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Guide to the Fun Cable Cars in Medellín 

The cable cars in Medellín are a great way to see the city. I break down how to use this fun form of public transport in this guide.

The cable cars in Medellín, officially called Metrocable, aren’t a tourist attraction. 

They’re actually public transport connecting the inner areas of the city with the upper reaches on the hillsides of the Aburrá Valley. 

While you probably won’t be heading to the fringes of the city, hopping aboard for the ride is one of the best things to do in Medellín. The views along the way are brilliant and seeing Medellín from a bird’s-eye perspective is cool.

Medellín’s cable cars are a fun way to explore the city and riding them is my top recommendation for your time here. In this guide, I cover the essential information you need to know to enjoy the experience. 

Medellín cable car lines

There are six Metrocable lines in Medellín connecting inner districts closer to and on the valley floor with outer districts on the valley hillsides. Journey times and distances differ between each line. 

A map of Medellín's metro system. The map shows the colour coded train lines running through the city.

Line J

Line J runs between stations La Aurora and San Javier J connecting the districts of Robledo and San Javier. This is the best line to ride if you want views of the famous Comuna 16 district. 

Once known as the most dangerous part of the city, Comuna 16 is now one of the city’s main tourist attractions with its colourful, mural-clad streets and ample bars and restaurants with cityscape views.  

There are four stations in total along Line J, the total distance is 2.7 km and it takes roughly 12 min to cover this. 

Line K

Line K serves the northern-most comunas 1 (Popular) and 2 (Santa Cruz) which border Bello on the edge of the city. These districts are far from the touristy areas of Medellín, but close to nice hikes such as Cerro Quitasol. 

This line runs between stations Santo Domingo K and Acevedo K and there are four stations along it in total. The total distance is 2 km and this takes around 9 min to cover. 

A cable car line with cabins hanging from it. The cabins are suspended above a red-brick urban area. These are cable cars in Medellín.

Line L

Line L is the Metrocable to take if you’re going to Parque Arvi (Arvi Park), Medellín’s largest park and nature reserve. Here there are kilometres of walkable trails and other outdoor activities you can try. 

Riding Line L is an escape into nature as you travel over extensive forest and leave the bounds of the Aburrá Valley. 

There are only two stations on this line and these are Santo Domingo (Comuna Popular) and Arvi. The total distance is 4.6 km and it takes roughly 15 min to cover. 

An electric train passes along an overpass in a city in front of a large mural in the style of Botero. This is in Medellín, Colombia.

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.

Line H

Line H is short and sweet. It runs within Comuna 8 (Villa Hermosa), between stations Villa Sierra and Oriente and there are just three stations in total on the line. The total distance is 1.4 km and it takes roughly 5 min to cover. 

There’s not too much to see on Line H; it’s more for locals in the La Sierra neighbourhood to access the city centre rapidly. 

Also, La Sierra isn’t considered a safe area. Not only does it have a history of drug cartel activity, but it’s also an impoverished area. I don’t recommend leaving the metro station for a wander around.

A city at the valley. Most of the buildings are red brick. This is Medellín, Colombia.

Line P

Line P links the inner city with Comuna 13 and runs between El Progreso and Acevedo Linea P stations. There are just four stations on this line in total, and the overall distance is 2.7 km which takes around 10 min to cover. 

Although Comuna 13 is now seen as one of the most up-and-coming areas in Medellín, it too was once considered one of the most dangerous parts. 

The touristy area that I mentioned before is fun to explore, but I wouldn’t recommend leaving this and venturing into the real local areas – these parts still have a reputation for crime. 

I’ve got a complete guide to Comuna 13 where you can read about the interesting, but scary history and find out what to do here as a tourist.

Line M

Line M is the quickest way for locals in the Trece de Noviembre neighbourhood of Comuna 3 (Manrique) to reach the city centre. 

The short ride, just 1 km / 5 min, runs between stations Trece de Noviembre and Miraflores and includes just three stops in total, but there are great urban views. 

A cable car in Medellín travels uphill towards the camera. The city is visible in the background.

Medellín cable car lines I recommend

Not all of the Metrocable lines are worth visiting, at least not in my opinion. For the best views of the city, including the famous Comuna 13, and to also see the surrounding Aburrá Valley and Parque Arvi, I recommend you take Lines M, J and L. 

My recommendation is to stay on the cable cars and do a loop returning to the station you set out from, except at Parque Arvi which is worth exploring. 

In general, I don’t recommend getting out at stations along the line for two reasons. The first is that there’s not a lot to see near metro stations. And the second is that many of the outer areas of Medellín aren’t the safest. These are impoverished districts and you might be a target. 

Large clouds illuminated with sunlight fill the sky above a city. The clouds have turned a pink colour. This is a sunset view from Comuna 13 in Medellín, Colombia.

Cover your back

I never do extreme activities abroad without travel insurance and SafetyWing’s affordable and flexible policies keep me covered. They have an essential and complete plan so you can pick which best suits your needs.

Medellín cable car opening times

You can ride the Metrocable from morning until night most days. 

Lines K, M, P, H and J

  • Monday – Saturday: 4:30-23:00
  • Sundays and holidays: 8:30-22:00 (Line K) / 9:00-22:00 (lines H, J, M and P)

Line L (Parque Arvi line)

  • Monday: closed
  • Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00-18:00
  • Sundays and holidays: 8:30-18:00
Tall apartment buildings built on a hillside overlooking a city. The city is Medellín and the view is from the trail to Cerro de Las Tres Cruces

As this is a public transport network, during weekdays, expect there to be lots of people travelling during commuting times, around 7:00-9:00 and 17:00-19:00. 

During these hours you’ll probably have to queue (I queued for an hour one morning) and cabins will likely be full (maximum 10 people). 

Cost of riding the cable cars in Medellín

Medellín’s cable cars are part of the wider integrated metro system in the city so riding the Metrocable costs the same as taking the bus or train. 

The current fare for a single bus, train or cable car journey on lines K, M, P and H is 3,900 COP ($1 US). To ride Line L (Parque Arvi) as a foreigner it costs 12,500 COP ($3 US) each way. Or 24,500 COP ($6 US) for a return journey.  

A metro train Medellín pulls into a station. There is a queue of people waiting to board the incoming train.
Medellín’s metro is affordable and fast.

The great thing about the metro is that as long as you don’t leave the station you can connect to other lines without paying again. However, this does not apply to Line L (Parque Arvi).

Here’s a link to all of the different types of metro fares and current prices. 

How to pay to use the metro

You can either buy single journeys at a metro station kiosk with cash or you can use a rechargeable Civica card. 

You might have to queue when buying at the kiosk, but a Civica card allows you to head directly to the platform; all you have to do is scan your card at the barriers. 

Just make sure you have enough credit on your card for the journey. If you’re not sure how much you need to top up, then you can ask an attendant at the kiosks by telling them your planned journey. 

There’s a good chance they won’t speak English, so you may need to put your Spanish skills to work. It helps to have a translator app downloaded on your phone just in case. 

A row of cable cars traveling uphill towards the camera. Thee are cable cars in Medellín. The city is visible in the background.

Using a Civica card is the most convenient way to pay for traveling by metro in Medellín. You’ll save lots of time skipping queues at kiosks and the card only costs 10,700 COP ($3 US). 

In my guide to getting around Medellín as a tourist, I cover the essential information you need to know about buying and using a Civica card. 

How do I get to Metrocable Medellín?

To get to a Metrocable, take any metro line to a station where there’s an interchange with a cable car line. I’ve listed below the stations with Metrocable interchanges.  

  • Santo Domingo Station (MetroCable Line K) / Metrocable Line L. To get to Line L, you first have to take Line K.
  • Miraflores Station (Tram Line T) / Metrocable Line M 
  • Acevedo Station (Metro Line A) / Metrocable Line P 
  • Oriente Station (Tram Line T) / Metrocable Line H 
  • San Javier Station (Metro Line B) / Metrocable Line J 
  • Acevedo Station (Metro Line A) / Metrocable Line K
An electric train passes along an overpass in a city in front of a large mural in the style of Botero. This is in Medellín, Colombia.

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.

Other key tips for using the cable cars in Medellín

Wind closures: cable cars can handle some wind but the line will be shut down if gusts are too strong. If this happens, you could get stuck waiting at a station for hours. I don’t recommend riding the Metrocable if you’ve got a flight the same day. 

A cablecar hangs from a cable. There is a city in the background.

Keep an eye on your valuables: although Medellín’s metro is generally safe, you can be targeted by pickpockets and other petty criminals.

Have cash: you’ll need it to top up your Civica card in person at kiosks.

More adventure travel guides on A World Over

So that’s how to enjoy the cable cars in Medellín. You can make a day of it by exploring several lines to see the city from different perspectives. 

I’ve got more guides to Medellín on the blog and I particularly recommend checking out my review of the best hikes here. Exploring the hiking trails on the hillsides of the Aburrá Valley is my second favourite thing to do in this city. 

And check out this guide if you want more tips on getting around Medellín as a tourist. 

All Medellín guides on A World Over:

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