Bogotá Graffiti Tour

The Bogotá Graffiti Tour is a walking tour of the commissioned murals of La Candelaria and the Distrito Graffiti in Puente Aranda, run since 2011 by a collective of local and resident artists. It meets at Parque de los Periodistas, at Avenida Jiménez with Carrera 3, close to Las Aguas TransMilenio station. The tour explains how Bogotá decriminalised street art in 2011 after police shot the teenage writer Diego Felipe Becerra, and how the permissive legal framework that followed produced some of the largest legal mural walls in Latin America.

Walking with a guide, visitors see murals by local and international artists, learn to read the styles and tags, and hear the stories behind particular pieces, including political commentary, indigenous themes and social history. The route moves through La Candelaria's streets, stopping at walls that change regularly as new works are painted over old ones. Guides describe the difference between graffiti, stencils and large-scale muralism, and explain the role of the artists' collective in commissioning and preserving work.

The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and departs daily at 10:00AM and 2:00PM. It is donation-based, with a suggested contribution of around COP 60,000 per adult, and children may join when accompanied by an adult. The 10AM departure is usually preferred because it finishes before the usual afternoon rain, and cloud and rain can affect visibility of the murals in the afternoon. Comfortable shoes, water and a rain jacket are useful.

Groups are commonly mid-sized and mix visitors from many countries. Crowds are not a problem for the tour itself, but the popular streets can be busy at weekends. Photography is encouraged, and the guide often points out the best angles. Visitors should keep valuables discreet, as the tour passes through busy areas, and follow the guide's advice on which streets to avoid on their own after dark. The tour's official website provides current details.