Jericó (Antioquia)

Jericó was founded in 1851 high on a mountain in the Southwest, among coffee farms. It has been part of Colombia's Network of Heritage Towns since 2013. The center has houses with painted balconies around the main square, a big ceiba tree in the plaza and a brick cathedral with a dome.

Laura Montoya, Colombia's first saint, was born here. Her birthplace is now a small museum, and there's a shrine dedicated to her. The town is also the birthplace of the carriel, the leather bag with pockets carried by muleteers, and there are still workshops where you can see how it's made.

For the view, go up Cerro El Salvador, north of town, where there's a large statue of Christ and you see the town with the mountains behind it. Nearby is Parque Las Nubes, a forest reserve with trails where you can see birds, butterflies and monkeys. The town has several museums, including the anthropology and arts museum (MAJA).

What to see

• The shrine and birthplace museum of Santa Laura Montoya.
• The carriel workshops near the main square.
• Cerro El Salvador and its Christ, with a view over the town.
• The cathedral and the houses with colorful balconies in the center.
• Parque Las Nubes, for a walk through the forest.

Getting there

• Bus: buses to Jericó leave the Terminal del Sur frequently; the trip takes 3 to 3.5 hours.
• Car: via Caldas, Amagá and La Pintada, turning off to Jericó (a little over 2 hours).

Tips

• Leave early: it's over 3 hours by bus each way.
• If you want to take home a carriel, buy it directly from a workshop in town.
• Go up Cerro El Salvador in the morning, before the clouds cover the view.
• On weekends, traffic leaving and entering Medellín gets heavy; allow extra time.