane or by boat from Turbo. A great, quiet beach destination in the Atlantic, near Panamá.
  • Ciudad Bolívar is a great small traditional town surrounded by coffee plantations, mountains, and stunning scenery.
  • Farallones is a great small traditional town surrounded by coffee plantations, mountains, and stunning scenery.
  • Granada is a town East of Antioquia. It's a zone of water, cool weather, but hot people. In this place, you can say "Home, sweet home". It was the cradle of bishop Tiberio de J. Salazar y Herrera.
  • Jardín is a beautiful little town almost 3 hours south of Medellín, with incredible tourist attractions: a gorgeous main plaza, distinctive local architecture, and many country-side activities. Look for the locally produced rainbow trout and coffee to please your senses.
  • Marinilla small town east of Medellín and a popular day trip destination.
  • Sabaneta, Colombia’s smallest municipality, with only 15 km², is located just 14 kilometers (8.1 miles) outside of the capital city of Medellín. Though small, this city has developed tremendously over the last decade and is now a beacon of progress in Colombia. Travel to Sabaneta to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and venture outside of the typical ‘tourist’ destinations. While in Sabaneta, eat at one of the municipality’s many open-air cafes, visit its famous María Auxiliadora Sanctuary, and explore the La Romera Ecological Park.
  • San Carlos, A popular destination for domestic tourists. Known for its natural beauty including many rivers and waterfalls. 55 km East of Medellín.
  • Santa Fe de Antioquia, the oldest capital. A quaint colonial town, 50 km northwest of Medellín.

Understand[edit]

Sleeping Giant mountain and Cauca River in Tarso, Antioquia

Talk[edit]

Get in[edit]

There are 6 operational airports with daily commercial flights in Antioquia.

International Airport

National Airports

  • Olaya Herrera (IATA: EOH; ICAO: SKMD) in Medellín. [5]
  • Antonio Roldán Betancourt (IATA: APO; ICAO: SKLC), Formerly Los Cedros. Located in the municipality of Carepa. Serves Apartadó and the Urabá region in the Atlantic side of the department. It is also the heart of the banana growing region. Four airlines connect this airport to Medellín EOH. [6]

Regional Airports All located in the North of the department, area with heavy gold mining. Flights originate mostly from Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellín.

  • El Tomin (IATA: EBG; ICAO: SKEB) , in the municipality of El Bagre. [7]
  • Otú Airport (IATA: OTU; ICAO: SKOT) in the municipality of Remedios. [8]
  • (Closed as of March 2019) Juan H. White Airport (IATA: CAQ; ICAO: SKCU) in Caucasia. [9]

Get around[edit]

In Medellín you can get around by taxi bus or metro. The metro runs largely along the north-south axis of the city.

By cable car[edit]

Antioquia is mountainous hence Cable Cars have sprawled in the last 2 decades and are becoming popular for both commuting and tourist transportation. You can ride the Metrocables in Medellín which are additional lines of the Metro system [10] or the countryside cable-cars in many small towns in Antioquia : Jardín, Jericó, Sopetrán, San Andrés de Cuerquia, etc.

See[edit]

Mountains: The Andes are majestic in Antioquia
  • also by rental cars and trucks.

Itineraries[edit]

  • San Jeronimo, Sopetran and Santa Fe de Antioquia - Going north-west from downtown Medellín, you arrive at the longest and newest South American tunnel: 4.7 km. After you pass through that tunnel, you start descending mountains and a few minutes later, you are in San Jeronimo, Antioquia. Cruise it on motorcycle, the fun way, don't be scared because its an awesome experience! Weather here is 25 degrees during the whole year. Very close you will find Sopetran, the Antioquias fruits lovely capital. Finally, you get to Santa Fe de Antioquia, one of the five colonial destinations in Colombia, and the way to the Caribbean. This road will take you to Turbo and to the Panama frontier line - the road is more safe now and is not frequented by guerrillas and paramilitaries anymore.
  • Frontino further to the west, is a nice town.

Do[edit]

Floats during the Holy Week - displaying Christ and his mother

The Holy Week in many towns of Antioquia is colorful and passionate.

Buy[edit]

There are too many souvenirs to take away when coming right here. Also, you can purchase handicrafts, t-shirts, ponchos, hats, Aguardiente Antioqueño (liquor), rum, candies, chocolate, coffee, and so on

Eat[edit]

Bandeja Paisa

Drink[edit]

Stay safe[edit]

Act as you would in any large, and potentially unsafe metropolitan area such as Chicago or Sao Paulo.

  • Don't buy drugs, or even ask about them.
  • Do not get in a taxi if there is someone other than the driver in it.
  • Avoid downtown and Parque Berrio at night.
  • Avoid walking around like you're lost, as this may be noticed by the wrong sort of people; if you are lost step in to a cafe or "tienda", restaurant, ask someone there.
  • It's best to use ATMs located in Exito, Carrefour, Carulla (supermarkets in the Medellín area) or to use the ones inside the banks.
  • Always be aware that you might be followed from ATMs and banks.
  • Landmines in the countryside were only present in remote areas, there are currently decreasing in number.
  • The ELN guerrilla is active in a few rural locations of this department. They will kidnap for ransom and hold little sympathy for tourists.

Get out[edit]

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WikiPedia:Antioquia Department