5 Things You May Not Know About Medellin

It has been 6-months since we opened our Latin American headquarters in Medellin, Colombia and I could not be more thrilled with our team. The confluence of the quality of talent, government support, low cost of living and English-language ability has made this city an ideal location for the high-tech sector.

With that context, I thought that I would create a fun blog entry today and list five more things that you may not know about the city of Medellin.

1. Medellin has more parks per square meter within the city limits than any other city in Latin America. These include several beautiful open spaces, some with rivers, in the mountains, and many set squarely in the middle of the city complete with nearby Museums and great restaurants.

2. The tap water in Medellin is the cleanest in all of Latin America. Bottled water does not sell in Medellin because most people can and do drink right from the tap. In fact, more generally, Medellin is a very clean city.

3. Medellin is home to several microbreweries, including the fantastic 3 Cordilleras. Tours are available and, for a fee of about $5 US dollars, you can get 5 free pints of top notch beer. As a world traveler, I would put the beer from 3 Cordilleras on par with some of the world's best in Germany and England.

4. Medellin is famous as the "City of Eternal Spring", with year-round temperatures between 65F and 85F. However, just outside the city are some beautiful locations and activities. Horseback riding, hand gliding, hiking and other great outdoors activities. Sante Fe de Antioquioa is only two hours driving and has a warmer climate, complete with all-inclusive hotels, pools and spas.

5. Medellin is home to the Feria de las Flores, a week-long event each July/August featuring parades, and of course a beautiful display of flowers.

This list, of course, does not tell the tale. The city is one with friendly people, great restaurants and nightlife, a beautiful climate, and a set of unique characteristics that make this a fabulous travel destination for business or leisure.