GUATAPE

Things To do in Guatapé, colombia

Guatapé can be divided into three types of activity: climbing the Piedra del Peñol, visiting the village,, and exploring the lake.

Climbing la Piedra del Peñol

A 220-meter-high granite monolith might seem tough to climb. But here, you don’t need to be Spiderman.

The owners have built two concrete staircases (one for going up and one for going down) that zigzag along the rock face.

I won’t lie to you; you’ll feel it in your legs. Every time I go, I always see people in “oh my god, I can’t go on” mode, stopped on the steps. My advice? Take your time, but don’t stop. There are about 700 steps to reach the first terrace. Take the opportunity to enjoy a nice fresh fruit juice.

After that, another small staircase (passing through a shop) leads to the top of the tower—40 more steps. And from up there, I must admit, the view is spectacular.

practical information

• La Piedra del Peñol is open from 9 AM to 7 PM, but you can’t start the climb after 6:30 PM.
• You can take a 6-minute helicopter ride.
• There are 5 km between La Piedra del Peñol and Guatapé. Tuk-tuks shuttle between the two in 5-10 minutes.
• If you’re coming by bus from Medellín, you can stop at La Piedra first.

ADRIEN’S FACT

Guatapé and El Peñol—the neighboring village—have always disputed ownership of La Piedra. A former mayor of Guatapé wanted to inscribe the village’s name on the rock. They managed to paint a huge “G” on the wall before being stopped.

VISIT THE TOWN OF GUATAPÉ

The tourist section of Guatapé is small and can be easily explored on foot. Everything is made to cater to tourists, diminishing some of its charm. It’s a very photogenic spot but lacks the peace and appealing atmosphere of other colonial villages in Colombia.

I enjoy spending about two hours there to have lunch and see the following spots:

THE MAIN SQUARE

This is the main square, where you’ll find an army of colorful tuk-tuks, a church—Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Guatapé—which is quite nice (especially inside, with its wooden ceiling sculptures and granite altar), and some impressive colonial buildings.

the Plaza de los Zocalos

A small, multicolored square surrounded by restaurants and cafés, often crowded with tourists. I like to buy a cinnamon roll here and eat it on the steps.

LA CALLE DE LAS SOMBRILLAS

It’s a little street at the corner of Plaza de los Zocalos. Aleja loves it.

La Calle de los Recuerdos

In addition to being a very pretty street, it also has cultural significance. Here, you’ll find the original zocalos of Guatapé, kept by the locals before part of the village was flooded due to the creation of the hydroelectric dam.

To learn more, read the posters attached to the façades or visit the tiny free museum.

ZOCALOS ?

Popularized by one of its residents in the 1910s, these colorful bas-reliefs on the facades depict a scene from life or a characteristic trait of the homeowner.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

• There’s a free walking tour lasting 2 hours from Monday to Saturday.
• You can also ask a tuk-tuk driver to give you a 20 to 25-minute tour with explanations.
• Don’t hesitate to venture into the parallel streets (calle 29, calle 31). Strangely, I hardly see any tourists there, while the plaza de los Zocalos is always crowded.
• Want to have the alleys all to yourself? Then be there around 7:30 AM.

guatape lake

It’s not an essential stop, so I suggest saving it for the end if you’re only in Guatapé for the day. Head to the promenade along the village to find the perfect boat for you:

• A boat ride to weave between the islets and admire the beautiful houses. Guatapé is a bit like the Riviera of southern France. There are James, Shakira, Karol G. I prefer the private boat option because you can stop for a swim with the Piedra del Peñol in the background.
• A kayak ride. It gets hot quickly in Guatapé, so I prefer to do this in the morning, especially since some hotels (located by the lake) offer them for free to their guests.
• Get your adrenaline pumping with jetskiing, wakeboarding, and flyboarding. In short, all the activities where you have plenty of chances to take a dip.

ADRIEN’S TOP

I love the hotels near Lake Guatapé. It’s a great place to spend the night.

Guatapé in one day

Short on time? You can visit Guatape in a single day, either on your own by taking a bus from Medellín or through a local agency.

Visit Guatapé without an agency

That’s what I did for the first time in 2015. I took the bus to the North Terminal of Medellín (2 hours) and first stopped at Piedra del Peñol. Then, I just had to take a tuk-tuk to the village.

Upon arriving in Guatapé, I bought my return bus ticket in advance to avoid standing in line.

I had about 4 hours to have lunch, wander through the alleys, enjoy an oblea, and take a paddleboat ride on the lake. More than enough time.

I left around 4 PM.

day trip to guatapé with an agency

It’s a great option if you want to discover Guatapé without worrying about transportation.

Some group tours are extremely cheap, but there will be many people (a full bus), and I always find that dull—it’s like going back to school. “Two by two, please!”

In short, if your budget allows it, I suggest booking a tour with fewer people (maximum 8-10) or opting for a private tour.

The main advantage of the latter is that you can be picked up at your accommodation (instead of heading to a meeting point) and leave your luggage in the vehicle to be dropped off at Medellín International Airport at the end of the day.

TOM’S TIP

We proudly recommend this expert. You can contact her directly through our website—at no extra cost.

things to do around Guatape

As you might notice, after a full day, Guatapé gets dull. Fortunately, just under an hour away, there are amazing activities to enjoy.

Canyoning

It’s about rappelling down rivers and waterfalls, and sliding or jumping from one rock to another. It’s the kind of activity I love.

If you love it too, I suggest going straight to San Carlos—there are more canyoning routes!

But if you only want to do it for half a day, you can easily organize it from Guatapé. Just contact Manuel.

EXPLORE INCREDIBLE SAN RAFAEL’S RIVERS

The rivers in San Rafael are famous among Colombians, and it didn’t take me long to see why!

The water is crystal clear, with many natural pools perfect for swimming.

You can choose:

• Rent a motorbike or take the bus to relax by the water for a few hours.
• Go with a local guide and enjoy a scenic hike.

I opted for the latter to explore the Churimo Waterfall. It’s about an hour’s walk along the river to reach a stunning spot rarely visited by tourists. We even had a traditional lunch wrapped in banana leaves—a fiambre.

ADRIEN’S TIP

Esmeralda offers a wide range of hikes, and she’s a real sweetheart. 100% recommended 😉

Delicious visit to a cocoa plantation

We went there with a couple of friends, and their kids loved it (so did we).

It’s a bit complicated to get to Finca Toche by bus from Guatapé—but a taxi will do the job.

We chose the 2 PM tour, which lasted until 5:30 PM. Jon’s experience is more about the senses than knowledge.

In other words, he doesn’t talk much about the cultivation of cacao plants or how they are transformed into chocolate: just the essentials, with an interesting explanation of the history of the cacao bean.

Instead, he wants you to experience chocolate.

So, we covered ourselves in chocolate at his cacao plantation before swimming in a waterfall. My skin was so soft afterward! We then made our own chocolate bars to take home. And we finished by devouring a plate of cut fruits accompanied by a bowl of melted chocolate. Delicious!