Metro Line B to San Javier station costs exactly 3,650 COP with Cívica card. Eight-minute walk uphill to escalator base. Total cost under 4,000 COP including tips versus 60,000-80,000 COP for guided tours (15-20 USD). That's literally 1/20th the price for seeing identical murals and escalators.

Escalators are free and well-marked with clear signage. Locals point you toward Comuna 13 entrance if you look lost. No reservation needed, no waiting for tour groups to move. Art speaks for itself — You don't need someone reading Wikipedia facts at you for an hour while charging premium markup.

Brought 10,000 COP for tips, spent exactly 5,000 COP total on breakdancers and street performers. Some tourists tip 20,000+ COP per performance which inflates expectations for everyone. Reasonable tips are 1,000-2,000 COP per act.

Pro budget move: Visit weekday mornings before 10am to avoid cruise ship crowds from Cartagena. Weekend afternoons become tourist zoos with inflated prices. Save your money for actual experiences, not tour guide markup that adds zero value to obvious street art viewing.