Visiting Pueblito Paisa: A Day Out in Medellin
Pueblito Paisa is a popular tourist attraction in Medellìn Colombia. Every day thousands of tourists flock here to visit the replica village – and so should you!
It boasts a beautiful little church, colourful buildings, great local food and an amazing view over Medellin from 80m above city level. This makes Pueblito Paisa a great day out to experience some traditional Colombian culture.
There are definitely some things you should know when visiting. In this guide we’ll cover how to get there, the cost of the entrance fee, what to do at Pueblito Paisa and when to visit!
Table of Contents
- History of Pueblito Paisa
- Getting to Pueblito Paisa
- Things to do at Pueblito Paisa
- Museo de Ciudad (Museum of the City)
- Best time to visit Pueblito Paisa
- Pueblito Paisa FAQs
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History of Pueblito Paisa
Back in the 1970’s, an ancient town called El Peñol in east Antioquia was flooded to create a man-made reservoir for energy production. Materials were taken from this town and brought to Medellin to build Pueblito Paisa – a replica of a traditional Antioquian village.
The cost of the build was over $2,000,000, and it was completed in 1978. Since this time, Pueblito Paisa has undergone multiple renovations – the most recent in 2019-2020. However, throughout that time it has continued to be a popular attraction for locals and travellers alike.
Now, people can visit to experience what a traditional Antioquian village looks and feels like without leaving Medellin. From the traditional architecture, to the insane city view and the local gastronomy, you can really get a feel for Antioquian culture here.
By the way, there’s no entrance fee – it’s completely free!
Want to visit a real Antioquian village?
We visited a beautiful pueblo called Jardin which is in the Andes mountains about three hours from Medellin. We absolutely loved it here and wrote a full guide of things to do in Jardin!
Getting to Pueblito Paisa
Pueblito Paisa is situated on top of Cerro Nutibara (Nutibara Hill), one of Medellin’s tutelary hills. It’s located right next to the Medellin River and the main highway that runs through the city, close to the Laureles area.
If you make your own way, it’s worth noting that walking there means a climb up Cerro Nutibara. If you’re okay with this, you need to make your way to the ‘Industriales’ metro station. The route from here is about a 30-minute walk and will take you through the sculpture park on the side of the hill.
We personally decided to take an Uber from our apartment in Laureles. It only took about 10-minutes and cost us about $2. The taxi will bring you right to the entrance so you don’t need to climb the hill!
There are two ways you can visit Pueblito Paisa, each with their own pros and cons. You can:
- Book onto a tour
- Visit on your own
Taking a tour
There are multiple tours in Medellin that will stop at Pueblito Paisa. The obvious benefit to this is that your guide is going to know the history of the place to a tee. While exploring, you’ll get given every detail you might need about Pueblito Paisa and if you have any questions, there’ll be someone to answer them
We’d recommend checking out this tour. It’ll also take you to downtown Medellin and Comuna 13 – both places we loved and that we highly recommend you visit!
Visiting independently
We actually visited sort of semi-independently. During our time in Medellin we attended a Spanish school and our Spanish school ran a weekend trip to Pueblito Paisa.
We took an Uber to the entrance and met up with a few people in the main square. The entrance is completely free so you don’t need to worry about paying!
Visiting independently is a great way to save money. You can still admire the village and learn Medellin’s history in the Museo de Ciudad (if your Spanish is good, haha!). The downside is that you’ll have no one around to talk you through the history of Pueblito Paisa or tell you any fun facts. But if you’re okay with that, then visiting independently is a great idea!
Things to do at Pueblito Paisa
As we mentioned, Pueblito Paisa is a replica of a traditional Antioquian town. But what can you actually expect when you visit?
Pueblito Paisa Church
Capilla Nuestra Señora De La Candelaria is a church that sits at the head of the Pueblito Paisa plaza. Open to visitors, it’s humbling to see how a church would traditionally look in Antioquian villages.
This is one of the first buildings you’ll spot as you enter and is a great photo opportunity spot.
Pueblito Paisa Square
Pueblito Paisa town square is a beautiful plaza surrounded by buildings on three sides. Standing in the square really drives home how it would feel standing in a small Antioquian village.
With shops and restaurants around the square, you’ll have a lot to explore. Nearby there’ll be traditional Colombian musical groups singing Spanish songs while revellers watch on.
We really enjoyed the performances here. They were incredibly lively and enjoyable to watch!
Food at Pueblito Paisa
Food is abundant at Pueblito Paisa and they’re very proud of what they have to offer. Upon entry, you’ll find food stalls selling some traditional Colombian snacks. You can get churros, ice cream and much more!
Around the square are a couple of sit-down restaurants. We ordered lunch at Restaurante Tradición Paisa on the right side of the plaza. I had my first ever bandeja paisa here – a typical Colombian dish. It was delicious, but be warned, it’s large!
Around the back of the square you’ll find a few more stalls. I got myself a mango juice and Sara treated herself to a Cream Cholao – essentially a cup of ice cream mixed with fruits!
From the back area, you can head down a set of stairs to a food court. We actually didn’t go down – there’s plenty of options in the main square – so we don’t know what’s down there!
Pueblito Paisa viewpoint
Cerro Nutibara is 80m tall, which means there are great views out over the city! If you head past the Museo de Ciudad, you’ll find a patch of grass with almost a 360(degree) view of Medellin! From here you can see how the city sprawls up the side of the mountains. You can even watch the planes land and take off from the city airport!
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Museo de Ciudad (Museum of the City)
The Museo de Ciudad is right next to the main square of Pueblito Paisa. It’s a place you can go to learn about the social history of Medellin. We walked around reading about all the social injustices that Medellin has faced in the past, as well as some positive history as well!
The museum is open from 10am to 6pm daily and is free to enter. However, when we went with our Spanish school, we were expected to give a 5000 COP ($1.23) donation to the museum.
Like museums?
We created a full guide on all of the museums to visit in Medellin!
Best time to visit Pueblito Paisa
Weather wise, we recommend heading to Medellin during January to April, or July to October. This way you’ll dodge Colombia’s rainy seasons.
In terms of what time, the earlier the better! We arrived at 9am (opening time) on a Saturday and it wasn’t too busy at this time. It did, however, start getting busy about 10am!
Pueblito Paisa is open until 9pm. Visiting for sunset could be a great way to get a view of Medellin at golden hour. Once the sun goes down, all the lights up the sides of the mountains come on and it is stunning!
Pueblito Paisa FAQs
What time does Pueblito Paisa open?
Pueblito Paisa opens from 9am – 9pm daily. The best time to arrive is at 9am when it opens.
How much does it cost to visit Pueblito Paisa?
Nothing! Pueblito Paisa is free to enter all day long.
What is there to do at Pueblito Paisa?
At Pueblito Paisa, you can check out the main square, visit the replica church, indulge in beautiful Antioquian food and visit the Museo de Ciudad. There’s also a great view of Medellin and a sculpture garden.
Is Pueblito Paisa safe to visit?
Yes, Pueblito Paisa is very safe to visit! It’s an incredibly popular tourist attraction and full of people. You may have to watch out for pickpockets, but otherwise it’s one of the safest places in Medellin.
Is Pueblito Paisa worth visiting?
Yes 100%! It’s a beautiful place with a lot of culture and tradition. We full recommend a morning or afternoon out at Pueblito Paisa.
