Opening Scene
When the group gathers, their expressions say everything: part excitement, part hesitation.
The guide pauses before starting, fully aware that the story he carries is both deeply personal and globally repackaged.
He knows that for some, this tour is just another box to tick.
For others, it's an attempt to grasp the lingering wounds the city still holds.
As he begins, he hopes they’ll look past the crime-myth veneer and recognize the human cost behind the narrative they’ve come to consume.
It’s a reminder that every place has layers and the deepest ones rarely make it into the brochure.
Origin
From bullet holes to guided tours
In Medellín, the scars of violence led to something unexpected. Around 2006, the so-called "narco-tours" began to pop up. Initially, they aimed to be a live history lesson, showing the social impact of the drug trade on neighborhoods and the transformation of what was once the most dangerous city in the world.
The initial goal was to educate visitors about Colombia's complex and painful past. They wanted people to grasp the trauma. But, over time, international curiosity shifted focus.
The image of Pablo Escobar, fueled by TV series and documentaries, became a kind of tourist magnet. Did you know that the interest in this figure has turned the city into a stage? The thin line between remembering history and creating a spectacle started to blur.
What started as a way to help understand a nation's pain, has it simply become a script for entertainment for the global audience?
The Phenomenon
Medellín now draws thousands of visitors every year, many seeking that "narco-history." Can you believe that what began as small, informal tours is now a multimillion-dollar industry? It attracts travelers from every continent, looking to understand the past.
Companies now offer highly varied experiences. These range from strolls through the vibrant street art of Comuna 13 to exclusive visits to Escobar's former properties, his grave, and even his old private zoo. What do you think travelers are truly looking for in these spots?
What makes Medellín's narco-tourism unique is its dual narrative. One part sells the dramatic myth, but the other seeks redemption and remembrance. The very streets that once saw violence now thrive on tourism, murals, and guided debates on memory and morality.
According to El Espectador, Medellín received around 270,000 foreign visitors in 2017, and a significant number showed interest in the so-called “narco-tours” related to Pablo Escobar. Medellín, once one of the world’s most dangerous cities, now actively markets its transformation.
