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The Medellín River Parks (Parques del Río Medellín) are an ambitious project designed to give the public access to land on the banks of the Medellín River.
The Project
The project consists of 8 stages along 20 kilometers of riverbank and will take 15 years to complete. The first phase of the project opened in August 2016 and the second phase opened in 2019. Both phases are a small section of riverbank situated between two bridges.
Currently, the Medellín River Parks are located in El Centro district, in an area just west of the EPM Building and Plaza Mayor. They contain paths and kid-friendly sections. The park is a great place for relaxation, sunbathing, running, biking, and picnicking.
A pavilion on the west bank of the river contains a handful of restaurants serving pizza, Spanish food, burgers, sweets, and more.
Christmas Lights
We’ve visited the parks during the day and in the evening. Our evening visit was during Christmas, when the popular Alumbrados decorate the park and river. They typically run for a month starting December 7, making Medellín one of the best places in Colombia to view Christmas lights.
Locals and tourists packed the area to see the light displays. It was very crowded by the time we arrived, with families, couples, and groups of friends. Several people parked a great distance away and walked all the way to the main area for the festivities. There were street vendors and performers to complement the colorful lights over the river.
