Pueblito Paisa: Mock Antioquian Village Atop Cerro Nutibara

Pueblito Paisa is a mock Antioquian village situated atop Cerro Nutibara, a hill occupying a central location in the Medellin valley.

Opened March 3, 1978, Pueblito Paisa offers visitors a glimpse into the typical setup of pueblos in Antioquia (and throughout Colombia).

Shops sell souvenirs and restaurants serve coffee and traditional foods like bandeja paisa.

The buildings are situated around the edges of a cobblestoned plaza, marked by a fountain. Visitors are able to peek into the mayor’s office, a barber shop, and a white church.

The hallmark of every Colombian pueblo I’ve visited is a main plaza, where you can see daily life unfold, and a church.

During a boat trip on the lake in Guatape earlier this year, I was also informed by our guide that artifacts from the pueblo which now lies at the bottom of the manmade lake made their way to Pueblito Paisa for display.

My first visit to Pueblito Paisa was at the end of my very first day of sightseeing in Medellin, over four years ago.

After taking the metro to the Industriales stop with an Argentine doctor from the hostel, we walked up the hill, arriving just in time to see the city’s transition from day to night.

As the natural light faded, the twinkling artificial lights from homes and businesses began to light up the valley in their own beautiful way.

The valley looked like all the stars from the sky fell upon the mountains, and it was from Pueblito Paisa and Cerro Nutibara that I first saw the city this way.

Every December, Pueblito Paisa is decorated with Christmas lights as part of the citywide Los Alumbrados display.

During the holiday season, this quiet little hill experiences a huge surge in visitors, as both foreigners and Colombians tour the various light displays throughout the valley.

Cerro Nutibara offers an excellent vantage point for looking at the lights along the Medellin River below.

Pueblito Paisa can be reached by foot from the Industriales metro, or by taxi (about 6,000 pesos from Poblado).

It’s a generally safe area, but I would recommend taking a taxi (vs. walking) after dark.