From the mountains of Jardín to the energy of Medellín: discovering Colombia firsthand.
Medellin and Jardin Exploration
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At Lulo Colombia Travel, we believe that the best way to recommend a destination is to experience it ourselves. That means getting out there, exploring new places, meeting people, visiting hotels, and trying activities before suggesting them to our travelers.
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Recently, we set off from Reverie Lodge, a beautiful lodge in Colombia’s Coffee Cultural Landscape, for a few days of discovery in Jardín and Medellín. Travelling with our two children made it a family adventure as well as a working trip, and we came back with plenty of great memories and new ideas for future itineraries.
The beautiful drive from the Coffee Cultural Landscape to Jardín
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Our journey started at Reverie Lodge, from where we drove to Jardín, a journey of around six hours through the mountains. The scenery along the way was beautiful, with lush green hills, winding roads, and a landscape that gradually revealed a different side of Colombia.
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Jardín is one of those places that feels wonderfully connected to its surroundings. Located in the green mountains of southwestern Antioquia, the town is known for its colorful colonial-style houses, traditional balconies, flower-filled façades, and lively main square, where locals gather over a coffee while life moves at its own pace. Beyond the town itself, the countryside is a patchwork of green mountains, coffee and cacao farms, banana plantations, and cloud-covered hills. It is also a paradise for birdwatchers, with an impressive variety of birdlife in the surrounding forests and countryside.
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After arriving, we settled into our mountain lodge, Finca Maracuba, and enjoyed the surroundings, ready to discover more of this beautiful region over the following days. This place has incredibly kind employees who showed us around the garden, orchard, and their chickens and goats, which was amazing for our kids.
An afternoon with the Andean cock-of-the-rock
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At 3 pm, we visited Reserva Natural Jardín de Rocas, a small nature reserve just a short walk from Jardín’s main square. The reserve protects a lek of the Andean cock-of-the-rock, where the males gather to display their spectacular orange-red plumage and distinctive crests. Entry costs COP 17,000 for Colombian visitors and COP 25,000 for international visitors.
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We were lucky to spot around 15 male birds during our visit! You can walk around the reserve and explore its natural surroundings while looking for the birds. There is also a guide on site with a telescope to help visitors spot the birds and observe them more closely.
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Even if you’re not a dedicated birdwatcher, seeing these striking birds in their natural habitat is a wonderful experience and a great reason to include Jardín on a trip through Colombia.
Cueva del Esplendor, a cable car ride and beautiful boutique hotels.
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Jardín has plenty to discover beyond its colorful streets, and we spent the day exploring some of the highlights of the surrounding area. We decided we wanted to see the Cueva del Esplendor, a spectacular natural attraction hidden in the green mountains. Its waterfall plunges through an opening in the cave’s ceiling, creating a remarkable sight surrounded by lush vegetation. It is one of those places that shows just how impressive Colombia’s natural landscapes can be.
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Back in Jardín, we also took the cable car, a fun way to see the town and its beautiful mountain setting from a different perspective.
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We then visited two gorgeous hotels, Hotel Plantación and Hotel Passiflora. Both are top-notch properties, with their own character and style, and we loved discovering them in person. For us, these visits are an important part of planning trips at Lulo Colombia Travel: they help us get to know the places we recommend and understand what makes each one special.
A final look at Jardín before heading to Medellín
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Before leaving Jardín, we took a panoramic tour to learn more about the town, its history, and the surrounding countryside. It was a great way to discover more about the area’s culture and traditions while taking in the green mountain landscapes that make this part of Antioquia so beautiful. After exploring the town and its natural surroundings over the previous days, the tour gave us a broader picture of the region and what makes it such a rewarding place to visit.
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Afterwards, we set off for Medellín, a drive of around three hours. The journey took us through more of Antioquia’s mountainous landscape before bringing us into the energy of Colombia’s second-largest city. The contrast with Jardín was immediate: from a small town surrounded by green hills to a bustling city full of neighborhoods to explore, cultural experiences, and restaurants to discover. We were ready for the next part of our trip.
Discovering Medellín: Comuna 13 and Constelaciones
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After our time in Jardín, we arrived in Medellín and checked into The Sites Hotel, our base for exploring the city. Travelling with our two children means that our discovery trips always include a little family time too, so there was also an opportunity to enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool.
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We spent one of our days discovering Comuna 13 and Constelaciones. In Comuna 13, we had a private tour to learn more about the neighborhood’s history and transformation while exploring its colorful street art and discovering the stories behind the murals. It is a fascinating place to visit and offers a different perspective on Medellín, showing how art and community have become such an important part of the neighborhood’s identity.
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We also visited Constelaciones, which was a new discovery for us. It was particularly interesting because it gave us the opportunity to experience a more everyday side of Medellín, beyond the places most visitors tend to see. Getting a better feel for how people live and for the different realities of the city is an important part of discovering a destination, and this visit gave us a fresh perspective on Medellín.
Exploring Medellín by e-bike, visiting hotels and discovering its food scene
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On our second day in Medellín, we explored the city on an e-bike tour, a fun way to discover more of its streets and neighbourhoods. The tour took us to Plaza Botero, where the distinctive sculptures of Colombian artist Fernando Botero fill the square in front of the Museo de Antioquia. But the highlight for our family? The kids had never had so much fun as cruising around with us on the bikes, especially on Medellín’s surprisingly good bike lanes!
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We also spent part of the day visiting hotels, including Patio del Mundo, Lettera, and Quinta Ladera. Each property has its own character, and seeing them in person helps us understand what they offer and which travellers might enjoy staying there. For us, these visits are an essential part of our work at Lulo Colombia Travel. We want to know the places we recommend, rather than simply rely on photographs and descriptions online.
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We rounded off our discoveries with a visit to Zombra restaurant, where we enjoyed some delicious food and got another taste of Medellín’s modern food scene. These experiences, from cycling through the city to discovering new hotels and restaurants, are what make inspection trips so valuable. They allow us to keep learning about Colombia and bring fresh ideas to the tailor-made journeys we create for our travellers.
Why we keep discovering Colombia
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Trips like this remind us why we love what we do. We get to explore new places as a family, discover experiences we might not have known about before, and meet the people who make each destination special. At the same time, we return with a better understanding of the hotels, activities, and places we can recommend to our travelers.
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Jardín and Medellín are very different destinations, which is exactly what makes combining them so interesting. Jardín offers colorful streets, green mountain landscapes, birdwatching, and a quieter pace of life, while Medellín brings together urban culture, art, cycling, restaurants, and fascinating neighborhoods. Together, they show just how varied a trip through Colombia can be.
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Our journey started at Reverie Lodge, an amazing nature lodge in the Coffee Cultural Landscape, and continued through the mountains into Antioquia. We came back with wonderful family memories and plenty of new inspiration for Lulo Colombia Travel. There is always more to discover in Colombia, and we look forward to sharing these places and experiences with the travellers who choose to explore the country with us.