Guatape

Painted zócalos and a 740-step lake viewpoint

Guatapé is a small town in the highlands of Antioquia on the shore of the Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir, a man-made lake with many islands. It's known for its zócalos, painted panels on the lower walls of its houses, many of them showing local life, plants and animals. Roughly 1 mi from town, the Piedra del Peñol is a rock about 700 ft high with 740 numbered steps up to a viewpoint. Visitors can also kayak, paddle or sail on the lake. The compact, walkable town is about two hours by bus from Medellín, so many people come on a day trip and others stay a night or two.

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Town in Colombia

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$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.1

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	4
Accessibility:	2
Tap water:	5

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, restaurants, and by tour operators, but less so in small shops or with older locals. Basic Spanish or a translation app will make your visit smoother.

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Last update: Oct 23, 2026

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Guatape Summary

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Famous for colorful streets and giant rock views. Climb El Peñón for panoramas, walk vibrant town streets and enjoy boat trips across scenic lakes.

Place score

7.6

Best at:

Cozy towns

Boating

Lakes

Kayak & SUP

Walkable

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 3

Seniors

❤️ 7

Couples

🛡️ 5

Travel Beginners

Colombia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	110 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Colombian Peso (COP) $1 ≈ COP 3,158.18
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but cash is still preferred in many rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not obligatory, but a tip of 5-10% is appreciated in restaurants. Taxis generally do not expect a tip, but rounding up the fare is common.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is not allowed in some areas, especially in cities. It is best to consume alcohol in licensed venues like bars or restaurants.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and public transport.

Independence Day (July 20)	National holiday celebrating Colombia's independence with parades and festivities
Christmas (December 25)	Celebrated with family gatherings and festive meals

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 123
Taxi apps:	Uber, Cabify
Other:	Colombia is known for its coffee, vibrant culture, and beautiful landscapes, including the Andes mountains and Caribbean beaches.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

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Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Guatape, Colombia

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

⛈️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., June - Aug., Dec.
Shoulder season:	March - April, Sep.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

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Climate details

Weekends and Colombian public holidays are very crowded, as Guatapé is a popular day trip from Medellín

Climb El Peñol early in the morning for clearer views, as clouds often build by midday

Don't miss

🧗‍♂️ Climb the iconic La Piedra del Peñol rock
🎨 Explore colorful streets with vibrant zócalos
🚤 Take a boat tour on Guatapé Reservoir
🍽️ Enjoy local cuisine in the main plaza
🛶 Rent a kayak and paddle on the lake

You've been here?

Why travel to Guatape?

Guatapé is known first for its zócalos, painted panels along the lower walls of houses and shops. Many show local life, plants and animals or the town's farming past. Some tie to the owner's trade or beliefs. The streets around Plaza de los Zócalos are the best place to see them. The town is small enough to cover on foot in a couple of hours. The second reason is the Piedra del Peñol, which is about 700 ft high and a short ride out of town. A staircase of 740 numbered steps goes up to a viewpoint over the reservoir and its islands. Halfway up there's a shrine to the Virgin Mary along with souvenir shops and a restaurant, which gives you places to rest. The reservoir adds the active side. Visitors can kayak, canoe or paddle board among the islands or go sailing, wakeboarding and water-skiing. Rappelling at nearby waterfalls and paragliding are also on offer. A day trip from Medellín covers the town and the rock. A night or two gives time for the lake without rushing.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Plazoleta de los Zócalos
2 Iglesia Santa Bárbara

🎡Places for activities

1 Lake View Hostel

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 The Rock of Guatape

🎈Events

Fiestas del Zócalo (August)
Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions
Christmas lights festival
Local music and dance nights
Water sports competitions

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Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Climb the Piedra early, before tour buses arrive from Medellín.
The 740 steps are numbered, with a shrine and shops halfway up where you can rest.
Look down at the lower walls, where painted zócalo panels often show the owner's trade or beliefs.
The reservoir is man-made, so many of the islands you see from the viewpoint were once hilltops.

How to travel to Guatape

Guatapé is east of Medellín and the usual way to reach it is by bus from Medellín's Terminal del Norte. The trip takes about two hours and the distance is around 50 mi. Buses run through the day and fill up on weekends and holidays, so go early. The nearest major airport is José María Córdova (MDE) in Rionegro, which has flights from across Colombia and several international cities. From there you can continue by road, either through Medellín or directly east, with a taxi or private transfer being the simplest option. Driving from Medellín takes about two hours and gives you freedom to stop along the way. Traffic on the roads out of the city is heavy on Friday evenings and holiday weekends. Many tour operators in Medellín sell day trips that include the town and the Piedra del Peñol, which is an easy choice if you'd rather not manage transport yourself.

Access summary

From Medellín José María Córdova Airport (MDE): Taxi or transfer, about 1–1.5 hours.
From Medellín city: Bus from Terminal Norte or private transfer, around 2 hours.
From El Peñol rock: Local bus or tuk‑tuk, usually 20–40 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Guatape

Most visitors stay in the town center, where small hotels, hostels and guesthouses are within walking distance of Plaza de los Zócalos and the lakeside. This is the most practical base if you don't have a car. Around the reservoir you'll find cabins, glamping sites and country houses with views of the water. They're quieter and often have private docks or gardens but need a taxi or car to reach the town. They suit groups and longer stays. The town fills up on long weekends and holiday periods, when many visitors come from Medellín, so book ahead for those dates. Midweek is calmer and usually cheaper. Staying in Medellín and visiting on a day trip is also an option, since the town is about two hours away by bus.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

The Brown, Guatape, Autograph Collection

9.1

Hotel Casa Linda Guatape

9.1

The ELeMYNT Suites Boutique

10.0

Casa de Campo con Vista a la Piedra y Jacuzzi

10.0

Hotel Guatatur

6.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Guatape

Guatapé is small and the center around Plaza de los Zócalos is easy to cover on foot. The lakeside is a short walk from the plaza. The Piedra del Peñol is about 1 mi outside town, so most visitors combine walking with a short ride.

Walking:
Streets in the center are short and lined with the painted zócalos. Some slope and the paving is uneven, so shoes with grip help. The walk to the Piedra is possible but follows a road with traffic.

Taxis and tuk-tuks:
Taxis and three-wheeled tuk-tuks wait around the plaza and are the simplest way to reach the Piedra. Agree the fare before you go and ask about the return trip.

Boats:
Boat tours on the reservoir leave from the lakeside and visit the islands. Agree the price and the length of the trip first and check that life jackets are provided.

Food in Guatape

Food in Guatapé is traditional Antioquia cooking, hearty and built around beans, rice, pork, plantain and corn arepas. The best-known dish is the bandeja paisa, a large plate with beans, rice, ground meat, fried pork belly, egg, plantain and arepa. It's filling, so many people share it or order it for lunch.

Restaurants around Plaza de los Zócalos and along the lakeside serve local dishes as well as simple international food. A popular restaurant halfway up the Piedra del Peñol serves meals with a view. Coffee is a good way to start the morning in the plaza before day visitors arrive. Fresh fruit juices are sold everywhere. Vegetarian dishes are available but limited, so ask before ordering.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

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To customize this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-67 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 67% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+29 %

Your exchange rate (USD to COP) is 29% worse than in recent years. That means traveling now is considerably more expensive compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Bello, Colombia - 28 miles away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	$35	$75	$179
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	$12	$40	$80
🍝 Food per day	$19	$28	$68
🚕 Transportation per day	$4	$7	$31

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	$9.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	$6
🍟 Fast food combo	$8
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	$6.50
☕ Cappuccino	$1.60
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l / 16 oz	$0.90

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	$0.95
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	$20
⛽ Gas, 1 l / ¼ gal	$1.15

Other

🎞️ Movie ticket	$4.10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	$35
🤧 Cold medication	$6.50
💇 Basic haircut	$9.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Guatapé is calm and welcoming. Petty theft in crowded spots is the main concern. Keep valuables out of sight on busy weekends and on the Piedra stairs. Use boat operators that provide life jackets and avoid mountain roads at night because of the curves.

Health & Medical

Guatapé has a small health center for minor problems. Serious cases go to Rionegro or Medellín by road, so travel insurance matters. The climate is mild but the sun is strong on the Piedra climb, where shade is limited. Bring water and sun protection.

Accessibility

The Piedra del Peñol is reached by 740 steps with no lift, so the viewpoint is out of reach for wheelchair users and hard for anyone with limited mobility. The town center has uneven paving and slopes. Boat trips involve stepping into small boats.

Tap water

Tap water in Guatapé isn't considered safe for visitors to drink. Use bottled or filtered water and skip ice from unknown sources. Bottled water is sold in shops around the plaza and on the Piedra, so it's easy to carry enough for the climb.