2 Nights in Guatape: The Perfect Airbnb and Itinerary
Guatape is a little town with colorful streets and a nearby humongous rock that you can climb to see an amazing view. The rock, or El Peñol, is the second largest monolithic rock in South America. The first is the Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To get all the way to the top, you’ll need to climb 740 steps!
Since its location is close to Medellin, a lot of people go for a quick day trip. I encourage you to stay at least one or two nights though. I chose 2 nights to fully experience what the airbnb and town had to offer!
We (I was traveling with my brother at the time) spent 2 nights at a beautiful remote airbnb up high in the hills and would recommend you do the same.
The airbnb
This is how I would recommend you see Guatape in 3 days/2 nights. This was my itinerary.
Where to stay:
Airbnb:
We rented an airbnb in a remote area near Guatape. It ended up being one of our favorite experiences together. It is a cabin like accommodation located right next to a farm owned by a sweet Colombian family. The host was very helpful and nice. We had a beer with him upon arrival, he showed us his house, took us on a little hike, walked us to his neighbors to introduce us to the farm family and so much more. The view steals the show though. It was such an amazing view to wake up to and watch the sunset.
To book: click here
Other recommended places to stay:
How to get to Guatape:
By local bus:
Take the Metro to the Caribe station. Across the street is the North Bus Terminal.
Counter 14 sells bus tickets to Guatape for 17,000 COP
If you have any questions, their WhatsApp is: +57 312 8601004
You can find the bus times at redbus.co
Day 1 recommended itinerary:
Take the 10am bus from Medellin, you should arrive around 11:30am. Get off at the center square/park in El Peñol, cross the street and on the left hand side you will see several jeeps lined up. These are called Willy’s so if you can’t find them, ask a local and they should be able to tell you where they are. Take the 12pm jeep to La Meseta and get off at the "Y" intersection in Chiquinquirá. Be sure to tell the driver where you need to get off. On Google Maps, it is right past the location ‘Ferreteria El Desvare’. The airbnb host picked us up from that corner. Be sure to check out the view from the tienda on the corner.
The rest of the day we hung out at the airbnb. We walked around the property, went on a small hike, enjoyed the views, said hi to the cows, went raspberry picking at the neighbors farm, bought some other local fruits and vegetables and then made a home cooked meal. After that we played monopoly, cards and Cards Against Humanity. The airbnb provides the best small touches like games, a little heater (it gets quite chilly at night!) and binoculars.
Day 2 recommended itinerary:
We started the day out with some fresh eggs and fruit from the neighbors farm, and then got ready to head into town to hike the rock, El Penôl, and then check out the colorful town. From the property, you’ll need to catch the 7am or 12pm chiva to the main highway. There is a 99% chance you’ll be the only tourist on this colorful and bumpy bus. It’s an experience in itself! Once you get to the main highway, exit the bus (you’ll pay 4,000 COP) and then wait on the side of the road for a bus that says ‘Guatape'. They run quite frequently. The bus/chivo costs 2,000 COP. Wave one down and then you’ll be on the way.
Our first stop was the hike! Get off at these coordinates, (6.2250130, -75.1798819). You’ll see the stairs behind the gas station, Estacion de Service Zeuss Penol. Make your way up the hill to the main entrance. At the ticket booth you will pay 20,000 pesos per person. It will take approx 20-40 mins depending on your pace. It is 740 stairs all the way to the top. The top is by far the best viewpoint in all of Guatape. It’s worth the hike up!
This is where to start the hike to the top of the rock
Almost to the start entrance
After the hike, go back down the way you came and go back to the main road. You’ll want to catch another chivo that is heading toward Guatape. Get off on the main street close to the main square in town. Walk around the colorful town and check out some of my favorite restaurants:
Panaderia Y Cafeteria La Florida
Casa Cuba
Namaste Vegan Food
Zocarolls (their Cinnamon roll is amazing)
Tiki Taka
Cafe La Vina (heard they have cool milkshakes)
After you walk around you can either catch the 4:15pm chivo that leaves from the bottom of the hill you got off at earlier in the day or take a tuk tuk to the airbnb. Before you head out, grab some dinner and take it to go so you can enjoy it from the airbnbs amazing view. Here is a list of recommended drivers that was shared by the airbnb host:
If you decide to take the chivo (4,000 COP) instead of a tuk tuk (around 20-30,000 COP) then first you’ll need to catch a bus going towards El Peñol but remember to get off at the corner where you got off in the morning. The coordinates are, (6.2062640, -75.2156880). Make sure you are there by 4:10pm. Hop on the bus which will take you all the way to the road just before the hill to the airbnb.
Enjoy the quietness back at the airbnb and relax for the rest of the night.
Day 3:
Sit on the porch, sip your coffee, and enjoy the view. Catch the 12pm (or 4pm) chivo to get you down the hill for the last time. The airbnb host said that there is a place right across the main road that can hold your bags if you want to explore Guatape for a second time. I decided to go early to the airport and spend a few extra hours there to work at the lounge (thanks Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Reserve) so we didn't need to leave our bags anywhere. The chivo goes all the way to El Peñol so if you are needing to go to Medellin airport, the best option is to get a shared taxi at the Sotrapeñol ticket booth (8,500 COP per person). Another option is to take a bus but the taxi driver gave us a better option. The taxi took us to El Rio, the town closest to the airport and then we had to walk a few blocks north until we saw a bus that said aeropuerto on it. Luckily we met some nice locals who helped us find our way as initially it can be a bit confusing. The buses will be on the same street at where the taxi drops you off at. And that was it for our Guatape side trip! Cartagena here I come!
I hope this inspired you to go visit Guatape and support a local airbnb and farm! Have a great time!
Before you go!
A few helpful links to help you get started on your journey!
Amazons most recommended affordable backpack: Click here
My favorite water bottles: Click here
Want free housing? Click here
Don’t worry your mom. Get travel insurance. Click here
Best place to book hotels? Booking.com
Best place to book hostels? Hostelworld.com
Looking for volunteering opportunities? Click here
Did you set up an alert to get a cheap flight? Scotts Cheap flights, sign up here
Please know that some of the links are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your items, or sort your insurance through these links, I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for your support!
