The southwest of Antioquia is one of Colombia’s richest territories in landscape, architecture and coffee culture, and one of the least explored by the international traveler arriving in Medellín. Jardín, Andes and Jericó are between two and three hours from El Poblado by road, in a mountain corridor that concentrates towns with well-preserved central plazas, active coffee farms and a human scale that contrasts directly with the urban atmosphere of the city.
Binn Hotel as a luxury base in El Poblado is the natural starting point for that kind of exploration. You leave early, explore the southwest at your own pace and return to B Wellness, La Makha and Etro Rooftop without the return journey being another logistical challenge to solve.
Why the southwest of Antioquia is different
The southwest of Antioquia is not the Coffee Region. Although it shares the coffee tradition, it has its own identity: republican architecture in good condition, streets less crowded than Salento and a gastronomic offering that still revolves around the local product without the tourist veneer of the better-known circuits.
Jardín is the most photographed town in the circuit and the one that justifies the journey on its own. Andes has a central plaza with one of the most imposing basilicas in Antioquia outside Medellín. Jericó is the birthplace of Laura Montoya, Colombia’s first saint, and has an atmosphere of devotion and tranquility that few Antioquian towns preserve with that authenticity.
All three are connected by road from Medellín with reasonable travel times for a day trip or a short weekend.
Jardín: the town that justifies the detour
Jardín is approximately 135 kilometers from Medellín, between 2.5 and 3 hours along the road that heads southwest from the south of the city. The town has a central plaza of perfect proportions dominated by the minor basilica of the Immaculate Conception, a neo-Gothic structure that contrasts with the intense green of the surrounding mountains.
The streets adjacent to the plaza have well-maintained colorful facades and a concentration of specialty cafés and local craft shops that do not feel artificial. Hot chocolate with cheese, artisan sugarcane aguardiente and guava sweets are the products the traveler takes back.
The coffee farms on the hills surrounding the town offer visits with the complete process: from hand harvesting to cupping. Most operate without prior reservation during normal season. For those who want something more active, there are hiking options along mountain trails and bamboo boat rides on the Jardín River.
For a day trip from Medellín, the recommended departure is before 7:00 a.m. to make the most of the morning in town before the tourism groups from Medellín and the Coffee Region start arriving. The return to El Poblado arrives well into the afternoon, with enough time for a B Wellness session before dinner.
Andes: the basilica and high-altitude coffee
Andes is approximately 110 kilometers from Medellín, between 2 and 2.5 hours by road. It is less well-known than Jardín among the international tourist circuit but has its own arguments that differentiate it.
The minor basilica of Our Lady of Mercedes dominates the central plaza with an architectural presence that surprises given the size of the municipality. The interior has stained glass and ornamentation details that justify the visit regardless of the traveler’s religious interest.
The municipality is one of Antioquia’s main high-altitude coffee producers. The surrounding farms have relatively easy access and the coffee processing in this area has altitude and microclimate particularities that specialty coffee tasters recognize. For the traveler arriving from El Poblado with time, Andes and Jardín can be combined in the same day with an early departure.
Jericó: tranquility and republican architecture
Jericó is approximately 130 kilometers from Medellín, between 2.5 and 3 hours by road. It is the circuit’s quietest town and the one that best preserves the daily pace of life of Antioquian municipalities without the pressure of mass tourism.
The Casa Museo de la Beata Laura Montoya is the town’s cultural reference point. The republican architecture of the streets around the plaza is well-maintained and has the kind of detail in balconies and facades that the traveling photographer appreciates. The Cerro La Argelia viewpoint has a view over the San Juan River canyon that competes in visual impact with any other viewpoint in Antioquia.
For the traveler looking for a genuine weekend of disconnection from Medellín, Jericó has the right scale: small enough to walk through in a few hours, authentic enough that the experience does not feel like a theme park version of an Antioquian town.
Binn Hotel as the southwest base
The logic of using Binn Hotel as a base for exploring the southwest is straightforward. The hotel has breakfast at La Makha from 6:00 a.m., which allows an early departure without sacrificing the quality of the start of the day. The return to the hotel after a long day on the road and in the mountains has B Wellness waiting: covered jacuzzi, steam bath and open-air pool with views of the Aburrá Valley.
To complement the southwest exploration with other Antioquia destinations, the guide to destinations from Binn Hotel covers the main circuits with real travel times and practical recommendations.
The concierge team can guide you on routes, updated times and road conditions. Transportation is managed independently, whether by your own vehicle, Uber or local tourism agencies in Medellín.
Frequently asked questions about the southwest of Antioquia from Medellín
How long does it take to get to Jardín from Medellín?
Between 2.5 and 3 hours by road depending on traffic and the departure point in the city. The route heads from the south of Medellín toward the municipality of Bolombolo and then climbs toward Jardín.
Can you visit Jardín and Andes in the same day from Medellín?
Yes, with a departure before 7:00 a.m. The distance between Jardín and Andes is approximately 35 kilometers. The return to Medellín arrives late at night if the full circuit is combined.
Was the southwest of Antioquia affected by the August 2026 earthquake?
The earthquake primarily affected Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Caldas and Quindío. The southwest of Antioquia is not in those zones. Before traveling, verify the current status of roads with the Binn Hotel concierge team, as some western Colombia routes may have indirect access impacts.
Is there public transportation from Medellín to the southwest?
Yes. From Medellín’s Terminal del Sur there are buses to Jardín, Andes and Jericó with regular frequency. Travel time by bus is similar to that of a private vehicle. For the traveler who prefers schedule flexibility, their own vehicle or a rental are the most convenient options.
Which town in the southwest is best to visit for the first time?
Jardín is the first recommendation for those arriving in the southwest for the first time. It has the best combination of visual impact, gastronomic offering and ease of exploration in a single day from Medellín.
