Medellín Locals Discover Hidden Hillside Trails Tourists Never Find

Groups of residents meet at the lower slopes of Cerro El Volador each Tuesday and Thursday morning for walks that climb through eucalyptus groves and open to views of the Aburrá Valley floor.

Interest in these routes has grown this year as daytime temperatures in central Medellín have stayed above 28 degrees Celsius for longer stretches, pushing more people outdoors earlier in the day. Local fitness routines now favor shaded trails over gym sessions or the busier parks that draw visitors.

Paths near Robledo and the Río Medellín

One route starts behind the Universidad de Antioquia campus in Robledo and follows a 3.2-kilometre loop marked by INDER Medellín signs. Another begins near Puente Madre Laura in Laureles and runs along the western bank of the Río Medellín for 2.8 kilometres before linking to a short ascent into the hills above Belén. Both trails stay within city limits yet receive far fewer out-of-town visitors than Parque Arví or the cable-car viewpoints.

INDER Medellín logged 47,800 visits to these two corridors between January and May 2026, up from 36,200 in the same period the year before. Guided sessions run by the municipal sports institute cost 8,000 Colombian pesos and include water stops and basic first-aid kits at the trailheads.

How to reach the trails from central neighbourhoods

Take the Metro to Universidad station for the Robledo loop or use the Laureles bus route 2-4 to reach the Puente Madre Laura entry point. Walkers should start before 8 a.m. to avoid the afternoon sun and carry identification for the occasional INDER checkpoint. Maps are posted at the trail entrances and updated monthly by the city’s environmental office.

Residents who want to join a group can register through the INDER website or at the district sports offices in Robledo and Belén. Those routes remain open daily with no advance booking required for independent use.