Medellin is situated in Colombia's business and industrial heartland, surrounded by scenic countryside with lakes and waterfalls. Colombia's ‘city of eternal spring' is a dynamic and prosperous city, known for its enthusiasm for tango, hearty food and modern art. Medellin's annual flower festival, Desfile de Silleteros - one of Colombia's most spectacular fiestas - is another notable attraction.

The city has shaken off its past associations with Pablo Escobar's notorious Medellin drug cartel and is now a worthy stop-off on the country's tourism circuit. Modern art is Medellin's pride and joy, with sculptures and monuments across the city, many of which can be seen by joining a guided walking tour.

Paisas - Medellin locals - often leave the city at the weekends, heading for the green Andean foothills nearby or to haciendas in the coffee country further south. To the north, the well-preserved colonial town of Santa Fe de Antioquia makes a splendid day trip or overnight tour option from Medellin, with old mansions, narrow cobbled streets and the fine Cathedral Metropolitana on the Plaza Mayor.