In a bold move to transform its urban and recreational offerings, Medellin is planning to have its very own beach, according to Mayor Federico Gutierrez: “Medellin will finally have the only thing it’s missing” in an estimated timeline of just under two years, by April 2027. With this announcement, the city aims to overcome the lack of sea and beach, something many believed was the last piece Medellin needed.
So far, the closest beach available to locals has been in Necocli, located in northern Antioquia on the Gulf of Uraba. By car, the trip from Medellin takes about four hours. This long journey makes the idea of enjoying leisure, sun, and water within the city not only attractive but also groundbreaking.
Gran Parque de Medellin project will bring the beach to the city
Thanks to the Gran Parque de Medellin project, the beach in the city vision will become a reality. This ambitious plan seeks to transform the current Juan Pablo II aeropark into a state-of-the-art sports and recreational hub. The goal is to provide residents with a space that blends sports, nature, and entertainment, supported by infrastructure never before seen in Colombia.
The main attraction will be a 17,000 m² aquatic zone, featuring 12,000 m² of artificial sea, equivalent to about 10 Olympic-size pools and over 5,000 m² of urban beach with sports courts and public areas. The complex will also include four pools (two Olympic-size and two semi-Olympic) and a 2,500 m² wave pool with slides, catering both to high-performance athletes and families seeking fun. Visitors will be able to enjoy recreational swimming, snorkeling, aqua aerobics, water polo, synchronized swimming, diving, kayaking, rowing, sailing, underwater rugby and hockey, and even innovative activities such as yoga on water.
An urban transformation megaproject
The Gran Parque Medellin goes beyond water attractions. The plan will also expand the Juan Pablo II jogging and cycling circuit from 1.5 km to 3 km, with the aim of consolidating the park as “the best public triathlon training center in the world,” as highlighted by Mayor Federico Gutierrez. In addition, the BMX track named after Mariana Pajon and the Maria Luisa Calle Sports Unit will be renovated, strengthening the city’s commitment to developing future generations of athletes.
The proposal also includes administrative and commercial spaces, over 2 km of pedestrian walkways, plazas, parking lots, and more than 81,000 m² of green areas and public space, covering a total of 210,000 m². The project will require an estimated investment of 195 billion pesos (around US$49 million). Construction is set to begin in the first quarter of 2026, and the park is expected to open in April 2027, becoming an icon for Medellin and a model of how cities can reinvent themselves to improve quality of life for their residents.