Getting Around Medellin: Metro, Cable Cars, and Taxis

Medellin’s integrated transit system is one of the genuine success stories of Colombian urban planning. The metro arrived in 1995 - the only operational metro in the country - and subsequent additions of cable car lines (Metrocable), an electric tram (Metrotranvia), and bike-sharing have created a network that reaches from the valley floor up into hillside communities that were previously disconnected from the city.

The Metro (Sistema Metro)

The metro runs on two lines:

• Line A (east-west) runs the length of the valley from Niquía in the north to La Estrella in the south. It passes through San Antonio (city centre hub), Parque Berrío, Universidad, Industriales, Poblado, and Envigado. This is the main line for tourists - El Poblado station is the access point for the tourist neighbourhood.
• Line B (east-west branch) runs from San Antonio westward to San Javier, including the transfer point for Metrocable Line J.

Fares: COP 3,100 per single journey (approximately USD 0.77 as of 2026). Transfers to Metrocable are included within 40 minutes of the initial tap. The Cívica card is required - buy one at any station window (COP 2,600 deposit) and load credit at machines or windows.

Hours: Approximately 5am to 11pm weekdays, 5am to midnight Saturdays, 6am to 10pm Sundays.

Metrocable: the cable car lines

Medellin’s cable cars are not tourist infrastructure - they are the primary transport for communities living on steep hillsides not accessible by road. Four lines operate:

Line K (from Acevedo station) climbs through Barrios Unidos, Andalucía, Popular, and Santo Domingo before terminating at Arví Park. This is the most-visited by tourists - the Parque Arví transfer at the top gives access to forest trails and a Saturday market. Transfer to Line L (another short cable car segment) continues to Arví park proper. From Acevedo to Santo Domingo takes approximately 25 minutes.

Line J (from San Javier station on metro Line B) climbs to Juan XXIII and La Aurora. This line was key to the urban renewal projects in the western comunas. Combine with a walk through the Los Mangos neighbourhood for the most authentic view of Medellin’s urban transformation.

Lines H and M are shorter auxiliary lines - Line H from Villa Sierra to La Aurora, Line M from Miraflores to the Metrocable intersection.

Fares: The cable car is included in the metro fare when transferring within 40 minutes. Standalone boarding costs the same COP 3,100 as the metro.

Metrotranvia (Electric Tram)

The Tranvía de Ayacucho runs east from San Antonio station along Calle Ayacucho for 2.7 kilometres, connecting the city centre to the eastern hillsides where Lines H and M cable cars depart. Opened in 2016, it is the first tram in Colombia and runs entirely on overhead electric lines with no diesel component.

Fare: Integrated with metro - tap in with the Cívica card at the same cost. The tram runs from approximately 5:30am to 11pm daily.

Taxis and app-based rides

Taxis in Medellin are metered (taxímetro). The starting flag-fall rate is approximately COP 5,000 and increases per 100 metres and per minute of waiting. Short El Poblado trips cost COP 7,000 to 12,000. From El Poblado to Laureles is typically COP 12,000 to 18,000.

InDriver and Cabify are the dominant app platforms. Both track your journey and allow price confirmation before accepting. For any late-night travel, particularly leaving nightlife areas, use an app rather than hailing from the street.

Taxis from the airport: Jose Maria Cordova Airport charges are regulated and published at the taxi desk - currently approximately COP 85,000 to COP 120,000 to El Poblado depending on the service class. Do not accept offers from drivers approaching you in arrivals.

Bikes and the Encicla system

Encicla is Medellin’s public bike-share network with stations across the metro area, concentrated in El Poblado, Laureles, and the city centre. A 30-minute ride costs approximately COP 2,500, with longer usage available on a membership plan. The app is easy to use and stations are well-maintained. The terrain in El Poblado is steep - most bike routes are practical in the valley on flat sections rather than on hillside streets.

Getting to Parque Arví

From El Poblado: Metro Line A northbound to Acevedo station (approximately 25 minutes), then Metrocable Line K to Arví (another 25-30 minutes). Total one-way cost approximately COP 6,200 (two metro/cable segments). The park itself charges COP 4,500 entry as of 2026 for non-residents.

Commune 13 (San Javier)

From El Poblado: Metro Line A to San Antonio, transfer to Line B westbound to San Javier station. From San Javier, take the escalators (escaleras eléctricas) up into the commune - they are free and visible from the station exit. The escalator system climbs 384 metres vertically in six sections and is a piece of urban infrastructure as much as a sightseeing attraction.