Stunning views, fresh lakes breath, and a beautiful old village with a local atmosphere sounds fantastic, right? Guatape is just one hour’s drive from Medellin, making it a desirable weekend trip destination. Looking for interesting activities? Follow us to know what to see in Guatape.
How to get there?
You can get to Guatape by bus which departs from Terminal del Norte of Medellin and cost around 15k COP.
However, I prefer to rent a car. Car rental and gas are pretty affordable. With the car, you can drive to the starting point where you can begin climbing the rock. Also, you can drive down to the quay and village. Traffic jam is terrible, so you should go there early morning to not be stuck.
The thing to do in Guatape
Climb the rock El Peón de Guatapé
El Peón de Guatapé sometimes referred to as “La piedra del Peol,” is one of the most significant tourist destinations. It is a 220-meter-tall monolith with 702 steps that is situated between the towns of Guatapé and El Peol.
You should arrive here early because it is a popular tourist destination and may be overcrowded. Tickets are 20k COP and can be purchased at the entrance with cash or a credit card. Even though there are many steps, the way up is not exhausting.
The 360-degree view of the surroundings is spectacular once you reach the summit! If you’re fortunate, the sky is clear and the scenery is even more lovely.
The entrance ticket is 20,000.
Walk around the beautiful village of Guatapé
It’s a small colorful village with a distinctive atmosphere. You should surely spend a few hours exploring the city’s streets and enjoying the colors. The zocalos, or painted embellishments, of the local traditional homes, are used to decorate the buildings.
We were fortunate to see the local dancing event. It was great to watch the dancing competition in several cities! Many groups, ranging in age from very young to elderly, performed magnificently while clothed in traditional garb.
Take a private boat tour
Guatapé is a region of many lakes. Many companies are offering their services in boat tours, but I recommend one which is located close to the rock, so you can go there after the climbing. This is basically a part of the resort Tauhose https://tauhouse.com.co/language/en/experiences/, they provide guided tours ( Note: just in Spanish), one-hour private tour for a group of up to 5 people costs around 200k COP. The speed board will drive you through the lakes, guide showed us the old house of Pavlo Escobar and told many stories. The Guatape Lakes area is a favorite vacation home location for wealthy people.
Also, you can spend much more time here enjoying the sunny weather and swimming in crystal clear water. A more fun option is to rent a jet ski and get more adrenaline. It can be rented at the same resort.
More photos
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