Visiting Hacienda Nápoles: Is Colombia’s Most Controversial Theme Park Worth It?
Visiting Hacienda Nápoles: Is Colombia's Most Controversial Theme Park Worth It?
Visiting Hacienda Nápoles
Introduction
When my Colombian wife suggested taking a day trip to Hacienda Nápoles, I wasn’t convinced.
The park was nearly two hours from Medellín, the admission wasn’t cheap, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to spend an entire day visiting the former estate of Pablo Escobar.
As it turned out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
What I expected to be little more than a historical stop turned into one of the most enjoyable day trips of our visit to Medellín. Between the wildlife, museums, water attractions, beautiful countryside, and fascinating history, Hacienda Nápoles became one of the biggest surprises of our trip to Colombia.
If you’re wondering whether it’s worth the drive from Medellín, here’s exactly what our day was like.
Leaving Medellín Before Sunrise
We were staying in Laureles, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Medellín.
Our alarm went off around 5:30 in the morning so we could catch a taxi to the Metro station, where our tour bus was waiting.
The drive itself became part of the experience.
Leaving Medellín behind, the mountains slowly gave way to rolling countryside, rivers, farms, and small Colombian towns. Even before arriving at Hacienda Nápoles, I found myself enjoying the scenery.
First Impressions
Walking through the entrance, it quickly became obvious this wasn’t simply the former home of Pablo Escobar.
The property has been transformed into a massive family attraction with museums, wildlife, water parks, restaurants, gardens, and recreational areas spread across hundreds of acres.
The history is still present—but it no longer defines the entire experience.
A Place With a Complicated History
There’s no avoiding Hacienda Nápoles’ past.
The estate once belonged to Pablo Escobar and many visitors come curious about that history.
We spent some time exploring the memorial exhibits, learning about the property’s past, before moving on to everything the park has become today.
Personally, I appreciated that the park acknowledges its history without making it the focus of the entire visit.
Wildlife, Attractions and Surprises
This was the part of the day I wasn’t expecting.
We spent hours exploring different areas of the park.
From zebras and elephants to hippos, dinosaurs, waterfalls, playgrounds, and beautifully landscaped gardens, there always seemed to be something new around the next corner.
Some exhibits felt educational.
Others were simply fun.
That’s what surprised me most about Hacienda Nápoles—it really is designed for families as much as history enthusiasts.
Cooling Off in the Water Park
By early afternoon, the Colombian heat was making itself known.
My wife spent much more time enjoying the pools and water attractions than I did.
At the time, I was still dealing with significant hip pain before eventually having my hip replacement, so I took things a little slower.
Instead of racing from attraction to attraction, I enjoyed walking the grounds at my own pace while taking photographs and soaking in the atmosphere.
Looking back, it actually allowed me to appreciate the park even more.
Heading Back to Medellín
Like all good day trips, the day seemed to disappear.
By late afternoon it was time to board the bus back to Medellín.
After arriving in Laureles around 7 or 8 that evening, we walked back toward our Airbnb and ended the day exactly the way we often did during that trip—with dinner at Frisby.
After a long day exploring, Colombian fried chicken tasted pretty good.
Was Hacienda Nápoles Worth It?
Absolutely.
I’ll admit I wasn’t excited about going at first.
I thought it would simply be an expensive trip built around Pablo Escobar’s history.
Instead, I found a surprisingly enjoyable attraction with beautiful scenery, wildlife, family activities, and just enough history to understand how the property evolved into what it is today.
If you’re visiting Medellín and have an extra day, I think Hacienda Nápoles is well worth considering.
It certainly exceeded my expectations.
Final Thoughts
Some of the best travel experiences are the ones you don’t expect.
Hacienda Nápoles wasn’t originally high on my list, but thanks to my wife’s suggestion, it ended up becoming one of the most memorable day trips of our Medellín vacation.
Sometimes the places you’re least excited about become the ones you remember most.
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