15 Real Pablo Escobar Locations Featured in Netflix’s Narcos (2025 Guide)

The Netflix series “Narcos” brought Pablo Escobar’s story to life through locations in Colombia, Mexico, the United States, Panama and Chile.  Each episode featured about 25 different locations, which shows the incredible scale of this acclaimed series.

“Narcos Netflix” turned historical landmarks into dramatic settings during its run from August 2015 to September 2017.  The first two seasons told Escobar’s story through interior shots in Bogotá and exterior filming between Bogotá and Medellín.  The show’s commitment to authenticity shines through in details like filming Escobar’s death scene just two blocks from where it happened in Los Pinos, Medellín.

The production team gained rare access to historical landmarks, including the Casa de Nariño where President César Gaviria’s scenes were shot.  Fans can visit 15 real-life locations in 2025, from Escobar’s luxurious Hacienda Napoles with its 27 artificial lakes and private zoo to La Candelaria’s cultural district where Marta Ochoa’s kidnapping scene was filmed.

Hacienda Napoles

Pablo Escobar’s immense wealth and power became evident through Hacienda Napoles, which sits approximately 150 km east of Medellín in Puerto Triunfo.  This sprawling 7.7 square mile estate became the drug lord’s most cherished property after he bought it in 1978.

Hacienda Napoles History

The estate showcased Escobar’s lavish lifestyle with 27 artificial lakes, a Spanish colonial mansion, private airport and a personal zoo that housed elephants, giraffes and his notorious hippos.  A mounted replica of the Piper PA-18 Super Cub airplane (tail number HK-617-P) welcomed visitors at the entrance gate – the same aircraft that carried his first cocaine shipment to the United States.

The Colombian government fought a legal battle with Escobar’s family over the property’s ownership after his death in 1993.  They won the case, and the property’s official value reached 5 billion Colombian pesos (approximately USD 2.23 million) by 2006.

Hacienda Napoles in Narcos Netflix

The estate plays a significant role in the latter half of season one in the pablo escobar netflix series.  The production team chose to recreate the estate in Villavicencio, 75 miles southeast of Bogotá, instead of filming at the actual location.  Executive producer Eric Newman explained, “It’s the plains of Colombia… There’s a lot of asaderos, which are big restaurants that serve giant flanks of beef”.

The narcos netflix series captured the estate’s magnificence and showed it as Pablo’s command center before he became a fugitive.

Visiting Hacienda Napoles Today

“Parque Tematico Hacienda Napoles,” a family-friendly theme park, opened its doors in 2008 and has drawn over one million visitors.  Visitors can enjoy water attractions, guided safaris, aquariums and historical exhibits.

Escobar’s original four hippos have grown to approximately 100 animals, creating the largest wild hippo population outside Africa.  These “cocaine hippos” roam freely and some venture into the Magdalena River basin.

The Memorial Museum offers pablo escobar narcos enthusiasts a timeline of his life without glorifying his crimes.  Ticket prices range from 34,000 COP (about USD 12) to 65,000 COP (about USD 21), making the park available to both international and local tourists.

Barrio Pablo Escobar, Medellín

Unlike his grand rural estates, Barrio Pablo Escobar shows the drug lord’s urban influence and his complex bond with Medellín’s poorest residents.  The neighborhood, which officials call Loreto but locals named after their benefactor, stands as evidence of Escobar’s populist tactics and lasting impact.

Barrio Pablo Escobar Significance

The area started as “Medellín Sin Tugurios” (Medellín Without Shanty Towns).  Escobar created it in 1982 after he visited Moravia, a huge garbage dump where hundreds of families lived without permission.  He gave housing vouchers to approximately 400 families and moved them to the eastern side of the city in the Buenos Aires district.  These charitable acts helped him develop his image as a Robin Hood figure.  Poor residents who felt ignored by their government became his loyal supporters.

The neighborhood exists as a phantom on city maps.  Medellín has 249 recognized urban neighborhoods, but Barrio Pablo Escobar doesn’t appear in official records despite housing roughly 15,000 people.  The locals still hold onto both the name and their gratitude toward the man who built their community.

Barrio Pablo Escobar in Pablo Escobar Netflix Series

The neighborhood appears in season one of the Pablo Escobar Netflix series that shows his populist activities.  Viewers see him opening basketball courts, launching schools and funding an entire comuna in Medellín’s hillside shantytowns.  The production team shot these scenes in Barrio Manrique, about a mile north of the actual location.

The netflix narcos series paints a romantic picture of Escobar’s connection to the neighborhood.  A key scene shows him risking arrest to meet residents and hand out money, highlighting his community ties.  These dramatic scenes reflect the complex truth of Escobar’s role as both criminal and benefactor.

Current State of Barrio Pablo Escobar

The neighborhood today displays visible tributes to its founder.  Large pop-art murals of Escobar cover the streets and residents keep small shrines in their homes.  People here still nod respectfully or express gratitude at Escobar’s name.

Tourists now visit the area on “narco-tours” to see the gallery with its mannequin of Escobar.  It holds a walkie-talkie while AK-47 rifles hang behind it.  Medellín tries hard to move past its drug-trafficking history, but Barrio Pablo Escobar remains a monument to the man who reshaped its residents’ lives through violence and charity.

La Catedral Prison

A foggy mountainside overlooking Medellín holds one of history’s most notorious “prisons” – La Catedral.  This custom-built facility shows Pablo Escobar’s peak power and his unmatched control over the Colombian government.

La Catedral’s Real Story

Escobar struck a deal with Colombian authorities in 1991 to build his own prison.  People called it “Hotel Escobar” or “Club Medellín.” The facility worked more like a fortress to protect Escobar from his enemies than to keep him locked up.  This luxury compound had amazing features including:

• A football pitch that hosted the Colombian National Team
• A jacuzzi, waterfall, and bar with big-screen TVs
• A billiards room and disco that held wedding receptions
• A giant doll house and telescope to watch his family’s home

He picked his own guards and welcomed over 300 unauthorized guests during his stay.  His time behind bars turned into a joke when news broke that he tortured and killed four lieutenants inside La Catedral over money.  He served just 13 months of his five-year sentence before escaping in July 1992.  The authorities tried to move him to a regular prison, but he slipped away.

La Catedral Portrayal in Pablo Escobar Narcos

The Netflix series features La Catedral heavily in episode nine of season one, titled “La Catedral.” The show stays true to the prison’s luxurious setup and Escobar’s ongoing criminal activities.  The episode shows how DEA agents found out about Escobar using carrier pigeons to communicate.  They worked hard to document all the luxuries flowing into the prison.

The show captures Escobar’s mindset perfectly during this time.  Despite his comfortable life, he grew more unstable and violent toward anyone he saw as a threat.

Tourism Around La Catedral

La Catedral sat empty for years after Escobar’s death until 2007.  A group of Benedictine monks gave the property new life.  The old prison complex now houses a chapel, library, cafeteria and workshops.  The monks built a memorial for the cartel’s victims.

The site has become a popular stop on pablo escobar narcos tourism routes.  Visitors can walk through the grounds where this unique chapter of criminal history played out.  The city of Envigado gave the whole property to the Benedictine order.  This final act turned a symbol of corruption into a place where people come to reflect and remember.

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Casa de Nariño, Bogotá

Casa de Nariño, Colombia’s neoclassical presidential palace and official residence, stands proudly in Bogotá’s historic La Candelaria district.  The palace’s grand columns and fountain features create an imposing façade that symbolizes both architectural beauty and Colombian political power.

Casa de Nariño’s Political Importance

The palace has been the Colombian president’s main workplace and home since the early 20th century.  The site holds special historical value as Antonio Nariño’s birthplace – a colonial revolutionary who faced imprisonment after secretly translating French human-rights laws into Spanish.  President Rafael Núñez bought the property in 1885 to create a presidential palace because of its rich history and prime location near the National Capitol.

French architect Gaston Lelarge and Colombian architect Julián Lombana gave the palace a complete makeover in the early 1900s at General Rafael Reyes’s request.  They redesigned it in neoclassical style.  The building has survived many political challenges over the years, including damage from the El Bogotazo riots in 1948, and workers completed its restoration in 1979.

Casa de Nariño Scenes in Netflix Narcos

The Netflix series about Pablo Escobar showcases Casa de Nariño during President César Gaviria’s tenure from 1990-1994, which coincided with Escobar’s peak influence.  The production team received rare permission to film President Gaviria’s scenes inside the actual palace, which added remarkable authenticity to the show.

A production team member reflected on filming at locations like the Presidential Palace: “Some places we went to shoot are never going to change.  And that added a level of authenticity you just can’t beat.” The show captures several crucial moments at Casa de Nariño, including Gaviria’s emergency declaration after his government struggled to stop narco-terrorism.

Can you visit Casa de Nariño?

Casa de Nariño welcomes visitors, but you’ll need to plan ahead.  The palace offers free guided tours in English and Spanish that you must book through the official website’s “Servicios a la Ciudadanía” section under “Visitas Casa de Nariño.” Each tour runs about 45 minutes with multiple daily slots:

• Weekdays: 9am, 10:30am, 2:30pm, and 4pm
• Saturdays: 2:30pm and 4pm
• Sundays: 3pm and 4pm

Security conducts a full search before letting visitors enter.  You can watch the presidential guard ceremony from the building’s east side at 3:30pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays without any prior arrangements.

Central Cemetery of Bogotá

The Central Cemetery stands as one of the most important historical landmarks in Bogotá.  This sacred ground has served as both a burial site and cultural treasury since the 19th century.  The cemetery even made a brief appearance in the Pablo Escobar Netflix series during a key historical scene.

Central Cemetery’s Historical Relevance

The Central Cemetery, now 187 years old, emerged under Presidents Rufino Cuervo and Francisco de Paula Santander as Colombia’s first burial ground outside church walls.  People called it the “Universal Cemetery” at first.  This vast necropolis earned its status as a National Monument in 1984 because of its rich historical, architectural and cultural value.

The cemetery became the final home for Colombia’s brightest minds and leaders.  Its central corridor holds the remains of many presidents, including Francisco de Paula Santander, among other revolutionary figures, military leaders and cultural icons.  Spanish colonial customs dictated that the dead should rest inside churches until King Carlos III mandated a change in 1787.

Central Cemetery in Pablo Escobar Netflix Show

The Pablo Escobar Netflix series features the Central Cemetery in a brief but powerful scene that recreates Luis Carlos Galán’s funeral.  Galán, a prominent Liberal presidential candidate killed by the Medellín drug cartel in 1989, rests here with all but one of these former presidents and other notable Colombians.

The Netflix Narcos production team shot these touching scenes at the actual location.  Their choice added real depth to this powerful moment that inspired Colombia’s battle against narco-terrorism.

Memorials at Central Cemetery

Today, the cemetery features remarkable memorials beyond its political luminaries.  Two of the most popular graves belong to children and a beermaker, not political leaders.  Visitors bring sweets and white flowers to the Bodmer sisters’ grave, who died from a mysterious illness in 1903, hoping for their children’s healing.

Leo Siegfried Kopp, Bavaria brewery’s founder, has created an unexpected legacy after death.  His grave features a replica of Rodin’s Thinker.  People whisper their wishes into the statue’s golden ear, believing it brings wealth and good fortune.

La Candelaria, Bogotá

Cobblestone streets and vibrant colonial architecture make La Candelaria stand out as Bogotá’s historic district since 1538.  Spanish Colonial Baroque and art deco styled buildings paint this colorful neighborhood, which beats as Colombia’s capital city’s cultural and historical heart.

La Candelaria’s Cultural Vibe

La Candelaria includes approximately 500 cultural institutions from museums and theaters to libraries and universities.  Plaza Bolívar stands at its center as the political nucleus where the city got its new foundation in 1539.  The Capitol Building and Cathedral of Bogotá surround this historic plaza.  Narrow streets keep their colonial charm alive and transport visitors through Colombian history’s many chapters.  Artists, students and cultural enthusiasts flock to this unique atmosphere to experience authentic Colombian culture.

La Candelaria in Narcos Netflix

The Pablo Escobar Netflix production team thought over La Candelaria carefully before shooting several pivotal scenes. “We chose Candelaria for a few reasons.  It has a dynamic look—one that said traditional Colombia—that hasn’t changed since the early ’80s,” explained production head Newman.  The neighborhood played a key role when DEA Agent Javier Peña first meets Colonel Horacio Carrillo in what Newman called “a cool, slightly noir-ish enclave” that “felt like the kind of place Peña would hang out.” On top of that, narcos netflix captured the Marta Ochoa kidnapping by M-19 guerillas in these atmospheric streets, using its period-accurate look to boost historical authenticity.

Learning La Candelaria Today

La Candelaria draws both tourists and locals through:

• Rich museum offerings including the Gold Museum (all but one of these experts call it the world’s best according to Tripadvisor) and the Botero Museum with works by Picasso and Monet
• Luis Ángel Arango Library—Latin America’s most visited library housing over 1.1 million books
• Walking tours that showcase the neighborhood’s extensive street art and graffiti

The district remains Bogotá’s main tourist destination.  Street vendors throughout La Candelaria now sell controversial Pablo Escobar Narcos souvenirs like shot glasses and magnets showing the drug lord.  This merchandise might disappear soon if Colombia’s congress passes a 2024 bill banning such items.

Monaco Building, Medellín

The Monaco Building stood eight stories tall in Medellín’s upscale El Poblado neighborhood.  This concrete fortress became a symbol of Pablo Escobar’s criminal empire and one of his most notorious properties.

Monaco Building’s Dark Past

The Monaco Building became Escobar’s family residence throughout the 1980s after its construction in 1970.  This luxury property sat in the Santa Maria de los Angeles neighborhood of El Poblado.  The building boasted impressive features:

• A heliport on the roof
• A swimming pool
• Security measures made the building almost impossible to breach

The building’s story changed dramatically on January 13, 1988.  Rivals from the Cali Cartel placed a car bomb with 800 pounds of dynamite in front of the structure.  The blast devastated a four-block radius and killed three people.  At least ten others suffered injuries and Escobar’s daughter Manuela lost hearing in one ear permanently.  This attack sparked Colombia’s bloodiest drug cartel war.

Monaco Building in Pablo Escobar Narcos

The Netflix series shows the Monaco Building as a crucial hideout where Escobar shelters his family.  His lawyer works to negotiate a surrender deal with Colombian authorities during this time.  The show captures the bombing as a crucial moment that intensifies the conflict between rival cartels.

The series accurately shows how Escobar’s former mistress Valeria Velez accidentally revealed his location to Cali cartel co-leader Hélmer Herrera.  This leak led to the bombing.  The building symbolizes both Escobar’s strength and weakness throughout the Pablo Escobar Narcos storyline.

What Replaced the Monaco Building?

The Monaco Building met its end on February 22, 2019.  A memorial park dedicated to narco-terrorism victims now stands in its place.  Nearly 1,600 people watched the controlled implosion, including families of Escobar’s victims.  This moment marked a symbolic shift for Medellín.

Mayor Federico Gutiérrez stressed that demolishing this popular “narco-tour” stop meant sharing history from the victims’ viewpoint.  Colombian President Ivan Duque attended and declared that perpetrators would not define the historical narrative.

The park now showcases exhibitions that honor anti-drug trafficking fighters.  Visitors can experience a “Sound Walk” that shares stories of resilience.

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Bolívar Park, Medellín

Bolívar Park stands in Medellín’s historic center, a pivotal location that played a dramatic role in the finale of Pablo Escobar Netflix series.  This urban sanctuary opened its gates in 1892 and became a haunting backdrop to one of narco-history’s most poignant moments.

Bolívar Park’s Significance

The park spans approximately 14,400 square meters across two city blocks and serves as both a cultural landmark and community gathering space.  An equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar dominates the center, created in 1923 by Italian sculptor Giovanni Anderlini and cast by Eugenio Maccagnani.  The park remains a powerful symbol of Medellín’s identity.

Unlike many places linked to Escobar’s violent past, Bolívar Park celebrates the city’s rich cultural heritage.  The “Retreta Dominical” open-air concerts by the Banda Sinfónica Universidad de Antioquia happen on the first three Sundays each month.  This tradition has lasted over 100 years.  The San Alejo Crafts Fair draws both locals and tourists on the first Saturday monthly.

Bolívar Park Scenes in Netflix Narcos

The park takes center stage in season two’s finale of the Pablo Escobar Netflix series.  The Netflix Narcos production captured a crucial scene where Escobar sits on a bench eating ice cream just before DEA agents arrive.  This quiet moment shows the drug lord watching daily life unfold around him shortly before his death.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Medellín looms in the scene’s background, creating a powerful contrast between the sacred building and the notorious criminal.  The pablo escobar narcos portrayal uses this public space to show its protagonist’s human side during his final hours.

Bolívar Park Today

The park underwent a six-month renovation and emerged with major improvements.  New concrete pavers and a restored fountain now grace the area in front of the cathedral.  Pedestrians enjoy wider sidewalks while vehicle access has been reduced.

The park remains the heart of Medellín’s historic center.  However, visitors should plan their trips during daylight hours due to security concerns.

Hotel Tequendama, Bogotá

Hotel Tequendama stands tall in Bogotá’s financial district, showcasing architectural magnificence and holding a crucial place in Colombia’s complex narco-history.  This remarkable building became an unexpected sanctuary during the search for the world’s most infamous drug lord.

Hotel Tequendama’s Role in History

Architectural firms Holabird & Root, John Burgee, and Colombian company Cuéllar Serrano Gómez designed this magnificent structure constructed between 1950 and 1951.  President Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez attended its grand opening on May 17, 1953 and the hotel quickly became modern Colombia’s symbol.   The building’s location has a rich history – it previously housed the San Diego cloister, the Superior School of War and the Ministry of Defense.

The hotel went through major expansion from 1967 to 1970 that doubled its capacity.  The renovation moved its main entrance to Tenth Avenue, changed its shape to a T-configuration and added several conference spaces.  InterContinental Hotels Group managed the property under their brand until 2007, which explains its previous name “Hotel InterContinental Tequendama”.  This national monument in Bogotá stands as proof of Colombia’s architectural heritage.

Hotel Tequendama in Narcos Netflix

The pablo escobar netflix series features Hotel Tequendama near season two’s end.  The show presents the hotel as a safe house where Escobar’s family stayed under government protection while authorities waited for his surrender.  Reality matches fiction here – after Germany turned them away, Escobar’s family sought shelter at this luxurious Bogotá hotel.

Netflix Narcos shows Escobar calling his family at the hotel regularly.  Escobar’s son tells a different story – they used the hotel phones with extreme caution and hung up immediately when he called to prevent call tracing.  Beyond the show’s dramatization, the hotel played a vital role in tracking Colombia’s most wanted criminal.

Staying at Hotel Tequendama Today

Torre Monserrate Hotel, as it’s known today, welcomes guests to its strategic location in Bogotá’s premier financial district.  Guests enjoy modern comforts including El Virrey restaurant, a fitness center and convenient airport transfers.

The hotel sits just 17 minutes from the Gold Museum and 3 minutes from Avenida El Dorado.  Staff members stay quiet about the exact suite that housed the Escobars, yet Pablo Escobar Narcos enthusiasts make this hotel their top choice when visiting Colombia’s capital.

Los Pinos, Medellín

Los Pinos, a simple residential area in western Medellín, earned its place in history as the setting for Pablo Escobar’s violent end.  This quiet neighborhood became the stage for the dramatic finale of a 16-month manhunt that gripped Colombia and the world.

Los Pinos and Pablo Escobar’s Death

Pablo Escobar’s life ended on December 2, 1993, just a day after turning 44.  Colombia’s elite Search Bloc found him on a terracotta roof in Los Pinos, ending his 16-month fugitive status.  The team tracked his location by monitoring an unusually long phone call between him and his son.  Escobar and his bodyguard “El Limón” tried escaping across neighboring rooftops as authorities closed in.

The firefight ended with both men dead.  Escobar’s body showed three gunshot wounds: one in his left leg, another in his upper right back and the fatal shot through his right ear.  Questions still linger about who fired the deadly shot. Search Bloc’s Hugo Aguilar claims he did it, while Los Pepes paramilitary group members say they played a role.  Escobar’s family believes he shot himself rather than face capture.

Los Pinos Depiction in Pablo Escobar Netflix Series

The Netflix series filmed the death scene just two blocks from where it happened.  Netflix narcos created a dramatic scene where a fictional Colombian policeman named Trujillo kills Escobar while shouting “Viva Colombia!”.  This version stands apart from the conflicting real-life accounts.

The show took some creative freedom with historical facts.  The series showed Escobar’s father by his side in his final days, yet history tells us his son Juan Pablo was 16 when his father died.

Visiting Los Pinos Neighborhood

The house at Carrera 79B #45D–94, where Escobar met his end, now serves as a Spanish language school.  Dutch national Erica Borgardijn bought the property for Colombia Immersion after it sat empty for 15 years and changed hands several times.  The school’s website stays silent about its notorious past, choosing instead to focus on Medellín’s bright future.

Tourists often stop to photograph the three-story building, though nothing marks its connection to Escobar.  Visitors should remember to show respect – taking pictures is fine, but understanding Escobar’s devastating legacy matters most.

Coltabaco Building, Cali

The Coltabaco Building stands as one of Cali’s most remarkable historical landmarks and showcases stunning Spanish Renaissance architecture.  Built in 1936 to celebrate Cali’s 400th anniversary, this architectural masterpiece became a memorable backdrop in the third season of the Pablo Escobar Netflix series.

Coltabaco Building’s Importance

Architect Guillermo Garrido designed this magnificent structure in Sevillian Renaissance and Mudejar styles.  The Colombian tobacco company Tabaco SA used it as their headquarters until 1991.  Beautiful ornamental details in plaster, cement and wood remain perfectly preserved today.  The building’s facade features 16 romantic balconies that showcase Spanish and Arab influences beautifully.  The structure started with three floors and a central tower.  A fourth floor addition in 1950 changed its proportions slightly but preserved its decorative elements.

The building’s rich cultural heritage received official recognition in 1969 as a Type 1 and Type 2 Asset of Cultural Interest.  Later in 1993, it earned the status of Urban Architectural Heritage.  After private companies occupied it for 80 years, the city of Cali received this magnificent building as a donation in 2016 (valued at 4.1 billion pesos).

Coltabaco Building in Netflix Narcos

The third season of Narcos Netflix moved its focus from Pablo Escobar to the Cali Cartel’s four capos.  The show used this building’s beautiful exterior and authentic period interiors to create a realistic Cali-based storyline.  Distinctive features like chandeliers with bulb sprigs, a bronze mechanical clock and the original Otis elevator provided perfect settings for scenes about the cartel’s operations.

Coltabaco Building Today

The building now undergoes restoration to become the Instituto Popular de Cultura’s new home.  Students will soon learn art, music and dance in this historic space.  You can find this architectural gem near the Bulevar del Río, right across from La Ermita church in Cali’s historic center.

This remarkable structure attracts tourists interested in both Colombian history and the netflix narcos production.  During filming, the building briefly displayed a “Hotel Nacional” sign, showing how the Pablo Escobar Netflix series turned real historical landmarks into compelling television settings.

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Cayzedo Square, Cali

Plaza de Caicedo lies at the geographical heart of Cali, making it the vibrant center of Colombia’s third-largest city.  The historic square features distinctive spoke-like pathways and towering palm trees that ended up becoming an authentic backdrop for several pivotal scenes in the third season of the Pablo Escobar Netflix series.

Cayzedo Square’s Historical Role

The plaza acts as the commercial, religious and civic core of Cali’s social fabric.  A prominent independence hero, Joaquín de Cayzedo y Cuero’s statue stands proudly in the square’s center, representing both historical significance and modern vitality.  The square serves as the city’s definitive center, surrounded by architectural gems like El edificio Otero, La Catedral and El Palacio de Justicia (Justice Palace).

Cayzedo Square has managed to keep its status as Cali’s main gathering place through the years.  The square connects residents to nearby cultural landmarks such as:

• The Saint Francis church (Iglesia de San Francisco)
• The municipal theater
• La Merced church

Cayzedo Square in Narcos Netflix

The Netflix Narcos production moved its focus to the Cali Cartel in season three, and the square became a prominent exterior filming location.  The Pablo Escobar Netflix show employed this historical setting to create authenticity, among other Cali landmarks like the Coltabaco building and Tequendama area.  The square’s preserved colonial atmosphere gave without doubt the perfect visual context to depict Colombia during the turbulent post-Escobar era.

Touring Cayzedo Square

Modern visitors find a lively urban space filled with beautiful tiles and dramatic vertical lines of tall palm trees reaching skyward.  The square buzzes with commercial activity as street vendors and locals go about their daily routines.  Tourists can admire the unique spoke-like design of the plaza’s paths and explore the surrounding historical buildings that frame this quintessential Colombian urban space.  The square gives Pablo Escobar Narcos fans a chance to walk the same ground where fictional interpretations of Colombia’s complex history came to life.

Cartagena (Doubling as Curaçao)

The Pablo Escobar Netflix production team fell in love with Cartagena’s charm.  This coastal gem, with its sherbet-colored Spanish Colonial buildings and flower-covered balconies, became their perfect stand-in for Curaçao in the third season.

Cartagena’s Colonial Charm

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cartagena’s walled historic center takes visitors on a journey through time with its pristine colonial architecture.  Bright-colored buildings showcase wooden balconies that overflow with beautiful bougainvillea.  BBC Travel ranks the iconic Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower) at the old city’s entrance among the world’s most beautiful towers.

Impressive fortifications outline the old city’s colonial district.  The cobblestone streets wind their way to architectural gems including:

• The Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria with its Baroque dome
• San Pedro Claver church, built in 1603
• Plaza de Bolívar, surrounded by the white Palacio de la Inquisición

Cartagena Scenes in Pablo Escobar Netflix Show

The Narcos Netflix team shot parts of season three’s sixth episode in Cartagena’s colonial district.  The city’s well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture made it a perfect double for Curaçao.  The Pablo Escobar Netflix series team’s choice proved their commitment to authentic period settings.

These Cartagena scenes caught viewers’ attention quickly.  A YouTube video showing the “Curaçao Footage in Narcos” reached over 436,000 views.  While some viewers spotted small differences in how Curaçao was shown, most loved the show’s visual choices.

Traveling to Cartagena

Colombia’s travelers rank Cartagena among their favorite destinations.  Colombian fashion designer Esteban Cortázar describes the city’s “old-fashioned Caribbean glamor,” while others simply call it “magical.”

The city offers more than just its Pablo Escobar Narcos fame.  Visitors can explore colonial landmarks, taste local treats at Portal de los Dulces or sip sunset drinks at El Baluarte San Francisco Javier on the colonial walls.  The Zenú Gold Museum and Las Bóvedas, with its distinct arches and domes, add to the cultural experience.  Anyone looking to combine historical exploration with Netflix Narcos filming locations should put Cartagena at the top of their Colombian travel list.

Palazzio Videmar, Mexico City

Palazzio Videmar, an elegant event venue in Mexico City’s Cuauhtémoc district, shot to fame after its appearance in “Narcos: Mexico,” which is part of the Pablo Escobar Netflix franchise.

Palazzio Videmar’s Wedding Scene

The Netflix Narcos production team turned Palazzio Videmar into a grand Guadalajara wedding venue.  Drug kingpin Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo hosted an extravagant celebration that brought high-ranking public officials, politicians and notorious narcotraffickers together under one roof.

The story centered around the wedding of a Sinaloa governor’s son, who was Félix Gallardo’s associate.  This fictional February 14th celebration shown in the Pablo Escobar Netflix series highlighted how Mexican political power and drug operations were deeply connected during the 1980s.

Palazzio Videmar in Narcos Netflix

The Pablo Escobar Narcos production team chose this venue to film what became a key scene in the third episode.  They transformed the space with oval tables and pink and white flowers.  Crystal chandeliers hung dramatically from the ceiling.

Diego Luna, who played Félix Gallardo and Ernesto Alterio filmed an intense scene while hundreds of extras danced around them.  Michael Peña’s appearance as DEA agent Enrique Camarena Salazar helped connect the Mexico storyline to the earlier Colombia-focused seasons.

Palazzio Videmar Today

“Salones Palazzio Videmar” still operates at Manuel Gonzalez 71 in the Ex Hipódromo de Peralvillo neighborhood.  People book this popular venue for weddings and corporate events, with time slots usually available at 7:15 PM and 8:30 PM.

Local hotels have started using their proximity to Palazzio Videmar as a selling point.  Hotel Samil Plaza proudly advertises that it’s just 510 meters away.  Fans of the Pablo Escobar Netflix show can visit this location to see how a regular event space became part of Latin American drug trafficking’s dramatic story.

University of Antioquia, Medellín

The University of Antioquia, established in 1803, stands as Colombia’s oldest public university and played a brief but important role in Pablo Escobar’s early life.  This historic institution, where Colombia’s notorious drug lord once studied, remains the life-blood of education in Medellín.

University of Antioquia’s Real Events

Pablo Escobar’s time at the University of Antioquia started when he enrolled in civil engineering.  Some sources say he studied political science but left school because he couldn’t pay the fees, which led him toward crime.  The university became part of narco-history when guerrilla group M-19 kidnapped Marta Ochoa, daughter of one of the well-known Ochoa brothers.  This kidnapping became a vital event that brought drug traffickers together against the guerrillas, leading to the formation of the Medellín Cartel.

University Scenes in Pablo Escobar Narcos

The Pablo Escobar Netflix series took a different approach to filming the Ochoa kidnapping.  Though the actual event happened at the University of Antioquia campus, the directors filmed this vital scene in Bogotá’s Art Deco-styled La Candelaria neighborhood.  The production team explained their choice: “It has a dynamic look—one that said traditional Colombia—that hasn’t changed since the early ’80s”.  This creative choice shows how the Netflix Narcos production team balanced historical truth with practical filming needs.

University of Antioquia Today

The university has grown impressively from its early days:

• Manages 13 campuses throughout the Antioquia region
• Provides 82 undergraduate programs, 44 master’s degrees, and 26 doctorate programs
• Ranks among Colombia’s top three research universities
• Houses over 40,000 museum objects across four collections in its University Museum

The institution keeps earning international recognition and welcomed Morten Meldal, winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.  The university enriches Colombia’s cultural scene through its Symphony Band, which performs traditional “Retreta Dominical” open-air concerts—a tradition they’ve managed to keep alive for over a century.

Comparison Table

Enjoy Netflix Narcos Filming Locations

Netflix’s “Narcos” turned real historical sites into compelling television backdrops across its three seasons.  The show brought Colombia’s complex Narco history to viewers worldwide.  The production team’s commitment to authenticity led them to film at about 25 locations per episode.  Many of these places had direct links to Pablo Escobar’s actual empire.  These 15 locations now stand as stark reminders of Colombia’s troubled past and serve as tourist spots.

These sites showcase the contrasting sides of Escobar’s legacy.  The extravagant Hacienda Napoles with its private zoo sits in sharp contrast to the modest Los Pinos neighborhood where his life ended.  Each spot tells a piece of Colombia’s painful story.  On top of that, it shows the country’s strength in how many locations have changed.  La Catedral, which was once Escobar’s luxury “prison,” now houses Benedictine monks.  The Monaco Building site has become a memorial park that honors victims instead of glorifying criminals.

Narco Tourism

“Narco tourism” splits opinion among Colombians, yet these places draw international visitors who are fascinated by both the history and the Netflix series.  President Ivan Duque’s words at the Monaco Building demolition ring true: “history won’t be written from the perpetrator’s point of view.” This captures Colombia’s mixed feelings about these sites.  The country keeps working to balance its past while building a future that goes beyond its Narco history.

The Netflix series brought unmatched attention to these locations worldwide.  Notwithstanding that, Colombia has worked hard to reclaim these spaces.  Former symbols of corruption and violence now serve as educational sites and cultural landmarks.  Visitors get a rich experience that goes way beyond simple narco-tourism, as these places are both filming spots and historical markers.

Visitors should explore these locations with historical interest and respect for those who suffered during Colombia’s drug wars.  These 15 Pablo Escobar Narcos locations are nowhere near just entertainment spots – they open windows into Colombia’s trip from narco-state to its current vibrant identity.

FAQs

Q1. Where was Pablo Escobar’s final shootout filmed for Narcos?
The death scene of Pablo Escobar was filmed just two blocks away from the actual location in the Los Pinos neighborhood of Medellín.  The real site where Escobar was killed is now a Spanish language school.

Q2. Which iconic Bogotá hotel featured in Narcos season 2?
Hotel Tequendama, now known as Torre Monserrate Hotel, was prominently featured in season 2 of Narcos.  In the series, it served as a sanctuary for Escobar’s family while authorities waited for him to surrender.

Q3. What happened to Escobar’s famous Hacienda Nápoles estate?
Hacienda Nápoles has been transformed into a family-friendly theme park called “Parque Temático Hacienda Nápoles”.  It features water attractions, a guided safari, aquariums and historical exhibits related to the property’s infamous past.

Q4. Which colonial city doubled as Curaçao in Narcos season 3?
The coastal city of Cartagena, with its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture, was used to recreate Curaçao in the third season of Narcos.  The production team utilized Cartagena’s historic district to establish authenticity for Caribbean island scenes.

Q5. Is it possible to visit the presidential palace shown in Narcos?
Yes, visitors can tour Casa de Nariño, Colombia’s presidential palace featured in Narcos.  Free guided tours are available but must be pre-booked through the official website.  The palace offers a glimpse into Colombia’s political center and architectural heritage.