MEDELLIN SEDE DE GRANDES EVENTOS
INFORMACIÓN DE CIUDAD
VERSIÓN EN INGLÉS
MEDELLIN, ENERO DE 2015
www.medellin.travel
1. Country’s information
¡Welcome to our country: Colombia!
Colombia, with a privileged geographical location in the northwestern corner of South America, is
considered a diverse country given its culture, geography and rich history making; it is a unique and
genuine travel destination. Traveling there can be like an experience taken straight out of a novel
where you will be captivated and dazzled by the contrast of its colonial architecture and modern
cities, the richness of its native communities, the incredible natural biodiversity, the traditional fairs
and festivals and not to mention the exquisite and peculiar cuisine from its different regions.
Thanks to their modern and entrepreneurial spirit, Colombian cities have become the permanent seat
of countless national and international events. To carry out a congress or event in a Colombian city is
an excellent decision and will undoubtedly; contribute to the success of your meeting.
If you are looking to fall in love with a country where every day is a magical experience, the
answer is Colombia.
1.1. Visas
There is no nationality restriction for entering Colombia. A visa is not required for the following
countries who stay up to 90 days in Colombia for tourist purposes: Argentina, Austria, Barbados,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain , United States,
Finland, France, Great Britain, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico,
Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Germany, Sweden,
Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela and foreign residents of Canada and United
States.
For further information, please consult the following link: http://www.colombia.travel/en/internationaltourist/practical-information/travel-to-colombia-information-and-advice/before-coming
2. City’s information
Medellin, a city tucked between mountains, is home to major businesses mostly from the textile,
apparel, telecommunications and automotive industries. It is nicknamed "The City of Eternal Spring”
for its privileged weather throughout the year.
Medellin is a city of contrasts. It is a rapidly developing metropolis immersed in nature that foments
social transformation while safeguarding its traditions. Witnessing the sign of progress, social
transformation, development and innovation, the city has established itself as a modern capital and
according to the Citi Group and the Urban Lands Institute as the Most Innovative City in 2012.
Elaborado por: Daniela Maturana Agudelo
www.medellin.travel
Medellin is the perfect place for academic, commercial, cultural and social activities as well as for
hosting events. Our competitive infrastructure and integrated transportation system, the endless
leisure possibilities and thriving nightlife and, last but not least, the smiles of service oriented and
cheerful people, make Medellin a top destination in Latin America.
2.1. Connectivity
Arriving to Medellin is accessible; the city has two airports and has weekly and daily flight to three of
the most important international hubs in Latin America:
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Jose Maria Cordova International Airport is located in the municipality of Rionegro in
eastern Antioquia, 40 km and 45 minutes outside of Medellin and its metropolitan area. The
journey to the airport seems short because an accessible route, “Las Palmas”, free from
traffic stops, connects it a route that allows you to enjoy and admire the greenery and the
mountains of Antioquia.
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Olaya Herrera Airport (OH): located within the city, is dedicated to regional domestic flights
and some national flights, it’s close to the financial, commercial and hotel areas, likewise the
main venue to celebrate events called Plaza Mayor- Convention and Exhibition Center.
INTERNATIONAL HUBS:
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Panama: 60 minutes by air from Medellin and a distance of 628.62 km, this hub have 54
direct weekly frequencies with our city. The flights are operated by Copa Airlines and Avianca
– LACSA.
Bogotá: 30 minutes by air from Medellin and a distance of 246.4 km, the Capital of Colombia
have 38 daily frequencies with the main airlines operating in the country, among which are
Copa Airlines, LAN, Avianca-Taca, Viva Colombia, Satena.
Lima: 4 hours by air from Medellin and a distance of 2.038,9 km, Lima has 7 direct weekly
frequencies via Quito, operated by LAN airlines and 14 direct weekly frequencies via Bogotá,
operated by Avianca – Taca.
2.2. Why Medellin
 Medellin has excellent infrastructure with a modern and functional convention center and
professional tourism service providers specialized in events.
 Our convention center is conveniently located so that attendees can focus their attention
on their academic activities instead of leisure ones.
 Competitive costs.
 For its social, cultural and urban transformation.
Elaborado por: Daniela Maturana Agudelo
www.medellin.travel
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It is a city of opportunities. It is prosperous, safe and reliable for doing business.
Strong local market.
Public, academic and private liaisons.
Human talent
It is city of knowledge and innovation.
Medellin guarantees security for its citizens and visitors.
Entertainment and amusement: City Tours, Shopping Tours, Gastronomic Tours, nightlife,
day trips to surrounding regions of Antioquia.
 Friendly and dynamic people, committed to providing excellent service
2.3. Medellin’s Awards
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2013, City of The Year, Citi Group, Urban Land Institute and Wall Street Journel
2013, Best Business Destination in South America, Business Destinations Travel Awards
2013, Rising Star Travelers Award Winner by Gogobot Magazine
2014, Most Lovable Sustainable Cities, finalist City, WWF.
2014, 100 Resilient Cities, The Rockefeller Foundation
2.4. Experience in events
Medellin has become a world-gathering hub that stands out as an excellent place for carrying out
national and international events.
Over the past years, the following meetings stand out:
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XXXVIII Regular Session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly
2008.
50th Annual Meeting of Governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) 2009
IX South American Games (2010)
Ibero-American Congress of Culture (2010)
World Urban Forum 2014 2014.
Some representative events planned in the city for the next months and years ahead are:
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General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization 2015.
Pan American and South American Master Championship (Swimming) 2015.
Global Entrepreneurship Congress GEC 2016.
2.5. Venues for events
Elaborado por: Daniela Maturana Agudelo
www.medellin.travel
Medellin has different scenarios of excellent design and architectural structure, with the latest
technology, generate economic dynamism and constitute an important platform for the
implementation of national and international events in the city.
Likewise the city has multiple venues in hotels, Library Parks, Interactive parks and universities that
allow the organizers and meeting planners select unique spaces around a green and well preserved
city.
2.6.
Hotels
The city and the metropolitan area have a wide variety of large,
medium and small hotels suitable for different budgets, for a total
offer of approx. 5.617 rooms with 9.113 beds.
Medellin has 3 areas where you can find hotels for all tastes and
budgets, hotels with comfortable infrastructure and excellent
service.
2.7. Transportation
METRO
Medellin is the only city in Colombia with this mass transit system, in place since 1995. It runs from
north to south and from the center to the west of the city and vice-versa, transporting more than
480,000 passengers per day. Service hours are from 4:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
METROCABLE
The city has two lines of metro cable, a cable propelled transit system, connected to the Metro
system. One of the lines is located in the northeastern part of the city and the second in the west.
This transport system moves about 12,000 to 14,000 passengers per day.
METROPLUS
Integrated to the Metro through 21 stations, it transports 164,000 passengers daily.
Besides the integrated transportation system the city has public buses and taxis with and excellent
service.
2.8. Entertainment and amusement
Elaborado por: Daniela Maturana Agudelo
www.medellin.travel
Medellin is a great place for shopping (National Capital of Fashion), with more than 40 shopping
centers, several chain stores and large supermarkets for all customers and tastes. It has more than
72 cinemas, 27 theaters, and 10 museums.
The city has numerous locations for nighttime fun. It is worth to highlight the famous Parque Lleras,
and recently cosmopolitan La Strada and modern Rio Sur sectors. Medellin nightlife offers a variety
of atmospheres such as Rock, Salsa, Vallenato, Crossover, Bolero, Cuban Son, among many others.
Entertainment businesses open their doors from 11:00 am, offering an exquisite international and
local menu until 3:00 am, when nightlife ends in the city, in this regard.
3. Tourism
Antioquia, thousand treasures to discover…
Subregions of Antioquia offer beautiful landscapes, natural wealth, picturesque villages, diverse
weather, and friendly people you can practice adventure, agrotourism, ecotourism, cultural tourism
and religious conduct, and many other activities that make the visit memorable.
Colombian destinations near to Medellin
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Bogota
The Capital of Colombia, a historic city with a spirit of constant experimentation and renewal, intense,
hardworking and sober during the day, while spontaneous, full of fun, good food and nightlife during
the evenings and weekends.
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Cartagena
A walled city that promises the enjoyment of a warm sea, it has a precious historic center surrounded
by well-known places like Santo Domingo or San Pedro, and offers an excellent national and
international cuisine.
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Santa Marta
It features historical attractions such as the Customs House (Casa de la Aduana), the Tayrona
Museum and the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, the house where Simon Bolivar died. Tayrona
Natural Park is located 35 kilometers (21 Mins.) from the historical center of Santa Marta and is near
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a region inhabited by the Tayrona tribe. It also owns wonderful
beaches for diving practice.
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San Andres and Providencia
Elaborado por: Daniela Maturana Agudelo
www.medellin.travel
White sand and a seven-color sea are what surround these beautiful islands, where it is possible to
practice water sports and see natural attractions like the Cave of Morgan (Cueva de Morgan) or the
Windy Hole (El Hoyo Soplador).
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The Coffee Land, World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO1
The joint of Caldas, Quindio and Risaralda, three departments located in the heart of the Andes
Mountains, has led to this beautiful region, which hides in its majestic mountains the Snow peak of el
Ruiz (Nevado del Ruiz), the magic of Cocora Valley and over 100 municipalities that keep the
traditions of coffee farms.
1
Source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1121
Elaborado por: Daniela Maturana Agudelo