Arte urbano en la Comuna 13 de Medellín. Foto: Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

Comuna 13 Medellín: How to Get There & Visit

Q: Is Comuna 13 safe to visit?

The visitor area around Las Independencias is busy and well frequented during the day. As anywhere crowded, keep an eye on your belongings, stay where other visitors are and, on a first visit, go with a local guide.

Q: Where are the Comuna 13 escalators?

They are in Las Independencias, in Comuna 13 San Javier, a little over a kilometre from San Javier metro station. The six open-air sections have been running since December 2011.

Q: What happened in Comuna 13?

The district lived through years of conflict between militias, paramilitaries and the security forces. In October 2002 it was the scene of Operation Orion, a military offensive with civilian victims and disappearances. Later came the Metrocable, the escalators and the cultural projects you see on the graffiti tour.

Q: Do I need a guide for the graffiti tour?

It is not required, but it is worth it. Local guides explain the murals and the history of the district, and the money goes straight to the community. Agree on price and length before you set off.

Q: How do I get from Medellín airport to Comuna 13?

Take the COMBUSES airport bus to Hotel Nutibara, next to Plaza Botero. Walk to Parque Berrío station, ride Line A one stop to San Antonio and change to Line B for San Javier.

Comuna 13 San Javier went from being one of Medellín's most violent districts to one of its most visited neighbourhoods. Here is how to get there by metro, what to see and how to visit with respect.

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Metro Line B

Ride to San Javier, the last stop on Line B, then head up to Las Independencias.

Outdoor escalators

Six open-air sections, about 384 m in total, running since December 2011.

Local graffiti tours

Walk the murals with guides who grew up in the neighbourhood and know its story.

Go during the day

Mornings are calmer and cooler; weekends get far busier.

What Comuna 13 is

Comuna 13 in Medellín, officially Comuna 13 San Javier, covers the western hillside of the city. It is made up of 21 neighbourhoods, including Las Independencias, El Salado, Juan XXIII and Veinte de Julio, and spreads over roughly 700 hectares.

For years it was caught between urban militias, paramilitary groups and the security forces. In October 2002 the army carried out Operation Orion here, a military offensive that left civilians dead, wounded and missing, and which is still central to how residents tell their story. Many of the murals you will see refer to it.

The turnaround came with transport projects that tied the hillside to the rest of the city:

San Javier metro station, open since 1996.
Metrocable Line J, opened in March 2008.
The outdoor escalators in Las Independencias, opened in December 2011.

Today Las Independencias is one of the busiest visitor spots in Medellín, with murals, hip hop, artists' shops and street food. Keep in mind that it is still a residential neighbourhood where people live and work.

How to get to Comuna 13 by metro

The easiest way to reach Comuna 13 is on the Medellín metro:

Take Line A to San Antonio station in the city centre.
Change to Line B at the same station, towards San Javier.
Get off at San Javier, the end of Line B.

From the station to the escalators in Las Independencias it is a little over a kilometre, mostly uphill. You can walk, take a local bus or grab a taxi. If you book a tour, guides usually meet you at San Javier station.

You can also ride Metrocable Line J, which leaves from the same San Javier station and climbs over the upper part of the district, stopping at Juan XXIII. It gives you a good overview of the hillside before or after walking the murals.

According to Metro de Medellín, trains run Monday to Saturday from 4:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on Sundays and public holidays from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pay with a Cívica card or buy a single trip at the ticket office; check the current fare at the station.

Airport bus with COMBUSES

Flying into José María Córdova? Take the COMBUSES airport bus to Hotel Nutibara by Plaza Botero, walk to Parque Berrío station and continue by metro to San Javier. Tickets from 20,000 COP, luggage included.

Book your ticket →

The escalators and the graffiti tour

The Comuna 13 escalators are in Las Independencias. There are six open-air sections, about 384 metres in total, replacing a climb of hundreds of steps. The city opened them in December 2011 and, according to the local broadcaster Telemedellín, they had 1,981,579 visitors in 2025, more than half of them from abroad.

In 2026 they finished their first full overhaul since opening, with all equipment serviced and 350 concrete steps replaced. Even so, one section may be closed for maintenance on the day you visit.

Around the escalators runs the graffiti tour. It is offered by local guides and collectives, such as the hip hop cultural centre Casa Kolacho, who explain what each mural means and how the district changed. You can walk it on your own, but a guide from the neighbourhood adds a lot of context, and your money stays in the community.

Small shops sell art, clothing and souvenirs made by residents.
Street stalls sell fresh juices, ice cream and local snacks.
Viewpoints look out over the whole west side of Medellín.

Tips for visiting Comuna 13

Comuna 13 is busy: some estimates put weekend crowds at up to 6,000 visitors a day. These tips help you enjoy it and respect the people who live there:

Go early: mornings are quieter and the climbs are less hot.
Hire a local guide: look for tours run by neighbourhood collectives and agree on the price before you start.
Ask before photographing people, especially children and residents at their homes.
Buy from local businesses: it is the most direct way to support the community.
Wear comfortable shoes: expect stairs, ramps and steep streets.
Carry small notes in pesos for tips, drinks and small purchases.
Watch your belongings as you would anywhere crowded, and stay in the busy visitor areas.

Allow at least half a day. To combine it with the city centre, ride Line B back to San Antonio and change to Line A for Parque Berrío, next to Plaza Botero.

Places on the map

Comuna 13 outdoor escalators

Las Independencias, Comuna 13 San Javier, Medellín

Six open-air sections; where most graffiti tours start.

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San Javier metro station (Line B)

Calle 45, San Javier, Medellín

End of Line B and start of Metrocable Line J.

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Juan XXIII station (Metrocable Line J)

Juan XXIII, Comuna 13 San Javier, Medellín

Cable car stop with views over the upper hillside.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Comuna 13 by metro?

Take Line A to San Antonio, change to Line B and ride to San Javier, the last stop. From there it is a little over a kilometre uphill to the escalators in Las Independencias; walk, take a local bus or a taxi.