I'm getting ready for my 5th trip to Medellin, and as usual I'm trying to come up with things to do besides the babes of this great town. I've done all the easy and expected things, like the Botero Museum, Pueblitas, Santa fe, and the metro cable, but I'd like to go further out and even spend the night to experience more of the Country.

I'm thinking of going to Rio Claro. It's supposed to be a beautiful river with caves to explore, and inexpensive lodging. Anyone been there? It's about a 3 hour drive from Medellin.

I would love to see other ideas of overnite trips that don't involve taking a flight out of MDE. With so many of us going on trips here, it seems we could come up with some good side trips to make our stays more enjoyable.

Forgive my naivete, but aren't trips to the quaint countryside begging for disaster?

I would think even having a 1% chance of getting kidnapped might ruin your day.

There are certain areas where that is true, but it is well known where those areas are. The bad areas are referred to as "Indian Country", but the area around Medellin is as safe (or unsafe) as any other Country.

I think Gregg at the Mansion is running tours to the countryside. He has been doing this for over a year and has not been kidnaped yet.

El Peñol and Guatapé are only an hour or so away. San Jerónimo and Santa Fe de Antioquia are also in the one-hour range in a different direction.

El Peñol is a huge rock outcropping that affords a spectacular view of the water supply for Medellín contained in a huge, dammed lake. Guatapé is a pueblo on the lake shore. There are a lot of resorts in the area, and you can rent boats to hit the lake.

San J and Santa Fe are resort areas at a lower altitude. So the area is much warmer than MDE. Santa Fe was the original capital of Antioquia and has been preserved as an old city.

Safety is not much of a concern in any area mentioned above.

Porker-

Vastly higher odds of serious problems in TJ (or any border town in Mexico) than almost anywhere in Colombia, but especially Medellin. Things have changed...

Bwana, Your right. But for selfish reasons, I'd like the majority of Del Rey type mongers to think their life is in danger and stick to TJ or CR...

Jonsie-

Actually, just heard FARC has moved into Medellin; Shining Path into Lima; Commando Vermelha into Copacabana; also, Raul Castro is cracking down on all gringos in Cuba, so stay away from these places!

The FARC has always been in MDE, and they won't be leaving any time soon.

Yeah the Airports are controlled by FARC now. You might end-up in a car trunk in 5 minutes after landing. I go there because i am suicidal.

BD, you are right, Shining Path is in Lima. It was a Shining Path that led me to Relax Y Vida, and she led me down the Shining Path of the casa to her Shining Path massage.

Wow this thread got off track fast;)

I have not been to El Penol, but will go this trip. I'm thinking of taking a couple of girls and spending the night on the houseboat that's for rent there.

I was looking for lots of ideas and am willing to spend the night, which means a 4 to 5 hour bus ride is ok. It seems there would be lots of interesting things to see and do in a 5 hour radius of Medellin, but I haven't heard of many.

Av8tr,

if all else fails, tag up with Hemp for a dip in his hot tub and follow it up with a macaroni eating contest. The talent he has over at his place is certainly worth the pasta high you might experience.

CFK

I recommend the "backdoor to Pereira" tour, including Manizales, Santa Rosa de Cabal..termales, Parque de Cafe, Panaca, Pereira and Armenia.

AG wants to head out tomorrow, but I have a new Pantheon member stopping by.

I am going to El Penion and Guatape today. They have buses that leave from the north station in medellin. A gringo who lives here told me it is a great place to go. I am planning on staying the night there. They say you can rent jet skis or a boat.
I took a bus from Cali to pererria then pererria to medellin. We were on a 9 passenger van. You pick your seat so try to get a window. I was stuck center in the rear seat and my amiga was center front seat. We go there 10 minutes before it left.