Sports & Recreation
Articles about Sports & Recreation from Medellin Living — expat guides, news and first-hand experience in Medellín, Colombia.
Why Medellín Is Emerging as South America’s Wellness Travel Hotspot
Short on time? Medellín is easily becoming one of South America’s fastest-growing wellness travel destinations. This city combines ideal weather, stunning natural surroundings, outdoor activities, healthy dining, luxury…
Waterfall Hiking Near Medellín: The Best Trails to Cascada La Miel and Surrounding Nature Spots
Short on time? Nature spots leading to the famous Cascada La Miel range from waterfall trails to forest viewpoints, showcasing Antioquia’s natural beauty.
Cycling the Green Corridors of Medellín: Best Urban Bike Routes and Rental Tips
Short on time? The Medellín River Green Corridor is one of the best urban bike routes in Medellín.
Atlético Nacional Medellín: Everything You Need to Know
Short on time? Atlético Nacional is Medellín’s most successful football club, with a rich history dating back to 1947. Known as “Los Verdolagas”, the club has won numerous Colombian league titles and is one of the few…
Where to Run in Medellín: A Guide to the Best Trails & Circuits.
Short on time? Medellín offers an excellent variety of running routes, from flat urban circuits and riverside paths to demanding mountain climbs. Ciudad del Río and Parque Lineal La Frontera work well for easy runs,…
Medellín from Above: 5 Different Ways to View the City from Above.
Short on time? Medellín’s location in the Aburrá Valley creates some of Colombia’s most impressive panoramic views. You can see the city from above by paragliding, riding the Metrocable, visiting Cerro Nutibara, taking…
Mountains Around Medellín: The Most Beautiful Viewpoints and Day Trips (2026 Guide)
html id=”p8vk3m” TLDR? Medellín’s mountain setting makes it one of the best cities in Colombia for scenic viewpoints and unforgettable day trips. From Cerro de las Tres Cruces and Cerro El Volador to Guatapé, San…
Best Hikes Around Medellín (2026 Guide): Scenic Trails, Waterfalls, and Mountain Views
TLDR? Medellín is surrounded by excellent hiking trails, from quick city viewpoints like Cerro Tres Cruces to waterfall hikes, forest paths, and multi-day mountain adventures. Medellín is famous for its food, nightlife,…
Carlos Gardel Tour: Discovering the History of Tango in Medellin
The Carlos Gardel Tour, offered by Zorba Travel, takes visitors on a journey to discover the history of tango in Medellin, Colombia.
The Best Places to Go Horseback Riding in Medellín
Tired of touring Medellin on traditional means of transport? Then you should try enjoying the stunning landscapes and beautiful mountains on horse riding. Horseback riding tours in Medellin are a family-friendly…
Spending an Evening at the Medellín Circus
If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to have fun on an evening in Medellin, you may want to visit the Medellin Circus. This circus has been around for more than a decade and is an amazing place to go to watch…
A Few of the Top Parks and Nature Trails Around Medellín
Medellin is one of the most developed and innovative cities in Colombia. Although industrialized, it still preserves a lot of nature around it and even within the urban area. On the outskirts of this city, you can find…
Make a Splash in One of Medellin’s Best Swimming Pools
Life in the tropics may mean sunny weather and great temperatures year-round, but it also means that you’ve got to find some way to cool down when things get too hot. While you can always switch on the AC, I personally…
Your Guide to Cocora Valley: Medellin’s Best Weekend Getaway
Are you thinking of a weekend getaway outside Medellin but still don’t know where to go? Then the Cocora Valley might be a good pick. Thanks to its coffee landscapes and walks through wax palms up to 70 meters high,…
The Best Places to Run a Mile in Laureles
Running is one of the easiest ways to burn calories and stay fit. You don’t need any equipment except for a pair of running shoes, water, and some good music to help you stay focused. Laureles, Medellin is a unique…
Get Your Workout on at the Best Gym in Medellin
While food is one of life’s pleasures, you can’t forget to work out every now and then. Even if you’re only spending a few weeks in Medellin, you can always try something new at one of the city’s gyms. Now, while there…
Medellin Weather: It’s Raining It’s Pouring…AGAIN?!
Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, has grown more than any other city. Despite its complicated past, Medellín is now a modern, innovative, and beautiful city. Also called the City of Eternal Spring, Medellin is…
10 Running Races in Medellin
There are a variety of running races taking place in Medellin, including 5Ks, 10Ks, and marathons.
Where to Watch the World Cup in Medellin
A soccer fan’s guide on where to watch the World Cup 2018 matches in Medellin.
AcroYoga in Medellín and The Upcoming Primavera Event
AcroYoga Medellín has been practiced for years and has a growing community! They’re having an event in April with two workshops created for all levels.
10 Steps to Safe Cycling in Medellín
Editor’s Note: The Following is a guest post by Denise Nelson Cycling in Medellín, Colombia is a beautiful experience. The city has a true value for the nature that surrounds it, as well as the immaculate architecture.…
Road Cycling Routes Around Medellín
There are many road cycling routes around Medellin. Here are some of the roads traveled by guest blogger Alan.
Finca Chill Out Retreat in San Jerónimo
Ximena tells us about her time at the Finca Chill Out Retreat in San Jerónimo and how you can be at the next one.
Dancefree Salsa and Bachata School
Dancefree Dance School offers salsa and bachata classes to anyone from beginners to experts – a great way to boost confidence and get dancing.
The Medellín Cricket Club
Cricket has come to Medellín, yes cricket. Learn about the Medellín Cricket Club and their first ever game against Bogotá.
What I Miss About Poker in Medellín
This article identifies the Top 3 Countries to play poker at in Latin America, and explains what the author miss about playing poker in Medellín, Colombia.
An Interactive Flower Tour with Casa de Colombia and Entre Flores
On their new tour in La Ceja, Entre Flores offers guests an interactive learning experience and a chance to get to know Colombia’s incredible biodiversity.
Sudamericana Final 2014: A Celebration at La 70
Ryan takes in the raucous atmosphere along La 70 to watch the Sudamericana Final 2014 between Colombia’s Atlético Nacional and Argentina’s River Plate.
El Balcón De Los Artistas: A Passion for Dance
Located in the Manrique neighborhood, El Balcón de Los Artistas offers group and private dance instruction.
Taking to the Mountains with Colombian Bike Junkies
A one-day downhill mountain biking tour to Santa Fe de Antioquia with Colombian Bike Junkies in Medellín.
Martial Arts in Medellín at MMA Colombia
MMA COLOMBIA trains four of the most efficient and ancient disciplines in the fighting arena: Boxing, Brazilian Jiujitsu, Wrestling and Muay Thai.
The Best CrossFit Gyms in Medellín
CrossFit, the sport that took the world by storm, has arrived in Colombia too. Here we highlight some of the best CrossFit gyms in Medellín.
108 Yoga: A Dynamic and Invigorating Workout
108 Yoga is a modern and welcoming yoga studio in Poblado offering an array of different classes for all levels.
La Fiesta es Colombiana: Colombia Bites Uruguay, Advances to WC Quarterfinals
Colombia beat Uruguay 2-0 in the Round of 16, a historic occasion which sends Colombia to the World Cup Quarterfinals for the first time.
Best Day Trips From Medellín
Ryan tells us the best day trips you can take from Medellín, including popular stops such as Guatapé and Santa Elena and the somewhat unknown San Rafael.
Colombia Rolls Over Japan, Advances to Round of 16
Colombia put on a goal scoring clinic versus Japan. Andrew gives us a recap of the game and a look at Colombia vs Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16.
Colombia Advances to World Cup Second Round
With their win over Ivory Coast, Colombia advances to the second round of the 2014 World Cup. Andrew gives us his account from downtown Medellín.
Colombia Defeats Greece, We Kill 5 Bottles of Rum
A recap of Colombia’s first match against Greece in the 2014 World Cup, plus a look ahead at their match against the Ivory Coast June 19.
An Introduction to Colombia in the 2014 World Cup
It has been 16 years since Colombia was last in the World Cup. How do you think Colombia will do? Andrew gives us his Colombia in the 2014 World Cup review.
2014 Liga Postobon Semifinal: Atlético Nacional v. Santafe
The 2014 Liga Postobon Semifinal saw Medellín’s Atlético Nacional beat Bogotá’s Independiente Santafe 2-0 to advance to the finals against Junior.
La Familia Naranja (Los Gringos de Envigado FC)
La Familia Naranja (Los Gringos de Envigado FC) is a soccer fan club created by foreigners to build local support for the Envigado FC soccer team.
Learning to Skydive in Colombia
Hans-Peter A. Porup shares his experience learning to skydive in Colombia, along with a recommended jump school should you want to go skydiving too.
Over the Hills: Cycling in Medellin, Colombia
Cycling in Medellin, Colombia has reached critical mass, and is second only to soccer in terms of national sports. In Medellin, expect lots of hills.
Learning Bachata with Santo Baile
Dave’s experience learning to dance bachata in Medellin, Colombia. Here he presents a video of what he learned after 7 to 8 hours of private lessons.
Volcom’s In Color Latin America Skate Tour Hits Medellin
On November 19, the Volcom In Color Latin America Skate Tour featuring David Gonzalez arrived in Medellin for a demo at the Estadio Skatepark.
Travelocity’s Let’s Roam Colombia
Let’s Roam Colombia is a series of web videos from Courtney Scott’s visit to the country in 2013. Episodes include Medellin, Cartagena, Salento and Bogota.
Top 5 Extreme Activities in Colombia
A quick list of five extreme activities in Colombia, including whitewater rafting, paragliding, rappelling down waterfalls, windsurfing, and scuba diving.
Santo Baile: Best Place to Learn Colombian Style Salsa in Medellin
Dave’s experience learning Colombian style salsa at Santo Baile, a dance studio in the upscale Poblado neighborhood of Medellin.
15 Lessons Learned at the World Cup Qualifying Match in Barranquilla
Jennifer shares 15 lessons learned after traveling to attend the Colombia v. Ecuador World Cup qualifying match in the coastal city of Barranquilla.
International Skateboarding Day
This was shot at the Estadio skate park during the 2012 International Skateboarding Day. Lots of cool tricks, but my favorite is 360 kickflip to 50-50 grind at the 4:03 mark.
River View Park: A Traveling Amusement Park Arrives in Sabaneta
River View Park is a traveling amusement park that goes on tour around Colombia every year. For Medellin, the park is situated in Sabaneta to the south.
Medellin: Candidate City for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games
Last Thursday, Medellin lost out to Buenos Aires for the city picked to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. The above promotional video created to show off Medellin’s sports and athletic facilities is by far the highest…
Playing Tejo: The Colombian Sport of Throwing Rocks at Gunpowder
Playing tejo is a popular pastime amongst Colombia’s working class, involving pucks, gunpowder, and optionally, beer drinking and vallenato music.
Beating Bogotá: Nacional 2, Millonarios 1
The camera held the evidence, the photos and the video that would prove whether I had witnessed Nacional topple Millonarios in a fútbol game this week. Photo of my friends and I celebrating the win? Check. Photo of a…
Mountain Biking and ATV Rides with Adventure Trails Medellin
Medellin, and Antioquia as a whole, offers loads of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies to get their regular fill of fun. Not only is cycling on the highways popular, but you can also leave the…
Paragliding World Cup 2013
For the last few weeks, the Paragliding World Cup has been taking place in Roldanillo, in Valle de Cauca. So far, I’ve been paragliding in Medellin twice, and both times were a lot of fun. _________ Medellín Paragliding…
Bodytech Gym at Premium Plaza
Bodytech gym is a nationwide chain of high-end gyms throughout Colombia. In this post, Dave takes you inside the Premium Plaza location in Medellin.
Football — Not Fútbol — in Colombia
The 2012 NFL season started last month. It’s always huge news in the United States, the country’s biggest sporting attraction. In Colombia, there is football too. I’m not talking about fútbol either. I’m talking about…
Colombian Cycling, King of the Mountains
I have to admit, I’ve never had the opportunity to travel to Colombia, and am embarrassed to say I know little about Colombian culture. So when offered the opportunity to write on MedellinLiving.com, I was initially at…
Golf in Colombia
Golf. It’s hardly the first sport that comes to mind when you think of a South American country like Colombia, yet it is beginning to gain popularity here. Colombia boasts over 50 courses, which ranks it third behind…
Horseback Riding in Guarne
My body hurts a little, but it’s a good kind of pain, the kind you get after doing something fun. This time, it was horseback riding in Guarne, a small town just north of Rio Negro. I had been looking forward to this…
Bowling Anyone?
We were riding our bikes on a Saturday afternoon, when suddenly the skies opened and it began to rain and we needed somewhere to take cover and quickly. Luckily, Itor remembered a place where his dad used to take him…
Manny Mania Colombia 2011
Manny Mania Colombia 2011 from SkateCol This skate video was shot at Parque de las Luces in downtown Medellin.
Pole Dancing with the Ladies of Medellin
Pole dancing is one of the hottest physical exercises around. And, there is no better place to see it, experience it or dream about it than in the land of some of the hottest ladies. Even as a woman, I know that…
Best Place to Learn LA or Cuban Style Salsa in Medellin
A profile of the best place to learn LA or Cuban style salsa in Medellin, Colombia including video footage of the author and instructor.
Yoga – Public & Private Places to Practice
Throughout the States, one of the most popular forms of exercise is Yoga; Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Flow Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga. Medellín, however, brings yoga back to its roots: Hatha Yoga. And, they bring it to the public…
Video of BMX in Medellin
Along with skateboarding, BMX in Medellin is a popular activity amongst kids and teens. I regularly see bikers hanging out around my apartment complex, making use of the nearby bowl. This video takes us all along on a…
Open Cycling Sundays
Cycling in Medellín has to be one of the most dangerous and thrilling things to do in the city. Traffic here, like in most South American countries, is fast, furious and unforgiving. Cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles…
FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011
I happened to be watching TV at a Colombian friend’s house one night last month when the live drawing occurred for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia. This is one of the biggest soccer tournaments in the world,…
The Underground Breakdancing Scene
I was taking a cab home recently when the topic of dancing came up, and my driver started asking me about the breakdancing scene in the USA. As I know nothing about it, I started asking him questions about breakdancing…
Swimming, Underwater Hockey and Other Water Sports
After traveling for a few months around South America, I needed to do something for my aching body. However, I became disenchanted when all I found were the outdoor concrete weights and the indoor gyms. But then I found…
Lightenupandshoot Parkour
I discovered Mikey and Andy, the photography duo behind Lightenupandshoot, late last year before I had to leave Colombia. Aside from their funny videos and laid back approach toward teaching photography, they spend part…
Video: Roads Less Travelled – Colombia
I recently discovered Lonely Planet’s web show, Roads Less Travelled, and one of the recent destinations was Colombia: Lonely Planet photographer Dominic Bonuccelli ignores the little voice in the back of his head and…
Skateboarding in Medellin
While checking out Colombia Reports recently, I saw Adriaan had posted a link to a blog called Windsurf Colombia. The specific post he linked to was Skateboarding Colombia Going Through a Golden Era. The Colombian…
Paragliding in Medellín
Paragliding in Medellin is an inexpensive and fun way to enjoy beautiful views of the mountains and valley.
BASE Jumping in Medellin
“Oh, shit. The security guard is right there!” said HP. We were rounding the stairwell from the parking garage to the main building. I could hear the common Latin music that is played throughout this city. I stepped in…
A Day of Horseback Riding
When I came to Medellin, I befriended a few somewhat random people on Facebook. Mostly skydivers and other extreme sport enthusiasts that were “friend’s of friends.” One night I saw a status update from a skydiver that…
Hard Realities While on the Road
Two things can bring my adventurous and curious nature to a screeching halt. Death is one of them. Family is the other. Both of them have stirred things up for me. My posts had gone to nil because I was pretty much…
My First Soccer Game
When I told my friend Ryan that I was going to Colombia, he made me promise that I would go to a Soccer game while I was here. I know that he was secretly hoping to make me as big of a soccer fan as he is, and I’m…
Scoping some BASE sites
I see plenty of buildings in Medellin that are potential base jumps. I’ve spied most of them form the metro, but I haven’t had a chance to properly check them out. I’ve been working on getting a job teaching English.…
Skateboarding In Medellin
Medellin and Colombia definitely have a skate scene, and like I noticed in New Zealand and many other countries, it is not uncommon to see little skate parks around cities. This Zoo York* video even features a few spots…
Colombia v. Peru – Medellin’s First World Cup Qualifier
Last week, Medellin had the privilege to host its first World Cup qualifying match, ever! The opponent was the rather weak Peru, and despite Colombia’s low standing in its group, the paisa fans came out in full strength…
World Cup Qualifier: Colombia v. Argentina
Saturday’s main event for me and the majority of the Colombian and Argentine population was the World Cup qualifier match between the two countries. Colombia was a big time underdog. I took a cab to Parque Lleras, where…
The Three Amigos Go Paragliding
Dave and friends go paragliding in Medellín, Colombia.
Copa Libertadores Fútbol – Independiente Medellin v. Sao Paulo
Adriaan had previously brought the international match to my attention weeks ago, however we didn’t confirm the details until a few days before the important match was set to be played. The South American club…
Colombian Soccer – Nacional v. Medellin
Last Sunday, Clint invited me to go see the two Medellin professional soccer teams battle it out at the Estadio with him and his friend Jamie. Catching a soccer match in Latin America had been on my agenda since I came…