Comuna 13 — San Javier — went from a symbol of conflict to one of Latin America's landmarks of street art: graffiti, hip hop, breaking. You cannot talk about Medellín street culture without it, and grillz belong to the same aesthetic.
Comuna 13 runs on two rhythms at once: a steady flow of tourism around the open-air escalators and the Graffitour murals, and the everyday life of Las Independencias, where hip hop and breaking have been part of the neighbourhood's identity for years rather than a passing trend. For long-time residents, grillz are usually just another piece of that urban aesthetic, often fangs or a single gold cap to complete an everyday look.
For visitors passing through the 13 on a day tour, taking the mould mid-walk between murals is rarely practical: it works better to book the appointment at your accommodation in Poblado, Laureles or downtown on another day, so the process does not interrupt the tour or depend on finding a quiet corner in the Graffitour crowd.
If you live in the 13 and would rather have us come to you, we find a car-accessible meeting point, usually near San Javier station or Metrocable Line J, so you do not have to carry anything down to the escalators yourself. On weekends, when the tour is busiest, we prefer weekday bookings for a calmer visit.
Landmarks in Comuna 13
The open-air escalators, the Graffitour murals, Las Independencias and Metrocable Line J.
Getting to the studio
San Javier station at the end of Line B connects to Metrocable J and the routes up to the escalators.
Visits to your home, hotel or Airbnb
If you live in the 13 we agree a car-accessible meeting point; if you are visiting on the Graffitour, it is better to book impressions at your accommodation on another day.
Timing
Reference travel time from El Poblado: 30–45 minutes by car, or about 30 minutes by Metro changing at San Antonio.
Plain pieces take 5–10 days; gold and iced 10–15. See prices, styles and how it works.