Tour operator
Real City Tours
A Medellín family-run tour company whose tip-based Free Walking Tour of the city centre has run twice daily since 2013, alongside food, fruit and neighbourhood tours.
Secret Food Tours Medellín
A three-hour walking food tour of El Poblado with five tasting stops, from patacones and bandeja paisa to arepa de chócolo, ending with coffee at Pergamino.
At a glance
- Type
- Food tour
- Area
- El Poblado, Medellín, Colombia
- Official site
- secretfoodtours.com
Good to know
- Five tasting stops
- Small groups (max 14)
- Daily departures
- Optional drinks package
- Dietary needs adapted
Why we recommend it
Secret Food Tours runs a three-hour walking food tour of El Poblado that is a good, structured introduction to Antioquian and Colombian food for first-time visitors. Groups are small, with a maximum of 14 people, and the tour is led in English. It departs twice a day, every day, at 12:00 and 16:00.
The tour meets outside the Parroquia San José del Poblado, the parish church at Carrera 43A No. 9-30, where the guide waits with an orange umbrella. From there it visits five stops with about 45 minutes of walking in total, which the company describes as not too difficult. Tastings include patacones served with hogao or cheese, a bandeja paisa, and arepa de chócolo with cuajada. There is also Colombian coffee, chocolate with arequipe, and a secret dish that the company keeps as a surprise until the day. The walk ends at Pergamino's café on Vía Primavera, which makes it easy to buy coffee beans to take home.
Water and soft drinks are included. An optional drinks package adds three alcoholic drinks, such as a Cubanito or a Jericó, for guests aged 18 and over with valid ID. Guides can adapt the menu for allergies and dietary requirements, but you should email the company before booking if you have specific needs. Children aged two and under go free, and non-drinkers can swap in another beverage at any tasting.
Practicalities matter here. Payment is online only, cash is not accepted, a booking fee applies and refunds are not issued, although vouchers remain valid for a year and the company may cancel for extreme weather. Many of the company's tours are not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs, so contact it before booking if accessibility is a concern.
The tour suits first-time visitors, solo travellers and couples who want to taste local dishes with context rather than order blind from a menu. Because it ends at Pergamino, it also doubles as an introduction to the city's specialty coffee scene. Bookings are confirmed online, and the company accepts phone-based confirmations on the day. If you want to continue exploring after the tour, the cafés, bars and restaurants of Provenza are nearby.
Secret Food Tours Medellín FAQs
Where does the tour start?
At the Parroquia San José del Poblado, Carrera 43A No. 9-30, where the guide waits with an orange umbrella.
When does it run?
Every day at 12:00 and 16:00.
How long is the tour?
About three hours, with five stops and around 45 minutes of walking.
What will I taste?
Patacones, bandeja paisa, arepa de chócolo with cuajada, Colombian coffee, chocolate with arequipe and a secret dish.
How big are the groups?
A maximum of 14 people.
Are drinks included?
Water and soft drinks are included; an optional package adds three alcoholic drinks for over-18s.
Can dietary needs be accommodated?
Guides can adapt the menu, but email the company before booking.
Where does it finish?
At Pergamino's café on Vía Primavera, Carrera 37 No. 8A-37.