Metro Line B delivers most visitors to the San Javier station at the base of Comuna 13 in Medellín. From the station, a 20-minute uphill walk or a short taxi ride reaches the outdoor escalators climbing the western hills of the Aburrá Valley.
Carrera 96 & Calle 39, San Javier, Medellín, Colombia
Board Metro Line A at El Poblado station and ride north to San Antonio. Transfer here to Line B, staying on until the final stop at San Javier. The 8-kilometer train journey takes 35 minutes. Outside the station doors, begin the 20 to 30-minute uphill walk along Carrera 96, which eventually turns into Calle 39. This route leads directly to the base of the outdoor escalators. Keep your backpack on your front during the climb, as crowded areas attract opportunistic pickpockets.
Take Metro Line A from El Poblado and switch to Line B at San Antonio station. Ride to the San Javier terminus, then exit the station to locate the green feeder buses. These local buses run directly from the transit hub to the base of the escalators. Taking the bus cuts out a grueling uphill walk along steep concrete paths. Have small Colombian Peso coins ready for the bus fare, as drivers do not accept credit cards or large bills.
Type "Escaleras Electricas" directly into the Uber app to reach the exact starting point of the escalators. The 10-kilometer drive from El Poblado takes 25 minutes. Rides booked between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, or 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, will hit heavy rush hour traffic. Arriving before 9:00 am helps beat both the vehicle congestion and the massive tourist crowds that overwhelm the narrow streets later in the day. Request your return ride before sunset, as the neighborhood poses security risks after dark.
Official taxis wait in a designated line directly outside the San Javier Metro station exit. Ask the driver for the "escaleras electricas" to bypass the 1.5-kilometer uphill walk to the neighborhood. The short drive takes five minutes. Track the route on your phone to ensure the driver takes a direct path without inflating the fare through unnecessary detours. Pay with small Colombian Peso denominations, as drivers rarely carry change for large bills.
Comuna 13 lacks dedicated tourist parking lots along its narrow, maze-like alleys. Take an Uber or an official taxi—costing 6,000 COP from the San Javier station—directly to the 'escaleras electricas' drop-off to skip a 1.5-kilometer uphill walk. The drop-off leaves you at the base of the 384-meter escalators, but the uneven steps and steep inclines remain entirely inaccessible for wheelchairs.
| From | Mode | Time | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Poblado Station, Medellín | Metro | 35 minutes | 2,100 COP | Transfer at San Antonio to Line B, ride to San Javier, then catch a green feeder bus up Carrera 96 to skip the 30-minute climb. |
| El Poblado, Medellín | Uber | 25 minutes | 13,000 COP | Type 'Escaleras Electricas' as the destination to reach the exact starting point, but avoid booking during the 6:00 am to 8:00 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm traffic peaks. |
| San Javier Metro Station, Medellín | Taxi | 5 minutes | 6,000 COP | Hire an official taxi directly outside the station and request the 'escaleras electricas' to bypass the 1.5-kilometer uphill walk. |
Arrive between 9:00 am and 10:00 am on a weekday to bypass the massive weekend crowds. Mid-afternoon temperatures reach up to 32°C on the steep hillsides, and low clouds often roll in later to obscure the valley views. Up to 90,000 tourists visit monthly, making the narrow alleys nearly impassable on Saturdays and Sundays.
Type "Escaleras Electricas" directly into the Uber app to get dropped off at the starting point of the 384-meter outdoor escalators. A ride from El Poblado takes 25 minutes and costs roughly 13,000 COP. Avoid booking cars during peak traffic hours from 6:00 am to 8:00 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Ride Metro Line A to San Antonio station and transfer to Line B, taking it to the final San Javier stop for 2,100 COP. From the exit, face a 20 to 30-minute uphill walk along Carrera 96, which turns into Calle 39. Catch a green feeder bus instead to save your legs for the steep neighborhood stairs.
Official taxis wait directly outside the San Javier Metro station for the 1.5-kilometer drive to the neighborhood. Tell the driver you want the "escaleras electricas" to secure a quick five-minute trip for about 6,000 COP. Watch the route to ensure the driver does not take an unnecessary detour to inflate the fare.
Bring small Colombian Peso denominations to tip guides and buy snacks like crema de mango biche from independent street stalls. Free walking tours, such as Zippy Tours, expect a tip of 30,000 COP per person. Credit cards are useless at most popsicle stands and small art galleries scattered along the steep paths.
Take Line A to San Antonio station, transfer to Line B, and ride to the final stop at San Javier. The 8-kilometer trip from El Poblado takes 35 minutes and costs 2,100 COP. From the station exit, walk 20 to 30 minutes uphill along Carrera 96, which becomes Calle 39, or catch a green feeder bus directly to the escalators.
Type 'Escaleras Electricas' into the Uber app to bypass the uphill walk from the metro station. A ride from El Poblado covers 10 kilometers, costs around 13,000 COP, and takes 25 minutes. Book outside the peak traffic windows of 6:00 to 8:00 am and 5:00 to 7:00 pm to avoid gridlock.
Official taxis wait directly outside the San Javier station exits. The 1.5-kilometer ride to the escalators takes five minutes and costs roughly 6,000 COP. Ask the driver specifically for 'escaleras electricas' and monitor the route to prevent unnecessary detours that inflate the fare.
Entry to the neighborhood, public streets, and the 384-meter outdoor escalators costs nothing. No official government permits are required to walk around. If you join a free walking tour like Zippy Tours, bring 30,000 COP in cash to tip the guide.
Aim for a weekday arrival between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. Morning visits beat the 32°C afternoon heat and avoid the heavy crowds that overwhelm the narrow stairs on weekends. Leave the neighborhood before sunset, as the area poses increased security risks after dark.
The steep hills, uneven concrete steps, and narrow alleys prevent standard wheelchair access. Visitors with mobility constraints face the equivalent of a 15-story climb even with the six flights of electric escalators. A specialized motorized handbike or power wheelchair is necessary to navigate the lower public spaces that feature ramps.
Walking the main road from San Javier station during daylight hours poses minimal risk. Stay on the primary tourist paths and avoid turning into the maze-like residential alleys where local gangs operate. Keep your phone and wallet secured in front pockets to deter opportunistic pickpockets in the dense crowds.
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