Thing to do
Metrocable Ride
Medellín's cable-car network, launched in 2004 and now six lines long, gives visitors an aerial ride over the hillside neighbourhoods and up to Parque Arví.
Comuna 13 Graffiti and Escalators
A hillside district in western Medellín known for its outdoor escalators, murals and hip-hop culture, now visited by close to two million people a year.
At a glance
- Type
- Neighbourhood, street art and outdoor escalators
- Area
- Comuna 13 (San Javier), Medellín, Colombia
Good to know
- Outdoor escalators
- Street art
- Viewpoints
- Near San Javier metro
Why we recommend it
Comuna 13, officially San Javier, is one of Medellín's 16 comunas, climbing the steep western slopes of the valley. Its 700 hectares make up the most densely populated part of the city, and some streets are so steep that daily life once meant climbing hundreds of steps. Because of its position, the district was badly hit by armed groups who used it as a corridor, and in October 2002 it was the scene of Operación Orión, a military operation that is still remembered for its civilian toll. Quality of life has improved greatly since then, much of it thanks to the work of community collectives.
The most famous symbol of that change is the set of outdoor escalators in Las Independencias. Built to replace climbs of between 200 and 380 steps, they run for around 16 hours a day and carry more than 10,000 people daily. They are partly powered by 56 solar panels, which cover about a fifth of their electricity. The escalators and the murals that surround them have turned the area into one of the city's main sights: the city's tourism office counted almost two million visitors in a single recent year.
What you come to see is the street art. Graffiti and murals cover walls along the escalator route and the alleys around it, and the area's hip-hop scene, which grew partly as a response to violence, is still strong. The city itself promotes the escalators as a way to show the world the district's dancers and painters. Casa Kolacho, a hip-hop cultural centre in San Javier II, is one of the best-known collectives, and the upper viewpoint at Juan XXIII looks out over the valley.
The city is carrying out maintenance on the escalators until mid-2026, one unit at a time, so some sections may be closed; the fixed stairs beside them stay open. A guided tour, ideally with a local guide from the comuna, is the best way to understand the history behind the murals and to support the neighbourhood directly.
To get there, take Metro Line B to San Javier station, which has served the district since 1996, and continue up to Las Independencias. Metrocable Line J, open since 3 March 2008, also starts at San Javier and crosses the north-west of the comuna, a different way to see its hillsides. Allow three to four hours.
Comuna 13 Graffiti and Escalators FAQs
Where are the Comuna 13 escalators?
In the Las Independencias neighbourhood of Comuna 13, also called San Javier, on the western slopes of Medellín.
How do I get to Comuna 13?
Take Metro Line B to San Javier station, then continue up to Las Independencias.
Who runs guided tours?
Local collectives such as Casa Kolacho run guided tours led by residents of the comuna.
Are the escalators working?
The city is maintaining them until mid-2026, one unit at a time, so some sections may be closed, but the adjacent stairs stay open.
How many people visit Comuna 13?
The city's tourism office recorded 1,989,158 visitors in a recent year, and more than 10,000 people use the escalators daily.
Should I take a guided tour?
A guided tour with a local guide is the best way to understand the district's history and the stories behind the murals.
What is Casa Kolacho?
A hip-hop cultural centre in San Javier II and one of the best-known collectives in Comuna 13.
How long should I allow?
Three to four hours, including a guided walk and time on the escalators.