Street vendor Jesus Rodriguez walks along leafy sidewalks, moving from the shade of one tree to the next, as he peddles coffee and snacks from dawn till dusk in downtown Medellin.

"I always try to seek the shade," he noted, taking a break as the morning sun rose over the mountain valley, pushing temperatures toward 30 degrees Celsius.

"You can really feel the difference in heat when you're in the shade and when you're not," the 68-year-old said.