The city
Medellin is the capital of the department of Antioquia. It has a population of 2,223,078 and it is part of the Metropolitan area, a group of five municipalities with more than 3.3 million. The average temperature ranges from 17° to 35° throughout the year, which has earned Medellin the name of the ‘City of Eternal Spring’.

The city has an active cultural life, including the museum of Antioquia, which exhibits a large collection of works from the painter and sculptor Fernando Botero. It also plays host to the Poetry Festival and the largest fashion show in the country.

Life in Medellin is very pleasant for visitors, who can enjoy the many sites of interest within the city as well as the abundant wildlife of its surroundings.

Accommodation:

Accommodation for students
Universities have no dorms, and EAFIT is no exception to the rule. However, the International Relations Office can provide information about alternatives of housing and takes care that its visiting students get to their destination safely.

Finding a suitable apartment can be a challenge. The location is very important – living close enough to the university to come and go by foot is a great advantage. Gas, electricity and telephone charges are not included in the rental price; tenants have to pay them separately every month. The following are the types of accommodation available:

Furnished apartment: more expensive as the apartment is already furnished with kitchen equipment, lamps, curtains, and sometimes bedclothes. In the Poblado area, monthly rents for furnished flats start at US$650. The contract for apartment states a duration – do not sign a contract for longer than you intend to stay. Many landlords ask for proof of financial solvency, and two co-signatories with their own property. They also sometimes ask for payment in advance. Make sure you get a receipt.

Shared apartment: for a more cost-effective option, you can share a flat and service charges with other students. If you are thinking of living in a shared flat, we recommend that you look carefully at the details and ask questions. Remember that you will share bathroom and kitchen with others.
Family house: there are local families who rent rooms in their houses to foreign students. They give lodging, food and wash your clothes for around 400-600 dollars a month. Living with a family can be a great experience, as long as you have reasonable expectations of them and they of you.

Budget:
The following list will serve as a guide is preparing your budget (remember that everything is paid for in pesos). This is only an estimate:

Cultural activities:
Medellín is host to many cultural events. You can enjoy theatre, concerts, films, conferences, art exhibitions, and museums. The university also offers a varied cultural life, including contemporary and traditional dance classes.

Theatres
Musical, theatrical and events seasons take place in the Metropolitan Theatre, the Pablo Tobon Uribe theatre, the Porfirio Barba Jacob theatre, the open-air Carlos Vieco theatre, the ‘Teatro Fundadores’ of EAFIT and the University of Medellin theatre. For the University’s events see www.eafit.edu.co/eafitcn/agend

Museums
Amongst the various museums, the most prominent is the Museum of Antioquia, where you can see the collection of the painter and sculptor Fernando Botero as well as other Colombian artist. Others include the Casa Museo Pedro Nel Gómez, the Medellin museum of modern art, the Castillo museum, the Miguel Angel Builes ethnographic museum, the University of Antioquia’s ethnographic museum, the Madre Laura museum, and the Banco de la República Stamp Museum.

Annual Festivals and Events
The following are some examples of the traditional events the city has to offer:

Poetry Festival:
Founded in 1991, the International Poetry Festival of Medellín would have to be the festival with most International participation in the city, if not country. It has had 747 poets from 131 countries from Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. www.festivaldepoesiademedellin.org

Silleteros Parade:
In the middle of August, the Antioquian country workers walk down from the mountains carrying a ‘silleta’, or flower arrangement, on their backs. They parade through the streets of Medellin in one of the most picturesque events in national folk culture.

International Contemporary Dance Festival:
An annual event, since 1996 Medellín has had the pleasure of hosting a series of contemporary dance performances and events including conferences, master classes, workshops and multimedia, by participants from all over the world. www.danzaconcierto.com

International Jazz Festival:
The festival began in 1997 and has since grown immensely. Every year musicians from Colombia and around the world come to perform in Medellín. www.medejazz.com

The Candelaria bull festival
In February every year there is an exhibition of striking bullfighting posters.

Trova festival
Every weekend during August the best trovadores from Antioquia and Colombia meet in Medellin.

National Equestrian Exhibition
Taking place in August, this is an exhibition of many breeds of horses.

International exhibition of orchids and Easter flowers
In April the most beautiful examples of the national flower, the orchid, are displayed in honour of Medellin’s reputation as the ‘city of flowers’.

Parade of Antioquian dance, myth and legend
On ‘the night of the candles’, the 7th December, regional folk groups perform traditional myths, such as ‘la Patasola’, ‘la Madremonte’, and ‘El Sombreron’, on the streets of the city, accompanied by bands of musicians. 

A very good guide (in Spanish) to cultural entertainment in the city: http://www.terra.com.co/medellin/

Health:
All visiting students should have a health insurance with international coverage. Furthermore, EAFIT requires of all students to pay for an accident insurance at the university, which costs about ten (19) dollars per semester. Among the services the University offers to students are: a day-time medical center for ambulatory cases, and a list of specialized physicians who have offices off campus and offer reduced rates to our students.

Transport

The Metro
Medellín made a huge advance in terms of transport with the construction of the Metro. It has two lines: line “A” runs north to south; and line “B” east to west.
The Metro is composed of 126 carriages, which circulate in trains of six coaches in line A. Line B has a capacity of 900 and operates with trains of 3 carriages.

For 2006 the fares are:

For maps, routes and further information go to www.metrodemedellin.org.co

Bus
Buses are the most popular method of transport. All routes converge in the centre of the city and run to different sectors. They also stop at Metro stations. Buses are classified as either buses, minibuses or executive buses.

For 2006 the fares are:

Taxis
Taxis are recognisable for their bright yellow colour. They are fitted with a meter which shows the points accumulated on the journey; this corresponds with the fare. The meter is situated inside the car, visible to the passenger. The minimum fare (up to about 2km) for 2006 is 3,000 pesos. The fare from downtown to EAFIT University would be around $6,000.