The Parque de Envigado You Don't Know: Where the Noise Stays at the Entrance
If you think Parque de Envigado is just the church square and weekend market, you're missing half the story. This park, known by locals as the heart of the municipality, hides corners that few tourists and even some long-time residents have set foot in. In May 2026, when the flowers of the heritage trees begin to fall like a rain of colors, it's the perfect time to rediscover it without the crowds of December or the mid-year fairs.
I myself lived in Envigado for three years before realizing that behind the Casa de la Cultura there is a stone path leading to a bench where no one interrupts you. Here I'm going to tell you those secrets that don't appear in the official guides, but that the neighborhood elders know by heart.
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A Bit of History: The Park That Grew with the Town
The Parque Principal de Envigado wasn't always that meeting point full of pigeons and cotton candy vendors. Originally, it was a pasture where farmers let their beasts rest while they went to mass. The church of Santa Gertrudis, which today dominates the view, began construction in 1835 and the park around it gradually took shape, without plans or hurry.
What many don't know is that the oldest trees in the park — those ceibas and guayacanes that look like they're from a storybook — were planted by founding families of the municipality between 1920 and 1940. Today they are considered arboreal heritage of Antioquia, but no one puts up a plaque saying so. If you sit on the stone bench next to the thickest ceiba (the one near Carrera 40 with Calle 37 sur), you are sharing shade with a tree that witnessed the Thousand Days' War, the arrival of the tram, and the transformation of Envigado from a coffee-growing town to a bedroom community of Medellín.
In the 1980s, when Envigado began to grow as a suburb, the park was remodeled. They added fountains, cement benches, and a kiosk for events. But the quietest corners remained intact, almost deliberately hidden, as if the elders wanted only those who truly needed silence to find them.
What to Do in Parque de Envigado (Without Getting Bored)
The Book Nook: The Public Library and the Reading Garden
On the eastern side of the park, right behind the Casa de la Cultura, is the Public Library of Envigado. It's not just any library: it has an interior garden with wooden tables and wicker chairs where you can read or work with the sound of birds in the background. Entry is free and you don't need a card if you just want to sit in the garden. Hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, and Saturdays until 5pm.
The best part is that no one rushes you. You can bring your own book or grab one from the open shelves. However, it closes on Sundays, so if you want peace, aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday morning.
The Stone Path: A Shortcut to Calm
If you enter the park at the corner of Carrera 39 with Calle 38 sur, you'll see a little path of irregular stones that goes between the trees. It looks like it leads nowhere, but it actually connects to a hidden square with a fountain that almost never works, but when it does, it sounds like a real stream. Around it are wooden benches that the municipal gardeners keep painted dark green, almost camouflaged among the foliage.
This place is perfect for a family picnic if you arrive early, like 9am. Bring a blanket, coffee in a thermos, and arepas with cheese. There are no vendors nearby, so prepare in advance. Kids can run around safely because the space is enclosed by bushes and there is no car traffic.
The Murals No One Sees: Street Art on the South Side
At the back of the park, where Calle 37 sur meets Carrera 41, there is a long wall that local graffiti artists have used for years. It's not an official mural or sponsored by the mayor's office, but a rotating gallery where neighborhood artists leave their mark. Some designs are ephemeral: they last weeks until someone else paints over them. If you're lucky, you can find works by crews like Los del Sur or Plaga, who are known in the Medellín underground but don't appear on Instagram.
The best time to see them is at sunset, when the oblique light highlights the colors. Bring your camera, but don't go too far in if there are suspicious people nearby; it's better to go accompanied.
Where to Eat and Drink Near the Park (Without Paying Tourist Prices)
Grandma's Ice Cream Shop: Helados Artesanales Donde María
Half a block from the park, on Carrera 40 with Calle 39 sur, is Donde María. It has no big sign or website, but Envigadeños have known it for 25 years. They sell natural fruit ice cream: guanábana, lulo, maracuyá, and the classic arequipe with brevas. A double cone costs $5,000 COP (reference prices from May 2026). Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm. Closed on Mondays.
The secret is to order the "yogurth con granola" ice cream, which isn't on the menu but they make it if you ask for "the house special." It's thicker and less sweet than the others.
The Empanada Joint: Empanadas El Machetico
On Calle 38 sur, number 39-12, there is a tiny place that sells empanadas from 6am until they run out (usually before 2pm). They are coastal style: fried, with corn dough and filling of shredded beef, potato, and hard-boiled egg. They cost $2,500 COP each. Order two with the house hot sauce, which is spicy but not too much, and a glass of coconut lemonade ($3,000 COP).
There are no tables, so you eat them walking or sit on the park steps. The owners are a family from Sincelejo who arrived 15 years ago and never changed the recipe.
Specialty Coffee on the Corner: Café San Alberto
Right on the corner of the park (Carrera 39 with Calle 38 sur) is Café San Alberto, an Antioquian brand that roasts its own coffee. It's not expensive here like in the tourist areas of Medellín: a double espresso costs $4,500 COP and a cappuccino $7,000 COP. The place is small, with large windows overlooking the park. If you want to work for a while, they have free wifi and outlets at the back tables.
What few people know is that if you order the "filter coffee of the day," they serve you a large cup for $5,000 COP and you can ask for a refill for an additional $2,000 COP. Ask for the "San Alberto Estate" origin, which is the one they grow themselves in southwestern Antioquia.
Local Fast Food: Perros y hamburguesas El Punto
On Carrera 40 with Calle 37 sur, one block from the park, there is a hot dog cart that operates from 6pm to 2am. It's not gourmet, but it's the favorite of night owls. The simple hot dog costs $6,000 COP and comes with sausage, french fries, cabbage, sauces, and grated cheese. If you want a complete one, with everything they put on it (quail egg, bacon, pineapple), it's $10,000 COP.
There's no exact address because it's a cart, but it's always on the same corner. Ask for "Don Carlos," the owner, a bald man with glasses who will tell you stories of Envigado while he prepares your order.
How to Get to Parque de Envigado
By Metro and Bus
The easiest way from Medellín is to take the Metro to the Envigado station (Line A). From there, exit towards Calle 38 sur and walk two blocks south. The park is a 5-minute walk away. If you come from downtown Medellín, the trip takes about 25 minutes including waiting.
You can also take a bus on the "Envigado Centro" route from the Exposiciones or Industriales stations. It drops you off on Carrera 40, right at the park entrance. The fare is $2,800 COP (integrated fare if you use a cívica card).
By Car or Taxi
If you come by car, there is public parking on Calle 38 sur with Carrera 40, which costs $4,000 COP per hour (on Sundays it's sometimes full). You can also park on the side streets, but watch for "blue zone" signs because you have to pay at a parking meter (Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm).
By taxi from downtown Medellín, the trip costs between $15,000 and $20,000 COP depending on traffic. Ask to be dropped off at the "corner of the Santa Gertrudis church," which is easier to find than saying "the park."
By Bicycle
Envigado has a bike lane on Sundays and holidays from 7am to 1pm, which passes along the main avenue near the park. You can bike from Medellín via the bike lane on Avenida El Poblado, which connects to Envigado without heavy climbs. There are bicycle parking racks at the library entrance and next to the church.
Local Tips for Enjoying the Park Like an Envigadeño
- Get up early on Saturdays: The park is empty between 7am and 9am. Sundays fill up with families after the 10am mass, so if you want silence, Saturday is better.
- Bring repellent: Mosquitoes appear at dusk, especially near the hidden fountain. The citronella repellent sold at the pharmacy on Carrera 39 costs $8,000 COP and works better than imported ones.
- Don't sit on the central benches: Those around the main fountain are the noisiest (people, vendors, children). The benches on the eastern side, near the library, are the quietest.
- Try the water from the stone basin: There is a stone basin next to the church with drinking water. Locals fill their bottles there. The water tastes different, softer than tap water in Medellín.
- Look at the roofs: From the hidden square on the stone path, if you look up, you see the roofs of Envigado's old houses. Some have original 19th-century clay tiles, distinguishable by their darker color and irregular shapes.
- Don't buy food from street vendors without checking: Some sell pre-cut fruit that might be overripe. Better to buy from the fixed shops on Calle 38 sur, like Frutería El Buen Gusto, which has green mango with salt and lime for $2,000 COP.
- Use the library bathroom: It's clean, has toilet paper, and is free. The public park bathrooms close at 6pm and are sometimes dirty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parque de Envigado Safe to Go with Children?
Yes, during the day it's quiet. There is private security and police at the main corners. Children can play in the central square and on the stone path, but you need to watch them near the fountain because the floor can be slippery. After 8pm, it's best to avoid it if you don't know the area; there is more movement of homeless people and the lighting is uneven in the hidden corners.
Can You Have a Picnic in the Park?
Yes, but there are no designated tables. It's best to bring a blanket and sit on the grass on the eastern side (where the big trees are) or in the hidden square on the stone path. There are no trash cans near those corners, so bring a bag to collect your waste. The mayor's office cleans on Mondays, but during the week trash can accumulate if people don't cooperate.
Is There Bicycle Parking?
Yes, there are two parking areas: one next to the Public Library entrance (Carrera 39 with Calle 38 sur) and another on the church corner (Carrera 40 with Calle 37 sur). Both are free and have indirect surveillance (library cameras cover the area). I don't recommend leaving your bike on the street without a lock, even in the parking areas.
What Is the Best Day to Visit the Park If I Don't Want Crowds?
Tuesday or Wednesday morning (between 8am and 11am) are the quietest days. On weekends, especially Sunday after 10am, it fills up with families, vendors, and impromptu events. If you come in December, avoid weekends because there are novenas and concerts that attract many people.
Can You Take Professional Photos or Photo Sessions in the Park?
Yes, there are no restrictions for non-commercial photography. The most photogenic corners are: the stone path (for portraits with filtered light), the hidden fountain (for photos with reflections), and the murals on the south side (for urban backgrounds). If you want to do a session with professional equipment (lights, large tripod), it's better to ask for permission at the Casa de la Cultura, although they rarely deny it if you don't block the way.
Beyond the Park: Other Green Secrets of Envigado
If after getting to know the Parque Principal you're left wanting more nature, Envigado has other spaces that few visit. Parque de la Música, a 10-minute walk south (Carrera 43 with Calle 37 sur), is smaller but has a grove of pines that smells like a forest. Parque de la Vida, on Calle 38 sur with Carrera 45, has an artificial lake with ducks and a wooden path that crosses the wetland. And Ecoparque El Salado, a 20-minute bus ride away, is a nature reserve with waterfalls and trails where you can spend the whole day.
But that's material for another article. For now, start with the Parque Principal. Sit on the bench of the heritage ceiba, order a coffee at San Alberto, and let time pass slowly. In Envigado, tranquility is not sought: it is found in the corners that maps don't mark.
Do you want to discover more hidden gems of Envigado? Sign up for our guided tour of the municipality's lesser-known parks, where we take you to the secret trails, urban gardens, and cultural houses that tourists never see.