Medellin: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour & Metrocable Day Trip

Summary

Stories, murals, city views and the hum of Medellin’s streets

You’ll wander barefoot through parks, ride above Medellin on the Metrocable, trace stories along Comuna 13’s graffiti walls with your local guide, taste street snacks and ice cream you’ve never heard of—and end up seeing the city (and maybe yourself) differently by sunset.

What’s the experience like?

“You see that one?” our guide Jhon pointed at a mural in Comuna 13, his voice half-lost in the music coming from a nearby speaker. I was still catching my breath from the escalators (which are honestly way more fun than I expected) when he explained how each color meant something to the neighborhood. The air smelled like mango and fried empanadas — someone handed me a tiny cup of coffee and I just stood there, grinning at nothing in particular. Medellin’s energy is hard to describe; it’s loud but friendly, chaotic but somehow gentle. The graffiti tour made me feel like I was walking through someone’s diary, all these stories painted right onto the walls.

We’d started at Barefoot Park earlier that morning — shoes off, toes digging into cool grass while kids ran around shrieking. Not what I thought “city tour” meant, but honestly? It set the mood. Plaza Botero was next: huge bronze sculptures everywhere, people posing for photos or just eating ice cream (I got one too, guanabana flavor — weirdly good). Jhon told us about Botero’s obsession with volume; I tried to sketch one statue but gave up after ten seconds because my drawing looked like a potato. The city center buzzed with vendors selling everything from arepas to phone cases, and you could hear cumbia playing somewhere behind all the chatter.

The Metrocable ride — wow. You glide over red rooftops and green hills, watching Medellin stretch out below like some living patchwork. Jhon pointed out neighborhoods and told stories about how the cable changed life here (his uncle used to walk an hour uphill before it opened). Up top, there’s this hush for a second — just wind and distant dogs barking. Then back down into Comuna 13 for more murals and laughter. We stopped by a tiny coffee museum (the smell alone…) and tasted local ice cream that melted too fast in my hand. There was this moment where everyone went quiet looking at a mural of two kids holding hands — not sure why it hit so hard.

Pueblito Paisa was our last stop: cobbled streets, whitewashed houses with bright blue doors, old men playing cards under bougainvillea. The view from up there is wild — full 360° of Medellin wrapped in green mountains. Someone played guitar nearby; I leaned on the railing eating buñuelos and just let myself feel small for a bit. So yeah… if you’re thinking about this day trip Medellin style, don’t expect perfection or silence or even much rest. But you’ll get stories you can’t forget.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Medellin city and Comuna 13 tour

• Receive general instructions
• Visit Barefoot Park
• See Plaza Botero sculptures
• Take metro city tour
• Ride Metrocable aerial transport
• Explore Comuna 13 murals and museum
• Visit Pueblito Paisa viewpoint
• Farewell at tour starting point

Top questions

How long does the Medellin Comuna 13 graffiti tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one day including stops at Barefoot Park, Plaza Botero, Metrocable ride, Comuna 13 graffiti tour, and Pueblito Paisa.

Is lunch included on this day trip in Medellin?

Yes, lunch is included as part of the day trip itinerary.

Does this tour include hotel pickup?

The tour includes transport but does not specify hotel pickup; check with provider for details.

Are guides bilingual on this Medellin city tour?

Yes, a bilingual guide is included throughout the experience.

Is this day trip suitable for families with small children?

Yes; infants can ride in prams or strollers and service animals are allowed.

What attractions are visited on this Medellin city tour?

Barefoot Park, Plaza Botero, Metrocable ride over Medellin, Comuna 13 graffiti area, coffee museum visit with ice cream tasting, Pueblito Paisa viewpoint.

Is public transportation used during the tour?

Yes; part of the experience includes using Medellin's Metro system and Metrocable.

What’s included

Your day includes transport across Medellin by metro and cable car with a bilingual local guide leading every step; entry to Barefoot Park for some literal grounding; explanations at Plaza Botero; panoramic Metrocable rides; guided walk through Comuna 13’s murals plus coffee museum visit and ice cream tasting; traditional lunch to refuel before ending at Pueblito Paisa for sweeping views—all wrapped up before heading back to your starting point.