Guatape & Piedra Del Penol: The Best Day Trip from Medellin
Are you looking for the best one-day trip from Medellin? What about a beautiful colonial town Guatape and nearby stunning monolith offering wonderful views, Piedra del Penol? Read our travel guide on visiting Guatape and Piedra del Penol, including tips on how to get there from Medellin, the best things to do, what to expect, and how much things cost.
If you need to escape Medellin's hustle and bustle, Guatape and Piedra del Penol are the perfect places you have to visit on a one day trip.
Colombia's most colorful town Guatape is only a short bus ride from Medellin and the combination of zocalo-decorated town and nearby Piedra del Penol, a huge monolith overlooking a flooded dam, is worth a visit.
Colombia is a beautiful country, and we know it offers so many colonial cities that it is simply not possible to visit them all.
But if there's one you should not miss, it is Guatape. There are several reasons why to visit this charming town in Antioquia Department.
First of all, it is the proximity to Colombia's second-largest city. And even though there are so many things to do in Medellin, a trip to Guatape is not something you should skip.
Secondly, the city itself is a real gem, and even though it feels touristy during the busy season, the colorful houses and narrow cobblestone streets will make it up for you.
Last but not least, you can easily combine this trip from Medellin with the visit to Piedra del Penol.
Both destinations are worth to be explored on their own, but why not take advantage of seeing both of them in one day when they are so close to each other?
If you plan on visiting Guatape and Piedra del Penol independently on a one day trip from Medellin, keep on reading.
In this travel guide, we share with you tips on how to get there by bus, what to expect, what to see, and where to stay.
Even though you have several options on how to plan this trip, one of them is to enjoy a weekend getaway in Guatepe, feel free to follow our footsteps.
In short, we took a bus from Medellin, got off at Piedra del Penol, where we climbed the rock, then we continued to Guatape, spent a few hours here, and then we returned back to Medellin.
It is, of course, possible to go first to Guatape, but we think our way made sense, and we are confident to recommend it to you as well.
HOW TO GET TO GUATAPE AND PIEDRA DEL PENOL FROM MEDELLIN
Getting to Guatape and Piedra del Penol independently could not be easier.
Sure, you can hire a cab driver or join a tour, but we keep fond memories of traveling in Colombia by bus till this day. It's an experience on its own.
Step number one is to get to Terminal Norte alias North Bus Terminal.
Remember how we told you in our post dedicated to things to know before traveling to Medellin, how useful is to stay near the metro station? You'll appreciate it now.
The bus station is located at the Caribe station on metro line A.
Go inside the terminal and look for a company Sotrasanvicente that has office number 14 on the ground level.
Because the bus goes regularly, every half an hour between 6 AM and 7 PM, you don't have to make a reservation in advance, it is fine just to show up let's say fifteen minutes before the departure.
It takes a bit less than two hours to get to Guatape, and the ticket cost COP 14 000.
If you want to visit Piedra del Penol before continuing to Guatape, same as we did, the process is completely the same, you only have to get off at the monolith, which is approximately 10 minutes' drive before the colonial town.
You won't be most likely the only person getting off there, so we think you cannot miss it, but just in case, tell the driver your intentions.
If you want to save money, you can even tell your destination at the counter in Medellin, and the ticket will be only 13 000 COP.
HOW TO GET FROM PIEDRA DEL PENOL TO GUATAPE
After you climbed up the rock and enjoyed the views, you can carry on to Guatape.
Go back to a small parking lot where the bus dropped you off before and hire a tuk-tuk to Guatape.
There are many drivers waiting, and the ride costs COP 5 000 per person.
In Guatape, you'll be dropped off at the bus terminal that is within walking distance from the town's main highlights.
Our Tip: If you want to get back to Medellin on the same day, buy your return ticket right after you arrive in Guatape.
We tried to buy our ticket already in Medellin, but for some reason, it is not possible.
There are many buses between Medellin and Guatape, and we don't think you would get stuck in the town, but especially on weekends, your preferred time does not have to be available at the very last minute.
GUATAPE
Guatape, a small tranquil town in the Antioquia department, draws visitors' attention, and we absolutely understand why.
It is a perfect one day trip, although feel free to stay longer and enjoy the vibe when most of the day-trippers leave.
Moreover, houses decorated with zocalo are incredibly colorful, even for the Colombia standards.
We have visited numerous colorful villages and colonial towns in Colombia with beautiful facades, so we have a lot of to compare to - and last but not least the town's location in the middle of rolling green hills is just stunning.
WHAT TO DO IN GUATAPE
Guatape is exactly that kind of place, where you can wander its streets with camera in hand, sit in coffee shops and in short do nothing much but after the whole day, you will have a feeling of a nicely spend day.
No one exactly knows why and when local people in Guatape started to embellish their houses with zocalos.
Zocalo (the coat of cement) is a differently colored lower part of a house, that is usually up to 80 cm high, and this custom was probably imported to Colombia from Spain.
The original main reason to use zocalo was house protection from erosion.
But people of Guatape took zocalo to a new and better level when they decorated their houses with colorful symbols and paintings which very often depict their occupation, their believes or history of the family, or the house.
When you wander the streets, you can see, that everyone takes decorating of their house very seriously.
All buildings look well-taken care of, and we believe that there must be an unspoken rivalry among residents of Guatape whose house is the most beautiful.
Apart from colorful houses, there is the main square Parque Guatape with the town's church and another small square La Plazoleta De Los Zocalos, which is known for its beautifully painted steps and busy restaurants, coffee houses, and shops.
When we think of Guatape in retrospect, and after visiting many other small towns in Colombia such as Barichara or Jardin, we found it a little bit more touristy than we would've appreciated.
The overall experience felt similar to a trip to another popular town Villa de Leyva near the capital city of Colombia, Bogota.
In case you would like to avoid crowds, plan your visit for weekdays because weekends tend to be busy.
You might also be wpndering, how much time do you need for visiting Guatape?
We would say that two hours are enough because there are not many must-see places like in other destinations, it is more about the vibe and colorful streets.
Of course, you can easily decide to spend a night here and explore more thoroughly the area around the town, you can find tips on where to stay at the end of this post.
GUATAPE TOURS
Because of its proximity to Medellin, there is, of course, a large number of travel companies that offer day tours.
The price is very reasonable, tours with lunch and boat tour cost around COP 79 000 (without entrance fee to Piedra del Penol).
At the beginning, we were considering it as well and almost made a reservation, but at the last minute, we found out that we would have to travel in a big bus, and it was not exactly what we wanted.
But if you are looking for a care-free way how to visit Guatape and Piedra del Penol, it is definitely a viable option.
This Guatape tour from Medellin is super-popular and has great reviews.
PIEDRA DEL PENOL
Approximately ten minutes before Guatape is an enormous, 220 meters high monolith that towers above its surroundings, The Big Guatape Rock more commonly known as Piedra del Penol, one of the largest monoliths in the world.
You must climb either 659 steps from the rock base to the viewing platform or 740 if you want to get the views from the house standing on the top (additional COP 2 000).
Steps are marked after every 25, which someone can find helpful and someone discouraging.
I felt the latter because I did not feel well that day, and although the climb wasn't particularly hard, I had to push myself to get to the top, but still, we made it in about 15 minutes.
Less trained travelers might find the climb challenging, but there's no way around it, you must deserve the views here.
The entrance fee is COP 18 000. We think it is a bit overpriced, but Colombians will tell you that you'll get the most beautiful view in the world.
Although it is not the prettiest view we've ever seen, we must admit the surroundings consisting of a flooded dam and greenery are enjoyable enough when we consider the story behind its creation.
The water reservoir you can see beneath is man-made because a dam built in the late 1970s was flooded as a part of the big hydro-electricity project.
Also a small town El Penol you can see below is the new town, the old one had to give way to a new project and now lies almost completely underwater.
The entire visit to Piedra del Penol will take you around one hour.
It is possible to buy refreshments on the top of the rock, but also the path between the bus stop and entrance is lined with stalls, where you can purchase a snack or souvenirs.
In case you have more time, and your budget allows it, you can join a boat trip, which is one of the most popular activities in the area.
WHERE TO STAY IN GUATAPE
Even though the majority of travelers decide to visit Guatape on a one-day trip from Medellin, it is not a bad idea to spend here a night and enjoy the place after tour groups leave.
You'll be pleasantly surprised by the wide selection of accommodation options in Guatape.
Here, we've handpicked the best picks for every type of traveler below.
Budget | Hotel Lagos de Guatape - Great quiet location, walking distance to the center, clean rooms, and friendly staff.
Mid-range | Oak Tree house - Location just out of town makes it perfect for travelers looking for a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. Clean rooms, a gorgeous common area, and a beautiful terrace upstairs.
Luxury | Hotel Santa Maria de las Aguas Penol - Quiet location, super clean rooms, wonderful views, and a great restaurant.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation in Medellin.
IS THE TRIP TO GUATAPE WORTH IT?
If you are looking for a short answer to this burning question, you have come to the right place, as you'll get it.
Yes, we think the trip from Medellin to Guatape with a visit to Piedra del Penol on the way, is well worth it.
And it does not matter whether you have only a few hours, or if you plan on spending in the area a pleasant getaway.
The combination of natural wonders such as the large monolith, the man-made flooded dam that creates very eye-catching peninsulas in the water, and zocalo-decorated houses, is rewarding.
On top of that, Guatape is easily reached by bus from Medellin, so it's an easy choice this time.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHAT TO PACK FOR GUATAPE AND PIEDRA DEL PENOL
What should you pack for a one-day trip to Guatape and Piedra del Penol?
If you do not plan on spending a night here, make sure you have just items that will make your trip comfortable.
Do not overpack, but it is good to be ready for every weather possibility.
Guatape has a very similar climate as Medellin, so you can expect high temperatures throughout the year during the day and cooler nights.
It rains quite often in Guatape, and especially in the afternoons, you can watch heavy clouds building up, which we actually found very photogenic.
What should you pack except for a rain poncho or travel umbrella, that should be in your backpack all the time?
We recommend a windbreaker, comfortable sneakers because cobblestone streets are hard to walk on, a proper daypack, camera, sunscreen, and of course, a reusable water bottle .
We've also written an in-depth guide South America packing list where you will find more useful tips and advice on what to bring and what to leave at home.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
