{"id":8443,"date":"2026-10-23T08:28:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T13:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turibuscolombia.com\/?p=8443"},"modified":"2026-10-21T14:51:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T19:51:10","slug":"metrocable-medellin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turibuscolombia.com\/en\/blog\/metrocable-medellin\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0How to use the Metrocable in Medell\u00edn and how much it costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Medell\u00edn Metrocable is the aerial cable system of the metro: cabins that climb from the stations to the neighborhoods on the slopes and that, by the way, offer some of the best views of the city. For the visitor, it is transport and a walk at the same time, and it costs the same as a subway ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide we tell you which lines of the Metrocable are available to tourists, how much the Medell\u00edn Metrocable costs, what time it operates, how to get to Parque Arv\u00ed by Metrocable, and what you can see from the line that runs over Comuna 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metrocable Medell\u00edn: quick facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Theme<\/th>Date<\/th>To take into account<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Passage<\/td>The same as the metro: about 4,400 COP per trip with the C\u00edvica card<\/td>Line L, at Parque Arv\u00ed, is paid for separately<\/td><\/tr>
Card<\/td>Bearer certificate, about 12,100 COP<\/td>It is purchased and recharged at the metro ticket offices<\/td><\/tr>
More useful lines<\/td>K, L and J<\/td>The K connects with the L to go up to Arv\u00ed<\/td><\/tr>
General schedule<\/td>Similar to the metro: from 4:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.<\/td>Shorter on Sundays and public holidays<\/td><\/tr>
Schedule of the L Line<\/td>Monday through Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sundays and holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.<\/td>It closes on Tuesdays for maintenance.<\/td><\/tr>
Connection<\/td>From the metro stations, without leaving the system<\/td>Acevedo (Line A) and San Javier (Line B) are the most used<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Below we explain each point so that you can use it without any complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Metrocable and how does it work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Metrocable is part of the Medell\u00edn Metro system. It was created to connect the downtown area with the neighborhoods built in the mountains, where the metro does not reach. Its first line, the K, began operating in 2004 and connects the Santo Domingo Savio neighborhood with the Acevedo metro station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It works like an extension of the metro: you get to a connecting station, you follow the corridors without leaving the system, and you get on a car. The cars pass every few seconds, so you almost never have to wait long, except during peak hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please keep in mind that this is the daily transportation for thousands of residents of these neighborhoods. Use it with respect: give up your turn in the rush hour queues and avoid stopping to take photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why the Metrocable is famous<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Metrocable became a symbol of Medell\u00edn's transformation. Before its arrival, those living high up on the hills had to spend hours to get to the city center through steep and congested streets. The cable shortened those journeys to minutes and connected those neighborhoods with the rest of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parks, libraries, and public spaces were built around the stations as part of what in Medell\u00edn is known as social urbanism. That is why the Metrocable is being studied as an example in other cities around the world, and for visitors climbing into one of its cabins is also a way of understanding the city\u2019s recent history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Medell\u00edn cable metro lines that serve tourists the most<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The system has several lines, but these are the ones that are most useful for those visiting the city:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Line<\/th>Itinerary<\/th>How to get there<\/th>What do you see?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
K<\/td>Acevedo \u2013 Santo Domingo Savio<\/td>Acevedo Station, Line A of the metro<\/td>The barrios of the northeast and the Aburr\u00e1 Valley from above<\/td><\/tr>
L<\/td>Santo Domingo Savio \u2013 Arv\u00ed<\/td>From Line K, in Santo Domingo<\/td>Forest and mountain road to Arv\u00ed Park<\/td><\/tr>
J<\/td>San Javier \u2013 La Aurora<\/td>San Javier Station, Line B of the metro<\/td>The slopes of the west, including part of Comuna 13<\/td><\/tr>
H<\/td>Oriente \u2013 Villa Sierra<\/td>Ayacucho Tramway Station Oriente<\/td>The eastern center of the city<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The system also has other lines, such as the M and the P, which mainly serve residents of their neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to see in Line K and in Santo Domingo Savio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Line K is the most well-known and the best for a first experience. From the cabin you can see how the neighborhoods of the northeastern area stretch up the mountain, with brick houses, terraces, and narrow streets, and as you climb up the view opens up of the Aburr\u00e1 valley and the Medell\u00edn river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you reach Santo Domingo Savio, the last station, you will find viewpoints with one of the most extensive panoramic views of the city. There is the building of the Biblioteca Espa\u00f1a, one of the symbols of the transformation of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to walk around the area, do it during the day near the station, or with a local guide who knows the neighborhood. Many visitors only do the round trip to enjoy the view, or they go straight to Line L and Arv\u00ed Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much does the Medellin Metro Cable cost?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Metrocable fare is the same as the metro fare: about 4,400 COP per trip with a C\u00edvica card. If you take the metro and make the connection within the system, the cable is already included in that fare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To pay you need the C\u00edvica card in person, which costs about 12,100 COP and can be purchased and recharged at the ticket offices at the stations. The same card is valid for the metro, the Metrocable, the tram and the integrated buses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to buy and recharge the C\u00edvica card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If this is your first trip, the process is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Go to the box office of any metro station and ask the attendant for a C\u00edvica card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Pay the card's value and tell the cashier how much credit you want to load. For a day of sightseeing, calculate at least four or five trips.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. When you enter, hold the card against the wristband reader. Every time you enter the system, one pass is deducted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. When the balance runs out, recharge it at the box office or at the authorized recharge points.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The bearer card does not have your name on it, so you can share it with another person; however, each person must pass the tourniquet separately and a ticket is deducted for each entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The exception is Line L, which goes to Parque Arv\u00ed. It is a tourist line with its own fare, which is paid separately at the Santo Domingo station: the ticket costs 11,900 COP for nationals and 26,700 COP for foreigners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step by step on your first trip on Metrocable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you have never been up there, here is a typical route from the moment you enter the station until you reach the top:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Enter the metro station, pass the C\u00edvica card through the turnstile and get on the train in the direction you need.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Get off at the connecting station, for example Acevedo for Line K or San Javier for Line J.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Follow the signage to the Metrocable. You don't need to pay again, because you're still within the system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Line up at the platform. The metro staff will arrange the boarding and tell you when to get on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Get into the cabin as you slowly move through the station. Enter calmly, sit down, and leave space for others.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Upon arriving at the destination station, the cabin moves slowly again: leaving without haste and following the signage to the exit or to the next connection.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      To return, you take the same route in the opposite direction. If you\u2019re going to Parque Arv\u00ed, remember that in Santo Domingo you have to change lines and pay separately for the section of the L Line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Metrocable schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The lines of the Metrocable operate on a schedule similar to that of the metro, which operates from Monday to Saturday from 4:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. On Sundays and holidays, the schedule may change depending on the line, but you can refer to the schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Line L has a shorter schedule: Monday through Saturday it operates from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Sundays and holidays, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It closes on Tuesdays for maintenance. Before boarding Arv\u00ed, check the Medell\u00edn Metro information to ensure it is not closed due to an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How to get to Parque Arv\u00ed on the Metrocable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Climbing up Parque Arv\u00ed is the most popular plan of the Medell\u00edn Metrocable, because it combines three routes: the metro, the cable over the neighborhoods, and the cable over the forest. To do this, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Take the A line of the metro to the Acevedo station.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Make the connection, without leaving the system, to Line K of the Metrocable and get on to the last station, Santo Domingo Savio.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. In Santo Domingo, you switch to Line L. Here you pay the fare separately.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Line L crosses the forest to the Arv\u00ed station, in a journey of about 15 minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        In the Arv\u00ed Park<\/a> There are trails, green areas and local products stands near the station; some activities have an extra cost. It gets colder up there than in the city, so bring a jacket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        On weekends and holidays, the line for Line L can be long. If you can, try to get on it during the week or early in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What to do in the Arv\u00ed Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Arv\u00ed Park is a large natural reserve in the mountains of Santa Elena, east of Medell\u00edn. Near the station you\u2019ll find the most visited area, with stalls selling local products, food, and handicrafts, and the starting point for several hiking trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The most common plans are to walk along the trails among pine forests and native vegetation, have a picnic in the green areas, observe birds, and buy products from the local farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Some tours require prior reservation and have a cost: between 20,000 and 30,000 COP, depending on whether you are a national or a foreigner. They include professional guide, wildlife interpretation, accident insurance, and pre-hospital care service (APH). These guided tours depart from Wednesday to Monday, every hour, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        How much time to devote to it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        Calculate at least half a day for the full plan: between 45 minutes and an hour of travel time from the center to Arv\u00ed, about two or three hours in the park and the return. If you want to do long trails, dedicate the whole day and leave early, because the L Line has limited hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        What do you see from Line J of the Comuna 13 cable car?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The J Line leaves the San Javier station on Line B of the metro and climbs up the slopes of the west to La Aurora. Along the way it passes over part of Comuna 13 and offers a wide view of its neighborhoods and the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Attention: the graffiti area and the escalators do not go directly on Line J. To get to the graffiti tour, get off at the San Javier station and take a bus or taxi to the 20 de Julio neighborhood. If you want to learn about its history before going, read our guide here. The history of Comuna 13<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you prefer to do the entire tour with a local guide, our Comuna 13 tour with Metrocable<\/a> Includes the cable car ride and the graffiti tour. It takes 5 hours, runs from Monday to Saturday, and costs 105,000 COP per person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Half-day plan with the Metrocable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        If you have a free morning, this plan combines the views of Line K with a visit to Parque Arv\u00ed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Time<\/th>Plan<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
        9:00 a. m.<\/td>Metro from the center or El Poblado to the Acevedo station<\/td><\/tr>
        9:30 a.m.<\/td>K Line of the Metrocable to Santo Domingo Savio<\/td><\/tr>
        9:45 a.m.<\/td>Stop at the Santo Domingo viewpoint and change to Line L<\/td><\/tr>
        10:15 a.m.<\/td>Arv\u00ed Park arrival: local market and short walk along a path<\/td><\/tr>
        12:30 p. m.<\/td>Lunch in the area of the Arv\u00ed station<\/td><\/tr>
        1:30 p. m.<\/td>Return by Line L, Line K and metro<\/td><\/tr>
        2:30 p. m.<\/td>Approximate arrival to the city center<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        The times are approximate and may be extended due to the queues at Line L on weekends. If you are traveling during the week, please remember that Line L closes on Tuesdays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Cable car with children, seniors or reduced mobility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The Metrocable is a plan suitable for the whole family. Children usually enjoy it a lot, and the enclosed cabins make the journey safe and comfortable. Travel with children sitting and avoid them climbing on or playing with the doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        For older adults or people with reduced mobility, the approach can be the most delicate moment, because the cabin moves slowly as you enter. Ask for help from the station staff, who are there to guide users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If someone feels dizzy, it is advisable to start with a short route, such as Line K, before venturing onto Line L, which goes higher up over the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Common mistakes when using the Metrocable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Using the Metrocable is easy, but some mistakes can waste your time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n