Private Medellín City Tour: Comuna 13, Metrocable & History
A full-day private Medellín city tour with your own vehicle and a bilingual guide from Comuna 13. Over about 8–9 hours you'll walk Comuna 13 with Sembradores de Amor, ride the Metro and Metrocable, and see downtown: Parque San Antonio, Parque Berrío and Plaza Botero. You'll also taste Colombian fruit at Mercado del Río, visit the Museo Casa de la Memoria, and hear the history of Pablo Escobar's violence from the victims' side at Parque Inflexión.
Tour at a glance
| Price (per group, private) | 1–3 people: 1,200,000 COP (sedan) 4–8 people: 1,800,000 COP (van) 9–12 people: 2,400,000 COP (larger van) 13–16 people: 3,100,000 COP (larger van) Price is per group, not per person. Solo travelers are welcome. A 3.5% card/PayPal processing fee is added at checkout, and the US dollar amount is shown at the day's exchange rate. |
|---|---|
| Duration | Full day, about 8–9 hours |
| Start time | Private and flexible: start any time between 7am and 11am, 7 days a week |
| Pickup | Your hotel or Airbnb anywhere in Medellín, with drop-off at the end of the day. You can add an airport run to José María Córdova (MDE) for an extra 195,000 COP in a sedan (1–3 people) or 340,000 COP in a van (4–8 people). For 9 or more people, the airport add-on is quoted. |
| Included | Private guide and transportation all day · Metrocable ride · fruit tasting at Mercado del Río · Museo Casa de la Memoria · downtown city tour including Plaza Botero · Comuna 13 walk with Sembradores de Amor · Pablo Escobar history at Parque Inflexión |
| Not included | Meals and drinks (your guide picks a lunch spot with Colombian, vegetarian and vegan options) |
| Guides | Sembradores de Amor guides, born and raised in Comuna 13, lead the whole day in English, Spanish or French |
| Walking | Moderate. Comuna 13 has steep streets and many steps (outdoor escalators help); the rest is short walks between the vehicle and the stops. |
| Cancellation | No cancellations or refunds, because your guide and vehicle are reserved for you. You can reschedule with at least 7 days' notice. |
A city tour that gives back
We're a social impact tour company. Your guides come from Sembradores de Amor, the Comuna 13 foundation founded by Marlly that feeds 80 children and 35 elderly people every day, and a large part of every booking goes to the foundation. You'll meet the people your tour supports. If you only have a few hours, book our Comuna 13 tour instead.
Your day, step by step (example with a 9am start)
The stops always run in this order. Times are an example only: your private tour can start any time between 7am and 11am and your guide adjusts the pace to your group.
Your private guide and driver pick you up at your hotel or Airbnb anywhere in Medellín: in a sedan for up to 3 people, or a van for 4–16.
A local guide walks you through Comuna 13: the murals, the outdoor escalators (opened December 2011), the viewpoints, hip-hop and dance. You'll also hear how the neighborhood went from the 2002 military operations to one of Medellín's best-known symbols of change. You'll visit Sembradores de Amor, where the daily meals are cooked. More about Comuna 13 · Comuna 13 guide (Medellín's official tourism site).
On 10 June 1995 a bomb placed at the base of Fernando Botero's bronze Pájaro (Bird) exploded during a concert, killing 23 people and injuring more than 200. Botero asked that the broken sculpture stay as a memorial and in 2000 gave the city a second bird, the "Pájaro de la Paz", placed beside it.
Parque Berrío was the original main square of Medellín. On its east side is La Candelaria, the city's first parish, on the site of a chapel from 1649. The current building was finished in 1776, served as the cathedral from 1868 to 1931, and is a national monument. Locals dance here most days, and you're welcome to join in for a salsa step or two. A short walk away, Plaza Botero holds 23 of Botero's monumental bronzes donated to his home city, outside the Museo de Antioquia.
You'll ride Medellín's Metro and a Metrocable gondola up the hillside (another line, Line H, takes you to La Sierra on our coffee farm tour). Medellín's Line K, opened on 7 August 2004, was the world's first cable car built as everyday urban mass transit. Your fare is included. For reference, a single trip in 2026 costs 3,820 COP with a personalized Cívica card or 4,400 COP without one, and the cable lines connect to the Metro at no extra charge.
Walk Paseo Junín, a pedestrian street in the old downtown shopping district, then stop for lunch at a local restaurant with Colombian, Western, vegetarian and vegan options. Your guide explains tipping, prices and daily life. Meals and drinks are not included in the tour price.
Medellín's memory museum, created in 2006 out of the city's victims' assistance program, tells the story of the armed conflict and its victims: guerrillas, paramilitaries, the drug cartels and the State. Entry is free. The museum is closed on Mondays, and on Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday. On those days this stop is skipped; nothing replaces it.
Try fruits you won't find at home, from granadilla and lulo to maracuyá, at Mercado del Río, Medellín's big food market in Ciudad del Río.
The last stop is the site of the Mónaco building, Escobar's home in El Poblado. The city demolished it on 22 February 2019 and on 20 December 2019 opened Parque Memorial Inflexión, which honours the 46,612 victims of narco-terrorism between 1983 and 1994. See how we talk about Escobar.
Back to your hotel or Airbnb, or on to the airport if you added an airport run.
How we talk about Pablo Escobar
Most visitors ask about Escobar, and we answer honestly. But this isn't a "narco tour". We don't sell Escobar souvenirs, pose for selfies with his image, or tell the Robin Hood myth. Our guides grew up in Comuna 13 and lived through the violence that followed. They explain how the cocaine trade, the Medellín cartel and the State's response shaped the city, and who paid the price. That's why the day ends at a memorial built on the ruins of his home, not at a tourist attraction.
- Parque Inflexión (site of the Mónaco building): a memorial to 46,612 victims of narco-terrorism, 1983–1994.
- Museo Casa de la Memoria: the wider story of Colombia's armed conflict, told through victims' voices.
- Parque San Antonio: the 1995 bombing happened after Escobar's death in 1993. Medellín's violence didn't end with one man.
Read more: Who killed Pablo Escobar? · The ethics of Escobar tourism · Narco history of Medellín
Price per group
| Group size | Vehicle | Price (COP, per group) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 people | Sedan | 1,200,000 |
| 4–8 people | Van | 1,800,000 |
| 9–12 people | Larger van | 2,400,000 |
| 13–16 people | Larger van | 3,100,000 |
| Airport run add-on | Sedan (1–3) / van (4–8) | +195,000 / +340,000 (9+ people: quoted) |
A 3.5% payment processing fee is added at checkout. Prices are charged in US dollars at the day's exchange rate, which is shown before you pay. Groups larger than 16 people: contact us.
Private vs shared vs doing it yourself
| This private tour | Typical shared city tour | DIY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who's in the group | Only your group | 15–30 strangers | Just you |
| Pickup | Your door, any time 7–11am | Fixed meeting point, around 8am | Metro, taxi or Uber |
| Comuna 13 | Local guide from Sembradores de Amor | Often not included, or a short stop | On your own, or book a separate tour |
| Escobar history | Victim-centred, with sources | Varies | - |
| Language | English, Spanish or French | Usually bilingual on one bus | - |
| Where the money goes | Large share to a community nonprofit | The operator | - |
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light rain jacket, sunscreen and some cash for lunch and tips.
- Mondays: Museo Casa de la Memoria is closed (and on Tuesday after a holiday Monday), so the tour skips it on those days; check hours.
- Kids: welcome. Baby seats can be rented.
- Safety: you're with a local guide all day. Like any big city, keep phones out of sight in crowded downtown areas.
- More on the city: Medellín city guide (Colombia Travel) · History of Medellín
Meet Marlly, founder of Sembradores de Amor
Photos from the tour
Medellín city tour FAQ
What's included in the Medellín city tour?
Private guide and transportation all day, a Metrocable ride, fruit tasting at Mercado del Río, Museo Casa de la Memoria, a downtown tour including Plaza Botero, Comuna 13 with Sembradores de Amor, and Pablo Escobar history at Parque Inflexión. Meals and drinks are not included.
How much does the tour cost?
Per group: 1–3 people 1,200,000 COP; 4–8 people 1,800,000 COP; 9–12 people 2,400,000 COP; 13–16 people 3,100,000 COP. A 3.5% payment fee is added at checkout.
Can I book alone?
Yes. One person pays the 1–3 people price and gets a private sedan and guide.
Are meals included?
No. Meals and drinks are not included. Your guide picks a lunch spot downtown with Colombian, vegetarian and vegan options.
Is the Metrocable fare included?
Yes, your Metro and Metrocable ride is included.
What time does the tour start?
It's private, so you choose any start time between 7am and 11am. The full day takes about 8–9 hours.
Where do you pick us up?
At your hotel or Airbnb anywhere in Medellín. Adding an airport run (MDE) costs 195,000 COP in a sedan (1–3 people) or 340,000 COP in a van (4–8 people); for 9 or more people it's quoted.
Who are the guides and what languages do they speak?
Guides from Sembradores de Amor, born and raised in Comuna 13, lead the whole day in English, Spanish or French.
Is this a Pablo Escobar tour?
It includes Escobar's history, told from the victims' side, at Parque Inflexión (the former Mónaco building site) and the Museo Casa de la Memoria. We don't glorify him.
Is the Casa de la Memoria open every day?
No. It's closed on Mondays, and on Tuesday when Monday is a holiday. Entry is free on the days it's open. The tour still runs 7 days a week; on days the museum is closed we simply skip it, and nothing replaces it.
How much walking is there?
Moderate. Comuna 13 is hilly with many steps; the rest of the day is short walks.
Is Medellín safe for this tour?
You're with a local guide and private driver all day. Take normal big-city precautions with phones and bags downtown.
Can large groups book?
Yes, up to 16 people in a larger van. For bigger groups, contact us.
What is the cancellation policy?
No cancellations or refunds, because your guide and vehicle are reserved for you. You can reschedule with at least 7 days' notice.
Do you have baby or child seats?
Yes, see our baby seat rental page.
¿Qué incluye el city tour por Medellín?
Guía y transporte privados todo el día, Metrocable, degustación de frutas en el Mercado del Río, Museo Casa de la Memoria, centro con Plaza Botero, Comuna 13 con Sembradores de Amor y la historia de Pablo Escobar contada desde las víctimas en el Parque Inflexión. No incluye comidas ni bebidas.
Book your private Medellín city tour
Choose your date, start time, group size and guide language, then pay by card or PayPal.