Envigado

Envigado at a glance

Envigado sits in the south of the Aburrá Valley, directly below El Poblado. It's a municipality in its own right, with its own mayor and town center, but its streets run straight into Medellín's, so you'd hardly notice the border. Behind it, the land rises toward the green mountains that separate the valley from El Retiro and Rionegro.

The town has a reputation in Colombia for a good quality of life, and it shows. The center is busy but manageable, the residential streets are calmer than El Poblado and life revolves around the main square, the church and the small businesses around them. It feels like a proper Antioquian town that happens to be next to a big city.

The name is usually traced to the large trees whose wood was used for beams, or vigas, in local houses. People have lived here for a very long time: archaeological work in the La Morena reserve found traces of occupation going back thousands of years, long before the Spanish arrived in the valley in 1541.

Things to do in Envigado

Parque Principal

The main square, the Parque Principal Marceliano Vélez, is the heart of town. It's shaded by trees, surrounded by cafés, bakeries and shops. It's a good place to sit with a coffee and watch everyday life, and it's busiest in the evenings and at weekends.

Casa Museo Otraparte

Otraparte is the former home of Fernando González, one of Colombia's most original philosophers and writers, who was born in Envigado. The house is now a museum about his life and ideas, with a busy cultural program of talks, readings and music. Next door, the Café de Otraparte is a popular spot for conversation over coffee or dinner.

The house museum is at Carrera 43A #27A Sur-11, on Avenida Fernando González, and opens Monday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. It's closed on Sundays and holidays. The café, at Calle 27 Sur #43A-61, opens every day, with later hours from Thursday to Saturday.

Parque Ecológico El Salado

On the mountainside above town, El Salado is an ecological park with walking trails, streams and picnic areas, popular with local families on weekends. To get there, take the metro to Envigado station and then a connecting local bus up the hill, or a taxi.

Eating and nightlife

Envigado has plenty of local restaurants serving Antioquian food, plus bars that draw a mostly local crowd. It's a good place to try the dishes in our what to eat in Medellín guide without tourist prices. For more ideas, see our Medellín nightlife guide.

Where to stay

Envigado has a handful of hotels and many apartments, and it's popular with people staying a month or more. Stay near the Parque Principal or within walking distance of Envigado or Ayurá metro stations so you can get around easily. Compare it with other areas in our where to stay in Medellín guide.

Getting around

Metro Line A has 2 stations in Envigado: Ayurá and Envigado. From Envigado station it's 3 stops north to Poblado and 8 to Parque Berrío downtown, so it's easy to reach the city's main sights. The center of town is a walk or short taxi ride from the stations. See getting around Medellín for how the metro and Cívica card work.

Who Envigado suits (and who it doesn't)

Envigado suits visitors on longer stays, families, remote workers and anyone who'd like a quieter, more traditional base with good transport links. It's also a nice half-day trip from El Poblado for a walk around the square and a visit to Otraparte.

It's not the best base for a very short first trip if you want to be in the thick of the restaurants and nightlife; for that, El Poblado is more convenient. For a flat, local neighborhood inside Medellín itself, look at Laureles.