The Neighborhood That Doesn't Appear on Maps: The Story of Boston's 'Urban Muleteers' (Boston Neighborhood, Medellín)

Boston: the neighborhood with a gringo city name and a paisa muleteer's soul

When a tourist arrives in Medellín and hears "Let's go to Boston," the first thing they think is that they're being told about the city in Massachusetts. But here, in the downtown-east side of Medellín, there is a neighborhood that has carried that name for over a century, and its story has nothing to do with the American Revolution or Harvard University. It has to do with mules, coffee, and a hill that few want to climb on foot.

The curious thing is that while everyone talks about El Poblado, Laureles, or Envigado, Boston remains that discreet neighbor that keeps secrets that not even the people of Medellín themselves know. In August 2026, with the city obsessed with tourism and real estate development, it's worth asking: how did a neighborhood with a gringo city name end up being the heart of Medellín's urban muleteers?

The origin of the name: myths and historical reality

There are three theories about the name of the Boston neighborhood. The first, the most romantic, says that some Antioquian merchants who traveled to the United States in the early 20th century were so impressed with Boston that they decided to name the neighborhood where they lived after it. The second, more practical, claims that the name comes from a farm called "Boston" that existed in the area before urbanization. The third, the most credible for local historians, maintains that the name was given by the Restrepo Uribe brothers, owners of the brewery that would later become the famous Cervecería Unión, who had business with importing houses in Boston and wanted to honor their business partners.

What is documented is that the neighborhood began to be populated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in an area that was originally pastureland and farms. The first inhabitants were middle-class and working-class families who built bahareque and rammed earth houses, many of which still survive on the streets near Plaza de Cisneros and Estación Boston.

A little-known fact: Estación Boston, which today is a reference point for those taking the Metrocable, was originally a station of the Antioquia railway. That's where the wagons loaded with coffee that came down from the mountains arrived, and they were unloaded right there to be taken to the city center. That connection with the railway is key to understanding the nickname of "urban muleteers."

Urban muleteers: how mule-back freight transport adapted to the 20th century

When people talk about muleteers in Antioquia, they think of the men who crossed the mountains with mules loaded with gold, coffee, and salt in the 19th century. But few know that this tradition didn't die with the arrival of the railway. In Boston, muleteering transformed into something new: short-distance freight transport right in the middle of the city.

During the first decades of the 20th century, the steep streets of Boston were chaos for carriages and the first automobiles. Mules and donkeys were still the most efficient way to move goods up from Estación Boston to the downtown warehouses. The "urban muleteers," as I call them, were men who lived in the neighborhood and knew every stone, every curve, and every shortcut. They worked with mules carrying everything from sacks of coffee to bricks for the constructions that were beginning to appear in the city.

Over time, mules were replaced by hand carts and then by small trucks. But the logic remained the same: the load had to go up the hill, and someone had to do it. That culture of physical effort, of the knack for carrying, of knowing the neighborhood inch by inch, is the direct heritage of Boston's muleteers.

If you walk today along Calle 45 with Carrera 46, near the Metrocable station, you can still see older men carrying merchandise on makeshift carts, climbing the same hills their grandparents climbed with mules. It's not nostalgia: it's survival. And it's a tradition that few document.

Boston vs. El Poblado: two development models in the same city

There is no more unfair comparison in Medellín than that of Boston with El Poblado. But it's also the most revealing for understanding how the city has changed. While El Poblado became the symbol of modern Medellín, with its glass towers, shopping malls, and fusion restaurants, Boston was left with the memory.

El Poblado grew around new money: that of the drug lords in the 80s, of the businessmen in the 90s, of the digital nomads in the 2020s. Boston, on the other hand, grew around hard work: that of the laborers, the merchants, the transporters. There are no luxury towers in Boston, but there is something that El Poblado lost a long time ago: the sense of community.

In El Poblado, people greet each other with distrust. In Boston, neighbors know each other by name, know who lives in each house, and still sit on the sidewalks to chat when the sun goes down. It's another model of the city, another pace of life, another way of understanding Medellín.

And it's not that one is better than the other. It's that they are complementary. El Poblado is the Medellín that shows itself to the world; Boston is the Medellín that hides in the hills. If you want to truly understand the city, you have to visit both.

Pros of living in Boston

• Strategic location: you're a few blocks from downtown, Plaza de Cisneros, and the San Antonio tram station.
• Affordable prices: renting an apartment in Boston can cost half of one in El Poblado, with reference prices from August 2026 ranging from $800,000 COP for a studio to $1,500,000 COP for a two-bedroom apartment.
• Neighborhood life: there are corner stores, traditional bakeries, and home-style restaurants that you won't find in the tourist areas.
• Public transportation: the Boston Metrocable station connects you to downtown and the northeastern communes in minutes.

Cons of living in Boston

• Noise: the streets near the station and downtown can be very noisy, especially during peak hours.
• Aging infrastructure: many houses need repairs and some buildings have humidity problems.
• Safety perception: although the neighborhood has improved, there are still areas where it's recommended to stay alert, especially at night.
• Lack of green spaces: unlike El Poblado, Boston doesn't have large parks or outdoor recreational areas.

The present: what remains of that heritage in the neighborhood today

The heritage of the urban muleteers isn't seen in monuments or museums. It's seen in the attitude of the people. It's seen in the way the merchants of Plaza de Cisneros carry their products, in the way the old-timers of the neighborhood tell stories of when the mules came up Carrera 46, in the resistance of the old houses against real estate pressure.

In recent years, Boston has begun to receive attention from new residents: young professionals looking for low prices, students from the University of Antioquia who want to be close to downtown, and even some foreigners looking for a more authentic experience than El Poblado. This has brought specialty coffee shops and hostels, but it has also generated tension between long-time residents and new neighbors.

A fact few know: in the 1980s, Boston was one of the neighborhoods with the highest density of mechanic workshops and auto parts warehouses in Medellín. That barely exists anymore, but the buildings that housed them are still there, waiting for a new life. Some have already become art galleries and cultural spaces, as part of the "cultural gentrification" phenomenon that the city center is experiencing.

The question is: what's going to happen to Boston in the coming years? Is it going to remain the neighborhood of the urban muleteers, or is it going to end up becoming another El Poblado? For now, the scales tip toward the first option. But with land prices rising and downtown Medellín becoming increasingly attractive to investors, nothing is certain.

Final verdict

Boston is, without a doubt, one of the most undervalued neighborhoods in Medellín. It doesn't have the glamour of El Poblado or the fame of Laureles, but it has something that no other neighborhood in the city can offer: a direct connection to the history of the muleteers, to the working-class Medellín, to the city that was built on the backs of mules and sweat.

If you're a tourist, I recommend you take a stroll through Boston before you leave. Walk along Calle 44, go up Carrera 46, have a coffee in one of the neighborhood bakeries. It's not the Medellín of postcards, but it's the real Medellín. And if you're a local, especially if you're from Boston, you have a responsibility: to tell your story, that of your family, that of your neighbors. Because if you don't tell it, no one else will.

Call to action: If you're from Boston, leave a fact about your family that confirms or contradicts the official story. Was your grandfather a muleteer? Did your grandmother work at Estación Boston? Do you know something about the origin of the name that isn't in the books? Share your story in the comments. The microhistory of Medellín is built with the voices of those who were there, not with those who arrived later to take notes.

Introduction to the topic

The Boston neighborhood in Medellín is a place that often goes unnoticed by those unfamiliar with the city. With a rich history and a vibrant atmosphere, this area has been shaped by the lives of the 'urban muleteers'. The local culture is intertwined with the daily lives of its inhabitants, who have found in commerce and coexistence a form of resilience and community.

Contrary to what many might think upon hearing "Boston," this neighborhood has no relation to the American city. Instead, it is a space where paisa traditions merge with modernity, offering an authentic glimpse into life in Medellín. From gastronomy to urban art, Boston is a reflection of the social and urban transformations the city has experienced in recent decades.

If you decide to explore this neighborhood, here are some practical tips to enjoy its essence:

Local Gastronomy

Try the "bandeja paisa" at one of the neighborhood's family restaurants. These places often offer traditional recipes passed down from generation to generation. Insider Tip: Ask for the "chicharrón" and the "arepa," which are essential in this dish.

Urban Art

Walk the streets to discover murals that tell the story of the neighborhood and its inhabitants. Many local artists have left their mark on the walls, creating an open-air museum. Insider Tip: Bring your camera and don't hesitate to interact with the artists; many of them will be happy to share their stories.

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Analysis by option (pros and cons)

The Boston neighborhood in Medellín is a fascinating example of how history and culture intertwine in a space that, although it doesn't appear on tourist maps, offers a unique experience. Here are some pros and cons of exploring this little-known neighborhood:

Pros

• Authenticity: Boston is a refuge of paisa culture, where visitors can experience the daily life of its inhabitants, away from conventional tourist routes.
• Local culture: The presence of 'urban muleteers' reflects a tradition that has endured over time, offering a