A quick guide to the fun hike up Cerro de Las Tres Cruces in Medellín. Find out how to get to the trailhead and what the hike is like.
There are a few hikes leading to great viewpoints of Medellín, Colombia’s most vibrant city, and one of the easiest is Cerro De Las Tres Cruces (Three Crosses Hill).
It takes less than an hour to complete the hike via the steepish dirt trail and there’s no need for a map as the route is so obvious the entire way.
At the viewpoint you’ll find three crosses, just like when Christ was crucified on Mount Zion, an outdoor calisthenics gym, and commanding views of Medellín.
Cerro de Las Tres Cruces, Medellín hike overview
- Overall the hike is moderately difficult.
- The hike starts and ends at the entrance to the Cerro Tres Cruces Sendero (Three Crosses Hill Trail). There are other routes, but this is the one most people take.
- You can get to the trailhead by bus or taxi.
- It takes most people around 45 min to hike from the trailhead to the viewpoint.
- The trail is dirt and uneven and there are some steepish sections.
- There are juice and snack bars near the trailhead.
- Cerro de Las Tres Cruces is an outdoor fitness hub: there’s a calisthenics gym halfway up and another, bigger one at the viewpoint, plus loads of trail runners train here.
- Although a great spot to watch the sunrise/sunset, I’ve read about people being robbed at Cerro de Las Tres Cruces during these hours. I’ve also been warned by locals not to go up when it’s dark.
Trail conditions
The trail is dirt and exposed from the start all the way to the viewpoint and, in some parts, there are wooden steps built into it. For the most part the incline isn’t too steep but there are some sections where it becomes more challenging and you’ll break a sweat.
- Duration: 45 min (one-way)
- Distance: 1.2 km (one-way)
- Difficulty: moderate
- Elevation Gain: 320 m
What I like about this hike is how straightforward it is. It’s really obvious the whole way so there’s no need to have a map downloaded. In fact, if you’re looking at Cerro de Las Tres Cruces from a distance, you can see the whole trail from start to finish climbing the hillside.
The atmosphere here is great too. Cerro de Las Tres Cruces is popular, not only with tourists, but also locals, especially the fitness community. If you go on a sunny day, then there’ll likely be quite a few people running and the calisthenics gyms should be busy.
The one thing I would say is to not do this hike in the rain. The steeper sections would be really slippery when wet and a fall could see you sliding down the hillside. You’d also get pretty muddy as the trail isn’t in great condition even on dry days.
Where to stay in Medellín
These recommendations are based on personal experience or excellent ratings across major booking platforms. My preferred location is Laureles-Estadio for the quieter and safer streets.
- Hostal Paisa: a well-located budget hostel with all the amenities you need.
- CoNomad House: a shared living and coworking space with all amenities.
- Laureles Selection Suites: a comfortable rental apartment with all amenities.
- Stylish Loft: a chic one-bed studio with all amenities and coworking access.
Getting to the trailhead
The trailhead is located in La Loma de Los Bernal neighbourhood within the district of Belén and the most convenient way to get here is with a taxi.
From the main touristy areas, Laureles-Estadio (Laureles) and Poblado, a taxi is affordable and shouldn’t cost much more than 14,000 COP ($3 US) one-way, and the journey should last around 20 min without traffic.
Make sure to show the driver that you want to go to the main trailhead linked above. I’ve read about people being dropped at one of the lesser-known trailheads after not clarifying.
With the bus, it’ll take around 45 min to reach the trailhead from Laureles or Poblado and will cost around 8,000 COP ($2 US) each way.
You’ll need to take at least two buses and these will depend on where exactly you start your journey from. However, the C3007 and C3007A buses bring you to the bus stop closest to the trailhead, a stone’s throw away.
I use Moovit to plan bus journeys and have found it to be the most accurate bus application in Latin America.
I don’t recommend taking the metro as the nearest station to the trailhead is Los Alpes, almost a 2-km (25-min) walk away.
What to do at Cerro de Las Tres Cruces
While the hike itself is the main draw, if you love exercising, then you won’t want to skip a workout at one of the gyms. These have to be some of the most picturesque calisthenic gyms in the world as the views from both are cracking.
The first gym is small and sits around halfway between the trailhead and the summit on a small plateau. The second gym is at the summit behind the three crosses and here there are plenty of different bars to do bodyweight exercises.
What to bring to Cerro de Las Tres Cruces
- Water – at least 2 L.
- Food – you could bring breakfast or lunch to eat at the top. Regardless, you’ll want to bring at least some snacks.
- A rain jacket – just in case you get caught in a shower.
- Cash – if you want a juice or snack from one of the stands near the trailhead.
- Sunglasses.
- Sunscreen.
When to hike Cerro de Las Tres Cruces
The dry season in Colombia typically lasts from December – April and is the ideal period for hiking. During these months skies are clearer and trails in better condition. There’s also a secondary, shorter dry season throughout June and July.
You could hike Cerro de Las Tres Cruces during the rainy season but, as the trail is entirely exposed, you’d get pretty wet if it rained. Also, there’s less chance of having good views at the top.
The trail here would be particularly bad in the rain. So, if it’s already raining before you start the hike, I’d call it off for another, dry day. Also, I’d avoid hiking here when it’s dark as tourists have been robbed.
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More adventure travel guides on A World Over
So that’s how to hike Cerro de Las Tres Cruces in Medellín. It’s a simple but fun adventure best enjoyed when the sun is out and skies clear. The views of the city are brilliant and eating breakfast or lunch at the viewpoint is a great way to enjoy them.
Other fun hikes at different points of the city limits you might not have heard of, but which I also recommend, are Mirador La Paloma, Cerro Quitasol in Bello and Cerro Volador. If you’d prefer to read about these hikes in a quick summary article, then check out my guide to the best hikes in Medellín.
All Medellín guides on A World Over:
- Visiting Medellín Colombia: 6 Best Things To Do and Overrated Things
- A Fun Itinerary for 5 Days in Medellín
- How to get Around Medellín as a Tourist: Medellín Transport Guide
- How to get From Medellín to San Gil: Your Options Explained
- Guide to the Fun Cable Cars in Medellín
- 4 of the Best Hikes in Medellín, Colombia
- Mirador la Paloma Hike Guide Medellín
- Cerro Volador: A Quick and Fun Medellín Hike
- Hike Guide to Cerro Quitasol in Bello, Medellín
- Why is Comuna 13 Famous in Medellín? Guide for Your Visit
- Is Pueblito Paisa Worth Visiting in Medellín?