For decades the Medellín river was an open drain boxed in between two motorways, something the city preferred not to look at. Parques del Río is the project that decided to change that: bury stretches of the motorway and build a public park on top, handing the river back to people. It is the most ambitious urban intervention Medellín has undertaken, and it is still growing in phases.
What to see & do
1. The park on top of the motorway
The first phase covered a stretch of the river's western carriageway and laid green areas, paths, plazas and event spaces on top. Walking there knowing that thousands of cars are passing underneath is part of the appeal.
2. The river in plain sight
For the first time in generations you can walk beside the Medellín river without a motorway in between. The environmental recovery of the channel is still under way and there is road ahead, but the change from what was there before is enormous.
3. The footbridges
Several walkways connect the two banks and give the best views of the whole thing, with the river below and the mountains behind.
4. The cultural programme
The park hosts concerts, fairs, markets and sports activities fairly often. At weekends there is usually something on.
5. The urban contrast
You are standing at the exact point where you can see how Medellín works: the river, the motorways, the elevated metro, the hills on both sides. To understand the city, it teaches as much as any lookout.
Our tours to this place
Parques del Río is on the way in our tours: you ride through its gardens, with a photo stop at the MEDELLÍN letters. Start here:
Related tours
Practical info
- Getting there: metro line A, Suramericana or Industriales station depending on the stretch. It is also easy to reach by bike along the river corridor.
- When to go: late afternoon, when the heat drops and the park fills with people exercising. At weekends there is usually programming.
- How long: a good hour to walk the main stretch at a relaxed pace.
- By bike: the river corridor is one of the few long, flat routes in Medellín, and the most comfortable place in the city to pedal.
- Admission: it is a free public park, open every day.
- What to expect: it is being built in phases, so there are finished stretches and stretches under construction. This is not a closed, completed park but a process in motion.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is Parques del Río?
An urban project that buries stretches of the motorways alongside the Medellín river and builds a public park on top, giving the channel back to the city.
Can you swim in the river?
No. The river is still undergoing environmental recovery and is not suitable for swimming.
Is it finished?
No. It is being built in phases, and there are stretches open and stretches still under construction.
Is it free?
Yes, it is a public park with free access.
Is it safe?
It is a busy public area, especially at exercise hours. At night, as with any urban park, it is best not to stay there alone.
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