If you are distantly familiar with Colombia of the late 20th century, you must have heard the name of Pablo Escobar. He was the founder of the Medellin drug cartel and wrecked havoc on Colombia during his time, impacting society, economy and peace of the country. Though he died in a shootout in 1993, the aftermath of his terror lasted much longer in Medellin.
If you are planning a trip to Medellin and looking for tours, we implore you to avoid a Pablo Escobar Tour.
❗️ Say NO to narco tourism.
If you truly want to understand how drugs have played a role in shaping Colombia’s history and geography, economy and politics, go for this tour instead:
More than Escobar Tour, where the victims are the heroes of the story and not Escobar.
Let us break it down, why you should avoid a Pablo Escobar Tour, how do the common people of the city perceive this tour, and what else you can see and do instead when visiting Medellin.
The Beginning: An Opportunity
Thanks to the popular Netflix series Narcos, released between 2015 and 2017, the story of Pablo Escobar garnered insane amount of interest from across the world in the recent years.
We, humans of the modern world, identify opportunities of revenue like a vulture eyes for its prey. That is exactly what some tourism providers of Medellin did.
With the increased interest in Pablo Escobar, they found a way of earning big bucks by selling Escobar’s story to the international tourists. They tailored tours that now sell under different variations of the name ‘Pablo Escobar Tour’.
What is A Pablo Escobar Tour
Pablo Esobar Tours offered by different tour companies usually take you through Pablo Escobar’s residence, his jail, his grave and the devastating damages he had caused to the city of Medellin.
Many of these tours end with an in-person meeting with his family member(s). This includes his brother Roberto Escobar who himself was one of the co-founders of the Medellin cartel.
❗️ Selling and buying of Pablo Esobar Tours are transactions capitalizing on morbid curiosity. That is why this is one tour that you should definitely avoid in Medellin.
Pablo Escobar: A Hero or A Villan?
We were fortunate to have had some meaningful interactions with the people of Colombia. This gave us the chance to take a sneak peek into the locals’ perspectives on different subjects.
It was eye opening for us to see how the Paisas (locals of Medellin) react to Pablo Escobar. No, they absolutely do not root for Pablo Escobar, unlike how you and I rooted for Walter White in Breaking Bad.
At least that is what we gathered from the people we met there. The Paisas grew up amidst terror. They really worked hard through years of gloom to finally be able to create a brighter present and future for themselves.
Of course, they do not want a criminal to steal the thunder from Medellin’s laborious struggles and victorious achievements. Yes, that is what Pablo Escobar is to the people of Medellin, a criminal!
Local Perspective: The One Who Shall Not Be Named
One such example is from our free walking tour of the city.
At the beginning of the tour, our guide clearly established a rule that there should be no references to that criminal, no questions and no statements. He did not even pronounce the name of Pablo Escobar, as if he was Lord Voldermort.
Our guide said this criminal had induced so much pain for the people of Medellin that he did not deserve a place in the city’s transformation story that he was going to share with us.
Also, he was wary of his City Tour being misinterpreted by other locals as the Pablo Escobar Tour, if that name was ever brought up. Clearly, the locals despise the Pablo Escobar Tour because it glorifies the darkest phase of their lives.
Why Avoid A Pablo Escobar Tour: Our Perspective
Interestingly, we could totally relate with the sentiments of the people of Medellin on this topic. Colombia has so much of history, nature and culture to boast about.
Yet some tour companies rely on selling only what the world wants to see: a dark past instead of a bright future.
This is so much like what foreign tourists are sold in our home country India. India has stunning mountain landscapes, thousands of kilometers of coastline, rich heritage, amazing wildlife and diverse cultures. Yet some tour companies curate tours to earn dollars and euros by selling ‘hungry India, poor India’ instead.
If you are from India, or a similar developing nation, do you really encourage this angle of tourism, despite having all the good things that are there to showcase about your country?
Why would the Colombians support a Pablo Escobar Tour then?
Medellin is Bigger than Escobar: What to See and Do Instead
Don’t worry, even if you skip a Pablo Escobar Tour, you will find plenty to do and see in Medellin.
Here are some of our recommendations:
✅ Free Walking Tour with Real City Tours: A fantastic introduction to Medellin and its story of transformation.
✅ Local Food Tour: Tasting local delicacies from Colombia while hanging out with a guide in some of the nicest neighborhoods of Medellin.
💰 When you are ready to book the Local Food Tour, click here and get a discount of 5000 COP per person.
✅ Bike Tour in Medellin: A nice and active way of getting to know the city, on a bike. Choose an e-bike for an easier ride.
✅ Ciclovia: Experience the city of Medellin closing down its main roads for traffic every Sunday morning to promote fitness and outdoor activities, like walking and cycling, for families, friends and pets.
✅ Coffee Tour: If the coffee special towns of Salento or Jardin are not part of your Colombia itinerary, book this coffee tour in Medellin.
✅ Comuna 13 Tour: A guided tour of the neighborhood Comuna 13, which stands as a glaring example of Medellin’s transformation story.
Comuna 13 Tour has become a touristy affair now, but you can go for beautiful street art, live music and dance scene, nice views, local food and drinks, and a chance to interact with the residents of the comuna.
✅ Guatape Day Tour: Visit this colorful town near Medellin and climb 700 stairs to go to the top of an inselberg, El Peñón de Guatape, also known as La Piedra del Peñol.
✅ More than Escobar Tour: If you truly want to know the impact of Escobar (the tour is not about his life) and the likes on Colombia, book this tour.
For more ideas, check out our blog post on Things to Do in Medellin.
If you are wondering how to put all these activities into an actionable travel plan, read our Medellin Itinerary for 3-5 Days.
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Travel Resources
- Flights: Skyscanner
- Hotels: Booking.com | Expedia
- Tours: Viator | GetYourGuide
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- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
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