Why Patients Love Medellín
- Perfect spring weather year-round (70-80°F / 21-27°C)
- Modern infrastructure and excellent healthcare facilities
- Significantly lower cost of living than US/Europe
- Warm, welcoming culture and friendly locals
- Beautiful mountains, parks, and nature within the city
- Growing expat community with English widely spoken in tourist areas
Medellín has undergone one of the most remarkable urban transformations in modern history. Once known for all the wrong reasons, it's now celebrated as one of Latin America's most innovative and livable cities. The "City of Eternal Spring" earned its nickname from its consistently pleasant climate—nestled in a valley in the Andes at 5,000 feet elevation, temperatures hover around 75°F year-round with no heating or air conditioning needed.
For fertility patients, Medellín offers an exceptional combination: world-class medical care at a fraction of US costs, comfortable recovery environments, delicious food, and enough beauty and activities to transform a medical trip into a memorable experience. Many patients arrive anxious about their treatment and leave with fond memories of the city and its people.
Best Neighborhoods for IVF Patients
Where you stay can significantly impact your IVF experience. You'll want somewhere safe, comfortable, close to your clinic, and with good food and amenities nearby. Here are the top neighborhoods:
🏆 El Poblado — Best Overall for Medical Tourists
El Poblado is the most popular area for international visitors and medical tourists, and for good reason. This upscale neighborhood in the south of the city offers tree-lined streets, modern apartments, excellent restaurants, and a high concentration of English-speaking residents and businesses.
Pros: Safest area, walkable, close to major clinics (InSer is located here), abundant Airbnbs and hotels, excellent dining, pharmacies and grocery stores nearby, many English speakers.
Cons: Most expensive neighborhood, can feel touristy, some areas (like Parque Lleras) are noisy with nightlife.
Best sub-areas: Provenza (trendy, great restaurants), Manila (quieter, residential), Ciudad del Rio (newer development, near museums), Astorga (upscale, quiet).
Budget: $80-200/night for apartments, $100-300/night for hotels.
🌳 Laureles — Best Value with Local Flavor
Laureles offers a more authentically Colombian experience at lower prices. This middle-class neighborhood is known for its tree-lined boulevards (carrera 70 is famous for its greenery), excellent local restaurants, and safe, walkable streets. It's particularly popular with digital nomads and longer-term visitors.
Pros: Better value than Poblado, more local feel, excellent food scene, safe and walkable, good metro access, less touristy.
Cons: Further from Poblado-based clinics (20-30 min by taxi/Uber), fewer English speakers, slightly less upscale.
Best sub-areas: Near Estadio (metro accessible), Primer Parque de Laureles, along the 70.
Budget: $50-120/night for apartments, $60-150/night for hotels.
🏡 Envigado — Quieter, Residential Option
Just south of El Poblado, Envigado is technically a separate municipality but feels like a seamless extension of Medellín. It offers a quieter, more residential atmosphere with excellent safety and lower prices than Poblado proper.
Pros: Very safe, quieter atmosphere, lower prices, good restaurants, local parks, close to Poblado clinics.
Cons: Less walkable to Poblado amenities, fewer tourist-oriented services, limited English.
Best sub-areas: Near Parque Envigado, along Calle de la Buena Mesa (restaurant row).
Budget: $40-100/night for apartments.
Accommodation Options
Short-Term Apartments (Airbnb, Vrbo)
For stays of 2+ weeks, apartments offer the best value and convenience. Benefits include:
- Full kitchen for healthy meal preparation
- Laundry facilities
- More space to spread out
- Privacy for injections and rest
- Often better value than hotels
Tips: Look for places with reliable WiFi, air conditioning (some older buildings lack it), and good reviews from recent guests. Building amenities like gyms and pools can be nice for light recovery activities.
Hotels
Hotels offer daily housekeeping and easier booking. Good options in Poblado range from boutique hotels to international chains. Consider:
- Luxury: Hotel Dann Carlton, Charlee Hotel, Click Clack
- Mid-range: Diez Hotel, Sites Hotel, Hotel Poblado Plaza
- Budget-friendly: Selina, Rango Hostel (private rooms)
Recovery Apartments
Some clinics partner with apartments specifically designed for medical tourists. These may offer meal service, nursing checks, and transportation coordination. Ask your clinic about partnerships.
💡 Accommodation Pro Tips
Book a place with a kitchen—during stim week, you'll want to eat healthy, stay hydrated, and rest without relying on restaurants for every meal. Avoid ground-floor apartments (noise) and places right on Parque Lleras (nightlife noise). If staying 2+ weeks, many landlords offer weekly/monthly discounts—don't be afraid to negotiate.
Getting Around Medellín
Uber and InDriver
These are your best options for getting around. Both apps work well in Medellín, and rides are remarkably affordable—a 20-minute trip typically costs $3-8 USD. Uber is technically in a legal gray area in Colombia but operates openly and is widely used. InDriver lets you negotiate prices and is often slightly cheaper.
Metro System
Medellín's metro is clean, safe, efficient, and air-conditioned. It runs north-south through the city and connects to cable cars (metrocable) that reach hillside neighborhoods. Great for exploring but less practical for clinic visits in Poblado unless you're staying near a station.
Taxis
Yellow taxis are abundant. Always make sure the meter is running or agree on a price beforehand. For added safety, use apps like Tappsi or Cabify to order taxis with tracked routes.
Walking
Poblado and Laureles are very walkable for errands and meals. However, Medellín is hilly—don't underestimate the terrain, especially after retrieval when you'll want to take it easy.
Important: Don't rent a car. Traffic is challenging, parking is difficult, and you simply don't need one. Uber/taxi costs over a 2-3 week stay will be far less than a rental plus parking hassles.
Food and Dining
Medellín's food scene has exploded in recent years. You'll find everything from traditional Colombian cuisine to international restaurants and health-focused cafes perfect for your fertility diet.
Colombian Cuisine
- Bandeja Paisa: The iconic Antioquia dish—beans, rice, ground beef, chicharrón, egg, plantain, avocado, and arepa. Heavy but delicious (save for after transfer!)
- Arepas: Corn cakes, served with cheese, egg, or as a side
- Empanadas: Fried corn pockets with meat or potato filling
- Sancocho: Hearty soup with chicken, potato, yuca, and corn
- Patacones: Twice-fried green plantains, often topped with meat or shrimp
Healthy Eating Options
For fertility-friendly meals:
- Verdeo: Excellent vegetarian/vegan options with protein-rich bowls
- El Cielo: High-end Colombian cuisine with vegetable-forward options
- Freshii: International chain with healthy bowls and wraps
- Local juice shops: Fresh tropical fruit smoothies everywhere
Grocery Stores
- Éxito: Largest Colombian chain, similar to Walmart, good for everything
- Carulla: More upscale grocery with imported items
- Euro: Good neighborhood markets
- Fruver shops: Small produce shops with fresh fruits and vegetables
Things to Do Between Appointments
During stimulation, you'll have appointments every 2-3 days, leaving free time to explore. After retrieval, you'll need to rest, but gentle activities can help pass the time during the two-week wait.
Low-Key Activities (During Stim/Recovery)
- Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico): Free, beautiful, peaceful walks among tropical plants
- Parque Lleras area: People-watching, outdoor cafes, shopping
- MAMM (Museum of Modern Art): Excellent contemporary art in Ciudad del Rio
- Spa days: Affordable massages and treatments throughout Poblado
- Coffee shop hopping: World-class Colombian coffee everywhere
More Active Options (Pre-Retrieval or Post-Recovery)
- Comuna 13: Famous graffiti tour—go with a guide for the full experience
- Guatapé day trip: Stunning lake and colorful town 2 hours away (save for after recovery)
- Coffee farm tours: Visit working farms in the nearby mountains
- Plaza Botero: Famous sculptures in downtown (combine with metro exploration)
- Arví Park: Nature reserve accessible by metrocable
⚠️ Activity Timing
During stimulation week, avoid strenuous activity—your ovaries are enlarged and vulnerable to twisting (torsion). Stick to gentle walks and sedentary activities. After retrieval, rest for 24-48 hours, then gradually resume light activity. Save adventurous day trips for after your transfer and pregnancy test results.
Practical Information
Language
Spanish is the primary language, but English is increasingly common in tourist areas and medical settings. Most fertility clinic staff speak English, and many restaurants in Poblado have English menus. Learning basic Spanish phrases is appreciated and helpful for everyday interactions.
Currency and Money
The Colombian Peso (COP) is the local currency. Current exchange rate is approximately 4,000 COP = $1 USD. Most places accept credit cards, but carry some cash for small purchases. ATMs are widely available—use ones inside banks or shopping centers for security. Notify your bank of travel to avoid card blocks.
Safety
Medellín has improved dramatically in safety over the past 20 years. Poblado, Laureles, and Envigado are very safe for tourists. Use common-sense precautions: don't flash expensive items, be aware of surroundings, use Uber rather than hailing random taxis at night, and avoid isolated areas after dark. Overall, most medical tourists report feeling very safe.
Time Zone
Colombia is in the EST time zone (UTC-5) year-round—no daylight saving time. This makes scheduling calls with US-based contacts straightforward.
Cell Service and Internet
Options include:
- International roaming through your US carrier
- Local SIM card from Claro, Movistar, or Tigo (bring an unlocked phone)
- eSIM services like Airalo (convenient, no physical SIM needed)
WiFi is excellent throughout Poblado—most apartments, cafes, and restaurants have reliable connections.
Medical Emergencies
Medellín has excellent hospitals. Your fertility clinic will provide emergency contact numbers. Major hospitals include Clínica Las Vegas and Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe. Pharmacies (droguerías) are everywhere and many medications available only by prescription in the US are sold over-the-counter in Colombia.
What to Pack for Medellín
- Light layers—mornings and evenings can be cooler
- Rain jacket or umbrella—afternoon showers are common
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun protection (you're closer to the equator)
- Any prescription medications you need
- Adapters (Colombia uses US-style plugs, 110V)
- Comfortable, loose clothing for bloating during stim
Final Thoughts
Medellín isn't just a place to receive treatment—it's a place to experience while building your family. The combination of excellent medical care, beautiful surroundings, kind people, and affordable living creates an environment where many patients find healing beyond just their fertility treatment.
Take time to enjoy the city, try the food, chat with locals, and soak in the eternal spring weather. Many patients return years later with their IVF babies to show them where their journey began. 🌸