Jardín Botánico

The Jardín Botánico is Medellín’s green lung in the middle of the city — fourteen free hectares of orchids, palms and lawns where iguanas sun themselves by the lake and turtles slide off the rocks. It’s the easiest, most relaxed couple of hours in the city, and it costs nothing to walk in.

What to see

• The Orquideorama — the garden’s signature: a soaring lattice of wooden “flower-trees” whose honeycomb roof shades an orchid and bromeliad collection. It’s the most photographed structure in the park for good reason.
• The lake and its wildlife — free-roaming iguanas, turtles and birds; kids love spotting them.
• The palmetum and the themed gardens — shaded paths, a desert patch, and plenty of grass to sit on.

Make a half-day of it

The garden sits in a cluster of free and low-cost attractions in the north of the city, so it’s rarely a stop on its own. Right next door are Parque Explora (the science museum and aquarium), the Planetario, and the Parque de los Deseos — you can string several together in an afternoon.

Getting there

Take Metro Line A to Universidad; the garden entrance is a short, signposted walk from the station. Entry is free, and it’s open daily — mornings are quietest and coolest. Bring water and, if you like, a picnic; there are cafés on site too.