mural – THE ONLY ERIKA IN THE VILLAGE

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Colombia has a lot of big cities. Medellin is to me just that (unpopular opinion – lots of travellers love Medellin). Yes it has some fascinating history but really these days its a mild city with mild weather and mild activities. Most of the ‘things to see’ here are tours trying to re-create some of the excitement of Medellin’s sordid past by making you feel like you are visiting somewhere dangerous.

However, if you do find yourself in Medellin I do suggest taking a day trip to Guatape. This country town is definitely worth seeing – it is one of the most colourful places you have ever seen with bright paint everywhere and murals on every building. Also, it is home to Piedra Penol – a giant rock with 700 steps so you can climb to the top and see an amazing view of the beautiful Colombian countryside.

Top Tip for Guatape:

The town of Guatape is super cute but the best thing to do here is Piedra del Penol so don’t miss this! It’s a massive climb with lots of steps but its worth it for the view! Allow plenty of time to get to the top if you aren’t super fit and don’t think you can manage it. There is a place to purchase refreshments at the top if you need to rest for a while once you get there.

Definitely don’t discount the town though! It’s a great place to relax and breathe in the cool mountain air after your climb!

Where to stay:

Guatape is a pretty small town – I definitely think a day trip is plenty of time. BUT if you want a relaxing weekend away or want to take things a bit slower (ie. you are travelling with children) then I definitely suggest booking a stay through Booking.com – their search function is super user friendly to customise what you are looking for and its easy to find the information you need.

Getting there and away:

The best way to get to Guatape is by bus from Medellin. Buses to Guatape leave from Terminal del Norte and cost approx. 20,000 COP. The trip takes 2 hours – buses leave approximately every 30 minutes so there is no need to book in advance.

You can get to Terminal del Norte from Poblado via Metro Line A (get off at Caribe Metro station as this station is connected to Terminal del Norte).

You can book your return ticket at the Guatape bus station in advance – if you want to travel later in the day I suggest doing this as these buses can fill up quickly with day-trippers like yourself!

Getting around:

I suggest getting off at Piedra Penol first – you can ask the bus driver to drop you here directly so that you don’t need to catch a taxi from town – it will save you some time and a bit of cash. After visitng the rock you can take a taxi into the town proper – it shouldn’t cost you more than 15,000 COP and there are plenty of taxi’s waiting around the rock.

Food:

Walking up Piedra Penol sure makes you work up an appetite: Once you are back down to the base of the rock there is a small restaurant on the left as you exit the steps of Piedra Penol that does a great Bandeja Paisa (share one!) and has beautiful views over the lake.

What to bring:

Take lots of water for the climb, good walking shoes and your camera to capture the view and all the quaint colours of Guatape.

What to expect:

Entrance to Piedra Penol is 20,000 COP. It is open from 8am to 6pm every day.

In Guatape town itself, just soak up the atmosphere. Wander the cobblestone streets and plazas, drink coffee and people watch in the main square. EVERYTHING in Guatape is art.