Private Tour
African Music Roots Private Tour in Comuna 13, Medellin
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
This tour is part of our H.E.A.R.T. Experiences at Impulse Travel - Go deep into Comuna 13 to meet with resilient artists who recovered youth and public spaces through reconnection to their African roots in music, dance, and creativity.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Taking this tour you will support two local initiatives that rely on tourism to survive. We can arrange private transportation from and to your hotel for an additional cost. The local street artist doesn’t speak English, our guide will serve as translator.
We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes and sunscreen.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
You will be picked up at your hotel to take you to San Javier, Comuna 13’s entry before moving on to the highest part of the Comuna, Nuevos Conquistadores neighborhood.
Escaleras Electricas De La Comuna 13
At this place, you can see Medellín’s rural outskirts and have a privileged view over Comuna 13 and the entire city. Descending through El Corazón, Independencias, and El Salado neighborhoods you will learn the impressive story of how dances and musical culture helped local youth and led into a more peaceful context. You will understand the dimensions of the transformation as you hear the locals narrating the rough context that they had to face years before due to gang wars, para-military groups, and urban guerillas. To give you a first-hand experience of the activities that held the community together, you will visit Son Bata’s music studio where local musicians recorded one of their hits “ Estamos Melos” and learn how to play it with percussions instructed by the experts. After this easy and enjoyable activity, you can get loose and learn how to dance with one of the best dancers at Son Batá who will lead you into making great steps, easily and in no time!
What‘s Included
Knowledgeable guide in Spanish and English
Typical Colombian snack
Public transportation rides.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off in public transportation.
Optional tips and gratuities
Unspecified food and beverages
Personal expenses
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
African Music Roots Private Tour in Comuna 13, Medellin
Pickup included
Reviews
5 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A Truly Special Experience
letsrunawaytogether,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My friend and I are just back from the INCREDIBLY MOVING Afro tour with Froilan and Nene. They were so knowledgeable and thoughtful and charming and open — it was a real highlight and a very necessary experience exploring Comuna 13. (Yovony, the driver, was a lovely and calm presence as well). I travel for a living and take many tours — this was truly special. I feel like it should be required education (and entertainment) for anyone traveling to Medellin.
Experience the reality of a transforming community
Explore63232633506,,Dec 30, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the best experience of the visit to Medellin. Our guide through the Comuna was an activist and a community organizer, giving us insights into the lives of the residents. We appreciated and were inspired by his commitment to the people of his community.
Much deeper dive into the communa!
MomMD2003,,Aug 11, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an amazing tour that gave you the history of the communa 13 community with an emphasis on the emergence of an Afro Colombian culture there. It was physically demanding walking and climbing through the narrow walkways amongst the houses, so not for the physically challenged. We got to the touristy part of the tour and I was so glad we had spent the majority of our tour learning about the communa. It was crowded, commercial and loud. The artwork was beautiful but you could hardly appreciate it because of all the people everywhere. If you’re going for the cart, go early in the day! In the end, this particular communa 13 tour was worth the effort!
A different way to see Comuna 13
6lorena8,,Mar 11, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was very different from the previews Comuna 13 experience I had had. Comuna 13 is actually pretty big and the hyper-touristy part of it is just a small bit. With this tour, Impulse and their local partners show you a different face. I loved that we were barely the only visitors and people were very friendly and open. Also, the drumming class and the local snack were a highlight. Carlos our local guide is an amazing person and what they have done for their community is remarkable. Really recommended tour!
The best off the beaten track local experience I had in Colombia
P2480NOjaimer,,Mar 9, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We are grateful that our Travel Consultant at Impulse insisted us to take this experience in Medellin. We had been in Colombia for some weeks already and until that point, we hadn't really felt like we had experience something that was impossible for us to do by ourselves without the help of a tour company. This tour was exactly that. Although Comuna 13 is a big destination for tourists, this tour is at a part of the Comuna where travelers hardly get to. Our guide Carlos is an amazing host, full of energy and passion to share his story and the story of his music collective Sombata who has fought against gangs and crime with peaceful resistance and music. It was such a privilege to listen to him and it was key to have the logistic support and interpretation by Impulse. I strongly recommend this company for travelers who are looking for great local experiences and who are conscious about creating a positive impact.
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