• 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

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

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 !!

Thomas

(About local Jhoan )

29 April 2025

We had an amazing personalized tour with Jhoan through downtown Medellín and Comuna 13. He shared so many interesting historical insights and chose an incredible selection of delicious local foods for us to try. Even our very picky children, aged 3 and 6, went home with full and happy stomachs! Jhoan made the experience truly special for our whole family. Thank you so much, Jhoan – it was fantastic!Fantastic Food & Culture Tour with Jhoan

Stephane

(About local Jhoan )

24 April 2025

We are really happy we chose to do a private tour with Jhoan. With his excellent English, Jhoan painted the tale and led us through Comuna 13 and the wider context perfectly. One of the smartest, best read and balanced tour guides we have met around the world. Gracias!Truly insightful experience

Oliver🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Jhoan )

17 April 2025

The first meeting with Jhoan was very pleasant. Jhoan knows Medellin like the back of his hand. He has a lot to say about culture, society, history and politics. I really enjoyed the tour of comuna 13 with him. It was a relaxed ride with a cable car (upfront of comuna 13 tour) and a walk. Jhoan was able to take care about some extra wishes where to go, to eat, to see....It was a great day. Great insights into comuna 13

Robyn🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jhoan )

15 April 2025

We had an incredible time exploring Medellín with Jhoan as our guide. He was not only extremely knowledgeable but also made the entire experience fun and engaging. His passion for the city’s history and culture really came through, and we appreciated how he brought the past to life during the tour. The history lesson was fascinating and gave us a much deeper appreciation for Medellín. Jhoan was friendly, professional, and answered all of our questions with enthusiasm. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the city—Jhoan is truly a fantastic guide!Amazing Experience with Jhoan in Medellín!

Patrick

(About local Jhoan )

12 April 2025

Jhoan was great, very flexible and gave a great balance of factual history and personal reflections. Highly recommend this tour!

Brian🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

8 April 2025

We could not have seen Commun 13 effectively without Jhoan! He showed us so many things and shared the history from murals to buildings to local specialties. Was a great tour and he took us off the beaten path to see things we never would have found. Great tour with an expert local!!

CAROL🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

2 April 2025

We did the food tour with Jhoan in Medellin and thoroughly enjoyed it. Jhoan speaks excellent English, is very knowledgeable about Colombian history and has an easy personality. The pacing of the tour was customized to our family group which included people from 9 mos to 73 years of age. The food was delicious and well chosen. We enjoyed our tour so much that we are booking another tour with Jhoan before we leave Medellin. I highly recommend Jhoan as a tour guide. Informative and fun

Jay🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jhoan )

29 March 2025

We were so grateful to have Jhoan show us around Communa 13. He did a great job of explaining how C13 came to be, the violent past and the present. We loved the stories behind the street murals and were thankful to go beyond the tourist zone. Highly recommend Jhoan for any tour. Off the Beaten Path in C13

Jay🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jhoan )

29 March 2025

Jhoan was an incredible guide. He shared such great insight into Medellín’s past and present alongside delicious samples of local street foods. We certainly got our fill of food and left feeling so much more knowledgeable about Medellin. Amazing Food & History

Daniela

(About local Jhoan )

23 March 2025

Jhoan is a very knowledgable, patient and respectful young man. We loved the originality of this tour and inside information shared with us. It was very pleasant and unique. Highly recommend itGreat Experiences

92g6kj5xhm

(About local Jhoan )

8 March 2025

Jhoan provided an incredible and efficient experience. Getting so much ground covered in 3 hours was amazing. 40+ years of history and stories all while seeing a beautiful unique part medellin. I would recommend Jhoan for any of his tours. He brings a passionate knowledge but makes it accessible to outsiders. Knowledge and passion

Andreas🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Jhoan )

8 March 2025

Jhoan is a very friendly and super knowledgeable person. He brought to life the history of Medellin and Colombia from past and present in an educational and interesting way. He was early to pick us up, very personable, and adjusted the itinerary to do exactly what we wanted. We can highly recommend him for a great and authentic experience in Medellin. Thank you very much again.Amazing guide

Tori

(About local Jhoan )

7 March 2025

I had a tour with Jhoan through communa 13 and it was fantastic!! He was so friendly and very knowledgeable about the area and the country. He catered the tour to what I was interested in and it did not disappoint. Additionally, we had a lovely conversation throughout the morning as well. Even after the tour he gave me recommendations for the rest of the day knowing what kind of activities I was interested in and again, this did not disappoint! I highly recommend this tour! Great morning in communa 13

Renee

(About local Jhoan )

25 February 2025

It's a pleasure to write a review for Jhoan. We toured Communa 13 with him. My husband and I told Jhoan that we love history, and he gave us a ton about the place. It was fascinating. The tour itself was perfect. Jhoan tailored it to us, given our advanced age and my issues with walking up steps and uphill. He was patient and kind and always helpful in any way he could be. He is the perfect guide. Jhoan is An Outstanding Guide

Lauren🇵🇷 Puerto Rico

(About local Jhoan )

23 February 2025

Jhoan was the best. Great communication leading up to the tour. He was really knowledgable and explained what is a very complicated history in an easily digestible manner. He gave great recommendations. Would definitely recommend! Awesome day!

Jane🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Jhoan )

23 February 2025

Had a wonderful experience touring Medellín with Jhoan. He was able to give us a lot of context around recent Colombian history while giving us many delicious things to eat. A very enjoyable experience with a lovely person. Would highly recommend. Great experience

Sophie

(About local Jhoan )

17 February 2025

We had a great time with Jhoan! He knows a lot about the city and the history. We tried some amazing food and learned a lot! Awesome tour!Great time and food!

Aida

(About local Jhoan )

11 February 2025

This was an incredible experience with a local guide . Jhoan was factual , knowledgeable, kind , patient … The tour was emotional, touching, inspiring, fun. We felt welcomed by the locals and could experience their entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, resilience and determination. The murals were out of this world! Jhoan’s historical perspective was helpful and heart felt. We will never forget this experience . Thank you , thank you!!! Highly recomend Jhoan and the tour!

Amanda

(About local Jhoan )

6 February 2025

This is the best tour we have ever taken. It was a private tour for our family of five. Jhon went above and beyond. The food tour aspect was amazing (even my picky 11 year old enjoyed) and the commentary on the city and the tour of Comuna 13 was outstanding. He was very bright and informed about Colombia and geopolitics if asked, but not intrusive with any of it. Very much went with the flow of what we wanted to do, made extra stops and tailored the tour to exactly what we wanted. Very impressed and grateful. 100% recommend, thank you!Best tour ever!

Hannah

(About local Jhoan )

2 February 2025

We only had three days to try and see as much of Medellín as we could while visiting for a friend's party. Jhoan made those days perfect! We started with the general tour of Medellín and got a great amount of history and cultural immersion. El museo de la memoría was made much more impactful when we had Jhoan to walk us through the exhibit. It was very helpful in understanding more context for the Communa 13 tour we did the next day. Both tours were phenomenal and a highlight of our time in the city—we could not more highly reccomend a tour with Jhoan! Two incredible tours of Medellín

Margaret

(About local Jhoan )

29 January 2025

We throughly enjoyed our tour of Como 13 with Jhoan. Clearly his knowledge of this area’s history and mural art is extensive. He gives a well thought out tour and on top of that he is very friendly and helpful. We wholeheartedly recommend Jhoan.Worthwhile tour

Christina🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

26 January 2025

We had a great time walking through downtown Medellin with Jhoan. He has a ton of knowledge about the history of the city and the country - the level of details he was able to provide was really insightful. We tried a ton of food - we were glad that we didn't have breakfast before. Everything was delicious. He shared his own personal experiences from his life. We enjoyed the tour so much, we ended up reaching out to him to take us to Communa 13 later that day - which was excellent. He grew up there so he had really personal experiences and insights to share. We loved our time with Jhoan and would highly recommend booking any tour with him!Really knowledgable guide - great tour!

bryndonkydd🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jhoan )

24 January 2025

This was my second time with Jhoan as a guide. He combines an interesting walk through the city, with a variety of samples of Colombian street food and a discussion on the history of Colombia. Look him up when you’re in Medellin!Highly recommend a tour with Jhoan!

herman

(About local Jhoan )

19 January 2025

Mattias🇧🇪 Belgium

(About local Jhoan )

18 January 2025

We did the Comuna 13 tour with Jhoan and it was a wonderful experience. All communication with Jhoan was super fast and accurate. The day before the tour he already contacted us to check if everything was ok. He knows the area very well and gives lots of interesting information about the history of the comuna 13. He also explains the meaning behind all of the graffiti, which was a real plus. You don’t have to do any more research, just book with Jhoan and you will not be disappointed! A must do!

Miriam

(About local Jhoan )

13 January 2025

Our tour of Comuna 13 was an unforgettable experience, thanks to our incredible guide, Jhoan . From start to finish, he brought the history, culture, and soul of the neighborhood to life in a way that was deeply personal and profoundly moving. What set this tour apart was Jhoan's authentic connection to the area. He shared not just the historical and social context of Comuna 13 but also his own personal stories, making the experience far more meaningful than a standard tour. His narrative gave us insight into the community's resilience, creativity, and transformation. One of the best parts of the tour was Jhoan's commitment to taking us beyond the typical tourist hotspots. While we did see some of the iconic landmarks, murals, and vibrant street art that Comuna 13 is famous for, Johan guided us to lesser-known corners of the area. These quieter, off-the-beaten-path spots offered a more intimate look at the community and allowed us to engage with locals in a way that felt respectful and genuine. Jhoan patiently answered our questions, made sure everyone in the group felt included, and provided us with a safe and engaging environment to explore and learn. This tour was so much more than a walk through colorful streets—it was an opportunity to connect with a community’s history and spirit.Amazing Experience

Jeff

(About local Jhoan )

12 January 2025

Our family of 4, including two teens (boy 16, girl 17) thoroughly enjoyed our Comuna 13 graffiti tour. It was one of the highlights of our 10 day vacation in beautiful Colombia. Jhoan provided an enjoyable walking dialogue on the complex history of the neighborhood and the country of Colombia. He made it feel more authentic by including small stories or examples from his life growing up in the area. We enjoyed street food, street art, and some fantastic views over the city. Thank you Jhoan for a wonderful afternoon. We wish you much success and happiness in 2025.Exceeded Expectations

zy7fcqpbzw

(About local Jhoan )

6 January 2025

We did two tours with Jhoan in Medellin. The first tour was the food tour. I love the approach of getting to know a culture through its food. Jhoan took us to many places around the downtown area to explore its history and local foods. There were lots of food to sample. The portions and quantity were ample! If you’re looking to book this tour, be sure to come hungry! On the second day, we explored Comuna 13 with Jhoan. It was a comprehensive and informative itinerary. He interlaced the history of the neighborhood with his own experience growing up in it. We left the neighborhood with a better understanding of its past and its potential future. Jhoan is an interesting guy. His personal stories made these tours even more fascinating!