Hacienda Nápoles: Inside Pablo Escobar's Former Estate, Now a Theme Park

Hacienda Nápoles is one of the stranger stops on an Antioquia itinerary, and also one of the most talked about. Once the private estate of Pablo Escobar — complete with an airstrip and an imported private zoo — it's now a family theme park that keeps a small part of that history visible while building something new on top of it.

From private estate to public park

At the height of his power, Escobar built Hacienda Nápoles as a personal retreat, stocking it with exotic animals brought in from abroad, including a herd of hippos that famously outlived the estate's original owner and went on to become an ecological issue of their own in the region's rivers. After Escobar's death and the eventual seizure of the property, the Colombian government converted the site into a public theme park, with proceeds going toward victims of the conflict.

Today, a handful of relics from that era remain on the grounds — most notably a small collection of vehicles — alongside a much larger footprint of family attractions built since.

What's there now

• A large water park, one of the bigger draws for families, with pools and slides spread across the grounds.
• A zoo, home to various species descended from and alongside Escobar's original collection, including the hippos.
• Museums and exhibits covering both the natural history angle (dinosaur replicas are a longtime park fixture) and the more complicated history of the estate itself.

It's a full day out, and the site is large enough that most visitors don't see everything in one visit — worth deciding in advance whether the water park, the zoo, or the museums are the priority for your group.

Rio Claro Canyon, right next door

A short distance from Hacienda Nápoles is Rio Claro, a canyon known for its marble-walled river, caves, and rafting. It's a strong complement to a Hacienda Nápoles visit if you have more than a day in the area — hiking, cave exploring, and rafting are all on offer, and the scenery is a real change of pace from the theme park.

Planning your visit

Hacienda Nápoles is roughly 3 hours from Medellín in the direction of Doradal, in the lower, hotter part of Antioquia known locally as tierra caliente. It's a long day if done as a round trip, so most visitors plan for a full day, starting early.

• Bring sunscreen and light clothing — the climate near Doradal is noticeably hotter and more humid than Medellín.
• If both the theme park and Rio Claro interest you, consider whether to split them across two days or pick one to focus on.
• Groups are recommended given the distance and the amount of coordination involved.

Our Hacienda Nápoles tour includes private round-trip transportation from Medellín, with add-ons for the theme park, Rio Claro hiking and rafting, and quad bike or buggy tours around the area — minimum group size of 3 people.