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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Guatapé
Spend a full day in Guatapé for the lake, La Piedra and town colours; add a night if you want a relaxed evening on the malecón.
Guatapé is a lakeside town in Antioquia, about 2 h by bus from Medellín. Its main draw is La Piedra (the 650‑step rock) and the colourful zócalos. A day covers the rock, boat tour and town market; an overnight lets you enjoy sunset, dinner and a quieter boardwalk.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Mar, Jul–Aug
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP 30,000–50,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 50,000–80,000 excl. bed · High COP 80,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus Medellín → Guatapé (one‑way) | COP 25,000 |
| La Piedra entrance fee | COP 25,000 |
| Trout plate (restaurant) | COP 12,000–18,000 |
| Moto‑taxi ride | COP 9,000 (negotiable) |
| Collective boat tour (1 h) | COP 20,000 per person |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MDE · José María Córdova International Airport
- Main gateway for Medellín; 2 h bus to Guatapé
Typical fares
- Medellín → Guatapé bus
- about COP 25,000, 2 h (check)
- Moto‑taxi around town
- about COP 9,000, 5–10 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Moto‑taxis from Parque Principal (≈COP 9,000, negotiate); local buses/Willys to El Peñol (≈COP 2,000–3,000); walk the town centre.
See and do
Known for
- La Piedra (El Peñol) rock
- Colourful zócalos on building façades
- Lake boat tours and zipline
- Fresh trout dishes
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| El Peñol (La Piedra) | Bus or moto‑taxi from Guatapé (≈COP 2,000–3,000) | ≈30 min each way |
Sleep
- Lakeview Hostel
- Dorm COP 20,000; private COP 60,000; near bus terminal and malecón.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh kwes-tah |
| I would like trout, please | Quisiera trucha, por favorkee-syeh-rah troo-chah por fah-bor |
| Where is the bus stop to La Piedra? | ¿Dónde está la parada del bus a La Piedra?don-deh es-tah lah pah-rah-dah del boos ah lah pee-eh-dra |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus tickets are cash‑only; buy early, especially weekends.
- Last bus from Medellín departs 7 PM; return from Guatapé at 6:30 PM (7:45 PM Sun/holidays).
- Swimming in the lake near town is prohibited (current danger).
Guatapé is generally safe; stay alert in crowded markets, keep valuables hidden, and avoid swimming in the lake due to strong currents.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Guatapé yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- La Piedra (El Peñol) rock
- Colourful zócalos on building façades
- Lake boat tours and zipline
- Fresh trout dishes
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Guatape, revision 5265314 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5265314
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Guatapé
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire123
US consulate in Medellín; other embassies in Bogotá.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/guatape). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.