Duration
7 days
Type
Specific Tour
Group Size
Max 12 people
Languages
English, Español
Medellín is the second-largest city in Colombia. It has over 3 million people and is the capital of the department of Antioquia. It’s set in a valley running south to north just under one hour by plane from Bogotá. In 2013 Medellin was awarded the Innovative City of the Year by The Wall Street Journal, outranking rivals New York and Tel Aviv.
Medellín is a vast city built north to south in the Aburrá valley, meaning that wherever you go in the city you are basically guaranteed a view of mountains and stunning landscapes. The wealthier classes live in the well-protected hillside neighborhood of El Poblado and Envigado (SouthEast) and Laureles (West and South of downtown). This is far removed from the action and commotion which are found in the city’s center. There are the busy markets and thriving street life that makes up much of the city’s charm. Within an hour or two from the city you can also visit some truly great little towns and get a wonderful sense of how diverse Colombia really is. Gorgeous pueblos like Guatapé, Santa Fe de Antioquia, Jardin and many more can all be visited on day trips.
During this football travel adventure, we will explore the finest this city has to offer in combination with some of the country’s biggest derbies: El Clásico Paisa. The rivalry between the teams of Atlético Nacional and Deportivo Independiente Medellín. Be prepared for an extraordinary travel experience and explore Colombia off the beaten path together with a small group of like-minded travellers and a local host. Your ultimate football adventure is here.
Welcome to Medellin: a city battling against an infamous reputation (thanks to Pablo Escobar), yet one that will surprise you with its unexpected beauty and revitalized spirit.
Nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring, this is a place where progress has never been more tangible. Your football travel adventure will start here. Drop your bags, take some rest and prepare for an unforgettable adventure.
A packed stadium filled with 40,000+ screaming and diehard fans imbued with a fiery passion that is seldom seen in most sporting events around the world. This isn’t your ordinary Clasico or derby. This isn’t AS Roma v Lazio or Celtic v Rangers. This is the Medellin derby or ‘El Clásico Paisa’, an affair that has been raging for almost seventy years. Both teams share the same stadium and play in the same national league. Both fan groups come from the same city and live in the same neighborhoods.
‘El Clasico Paisa’ is the long-standing rivalry between the teams of Deportivo Independiente Medellin and Atletico Nacional. It’s one of the most important derbies in all of Colombia and very relevant in South America from its prior reputation.
No trip to Antioquia is complete without at least a day spent wandering through the colourful streets of Colombia's most colourful town. Guatapé is the perfect place to visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of Medellín.
The zócalos feature paintings depicting the town’s history, and the colours make for a truly photogenic little town. Sitting in one of the plazas and watching the world go by with a fresh coffee is a must-do activity on any trip to Guatapé.
The main reason that people visit Guatapé is to climb the famous Rock of Guatapé – also known as El Peñol Rock – to enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding islands and lakes of the artificial Guatapé reservoir.
There are 740 steps to get to the top, so it’s not exactly a relaxing experience, but it’s worth it for the stunning views.
During this trip, you'll have an exclusive opportunity to have a look behind the scenes at the training ground of Atlético Nacional in Guarne. Club Atlético Nacional S. A. is a Colombian professional football team based in Medellín. The club is one of only three teams to have played in every first division tournament in the country's history, the other two teams being Millonarios and Santa Fe. Considered to be one of the strongest clubs from Colombia, it is one of the most consistent clubs in the country. Atlético Nacional is the most successful team in Colombia and has won 16 league titles, four Copa Colombia and two Superliga Colombiana. It was also the first Colombian club to win the Copa Libertadores - they have won it twice.
See a first-team training live, meet the players and learn more about the history of this football club with a tour through their training facilities.
One particular area of Medellín, a neighbourhood called Comuna 13, also known as San Javier, has the most tumultuous history of the city, once labeled the most dangerous community due to its astronomical homicide rates and its forced displacement of thousands of residents.
Today is all about getting under the skin of Medellín; your chance to learn how it has transformed from one of the most dangerous cities on earth to one of the most forward-looking and creative.
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