[pipdig_banner image=”https://martinemakesmemories.com/wp-content/uploads/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_6c2-2.jpg” pipdig_banner parallax=”yes”] Do you love colored houses? Then a visit to Guatapé cannot be missed during your tour! Guatapé is the most colorful village in Colombia. It is a nice village to stroll around for a day. Walk through the colorful streets, look at the stories on the wall and have a nice drink on the colored steps. It is nice to combine this village with climbing the famous mountain El Peñol. We tell you what there is to do and how you get here.

HOW TO GO TO GUATAPÉ?

We stayed in Medellín. From here we have made a trip to Guatapé. You can go by bus yourself or book an organized tour. The buses leave from Medellín from the Terminal de Transporte Norte bus station. Take the metro to station Caribe. This costs around 2000 COP (€ 0.60). Get out here and on the side you see the bus to Guatapé. It will cost you around 14,000 COP (€ 4.00) one way. You will be in Guatapé within 2 hours. Buses leave from Medellín every hour. Do you only go to Guatapé for 1 day and do you have to go back to Medellín after this visit? Then buy a return ticket to Guatapé. This will be cheaper for you.

THE COLORFUL GUATAPÉ

Guatapé is the most colorful village in Colombia! Stroll through the narrow colored streets, have a delicious Colombian coffee in the pleasant Plaza de los Zocalos square and make sure you can take enough photos with your camera or telephone. You don’t stop shooting here. Each house consists different colors and beautiful zócalos. In the center of Guatapé you can also buy some nice souvenirs.

THE ZÓCALOS

At the bottom of the houses you will see one or more tiles with a sort of relief. They call the tiles the ‘zócalos’. Every zócalo tells a story. The zócalo tells something about the building or about the owner. For example, the zócalo at the local café portray the story of the regulars. They are pictured here. Go in for a drink and who knows they might be there! This form of art can be found throughout the village. You can watch for hours to the zócalos. Of course all those colors must be kept up the intense colors. Maybe you will see a painter do his job.

MAKE A BOAT TRIP

Next to the rock of Guatapé is a large lake with numerous islands and bays An absolute must is to do a boat trip on this lake. The area is beautiful and this boat trip is very peaceful. Along the way you will sail past the remains of one of the houses of Pablo Escobar, which now serves as a area for lasergame. You sail through this quickly. You will also pass the home of the famous Colombian footballer James Rodriguez. You can choose for a large boat or a smaller private boat. If you go for the larger boat, just like us, you pay 10,000 COP (€ 2.80) for the boat trip.

CLIMB THE PIEDRA

You can easily combine a visit to Guatapé with climbing the 200-meter-high Piedra del Peñol. This is a large mountain that you can climb by braving 740 steps. Take the tuktuk from the center of Guatapé for 5,000 COP (€ 1.40) because it is quite a walk. You can use this energy for climbing the rock. From the highest point you will be treated to a beautiful view. At the top there is a restaurant where you can buy a delicious ice cream, meal or drink. The entrance for the rock is 18,000 COP (€ 5.10) per person.

A DAY TRIP

When you book a day tour, you will be picked up at your hostel at 8 a.m. The day will look like this: ● You will first stop at a local restaurant for a traditional breakfast ● Visit to Peñol Viejo, the old village of Peñol ● Visit to Peñol Nuevo, the new Peñol ● Boat trip on the Peñol river, home of Pablo and beautiful view of the Piedra ● Climbing la Piedra del Peñol (optional 18,000 COP € 5 per person) ● Lunch, traditional Paisa ● Visit the village Guatapé ● Citytour with a English guide. The entire tour costs around 79,000 COP per person (€ 22.30) You will be back in Medellín around 6:30 pm. We advise you to take the bus yourself so you will have the freedom. It is very easy to do and also a lot cheaper!