• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Welcome to Medellin! Want to know the best places to eat? Cool events in town? Which places to go to and which to avoid? Or simply get some help to navigate the city? Book this private tour with a local and get the perfect introduction to Medellin to start your city trip on the right foot.

Destination

Medellin, Colombia

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

1.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Español

Included

• Private Guide
• Local Tips & Tricks
• City Orientation
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at The entrance of the Basilica of our lady of Candelaria - Medellin to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. City Highlights

   See the Metropolitan Cathedral of Medellín, Plaza Botero and more landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots of the city so you can get the perfect introduction to what makes Medellin so special

4. Local Hot Spots

   Along the way, your host will point out hangout spots and hidden gems that only the locals know about and will help you get acquainted with the city in the most local way possible

5. Food Recommendations

   Receive tailored recommendations according to your taste and where to go and what to eat while visiting Medellin. Avoid tourist traps thanks to your local host!

6. City Orientation

   Learn how to navigate the city, and get the answers to your Medellin questions that will help you in the following days making your time in the city much easier

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Jared

(About local Jhoan )

26 July 2025

Jhoan walking tour of central Medellin is beautifully organized: you get a sense of the vibrancy and history of the city from many different perspectives, all animated by Jhoan's captivating storytelling and deep knowledge. He also has great tips for everything from musical venues to tropical fruits. We enjoyed this so much that we also booked the Comuna 13 walking tour with him.Captivating storyteller

Francisco

(About local Jhoan )

15 July 2025

Jhoan was a great your guide. He made the experience enjoyable, fun and interactive. Even our young kids (10 and 7), enjoyed the experience and a fun way to learn about Medellin. Highly recommended!Great Tour

Tiffany🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

7 July 2025

Jhoan was great! He saw that we had 4 kids in tow, and catered the tour to our family. He taught us interesting things about the city and buildings, but kept the tour moving to keep our kids engaged. He also ended the tour near a barefoot water park which the kids loved. It was the perfect introduction to Medellin for our family!Great Tour with Kids

5n6m9fghns

(About local Jhoan )

19 April 2025

Our tour through Medellín with Jhoan was an absolute highlight. He was incredibly dedicated, took the time to answer all of our questions, and impressed us with his authentic and warm personality. What stood out the most were his personal stories and the fascinating insights he shared about the city’s history – honest, relatable, and truly engaging. You can tell that Jhoan is passionate about what he does. We felt completely comfortable and would come back again anytime. Thank you for such a special experience!Highly recommended!

Bridget

(About local Jhoan )

18 December 2024

Johan went the extra mile to reschedule due to our flight being delayed. His knowledge and passion for the city was palpable. We left enriched and have a new appreciation of Medellín’s art, culture and history. I highly recommend booking Jhoan as your guide. Great way to explore!

Paul

(About local Jhoan )

30 March 2024

We were tight on time and Jhoan made the most of every minute. Friendly, knowledgeable and interesting, he was the perfect guide. Highly recommend. Great Short tour

Christoph🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Jhoan )

26 March 2024

We had a great and informative tour in the center of Medellin. We got really interesting background of the history of Columbia. Highly recommendedGreat tour to start

David🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jhoan )

12 March 2024

We loved our tour with Jhoan today. He used his knowledge of Medellin and Colombian history to give us a rich understanding of Medellin and its people. All this in an hour and a half. Thank you!Medellin in memory

susanhollis2808

(About local Jhoan )

19 December 2023

Great experience learning the history of this beautiful city and realizing how much of the violent history of the recent past has shaped this beautiful city todayVery knowledgeable

Jarrod🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

11 November 2023

I was blown away with how knowledgeable and personable Jhoan was. Not only does he know seemingly everything about Medellin, it's such a pleasure to walk around and experience it with him. I found him/withlocals by accident and now, because of my experience, I will look to withlocals FIRST when I visit a new city. I will also encourage anyone who is visiting Medellin to grab time with Jhoan. BONUS POINTS - I was running a little late in my Uber. I shared my location with Jhoan and he was able to help us navigate through traffic remotely. Really, really outstanding! Incredible tour with Jhoan

5hq2d6bqf5🇫🇷 France

(About local Jhoan )

14 May 2023

We were 3 friends visiting Medellin for first time. We got super lucky to find Jhoan through with locals.com. Initially we took the city highlights tour which gave us a good and informative summary of the city, its history and surroundings. Tips and personal experiences shared by Jhoan made this special. We really enjoyed it and this is why we then arranged another tour with Jhoan at Comuna 13. That was a memorable experience, maybe our highlight in Medellin. Jhoan gave us the full historical background of the area and its key stories as well as the transformation from a violent area to the most touristic area of the city. No words to describe how much we enjoyed these two tours with Jhoan. He is great in describing easily and simply the stories of the city and focus on the key aspects. Simply DO NOT miss this experience with Jhoan ! Highly recommended:)Unique highlight of Medellin

Adrian🇵🇱 Poland

(About local Jhoan )

10 April 2023

El viaje con Jhoan fue todo un éxito. Nos llevó a varios lugares interesantes y al mismo tiempo nos contó muchas historias. Cuando volvamos a Medellín sin duda volveremos a informarnos con él.Genial

Chris🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

19 February 2023

We met Jhoan downtown and he provided a great tour. What stated as a two hour tour ended up being six hours. We covered all the important sites in El Centro and learned so much about the history of Colombia. We then proceeded to Comuna 13 where Jhoan grew up and had in depth details that only a local would know. The stories behind the art are a mix of sadness and hope, but mostly hope as the community is thriving. From there we took the cable cars for a great view of this beautiful city. As Americans we were impressed at how Medellin, and the entire country for that matter, have over come a troubled past to see a very bright future. There are many cities and politicians in our own nation that could learn much from the successes here. Overall a great tour and I would highly recommend Jhoan. Great tour of Medellin!

Martin-Stefan🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Jhoan )

19 January 2023

Juan ist ein sehr netter, freundlicher und kompetenter Mensch, der es durch sein Wissen und seine Erzählungen schafft, einen von Anfang an mitzunehmen auf die Reise durch Medellin. Absolut klasse, ich würde immer wieder mit ihm gehen, es war sehr sicher und hat einfach nur viel Spaß gemacht. Uneingeschränkte Empfehlung Going with a good friend

Janell🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

27 October 2022

Jhoan is an incredibly articulate, knowledgeable and kind person. I am visiting Colombia alone and friends had recommended hiring a guide, this was my first experience. Jhoan recommend that we combined this tour with another I’d booked with him, Comuna 13, it was a perfect suggestion. He has refined the art of storytelling, integrating his knowledge of political, social and personal history. When you come to Medellin, Jhoan is the best person to learn about this city.

Nynke🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

18 August 2022

We booked the kickstart tour in Medellin with Jhoan. He is a very experienced and friendly guide, speaks perfectly English and told us so many stories about Medellin in the violent times and about life nowadays. If you plan to go to Medellin, you don’t need to look any further, I would recommend to book a tour with Jhoan! As he grew up in Comuna 13, I can imagine that he would be the perfect guide for that tour as well. Jhoan, thanks for the great introduction to Medellin! Jhoan is a great tour guide!

Molly 🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

24 July 2022

Jhoan gave a good tour! He was friendly, had interesting things to say and show us. He answered all our questions about the city. It was a good introduction to Medellin. Thank you!A good tour

msk8mpfqw2🇨🇴 Colombia

(About local Jhoan )

5 April 2022

Johan was extremely knowledgeable about the city. Tour was a 10/10 even followed up after to hear about our other experiences and travels! Great “first day” tour to understand and get acquainted with the city and their historyMedellin Tour

Jane🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jhoan )

21 March 2022

We had a great tour with Jhoan. He is extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of Medellin. We learned and laughed a lot. He shared his love for the city with us, and set the ground work for us to do lots more exploring. We ended the tour having a drink at a local salsa club, watching the locals dance the night away. Jhoan was super generous with his time and knowledge. We definitely recommend taking a tour with Jhoan!Great experience!

michael🇨🇴 Colombia

(About local Gabriel Eduardo)

19 September 2020

Nunca contesto Nunca contesto

Jo

(About local Jhoan )

9 August 2025

Our family of 4 (including 2 teenagers) really enjoyed Jhoan’s tour. His explanation of the history of the conflict at the Museo de la Memoria was particularly good and interesting and he then took us on a walk through bustling markets, stopping a sites of interest. A great way to safely see some of real Medellín and learn something at the same time Excellent, knowledgable guide

Marta🇭🇺 Hungary

(About local Jhoan )

8 August 2025

Jhoan has an impressive depth of knowledge about both history and the local area. His personal stories make the trip feel engaging and relatable. His summaries are excellent — clear, concise, and to the point. He constantly offered us choices about what we would prefer to see or hear about, and even allowed us to choose the route. He answered every question we had.What really stood out is his personality — he’s not the kind of tour guide who overplays the role; instead, he comes across as genuine and authentic, which made him instantly likeable.It’s absolutely worth it, because Jhoan is the one who turns the tour into such an interesting and memorable experience.Genuine and knowledgable guide

Vera🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

5 August 2025

Jhoan kent de weg en de historie van de wijk goed! Hij houdt ook goed rekening met het reisgezelschap. Fijne gids!

Daniella & Michael🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

3 August 2025

Veel dank aan Jhoan voor zijn boeiende verhalen en duidelijke uitleg tijdens onze communa 13 tour in Medellin. Jhoan spreekt goed Engels, vertelt veel interessante feitjes, is supervriendelijk en attent. Hele goeie ervaring en absolute aanrader!Interesting tour, great company

Jeremy

(About local Jhoan )

2 August 2025

You can’t get much better or well fed than with Jhoan! We toured around the city center while discussing the history, art, culture, food, and politics of Medellin, all while stopping at incredible food stalls and shops. He was very knowledgeable about everything so the tour felt more like a conversation between friends than a tour. Highly recommended! Had an incredible tour with Jhoan

Berber

(About local Jhoan )

2 August 2025

Jhoan is an excellent guide with a lot of interesting stories about Medellín/comuna 13. He’s flexible, patient and genuinely kind and he even let us decide which paths to explore along the way. We’d absolutely recommend him to anyone visiting the city!Excellent guide!

catalina

(About local Jhoan )

1 August 2025

I booked Jhoan because I wanted the tour of Comuna 13 to be fit for me and my family. Jhoan was absolutely a treat to have as our guide, he was so knowledgeable and sooo friendly. My whole family loved our tour and would definitely recommend him. #1

Susannah

(About local Jhoan )

29 July 2025

My husband, friend and I are new to Medellin and were looking to become more familiar with the city and history. We hit the jackpot with Jhoan! He has an intimate connection with the city and Comuna 13 in particular. You will get a thorough history of the warring factions that caused untold violence in Medellin as well as a resilient people who revived Comuna 13 to be the crown jewel of the city. Jhoan is an asset to honoring those who fell victim to violence. What an incredible and memorable day we had! Make sure you have the proper foot wear and stamina for countless stairs.Above and beyond

Claudia

(About local Jhoan )

28 July 2025

We had a wonderful day with Jhoan in Medellin. He was very knowledgeable about Medellin and its history. He was very friendly and helpful, and he was always in touch with us. Highly recommended!Fantastic

Jared

(About local Jhoan )

26 July 2025

Jhoan's tour began well outside the tourist zone and gave us great insight into the history and transformations of this fascinating part of Medellin. We saw other tours spending more time just taking instagram photos of street art, while Jhoan devoted more time to sharing with us the underlying story of the neighborhood.Not your typical tour of Comuna 13

Brian🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Jhoan )

23 July 2025

Really enjoyed the food tour of Medellín. Jhoan is a very nice guy and very knowledgeable about Medellín and it's history. He brought us around and we ate local foods until we couldn't eat anymore 😅Great tour

Adam🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Jhoan )

22 July 2025

Jhoan was a great guide for Comuna 13. He grew up in the Comuna and is very knowledgeable about it's history and Columbia's history in general. This kind of tour is essential for a good experience of this area as you will not learn the meaning behind any of the graffiti and why it is so important if you do it on your own or as part of a big group. We couldn't recommend Jhoan highly enough.Great tour

Iman🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

21 July 2025

I have never seen anything like Comuna 13 - despite having traveled to many places. The history and its current vibrancy stir all your emotions and senses. Jhoan is a great guide, knowledgeable, personal. He took us away from the beaten track and shared many fascinating and heartbreaking stories. A tour not to be missed. A tour not to be missed

Missi🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

19 July 2025

Jhoan was extremely knowledgeable and fun to spend the time with getting an intro to Medellin! Highly recommend! Excellent

mailys🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Jhoan )

19 July 2025

Jhoan guided us through Medellin and it’s history He is very knowledgeable on it’s history and very generous with explanations and answering all our questions It was a real pleasure discovering the city with him

Hilde🇫🇮 Finland

(About local Jhoan )

17 July 2025

We had a great tour with Jhoan. First of all, it was a private tour, not like the 30+ people tours we saw. He has actually lived there most of his childhood, and it was really interesting to hear his own experiences. He would take us up alleys that were less crowded - because comuna 13 is incredibly crowded. He was also very open to answer all questions. We really enjoyed this tour, I definitely recommend it!An amazing experience with a local!

STEPHEN🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jhoan )

15 July 2025

Jhoan is truly knowledgeable about Comuna 13 and Medellin/Colombian history, with deep personal connections to the neighbourhood. If you are seeking a touristy visit focus on fun and pretty pictures, perhaps look elsewhere. If you are looking for a deeper understanding and first-hard experience of a unique community, then this one is for you. Jhoan is a great communicator, very genuine and caring, planning the experience around our interests. He clearly knows many folks in the community and has a balanced and clear view of Comuna 13’s troubled past and bright (we hope) futue. Highly recommended!For those history minded, a moving journey

Katie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

15 July 2025

We had a food tour with Jhoan on 5/13/25 and we loved it! Jhoan was very kind, informative, interesting, and was very flexible with our schedule needs. Even though the only day we had available for the food tour was a Sunday, a day that many restaurants are closed, that was no problem for Jhoan! He was very creative and gave us multiple tastings of different popular street foods and exotic fruits/juices we’ve never had before. An added bonus was the history he gave us of Medellín buildings and culture. Also, but the end of the tour, we were BEYOND stuffed, but in the best possible way! He was a fantastic guide! You will not be disappointed. Informative and delicious

Christina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

11 July 2025

I booked a custom tour with Jhoan through WithLocals and really appreciated how kind and flexible he was in creating exactly what I asked for—a walking tour of Comuna 13 combined with a tasting experience. While I was hoping for a more “locals only” feel, the area itself is quite touristy and not really off the beaten path anymore. That said, Jhoan’s passion for sharing the history and spirit of his neighborhood really made the visit worthwhile. He took the time to show me parts of the local community beyond the main tourist areas, and I loved tasting fresh empanadas and popsicles along the way. Although I probably wouldn’t revisit Comuna 13, I would definitely book another tour with Jhoan—his warmth, local knowledge, and dedication made the day memorable!Jhoan is a wealth of knowledge

Alex🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

7 July 2025

Jhoan was amazing, and made a very curated tour for me. He was very knowledgeable about the food and the city. Jhoan Rocked!

Scott & Paxton🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

6 July 2025

Jhoan’s english is EXCELLENT!!! Very informative! You won’t feel rushed, while also being offered time to enjoy each spot. Jhoan really makes you feel comfortable, treats you like an old friend! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!Great tour

Liesbeth🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Jhoan )

6 July 2025

Very friendly guide. Good guide

Michael

(About local Jhoan )

4 July 2025

We had an amazing tour of Comuna 13 with Jhoan. He was knowledgeable and engaging and had lived the history of the area we were visiting. This lent an authenticity to his narrative that is difficult to find when trying to learn about a place you are visiting. I highly recommend Jhoan as a guide.Excellent Tour

Nickolas🇨🇴 Colombia

(About local Jhoan )

15 June 2025

Jhoan is truly an awesome guy & extremely knowledgeable in the history of Colombia & Comuna 13, the whole area is his childhood neighborhood he showed us some beautiful places and recommended a great restaurant for us to try nearby prior to our tour. all around it was a great time and we learned so much about that area it’s extremely important to have someone as knowledgeable as him on a tour with you otherwise you will miss out on so many stories and history that are all around you secretly that only the locals know. Amazing tour!

James

(About local Jhoan )

7 June 2025

Very adaptable and knowledgeable about the city and its history enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend to others Great experience

Merijn🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

2 June 2025

It was super nice to explore the city center of Medellin and get a first taste of this vibrant city with Jhoan as our guide. He shared a lot of stories and history about the city and Colombia in general. He really custom tailered the experience for our benefit. Would highly recommend Jhoan!Great way to explore Medellin!

q2fb2t5xj7

(About local Jhoan )

2 June 2025

Jhoan made history come alive in a way only someone from Medellin and the Comuna and with a love of history can do. He took the time to explain the history of Colombia, how the Comunas were formed in Medellin, and as an Colombian Army veteran with friends that were once in different groups, you get a sense for how and why the comunas were formed in the first place. He takes the time to explain the street art and symbolism, and is outstanding at explanation and answering questions. I was even more thankful for the small private tour when we saw the larger tour groups coming up the barrio later in the trip. If you want a personalized experience, with someone who is well read and has lived the experience, taking a tour with Jhoan is worth the extra cost. Thank you!Great mix of history & culture with Jhoan

Casey🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

28 May 2025

Jhoan and his tour is a great option to explore the central district of Medellin, try various foods along the way, and learn the intriguing history of Columbia and Medellin, first hand from someone who has lived it. As a former military member, Jhoan gives a great perspective of everything you've heard, seen, and read about, regarding Colombian military, cartels, guerilla groups, and para-military. All this while strolling through the historic central district of Medellin, trying Colombian foods, fruits, and drinks. Definitely recommend this tour. Great local experience, great local guide

Paula🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Jhoan )

11 May 2025

El tour con Johan ha sido una excelente experiencia. Nos ha llevado por distintos lugares, no únicamente los spots más turísticos, y nos ha aportado muchísima información interesante. Súper recomendado!¡100% recomendado!

Frédéric

(About local Jhoan )

29 April 2025

We really had a great experience touring with Jhoan! He was on time and the meeting location was clear. Jhoan was very insightful and knew a lot about comuna 13. He proposed a lot a different options during the tour to avoid busy tourist area and we appreciated this a lot. I would highly recommend taking a tour with Jhoan.Highly appreciated !!