Medellin: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour, Fruit Tasting & Cable Car

Summary

Street art stories, cable car views and fruit you’ve never tasted in Medellin

You’ll walk Medellin’s Comuna 13 with a local guide who shares street art stories and neighborhood history, taste rare Colombian fruits at a real market, and ride the city’s cable car above colorful rooftops. Expect honest conversations about Medellin’s past—and moments that stick with you long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

"You ever tried lulo before?" That’s what our guide, Andrés, asked as we stopped at a tiny stall in Comuna 13. I hadn’t even heard of half the fruit names he rattled off. The morning started with us winding through streets covered in graffiti—some wild bursts of color, some almost hidden unless you really looked. Andrés would pause every so often to tell us who painted what, or why there was a hummingbird tucked into the corner of a mural. Kids played on the steps nearby. It was humid but not too hot, and the smell of frying empanadas drifted out from somewhere close. I’m still thinking about that first bite—crispy outside, soft inside, just salty enough.

We took those famous outdoor escalators up the steep hill (which honestly felt surreal—escalators outside?), passing people chatting or selling snacks on the landings. At one point, an old woman smiled and waved at us; Andrés said she’d lived here since before things changed for the better. He didn’t sugarcoat anything—he talked about the violence that used to grip this place and how street art became a way for people to reclaim their walls. The view from up top is something else: houses stacked like Lego bricks, mountains behind them, city stretching out below. I tried to take it all in but there’s just so much color everywhere you look.

The cable car ride was quieter than I expected—just a soft hum as we glided over rooftops and green patches between houses. Andrés pointed out which neighborhoods had been built by families displaced by conflict; you could see laundry flapping on lines and kids waving up at us. He explained how this system changed daily life for thousands here—suddenly people could get to work or school without climbing endless stairs. Kind of makes you rethink public transport back home.

Afterwards we hit a local market—not touristy at all—and lined up slices of guanabana, maracuyá, feijoa… I lost count after six or seven fruits. Some were sweet and sticky; others almost sour enough to make my eyes water (I made a face and Andrés laughed). He told me how Colombia grows more types of fruit than anywhere else per square meter—I believe it now. We finished sticky-fingered and happy before heading back to our hotel with way more photos than I meant to take. Still can’t pronounce half those fruit names right.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Comuna 13 tour and fruit tasting

• Walk Comuna 13 graffiti district
• Try traditional Colombian snacks
• Visit viewpoint and graffiti pathway
• Ride cable car over hillside houses
• Learn about Medellin's social history
• Taste exotic Colombian fruits
• Return to drop-off location

Top questions

How long does the Comuna 13 graffiti tour last?

The tour is a half-day experience including walking Comuna 13, the cable car ride, and fruit tasting stops.

Is hotel pickup included for this Medellin tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.

Will we try Colombian street food during the tour?

Yes, traditional snacks like empanadas are offered during your walk through Comuna 13.

What makes the cable car ride special?

The cable car offers views over Medellin’s neighborhoods built by displaced families and shows how public transport transformed daily life here.

How many different fruits do we taste on this tour?

You’ll taste at least ten exotic Colombian fruits at a local market stand.

Is this tour private or shared?

This is a private tour led by your own local guide.

Are there any fitness requirements?

You should have moderate physical fitness as there is walking involved in hilly areas.

Can pregnant travelers join this tour?

This tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to walking and terrain.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Medellin, guided walks through Comuna 13’s graffiti-covered streets with personal stories from your local guide, light refreshments along the way including traditional snacks like empanadas plus an exotic fruit tasting session at a non-touristy market stand—all before returning comfortably by car wherever you want in town.