Medellin: Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour & Street Art Stories

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/12

Duration3h

LanguagesEN · ES

Mobile ticketAccepted

Street art, local stories and hillside views in Medellin’s Comuna 13

You’ll walk through Comuna 13 in Medellin with a local guide who shares real stories behind its street art and transformation. See murals up close, watch dancers perform, ride outdoor escalators for hillside views, and sample local snacks like pandebono and maracumango ice cream. If you want something honest and lively — not just another sightseeing loop — this tour leaves an impression.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore history and art in Comuna 13

Meet at San Javier station entrance
Visit StarShakes cafe and coworking
See the famous court in Medellin
Enjoy dance show and escalators
Explore art galleries and viewpoints

The Experience

I’ll be honest — I was a bit nervous stepping out at San Javier station. Everyone talks about Comuna 13 like it’s just graffiti and Instagram, but there’s this edge to the place you feel right away. Our guide, Leandro, grinned when he saw my hesitation. “It’s not what you expect,” he promised. He was right. The first thing that hit me wasn’t fear, but the sound — music leaking out of alleyways, kids laughing somewhere above us on those steep stairs. The air smelled like fried dough and something sweet I couldn’t place at first (turned out it was maracumango ice cream — more on that in a sec).

We started the day at StarShakes, which is apparently part café, part coworking spot. It felt way more relaxed than I expected for a launching point into a neighborhood with such a reputation. Leandro told us about Operation Orion and the years when Comuna 13 was basically cut off from the rest of Medellin. He didn’t sugarcoat anything — he pointed out places where things had happened, but always came back to how people here turned all that pain into art. Some murals were so bright they almost hurt my eyes in the morning sun; others were just quiet faces staring back at you from broken walls.

I tried to keep up as we wound through narrow streets past galleries and courts where teenagers practiced dance moves that made my knees ache just watching them. There was this one moment — an older woman selling pandebono on a corner handed me one without saying much, just smiled like she knew I needed it (she was right). We stopped for a quick rap show; honestly I caught maybe half the words but the energy was contagious. At some point Leandro laughed at my attempt to pronounce “bandeja paisa” correctly… let’s just say I’m still working on my accent.

The escalators were wild — open-air rides up the hillside with city views that made me stop talking for once. I kept thinking about how different this day trip to Comuna 13 felt compared to every other “walking tour” I’ve done; there’s something raw here but also hopeful, if that makes sense? By the time we circled back for coffee and souvenirs (and yes, more ice cream), I realized I’d stopped feeling nervous hours ago. Still think about those murals sometimes when things get too quiet at home.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation from San Javier metro station through Comuna 13 with your local guide Leandro.
stops at StarShakes café for coffee and healthy drinks.
visits to famous courts, vibrant street murals and galleries.
live dance or rap performances.
rides on outdoor escalators.
plus local snacks like pandebono bread and maracumango ice cream before heading back down into Medellin.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by World Lion Graffiti Tour Comuna 13