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Escape Medellín for a full day to hike 20 minutes through cloud forest and swim beneath El Tagual waterfall. This practical guide covers what to expect, local context, and how to prepare for slippery trails and a refreshing plunge.
Escape Medellín for a full day to hike 20 minutes through cloud forest and swim beneath El Tagual waterfall. This practical guide covers what to expect, local context, and how to prepare for slippery trails and a refreshing plunge.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Colombia Bliss · Cocorná, Antioquia
A narrow dirt road climbs out of the valley and the city noise falls away; within an hour the air smells of wet earth and bromeliads. On this full-day outing from Medellín you drive through coffee country and cloud forest, then follow a steep 20-minute trail to El Tagual waterfall — a raw, plunging ribbon of water that invites a cool swim and a moment of quiet. The trail is often muddy, with exposed roots and short steep pitches that reward every step with greener understory and the rush of the falls.
moderate.
6–8 hours (including transport).
Moderate fitness: able to hike short steep sections and manage slippery terrain for 20–40 minutes on the trail
The on-foot approach is about 15–25 minutes along a steep, occasionally muddy trail—allow extra time for slippery sections.
Yes—many visitors swim in the plunge pool, but check with your guide about currents and keep to shallow areas if you’re not a strong swimmer.
The trip includes bottled water and snacks, but lunch is usually an independent expense at a roadside restaurant near Marinilla on the return trip.
Facilities are basic or absent at the waterfall; use amenities in Cocorná or at the lunch stop before the return drive.
Cocorná and neighboring towns grew as coffee-producing communities on the Andean slopes; many trails follow old farm roads and river routes used by local families for generations.
The area is sensitive to erosion from foot traffic and informal trails; stick to the guide-led path, carry out trash, and avoid soaps in the waterfall pool to protect water quality.
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