The Barefoot Park is one of the strangest and best-resolved ideas in Medellín's urban planning: a public space meant to be walked barefoot, with sand areas, ground-level water jets and a bamboo grove, set among the administrative and financial buildings of downtown. The premise sounds like a whim and works surprisingly well.
What to see & do
1. The sand area
The heart of the park: a stretch of sand for walking barefoot, conceived as an exercise in stimulating the feet and switching off in the middle of the city.
2. The water jets
Ground-level fountains that fire in cycles and that children and adults alike wade into. On hot days it is the liveliest spot downtown.
3. The bamboo grove
A stand of guadua bamboo that cuts the noise and the light and works as a small refuge inside the park. It is the quietest corner.
4. The EPM Water Museum
Right next door, an interactive museum devoted to water and public utilities, aimed squarely at families and school groups. Admission is charged separately.
5. The setting
The park is ringed by the EPM building, Plaza Mayor and the La Alpujarra administrative centre. This is institutional Medellín, and seeing a barefoot park in the middle of all that says a good deal about the city.
Our tours to this place
Barefoot Park sits right on our west-side and downtown routes: you ride in, stretch, breathe and roll on. Pick your tour:
Related tours
Practical info
- Getting there: metro line A or B, Alpujarra station. The park is right beside it.
- When to go: on weekdays at midday it fills with office workers, and at weekends with families. Hot days are the best ones for the fountains.
- How long: half an hour is enough, unless you go into the Water Museum.
- What to bring: if you plan to go barefoot, a small towel and a bag for your shoes. And a change of clothes if you come with children, because they end up soaked without exception.
- Admission: the park is public and free. The Water Museum is charged separately and keeps its own hours.
- How to combine it: it is a few minutes from the Park of Lights and San Antonio station, so it fits neatly into a walk around the centre.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to go barefoot?
No, it is optional. You can walk through with shoes on, but the point of the place is taking them off in the sand and water areas.
Is it free?
The park is. The EPM Water Museum next door charges admission.
Is it good for children?
Very much so. It is one of Medellín families' favourite free outings, above all because of the fountains.
Is it in a safe area?
This is the administrative and financial sector of downtown, with a strong institutional presence and plenty of daytime footfall. After dark it empties out, like the whole area.
How much time do I need?
Half an hour for the park. An hour and a half more if you go into the museum.
Gallery
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