Why is medellin called the city of eternal spring

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Action photography: shooting on the move in Geophoto. University of Edinburgh. Medellin is located in the central Andes of Colombia, not too far from what is called the coffee triangle.

The taxi costs about COP and the bus journey is way cheaper but a lot longer. Either way, enjoy the ride about an hour from the airport to the actual city , while you pass the beautiful green landscape and big mountains.

In fact, when it comes to accommodation there are plenty of options. Medellin is about 3, feet lower than Bogota, and we immediately noticed the warmer temperatures, even in the crisp evening. During the 80s and 90s, the city was one of the most dangerous in the world, where drug cartels were waging open war against the government, terrorizing citizens, and fighting bloody turf conflicts among themselves. Since then, Medellin has turned itself around, thanks in large part to brilliant city planning and intelligent public works projects.

The modern, clean, and safe metro service is one such project which has helped revitalize the city. We were impressed by the quiet trains and spotless stations, which helped us zip around the city on the cheap. One of the most remarkable aspects of the metro are the integrated cable car routes.

These cable cars stretch up the hills surrounding the city, connecting the impoverished shanty towns with the rest of the metro network. We took a ride up the Metrocable one morning, taking in a beautiful view of the valley below while silently gliding 30 feet over the densely populated hillside neighborhoods.

Further into the city is the museum of the University of Antioquia, which boasts a huge selection of anthropological items from the pre-columbine era, as well as nearly 5, natural science exhibits.

A widely recommended way to see the city center of Medellin is via a walking tour offered by local company Real City Tours. The tours are noted by many tourists to the city, not so much for the sites you visit during the 4-hour tour, but because of the knowledge and enthusiasm of the English-speaking guides.

During the course of the tour, visitors are provided with a locals' insight on the history of Medellin and current issues facing the city today.

Tours are officially free - though tipping is heavily encouraged - and leave twice a day from Alpujarra metro station. Slightly to the southwest of the tour route is the Interactive EPM Museum, near Parque de los Pies Descalzos Barefoot Park , which is a more hands-on affair better suited to children and families. Here, visitors interact with exhibits to learn about the physical properties of water, energy, gas and telecommunications.

Parque Explora has a similar hands-on style though it deals with more general interest subjects, such as the earth and space, science and technology, and the human body. The site also contains a decent aquarium, one of the largest in South America, housing species from the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, and the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. In addition to these cultural centers another enjoyable activity in Medellin is to scale one of several high points for panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.

The highest adrenaline option to do this is in San Felix, located, just on the edge of the city. From here, you can arrange a paragliding trip to soar over the mountains and gain the most impressive views of the metropolitan area. The 20 minute outing costs in the region of 80, COP. To get here, you will need to first travel to the Northern Bus Terminal at the metro station Caribe , and from there catch the Expreso Belmira bus towards San Felix.

Terrestrial options are also available. On the road towards the airport in Las Palmas there are a couple of lookout points, from which you can see the whole of Medellin on a clear day. Slightly lower down, and located more centrally, is the Cerro Nutibara. Views From the top of this 80m hill are particularly impressive at night.

The Cerro also houses Pueblito Paisa, a mock-up of a typical Antioquian town around the s, which is of mild interest. There are several large events and festivals held in Medellin throughout the year. The largest of these is the Feria de las Flores Flower Festival , held in August every year and featuring a whole host of events throughout the city. The other major event in the city's calendar is Colombiamoda; a huge multi-day event celebrating the latest in Latin American and world fashion.

Accommodation options have proliferated in Medellin over recent years, and today the city is well supplied with hotels and hostels in the budget to luxury categories. The Charlee Hotel has a large gym and spa, and a rooftop bar featuring a glass-sided swimming pool. Many of these are located in or within a few minutes of Parque Lleras in Poblado. Note: while this Lleras is called a 'park' it is in fact a small concrete area with very little in the way of vegetation.

The modern building has a first floor terrace restaurant facing onto Lleras, a large gym and spa, and a rooftop bar featuring a glass-sided swimming pool. The hotel is famous for its extremely spacious suites and for its revolving restaurant, located on the 19th floor of the building, which gives great views of the city. The nearby Hotel Park 10 is another high-end spot, catering largely for business visitors, which features elegantly decorated rooms.

One of the most highly recommended options in the mid-range category is the relatively new Acqua Express hotel. Also located in Poblado, Acqua is a bright and clean place, with friendly staff, decent facilities and is within easy reach of shops and entertainment.

As its name suggests, the hotel has a Cuban theme and each room is decorated with vintage furniture and a large number of plants.