After our initial day trip into Medellin, we decided to book a guided tour of Comuna 13, which was historically recognized by many people as the most dangerous neighborhood in Colombia. We left our campground so early that the cable cars weren’t running yet. Instead, we had to take a wild bus ride down the mountain side and into the city.
I mentioned that Comuna 13 is historically dangerous, but this area has been transformed over the past 20 years due to community initiatives and the impact of tourism. In our video, we share the colors, culture, and history of this noteworthy area.
Please note we’ve placed a warning on this video asking parents to screen the video before sharing with their children. There is a brief discussion that includes graphic violence. We don’t include this gratuitously, but to emphasize the massive change that has taken place in Comuna 13.
Watch now:
This is the shorter video version of our Comuna 13 tour. We also produced an extended version, which is more than two times longer. It is a slower-paced video intended for our community members who want to understand more about how Colombia’s past intersects with its present, and can’t visit Medellin to take the tour themselves.
Watch the extended cut here:
Our tour guide Adrian, a young university student who grew up in Comuna 13 and still lives there, gives tours through a center called Casa Kolacho. Casa Kolacho is a cultural center working to change the lives of young people in Comuna 13, which is ultimately how the entire culture of the area will continue to change.
Tours are currently available in Spanish (40,000 COP) and English (60,000 COP) twice a day, at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. They are three hours long. You can book by messaging Casa Kolacho on WhatsApp at +57 311 3473131.
What else is new?
We left the Medellin area and have been enjoying several small towns to the south. Alas, it has been raining almost non-stop! The day I’m writing this is Day 10 straight of rainy days! It appears rainy season has arrived in Colombia a month early.
We are excited to begin a fresh season on YouTube. Our goal is to do a better job of sharing the overall narrative of our journey, rather than piecemeal experiences here and there. This new style should become clearer in our next video. We look forward to your feedback.
-B
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