Guatape

Colorful Streets and Lakeside Views

Guatapé is a small town in Colombia’s Antioquia region, known for its colorful houses and striking rock formations. The town sits beside the vast Guatapé Reservoir, where water stretches across hills and valleys. Locals live on islands connected by brightly painted bridges that wind through the landscape. Visitors climb the tallest peak to see panoramic views of the reservoir and surrounding green mountains. Fishing, hiking and boat rides are common activities here. The town’s culture reflects strong community ties and a lively tradition of music and dance.

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Town in Colombia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	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: 23 Oct 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:

Cosy 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 4,204.52
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 (20 July)	National holiday celebrating Colombia's independence with parades and festivities
Christmas (25 December)	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 colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
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 grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Guatape, Colombia

🌦️

Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

⛈️

May

⛈️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

⛈️

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)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

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 a must for anyone who loves a mix of nature, culture and a touch of whimsy. The town is famous for its zócalos – brightly painted bas-reliefs on every building – and for the 220-meter-high Piedra del Peñol, which you can climb for jaw-dropping views of the lake and its islands. The reservoir is perfect for kayaking, boating or just relaxing by the shore. It’s an easy day trip from Medellín, but staying a night or two lets you enjoy quieter mornings and evenings, plus nearby adventures in San Rafael. On the downside, Guatapé gets very busy on weekends and holidays – expect crowds and higher prices. The climb up the rock is steep (over 700 steps), so it’s not for everyone and the weather can be unpredictable, with cool evenings and sudden showers. Petty theft is rare, but keep an eye on your belongings in busy areas. Still, the town’s friendly vibe, stunning scenery and playful spirit make it one of Colombia’s most memorable escapes.

🏯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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Knowledge before you go

Climb Piedra del Peñol's 740 steps for epic views.
Admire colorful zócalos on buildings; wander streets from main square.
Book lake boat tours early; jet skis popular on weekends.
Town rebuilt 1980s after flooding; tuk-tuks best for quick hillside rides.

How to travel to Guatape

Guatapé is about two hours by bus from Medellín’s Terminal del Norte, with frequent departures. You can also hire a private driver or join a day tour. The nearest major airport is Medellín (José María Córdova), about 90 minutes away by car. Buses often stop at Piedra del Peñol before reaching town.

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

There’s a wide range of accommodation, from boutique hotels and lakeside lodges to hostels and cozy guesthouses. Many offer lake views or colorful colonial charm. Book ahead for weekends and holidays, as the best spots fill up quickly. Camping is possible at some lakeside sites, but nights can be chilly.

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

The town is compact and best explored on foot – most sights are within a few blocks. Tuk-tuks shuttle between the town and Piedra del Peñol (about 5 km away) and boat taxis connect lakeside spots. For nearby villages or San Rafael, local buses and taxis are available. Roads can be busy on weekends.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise 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.

+24 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to COP) is 24% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably more expensive compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Bello, Colombia - 46 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling 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	£27	£56	£134
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£9	£30	£60
🍝 Food per day	£14	£21	£51
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£5	£24

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£7
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£4.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£6
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£4.90
☕ Cappuccino	£1.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£0.65

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£15
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£3.10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£26
🤧 Cold medication	£4.80
💇 Basic haircut	£7

Safety information overview

General safety

Guatapé is considered very safe for tourists, with a welcoming community and low crime rates. Still, keep an eye on your belongings in busy areas, especially on weekends and during festivals.

Health & Medical

Basic medical care is available in town, but for serious issues, head to Medellín. Tap water is generally safe, but bottled water is widely available. Bring any needed medications and be cautious on the rock steps.

Accessibility

The town is mostly flat and walkable, but cobblestones and steps can be tricky for those with mobility issues. Piedra del Peñol’s climb is steep and not accessible for wheelchairs. Tuk-tuks help with short trips.

Tap water

Tap water is generally safe to drink, but if you have a sensitive stomach, stick to bottled water. Always stay hydrated, especially if you’re climbing or spending time outdoors.