Medellin, Colombia, A City Once Infamous for its Frequently-Violent Drug Battles, Has Become a Touristic Magnet Now that the "Narcos" Have Been Ousted From It

In a recent column, I wrote about the surprising emergence of the South American nation of Colombia as a hot new tourist destination  (and one that also has the fastest-growing economy in all of South America).  Reached from Miami for as little as $171 plus luggage fees, round-trip, on a new budget-priced, no-frills airline called VivaColombia, Colombia is currently visited by more than two million international tourists a year, who are flocking to its main cities of Cartagena, Bogota and Medellin.

Of those three cities, the most surprising new tourist favorite is Medellin (population of 2.4 million), infamous for years as the site of drug-related violence ("the Medellin drug cartel").  Now, with an activist national government overcoming the local narcos, in addition to also dis-arming an insurgent guerilla movement, Medellin has apparently become quite safe for visitors, indeed placid.

And it is quite a city.  In addition to being one of Latin America's foremost centers for medical tourism, especially plastic surgery and other elective procedures, it is also a huge source of cut flowers (65% of all cut flowers in the U.S. come from Colombia), whose colorful flower farms just outside the city are open to visitors.

The city's dramatic scenic highlight is the Plaza Fernando Botero, a dramatic downtown space filled with 23 of the trademark rotund bronze figures of sculptor/painter and native son Fernando Botero, set against the distinctive, 19th-century Palace of Culture and the Antioquia Museum of Art.  Nearby is the Parque Explora, a natural sciences complex whose star is a remarkable aquarium that focuses particularly on Colombia's two main marine ecosystems, coral reefs, and the Amazon.  There are cable cars within the city that provide a great way for visitors to have striking views over the city and to get a glimpse of local life in the communities high above the main town. The same "Metrocable" will take you to Avi Park, a 62-square-mile park with hiking trails, outdoor activities, and even some pre-Columbian archaeological ruins.

Medellin is Colombia's second largest city (after Bogota), and has the headquarters airport for VivaColombia Airline, which flies non-stop from Miami to Medellin.  But it should be kept in mind that you can also reach Colombia from the United States for a somewhat higher charge on Avianca, the nation's main airline, and on several U.S. carriers.  They all arrive in a city (Medellin) also famed for its climate and known as "the city of eternal spring" (according to hype from the local tourist board).

Though a visit to Medellin might have been unthinkable as recently as several years ago, it has now joined Cartagena and Bogota as potent new reasons for peaceful, rewarding tourism to surging Colombia.