2-Day Medellin & Guatape Tour: Escobar, Comuna 13, Boat Ride

5.00

(8 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I still remember the first time we walked through Comuna 13—music was everywhere, kids playing soccer in alleys painted with wild colors. Our guide, Juan, grew up nearby and pointed out a tiny bakery where he’d buy empanadas as a kid. The murals here aren’t just art; they’re stories of survival and hope after years of violence. We rode the cable car up over the rooftops—honestly, the view makes you realize how huge Medellin really is. You’ll hear about Pablo’s shadow on this city but also meet people who’ve worked hard to change its story.

We stopped at the old Monaco building site (it’s just a park now), then visited the cemetery where Pablo Escobar is buried. There’s a strange quiet there—locals sometimes leave flowers or little notes. At La Catedral, his so-called prison in the hills, it’s misty in the mornings and you can see all of Medellin spread out below. Our guide didn’t shy away from tough stories—he talked about police officers and families who lost loved ones. The House of Memory museum hit me hardest; it’s not flashy but it feels honest.

The next day felt like a different world. We left early for Guatape—windows down, cool air smelling faintly of coffee fields. The climb up El Peñol rock is no joke (over 700 steps!), but at the top you get this wild patchwork view of blue lakes and green islands. In town, every house has these bright tiles called zócalos—each one tells something about who lives inside. After lunch at a spot called Café La Viña (try their arepas), we took a private boat ride on the lake. Floating past La Manuela mansion—it’s half-ruined now—you can almost picture what life was like back then for those who lived on both sides of history.