Attraction
Museo de Antioquia
Medellín's principal art museum, founded as the Zea Museum in 1881 and home to a large donation of works by Fernando Botero beside Plaza Botero.
Parque Explora
An interactive science museum opened in 2008 in northern Medellín, with more than 300 hands-on exhibits, a large aquarium, a vivarium and a planetarium.
At a glance
- Type
- Science museum and aquarium
- Area
- Zona Norte (Sevilla), Medellín, Colombia
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday)
- Official site
- parqueexplora.org
Good to know
- Aquarium
- Vivarium
- Planetarium
- Interactive rooms
- Braille and tactile aquarium exhibits
- Online tickets
Why we recommend it
Parque Explora is Medellín's big interactive science museum, opened in 2008 in the north of the city. Designed by the architect Alejandro Echeverri, it is easy to recognise by its four red boxes, which hold the science and technology rooms. Inside there are more than 300 interactive exhibits, with themes ranging from neuroscience, music and time to people's stories and the media, plus a workshop space called the Exploratorio. That mix makes it one of the best options in the city for families and for a rainy afternoon.
The aquarium is the highlight for many visitors. Described as one of the largest aquariums in South America, it occupies a glass-and-concrete building of about 1,300 square metres and combines freshwater and saltwater tanks. It also has tactile exhibits and 3D models of 25 species with Braille labels for blind and partially sighted visitors. The vivarium is home to live animals, and the park also runs a planetarium. Temporary shows change through the year; one recent example is an exhibition about dogs and cats, which can be visited on its own ticket or as a supplement.
Explora opens Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 to 17:30, with the ticket office closing at 16:00, and at weekends and on public holidays from 10:00 to 18:30, with the ticket office closing at 17:00. It is closed on Mondays and on Tuesdays that follow a public holiday. Over the Christmas season the park keeps weekend hours every day. Tickets are sold online and there are separate rates for Colombian and foreign visitors. Entry is free for children under three and for visitors with a disability who show documentation.
Allow at least three hours to see the main rooms and the aquarium, and remember that the ticket office closes well before the doors do. Groups can arrange special rates through the park's WhatsApp line.
The museum is on Carrera 52 between Parque Norte and the Botanical Garden, a short walk from Universidad station on Metro Line A, which also serves the Universidad de Antioquia. The museum has been directed since 2014 by the industrial designer Andrés Roldán. The botanical garden is next door, so the two make an easy full day in the north of the city.
Parque Explora FAQs
What are Parque Explora's opening hours?
Tuesday to Friday 8:30 to 17:30 and weekends and public holidays 10:00 to 18:30. It is closed on Mondays and on Tuesdays after a public holiday.
When does the ticket office close?
At 16:00 on weekdays and 17:00 at weekends and on holidays.
Is there an aquarium?
Yes. It is described as one of the largest aquariums in South America, with freshwater and saltwater tanks.
Can I buy tickets online?
Yes. Tickets are sold through the official website, with separate rates for Colombian and foreign visitors.
Who gets free entry?
Children under three and visitors with a disability who show documentation, as well as Medellín residents with a recent utility bill.
Is it accessible for blind visitors?
The aquarium has tactile exhibits and 3D models of 25 species labelled in Braille.
How do I get there?
Take Metro Line A to Universidad station; the museum is a short walk away on Carrera 52.
How long should I allow?
At least three hours for the rooms and the aquarium.