Having visited Guatapé a fair share of times, three and counting, I can say I experienced something new and different each time. Did I return because I necessarily needed to climb a rock to see a view of a man-made lake again? No – though it is a very pretty lake might I add. But rather, I revisited with different people, in different circumstances. The first visit was the one day tour with some friends from the hostel, then I went as a plus one on a business trip with my friend from Bogotá, and recently I stayed in the town for a night with my sister when she came to visit. It’s a popular tourist attraction for good reason. I think Guatapé may be an example that something that is innately touristy, doesn’t need to be a tourist trap. Make the trip your own whether it’s a one day check off the list, a stay in town, or relaxation at a retreat next to the lake itself.
Where To Stay
As mentioned Guatapé can easily be done with a tour from Medellín. It’s a day, a long day, but everything is arranged for you. Just show up. A boat, the rock, an hour or two around town. Check, Check, and Check. Medellín is such a great city that if you have limited time, and enjoy city life, this is a great option to optimize your time.
If you have the time or could use a break from city life, there are a few benefits of staying in town:
- relax and explore the colorful town without the crowds
- arrive at the rock in the morning before the tour buses arrive ~8:50am
- enjoy a less touristy boat ride as opposed to the one typically offered with the one day tour
If you choose to stay the night, I enjoyed my experience at Lake View Hostel. It was clean and possibly the most comfortable mattress of any hostel I’ve stayed at. The staff was helpful and can arrange just about any activity in the area. It was incredibly affordable with a restaurant that serves Thai food at night and breakfast in the morning. My only qualm – it was a tad farther from town than I would have liked. Easily walkable, but tiring with a backpack to get to and from the bus. The positive of the location – the walk goes through a more local part of town that I truthfully didn’t know existed.
If a view of the lake is what you’re looking for, there are some beautiful properties outside of the town. These are more like eco and spa retreats.
If looking to experience a small colorful town, located on the lake (you’ll see much more impressive views during your day trips to the rock and on the boat) then stay in the town. It really is relaxing once the day trippers leave.
Airbnbs: There are some pretty insane airbnbs in the area. This would be fun to do with a group, but would probably require a bit of planning with transportation and supplies (food, drinks, etc) unless it’s included with the airbnb.
Where To Eat
- Namaste: A plant based restaurant with a lounge area/bar style seating overlooking town. Veg or not, this place is great! Relaxed vibe, add your signature or art to the wall with paint, and eat delicious and fresh food. The wait staff and especially the chef couldn’t have been nicer
- Thai Terrace: located in Lake View Hostel but it’s a separate restaurant
- ProSalud: Another nice plant based cafe
- For BBQ and typical Colombian food, head towards the lake and you’ll see the restaurants grilling on the sidewalk. La Fogata has great reviews
- Zocarolls: these are cinnamon rolls from a booth on the street with the umbrellas. I’ve made this a tradition and haven’t been disappointed
What To Do
- Hike to the view point at the top of the rock (Piedra del Peñol)
- Spend time in the town of Guatapé
- Take a boat ride with a tour of the lake
- Kayak and Paddle Board
- Paraglide
Facts about the rock (Piedra del Peñol) and the lake:
- The lake is manmade and incredibly deep
- Pablo Escobar had a property on the lake, the boat tour will point out the house
- There is a “GI” painted on the rock, which is actually an incomplete “GU”. This is because there has been a fight between the town of Peñol and Guatapé over ownership of the rock. Things escalated when Guatapé decided to paint their name on the rock, and was eventually stopped
- The rock is 220 meters tall
- Entrance to climb the rock is cash only 20,000 COP/~4 USD
Transportation
Tuk Tuk from town the the rock: 15,000 COP/ ~3 USD each way, ~15 minutes.
Bus from Medellín’s north terminal to and from Guatapé, 19,000 COP/ ~4 USD each way, ~2 hours without traffic. Buses run frequently, but to avoid waiting around at the terminal, book ahead. Read my Medellín guide here.
I can’t get enough of this blog!! So many places to add to my bucket list. Thank you for helping me outline a future adventure. You left me craving a cinnamon roll