Medellín Street Art Tour: Explore Graffiti & Culture

4.93

(15 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the color—every wall seemed to tell a different story. Our guide, Camilo, met us right outside our hotel with a quick smile and a few tips about what to look for. The van ride over was short but lively; you could hear reggaeton beats leaking from open windows as we wound through El Poblado toward our first stop near Parque Lleras. I noticed vendors already setting up their carts with fresh mango slices and tiny cups of tinto coffee, the kind that smells almost burnt but somehow perfect for mornings here.

We hopped out in Comuna 13, where the air felt cooler thanks to the shade from all those murals. Camilo pointed out a piece by Chota13—he said it’s one of the most photographed in Medellín—and explained how these paintings aren’t just art, they’re part of the city’s history. At one corner, a woman sold empanadas from a basket lined with newspaper; I grabbed one and listened as Camilo described how graffiti helped transform this neighborhood. You’ll want your camera ready—the colors pop even more when the sun hits them around mid-morning.

Later, we wandered down narrow alleys where you can still catch bits of spray paint in the air if you pass close enough. Kids played fútbol against walls covered in wild animals and faces I didn’t recognize but felt drawn to anyway. The tour wrapped up back near Lleras Park, where people were already gathering for lunch at tiny cafés like Pergamino or Alambique. By then, my phone was full of photos and my shoes had picked up a bit of red dust from the sidewalks—a small reminder of everywhere we’d been.