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Medellín guideComuna 13 in Medellín: History, Graffiti, Escalators and How to Visit
From Operation Orión to the graffitour: what the neighborhood’s walls say, how to get there and tips for a respectful visit.
By Viajes Maxitours TeamUpdated: October 19, 20267 min read
- Official name
- Comuna 13 San Javier
- Outdoor escalators
- Since 2011
- Metro
- San Javier station, Line B
- Graffitour
- Since 2011
- Visitors
- About 2 million a year
- Best time
- Morning
Comuna 13 is now one of the most visited places in Medellín: a neighborhood on the city’s western hillside full of graffiti, music, outdoor escalators and viewpoints. Behind the colors lies a hard history of violence and community resistance that is worth knowing before you go.
In this guide we cover the history of Comuna 13, what its graffiti means, how the escalators work, how to get there and how to visit safely and respectfully.
History of Comuna 13
Comuna 13, officially named San Javier, is one of Medellín’s 16 comunas (districts). Its neighborhoods grew up the mountains on the west side of the city from the 1970s onward, settled by families who arrived from the countryside fleeing violence or looking for work. Because it sits on the way out toward western Antioquia, for years it was a corridor fought over by armed groups.
The most remembered moment is Operation Orión (Operación Orión), a military intervention carried out on October 16 and 17, 2002. It was one of the largest urban operations in the country’s history, and to this day the community is still seeking the truth about the people who disappeared during those years. Many of the neighborhood’s murals speak to that memory.
Since then, the neighborhood has changed little by little through public works, cultural projects and the efforts of its own residents. Hip hop and street art collectives, such as the one that gave rise to Casa Kolacho in 2013, were key to telling the neighborhood’s story through its own people. In 2025 Comuna 13 received about 1.98 million visitors.
The graffiti of Comuna 13
The graffitour (graffiti tour) was born around 2011 as a way to show the neighborhood to visitors through art. Today the walls are covered with works by local and international artists, and many are repainted from time to time. Some of the themes you will find:
- Memory: faces, hands and symbols that remember the victims and the mothers still searching for their disappeared loved ones.
- Nature: birds, flowers and animals that represent life and hope.
- Identity: the Afro-Colombian, rural and Indigenous culture of the families who settled the comuna.
- Resistance: messages about the power of art, music and education to transform the neighborhood.
The best way to understand them is with a local guide who can tell you who painted each piece and why.
The outdoor escalators
The Comuna 13 escalators opened in December 2011 in the Las Independencias neighborhood. There are 6 double sections with a total length of about 130 meters, replacing a climb of some 350 steps. Before, residents needed about half an hour to walk up to their homes.
The escalators became a symbol of Medellín’s transformation and today they are the backbone of the tourist route: around them you’ll find viewpoints, craft shops, food stalls and artists who dance and sing for visitors.
Recommended tour
Medellín City Tour + Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour
- Plaza Botero, Pueblito Paisa and Parques del Río
- Metro, Metrocable and outdoor escalators
- Local guide in Comuna 13
- Lunch and a traditional dessert
From COP 119,000 per person · no deposit
You can pay in US dollars at the day’s exchange rate. Ask your advisor for the current rate.
How to get to Comuna 13
- By Metro: take Line B to San Javier station. From there you can catch the 221i or 225i feeder buses, which drop you off near the escalators.
- By Metrocable: Line J leaves from San Javier station and climbs over the comuna. It opened in 2008, and from the cabin you get a wide view of the neighborhood.
- On a tour: the Medellín City Tour + Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour includes a tour of the city, the Metro, the Metrocable and the graffitour with a local guide.
Tips for your visit
- Go with a local guide. Besides explaining the history, your money stays in the community.
- Arrive in the morning. After midday and on weekends the escalators get very crowded.
- Ask before photographing people. This is a neighborhood where people live, not a museum.
- Shop at local businesses. Green mango ice cream (helado de mango biche), coffee and handicrafts are part of the experience.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Even with the escalators, you’ll also walk through alleys and up slopes.
- Watch your belongings, as you would anywhere with lots of visitors.
Is it safe to visit Comuna 13? In the tourist area around the escalators, during the day and with a guide, the visit is calm. Avoid straying from the marked routes and avoid going at night.
Frequently asked questions
What is Comuna 13?
It is the San Javier comuna (district), on the west side of Medellín. It went from being one of the most violent areas of the city to a symbol of transformation thanks to art, culture and public works.
How do I get to Comuna 13 by Metro?
Take Metro Line B to San Javier station, then a 221i or 225i feeder bus to the escalators.
How many escalators does Comuna 13 have?
It has 6 double sections of outdoor escalators, about 130 meters long in total, opened in December 2011.
Is it safe to visit Comuna 13?
Yes, in the tourist area, during the day and preferably with a local guide. Avoid leaving the routes and visiting at night.
How long does the graffitour take?
Between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the group’s pace and the stops at viewpoints and local businesses.
What was Operation Orión?
A military operation carried out on October 16 and 17, 2002 in Comuna 13. It is a painful chapter in the neighborhood’s history, present in many of its murals.
Keep planning your trip
Viajes Maxitours TeamTour agency in Medellín, registered with Colombia’s National Tourism Registry (RNT 172253). We run day tours from Medellín and write these guides based on what we see on every trip.