Planning a trip to Medellín? Keep reading, because in this blog we’re sharing our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour and our honest review of one of the most memorable experiences we had during our time in Colombia.
Back in May 2025, we had the chance to visit Colombia. After spending a few days in Bogotá, we had to decide between heading to San Andrés for the beaches or visiting Medellín instead. After talking with our neighbor Andrea, who is from Colombia, and doing some research of our own, we quickly fell in love with the idea of discovering Medellín, famously known as “La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera” — the City of Eternal Spring.
As we planned our time there, one place kept coming up again and again: Comuna 13. Once known for its difficult past, this neighbourhood has become one of Medellín’s most vibrant and talked-about areas, filled with street art, music, color, and powerful stories of transformation.
As a Brazilian, Eli understands that neighbourhoods with a tough reputation can be misunderstood from the outside. We’ve heard similar comments about favelas in Brazil too, and Andrea told us that Comuna 13 had its own story, history, and evolution. That made us even more curious to experience it for ourselves.
Almost by mistake, we ended up booking a walking tour in Medellín that turned out to be one of the most fun, eye-opening, and unforgettable days of our Colombia trip.
So, is the Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour really worth it — and what should you expect before you go? Keep reading, because we’re sharing everything you need to know.
Are you more visual?
Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Join us on our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour, a walking tour that was unlike anything we had experienced before.
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How to Get to Medellín, Colombia (Our Experience + Tips)
Before we dive into our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour, let’s start with a few helpful tips on how to get to Medellín based on our own experience and some research we did while planning this trip.
✈️ Our Tip: Flying from Bogotá to Medellín (Fast & Easy)
If you’re already in Bogotá, one of the easiest ways to reach Medellín is by plane.
That’s exactly what we did — and honestly, it was one of the most convenient options.
Our experience:
- We booked our flight using Kiwi.com (which we also recommend checking 👇)
- We flew from Bogotá (BOG) to El Dorado International Airport to Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH)
- Airline: Clic Air
👉 The airplane was smaller than what we’re used to — and I (Eli 😅) was a bit nervous at first — but everything went smoothly, the flight was on time, and overall a great experience.
💡 Important Tip About Luggage
In our case, we actually had 1 checked bag included per person on our flight from Bogotá to Medellín, along with a cabin bag.
However, this can vary depending on the airline and ticket you choose — so it’s always important to double-check baggage details at the time of booking.
Even with luggage included, if you’re planning a short trip to Medellín, you might still consider traveling lighter.
👉 This can:
- make your trip easier
- save time at the airport
- be more convenient on smaller planes
We personally kept things simple for this short trip — and it made moving around much easier.
🚌 Other Ways to Get to Medellín
If flying isn’t your thing, you still have great options 👇
🚌 By Bus (Budget-Friendly Option)
- Popular with travelers coming from places like Cartagena or Bogotá
- More affordable than flying
- Great way to see the Colombian landscape
⚠️ But keep in mind:
- Bogotá → Medellín: ~9 to 11 hours
- Cartagena → Medellín: ~12+ hours
👉 Best for:
- budget travelers
- slow travel lovers
- those comfortable with long journeys
👉 Want to compare routes and prices? You can check bus options here:
https://discoveringdestinations.com/busbud-colombia
🚗 By Car (More Flexibility)
If you love a road trip and have the time, this can be a great option.
Driving in Colombia gives you the freedom to explore beyond the main cities and discover places you wouldn’t normally stop at.
- Full flexibility with your schedule
- Opportunity to explore smaller towns and viewpoints
- Great for a more adventurous travel style
⚠️ However:
- Mountain roads can be challenging
- Driving style and traffic may feel different
- Travel times can be longer than expected
Quick Tip:
- ✈️ Short on time? Fly
- 🚌 On a budget? Take the bus
- 🚗 Want flexibility? Rent a car
👉 If you’re planning a Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour, try to arrive early in the day for a smoother experience.
How We Booked Our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia Tour
When planning our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour, we wanted something easy, reliable, and well-reviewed — especially since it was our first time visiting the area.
Our First Tip: Book Your Tour in Advance
We ended up booking our experience through GetYourGuide, and honestly, it made everything much simpler.
👍 Why we chose it:
- Clear tour description (what’s included, duration, meeting point)
- Verified reviews from other travelers
- Instant confirmation — no stress or guesswork
- Easy access to tickets directly on your phone
👉 For us, this removed a lot of uncertainty and allowed us to just enjoy the experience.
📍 Tour Details (Based on Our Experience)
Here’s a quick overview of what our tour included:
- 🎨 Guided visit through Comuna 13 (small group — which we really liked)
- 🚇 Transportation included: Metro, cable car, and local bus (round trip)
- 🧑🏫 Local guide sharing history + transformation stories (we loved Natalia, our guide!)
- 🚡 Amazing views from the cable car
- ☕️ Coffee stop with a tasting + introduction to Colombian coffee culture
- 🍺 Street food tasting along the way, plus a beer at the top
- 📸 Plenty of time for photos, with a relaxed pace (no rushing)
- ⏱️ Duration: ~4 hours
👉 It was a great mix of culture, history, and fun — not just a typical tourist stop.”
📍 Meeting Point Tip
The tour started at the Medellín Metro station in El Poblado.
💡 Our advice:
- Arrive 10–15 minutes early
- We walked from our hotel, but if you’re driving or taking an Uber, give yourself extra time in case of traffic
- Look for your guide near the meeting point mentioned in your booking
- 📱 We received a WhatsApp message from the guide, which made it easy to stay in touch
Pro tip: When traveling in Colombia, we used an eSIM to stay connected. We personally use Holafly for its unlimited data, which makes it incredibly easy to navigate, update maps, book transport, and add new places on the fly — without worrying about roaming charges.
Stay Connected Wherever You Travel
We’ve used Holafly eSIM in Colombia and other destinations, and it gave us reliable coverage with no roaming surprises. It helped us check transport, stay in touch with family, and share our journey as we traveled.
👉 Use our discount code DISCOVERINGDESTINATIONS
Enjoy 5% off any Holafly plan, for any destination, on your next purchase.
💰 Want to Check This Tour?
If you’re considering doing a Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour, this is the same experience we booked:
(Note: This is an affiliate link — at no extra cost to you — and it helps support our content 🙏. It’s also the exact tour we did.)
🌟 Our Honest Take
We didn’t overthink it when booking — and in the end, that turned out to be the right decision.
👉 Having a guide made a big difference:
- We understood the history behind the murals
- We felt more comfortable and safe exploring the area
- We discovered spots we would have missed on our own
- We met really cool people from different countries
- We loved our time with Natalia — a knowledgeable and friendly guide
👉 And honestly, considering everything included — transportation, snacks, beer, and the overall experience — we found it to be great value for the price.
✨ Quick Tip Before You Book
- Choose a morning or early afternoon slot (better light + energy)
- Check what’s included (some tours vary slightly)
- Read recent reviews to match your expectations
Is Comuna 13 Medellín Safe to Visit?
If you’re planning a Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour, chances are this question has crossed your mind — it definitely crossed ours.
Before visiting Comuna 13, we had heard mixed things. Some people still associate the area with its past, while others describe it as one of the most vibrant places in Medellín today.
So… what’s the reality?
Our Honest Experience
We believe that if we had visited on our own, we might have felt a bit lost and unsure at times. However, since we chose to do a Comuna 13 walking tour, we felt completely safe throughout the entire experience.
From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere felt:
- Lively
- Welcoming
- Full of locals, tourists, artists, and families
Our guide, Natalia, was always attentive and made sure everyone stayed together — without rushing the experience. She also shared her WhatsApp number with us in case anyone got separated, which made us feel even more comfortable and supported throughout the tour.
There was music, street performances, and people simply enjoying the area… which was not at all what we had imagined before coming.
👉 In the end, it felt much more like a vibrant cultural space than anything else.is said, we had lots of fun and we didn’t feel unsafe during the tour from beginning to the end.
Pro tip: When traveling in Colombia, we used an eSIM to stay connected. We personally use Holafly for its unlimited data, which makes it incredibly easy to navigate, update maps, book transport, and add new places on the fly — without worrying about roaming charges.
Stay Connected Wherever You Travel
We’ve used Holafly eSIM in Colombia and other destinations, and it gave us reliable coverage with no roaming surprises. It helped us check transport, stay in touch with family, and share our journey as we traveled.
👉 Use our discount code DISCOVERINGDESTINATIONS
Enjoy 5% off any Holafly plan, for any destination, on your next purchase.
🎨 A Neighbourhood That Transformed
Comuna 13 has a complex history. Years ago, it was considered one of the most dangerous areas in Medellín.
During our tour, our guide Natalia explained that this was mainly due to the presence of different armed groups and the challenges the community faced at the time.
👉 Hearing this directly from a local guide made the experience much more real and meaningful for us.
However, over the years, Comuna 13 has gone through an incredible transformation driven by:
- Community-led projects
- Urban development (like the outdoor escalators)
- Art, music, and culture
👉 Today, it stands as a symbol of resilience, creativity, and positive change.
🧭🤝 Why Visiting with a Tour Helps
One of the reasons we felt comfortable was because we visited with a guide.
Booking a Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour gave us:
- Context behind what we were seeing
- Access to the right areas
- A smoother and more organized experience
It also helped us better understand the stories behind the murals, which we would have completely missed on our own.
But beyond that, there’s something even more meaningful.
👉 According to our guide Natalia, tourism has played an important role in supporting the local community.
- It creates opportunities for locals to work within their own neighborhood
- It encourages younger generations to learn new skills, like foreign languages
- It helps promote education, culture, and pride in their community
👉 Knowing this made the experience even more special — because visiting Comuna 13 isn’t just about exploring, it’s also about supporting a positive transformation.
🇧🇷 A Personal Perspective
As a Brazilian, I (Eli) am familiar with how neighbourhoods like favelas are often perceived from the outside. And just like in Brazil, we realized that the reality on the ground in Comuna 13 was very different from what we initially expected.
👉 That said, we always like to stay prepared when traveling — if you’re interested, we’ve shared the safety and travel essentials we personally use in our trips here:
https://discoveringdestinations.com/travel-essentials-stay-prepared-for-stress-free-travel/
⚠️ Important Tips to Stay Safe
Even though we had a great experience, it’s always good to be mindful:
- Go during the daytime
- Stick to main tourist areas
- Avoid wandering alone into unknown streets
- Keep your belongings secure (basic travel awareness)
- Consider going with a guided tour, especially if it’s your first time
Our Final Take
👉 Yes — Comuna 13 is safe to visit when done the right way
For us, it turned out to be:
- One of the highlights of our Colombia trip
- A place full of life, color, and powerful stories
- An experience we would absolutely recommend
💬 Real Talk (Great transition to next section)
If safety is your main concern before booking a Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour, we completely get it — we felt the same way.
But after experiencing it ourselves, we can say:
👉 This is not just a safe visit — it’s a meaningful one.
What to Expect on the Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia Tour (Step-by-Step)
If you’re wondering what a Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour actually feels like — here’s exactly how our day unfolded.
👉 And trust us… it’s more than just a walk.
🚇 1. Meeting Point in El Poblado
Our day started in El Poblado, one of the most popular areas in Medellín.
We met our guide right outside the metro station — easy to find, organized, and already a great first impression.
💡 Tip:
Arrive early and take a moment to observe your surroundings. This is where the experience begins — not just the tour, but the local rhythm of the city.
🚡 2. Metro + Cable Car Ride (A Different Perspective)
Before reaching Comuna 13, we took public transportation — and honestly, this was one of the coolest parts.
- 🚇 Metro ride through the city
- 🚡 Cable car above the neighborhoods
- 🌄 Incredible views of Medellín from above
👉 This gave us a whole new perspective of the city — something we wouldn’t have experienced on our own.
Best part, all tickets were included in the price of the tour, amazing deal!
☕️ 3. Coffee Experience & Colombian Culture
After the cable car ride, we made a stop for a coffee experience — and this was such a nice surprise.
We had the chance to:
- Learn a bit about Colombian coffee culture
- Taste local coffee
- Take a short break before continuing the tour
👉 It was a simple moment, but it really added to the experience and helped us connect with the local culture.
🎨 4. First Steps into Comuna 13
As soon as we started walking through Comuna 13, the energy changed.
Music, colors, murals, people — everything felt alive.
You quickly realize that Comuna 13 is not just a place… it’s a story being told on every wall.
🧑🏫 5. Stories Behind the Graffiti
This is where having a guide makes ALL the difference.
Instead of just looking at art, we started understanding:
- The meaning behind the murals
- The history of the neighborhood
- The transformation over the years
👉 Without a guide, we would have missed most of what makes this place special.
🎭 6. Street Performances & Local Energy
At different points during the tour, we came across:
- Breakdancers
- Local performers
- Artists sharing their work
And this is where the vibe really hits.
💡 It’s not staged — it feels real, raw, and full of life.
🛗 7. The Famous Outdoor Escalators
One of the most iconic parts of Comuna 13 is its outdoor escalator system.
- Built to improve mobility for locals
- A symbol of urban transformation
- Also… a great break from walking 😅
👉 As you go up, the views just keep getting better.
🍺 8. Street Food Stop (Don’t Skip This)
At some point during the tour, we stopped to try some local snacks — and this was definitely a memorable part of the experience.
We got to try:
- 🐜 Hormigas culonas (giant ants!) — a traditional local delicacy
- 🍺 A cold beer at the top
- 🥨 Other small local bites along the way
👉 Yes… the ants were unexpected 😅 but it’s part of the culture, and honestly, that’s what made it fun and different.
💡 These little stops are not just about food — they’re part of the local experience and help you connect more with the place.
👋 9. Connecting with Locals
One of the things we didn’t expect was how welcoming people were.
Smiles, conversations, small interactions — it all made the experience feel more human.
🎥 Comuna 13 – Want to See It for Yourself?
If you’re more visual (like us 👀), we filmed the entire experience so you can see exactly what it’s like:
👉 Watch our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour vlog here
🎒 Comuna 13 Travel Essentials (What to Bring)
If you’re planning your Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour, having the right essentials can make your experience much more comfortable — especially with the walking, sun, and vibrant streets.
Here’s what we recommend based on our own experience:
Must-Have Items
- Comfortable walking shoes
You’ll be walking a lot (and going up escalators), so good shoes are a must. - Sunscreen
Medellín’s weather is mild, but the sun can still be strong — especially mid-day. - Hat or cap
Helps a lot with sun exposure while exploring. - Reusable water bottle
Stay hydrated during the tour.
📸 For Capturing the Experience
- Smartphone or camera
You’ll want photos — trust us. - GoPro or action camera (optional)
Great for capturing movement and immersive moments.
Safety & Comfort
- Small backpack or crossbody bag
Keep it light and secure. - Some cash (small bills)
Useful for street food or tips. - Sunglasses
Not essential, but very helpful.
Final Tip
👉 Keep it simple.
You don’t need much to enjoy a Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour — just the basics and a good mindset to explore.
⭐ Is the Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia Tour Worth It?
If you’re still wondering whether a Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour is worth adding to your itinerary — here’s our honest answer:
👉 Yes. 100%.
But let us explain why.
Our Honest Verdict
Before visiting Comuna 13, we weren’t sure what to expect.
We had questions like:
- Is it safe?
- Is it just a tourist attraction?
- Is it really worth the time?
After experiencing it ourselves, this tour turned out to be:
- One of the highlights of our trip to Medellín
- A powerful cultural experience, not just sightseeing
- A place that completely changed our perspective
What Makes It Worth It
This isn’t just about seeing colorful walls.
It’s about:
- Understanding the stories behind the graffiti
- Learning from locals who share real experiences
- Feeling the energy of music, dance, and community
- Seeing a neighborhood that represents transformation and resilience
👉 Without a guide, we would have missed most of that.
Is It Worth Booking a Tour?
👉 In our opinion: Yes — especially for your first visit
A guided Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour helps you:
- Navigate the area with confidence
- Learn the meaning behind what you see
- Experience more than just the surface
💰 Would We Book It Again?
👉 Absolutely.
And if we had to do it again, we would:
- Still choose a guided tour
- Still book in advance
- Still make it a priority in our Medellín itinerary
🎥 Want to See It Before You Decide?
If you’re still unsure, watching the experience can help a lot:
👉 Watch our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour vlog here
✨ Final Thoughts on Our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia Tour
Our Comuna 13 Medellín Colombia tour turned out to be so much more than we expected.
What started as a simple activity quickly became one of the most meaningful experiences of our trip — full of color, stories, and real human connection.
Medellín, known as the City of Eternal Spring, surprised us in many ways… but Comuna 13 is where we truly felt its energy, resilience, and transformation.
👉 If you’re planning your trip, we highly recommend adding this experience to your itinerary.
And if you’re still unsure — take a chance on it.
Sometimes, the places you’re most curious (or unsure) about… end up being the ones you remember the most.
