Any tour of Colombia’s second city Medellin should include a visit to the charismatic Parque de los Deseos, or Park of Desires.
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Located at the feet of the Universidad metro station in Medellin’s northern zone (see map below), the Park of Desires, or Parque de los Deseos as it is locally known, has a number of personalities depending on when you go.
On a Friday night, the park takes on a bohemian feel as students from the nearby University of Antioquia fill the plaza, eager to begin their weekend. The large, open-spaced plaza is ideal for younger travellers who wish to mingle with locals and avoid the sanitized El Poblado area (aptly dubbed “gringolandia” by a local “paisa” friend) and the often-seedy Centro zone.
On Sunday nights, children light up the Park of Desires with airborne fluorescent glowsticks. At 7PM, families stake out a spot in front of the giant screen to watch movies free of charge. The choice of film is invariably aimed at the tastes of children.
During the day the public square is equally alive with activity. Apart from the university and the metro station, the Park of Desires is within walking distance of Medellin’s planetarium, the botanic gardens and the interactive science museum Parque Explora (Explorer Park).
The hub of local attractions makes the Park of Desires an ideal place to take a break and enjoy the benefits of the shaded food court. For those seeking a cheaper option, there is an array of nearby friendly street vendors eager to sell you their fruit, ice cream, juice, and suspiciously yellow empanadas.
While it is not the star attraction of the city, the Park of Desires is no doubt one of the many reasons why Medellin is a premier destination for tourists in Latin America.