[adrotate banner=”3″]
[social_warfare]
If you’re living in Medellin or just passing through it’s pretty much guaranteed that someone will recommend you checkout Guatape for at least a day trip (Tripadvisor even lists it as a top thing to do).
Located a 1.5 – 2hr bus ride from Medellin, Guatape is a large and incredibly detailed lake system that was created by the government in the 1960’s to support a dam project.
The town of Guatape is a small, colorful, and unmistakenly Colombian pueblo that fills with tourists every weekend and seems sleepy by comparison during the week.
Besides the beautiful lake, the highlight of Guatape is La Piedra, or the Rock – an impossible-to-miss rock formation jutting 200 meters (or 600+ steps) above the lake and affording amazing views.
The town of Guatape itself is more than worth the journey from Medellin, but if you have the time or desire to explore 2 more small towns in Colombia, both San Rafael and San Carlos are easily accessible from Guatape.
Note: We actually went to Guatape twice during our time in Medellin – this post contains information from both of those trips.
Getting to Guatape from Medellin
The easiest way to get to Guatape is by bus from the north station (Terminal Norte). We did this twice and the buses were frequent (about every 30 minutes), clean, and on time.
You will be fine buying your tickets when you get to the station so don’t stress too much about when to leave – we’ve always been able to get onto the next bus but a friend of ours did have to wait for 1hr when he tried to go over a holiday.
To buy a ticket, head down to the first floor and over to window 17 or 18 (I think – you can simply tell the Info Desk on the top floor “Guatape” and they will tell you the correct window) and tell the person behind the window how many tickets you want. If you’re unsure if you’re in the correct place, each window has a sign over it advertising the name of the bus company and the destination.
(Note: there are random people in the terminal that will approach you asking if you’re going to Guatape – just ignore them as they likely don’t work for an established company).
The average ticket price is between 12,000COP-15,000COP per person each way and you will get an assigned seat. If you have larger bags, simply tell the driver and he will help you store them in the truck (make sure to take all of your valuables out just to be safe).
Note: If you travel during the weekend it’s advisable to book your return ticket when you arrive if you’re going back the same day or early day of if you’re going back another day – the bus station can get crowded and planning ahead will ensure you don’t have to wait!
The bus trip itself was straightforward and scenic, even when it rained for ⅔ of the trip it didn’t take us more than 2 hours. If you’re traveling during the day and sitting by the window there is no shortage of things to look at.
Three things to note about bus travel in general Colombia:
- The roads are winding and the drivers seem to be in a race with everyone else on the road – this can lead to some aggressive corners and stopping short as they try and overtake other vehicles. If you have a sensitive stomach (or get car sick), you’ve been warned!
- The drivers make extra money by picking up passengers who didn’t buy a ticket – this will begin immediately upon leaving the North Station and it’s likely the driver will pick up multiple groups throughout the trip – they all pay the driver a small fare (which he pockets) and take whatever seat (or standing room) is available.
- The drivers also pick up vendors (especially around the toll stations) who sell snacks and drinks – they are usually polite and everything is cheap if you’re hungry or forgot your water.
One final note on transportation – if you’re not keen on taking a bus it’s quite easy to hire a driver for the day – we’ve seen people ask about this in the Medellin Expats Facebook group and prices seem to range from 50,000COP to 100,000COP per person.
[adrotate banner=”7″]
Where We Stayed in Guatape
As I mentioned above, we’ve been to Guatape twice and stayed in very different places each time.
Lakeview Hostel
Lakeview is one of the more popular hostels in Guatape (according to Hostelworld) and we actually heard about it from a coffee shop in Medellin. It’s located on the lake (though not the best view) and an easy walk from the town center.
Lakeview seemed to be geared more towards younger, partying travelers, and their bar on the top floor was always rocking until late. Even if you’re not into partying their breakfast was great (though not included) and I still think about their breakfast burritos – they also have a well-known Thai restaurant on their top floor but it was closed during our stay.
We had a private room here on the first floor and it was fine – the ensuite bathroom was clean and the bed was comfortable – the only issue was the noise that came from the lobby but after a day of exploring we still fell asleep without much issue.
If you opt for Lakeview, try getting a room on the 2nd (middle) floor – you’ll be spared the noise from the lounge on the first floor and should be shielded enough from the bar on the 3rd (top) floor.
Casa Encuentro
Casa Encuentro is an incredible property located on the backside of Guatape (compared to Lakeview) with a much better view. It’s not as popular with young travelers and the vibe reflects that – it’s very chill, relaxed, and peaceful.
While breakfast and coffee are included (and delicious!), they don’t have a restaurant to support other meals (though their common area and bar does stay open until 8 and is a great place to hang out and check out the views).
We also had a private room here but the setup was such that we had to walk through a dorm (with only 3 beds) in order to get to it – we also shared a very small bathroom with the dorm. Casa Encuentro does have a higher tier of the private room that we were able to check out and those look quite nice with a proper ensuite, FYI.
If we were to go back we would likely stay at Case Encuentro again (and have recommended it to others) – the views were just so much better than Lakeview and the vibe more in line with what we looking for in the place like Guatape. With that being said, I do regret not being able to try the Thai food at Lakeview as everyone says it’s awesome!
Where We Ate in Guatape
There are two restaurants worth noting in Guatape, both of which we ate at twice and can be found on Tripadvisor:
- Pizzeria de Luigi – incredible pizza with awesome infused olive oils – they don’t open until 6:30pm though and there are usually people waiting to get in, especially on weekends.
- Namaste – really good vegetarian food located on the main strip along the lake – try the Shakshouka.