1,495m above sea level
Medellín's elevation
What is Medellín's altitude?
At 1,495 metres above sea level, or 4,905 feet. That is the city's reference figure. The Aburrá valley climbs up its slopes, so some neighbourhoods sit well above the centre, and on the valley's rim, around Santa Elena and Parque Arví, you are above 2,300 metres.
1,495metres
4,905feet
1,145metres lower than Bogotá (2,640 m)
What it means
The altitude sets the weather
Medellín lies about 6 degrees north of the equator, so it has no seasons: what sets the temperature is the altitude. At 1,495 metres the result is a mild climate all year round, with an average of around 22 °C. Hence the nickname «city of eternal spring».
What does change is the rain. It tends to rain more from April to May and from October to November, usually in the afternoon. Every hundred metres up, the air gets a little cooler: at Parque Arví the temperature ranges from 12 to 18 degrees.
Health
Does it cause altitude sickness?
Generally not. Altitude sickness usually appears above 2,500 metres, and Medellín is a thousand metres lower. Most travellers notice nothing; if you arrive from Bogotá, you are in fact coming down. If you go up to Arví or San Félix on the same day you may notice cooler, thinner air. If you have a heart or respiratory condition, check with your doctor before travelling.
Around the city
How high the nearby trips go
These are the six trips we arrange from Altitud, ordered by elevation. Each bar marks the height on a scale from 1,400 to 2,700 metres; the light notch is the city's 1,495 m.
1,650–2,200m above sea level
A coffee farm
1,713m above sea level
Comuna 13
2,137m above sea level
Guatapé and El Peñol rock
2,340–2,680m above sea level
Parque Arví
2,450m above sea level
Paragliding from San Félix
The name
Why we are called Altitud
We are seven furnished apartments in Castropol, El Poblado, set high on the slope with the whole Aburrá valley in the window. Medellín's altitude explains its weather; ours explains the view.
Frequently asked questions
About Medellín's altitude
How many metres above sea level is Medellín?
At 1,495 metres above sea level, the city's reference figure. Hillside neighbourhoods sit higher, and the valley's rim rises above 2,300 metres.
What is Medellín's altitude in feet?
It is 4,905 feet above sea level.
Is Medellín higher than Bogotá?
No. Bogotá sits at around 2,640 metres, so Medellín is more than a thousand metres lower. That is why it is much warmer.
Can you get altitude sickness in Medellín?
Generally not: altitude sickness usually appears above 2,500 metres. If you have a heart or respiratory condition, check with your doctor before travelling.
What is the weather like in Medellín because of its altitude?
Mild all year round, with an average of around 22 °C and no seasons. It tends to rain more from April to May and from October to November.