How to go from Medellín to Guatapé (2023)

Go from Medellín to Guatapé it is a relatively short transfer, which is totally worth it. Guatapé is a wonderful destination what to see in colombia. It is a small town full of jewels to explore. One of them is the impressive Piedra del Peñoland monolith 200 meters high that you can climb. And if it was not enough, Guatapé It is the most colorful town in Latin America. In this post we tell you the two alternatives you have to go from Medellín to Guatapé.

HOW TO GO FROM MEDELLÍN TO GUATAPÉ

1. Book a tour

⏱ Excursion duration: Between 10 and 12 hours
💰 Excursion price: from 138,000 COP (€28)

The best alternative to go from Medellín to Guatapé is to book an excursion. You will be able to get to know the town of eternal spring at the hands of an expert guide. Yes indeed, the tour will start very early So you’ll have to get up early. But totally worth it!

Your legs will be put to the test in the 700 steps of Piedra del Peñol. you will have about two hours to climb and explore this place. The views are amazing from above! We recommend you bring your own water and snacks, since at the top the prices are very high. You will need it!

Then you will go to the town of Guatapé,the most colorful in Latin America! The guide will tell you all the details of the place and the sites that you cannot miss. One of the last stops on this tour is the Replica of El Peñol. It is a small square where the old town is remembered.

A great point in favor of the tour is that includes full transfer, breakfast and lunch to test the typical food of Colombia. So you will have nothing to worry about! If you want, you can also add a boat ride around the hydroelectric dam. It is a lot of fun and you will be able to see the ruins of one of Pablo Escobar’s properties.

we were back in Medellín around 5:00 p.m. It was a day full of adventure, fun and a lot of history. For us this is the best option for go from Medellín to Guatapé!

The best excursions to Guatapé:

2. How to go from Medellín to Guatapé by bus

⏱ Journey time: 2 hours approximately
💰 Price of the trip: From 17,000 COP or €3 (one way)

You can too take a bus to go from Medellín to Guatapé. This option is more economical compared to the excursion, although it is more limited in terms of mobility. The buses they leave from the north station of Medellín, every 30 minutes from 05:00 to 18:00. The companies that operate this route are Sotrasanvicente and Sotrapeñol. You can buy tickets directly at the station.

To take the public bus to Guatapé you must Get to the North Terminal of Medellín. You can take a taxi or the metro to there, in the latter case the closest stop to the terminal is called Caribe. Then at the ticket office you must pay the ticket to Guatapé, whose cost is 17,000 COP (€3).

When disembarking you have two options. You can get off at the base of Piedra del Peñol or directly at the Guatapé bus terminal. If you decide to get off at La Piedra you must notify the driver when you enter the bus. We recommend you visit the Stone first to find fewer crowds.

In addition, to return from Guatapé to Medellín we recommend you leave from the town’s bus terminal. Since, if you try to take the bus from Piedra del Peñol, it is most likely that you will not get a seat on the way back.

as you will see, Going from Medellín to Guatapé by bus is a more limited option as for what you can know of the town. Even to move between Piedra del Peñol and the town of Guatapé you will have to manage a bit and go by tuk tuk. However, it does not cease to be the cheapest alternative to go from Medellín to Guatapé.

15 things to see and do in Guatapé

3. Go from Medellín to Guatapé by taxi

⏱ Journey time: 2 hours approximately
💰 Price of the trip: From 270,000 COP each way (€54)

And finally, if you are looking for a more private service, you can always opt for a taxi. There is a fixed rate of 270,000 Colombian pesos each way (approximately €54). The price is quite high, but keep in mind that the journey is quite long. Actually, it is much more worthwhile to join the excursion.

In case you want to go by taxi, it is best to agree a fixed price with the driver for the whole day. He is going to be the first person interested because he is not going to return from Guatapé to Medellín empty. The final price will depend on your bargaining skills, but 400,000 Colombian pesos (€80) would be reasonable for the whole day. It is not a bad option if you are looking for comfort and have a trustworthy person in Medellín.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO GO FROM MEDELLÍN TO GUATAPÉ

What is the fastest option to get from Medellín to Guatapé?

For us the excursion is the fastest option to go from Medellín to Guatapé. First you won’t have to spend time going to the bus terminal. In addition, public buses they make stops to pick up more passengers, so the journey can take a little more than 2 hours.

Something that is also very common in public transport is that vendors and beggars get up to ask for money. With the excursion, the bus makes a direct route and does not allow anyone else to get on.

What is the cheapest option to get to Guatapé from Medellín?

The cheapest option to get from Medellín to Guatapé is by bus. Since you will have to pay about €3 per person, only for the one-way journey. So, if you go with a limited budget, the bus will be your best alternative. You can buy tickets directly at the Terminal Norte in Medellín.

What option do we recommend?

To know the history of Guatapé, the important sites, not worry about transportation and even food we recommend you book a tour. You will have a very complete tour of Guatapé, the Piedra del Peñol, the town of Viejo Peñol, the Replica and the dam. For us, the time at each attraction and the total duration of the excursion seemed ideal.

How many kilometers are there from Medellín to Guatapé?

Between Medellín and Guatapé there are 81 kilometers of distance. It normally takes two hours to do this tour. During the transfer you will be able to see how the landscape changes from the buildings of Medellín to mountains and villages with small houses.