Wholeheartedly, I believe Guatapé is the most colorful town in Colombia, and arguably, it’s the most colorful in the world. I have yet to see a place as full of color as this lovely town in Antioquia, Colombia.
This charming town is characterized by colorful zócalos (emblems) displayed outside homes and businesses. Some of these zócalos tell a story, and others are purely decorative. Nevertheless, they are what make Guatapé distinct and absolutely stunning.
Guatapé is the most popular day trip from Medellín, so it will be easy to visit. Here is a guide to Guatapé. Find out what you can do and see on your visit to this lovely town.
Guide to Guatapé: The Most Colorful Town in Colombia
Guide to Guatapé
Wander the Colorful Streets and admire the zócalos
It won’t be a trip to Guatapé if you don’t wander the lively cobblestone streets. As mentioned above, Guatapé is characterized by the zócalos that decorate the front of homes and businesses. Some are purely decorative, and some tell a story. Evey owner chooses what to put, and it was fun looking at each one. They depict the resident’s personality or occupation, and sometimes it represents the history of the resident or the town. You will see llamas, horses, doves, and all kids of zócalos.
The houses and businesses themselves are also painted in very bright colors. You will see beautiful flowers decorating the windows or hanging from the rooftops. It’s like a fairytale scene, and it’s hard to believe a place so colorful exists.
Visit Piedra el Peñol
In the 1970s, the area of Guatapé was flooded to make a hydroelectric dam. It resulted in small villages and fields forming in this reservoir. It created beautiful views that since then have attracted people, and tourism boomed.
You can climb to the top of El Peñol to enjoy the scenery. However, that will be a steep 740 stairs up the side of this enormous rock. The cost of climbing the stairs to enjoy the view is 20,000 COP. This rock is the reason people come to visit the area. From the town of Guatapé, you can get a tuk-tuk for 8,000 COP or a collective jeep that takes you to the entrance. Your other option is to walk nearly 45 minutes from Guatapé along the main road until you reach the rock.
Another great option and popular activity when visiting Piedra el Peñol is to ride a helicopter because the scenery is outstanding.
Souvenir Shop
The town of Guatapé is perhaps the most touristy one in all of Colombia because it’s just stunning. Therefore, you will find many souvenirs that are still cheap despite the amount of tourism. The food, on the other hand, is pricier than in other Colombian towns.
Plaza de zócalos
A spot you can’t miss while wandering Guatapé is the Plaza de Zócalos. It is a pretty town square with the most amount of color. You can sit on the plaza steps for a picture, or you can sit down at the tables to drink coffee and admire the burst of color all around. This area is an exciting one, so if you’re planning to take photographs without people, make sure to arrive early.
Umbrella Street
Just to the side of the Plaza de Zócalos is the most photographed alley street in Guatapé. I call it umbrella street because, well, that’s what’s hanging from the top. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to get a picture without anyone in it. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait around too long to catch this street by itself for just a few seconds.
Water Fountain Street
Another popular spot to stop at is the colorful water fountain found on yet another colorful street. I mean, just look at how beautiful this street is.
See the Town Square & Church
One of the best things to do anywhere is to sit back, relax, and watch people. At the town square, you can see the church, Nuestra Señora del Carmen. You’ll notice throughout Colombian towns that there is always a church in front of the town plaza or square. You can walk in and take a peek, or you can admire the architecture from outside.
EXPLORE THE LAKE BY KAYAK
Guatapé is the perfect place to go kayaking since there are many small islands in the lake. The cost will be about 20,000 COP for the day, and you can rent them from some hostels found in the town. If you spend more than a day in Guatapé, this is the perfect activity.
Walk the Malecón
If you wander just outside of the colorful streets of Guatapé, you can enjoy the lake view all along the Malecon or boardwalk. It’s a lovely and peaceful view. You can go on a boat ride, go kayaking, or simply walk along the river. Or, you can take pictures with the colorful Guatapé sign.
Drink Coffee or Have Tasty Ice-Cream
As you wander the colorful streets of Guatapé, you’ll notice that there are several cute coffee and ice-cream shops. So make sure to take some time to sit back and have one of the two, or both!
Take a Tuk Tuk Tour
I’ve visited Guatapé twice, and the first time I went was on tour. They gave us about 1.5 hours to explore, and we had no idea where to start. So, we decided to take a tuk-tuk tour to make sure we saw all the important sites. The tuk-tuk driver gave us information about the zócalos and also stopped and took pictures of us at the main spots. The cost was about 10,000 COP.
How to Get There
Various tours head out daily and meet at Parque Poblado in Medellín. The tours usually include breakfast, lunch, a stop at Peñol Rock, a boat tour on the reserve, and a final stop at the town of Guatapé.
The price of a day-long tour is typically around $30 (120,000 COP). You’ll need to pay an extra 20,000 COP if you choose to walk the more than 700 stairs up to the top of Peñol.
You can also go on your own by heading to Terminal Norte Bus Station and purchasing your ticket at window 9 or 14. Buses from this terminal head north and east. Guatapé is to the east, so you’ll find buses that go there. The cost should be about 14,000 each way, and they take approximately 1.5-2 hours. You might be asked if you want to get off at El Peñol or the town Center.
Where to Stay in Guatapé
Although I’ve visited Guatapé twice, I’ve only gone on day trips. However, I’ve wanted to stay the night because there is so much to explore. Also, day trips tend to go too fast for my taste, and going slow in this town sounds ideal.
If you decide to stay, there are a few hostels and hotels in the town or just outside.
Budget Hostels: Lake View Hostel
Budget Hotels: Soy Local Guatape
High-End Hotels: Hotel Los Recuerdos or Hotel Santa Maria de las Aguas Peñol
Guide to Guatapé
Guide to Guatapé