Visiting Guatapé From Medellin: Three Ways

Posted 01/09/2024 | 1st September, 2024

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Guatapé is one of Colombia’s most visited tourist attractions and should, in my opinion, be included in all Colombian itineraries!

Famous for the small, colourful town with detailed artwork and the famous el Peñón de Guatapé (known as the Guatapé rock) – there’s plenty to do here to make it a great day trip from Medellin.

Rather than packing your bags and spending a few nights in Guatapé (as many tourists do!), I recommend visiting the sights in one day from Medellin. It’s a long day, but it’s so worth it.

This article covers the three main ways to visit Guatapé from Medellin. This includes taking a guided tour, using public transport, or driving alone.

Table of Contents

A Little Guatapé History

Guatapé was founded in 1811 and originally served as a small farming community. It is renowned for its vibrant, colourful buildings adorned with zócalos. Zócalos are intricate, hand-painted reliefs depicting various aspects of life and local culture.

The town is also famous for the nearby El Peñol rock, which is undoubtedly why most tourists make the journey to Guatapé. The El Peñol rock is a massive granite monolith towering over 200 meters high, offering panoramic views of the surrounding lakes and landscapes.

In the 1970s, the creation of the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, a hydroelectric project, transformed the area into a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors for its natural beauty, water sports, and charming streets.

Option 1 – Day Tour to Guatapé From Medellin

This is the option we took, and with hindsight, I wouldn’t really recommend it. The tour company was very late, making the start of the day quite stressful (hence, there is no link to them specifically). I felt the day included too many ‘filler’ stops and insufficient time at the main attractions.

However, if you want to hand over all of the logistics to someone else and prefer to have the day organised for you, then a tour may be ideal. Here are the stops included on our day trip (I understand that most trips run on the same schedule).

This Get Your Guide tour (with excellent reviews!) has all the same stops as below, albeit in a slightly different order.

Stop 1 – Réplica del Peñol

The Réplica del Peñol is the first stop of the day on almost all Guatapé tours.

It is a recreated version of the old town of El Peñol, which was submerged in the 1970s to make way for the construction of the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, a major hydroelectric project in Colombia. The original town, founded in 1714, had to be relocated because the area was chosen for the reservoir’s creation.

The replica, built near Guatapé, is a homage to the original town and preserves its cultural and historical significance. It features key elements of the old town, including the central square, the church, and traditional colonial-style buildings.

As you might expect, there isn’t much to do here – however, the stop is only for around twenty minutes. There are a few shops and a nice viewpoint over the water.

Stop 2 – Boat Trip on Guatapé Reservior

This was a really fun part of the tour, where we took a boat trip around the Guatapé Reservoir. There was lots of information played over the speaker in both English and Spanish so you could better understand the surroundings.

The boat was very full, with a few different tour groups. This created a nice atmosphere, and I definitely recommend nabbing a spot on the top deck if the weather is nice. Music was played throughout, and there was a bar on the bottom deck where snacks and refreshments could be purchased.

Stop 3 – Guatapé Town

Guatapé is a charming town in Antioquia, Colombia. As mentioned, Guatapé is best known for its vividly coloured buildings and unique zócalos—decorative, hand-painted designs that cover the lower walls of houses.

It’s a small but beautiful town with plenty of coffee shops, cafes and restaurants. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time on the tour to stop for food, but plenty of time to grab a drink and have a wander around the bright streets.

Stop 4 – El Peñón de Guatapé

This is the pinnacle of the Guatape day trip and by far my favourite part of the day. Climbing the Guatape Rock is widely considered one of the best things to do in Medellin, and I completely agree!

But please, don’t let the 700 steps put you off. Although I was very unfit during this portion of the trip, I managed to get up there in just over twenty minutes (with plenty of breaks).

The view from the top is fantastic, and there are a couple of stalls where you can buy refreshments.

Stop 5 – Animal Farm

This was kind of a bizarre stop on the trip.

Whilst we were all under the assumption we were heading home, we instead stopped off at an ‘animal farm’. This was essentially a bar with a few alpacas running around. It was free to enter, but you could then purchase snacks to feed the Alpacas.

This is great for a cute photo opportunity, but it felt like another unnecessary stop on the tour.

Option 2 – Bus From Medellin to Guatapé

This option is my preferred option, giving you the most flexibility.

Buses to Guatapé depart from the Terminal del Norte (North Bus Terminal) in Medellín. The trip takes about two hours and is a scenic ride through the Antioquian countryside.

Buses run frequently throughout the day, typically every 30 minutes to an hour. The ticket costs around 17,000 to 20,000 COP. Once in Guatapé, the bus will drop you off near the town centre, making it easy to explore the area on foot or visit nearby attractions like El Peñol Rock.

If you choose this option and would prefer to have your bus tickets ahead of time, I always recommend using BusBud.

Option 3 – Drive to Guatapé From Medellin

Renting a car is the answer if you’re a confident driver and want the most flexible way to visit Guatapé from Medellin.

If I were on my own schedule with a vehicle, I would not include stops one, two or five from the tour. Guatapé town and El Peñón de Guatapé are the highlights and where you want to dedicate the most of your time.

The drive will take around two hours, depending on traffic, and there will be many fantastic, lush views along the way.

Both Guatapé town and El Peñón de Guatapé have large car parks, and when I visited on a weekday, there were ample empty spaces. If possible, it might be best to avoid the weekend, when most Colombians will visit for days or weekends away.

Frequently Asked Questions – Guatapé From Medellin

How Long Does it Take to Drive to Guatapé from Medellin?

It takes around two hours and thirty minutes to drive to Guatapé from Medellin.

How Much is the Enterance Fee to El Peñón de Guatapé

The entrance fee to El Peñón de Guatapé is 25,000 COP per adult. This is payable in cash.

Do I Need a Tour to Visit Guatapé

No, you absolutely do not need a tour. Tours are a great option for those who want to avoid planning and logistics, but you can definitely travel from Medellin to Guatapé without a tour.

Cash or Card in Guatapé?

Most places within Guatapé only accept cash, and El Peñón de Guatapé is strictly cash only. Therefore, you should bring a sufficient amount of Colombian pesos with you to ensure you can enjoy the day.