Comuna 13 Tour in Medellín: Private Walk with a Local Guide
A private, roughly 3-hour walking tour of Comuna 13 (San Javier) led by a guide who grew up in the neighborhood. You'll see the outdoor escalators, the murals and the viewpoints, and hear the story of how the community rebuilt itself. Your booking supports Sembradores de Amor, a nonprofit in Comuna 13 that feeds 80 children and 35 elderly people every day.
Tour at a glance
| Price | 92,000 COP per person (about US$28, approximate; exchange rates vary). No minimum group size. |
|---|---|
| Duration | About 3 hours |
| Type | Private. Only your group, any size. |
| Start time | Any day, starting between 9am and 3pm. You choose the time. |
| Included | Private bilingual guide (Spanish/English) from Comuna 13, a drink or snack, the guided tour |
| Not included | Transportation to and from the meeting point (see how to get there), tips for street artists, personal purchases |
| Meeting point | A well-known public spot in Comuna 13, at the Sembradores de Amor foundation. We send the exact location after you book. |
| Cancellation | No cancellations or refunds, because your guide is reserved for you. Rescheduling may be possible with at least 7 days' notice; contact us. |
A social impact tour, run with the community
Medellin Tours is a social impact tour company. We run this tour with Marlly, founder of Sembradores de Amor, a foundation in Comuna 13 that feeds 80 children and 35 elderly people every day. Our guides come from Comuna 13. When you book directly with us, your money stays in the barrio and doesn't go to a booking platform's commission.
What you'll do: itinerary
- Meet your guide at the foundation. Start at Sembradores de Amor, the community kitchen founded by Marlly, and learn how it supports local families.
- Las Independencias and the outdoor escalators. Ride the free public escalators. Six sections climb about 384 meters up a hillside that used to take around 350 steps.
- The murals (graffitour). Your guide explains what the main murals mean and who painted them, and how art and hip-hop helped the neighborhood heal.
- Viewpoints over Medellín. Stop at hillside lookouts with views across the valley.
- Music, dance and street food. Watch street dancers and rappers, and have your included drink or snack.
Book your private Comuna 13 tour
Choose a date, your start time (between 9am and 3pm) and the number of people, then pay securely by card or PayPal. We'll email the meeting point after you book.
How to get to the meeting point
- Metro: take Line A to San Antonio station, change to Line B and ride to San Javier, the last stop. From there it's a short taxi or Uber ride, or the integrated buses 221i/225i, up to Las Independencias.
- Metrocable: the cable car isn't part of this tour. Line J leaves from San Javier station if you want to ride it on your own. A guided Metrocable ride is included in our one-day Medellín city tour and in our coffee farm tour in La Sierra.
- Uber/taxi: from El Poblado or Laureles, enter the pin we send you. Ride times vary with traffic.
Comuna 13: a short, sourced timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1940s–1960s | Families displaced by La Violencia (1948–1958), the nationwide conflict between Liberals and Conservatives, settle on Medellín's western hillsides. |
| 1990s–2002 | Urban militias, guerrillas and later paramilitaries fight over the comuna, which leaves residents caught in the middle. |
| May 2002 | Operación Mariscal, one of nearly 20 military operations carried out in the comuna. |
| 16 Oct 2002 | Operación Orión begins. More than 1,500 members of the security forces took part, and the operation lasted into early December. It is considered the largest armed operation in an urban area in Colombia's conflict, and it was followed by forced disappearances. |
| Dec 2003 | The paramilitary Bloque Cacique Nutibara, which had controlled the area after Orión, demobilizes. (CNMH, same source) |
| 3 Mar 2008 | Metrocable Line J opens, linking western Medellín to the metro. |
| Dec 2011 | The outdoor escalators open in Las Independencias: about 384 m in six sections, free to use. |
| 2010s | Hip-hop collectives and mural artists turn the escalator area into an open-air gallery, and tourism grows. |
| Dec 2024–2025 | Colombia's Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) recovers the remains of victims of forced disappearance at La Escombrera in Comuna 13. Seven had been recovered by September 2025. |
Want the full story? Read how Comuna 13 became Medellín's most colorful neighborhood and why Comuna 13 was once so dangerous. You can also see where the comuna sits on our map of Medellín's comunas and barrios.
Respecting the neighborhood
People live here. Ask before you photograph residents or children, tip the dancers and artists you watch, and buy from local vendors. Many residents lived through the violence of the early 2000s, so we focus on the community's own story rather than narco-tourism.
FAQ
Is Comuna 13 safe to visit?
The main visitor route around the escalators is busy, has a police presence and is generally safe during the day, especially with a local guide. The real risk is pickpocketing in crowds, so keep your phone and wallet in front pockets. Like other parts of Medellín, it's best visited in daylight, and we don't recommend wandering side streets alone.
How much does the Comuna 13 tour cost?
92,000 COP per person (about US$28, approximate), for a private tour with no minimum group size.
How long is the tour?
About 3 hours.
What time does it start?
Every tour is private, so you pick the start time. Tours can start any time between 9am and 3pm.
Is transportation included?
No. You make your own way to the meeting point by metro (San Javier station), taxi or Uber. We send the exact location after you book.
What's included?
A private bilingual guide (Spanish/English) from Comuna 13, a drink or snack, and the guided tour.
Who are the guides?
Our guides were born and raised in Comuna 13. We run the tour with Marlly, founder of Sembradores de Amor, a foundation that feeds 80 children and 35 elderly people every day.
How big can my group be?
There's no limit. The tour is private for your group, whatever its size.
Can I cancel or get a refund?
No. Guides are reserved for your group, so bookings can't be cancelled or refunded. With at least 7 days' notice, we may be able to move your tour to another date.
When is the best time to go?
Weekday mornings are usually quieter. Medellín often gets afternoon rain, so bring a light rain jacket and comfortable shoes for the slopes and stairs.
More tours from Medellin Tours
- One-day Medellín city tour (includes the Metrocable)
- Guatapé tours from Medellín
- Private van rentals and group transport