A Guide to Visiting Guatape, Colombia
Guatape is a bright and spirited town located not far from the city of Medellin, making it very popular with visitors. The town is located on the shores of the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir and the breathtaking views of these meandering blue waterways can be seen from the Piedra del Peñol which is the reason most choose to visit the town of Guatape.
This guide to Guatape, Colombia covers everything you need to know about the town, whether you’re planning just a day visit or would like to explore more and stay a night or two.
How to Get to Guatape from Medellin
Getting to Guatape from Medellin by public transport is super simple, just head to the North Bus Terminal where you will find different companies running buses to Guatape nearly every 15 minutes. The bus takes around 2 hours depending on traffic and will cost you 18,000 COP per person. Alternatively, you can opt to arrange private transportation like a taxi or join a group tour from Medellin.
Day Trip or Overnight? It’s totally possible to take a day trip to Guatape from Medellin either by public transport or guided tour, however, if you have the time I think it’s well worth the overnight stay. The crowds during the daytime in Guatape and the Piedra del Peñol can be a bit much and staying overnight gives you the ability to avoid those super busy times.
Where to Stay in Guatape
There are endless options for accommodation in Guatape, hostels, hotels and even some really unique spots if you are happy to stay outside of town. We stayed at La Chateau and for £25 a night for 2 people it shocked me how gorgeous it was. It was only 5 minutes from the town centre, had a shared kitchen, washing facilities and everything we needed. The room had a large balcony, which overlooked the town and at sunset, it was really quite something. We booked through AirBnB, so I will leave the link here if you are interested.
Search for other accommodation in Guatatpe here ——>
Things to do in Guatape
Plaza Zocalos- Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir
- View from Vina Cafe, Gutape
Climb Piedra del Peñol
This is also commonly known amongst tourists as the Guatape rock and is the main attraction, although it’s not actually in Guatape. After climbing the 700 stairs you will be gifted with incredible stunning views over the reservoir and its surroundings. It’s simply a must-do whilst in Guatape and most likely the reason you are visiting. From Guatape town you can get to Piedra del Peñol by taking a shared jeep (they leave from the main square), tuk-tuk or by walking for an hour.
Now you may be thinking I have to climb 700 steps when I get there why should I walk? This is a fair point, but you get to take in some gorgeous views of the reservoir and the rock itself along the way. If it’s a sunny day walking there and grabbing a tuk-tuk back is my recommendation. If you are just visiting from Medellin for the day just ask the bus driver to stop here as it’s on the road to Guatape.
Take A Boat Tour
Another way to see the reservoir in Guatape is by taking a guided boat tour, you’ll likely get an overview of the history of the area. You’ll pass by many famous people’s homes as the edge of the river is a sought-after area, as well as Pablo Escobars old mansion (where the hippos were). Many companies will be offering tours on the waterfront in Guatape or browse available tours here.
You could also choose to explore the lake by kayak, paddleboard or jet ski just to name a few water sports available.
Explore Guatape Town
Guatape town sometimes is described as ‘Colombian Disney’ although it lacks in the characters and rides. I sort of see why, It’s a place very catered to visitors. You’ll find streets brimming with colour and decorations with souvenir and craft shops everywhere you look. Just simply strolling the streets and taking it all is one of the best things you can do in the town.
A popular stop is a street lined with colourful umbrellas, this leads to the bright and striking Plaza de Zocalos, which is a must-see in Guatape. Another thing I recommend if you are staying the night is going for a drink in Guatape’s main square for some people watching. One thing to note about the town is that not much seems to open before 10 in the morning, which I found strange, but I guess that’s when the tour groups start filtering in.
Go to Viña Cafe
Viña Cafe is located just above the Plaza de Zocalos and is the only café we could find that opened before 10 in the morning. But we went back every morning we were in Guatape for the delicious coffee, lovely staff and great views. It has a little balcony where you can sit and look down on the Plaza de Zocalos, I loved this spot in Guatape.
Fun Fact- The reservoir surrounding Guatape known as the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir is a man-made hydroelectric dam created in the 1970s.
As such a popular destination in Colombia, it’s unlikely you haven’t heard about or seen images of Guatape. Although it wasn’t my favourite spot we visited during our Colombian adventure it sure had its charms and the views from the top of the rock are incredible and well worth battling all the other visitors to see.
Let me know what you thought of Guatape in the comments below and if you haven’t been yet what are you most intrigued by?
*Disclaimer* This post may contain affiliate links, if you purchase through one of these links I would receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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Colombia Travel Tips
The national currency of Colombia is the Colombian Peso or COP. Two things about the currency you may often see it written with the dollar symbol and also if you see prices written like this ‘$25” it most likely means 25,000 COP.
You’ll find in the large cities of Colombia such as Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena you will be able to pay by card for most things. However, outside of the cities, you will most likely need to pay in cash or if you can pay on a card you may incur a fee.
We didn’t have a problem taking cash out however a lot of ATM charge a fee, this blog post shows the different banks and which ones are fee-free.
The national language of Colombia is Spanish, not only is it respectful to know the odd phrase, I also think your trip becomes a lot easier if you have a basic understanding. Whether you watch some TV shows in Spanish, take some Spanish classes or just simply download Duolingo to practice, I think it’s important.
The plug sockets in Colombia are type A and B, which is the same as in the US, so unless you have US chargers you will need a travel adaptor. I always recommend the worldwide ones as you can be ready for anything and also it allows you to charge multiple things at once.
There is a popular saying among Colombians “no dar papaya” which basically means don’t be an easy target. Don’t flash valuables or cash, keep phones and wallets secure and close to you and have a fabulous but safe trip.
The weather in Colombia depends more on location than the season. Mostly it’s a country that has 2 seasons, dry and wet. You’ll find it’s warmer in the north e.g. Santa Marta, Cartagena and the further south you go it gets a little cooler. The weather in Medellin is described as ‘eternal spring’ and the high altitude in Bogota makes for a much cooler climate.
In terms of transport around Colombia, the fastest way is normally by taking a flight, the main airlines are Wingo, LatAm and Avianca, I usually found Wingo to be the most budget-friendly. However the most affordable way is by taking buses, you’ll find many long-distance buses available, just expect nothing to arrive on time and be extremely patient with these buses.
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