Medellín Metrocable Guide: Lines, Fares & Which One to Ride

The Metrocable is the cheapest great view in Medellín and the reason the city’s story is told through cable cars. Six lines climb the valley walls; five of them cost the same as a metro ride, and one — Line L to Parque Arví — is a separate tourist fare. This guide tells you which line to ride for what, exactly what it costs, when they run, and the two or three details (Tuesday closures, the Arví fare, where to get off) that catch visitors out.

The six Metrocable lines

All lines run within the Metro’s operating day (roughly 4:30 am to 11 pm Monday–Saturday, shorter on Sundays); Line L keeps tourist hours (below). Lines close for scheduled maintenance a few days a year — in July 2026, J, H and M each closed for about a week — so check the Metro de Medellín site before a specific trip.

Which line should you ride?

Line K — the classic, and the one to do first

From Acevedo the gondola lifts straight off the valley floor over the brick rooftops of Comunas 1 and 2 to Santo Domingo Savio, about 2 km and 15 minutes. The ride itself is the attraction: you look down into courtyards, up at the hillside, and back across the whole valley. At the top there is a small commercial strip and open views; the boulder-like Parque Biblioteca España beside the station has been closed since 2015 for reconstruction, with reopening targeted for 2026. Stay around the station area, then continue on Line L or ride back.

Line L — the day out

Continues from Santo Domingo over the ridge, above pine forest, to Parque Arví in Santa Elena: 15 minutes of near-silence with no barrios below. Separate fare and separate hours — see the Arví section.

Line J — the Comuna 13 view

From San Javier station (western end of Metro Line B) Line J climbs over Comuna 13 toward La Aurora. If you are already visiting the escalators, add the round trip: it costs nothing extra if you stay inside the system and gives the aerial perspective the walking tour cannot. Some Comuna 13 tours include it.

Lines H and M — the quiet east side

Take the Tranvía de Ayacucho from San Antonio downtown up to Oriente (Line H) or Miraflores (Line M). Far fewer visitors, steep short climbs over Comuna 8, and a look at the newest part of the network. Ride, look, ride back; the hiking trails above (Camino de la Vida, Cerro Pan de Azúcar) have had robbery reports and are for groups or guided walks only.

Line P — skip unless you are curious

Serves residential Comunas 5 and 6 north-west of the river. Pleasant, but there is nothing at the top for a visitor beyond the local hike up Cerro El Picacho.

Fares and the Cívica card

The personalized Cívica card is issued at customer-service points in the main stations (San Antonio, Niquía, Itagüí and others) — Colombians show their cédula, foreigners a passport. It saves a little on every ride and is required for the discounted Arví fares; for a two- or three-day visit, paying the occasional fare at the ticket window is simpler. Load a few rides at once to skip queues.

Line L to Parque Arví — the details that matter

• Closed on Tuesdays for maintenance (the closure day moved from Monday to Tuesday in April 2025). Open Wednesday–Monday 9 am–6 pm, Sundays and holidays from 8:30 am.
• Separate fare, paid at Santo Domingo — you leave the integrated system. Budget around 27,000 COP each way for a visitor card.
• Weather: Arví sits around 2,400 m and is often misty and 8–10 °C cooler than El Poblado; bring a layer.
• Annual maintenance: Line L has closed for about a week in late August in previous years; 2026 dates were still to be announced when we checked. If a trip depends on Arví, verify on the Metro de Medellín site.
• Time it: Poblado station to Arví is roughly 75–90 minutes of transit each way (Line A north to Acevedo, K, then L). Leave by 9 am to have the park before the afternoon clouds.

Riding tips

• Gondolas fit about 10 people and run continuously; there is no timetable, just a queue at peak commuting hours (7–9 am and 5–7 pm on weekdays — avoid those on K and J).
• Keep your card or ticket: you tap out of the system and back in when you leave the fare-paid area at Santo Domingo for Line L.
• Stand on the downhill side of the cabin on the way up for the valley view; on the way down, the uphill side gives the barrio close-ups.
• Photography is fine; pointing a camera into homes from the cabin is not popular with residents — shoot the panorama.
• Combine Line K + L with the Jardín Botánico (Universidad station, on the way back) for a full day that never touches a taxi.

Prefer a guide? The private city tour includes the metro and cable with hotel pickup; the coffee-farm tour by Metrocable reaches a working finca by cable car and tram. More in our tours guide.

Where to stay for easy Metrocable days

Laureles is closest to San Javier (Line J); El Poblado is a straight Line A ride to Acevedo (Lines K, L, P). Either works; Centro hotels near San Antonio put the tram and Lines H/M at your door.

Metrocable FAQ

Is the Metrocable safe? Yes — it is an ordinary part of the transit system used by hundreds of thousands of people a day, with staff at every station. Usual precautions with phones at the busy Acevedo interchange.

How much does the Metrocable cost? The same as the metro (3,820 COP with a Cívica card, 4,400 COP occasional) for Lines K, J, H, M and P, including transfers. Line L to Arví is extra: about 26,700 COP for visitors.

Which is the best Metrocable for views? Line K for the barrios and the whole valley; Line L for forest and silence; Line J for Comuna 13 from above.

Is Parque Arví open on Tuesdays? The park may be, but Line L is closed on Tuesdays; you would need a bus or taxi via Santa Elena.

Sources: Metro de Medellín (fares, hours, maintenance notices), Alcaldía de Medellín, Semana, Infobae and Telemedellín, checked August 2026.