Bogota Street Art Guide
The world's best street art city. Tours, top murals, a self-guided walking route, and the stories behind the walls.
Tour Options
Three ways to experience Bogota's murals.
Bogota Graffiti Tour
Free (tip-based)The original and best. Run by local and international street artists who explain the political, social, and artistic context behind the murals. Started in 2011 after Australian artist Justin Betancourt was arrested for painting — the resulting public outcry legalized street art in Bogota.
Meeting point: Parque de los Periodistas, La Candelaria
The 10am English tour is the most popular. Show up 15 minutes early. Runs rain or shine — bring a rain jacket.
Bogota Street Art Tour (paid)
PaidSmaller groups (max 8), visits murals the free tour doesn't cover, includes areas in Chapinero and La Macarena. Often led by practicing muralists who can give technical insights into techniques.
Book via Airbnb Experiences or Viator. The smaller group makes for better photos.
Self-Guided Walk
Self-GuidedFollow our route below through La Candelaria's main mural corridors. Best for people who want to go at their own pace, photograph without a group, or revisit pieces they've seen on a guided tour.
Morning light (8-10am) is best for photography. The walls face east on most of the key streets.
Notable Murals
The pieces worth seeking out. Note: street art is impermanent — some may change.
The Recycler Woman
by Bastardilla
Calle 12C near Carrera 2
A massive piece depicting a woman made of recycled materials — a tribute to Bogota's recyclers (recicladores) who are essential to the city but often invisible. Bastardilla is one of Bogota's most important female street artists.
Political Commentary Wall
by DjLu
Carrera 2 between Calle 12B and 12C
DjLu's satirical work tackles Colombian politics, corruption, and social inequality with dark humor. His work changes frequently — he paints over old pieces with new commentary on current events.
💡 DjLu's pieces rotate. What's there today may be gone tomorrow — that's part of the art.
The Transforming Face
by Toxicómano
Calle 13 near Carrera 3
A surrealist morphing face that blends indigenous symbolism with urban culture. Toxicómano's work explores identity in post-colonial Colombia — the tension between indigenous heritage and modern city life.
The Peace Mural
by Various artists
Carrera 5 near Calle 26
Created during the 2016 peace process, this collaborative wall features work from over a dozen artists reflecting on Colombia's conflict, peace, and reconciliation. One of the most politically significant murals in the city.
Los Animales
by Guache
Calle 10 near Carrera 3
Vibrant, fantastical animals in Guache's signature style — a mix of indigenous Colombian art traditions and pop surrealism. His color palette draws from traditional Wayuu and Embera art.
The Owl
by Stinkfish
Carrera 3A at Calle 12B
Stinkfish is one of Bogota's most internationally recognized street artists. His photo-realistic portraits overlaid with psychedelic patterns are found worldwide, but his best work is still on home turf.
Chapinero Mural Corridor
by Various
Carrera 7 between Calle 57 and 60
A newer corridor outside the tourist zone with contemporary work by emerging artists. More experimental and less Instagram-famous than La Candelaria — which is exactly the point.
💡 Visit this after doing La Candelaria. It shows how street art culture has spread beyond the tourist center.
Cannabis and Conflict
by Various
Calle 26 near Carrera 5
A provocative section addressing Colombia's complex relationship with drug policy, conflict, and the failed war on drugs. Some of the most politically charged street art in the country.
Self-Guided Walking Route
~2-3 hours at a leisurely pace. Best in morning light.
1.Start at Parque de los Periodistas (Calle 16 at Carrera 7)
2.Walk south on Carrera 7 to Calle 13 — major mural density begins
3.Turn right on Calle 13, walk to Carrera 3 — Toxicómano's work
4.South on Carrera 3 to Calle 12B — DjLu and Stinkfish zone
5.Right on Calle 12C toward Carrera 2 — Bastardilla corridor
6.Continue to Plazoleta del Chorro de Quevedo — grab an empanada
7.South on Carrera 2 to Calle 10 — Guache's animals
8.Optional: walk east to Carrera 1 for newer, less-documented pieces
9.End at Plaza Bolívar or head to a café on Calle 10
- Bogota legalized street art in 2011 after massive public backlash when an Australian artist was arrested. Now the city actively commissions and protects murals.
- Murals change constantly — especially DjLu's political commentary. Don't expect to find every piece from this guide. That impermanence is part of the culture.
- Never photograph graffiti artists at work without asking. Some are painting legally, some aren't.
- The best light for photography is 8-10am when the east-facing walls in La Candelaria are illuminated.
- Street art extends well beyond La Candelaria — Chapinero, La Macarena, and even southern neighborhoods like Ciudad Bolívar have incredible work.
- Buy art from local artists at the Usaquén flea market or at galleries in La Macarena. Prints start around 50k COP ($12).