Beginning Monday, January 13, 2025, Medellín will reactivate its "Pico y Placa" vehicle restriction policy. This measure, aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion, applies to Medellín and the surrounding metropolitan area. The restrictions will follow the same schedule and rules as in the latter half of 2024.

Key Details of the 2025 Measure

• Schedule: Monday to Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Applicability:
• For private vehicles, restrictions are based on the last digit of the license plate.
• For motorcycles, restrictions are determined by the first digit of the plate. Only 2- and 4-stroke motorcycles are affected.
• Exemptions: Vehicles powered by cleaner technologies, such as electric, hybrid, and natural gas vehicles, are exempt, provided their transit license is up to date.

Fines and Enforcement

Drivers violating the "Pico y Placa" restrictions will face a fine equivalent to 15 daily minimum wages (SMLDV), approximately $711,750 COP for 2024. Additional costs may arise if the vehicle is impounded, including towing and storage fees.

Rotation from January 13, 2025

• Monday Plates ending in 0 and 2.
• Tuesday: Plates ending in 6 and 9.
• Wednesday: Plates ending in 3 and 7.
• Thursday: Plates ending in 4 and 8.
• Friday: Plates ending in 1 and 5.

Example: If your license plate ends in 0, you are not allowed to drive your vehicle in Medellín on Mondays between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Important Notes

1. There will be no educational grace period; enforcement begins immediately.
2. The policy does not apply on weekends or public holidays.
3. Taxis follow a biweekly rotation schedule that has been in place since 2016.

Exemptions for Clean Technology Vehicles

Electric, hybrid, and natural gas-powered vehicles are exempt from the "Pico y Placa" restrictions. The exemption is automatically verified through the National Traffic Registry (RUNT), requiring no additional paperwork from drivers. This system ensures faster processing and avoids unnecessary delays for eligible vehicles.

Upcoming Updates

In February 2025, the Medellín municipality will announce updated rotation rules for the "Pico y Placa" restrictions, which will be effective for the first semester of the year.

In June 2024, Colombia's national carrier Avianca will start flights from Medellín (MDE) to Buenos Aires (EZE), Lima (LIM) and Santiago de Chile (SCL). The flight schedules are as follows:

• MDE 18:10 - 21:10 LIM Tue, Thurs, Sat, from June 1
• LIM 01:55 - 05:00 MDE Weds, Fri, Sun

• MDE 17:45 - 00:45 SCL Mon, Weds, Fri, Sun, from June 2
• SCL 01:45 - 06:59 MDE Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat

• MDE 16:45 - 01:25 EZE daily, from June 15
• EZE 02:30 - 07:05 MDE daily

To Lima and Santiago de Chile you can also fly with JetSmart from Medellín, and to Lima you can also fly with LATAM. Only Avianca will have flights to Buenos Aires.

Sabaneta is looking forward to exciting developments with the upcoming construction of the Arena Primavera event and show complex. This project, situated next to the Mayorca shopping center, marks the spearhead of a broader urban transformation initiative. The current industrial warehouse-dominated area will be revitalized into an entertainment district spanning 14 hectares. This transformation will encompass housing for middle and upper strata, health and technology services, all complemented by ample public spaces and greenery.

The Arena is expected to drive vibrant activity in the form of restaurants and accommodations. Mayor Santiago Montoya reveals that a five-star hotel has already expressed interest. The ambitious plan involves shifting Sabaneta's identity from a "dormitory city" to an entertainment hub, necessitating a change in residents' mindset and educational programs to prepare professionals for the entertainment and services sector.

Montoya emphasizes the cultural sector's role in comprehensive municipal development, citing the Arena Primavera as a key component. The estimated economic impact of the arena is substantial, contributing approximately 300,000 million pesos annually to the gross domestic product. Ticket taxes are expected to generate 10,000 to 15,000 million pesos for cultural promotion in the municipality.

Montoya envisions that future administrations can utilize these funds to support national and international tours to promote local artists. The project's focal point is the Arena Primavera, with plans to lay the first stone in the first half of 2024 and complete construction by 2026, assuming adherence to the schedule.

The estimated investment of 200,000 million pesos comes from the CLK business group, consisting of five companies: Tuboleta, Movistar Arena, TBL Live, Venues Snacks, and Thunder Production. CLK is confident in Antioquia's potential as a cultural reference, aiming to position the department as a world leader in the arena circuit.

Strategic partnerships with Proantioquia, Comfama, and government ministries are in place to enhance social projection and provide cultural and educational expertise. Discussions are underway for a potential sponsor to give the complex its name.

The project involves a unique business scheme, akin to Public-Private Partnerships, where individuals fund and build the arena, exploiting it for three decades before returning it to the landowners (Special Assets Society) without compensation. The Arena Primavera, with a capacity for 16,000 people, is expected to host an average of 75 shows per year, creating nearly 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Designed by HOK, the arena promises to be the most modern in Latin America, with versatile applications such as hosting tennis matches, concerts, congresses, fairs, and family events. The environmentally conscious design aims for carbon neutrality by maximizing natural wind and light usage.

The 55,000-square-meter Arena Primavera will showcase the region's architectural aesthetics with a reddish hue reminiscent of the Aburrá Valley's buildings, guayacanes' vibrant colors, and the silletera tradition. A pedestrian ring with saddle-shaped panels and a rooftop terrace with 14 restaurants will complement the structure. With only 450 parking spaces, the focus is on encouraging public transportation use, and plans for a pedestrian bridge to improve access to the Metro are underway, aiming to reduce travel time from eight to three minutes.

Residents of the Las Lomas No. 2 neighborhood in El Poblado are concerned about the Mantua building, which was evacuated in 2013 due to construction flaws and pending reinforcement. The 14-story and five-basement construction is now being occupied despite not yet having undergone the required reinforcement, according to neighbors who claim that it is being used as an Airbnb. Although the administration denies the claim, several apartments are furnished and even have rental ads on the internet. The building, at first glance, appears uninhabited, but there is movement from early morning, with several vehicles entering the parking lot and some apartments having open windows, installed curtains, and even laundry hanging out. The evacuation of the building in 2013 was due to insufficient structural processes and a lack of compliance with seismic resistance standards, among other reasons. Currently, there is a license for structural reinforcement, which remains pending.

A British tourist has passed away following a mugging incident while trekking along the Hill of Three Crosses trail near Medellín. The 34-year-old was allegedly struck on the head with the butt of a gun by the attackers, who stole his possessions. He was discovered severely injured at the base of the Hill of Three Crosses two days after he went missing. The victim was first taken to a nearby health center before being transported to Medellín's General Hospital in critical condition. Despite receiving life-saving surgery, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, just before noon. While other hikers have reported feeling secure while hiking the same trail, they advise against trekking late in the day when the area begins to grow dark.

Hill of Three Crosses

The Hill of Three Crosses trail is a steep but short hike that can be completed in under an hour. The trail begins at the base of the hill and ascends through a mostly open grassy terrain. Once at the top, there is a small square with three crosses that denote the peak.