We have this thing for cute and colorful towns, so we fell hard for Guatape! It’s a charming lakeside town with lively residents, cobblestone streets, and bright, happy colors. Guatape is just a two hour drive east of Medellin and we HIGHLY recommend it as a day trip if you are in Medellin. We actually wish we stayed for a night or two as there is so much to do there. Whether you have a day or three, here’s our guide to Guatape and the things to do in Guatape.
How to Get to Guatape from Medellin:
There are three super easy options depending how much you want to spend. As we mentioned, it’s just a two hour drive away, possibly even less if you don’t hit traffic.
- Take a bus both ways: This is probably the cheapest option. You can buy a ticket for about $5 each way. Keep in mind, if you do decide to take a bus, you need to buy your return ticket ahead of time. The con to this method is that you do not have much flexibility with your departure in the event you decide you want to stay later. The buses usually drop off and pick up at the rock, but it’s relatively easy to get around the small town of Guatape.
- Take a taxi or Uber there and a bus on the way back: This is a good option if you are strapped on time on the way there and want to avoid the multiple stops a bus makes. Taxis in Medellin are relatively cost effective and you can negotiate a ride for less than $50. The problem is not a lot of taxis are willing to drive to Guatape unless you hire them for the day. Keep in mind, you should book a bus for your return trip in advance as it can be very difficult to find a taxi to take you back.
- Hire a private car: While this is the most expensive option, it is also the most flexible. We hired a van for 5 people all day {around 12 hours} for $200. You can most likely negotiate lower fares if you don’t need a van and also if you find a private driver {we booked through our hotel}. We really loved the flexibility of this option. We were able to leave whenever we wanted, stop at any point {there are lots of nice views and fruit markets along the way} and we were able to leave a change of clothes in the car.
Things to Do in Guatape:
Stop by Parque de Guatape:
This is a little town plaza with a pretty church and colorful buildings. You can buy souvenirs and grab a snack. When we went there was a traditional dance performance which was nice to watch. Of course we spent the majority of our time taking photos of the colorful buildings and the pretty views.
Climb Piedra de Penol or the Rock of Guatape:
This is a must when in Guatape! The monolithic formation can be climbed via 740 steps and there is a majestic view when you get to the top! Great way to get a little bit of exercise in as well as witness a spectacular viewpoint! Skip the restaurants up top, there are better spots in the village. Fun fact: the rock is on the border of Guatape and Penol. Both cities fight over who the rock belongs to and will often try to paint their city name on the rock. When we went, the rock had a giant “G” on it.
Explore the main village:
This was the highlight of Guatape for us! The village is full of brightly colored homes and there is something unique to see around every corner. The colors aren’t just there to be aesthetically pleasing. Businesses will decorate their buildings to advertise what’s inside {for example, a spool of thread for a tailor}. Families will decorate their homes to tell the story of their heritage. We can’t think of a better way to introduce yourself!
We recommend just wandering around and taking in all the colors, patterns, and unique details. Of course, wandering with a camera in hand is even better and icecream + camera is best! If you’re tired of walking, you can also hitch a ride in a tuk-tuk, a brightly colored motorized cart, and explore the city that way.
Finally, if you are over all the color {which in that case, we can’t be friends, just kidding}, take a walk by the lakefront. You’ll get beautiful waterfront views and there are tons of restaurants and shops there.
Take part in water activities:
There are so many fun water activities offered on the lake! You can take out a kayak or boat for the day and explore all the little islands. We didn’t have time to take part in any, but here are some options that sounded like a lot of fun:
- Kayaking
- Ziplining across the lake
- Boating
- Jet skis
- Fishing
- Scuba diving {only in shallow areas}
Visit La Manuela {Pablo Escobar’s former mansion}:
This lakefront mansion is one of the many Pablo Escobar formerly lived in, this particular one named for his daughter. You can go explore the now deserted home and even play paintball there! We really wanted to do this, but we ran out of time.
What to Eat in Guatape:
We don’t have a list of where to eat in Guatape, it really depends on your preference. You can eat at the nice waterfront restaurants if you have some time or grab quick street food. From what we’ve heard and what we’ve experienced, it doesn’t seem like you can really go wrong. Also, if you’re vegetarian, we noticed Guatape had the most vegetarian options out of all the cities we visited in Colombia.
- Trout {Guatape is best known for their freshly caught trout!)
- Coffee {Okay, it’s not a food, but it’s a Colombian must}
- Ice cream {it’s all over the village}
- Ajaico {traditional Colombian soup}
- Bandeja paisa {this is a traditional Colombian dish, in Guatape the meat is replaced with fish}
- Empanadas and arepas
Julia Dent says
I love all those bright colors!! It looks like such a happy village!
happilyeveradventures says
I don’t know how you could be in a bad mood with all those bright colors!
Erin Rolfson says
This looks so beautiful! The bright colours are amazing. I want to go to there!
happilyeveradventures says
Oh you should! You would love it!
Caroline says
I am DYING to go to Colombia and I am definitely going to make a stop in Guatape – it looks like my kind of town! Definitely saving this for when I go!
happilyeveradventures says
I really hope you stop in Guatape when you go to Colombia! I think you’ll love it!!
Josie says
I am completely addicted to seeking out colourful towns. I am yet to get to South America, but Guatape is now firmly on the list for when we do get there.
happilyeveradventures says
If you like colorful towns, you will LOVE Guatape! In general, we loved Colombia. I hope you get to visit soon!
Lucy says
Lovely blog post, I enjoyed reading it. I love the colourful photos, what a beautiful place to visit! I want to go!
happilyeveradventures says
It’s one of the most colorful places we’ve ever been! Such a great place to add to your travel bucket list!
Raquel says
I enjoyed the post a lot, especially with those colourful pretty photos! I have been to Colombia before but only to Bogota and Cartagena de Indias, so it was nice to learn about another place in Colombia. Perhaps one day soon I get to go! Thanks for sharing!
happilyeveradventures says
We loved Colombia so much and quickly learned that the 10 days we had were not enough! We would love to go back in the future. I hope you get to go again and explore Guatape! Also add Medellin to your list, we LOVED it!
Inge says
It’s difficult not to fall in love with Guatape! We stayed a couple of days as well. The 740 steps rather felt like over a thousand! It was so hot when we climbed the rock and I was so happy to reach the beautiful viewpoint 🙂 Love your photography a lot. It takes me right back to the great vibe in Guatape!
happilyeveradventures says
Right?! We were saying it must take a very negative person to not love Guatape. All the liveliness and colors just seem to promote so much happiness! And yes, those stairs were killer! Especially in the heat or in the rain!!
Ciara says
Your photos are just FAB!
happilyeveradventures says
Aw thank you, Ciara! That’s so sweet.
Lien says
Such a lovely town! I would especially love all the water activities 😉 Colombia here I come!
happilyeveradventures says
I agree, the water activities seem so fun! Next time we go we definitely want to spend more time there and take advantage of all the activities!
Abby says
Wow! the Piedra de Penol looks amazing. Wish I could be there right now. The colours of Guatape in your photos are amazing!
happilyeveradventures says
It was stunning! I hope you get to go soon and love it as much as we did!
Kavey Favelle says
What an absolutely darling colourful place to visit. I’m loving the vibrant use of paint, and your pink dress looks so cute against it. That climb up the Rock would kill me though, but I’m impressed you made it, those views from the top are breathtaking!
happilyeveradventures says
It was one the cutest places we’ve ever visited! Love how everyone tells a story through art! The rock was tough, but not impossible! You’d be surprised, you’d probably do just fine!
Maria Angelova says
I love colorful places ever since I set foot on the Selaron Steps in Rio. Later I visited the colorful steps in Istanbul and researched similar places in my own country! This one goes straight in my bucket list!
happilyeveradventures says
Ooh I’m adding Selaron Steps to my bucket list now! There are so many amazing and colorful places in the world!
Lisanne says
I absolutely love how colourful it is Lena! So amazing I wanna go!
happilyeveradventures says
One of the most colorful places we’ve ever been! I hope you get to go soon!
Alexandria Iveson says
Oh my goodness! Guatape looks absolutely incredible and your photos are fantastic! Adding this to the bucket list 🙂
happilyeveradventures says
Yay! We hope you go and love it as much as we did!
Jill at Reading the Book says
South America is always so colourful, it’s one of the things I love most. I would love to get to Colombia one day, it seems such a vibrant place to visit in spite of the challenges. Thanks for sharing!
happilyeveradventures says
We really want to see more of South America! And yes, Colombia is just a lively and happy country that sometimes it’s hard to see the challenges!
penelopi says
What beautiful colourful town! I wish I can visit it one day.. I would be afraid though to clinb that rock 😆😆
happilyeveradventures says
You might be surprised! It really wasn’t that bad!
Christina says
The rock of Guatape looks insane! Hilarious how they try claiming it by painting… Anyways, I always had a thing for quirky lil towns, and Colombia will probably happen next year, yay!
happilyeveradventures says
Right?! I thought that was so funny! People get so territorial!
Rachelle says
Wow, PIEDRA DE PENOL is no joke! Those stairs are ridiculous! I love the bright colors and would just fall in love with this place hard! Of course, paintball in La Manuela would be so much fun, as would simply walking around the town and taking all the pictures!
happilyeveradventures says
They were pretty insane! I actually got dizzy several times going down because they are so steep and windy, as well as crammed. It’s such a beautiful town, I hope you get to go! We definitely want to stay longer next time and take advantage of the amazing activities, like paintballing in La Manuela!
Jordan says
The more colorful a city, the better for me! I’m obsessed with this town! Adding it to my list of places to visit in Colombia 🙂
happilyeveradventures says
Yes! I hope you love it! It’s a color lover’s dream!
Lia says
I’m SO bummed that we missed out on Guatape when we were in Medellin! Def on the top of my list to visit when we make it back to Colombia. Which will def happen b/c Colombia was our FAVORITE country!
happilyeveradventures says
We LOVED Colombia as well, especially Medellin. There is so much to do in Colombia, we didn’t realize that at all. We really want to go back!
Anisa says
Wow, it really might just be the world’s most colorful town! The only place that I can think of that comes close is Burano Italy. Your pictures are so pretty. Pinned for future reference.
happilyeveradventures says
Burano is HIGH on our list! Once we go we will let you know which one we think is more colorful!
Shannon says
Absolutely loved Guatape, we stayed for three nights! Another town you’d like is Jardin; make sure to add that to your ‘next time’ list. We’ll be posting about it soon, so watch this space!
happilyeveradventures says
Three nights!? Wow! We would love to do that next time! Will definitely add Jardin to our list for next time- thank you for the tip!
Mimismigration says
wow so many pretty colors! it looks beautiful!!!
happilyeveradventures says
Right?! We couldn’t get enough of the colors!
Amanda Blizzard says
Wow, what a wonderfully colourful town!! I love it!! That ‘hill’ looks like a killer haha. I’m definitely adding this to my list of places to visit when I get to Columbia!
happilyeveradventures says
Haha the way down was harder than the way up actually, as it was a bit claustrophobic!
Ameeta says
This is so so beautiful, your post makes me want to pack my bags and go there right now. I am definitely pinning this for future, I really hope I visit Guatape someday!
happilyeveradventures says
I hope you can go someday and you enjoy it as much as we did!