Guatapé shows up on every Colombia Pinterest board with its amazing lake views and picturesque colourful architecture, and sits atop every “top things to do near Medellín” list, so it’s easy to assume it’s a non-negotiable stop. However, due to its popularity online, I never questioned beforehand “is Guatapé worth it to visit?”
I went on my second day ever in Colombia without really thinking about how I should visit; I just booked the first day-trip tour I found and went. Looking back, that was the wrong call for my type of travel experiences, and I want to walk you through exactly why, what I’d do differently, and the actual info so you can decide for yourself. Here’s my review of the Guatapé day trip.
Please note that this review is based on one day-trip, booked through the Viajero Hostel in Medellin. I’m talking about how I experienced the tour and what I’ve learned since travelling around the rest of Antioquia.
What Is Guatapé, Colombia?
Guatapé is a small town about 2 hours by car or bus from Medellín, built beside a huge man-made lake called Embalse de Guatapé, and famous for two things: the brightly painted houses lining its streets, and La Piedra del Peñol, the giant granite rock you climb via roughly 600 steps for a panoramic view over the reservoir.
The Zócalos: Guatapé’s Colourful Murals
The painted panels at the base of the houses are called zócalos, as mentioned by my guide, and he explained that each one is hand-painted to represent something specific to the family inside: their trade, their dreams, or animals and objects that matter to them. I saw cattle, children, coffee crops, pets, and full family scenes painted along the streets. They really reminded me of school mural paintings, not in an infantalising way, but in a refreshing, charming handmade feel. This is the detail most “colourful town” photos on Pinterest leave out, and I was grateful to have a guide explain this to me as I wouldn’t have known otherwise.
La Piedra del Peñol (El Peñol Rock)
This is the other headline attraction: a solitary rock formation you climb for the view. It’s very steep, the weather is sticky and humid, and by the time you reach the top you will be sweating through your shirt, so prepare to be out of breath and covered in sweat! Pretty dresses for photos are tempting, but I would have been happier in workout gear.
How to Get to Guatapé From Medellín
There are three realistic ways to do this day trip to Guatapé, and which one is “worth it” really depends on how much you value flexibility over convenience.
Self-Guided by Public Bus
The cheapest and a really comfortable option honestly. Buses leave from Medellín’s South Terminal (search for Terminal del Sur on Google Maps) regularly throughout the day. I can vouch for the comfort and safety of Colombian intercity buses on short routes like this one- it’s an easy way to ease into independent travel in Colombia if this is early in your trip. Going this way also means you set your own schedule instead of a tour bus’s, which I’ll get to later.
Guatapé Day Trip Tours
This is what I did. A tour operator picks you up (and drops you off) at your hotel, which removes the stress of navigating transport in a foreign country; you just need to remember your driver’s face and the van’s number plate as there’ll be lots of tours operating the same service!
The trade-off is that you’re stuck with the tour’s timing which really frustrated me more than I thought it would, and on a joint tour the coach usually stops at several hotels before heading out. If you choose this option, which most do, save some patience for pickup and drop off stops.
Private Transport (Uber or Van Service)
If there’s a group of you, or you’d rather skip both the bus and the group-tour shuffle, a private Uber or van service is the most relaxed option for arriving and leaving Guatapé on your own timeline. I haven’t done this myself so I can’t speak to exact pricing, but if you can afford to spend a bit more for comfort, this is the one I’d try next time.
Best Time to Visit Guatapé
Best Time of Day
I wish I could tell you there’s a golden window to beat the crowds, but sadly there isn’t. Every day-trip company runs the same early-start schedule- I was on my coach by 6am and arrived by 9am alongside what felt like every other tour van in Medellín. Add to that the hotels, eco-lodges, and glamping sites in the area whose guests are arriving or already there, and there’s really no time of day that’s crowd-free. The one actual upside to the early start is that you beat the heat, which matters a lot once you’re climbing El Peñol’s steps in full sun in South America.
Best Time of Year
Antioquia doesn’t have distinct seasons the way somewhere like my beloved London does, so you’re not gambling on weather the way you might elsewhere. From what locals and other travellers told me, December to February tends to be the driest stretch (I visited in January and can vouch for it), and July to August also gets good reviews for weather.
Best Days of the Week
If you have flexibility, go on a weekday morning like a Monday or Tuesday. It will be noticeably quieter than a Saturday, when local families are off work and Guatapé fills up with domestic day-trippers on top of the international tour crowd.
Things to Do in Guatapé
Before I went, I assumed Guatapé was just the rock, the lake, and some colourful houses (sorry for my ignorance!.) There’s actually a lot more on offer than the average day-trip itinerary shows you:
- Climb La Piedra del Peñol for the panoramic view
- Wander the zócalo-lined streets of the town
- Try the local coffee at one of the small cafés
- Jet ski or take a boat tour on the reservoir
- Go horseback riding in the surrounding countryside
- Stay in glamping or eco-lodge accommodation around the lake
- Browse handmade souvenirs and local crafts in town
- Learn the town’s history from a local guide
On a single day trip, I only got through a handful of these that was packaged up for me: the coffee, the climb, the souvenir stalls, and a lot of photos. The lake activities and glamping stays are really only realistic if you’re staying overnight, which is part of why I think the day-trip format undersells what Guatapé actually offers.
Guatapé Price Guide 2026: COP, USD & GBP
Here’s what to budget based on my trip and current pricing as of 2026. Rates fluctuate so these figures are a guide (calculated at roughly 1 USD ≈ 3,140 COP / 1 GBP ≈ 4,240 COP) and double-check on the day. Remember to bring pesos in cash as cards aren’t as reliably accepted in Colombia in general.
| Item | COP | USD | GBP |
| El Peñol entrance fee | 25,000-35,000 | $8-11 | £6–8 |
| Guided day trip (tour operator, all-in) | 110,000-160,000 | $35-50 | £26-37 |
| Self-guided day trip (bus + entrance + food) | 90,000-100,000 | $28–32 | £21-24 |
| Bus, Medellín to Guatapé (one way) | 25,000 | $7-8 | £5-6 |
| Boat tour on the reservoir | 30,000 | $9-10 | £7 |
| Main meal at a local restaurant | 32,000-47,000 | $10-15 | £7-11 |
| Coffee | 3,000–12,000 | $1-4 | £0.75-3 |
For reference, most guided day trips include breakfast and lunch, transport, and a guide, but check whether the El Peñol entrance fee is included, because a lot of tours (mine included) leave it as a separate cash cost on top. This was a bummer for me as that was originally what I was most interested in seeing, and it was an additional cost. Not much to pay, but it’s the premise that left me a little disappointed.
Is Guatapé Worth It? My Honest Review
For me, not quite.
I had a good time and I don’t regret going, but I couldn’t get past how oversaturated it felt. Buses of tourists, vendors marking up everything near the entrance, queues for everything, and an atmosphere that felt less like a real Colombian town and more like a polyester-Colombian-Disney-World.
Sadly, the day-trip format made this worse in my opinion. I had barely any time to actually walk the town. I like to wander, take in the colours, the architecture, the little details in the zócalos; and even though I was enjoying my time, I’m not one to drag out a museum trip for hours, and yet I still ended up sprinting to catch the bus back (to the bus erupting in cheers and laughter when I made it, which was genuinely one of the funniest moments of the day).
I’m not someone who complains easily, and I can usually find the fun in almost anything. Simply having the experience already makes a trip worth something to me, and I don’t regret going. But in hindsight, I’d have planned this as an overnight, one-night-two-days, to actually beat the crowds and see the town at my own pace, rather than being walked through it on a schedule.
Since visiting Guatapé, I’ve also spent time in Jardín, Filandia, and volunteered in Jericó- other Antioquia and coffee-region towns with the same colourful, small-town charm. What sets them apart is that they still feel like places where regular life still happens, rather than a film set built for tourists. If you’re chasing that “colourful Colombian pueblo” feeling specifically, they’re worth putting on your radar too, or perhaps instead.
Should You Skip Guatapé? Who It’s Worth It For
Go if:
- You have a longer Colombia itinerary (a week or more around Medellín) and can afford a slow day or two
- You actively like to research food, viewpoints, and hikes yourself in advance rather than being guided around
- You want the photos. Genuinely, the town and the view from El Peñol are beautiful, and that part delivers
Consider skipping if:
- You’re short on time and have a long list of other places in Colombia to see
- Crowds and heavily touristy setups drain your energy rather than adding to the experience
- You’re only doing the rushed day-trip version, in which case I’d argue the other Antioquia towns give you an arguably better experience with a fraction of the crowds
My honest take: it’s popular for a reason, and I don’t think you’ll regret going. But it’s also one of the few “unmissable” stops on the Colombia trail that might be “missable” depending on how much time you have.
Where to Stay for Your Guatapé Trip
If you decide to split your trip over a night or two instead of a rushed day trip (do as I say, not as I do), you’ve got two options depending on how you’re structuring your Colombia itinerary.
Staying in Guatapé Itself
Staying in town means you get the early-morning and evening version of Guatapé, after the day-trip buses have left and before the next wave arrives. It’s also your best access point for the eco-lodges and glamping sites around the lake if you want to add on kayaking, horse riding, or just go at a slower pace.
Basing Yourself in Medellín
If Guatapé is one stop on a broader Medellín-based itinerary, then staying in El Poblado (more energy and nightlife-friendly) or Laureles (more local, “truer Medellin” whilst still feeling safe) makes sense, just budget the early start day-trip excursion.
Where to stay in Medellín – My 2026 hostel guide for backpackers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guatapé worth it as a day trip from Medellín?
It’s worth it once, but a rushed group day trip is the least enjoyable way to experience it. If you can spare an overnight stay instead, you’ll get a noticeably better version of the same trip.
How many days do you need in Guatapé?
A single day is enough to see El Peñol and walk the main streets, but one night and two days lets you actually relax, avoid the worst of the crowds, and try lake activities like boating or kayaking.
Is Guatapé touristy?
Yes, it’s one of the most visited day-trip destinations near Medellín, and it can feel crowded and commercialised- especially around the entrance to El Peñol and the main street of the town.
Is Guatapé safe?
Yes, Guatapé is considered a safe, well-established tourist destination, and the public bus route from Medellín is a comfortable, low-stress way to travel if you’re new to independent travel in Colombia.
Can you visit Guatapé without a tour?
Yes, public buses run from Medellín’s South Terminal, and it’s a straightforward, cost-effective way to visit on your own schedule rather than a tour operator’s.
What’s better than Guatapé in Antioquia?
If you want the colourful-town experience without the crowds, Jardín, Jericó, and Filandia offer similar charm with a more authentic, lived-in feel.
In short, my take home about visiting Guatapé as a day trip was that it felt rushed, I couldn’t do all the activities that I wanted in the time permitted, and despite leaving early and coming back late, we never really saw the benefit in terms of crowd size.
I encourage you to think about how you like to travel and whether independence and agency is something you value, or you appreciate the care, local knowledge and potential new friends that comes with a guide and tour group.
Is Guatapé worth it? As a day trip, no. But as part of a slower travel journey? Yes, I think there’s tons to see and do to feel that Colombian pueblo energy.
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