Gay Medellín

Once a city that people merely avoided, Medellín is now a traveler's mecca. Dubbed the City of Eternal Spring for a reason, Medellín boasts a climate as lovely as its inhabitants. Temperatures stay at a comfortable 72 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Additionally, with its verdant mountains and picturesque parks, Medellín offers natural beauty that's rivaled only by its nightlife, museums, food, and coffee. Plus, don't miss the terrific surrounding region, which includes stunning beach views, quaint coffee farms, and beautiful little towns like Guatapé and Santa Fe de Antioquia. Like many Latin American cities, Medellín doesn't have a particular gayborhood. However, the local residents, or paisas, are very welcoming to queer travelers and will make you feel right at home. In fact, it's technically illegal to engage in "homophobic abuse" in Colombia; it might nab you a $225 fine! That said, you might have more luck meeting the fam in El Poblado, Medellín's swankiest neighborhood. The area is popping with cafés, clubs, and first-class cuisine. Other great neighborhoods to visit include the authentic and very green Envigado, which is just next door to Poblado and is more likely to be quiet at night. Laureles is the lovely residential area where you go for peace and quiet, while El Centro has all the tourist spots (but don't walk there at night). Finally, there's Belén, with its hiking trails and tight-knit community. While Medellín was once the seat of power for Pablo Escobar, it's come a long way in the last two decades. Since Colombia's Civil War ended, the powerful gangs that once ruled the streets have dispersed. Now, guides are happy to lead you on tours of the once-deadly Comuna 13, where you'll find glow-in-the-dark art galleries next to fabulous street art. Sex tourism is still very much a thing -- some restaurants even explicitly ban it -- but you'll have little to worry about if you choose to participate. (No judgment.) Still, it's important to exercise caution and situational awareness when traveling through the city -- especially at night. You might not get accosted for being gay, but you will be at risk of robbery if you show any signs of wealth. The metro or ride-share apps like Cabify and Uber are great ways to get around. Avoid taxis like the plague because they sometimes go hand-in-hand with criminal activity. The only downside of ride-share apps is that you may have to sit in the front and pretend that you're the driver's "primo," or cousin, if the police stop you. Uber and Cabify are technically illegal in Colombia. Ultimately, once you situate yourself and embrace all aspects of Medellín, it will open itself to you in return. Filled with parks, romantic architecture, and eye-popping graffiti, the City of Eternal Spring is a blooming ode to beauty and elegance. If you come in June for Pride or in August for the Flower Festival, you are sure to have an experience that you will remember forever.