• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Want to see the best of Medellin? We got you covered. But as you can expect from a Withlocals experience, the real excitement is its hidden gems. Join your favorite local and get a feeling of the city's real vibe on a tour that has it all, so you can say: I experienced the real Medellin!

Destination

Medellin, Colombia

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Español

Included

• Private Guide
• 1 Local Snack or Drink
• 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 In front of the Statue of Pedro Justo Berrío. - 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 from Metropolitan Cathedral of Medellín, Junin Passage, Plaza Botero, and other landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots in town so you can get the perfect overview of what makes Medellin so unique

4. Hidden Gems

   Along the way, your local host will show you treasures hidden in plain sight that only the locals know about. Get to know the city through a different perspective, the local way, and discover places and stories that not many tourists experience

5. Magical Storytelling

   Behind every landmark and every stop, there’s a story, and your local host is ready to tell it all. Get ready to listen to incredible stories, one-of-a-kind insights, and fun facts only a knowledgeable local would know!

6. Special Treat

   Follow your host to one of their favorite eateries for a snack or a drink beloved by the locals. Take a break and catch up with your new local friend and get the answers to all your travel questions

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

Lauren

(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!

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

herman

(About local Jhoan )

19 January 2025

Todd🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

16 April 2024

We booked two tours with Jhoan and had a great experience. He is knowledgeable, friendly, patient and an excellent tour guide. We had a great time and saw sights we would never had seen on our own. Jhoan has a lot of knowledge about Medellin and shares from personal experience. Highly recommend!Excellent tour guide

James

(About local Jhoan )

5 April 2024

Jhoan gave an amazing tour of the city and it’s history. For anyone knew to medellin, this has to be the first thing you do to start your trip. There is no one better to give you a better view and appreciation for medellin and colombian history than Jhoan. 11 stars out of 10.Outstanding Tour

Lisa🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Jhoan )

2 April 2024

Jhoan was a great guide and told us about the history of the area and Colombia. He went at our pace and adapted the tour to meet our requirements. He was friendly and his English was great. We felt very safe with him and learnt so much about Colombian history. We would highly recommend a tour with Jhoan.Amazing

Cody🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

8 March 2024

Jhoan is fantastic and supremely knowledgeable about Colombian history, especially the hardships and narco stuff that you’re probably wondering about. The emotional weight of all that still burdens him, yet he’s happy to talk about it. 10/10 for him. “Hidden gems” implies to me that you’ll see things that are, well, hidden or at least off the beaten path. There wasn’t too much of that, but then again, this was our second tour with Jhoan in as many days, and there was some overlap so he did what he could to switch things up. The Museum of Memory was a somber but worthwhile highlight.A terrific guide but a poorly named tour

Emily🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

17 February 2024

We absolutely loved learning about Medellin, it’s people, and it’s history with Jhoan. He was an excellent guide and shared so many stories and places that helped us understand the place way better than a more general tour. Would recommend him to anyone. Wonderful experience with Jhoan!!

Jacqueline🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

17 January 2024

Mooie wandeling gehad en Jhoan weet veel over de geschiedenis,hij is een goede verhalen verteller. With locals is top, heerlijk om een privegids te hebben. Wij raden with locals zeker aan.Top wandeling

Devon🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

1 December 2023

I cannot recommend Jhoan enough as your guide to Medellin. He gave us a rich history of downtown Medellin, effortlessly weaving in multiple time periods in his narratives. We were able to ask him a range of questions about topics ranging from every day life to political developments and he provided us with an in-depth answer to anything we could think of. Please consider booking him for the best tour of Medellin you could possibly experience!Invaluable Insight, Powerful Narrator

Jordan

(About local Jhoan )

8 November 2023

Jhoan was a fantastic guide and was very knowledgeable about the history of Medellín. He was very friendly and helped with some recommendations for after our tour. This is the best way to get to know the city. Highly recommend as a first day activity in Medellín. Fantastic Tour

Unknown

(About local Jhoan )

7 March 2023

As a Medellin local who has direct lived experience with the community, Jhoan's close personal connection allowed him to provide insights on not just the key features of the Medellin but also the associated history, politics, and culture. His engagement was friendly yet professional and his knowledge of the city was clearly deep and nuanced. We would highly recommend Jhoan as a tour guide for any of your explorations of Medellin. Insightful Guide for an Interesting City

Aron🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

13 February 2023

We booked a tour with 3 persons with Jhoan and asked it to customize it a little. He did exactly that and surprised us with a lot of knowledge. He knows a lot about the history and even experienced quite some of it himself (communa 13/serving in the army/and more). Would highly recommend this above the other bigger walking tours!Best tour!!

Jon🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

25 January 2023

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour of Medellin with Jhoan. He has a great understanding of the City and it’s history and shared not just that knowledge but also his own personal experiences growing up here. It was excellent - highly recommend Jhoan.Great overview od Medellin

Jeff🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

20 January 2023

We had a fantastic tour of historic Medellin and Comuna 13 with Jhoan. He expertly tied the country’s political history and his own experiences into the tour. Jhoan’s knowledge from growing up in Comuna 13 and his passion for the people and the evolution of the community made the tour special. Highly recommended. Great tour of Comuna 13 and Medellin

thibaut🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

20 January 2023

Jhoan was an outstanding guide. Highly recommend him. He is full of knowledge and fun facts about his city Passionate about his city

adriaan🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

18 January 2023

From begin to end of this tour , he showing how special this part of city is in history, culture and the people . Even let me taste local foodInteresting and great tour

Sugehidy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

14 July 2022

We have an amazing time with Jhoan, we felt comfortable and safe. It was a great walking tour. Thanks so much for accommodate the tour to our needs and make us feel welcome. Amazing experience

Natasha🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Jhoan )

3 July 2022

Jhoan was super nice, very knowledgeable, showed us many things, and had incredible history and stories to share. Definitely worth booking with him, and even better to have the personalization of a local!Very Knowledgeable

Mike🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

1 July 2022

It was a little different than the description, but it was great. Would definitely recommend. Learned a lot about the city in a short time.Great tour

tilman.gust🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Jorge Ivan)

19 June 2022

Hi guys, I’m really not that guy who writes reviews but in this case I have to! It’s not about the tour, it was about our tour guide Jorge. First of all he came 30 minutes to late. He asked us what we should do in this tour but we’re not informed about Medellin so in our opinion it’s his decision to show us the top places of Medellin. Second one the palacio egypt was closed for what we payed & he was uninformed. Third he wasn’t sober in our opionion. His way of acting and talking to us was really wierd. Last but not least there wasn’t any introduction of the tour and he even didn’t introduced itself. Because of all these points we broke the tour after 20 min up. I guess with another guy and an real local, it would be way better and a good tour. Cheers Really NO recommend!!!

Hannah🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Jhoan )

17 May 2022

Jhoan is a super knowledgeable and fun guide. Having a lot of experience with “withlocals” guides I must say this was definitely one of the best tours I have had so far!! Not only did I see many things in Medellin but also I learned so much about Colombia, it’s history and it’s heritage. I would definitely recommend spending your time in Medellin with Jhoan if you get the chance to do it!Perfect day in medellin

Mateo🇪🇨 Ecuador

(About local Jhoan )

9 May 2022

Tomamos los servicios de Jhoan para el tour por el Centro de Medellin y fue un 10/10. La larga caminata no se sintio asi por la gran cantidad de datos que habian en el camino y las paradas estrategicas para descansar. Si o si deben hacer este tour con JhoanExcelente

Mathilde 🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Jhoan )

2 May 2022

Jhoan could tell us a lot about history , showed us highlights, gave background information. It was a great way to see and learn about Medellin and Colombia . He is a very nice, relaxed guy , helpful and a pleasure listening to . I did the tour with two teenagers and they were impressed and loved the trip ! I can recommend this trip to everyone who would like to know more about Medellin !! A great way to learn about medellin , super guide .

Allie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

15 April 2022

Our tour with Jhoan was one of the highlights of our trip to Medellin. I traveled with my husband to study Spanish, and didn’t feel like I was getting a feel for the city only walking from school and back in el Poblado. Jhoan was super informative, passionate about his city, and very generous with his time. He was also super gracious when we were 15 min late because of traffic. We would definitely recommend a tour with him, and planning on doing another on our next trip!A great experience!

Jeff🇨🇴 Colombia

(About local Jhoan )

18 February 2022

Very happy I booked a tour with Jhoan. Jhoan responded promptly and set up our meet quickly. He was waiting for me when I arrived and informed me that one of the tour sites was closed that day (Egyptian Museum) but he had alternate suggestions which turned out to be much better. I wasn’t that interested in seeing Egypt while visiting Columbia anyway. Jhoan is very knowledgeable in the history, struggles and cultures of Columbia in general and Medellin in particular. He is easygoing and fun. He answered all of my questions and provided many questions and answers that I hadn’t thought of asking. After only few hours I felt that I had an unbiased basic understanding of a very complicated country/culture. Wish I had a few more days to spend with him. Good stuff! Jeff Excellent Experience!

Adriana

(About local Jhoan )

30 November 2021

Muy buena persona y muy amable Muy buena persona y muy amable

Donald🇺🇸 United States

(About local Santiago)

27 November 2021

Guide never showed up and was not reachable!!!!! I have been waiting to hear from with locals regarding a refund and appropriate compensation for my lost time!!! Haven’t heard from them yet. Awful dangerous experience as I was alone in an unfamiliar place and no one available to help from the company. Guide never showed up!

Adriana

(About local Santiago)

26 November 2021

Muy buena persona y muy amable Genial

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

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!

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!

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!

David

(About local Jhoan )

6 January 2025

Jhoan was extremely professional and engaging from the moment we first made contact with him. He was communicative and kept us informed of the plans before arrival. Our trip was customized as per our request and everything went according to the plan. Jhoan is very knowledgeable about the history, culture and the flora and fauna of Medellin. Being a native of the city and having had diverse throughout his life, he brings an insightful perspective that he eagerly shared during our tour. He has a passion for his work and his city, and that reflected on our excellent experience during our tour. We enthusiastically recommend Jhoan for anyone wanting to get to know Medellin. Awesome Tour Guide in Medellin

pznfmdk4kf

(About local Jhoan )

4 January 2025

Sara

(About local Jhoan )

31 December 2024

Jhoan was a very knowledgeable tour guide and could explain topics with ease. Along with showing us the area, he introduced us to some new food and drinks that hadn't tried yet in Colombia. Definitely worth doing!A great afternoon experience!

Pam🇺🇸 United States

(About local Jhoan )

28 December 2024

Jhoan was very patient, customer oriented, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. He made the tour so relaxed and enjoyable. We would highly recommend his tour. Extremely Friendly and Knowledgeable

Lorena🇨🇭 Switzerland

(About local Jhoan )

28 December 2024

Excelente! Una joya

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!

Emma🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Jhoan )

16 December 2024

We visited Medellin in December 2024, and booked a custom tour with Jhoan to include both the city centre and Communa 13. From the very first encounter Jhoan was warm, welcoming and friendly, which really set the tone for our walking tour. This was one of the most in depth and interesting tours we have ever done. Jhoan was incredibly knowledgable about Colombian history and could tell the story in a very thoughtful and clear way. Considering a lot of this history is so recent, Jhoan also gives a very unique perspective of someone having first hand lived through it. All in all, Jhoan was a really lovely person, super knowledgable and I couldn't recommend this tour, or Jhoan more!An incredible depth of knowledge!

yangon

(About local Jhoan )

16 December 2024

Wir hatten einen tollen Tag mit Johann. Johann kennt alles und jeden in der Comuna, hat uns auch Dinge gezeigt, die etwas abseits der anderen Touris waren. Besonders beeindruckt haben mich die Infos, die Johann jederzeit parat hatte bzgl. der Vergangenheit der Comuna 13 und Kolumbiens. Auch das jedes Graffiti eine sehr tiefgehende Bedeutung hat, wusste ich nicht. Johann ist komplett tiefenenstpannt, keine Hektik, baut eine Wohlfühlathomsphäre auf. Sehr gutes Englisch und etwas deutsch, machen ihm zum perfekten TourGuide.Off the beaten Track - Best Guide