Although most people love to travel, it is no secret that when we head to a place, we look forward to the activities we are going to do and envision all the fun we are going to have. However, many travelers are very cautious and do a little research to know what to watch out for while they are in a place. For many people Medellin or Colombia are dangerous places that they should not visit, but the truth is that most tourists leave with the desire to return because after their visit they know the reality of the city and realize that their perception they had before was wrong. Medellin has a lot to offer and is a very modern city. Here are the top 5 things you should not worry about while in Medellin.
1. Having your own transportation
Some cities in the world are extremely large and getting from one place to another can take hours. This can make the experience of visiting some places of interest not what you expected and, in fact, can cause the visit to become an odyssey and a disappointment. The opposite happens when, despite the size, the place of visit has a good transportation system that allows you to easily reach your destination. That is the case of Medellin which, although it is not a very big city, has been modernized to provide both locals and tourists with one of the best urban transportation systems in South America. This system integrates different means of transportation, among which are the different Metro and cable car lines also known as Metrocable. It also integrates buses, a tramway, a bus system with stations called Metroplus, and a bicycle loan system called Encicla. This complete system, also known as SITVA (Sistema Integrado de Transporte del Valle de Aburra for its acronym in Spanish), is the pride of the paisas and is very much cared for by the locals. That is why, since its inception, what is called the metro culture was created to take advantage of the sense of pride of the paisas to, with their help, maintain in good condition each of the places that are part of the system. That is why no locals are seen eating or drinking inside the system, except for water that does not dirty anything when spilled.
2. The water in Medellin is drinkable
One of the most worrying aspects for many travelers is to know if they will be able to enjoy drinking water in the place they are going to, since the truth is that, although it may seem strange, not many popular destinations in the world have this privilege. That is why many travelers get used to buying the water they consume wherever they go, especially if they know they are visiting a developing country like Colombia. They may have already had experiences that resulted in illnesses and even hospitalizations. However, most travelers are in for a surprise when they arrive in Colombia, especially when they arrive in Medellin. The company in charge of providing drinking water and other services such as gas and electricity in Medellin and its metropolitan area is EPM (PEM in English – Public Enterprises of Medellin). This utility company is the sixth largest in the country ahead of other large mining and hydrocarbon companies and ensures that its services cover 100% of the urban area of the Aburra Valley. As a result, in Medellín all homes, hotels, shopping centers, and others have water suitable for human consumption.
3. Be vaccinated against tropical diseases
Many travelers believe that all of Colombia is similar to Africa, that all cities are covered by the surrounding Amazon rainforest or that no matter where they are, they have to use mosquito repellent and be vaccinated against diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever. However, Minsalud (Colombian Ministry of Health) does not require any vaccinations to enter the country although it is advisable to take all these precautions if travelers are heading to jungle areas such as the Amazon, which does not cover the whole country but only certain parts of it within which Medellin is not included. Thus, to visit Medellin and its surroundings it is not necessary to be vaccinated against tropical diseases since in this city the number of mosquitoes is low, and it is not even necessary to use repellent. More important than this is a sunscreen because, although Medellin is not a coastal city, sometimes the temperature rises to the point of causing minor discomfort to people who are not accustomed to them.
4. Security levels
Although Colombia, and by extension Medellin, has a reputation around the world for being a dangerous place with low levels of security for locals and visitors, the situation is now completely different. The national government and the Mayor’s Office of Medellin have made sure to make Medellin one of the safest cities in the country. In fact, Medellin is the second safest city in the country after Bucaramanga. However, it is important to note that Medellin’s population is approximately four (4) times larger than Bucaramanga’s, making it the second largest city in Colombia in terms of population. In other words, of the three (3) largest cities in Colombia, Medellin is the safest. Thanks to this aspect, its history, and the attractiveness of the city with respect to the activities that can be carried out in and around it, Medellin has become one of the most visited cities in the country. In fact, it competes for the first place with Cartagena.
5. Climate
Medellin’s climate today is being affected by global warming. In the past, the rainy season had a very specific place in the calendar. For example, locals knew that the months between June and August were the months with the least rain and the most winds in the city. Today, the rainy season is not as marked as in the past and prolonged and heavy rainfall is seen even between June and August. However, Medellin’s climate tends to be consistently hot throughout the year with sporadic and short rainfalls. This allows Medellin to be visited all year round without the need to focus on a special season of sunshine and dryness.
In conclusion, Medellin has the perfect combination to attract visitors. These five (5) reasons not to worry are part of a list that contains many others. Undoubtedly, those who visit the city of Medellin have plenty of reasons to fall in love with it in the same way that its inhabitants do. Knowing that you do not have to worry about how to get from one place to another; that you can use the water anywhere without fear of getting sick; that there is no threat of tropical diseases; that you are safe and that the weather allows you to do the activities you planned, is priceless. Coming to Medellin has only advantages that you have to discover for yourself. We invite you to get to know Medellin with the help of Vital Tours, a company committed to providing experiences with local guides that make you feel alive.
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