Comuna 13 went from being Medellin's hardest-hit neighbourhood to the world's best-known symbol of its transformation. Today its alleyways are an open-air art gallery visited by people from all over the planet, and its outdoor escalators are studied by urban planners worldwide. With MOVE you arrive by electric bike and walk the neighbourhood with a local guide who tells you what the walls can't say on their own.
What to see & do
1. Street art and murals
The murals of Comuna 13 aren't decoration: they're memory. Every wall says something — displacement, the mothers who searched for their children, the celebration of having survived. They're painted by artists from the neighbourhood itself and constantly repainted, so nobody sees the same gallery twice.
2. The outdoor escalators
Around 384 metres of open-air escalators in six sections, opened in 2011. Reaching the upper part of the neighbourhood used to mean hundreds of steps and about twenty minutes uphill; today it takes roughly six minutes. They were built for residents, not for tourism, and that detail is exactly what made them famous.
3. The viewpoints
From the escalator landings and several terraces the whole Aburra Valley opens up. It is one of the best places in Medellin to understand the shape of the city: how it climbs the hillsides, where the centre lies, where the river runs.
4. Music and living culture
Hip hop and breakdancing here aren't a show staged for tourists: they were an entire generation's way out during the neighbourhood's hardest years. There are impromptu performances most afternoons and rappers selling their own music in the street.
5. Eating and shopping in the neighbourhood
Green mango with salt and lime, fruit ice lollies, fresh juices and the residents' craft stalls. Buying here is the most direct way of making sure tourist money stays in the neighbourhood rather than leaving it.
Our tours to this place
Comuna 13 is included in our Full Tour (7 hours): you also visit Plaza Botero, downtown, Pueblito Paisa and a local market — all by e-bike, private, with a local guide. Short on time or unsure? WhatsApp us and we'll plan it with you.
Related tours
Practical info
- Getting there on your own: metro line B to San Javier station, then a feeder bus or about fifteen minutes walking uphill.
- When to go: weekdays and mornings are noticeably quieter. In the rainy season it usually rains in the late afternoon, so going early is wise.
- How long to allow: two to three hours if you want to take it slowly, stop in front of the murals and grab something to eat.
- What to bring: sunscreen, a hat, water and some cash, as many small stalls don't take cards. Comfortable shoes: there is a fair amount of walking, and it is uphill.
- Safety: by day this is one of the busiest and most patrolled areas in Medellin. The precautions are those of any crowded place: don't leave your phone on display and stay with your group.
- Entry: there is nothing to pay. It's a neighbourhood, not a venue, and the escalators are free public transport.
Frequently asked questions
Is Comuna 13 safe?
By day, yes. It's one of the most visited areas in the city and there's a permanent police presence. The precautions are the usual ones for any crowded place: don't display valuables and stay with your group.
Is the tour by bike or on foot?
You arrive by electric bike and the neighbourhood itself is explored on foot with your guide. The bikes are looked after in the meantime.
Is there an entrance fee?
No. It's an open neighbourhood and the escalators are free public transport. You only spend what you eat or buy.
Can you visit when it rains?
Yes, but the escalators and alleyways get slippery and much of the route is outdoors. If the forecast looks bad, go in the morning.
How much time do I need?
Two to three hours to see it properly. With less than an hour you'll only really see the escalators.
Gallery
Keep reading
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