Bogotá: Street Art Graffiti Walk & Political Murals Tour

Summary

Walk Bogotá’s streets with artists hear stories behind every mural

You’ll walk Bogotá’s lively streets alongside an artist-guide, hearing real stories behind political graffiti and murals. See portraits of social leaders, indigenous culture tributes, salsa clubs alive with color, plus stencils on migration and Amazon threats. Expect moments that stick with you long after—like laughter over graffiti games or silent pauses in front of powerful art.

What’s the experience like?

Colors everywhere — that’s the first thing I noticed when we met in front of the Gold Museum. Even before our guide Camilo said a word, I could smell the faint paint in the air, almost like wet concrete after rain. He waved us over, grinning, and started talking about how graffiti in Bogotá is more than just art — it’s protest, memory, sometimes even hope. I liked how he didn’t rush; he let us stand there a minute, just looking at the first mural, which was huge and honestly a bit overwhelming. There were faces I didn’t recognize but Camilo pointed out they were social leaders fighting for food sovereignty — he told us some of their stories and I swear my stomach twisted a little. Heavy stuff, but you can feel why it matters here.

We walked along narrow sidewalks past people selling arepas and kids weaving through traffic. At one stop there was this mural of an indigenous girl — her eyes so direct you almost wanted to look away. Camilo explained it was painted by two women artists from Bogotá and Lima, commissioned by the Peruvian embassy. He said something about migration and belonging, which hit differently seeing all the Venezuelan migrants nearby (one guy nodded at us as we passed). The salsa club murals were next — bright reds and blues splashed across Casa Quiebra Canto’s wall. Someone inside was tuning a trumpet and it mixed with street noise in this weirdly perfect way. We tried reading some abstract graffiti letters too; Camilo laughed when I guessed wrong (“not even close!”), but honestly half the fun was just trying.

The tallest illegal graffiti in Colombia is on this half-empty skyscraper called Torre Bakatá — seriously dizzying if you look up too long. Later we stood in front of a wall covered with stencils about Amazon deforestation; there was this sharp smell of fresh paint mixed with street food smoke drifting over from somewhere behind us. A few locals stopped to listen while Camilo talked about how these murals get made (sometimes at night, sometimes with permission — sometimes not). I liked that he knew most of the artists personally; he waved at one who biked past and they chatted briefly in Spanish before we moved on.

By the end my feet hurt but my head felt full — not just with facts but with all these faces and colors that stuck around after we left. There’s a mural near the end that shows parenting and freedom; I still think about that one when I see parents holding their kids’ hands on busy streets here. The tour finishes without fanfare — no big speech or anything — just Camilo saying thanks for listening, which felt right somehow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Bogotá's street art murals

• Meet guide at Gold Museum
• Visit mural at Procuraduría General
• See mural of indigenous girl
• View two salsa culture murals
• Witness tallest illegal graffiti
• Observe mural with indigenous portrait
• Explore three murals on art themes
• View Venezuelan migrant stencil
• See graffiti letters and characters
• Explore political posters and stencils
• Visit mural on Amazon rainforest
• Appreciate Indigenous cosmovision mural
• See mural on Comuna 13 resilience
• View stencil of Hitnu indigenous leader
• Play abstract letter reading game
• See murals of social demands
• Visit tallest wall mural in country

Top questions

Where does the Bogotá graffiti tour start?

The tour begins in front of the Gold Museum in central Bogotá.

How long is the street art walk in Bogotá?

The walking tour covers multiple stops throughout central Bogotá; exact duration depends on group pace but usually lasts several hours.

Is there an English-speaking guide for this graffiti tour?

Yes, experienced English-speaking guides lead each group.

Are political themes included in the murals?

Yes, many murals address political issues like migration, violence against social leaders, environmental threats, and cultural heritage.

Do local artists participate in this Bogotá street art tour?

The guides are often artists themselves and collaborate closely with local creators featured on the route.

Is hotel pickup included for this walking tour?

No hotel pickup is provided; guests meet at the Gold Museum starting point.

Can travelers join as individuals or only private groups?

You can join a shared group or book privately; shared tours include other travelers.

Are there stops focused on indigenous culture during the tour?

Yes, several murals highlight indigenous culture and worldviews.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting your English-speaking artist-guide outside Bogotá’s Gold Museum before setting off to explore dozens of vibrant street art locations together—no extra fees or tips required beyond what you pay upfront for shared groups—and plenty of time to ask questions or linger at each mural along the way.