The short answer
Yes, you can visit Comuna 13 without a tour. The escalators are free and you do not need a guide to walk the tourist area. Go on your own if you already know the history or just want to see the murals. Choose a tour if it is your first time and you want to understand what you are looking at.
We sell that tour, so keep that in mind as you read. Here are the costs, the route and what you gain or lose with each option, so you can decide with the facts.
The two options side by side
Getting to the neighborhood is the same either way, because our tour starts there. The real difference is what happens once you arrive.
- Cost. On your own, the escalators are free and you pay only for what you eat. With our tour it is 85,000 pesos per person, including the patacón with hogao and the mango ice cream.
- History. On your own you see the murals, but nobody explains who painted them or why. With a guide, you hear what happened in these streets.
- Pace. On your own you stay as long as you like at each spot. With a tour, the walk lasts 3 hours and follows a set route.
- Getting around. On your own you need to notice where the tourist area ends. With a guide, you just follow the walk.
How to go on your own
From El Poblado, the Metro is the cheapest way. Each trip costs 4,400 pesos with a single-ride ticket, so the round trip comes to 8,800 per person.
- Take line A to San Antonio and change there to line B as far as San Javier, the last station.
- Outside the station, take the 221i or 225i bus. The 2026 urban fare is 3,800 pesos, but with a Cívica card the Metro transfer can change the total: confirm it before boarding. Tell the driver you are going to the escalators. According to the city's tourism guide, it drops you two blocks away.
- If you prefer a taxi, it costs between 10,000 and 12,000 pesos from the station, according to an August 2026 guide. You can split it among the people in the car.
When to go and what to keep in mind
Go on a weekday morning if you want fewer people. Weekends and afternoons tend to be busier. We could not find official published hours for the escalators, so do not plan your visit down to the minute.
The tip we repeat most is to stay where the tourists are. If you turn into an alley and stop seeing cameras, vendors and guides, you have left the tourist area: turn around. More detail in is Comuna 13 safe to visit?.
Bring water, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, because there are steep climbs. Watch your belongings in the crowd and ask before photographing people: it is a neighborhood, not a stage.
What you miss without a guide
The walls do not explain Operation Orión, why each mural is where it is, or how the neighborhood changed. That part comes from the people who grew up there. If you have already read it and just want to walk, you may not need a guide.
What about tip-based tours?
There are also tip-based tours, where you decide how much to pay at the end. They are a middle option. Before choosing one, ask how many people are in the group, how long it lasts, where the guide is from and whether food is included.
If you choose our tour
The Graffiti Tour leaves every day at 9:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Garden Coffee C13, our café at Calle 38a #108-21 in the 20 de Julio neighborhood. It lasts 3 hours and includes a bilingual guide, patacón with hogao and mango ice cream with salt and lime. It ends at the same spot. Getting to the café is not included.
However you go, leave room to eat: what to eat in Comuna 13 tells you what to try.
Sources
Facts checked on November 1, 2026. Transport prices change: confirm them before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Comuna 13 without a tour?
Yes. You do not need a guide to walk the tourist area. Stay where other visitors are and avoid alleys with no tourist activity.
How much does it cost to enter Comuna 13?
There is no entrance fee for the neighborhood and the escalators are free. You pay for your transport and whatever you eat or buy.
How do I get to Comuna 13 from El Poblado?
By Metro: line A to San Antonio and line B to San Javier. From there, take the 221i or 225i bus, or a taxi for 10,000 to 12,000 pesos.
How much is the Comuna 13 tour?
Our Graffiti Tour costs 85,000 pesos per person, lasts 3 hours and includes a bilingual guide, patacón with hogao and mango ice cream.
What is the best time to visit Comuna 13?
Weekday mornings tend to be less crowded. Weekends and afternoons are busier.
