How to plan your Medellín: The Real Pablo Escobar Tour

If you’re planning a trip to Medellín, Colombia, a tour of Pablo Escobar’s life and death is a must-see. The Real Pablo Escobar Tour takes you on a journey through the most significant historical locations in his life. The 2.5-hour guided tour by a third-party company includes pickup, and it is the best way to learn about the infamous drug lord’s life and crimes.

Experience

The Real Pablo Escobar Tour provides a unique experience to explore Medellín’s most important sites related to Pablo Escobar’s life. You’ll learn about Escobar’s life, his place in Colombian history, his rise to power as a drug lord, and his fall from grace.

Itinerary

The Real Pablo Escobar Tour is a comprehensive 2.5-hour guided tour that takes you through several stops in Medellín.

Stop 1: Inflexión Memorial Park (guided tour)

The tour begins at the former site of one of Pablo Escobar’s homes. Here, Escobar hid his family and had enemies plant bombs to kill him. The site has transformed into a memorial park for victims of Colombia’s drug war.

Stop 2: Monasterio Santa Gertrudis La Magna (guided tour)

Next, the tour heads to “La Cathedral,” a jail that Escobar built for himself in agreement with the Colombian government, from which he later escaped.

Stop 3: Cancha El Dorado (guided tour)

Afterward, the tour takes you to the soccer field Escobar built known for its visionary design where he gave speeches.

Stop 4: Cementerio Jardins Montesacro (guided tour)

Finally, the tour stops at Escobar’s grave, located in a cemetery in Medellín.

Highlights

The Real Pablo Escobar Tour provides a unique opportunity to:

• Learn the painful and bloody history behind the rise and fall of drug lord Pablo Escobar.
• Visit the site of Escobar’s former home where he hid his family and had enemies plant bombs to kill him.
• Explore “La Cathedral,” a jail Escobar built for himself, from which he later escaped.
• See the soccer field Escobar built in an effort to ingratiate himself into Colombian politics, known for its visionary design where he gave speeches.
• Visit Escobar’s grave, located in a cemetery in Medellín.

Full description

The Real Pablo Escobar Tour takes you on a journey through the most significant historical locations in the life of the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar. The guided tour starts at the former site of one of Escobar’s homes. The location has transformed into a memorial park for victims of Colombia’s drug war.

Next, the tour heads to “La Cathedral,” a jail that Escobar built for himself in agreement with the Colombian government, from which he later escaped. The soccer field Escobar built is another unique stop on the tour. It is known for its visionary design where he gave speeches.

Finally, the tour stops at Escobar’s grave, located in a cemetery in Medellín.

The Real Pablo Escobar Tour provides a unique opportunity to learn about Colombia’s history and the painful and bloody history behind Pablo Escobar. The tour includes pickup, allowing you to focus solely on the tour and the sites you’ll visit.

Booking the Tour

To book the tour, please visit here.

Don’t miss out on this unique experience during your trip to Medellín. The Real Pablo Escobar Tour provides an unforgettable experience, a must-see for anyone interested in the history of Colombia and the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Insider’s Guide to Medellín

Medellín, the second-largest city in Colombia, is a vibrant and modern destination that has been transformed from a once-notorious city associated with drug cartels into a flourishing cultural hub. Visitors flock to this city to experience the bustling metropolitan energy, stunning natural landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re an adventurous traveler, a foodie, a history buff, or simply looking to unwind and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, Medellín has something for everyone.

Local Attractions

There are plenty of sights to explore in Medellín that will introduce you to the city’s rich cultural heritage and stunning natural scenery. One of the most popular attractions is the museo casa de la memoria (House of Memory Museum), which offers visitors a comprehensive historical perspective on the city’s painful past related to narcotrafficking and the civil war. The modern, interactive museum exposes the visitor to the conflict’s complicated causes, effects, and legacies. Another must-see attraction is the Botanical Garden of Medellín, a verdant oasis situated in the busy heart of the city. It boasts several thousand different species of plants and trees, including an extensive orchid collection. Parks like Parque Lleras and Parque de Las Luces are ideal for an evening stroll and are popular food and entertainment destinations.

Dining Spots

Medellín is a foodie’s paradise, with many innovative and dynamic dining options that showcase the city’s culinary diversity. The city’s culinary scene is anchored by Colombian cuisine, with comforting dishes like sudado, sancocho and bandeja paisa. The city’s street food scene is vibrant, especially in downtown’s pedestrian square, Plaza Botero. The vendors proudly display their fare and vegan/vegetarian options. In Parque Lleras, the vibrant party neighborhood in Poblado, coffee shops share space with diverse bars that offer craft beers and creative cocktails.

For a more upscale dining experience, Carmen, Origen and the terrace of Hotel Dann Carlton boast contemporary cuisine in a stylish atmosphere. Also, Medellín has its own Michellin-starred restaurant, El Cielo, which presents creative, flavor-rich gastronomy based on Colombian ingredients. It’s also focused on social responsibility and respect for the environment.

Cultural Experiences

Medellín boasts a rich and diverse cultural heritage worth exploring. The city’s music scene is world-renowned and is especially celebrated during the September Feria de las Flores (Flower Fair). During the fair, which lasts ten days, the city comes alive with live music, vibrant parades and the famous silleteros (individuals who carry decorated silla, a prehistoric wooden chair invented to ease transport through the mountains). Medellín also has a thriving art scene, with world-class galleries such as Casa Tres Patios and Museo de Arte Moderno showcasing local and international artists. Check out the beautiful street art that graces the streets of the Comuna 13 neighborhood.

Local History

No trip to Medellín is complete without exploring its complex and often difficult history. The city’s recent past is closely linked to narcotrafficking, and visitors can’t ignore tours related to Pablo Escobar and the drug cartels. These tours provide insight into the city’s cultural psyche and what life was like during that time, allowing visitors to explore the unusual underworld of Medellín, which stretches back to the 90s. For an authentic experience that tells real stories of communities demobilized during the paramilitary era, Manrique Tours are a must-do. Through collective memory, storytelling, and walking tours, they take visitors on a memorable trip that goes beyond the clichéd images related to narcotrafficking.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Suggestions

If you’re looking to venture off the beaten path, there are plenty of hidden gems to discover. Santa Elena is an Andean village on the outskirts of the city, famous for its flower cultivation and rural landscapes. Here you can hike the mountains, attend flower festivals, and get to know the local community. Medellín’s environs are also full of exciting nature activities, like zip-lining in nearby park Arví, paragliding over the valley in Rio Negro, or exploring the nearby jungle in the Los Katios National Park.

In conclusion, Medellin has a lot to offer as a tourist destination with its cultural richness, culinary diversity, and fascinating history. With so many things to do and see in the city, these recommendations should provide a good starting point for visitors to experience the best of Medellin.