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Jericó, a town in the southwest of the Antioquia department, is located just over a couple hours from Medellín. It’s one of Colombia’s prestigious Heritage Towns (Pueblos Patrimonio) and one of the country’s most picturesque towns.
Introduction to Jericó
The area around Jericó was originally inhabited by the indigenous Chamí people. The first European to arrive was Spanish conquistador Juan Badillo, who named it Gori. Fellow Spaniard Francisco César passed through in 1540 but decided not to settle because of a lack of gold deposits. The area remained unexplored jungle and was considered a wasteland until 1835, when it was first cleared and settled by Esteban Osorio and José María Bermúdez. A group of colonizers followed between 1845 and 1848.
The modern town of Jericó was founded as Aldea del Piedras on September 28, 1850, by Santiago Santamaría Bermúdez de Castro. Two years later, it became a municipality and the name changed to Felicina after writer and educator José Félix de Restrepo (1760-1832). In 1853, the town was renamed Jericó in honor of the city of the ancient city of Jericho.
Jericó was the capital of its own department from 1908 to 1911, and was named a Heritage Town in 2013. It’s nicknamed “the Athens of the Southwest” and is considered one of the most picturesque towns in Colombia thanks to its well-preserved traditional architecture. As a Roman Catholic Diocese and the birthplace of St. Laura Montoya Upegui, the first Colombian saint, the town is also an important religious destination.
In my personal experience, I thought my search for the region’s most beautiful town ended with Jardín. However, after visiting Jericó, I found it to be just as if not more beautiful. Overall, it seems more well-preserved as far as the architecture.
Getting to Jericó
To get to Jericó, you can take a bus from Terminal del Sur in Medellín with Transportes Jericó. Buses run from 5am to 6pm. You can also take a faster and more comfortable shared taxi with four passengers.
If you have your own transportation, the road to Jericó is very narrow and curvy with lots of potholes in some parts. Be careful with large trucks and aggressive drivers taking the entire road on the curves.
Getting Around Jericó
The town is relatively small and easy to get around on foot. There are some hills and stairways but nothing that isn’t manageable if you’re in relatively good health.
Where to Stay in Jericó
Jericó has several options for accommodation. Most place are within a couple blocks of the plaza.
Hotel Santa Laura
The best place we’ve stayed is Hotel Santa Laura. It’s a huge property with a friendly staff, clean rooms, and a great location a few blocks from the plaza.
We enjoyed two nights in a deluxe room with a king bed and a jacuzzi. It was spacious, extremely comfortable, quiet at night, and very clean. The room has two balconies with a nice view. The price is more than reasonable and I highly recommend it.
If you’re traveling on a budget, Hotel Santa Laura also has small simple rooms as well. They come equipped with a TV and a private bathroom.
The hotel also contains a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch for an additional fee. We had breakfast included in our rate. Choices vary, including scrambled eggs, calentao, stuffed plantain, pancakes, and cereal. The restaurant has a nice view of the countryside.
Hotel Portón Plaza
On our first trip, we stayed at Hotel Portón Plaza. It sits just a block from the plaza. The rooms are simple, clean, and fairly comfortable. WiFi is decent and staff is friendly.
Where to Eat in Jericó
The choices for food and coffee have improved exponentially since our very first visit in December 2015. You’ll have lots of options.
Café Don Rafa
Let’s start with the coffee! Café Don Rafa, located on the plaza, has some of the best coffee we’ve had in Colombia. We loved it so much we took home a bag. They also serve breakfast, which we’ll try on our next trip to Jericó.
Campesino Café
About a block east of the plaza on Carrera 4 is Campesino Café, which has their original branch in El Poblado, Medellín. They purchase specialty coffee from small producers. It’s a cozy space with excellent service and very good coffee.
¡Ay Chabela!
One of the best meals we’ve had in Jericó was at ¡Ay Chabela!. This Mexican restaurant serves up delicious Mexican favorites at reasonable prices and with great service.
We started with an order of totopos topped with refried beans, melted cheese, and corn. It comes with guacamole and pico de gallo on the side.
Our main courses were the mole poblano, carnitas, and sopa azteca. The flavor was as close as you can get to authentic Mexican cuisine. We’d be very happy to go back on another trip.
Bendito Café
We had two meals at Bendito Café, which is on the plaza next to the cathedral. They have a decent variety on the menu with traditional Colombian, burgers, pizza, Mexican, and more.
One meal was for lunch. I had the Americano burger while Marisol had the fixed lunch special, which consisted of carne asada with rice, potatoes, beans, and a salad. My burger was big and juicy, topped with bacon, onions, and cheese, and served with a side of fries and a salad. Everything was very good and service was friendly.
Our other meal was a pizza delivery after a long day of driving. It was topped with pepperoni, salami, caramelized onions, pesto, and cheese. The pizza was surprisingly good and came in a decent amount of time.
El Balcón de Juana
El Balcón de Juana, located on the plaza, serves decent traditional meat and fish dishes at reasonable prices. Sit upstairs for the views.
RapiYa
RapiYa, a fast food joint on the plaza, has excellent service and good food was also great. They have a big selection of fast food and not so fast food.
Cielo / Tierra
Finally, if you’re looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, Cielo / Tierra has a decent selection of gelato. It’s just off the plaza on Carrera 4.
Tourist Info in Jericó
There’s a small tourist info kiosk in the park between the town hall and cathedral. We never saw it open during our last visit.
Plaza de Bolívar
Plaza de Bolívar, also called Parque de Reyes, is the main plaza and heartbeat of Jericó. It’s a very colorful and lively space. It’s where the town gets together to celebrate holidays and other events.
The large plaza has multiple levels and is filled with trees, flowering bushes, and has plenty of benches and other places to sit.
In the center is a fountain in the shape of an obelisk. It’s surrounded by four griffins spouting water. Jeeps line the east side waiting to take locals to rural areas.
The plaza is surrounded by traditional buildings filled with restaurants, bars, and other businesses. The north side, which consists of a portico lined with restaurants, is the most photogenic with its beautiful colorful balconies. It’s also a great place to sit and take in the atmosphere.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy
The focal point of the plaza is the massive Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy (Catedral Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes), with its two towers on the façade. It stands on the site of the first chapel built in Jericó in 1853.
The predecessor to the cathedral was a church constructed starting on May 5, 1873, and completed on April 23, 1921. It was elevated to a cathedral with the creation of the Diocese of Jericó on January 29, 1915, by Pope Benedict XV. It was demolished in 1946 due to structural issues.
Features of the Cathedral
Construction on the cathedral began on January 1, 1949, and it was consecrated by Bishop Augusto Trujillo Arango (1922-2007) on September 20, 1969. It was designed by Luís David Vásquez Abella in the Neo-Romanesque style. The structure covers an area of 2,772 square meters with a total of 96 columns. It’s 66 meters long, 26 meters wide, and 42 meters high. Roughly 600,000 bricks and 52,000 clay tiles were used in the construction. With the tall concrete columns and exposed brick, the cathedral appears unfinished.
The cathedral is on a Latin cross plan with a central nave and two aisles. There are 190 stained glass windows. The right aisle is lined with three side chapels.
The transept features chapels on each end with an octagonal brick dome in the center. The chapel on the right holds an image of Our Lady of Mercy made in Barcelona and brought to Jericó in 1910. There’s also an ambulatory with a few more chapels.
A bronze state of St. Laura Montoya (1874-1949), the first Colombian to be made a saint, as well as her relics, can be found at the cathedral. The pipe organ was made in Germany.
Museum of Religious Art
The crypt of the cathedral houses the Museum of Religious Art (Museo de Arte Religioso). It opened to the public on December 17, 1976. The crypt served as a church for 16 years during construction of the cathedral. Admission is COP$3,000 for adults and free for kids (as of July 2025). It’s open daily except Wednesday.
The museum preserves religious items such as vestments, jewels, liturgical items, and works of art. They were all used at some point in the churches of Jericó. There’s also an auditorium with seating for 800 people that’s used for various cultural and religious activities.
Before entering the museum, there’s a model of the old cathedral that once stood on the site. Constructed started on May 5, 1873, and it was demolished in 1946 due to structural issues.
Vestments and Liturgical Items
The first section displays a collection of vestments and other items used by the bishops of Jericó. The most represented is Antonio José Jaramillo Tobón (1886-1969), who was named Bishop of Jericó on February 7, 1942, and was elevated to archbishop in an apostolic appointment on April 12 the same year. The stole of Pope Pius XII, worn in 1958, is included.
A number of precious items used during Mass are next. At the end of the gallery is the baptistry screen from the original cathedral, made in 1919 by Miguel Madrid Acevedo.
Sculptures
The next section down the stairs contains sculptures including a nativity scene and busts of religious figures from Colombia.
On the right aisle are more statues and vestments. At the beginning of the ambulatory are some electrical plants used in the cathedral and a printing press.
In the ambulatory you’ll find a collection of impressive wooden statues carved by local artists as well as a small chapel.
Also in the ambulatory is a scale model of the current cathedral. It was made by Rodrigo Gómez Pérez.
Finally, in the left transept are impressive sculptures of Jesus with the Twelve Apostles, early 20th-century sanctuaries, and a broken image of Christ Crucified. The image of Christ decorated the Gruta de la Peña for over 50 years. It was destroyed during a rainstorm on November 4, 2019, and transferred to the museum.
Parque Francisco Cristóbal Toro
Left of the cathedral on the corner of Plaza de Bolívar is the small Parque Francisco Cristóbal Toro. It’s named for Francisco Cristóbal Toro (1869-1942), a respected bishop originally from Santa Fe de Antioquia. His statue stands in the middle of the park.
Calle de las 80 Escalas
Calle de las 80 Escalas is a picturesque stairway on the northeast corner of the plaza. It’s named for the 80 stone steps leading up to Carrera 3.
Jericó Town Hall
At the corner of Carrera 5 and Calle 9 next to the cathedral is the Jericó Town Hall (Palacio Municipal). It’s named in honor of the town’s founder, Santiago Santamaría Bermúdez de Castro. The building holds all the municipal offices and the Municipal Council.
MAJA Museum
Among the cultural attractions in town, the most interesting is the MAJA Museum (Museo MAJA), which is a collection of three museums in three different locations. A ticket to all three museums costs COP$10,000 for adults and free for kids under 6 (as of July 2025). Tickets to each museum individually are COP$5,000 for adults and free for kids under 6 (as of July 2025). The museums are open daily
Museum of Anthropology and Art
The main branch is the Museum of Anthropology and Art (Museo de Antropología y Arte), which is a block south of the plaza. It’s housed in a traditional house built in 1906. The house later served an industrial school, a youth center, a rural school for girls, a high school for girls, a cultural center, and a documentation center. In 2009, it opened as the main branch of the museum.
The museum has six halls exhibiting archaeological finds from the region as well as art. There’s also a room for workshops, an auditorium seating 180, a gift shop, a research center, and other spaces.
The first room covers the indigenous cultures of the region. It displays artifacts including ceramics, jewelry, fishhooks, and a sarcophagus carved out of a tree trunk. There’s also a scale model of a typical indigenous village of the Middle Cauca region.
The next room documents the early history of Jericó, complete with photographs of the town as well as important personalities, and models of the plaza as it looked in 1942.
At the rear of the room are artifacts used throughout the town’s history. Some of them have personal stories attached to them.
During our visit, the rest of the rooms contained temporary photography exhibits by local and regional artists.
Álvaro Arango Gavíria Atheneum
Casa Ramón N. Cadavid hosts the Álvaro Arango Gavíria Atheneum (Ateneo Álvaro Arango Gavíria), also known as the House of Music (Casa de la Música). It’s named for Álvaro Arango Gavíria, a traveler who began collecting musical instruments from each country he visited starting in 1965. Although he wasn’t from Jericó, he donated his collection to MAJA. Unfortunately, he passed away on December 13, 2018, just two days before the scheduled opening.
The collection is situated in rooms surrounding the courtyard of the home. Some of the rooms have interactive sections where you can listen to the sounds of certain instruments. The first room is an introduction to music and its different elements.
The next few rooms are organized by continent, with instruments from various countries on display. The information explains the musical traditions of each continent.
In the courtyard, you’ll find antique machines used to play music, including a Wurlitzer juke box, phonographs, and radios. The last few rooms contain temporary art exhibitions.
Museum of Decorative Arts
The Museum of Decorative Arts (Museo de Artes Decorativas) is at the corner of Carrera 4 and Calle 4. It’s displayed in the house of José Tomás Uribe Abad, who was born in Jericó in 1920 and lived abroad for over 60 years.
As he traveled the world, Uribe collected furniture, ceramics, paintings, bronze and wooden sculptures, crystal, and more. He donated the house along with his entire collection to MAJA for all to enjoy.
The collection is displayed over six rooms in the house: the living room, master bedroom, music room, guest bedroom, dining room, and kitchen.
Teatro Santamaría
At the corner of Calle 9 and Carrera 5 is Teatro Santamaría. It was originally built as a house in 1874 and converted into a theatre in 1925. The building was restored by the Ministry of Culture between 2009 and 2014.
The theater has a capacity of 500 people with 374 seats on the main level. The building also includes a projection room, a ballroom, an administrative area, and a coffee shop. The lobby displays a couple antique projectors.
Jericó History Center
The History Center (Centro de Historia) is around the corner on Carrera 4. It’s housed in one of the oldest buildings in Jericó, which once operated as the School for Girls. The history center was founded on March 29, 1973, and opened to the public in the building in 1974. Its mission is to preserve the history of the town. Inside is a gallery with photos and portraits of the most important public figures from Jericó, a library with the works of local authors, a newspaper archive, a historical archive, artifacts, and photos of all major events that have taken place in town.
Presbytery
The Presbytery (Casa Cural) is on Calle 8, a half block from the rear of the Cathedral. It’s a beautiful traditional Antioquian home built around 1920. Today, it houses the church parish offices.
Birthplace of St. Laura Montoya Upegui
For those interested in religious history, Jericó is the birthplace of St. Laura Montoya Upegui (1874-1949). She was the first Colombian to be canonized as a saint, on May 12, 2013, by Pope Francis. She was well known for her missionary work with indigenous people and was an important role model for young Colombian girls. The home is open to visitors and admission is free (as of July 2025).
The house has been maintained by the Sisters of the Immaculate Mary Missionary Congregation and the Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena since May 2, 1964. Inside is a small chapel as well as relics and personal belongings of the saint. One of them is the stone basin in which she was baptized.
A small museum displays photos and articles about her life and work as well as plaques of thanks donated by people who prayed for her intercession. There’s a small gift shop at the exit.
Church of San Francisco
Back to Calle 8 is the Church of San Francisco (Iglesia de San Francisco), which opened on March 19, 1922. Also known as La Pollita, the Colonial style church contains a wooden altar made by Miguel Madrid in the 1920s. The floor of the church is original.
La Oculta
La Oculta is a huge historic building at Carrera 2 and Calle 7. Inside is a hostel, café, bar, art gallery, library, and small museum. There are also live music shows. Everything is situated around a beautiful courtyard.
Chapel of the Visitation
Next to La Oculta on Carrera 2 is the Chapel of the Visitation (Capilla de la Visitación). Construction on the Colonial style chapel began on August 4, 1918, and it opened on October 17, 1920. It features a stone façade with a belfry. Inside is a large wooden altar and a painting of The Visitation. On the ceiling is a fresco of the Virgin. The chapel was remodeled in 1981.
Casa Ramón N. Cadavid
Around the corner on Calle 6 is the Casa Ramón N. Cadavid. It’s one of the largest houses in Jericó, covering an area of over 3,000 square meters. It has hosted different religious communities, a shoe factory, and cultural center. The Monastery of the Visitation (Monasterio de la Visitación) was founded there in 1915. Today, it hosts the Álvaro Arango Gavíria Atheneum, also known as the House of Music.
Bishop’s House
Next door downhill is the Bishop’s House (Casa Episcopal). It was built between 1910 and 1920 by the Abad family. It served as a seminary as well as the headquarters for the Eudist community. It has been the property of the Episcopal See since 1930. Across the street are the offices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jericó.
Chapel of Santa Teresita
The Chapel of Santa Teresita, on Carrera 3, is attached to the Diocese. It opened on May 13, 1952, and features beautiful wood carvings and stained glass.
Calle 100 Escalas
On the next block is the top of Calle 100 Escalas. This scenic stairway is one of the most popular tourist spots in Jericó. It’s named for the 100 stone steps leading between Carrera 3 and 4.
Jericó Superior Normal School
Back up to Carrera 2, between Calle 5 and 6 you’ll find the Jericó Superior Normal School (Escuela Normal Superior de Jericó). It was founded by the Dominican Sisters on March 2, 1906. Both ends of the building are in brick with a statue of Jesus on top.
Mother Laura School
On the north end of Jericó, at Carrera 1 and Calle 4, is the Mother Laura School (Escuela Madre Laura). The Republican-style building designed by Belgian architect Augustin Goovaerts (1885-1939) opened in 1919. It hosted the St. Mathew Artillery Battalion from 1933 to 1937 and has since housed educational institutions. In 2000, it began hosting the Mother Laura School, which was created with the merger of two of the town’s schools.
Botanical Garden of Jericó
Jericó is surrounded by pristine natural beauty. If you’re short on time, you’ll find a well-maintained botanical garden. It’s open daily from 6am to 6pm and admission is free (as of July 2025). The entrance is at the east end of Carrera 3, surrounded by a small garden and colorful traditional homes. Just inside the gate is a long covered bridge leading to the heart of the botanical garden.
Once inside, there are a few short trails, a pond filled with koi, and another covered bridge named Puente de los Enamorados (Lovers’ Bridge). If you’re patient, you’ll spot some birds. There are a few sections that are a little neglected, but for the most part it’s a pleasant place you can relax in the shade and connect with nature. Just be careful – the stone paths can get slippery if they’re wet.
Morro El Salvador
Morro El Salvador is a steep hill crowned with a large statue of Christ overlooking the town. It’s got amazing views of the entire town and countryside.
To get to the top, follow the signs up to a clearing at the top of the Botanical Garden. Turn right at the fence and continue up another stone path to the top of the hill.
Once at the top of the hill, you’ll find the “I Love Jericó” lettering, a small snack bar, and the defunct cable car. At the time of our last visit it was a little neglected but still worth the climb.
The best part about the hill are the views of Jericó and the surrounding countryside. You can spot all the town’s major landmarks from there.
Cristo Rey
At the end of the hill is the Cristo Rey statue. According to the Jericó History Center, it was donated by María Luisa Tobón de Martínez in response to the destruction of an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Mexico. The statue was sculpted by J.M. Agudelo and stands about 11.84 meters high. It was inaugurated on October 28, 1928.
Jericó Cable Car
Next to the statue is a cable car that used to take visitors high above the town to Las Nubes Nature Park. Unfortunately, the cable car has been out of operation since 2016. There are plans to repair it and return it to service (as of July 2025).
Monastery of Santa Clara
On the east side of town along Calle 1 is the Monastery of Santa Clara (Monasterio de Santa Clara). It was founded by Sister Susana Canal, who arrived in Jericó on June 24, 1915, from Pamplona, Norte de Santander. The nuns moved into the current location on February 10, 1946. It was built with the donations of the local community.
The monastery has an attached church as well as two public areas for visitors and 35 cells for the nuns. It’s still managed by the Poor Clares, who have been a pillar of the community both religiously and historically.
Seminary of St. John Eudes
A few steps away is the Seminary of St. John Eudes (Seminario San Juan Eudes). It was founded in 1916 by Eudist priests in response to a pontifical bill issued by Pope Benedict XV on January 29, 1915. The construction was led by Father Álvaro Obdulio Naranjo and it opened on April 10, 1916, with 30 students. It has since graduated hundreds of priests.
Cemetery of Jericó
The Cemetery of Jericó (Cementerio de Jericó) is near the end of Calle 1. It contains the graves of many of the town’s founders, community leaders, and prominent priests and bishops.
Parque de los Fundadores
On the west end of Jericó is Parque de los Fundadores. It was inaugurated in 1920 to honor the founders of the town. The park is a nicely manicured garden full of flowers and shrubs as well as monuments.
Other monuments include a bust of the founder of Jericó, Santiago Santamaría Bermúdez de Castro; a bust of Father Ramón N. Cadavid; a bust of St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (1651-1719); and the Monument to the Mother (Monumento a la Madre).
Sculptures of lions are the corners while the Monument to the Eagles (Monumento a las Águilas) adorn the entrance gate.
Sanctuary of St. Laura
A few steps from the park is the Sanctuary of St. Laura (Santuario de Santa Laura). It was built by the Claretian Missionaries to replace a simple chapel built of bahareque in 1913.
The first stone of the Neo-Gothic structure was laid on September 2, 1917, and it opened on January 1, 1943. It was originally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Santuario del Inmaculado Corazón de María). In May 2013, after the canonization of St. Laura Montoya Upegui, the was rededicated in her honor.
The church features two towers with a rosettes on each side and a central rose window. The central spire is topped by an image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In front are busts of St. Antonio María Claret and Jesús Aníbal Gómez (1914-1936).
The interior consists of a central nave with two aisles. It’s topped by a vaulted ceiling and decorated with beautiful stained glass windows.
There are chapels in each transept. The one to the left contains an image of St. Laura Montoya and the one to the right features the baptismal font used in the Cathedral from 1915 to 1969.
The Grotto of the Immaculate Conception
A steep trail from Calle 6 leads up to the Grotto of the Immaculate Conception (La Gruta de la Inmaculada), a religious shrine cut into the mountainside. It was inaugurated around 1919 but part of it collapsed during a storm on November 4, 2019. The statue of Christ was destroyed and its remains were transferred to the Museum of Religious Art.
Las Nubes Nature Park
The trail up to the grotto leads up to Las Nubes Nature Park (Parque Natural Las Nubes), where there are trails and lookout towers. The entire circuit takes about two hours.
