Thing to do
Comuna 13 Graffiti and Escalators
A hillside district in western Medellín known for its outdoor escalators, murals and hip-hop culture, now visited by close to two million people a year.
Metrocable Ride
Medellín's cable-car network, launched in 2004 and now six lines long, gives visitors an aerial ride over the hillside neighbourhoods and up to Parque Arví.
At a glance
- Type
- Cable car ride and urban transport
- Area
- Santo Domingo Savio / Acevedo, Medellín, Colombia
- Official site
- metrodemedellin.gov.co
Good to know
- Integrated with metro
- Cívica card payment
- Six lines
- Connects to Parque Arví
Why we recommend it
Riding the Metrocable is one of the simplest and most memorable things to do in Medellín. The city's cable-car network, run by the Metro de Medellín, began in 2004 with Line K, which was described as the first cable-car system in the world dedicated to public transport on a fixed timetable. It has since grown to six lines, 20 stations and 499 cabins over about 14.6 kilometres, carrying around 22.5 million passengers in 2025.
The network was built to serve the steep hillside neighbourhoods. Before Line K opened, residents of Santo Domingo Savio could spend more than two and a half hours commuting each way; the cable cars shortened that journey considerably, and studies have linked the system to sharp falls in crime in the areas it serves. That makes a ride as much a lesson in recent urban history as a sightseeing trip.
The classic route for visitors is Line K, which climbs 2.07 kilometres from Acevedo, where it meets Metro Line A, through Andalucía and Popular to Santo Domingo. From Santo Domingo, Line L, the Cable Arví, continues for about 15 minutes over the forest to El Tambo in Parque Arví, with no intermediate stops. Line L is aimed at tourists and charges an extra fare, and it closes on Tuesdays for maintenance along with the park. In the west, Line J runs 2.7 kilometres from San Javier through Juan XXIII and Vallejuelos to La Aurora, above Comuna 13. Lines H and M, opened in 2016 and 2019, link to the Ayacucho tram in the east, and Line P, inaugurated in 2021, runs from Acevedo towards the Cerro El Picacho ecopark.
The Metro's Cívica card and app give access to the city's public transport, including the cable cars. Queues can reach 45 minutes at peak times, so avoid rush hours if you can. The cabins are monocable detachable gondolas built by the French company Poma.
A ride suits everyone, including families and travellers with limited time. Allow an hour for a return trip on Line K, or half a day to combine Lines K and L with a walk in Parque Arví. For information, the Metro's customer line is +57 604 444 9598.
Metrocable Ride FAQs
Where do I catch the Metrocable to Santo Domingo?
Line K starts at Acevedo station, where it connects with Metro Line A.
How do I get to Parque Arví by cable car?
Ride Line K to Santo Domingo, then change to Line L, the Cable Arví, which takes about 15 minutes to El Tambo.
Does Line L cost extra?
Yes. The Cable Arví is a tourist line with its own fare, separate from the standard metro ticket.
Is Line L open every day?
No. The park and Metrocable Line L close on Tuesdays for maintenance.
How do I pay?
The Metro's Cívica card and Cívica app give access to the public transport network, including the Metrocable; Line L has its own fare.
How many Metrocable lines are there?
Six: H, J, K, L, M and P, with 20 stations in all.
When did the Metrocable open?
Line K opened in 2004, the first in the network.
Are there queues?
Yes. Waits can reach 45 minutes at peak times, so travel outside rush hours if you can.