Play Tejo in Medellin with a Tejo Tour

Imagine a sport where you throw heavy metal disks at targets filled with actual explosives, all while enjoying cold beers with friends. Welcome to Tejo, Colombia’s national sport, and there’s no better way to experience it than with Chris Cajoleas, an American expat who went from restaurant owner to competitive Tejo player and tour guide extraordinaire.

What is Tejo? Colombia’s Best-Kept Secret

Tejo is unlike anything you’ve experienced before. The game originated over 500 years ago in Boyacá, where it was called Turmeque and played with disks and triangles made of gold. After the Spanish arrived, the game evolved into what we know today as Tejo.

The concept is simple but thrilling: players throw a heavy metal disk (called a tejo) down a lane, aiming for a small metal ring embedded in a clay target. Surrounding this ring are small triangular packets of gunpowder called mechas. When you hit them just right, they explode with a satisfying bang and a cloud of smoke. As Chris puts it: “What other game is there that you can make stuff blow up while playing?”

From Bored Restaurant Owner to Tejo Champion

Chris Cajoleas didn’t set out to become Medellin’s go-to Tejo tour guide. After selling his restaurant, he found himself with time on his hands and a need for something exciting to fill it. “I was bored after selling my restaurant,” Chris recalls. “So I went to play in Envigado with my restaurant staff for the first time.”

That first experience was fun, but it was his second visit about six months later that changed everything. “I went back with 2 other guy friends and had a blast. After I saw the Colombians playing for real, I was hooked.”

Chris explains that the competitive Tejo scene has three main formats: the Federation (which requires membership), the Open League, and the State League. Chris competes in all three, playing in other cities throughout Antioquia and traveling to other states for bigger tournaments.

The spark that ignited his tour business came quickly. “After my 3rd or 4th time playing, I really thought tourists would love it.” He was right. What started as a personal passion has become one of Medellin’s most unique and entertaining tour experiences.

But Chris didn’t just stop at guiding tours. He went all-in, joining Club de Tejo San Pio in Itagui and competing in multiple league formats across Colombia. He travels to other cities and states for tournaments, with his favorite competitions in Bucaramanga (Santander) and Fusagasuga (Cundinamarca), though the biggest tournaments happen in Puerto Bogotá (Cundinamarca) and Barbosa (Santander).

What to Expect on the Tejo Tour

Chris’s Tejo tour is available seven days a week and caters to groups ranging from intimate gatherings to large parties of 45+ people (with minimum group requirements varying by day). The experience is designed to be energetic, loud, and unforgettable.

“When everyone arrives, I give everyone a tejo (the disk) and explain the rules of the game,” Chris explains. “I teach everyone how to throw correctly, and when people are not throwing well, I pull them aside and coach them on how to do it better. I keep the games moving, and at the end I explain the history of the sport.”

family playing Tejo with Chris in Medellin

Expect two hours of high-energy fun where you’ll learn proper throwing technique, compete with your friends, hear explosions, and discover why this 500-year-old game has captivated Colombians for generations.

Chris’s Take on Tejo Culture

As both a competitive player and tour guide, Chris has a unique perspective on Tejo’s place in Colombian culture. While he’s passionate about the sport, he’s realistic about its challenges.

“The sport is great,” he says. “I feel like the owners of the real courts do not do enough to promote the sport. That is why it is dying.” He notes that while newer courts targeting locals and foreigners are making the game more popular, traditional venues aren’t doing enough for the sport’s longevity.

“Tejo does not have the best reputation in Colombia because of all the drinking that goes along with it, but I don’t get it. People drink in social gatherings. Seems simple.”

Despite the cultural challenges, Chris remains a true believer: “Tejo is the best game on the planet.”

Yet he’s candid about the disconnect he sees when asked what Tejo does for the country of Colombia: “I don’t think tejo does anything for Colombia but I don’t really think Colombia does much for tejo.” It’s a pragmatic take from someone who loves the sport enough to compete at high levels while recognizing the cultural realities on both sides.

Pro Tips for First-Time Players

Want to impress on your first throw? Chris has some insider advice for beginners:

Master the release: “The biggest tip is to let it go at your check and follow through.”
Arc it high: Throw with a high arc rather than a flat trajectory.
Stay smooth: “Whatever you do, do not speed up” your throwing motion.
Concentrate: “To be really good at it, you have to concentrate on every throw.”

But beyond technique, Chris emphasizes attitude: “A good attitude to learn something new will take you further than anything else. Come ready to have fun, embrace the learning curve, and don’t take yourself too seriously.”

The Secret Ingredient (It’s Not the Beer)

While the sport can be frustrating to perfectionists, the real magic happens when you let go, embrace the explosions, and enjoy the moment with friends.

Book Your Tejo Adventure

Cost: 50,000 pesos per person (cash only)

Minimum Group Requirements:

Monday-Friday: 6 people minimum (or 300,000 pesos minimum)
Saturday: 8 people minimum (or 400,000 pesos minimum)
Sunday: 10 people minimum (or 500,000 pesos minimum)

Smaller groups are welcome to pay the daily minimum if they prefer a private experience.

Tour Times:

Tours start as early as 11:00am
Last tour typically begins at 6:00pm
7:00pm start times available if needed
24 hours advance notice preferred

Duration: Approximately 2 hours

Whether you’re visiting Medellin for the first time or you’re a local looking for a unique experience, Chris’s Tejo Tour offers something you won’t find anywhere else. It’s part cultural immersion, part competitive sport, and part explosive entertainment.

Ready to throw some disks and make things explode? Learn the sport that’s been captivating Colombians for over 500 years, guided by someone who’s lived the journey from curious foreigner to competitive player. This isn’t just a tour, it’s an initiation into Colombia’s most explosive tradition.