Sabaneta's Escalators: The Luxury of the Hill

Introduction: More than a shortcut, a statement of principles

If you arrive at the Sabaneta station of the Medellín Metro and see people going into a narrow alley between shops, don't be confused: it's not a line for the bakery or an improvised market. That modest entrance is the gateway to one of the most peculiar and beloved infrastructure works in the south of the Aburrá Valley: the Sabaneta escalators. While the Metrocable takes you up through the air in hanging cabins, here the bet was different: a series of outdoor, covered, and protected escalators that climb the hillside to connect thousands of people living in the upper neighborhoods. It's not a joke or an architect's whim. It's popular mobility with a paisa stamp, and in July 2026, they are still working like the first day, although with the logical wear and tear of almost a decade of intensive use.

The curious thing is that this project was born from a real need: the people from the upper part of Sabaneta, specifically from the San José, La Doctora, and Pan de Azúcar sectors, had to walk impossible slopes to reach the metro. Instead of building an expensive aerial cable car or a road that would cut through the hill, the municipal administration invented a system of public, free, and outdoor escalators. For the tourist coming from a flat city like Bogotá or from abroad, this is a rarity worth seeing. But for the local, it's part of the daily landscape: a mix of vertical gym, tourist viewpoint, and transportation solution.

In this guide, I'll tell you what the route from the metro station to the top is like, what awaits you at each section, and why you should go up at sunset, when the sun hides behind the mountain range and the valley lights up. I also talk to a resident who uses them daily, give you maintenance data and costs, and offer safety recommendations so you don't end up slipping like a clueless tourist.

What to do: The vertical ascent up the slope

Going up the Sabaneta escalators is not just a means of transportation; it's an experience in itself. The complete system has several stages, and although it's not an exhausting walk, it does require some physical condition if you decide to do the entire route on foot through the sections that don't have an escalator. But the most sensible thing is to use the escalators, which are designed to take you from the base near the metro to the upper part of the San José neighborhood, about 200 meters in elevation gain approximately.

The starting point: Sabaneta Metro Station

Exit the Sabaneta station through the exit that faces south, on Avenida Regional. There, right next to a group of shops (there's an ice cream parlor and a clothing store), you'll see a narrow hallway that seems to lead nowhere. Don't stop: that's the access. Upon entering, you'll find the first escalator, which starts from street level. It's covered with translucent polycarbonate, so even if it rains, you won't get wet. The floor is non-slip, but be careful: with use, some plates are worn. Walk carefully.

The first section goes up about 30 meters and leaves you on a small platform with concrete benches. From there, you already see a partial view of the center of Sabaneta and, in the background, the silhouette of the hill. Most people continue straight, but if you want, you can deviate a few steps to see a community mural painted by the neighbors of the sector. It's a tribute to the history of the neighborhood, with vivid colors and figures of birds and flowers. It's not a famous work of art, but it gives character to the place.

The intermediate sections: The heart of the slope

After the first rest, there are three more sections of escalators, each separated by a small plaza. In total, there are four main escalators, although there are some additional ramps and fixed stairs to connect with side streets. The slope is steep, about 35 degrees, so if you carry a suitcase or heavy bags, the escalators will make your life easier. However, don't expect them to be as fast as those in the mall: they are calibrated for a moderate speed, thinking of the elderly and children.

In the second plaza, there is a hydration point (a public drinking fountain that works most of the time) and a small booth where a guard sometimes sits. It's not a fixed post, but there are visible security cameras. As you go up, the landscape changes: you go from seeing facades of one or two-story houses to wider views of the valley. On clear days, you can see the Alpina building in the La Frontera sector and, further away, the towers of El Poblado.

This is where many tourists take the classic photo: looking down through the escalator shaft, with the metal railings and the curved polycarbonate roof creating a geometric perspective. If you have vertigo, better not lean out too much. The accumulated height is already considerable.

The top: Arrival at San José neighborhood

The last section leaves you on a paved street, right at the entrance of the San José neighborhood. There is a small roundabout with a commemorative plaque that says something like "Sabaneta Escalators, a dream come true." Around it, there are neighborhood stores, a bakery, and a synthetic soccer field. If you're hungry, you can buy a pandebono or a freshly made arepa at Doña Nelly's store, half a block away. Don't expect a gourmet restaurant; this is neighborhood food, honest and cheap.

From the top, the view is spectacular. You see all of Sabaneta at your feet, and beyond, Itagüí, Envigado, and Medellín. Especially at sunset, between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. (depending on the time of year), the sun sets behind the western mountain range and the city lights begin to turn on. It's the moment the locals call "the landscape hour." Bring water, because the ascent, even on an escalator, leaves you thirsty, and the stores at the top close early.

Where to eat or drink: Stops along the route and nearby

The escalator route doesn't have a huge gastronomic offering, but there are options for a snack before, during, or after the climb. These are the stops I recommend:

Before going up: At the base of the metro

Right outside the Sabaneta station, on Avenida Regional, there are several fast food stalls and fruit shops. One of the most popular is Frutas y Jugos El Parque, a small place where they prepare natural juices of mango, lulo, or soursop for about $4,000 COP. They also sell chicken or beef empanadas for $2,500 each. It's a good place to load up on energy before the ascent. They are open Monday to Saturday, 7am to 8pm; Sundays until 2pm.

If you prefer something more substantial, two blocks away is La Hamburguesería de Sabaneta, a neighborhood classic. Simple hamburgers cost around $12,000 COP and come with fries. The atmosphere is family-friendly, with plastic tables and popular music. It's not fine dining, but it fills you up.

During the ascent: At the intermediate plazas

In the second plaza, halfway up, there is a lady who sells cholados (shaved ice with fruits and condensed milk) on weekends. It has no fixed name, but you recognize it by the white and blue cart. A cholado costs $5,000 COP and is perfect for cooling down. If you don't see her, you can continue to the top.

At the top: San José neighborhood

Upon reaching the roundabout, walk half a block to the left and you'll find Panadería San José. They sell freshly baked pandebono, almojábanas, and cassava bread. A pandebono with cheese costs $2,000 COP. They also have black coffee for $1,500 COP. It's the ideal place to sit on one of the benches in the plaza and watch the landscape while eating something warm.

If you stay until night, a few blocks further up, on 48th Street, there is a restaurant called El Sabor de la Abuela, which serves typical dishes like bandeja paisa, hen sancocho, or mondongo. Prices range from $18,000 to $25,000 COP per dish. They are open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 9pm. They rest on Mondays.

How to get there and transportation

Getting to the Sabaneta escalators is easy if you use the Medellín Metro. The Sabaneta station is the terminal of Line A, at its southern end. From downtown Medellín, the metro ride takes about 40 minutes. The ticket cost is $3,180 COP (reference price as of July 2026). Once at the station, the access to the escalators is signposted with a green sign that says "Escaleras Eléctricas San José." You won't miss it.

If you come by car, there are public parking lots near the station. The closest is Parqueadero La Estación, on 45th Street, with rates of $4,000 COP per hour. There is also street parking, but it's hard to find space during peak hours.

By bus, the routes that pass by the Sabaneta station are the 300 (Sabaneta-Itagüí) and the 301 (Sabaneta-Envigado). Both drop you off a block from the entrance. Ask the driver "¿me deja en la estación Sabaneta?" and they will indicate.

For those coming from the José María Córdova Airport, the most practical option is to take a taxi or Uber to the station. The trip from Rionegro costs about $60,000 to $80,000 COP, depending on traffic. From the airport, there are also intermunicipal buses that drop you off at the Medellín transport terminal, and from there you take the metro to Sabaneta.

Local tips: What nobody tells you

• Go up at sunset, but don't linger: The view is best between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., but the escalators turn off at 10 p.m. If you stay later, you'll have to walk down the surrounding streets, which are not as well lit. Bring a flashlight on your phone.
• Non-slip shoes are mandatory: The escalators have non-slip grooves, but after years of use, some are smooth. Sneakers with rubber soles are the best option. Forget flip-flops or leather shoes.
• Bring water: Although the escalators are mechanical, the sun beats down hard on the uncovered sections (especially in the plazas). The public drinking fountain sometimes doesn't work, so don't rely on it.
• Don't use your phone while going up: It's tempting to record a video, but the vibration of the escalator and the movement can make you lose your balance. Better stop at a plaza to take photos.
• Greet the neighbors: The people in the neighborhood are friendly and curious. If they see you with a tourist face, they'll ask where you're from. A "buenas tardes" or "qué más" breaks the ice. Don't expect them to speak English; basic Spanish will serve you.
• Avoid peak hours: Between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., and between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., the escalators are full of workers and students who use them to get to the metro. If you go as a tourist, better between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., or after 8 p.m.
• Fun fact: The Sabaneta escalators were inaugurated in 2017, but the idea came from a councilman who saw a similar system in a Medellín neighborhood called La Sierra. The difference is that there the escalators were covered, but here they left them outdoors to save costs. The neighbors say that, in the first months, people would ride them just for the novelty, as if it were a game.

Maintenance data and costs

The Sabaneta escalator system is not cheap to maintain. According to data from the Sabaneta Mayor's Office, monthly maintenance is around $15 million COP (approximately $3,750 USD at the July 2026 exchange rate). This includes lubricating the gears, replacing worn parts (such as steps and handrails), and cleaning the sensors. The escalators operate 16 hours a day, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., 365 days a year. During the rainy season, technicians have to check the electrical systems to avoid short circuits.

The total construction cost was about $4.5 billion COP (around $1.1 million USD at the time), financed in part by the municipality and in part by the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley. Compared to a Metrocable, which costs more than $100 billion COP, these escalators were a much more economical solution, although with lower passenger capacity. It is estimated that about 2,000 people use them daily, mainly residents of San José and La Doctora.

A curious fact: the escalators have an emergency braking system that activates if someone falls or if an object blocks the way. This has prevented serious accidents, but it has also caused unexpected stops when a leaf or a plastic bag gets stuck. The neighbors are already used to it and know that, if it stops, they wait a few minutes for the technician to restart it.

Interview with a resident: Don Carlos and his daily routine

I sat down with Don Carlos Mario, a 58-year-old man who has lived in the upper part of San José for 30 years. He works at a hardware store in downtown Sabaneta and uses the escalators every day, Monday through Saturday. This is what he told me, while we had a tinto at the plaza at the top:

"Look, before they put these escalators in, you had to go down El Chuscal street, which is a tough slope. In winter, it was a mud pit and you'd arrive all muddy at the metro. You had to leave half an hour earlier. Now, in 10 minutes I'm down. It's a luxury, man. And when I go back up, I don't arrive sweaty, because the escalators do all the work. The only bad thing is that sometimes they break down and you have to go up on foot, but that happens once a month, more or less."

Don Carlos also remembers the inauguration: "It was a Thursday, I think. The mayor came, they had a party with music and gave out soda. The kids from the neighborhood went up and down like crazy, as if it were an amusement park. Now it's normal, but you don't forget the change. Before, people would move to other places because it was very hard to go up. Now, the neighborhood has increased in value."

I ask him if he would recommend tourists go up. He laughs: "Of course, let them come. But don't start taking photos in the middle of the escalator, that's dangerous. And bring money to buy a pandebono up there. The lady at the bakery is my cousin, and she makes the best in the neighborhood."

Frequently asked questions

Are the Sabaneta escalators free?

Yes, the use of the escalators is completely free. There are no turnstiles or fare collection. Maintenance is financed with resources from the municipality of Sabaneta. Anyone can go up and down at no cost, during the 16 hours they are operational.

Are they safe for children or the elderly?

Generally, yes. The escalators have handrails on both sides and the speed is moderate. However, small children should be accompanied by an adult, and elderly people with balance problems should use the handrail. There is no elevator or alternative ramp, so wheelchair users or baby strollers cannot access. For them, the only option is to go up by the vehicular street, which is longer but has a less steep slope.

Can I bring a bicycle or pets?

It is not explicitly prohibited, but it is not recommended. The escalators are narrow (about 1.2 meters wide) and carrying a bicycle can block the way or cause accidents. Pets must be carried or on a very short leash, and only if the animal is calm. Large dogs may be frightened by the mechanical noise. In general, it's better to leave the bike below and go up on foot via the street.

Is there a recommended time to avoid crowds?

Weekend afternoons (from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) are usually less crowded, because many neighbors go out for a walk. Weekday mornings, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., are also quiet. Avoid peak morning hours (6-8 a.m.) and afternoon hours (5-7 p.m.), when workers and students come and go from the metro.

What happens if the escalators stop while I am going up?

Don't panic. The escalators have an automatic braking system that stops them smoothly if there is a technical problem. In that case, you can walk up the fixed steps (which don't move) or wait for a technician to restart them, which usually takes between 5 and 15 minutes. The neighbors are used to it and will tell you what to do. If you're in a hurry, you can always exit through the side streets.