There are a few options for the Medellin to Guatape transfer, including transfers by a few bus companies and private transport services. The Daytrip private car service is the most comfortable and convenient way to visit this small town, offering swift door-to-door service with an English-speaking driver.
While there are taxis in Gautape, it may be better to choose a private driving transfer to customize your itinerary as much as possible. A tour operator or bus company will also limit your available departure times, making it harder to avoid crowds during peak travel times.
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The Medellin to Guatape transfer covers approximately 50 miles (80 km) of stunning Colombian landscape, taking around 1 hour and 50 minutes of drive time. By choosing a Daytrip private transfer for your day trip, you can transform a simple journey into an exciting adventure with optional sightseeing stops that make the distance from Medellin to Guatape more enjoyable.
Stop by Rionegro, a quiet hillside city known for its sweets, or the Old Penol Replica that honors a sunken village square. They are the perfect way to break up your journey while experiencing authentic Colombian culture before continuing your travel to Guatape.
About Guatape
Guatape is a vibrant town located in Colombia's Antioquia Department, often referred to as the most colorful town in the country. The history of Guatape took a significant turn in the 1970s when the construction of a hydroelectric dam created the stunning artificial reservoir known as Embalse Peñol-Guatape. This engineering project dramatically transformed the landscape, creating the distinctive scattered islands and peninsulas that are now iconic to the region.
Before the dam's construction, Guatape was a small farming community. The area was flooded in 1978, submerging the old town of El Peñol and forcing residents to relocate. From this time of change emerged the distinctive Guatape we see today, with its renowned zocalos â colorful bas-relief decorations that adorn the lower portions of buildings throughout the town. These unique artistic expressions on the facades depict the history, traditions, and daily life of the locals.
The best time to visit this remarkable destination is during the dry season, when you can fully enjoy the outdoor activities available around the reservoir. Many travelers come for a day trip from Medellin, but staying overnight allows you to experience the town when the day-trippers have departed, revealing its authentic charm and relaxed atmosphere.
The town's proximity to Medellin (just 50 miles or 80 km away) makes it an accessible getaway that feels worlds apart from the busy city life. For those wondering how far Guatape is from Medellin, the distance can be covered in just a couple of hours by car, making it the perfect destination for travelers looking to escape the city without a long journey.
From Medellin to Guatape: travel tips
Make the most of your Medellin to Guatape transfer with these essential travel tips that will enhance your experience along this popular route.
Add sightseeing stops to your journey
Rather than just focusing on getting from point A to point B, enhance your travel experience by adding sightseeing stops along the way. With Daytrip's private car service, you can customize your trip to include visits to El Peñol Rock or Santa Fe de Antioquia. This turns your simple transfer into an enriching journey, allowing you to see more of Colombia without the hassle of figuring out public transportation schedules or rental car logistics. Daytrip makes it easy to add custom stops to your itinerary!
Bring comfortable shoes
If you plan to climb El Peñol Rock during your journey, comfortable footwear is essential. The 740 steps to the top can be challenging, but the panoramic views of the reservoir with its 40+ islands make it worth the effort. Having the right shoes will make this memorable day trip much more enjoyable.
Pack for changing weather
The weather can vary significantly between Medellin and Guatape due to differences in elevation. While Medellin is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" with consistent temperatures, Guatape can be cooler, especially in the evenings. Bring layers to ensure your comfort throughout your visit. Check the timetable of your transfer to plan appropriate clothing for the time of day you'll be in each location.
How to get from Medellin to Guatape
There are several ways to travel the distance from Medellin to Guatape. Here are the main transportation options ranked from most to least convenient:
Private transfer from Medellin to Guatape
The most comfortable and flexible way to make the Medellin to Guatape transfer is with a Daytrip private car service. Your journey will begin right at your accommodation in Medellin and end at your destination in Guatape, taking approximately 2 hours of direct drive time. The convenience of door-to-door service eliminates the need to navigate public transportation or car rental agencies.
With Daytrip, you'll travel with a professional, English-speaking local driver who ensures your safety and comfort throughout the trip. Unlike buses or trains that run on fixed schedules, you can depart at a time that suits your travel plans. The greatest advantage is the ability to add sightseeing stops along the way, making the journey itself a highlight of your Colombian adventure.
A private car service also offers the benefit of air conditioning, ample space for luggage, and the flexibility to stop whenever you need a break or want to capture photos of the stunning landscapes.
Bus from Medellin to Guatape
The most economical option for getting from Medellin to Guatape is by bus. Buses depart regularly from Medellin's Terminal del Norte, with tickets costing around $4-6 USD. The journey takes approximately 2 hours, though travel time can increase during weekends and holidays when traffic is heavier.
While buses are budget-friendly, they don't offer the convenience of door-to-door service. You'll need to make your way to the bus terminal in Medellin and find transportation from the Guatape bus station to your final destination. Additionally, buses operate on fixed schedules, which might not align perfectly with your travel plans. During peak tourist seasons, buses can fill up quickly, so it's advisable to arrive at the terminal early to secure your seat.
Car rental for the drive from Medellin to Guatape
Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, but it comes with challenges. The roads can be winding and sometimes poorly marked. If you're unfamiliar with driving in Colombia, navigating the traffic in Medellin and the mountainous terrain can be stressful.
Things to do when you get to Guatape
Once you complete your Medellin to Guatape transfer, a world of colorful experiences awaits. Here are some must-do activities during your visit:
Climb El Peñol Rock
The iconic El Peñol Rock (La Piedra del Peñol) is the region's most famous attraction and a must-visit during your trip. Rising 721 feet (220 meters) above the ground, this massive monolith offers unparalleled views of the reservoir and its scattered islands. The climb involves 740 steps built into a crack in the rock, with several rest stops along the way. While challenging, the panoramic views from the top are well worth the effort. The entrance fee is approximately $6 USD, and it's best to visit early in the morning to avoid crowds and midday heat.
Guatape is famous for its vibrantly colored buildings adorned with zocalos, or decorative bas-reliefs that tell stories of local history, culture, and daily life. Take time to wander through the town's streets, particularly around the main plaza, to admire these unique artistic expressions. Each building features different motifs, creating an open-air gallery.
The Guatape reservoir, created by the construction of a hydroelectric dam in the 1970s, offers excellent opportunities for water activities. Boat tours depart regularly from the waterfront and provide a different perspective of El Peñol Rock and the surrounding landscape. These tours typically last 1-2 hours and include visits to some of the reservoir's islands and peninsulas.
Some boat tours also stop at Pablo Escobar's former vacation home, La Manuela, which was partially destroyed by a bomb in 1993 and now stands as a curious relic of Colombia's complex history.
Visit the Replica of Old Peñol
Before the reservoir was created, the town of El Peñol existed where water now flows. When the dam was built, the original town was submerged, and residents were relocated. A replica of the town's main plaza has been constructed near Guatape as a memorial to the original settlement. This site includes a small museum that documents the history of the area and the impact of the dam project on local communities. It is one of the stops offered by Daytrip!
When is the best time to visit Guatape
The best time for your Medellin to Guatape transfer is during Colombia's dry seasons, which typically run from December to February and June to August. During these months, you can expect sunny days with temperatures ranging from 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C), ideal conditions for exploring both the town and the surrounding natural attractions.
Weekend visits, particularly during Colombian holidays, bring larger crowds as Guatape is a popular day trip destination for locals and tourists alike. Many travelers find that staying overnight in Guatape offers the best of both worlds. You can enjoy the lively atmosphere during the day and experience the town's peaceful character after day-trippers depart.
The shoulder seasons of March-April and September-October can also be excellent times to visit, with fewer tourists and still favorable weather, though occasional rain showers are possible.
Visit these sights on the way
Rionegro
This quiet hillside city is known throughout Colombia as the best place for sweets in the country. Sweet SuburbsÂ
Old Penol Replica
Do a bit of shopping and take in the view at this faithful reconstruction of a sunken village square. The Resurfaced SquareÂ
âI used this service for a transfer from Split in Croatia to Perast Montenegro. My experience was exceptional. My driver Bojan was helpful, informative and ensured my journey was comfortable and enjoyable. I highly recommend the service.â
âWe were extremely satisfied with the quality of service we received from Day Trip. We had two Day Trip rides on August 31 from Athens to Lefkada and September 7 from Lefkada back to Athens. Both trips included stops at scenic sites in Greece. Both drivers were excellent and accommodating. However, weâd especially like to recognize Panos Peppas, who was our driver from Lefkada to Athens. Panos was incredibly nice & pleasant and delivered outstanding customer service, which included handling all of luggage, providing us with cold waters throughout the trip, providing us protein bars, providing us with printed materials on the Corinth Canal (one of scenic stops), looking up and providing us with terminal & gate info for our flight back home and providing us with a recipe for tzatziki.â
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traveler Daydream20046758137
âWe absolutely love this company and have used it many times over the years to get from A to B without the hassle of hiring a car ourselves. Excellent drivers every time. Efficient and professional. Itâs worth every penny and we can honestly recommend Day Trip to everyone. Itâs 5 star rating is well deserved.â
âWe traveled from Nuremberg to Munich in a beautiful Audi. Driver picked us at our hotel at the exact time requested. Got us to Munich in plenty of time for our next tour. Driver made sure we were comfortableâ
âGonzalo from daytrip was our driver and he was absolutely amazing. He went over and beyond trying to locate us as our service wasn't so good on our phones. He patiently awaited our arrival to the lobby so he could take us from Tulum Dreams Resort to our other hotel in cancun an hour and a half away near the airport prior to our departure flight home. He was polite, respectful and kind. Made sure we were comfortable during our long ride. Fast and to the point. I recommend this company as finding a one way ride from Tulum to Cancun isn't easy or cheap and this company provides a great service for a great price. I will definitely be using them again whenever I'm in the Cancun/Tulum area. Thank you DayTrip and Gonzola.â
âWe were picked up by Marianna to drive us from Heraklion to Chania. The weather was terrible & due to this Marianna arrived a few minutes late. She contacted me to advise of this. Marianna lives in Chana and she made our trip very interesting by informing us of local things to do and see in Chania. Marianna is a safe driver and we all felt comfortable with the speed she drove at and how good her driving was in heavy rain. She is a lovely person with fluent English. We highly recommend Daytrips and if you are in Heraklion or Chania please make sure you ask for Marianna.â
âUsed the service to go from Luxor to Hurghada, Egypt. Ahmed H was our driver and he was perfect. The car was new, clean, he had water and snacks for us, and accommodated our stops. Great service from him and would recommend it.â
âUsed Daytrip for two rides in Mexico, which were both great. So comfortable, and we arrived at each of our destinations at a great time. Both were incredible drivers, and we felt so safe. One of our drivers, Miguel, also played the best music! Will definitely use Daytrip on our next trip to Mexico.â
âWe did not know what to expect with this trip and booked from Australia. We were initially looking for an easy way to travel from Granada to Malaga. We decided not to waste the opportunity to see something additional on our way. Miguel certainly exceeded our expectations. His English was excellent (unfortunately we speak very little Spanish), and he was very friendly and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the regions as we passed through and also discussing some of the local ways. Miguel took us to Antequera as planned and ensured we were able to easily get our tickets to the attractions without any sense of rushing us. We were picked up and dropped off punctually and really enjoyed our trip. Hopefully we will return to Spain and we can use this service again sometime.â
âWe used Day trip to transfer from Medellin to Guatape. We had German G as our driver and he was terrific. On time and full of information on Colombia. If you're in the area, use Daytrip and German!â
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traveler Rio123455
Good to know
Children
If youâre traveling with children, make sure to let us know in the booking so we can get the appropriate child seats ready!
Pets
Pets are allowed (and loved)! We just need to know beforehand. You can tell us about them in the next phase of the booking.
Tips
Gratuity isnât included or required, but if you really enjoyed your trip, you can show your driver your appreciation with an optional tip (10% is sufficient).
Luggage
Big luggage
29x21x11 inches
74x53x28 cm
Small luggage
22x14x9 inches
56x36x23 cm
Each passenger is allowed to have one checked bag and one carry on. If youâre traveling with more bags or oversized luggage, you can adjust this while booking.
Payment methods
Pay by credit card online, or in cash directly to your driver!
Daytrip is a platform that connects you with local drivers who will transport you door-to-door, from one city to the next. We also give you the opportunity to explore sights/attractions along the way. We drive, you discover.
Yes! A return trip will take you back to your city of origin in the same size car in which you arrived. Return trips can be booked for the any day. You can also add customized sightseeing stops separately for each trip! Donât worry if you donât know your exact address at the time of booking - youâll have the opportunity to update us closer to your travel date. Make sure to select âReturnâ when you start the booking process, then choose the dates and times of your departures.
For private trips, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure. For the Daytrip Pool shared shuttle, we offer 3 ticket options when booking: Non-refundable, Flexible with cancellations 24 hours before departure, and Super-flexible with cancellations up to 15 minutes before departure.
Simply choose your origin and destination via our homepage and enter your departure date and time. Browse and add sightseeing stops along the way by following the booking instructions provided on-screen. Select âOne Wayâ or âReturnâ to change the type of trip you need. Itâs a simple, easy, and fun way to book your next adventure! And if you donât see your desired route on our website, you can request a custom trip. You can even book without knowing your exact pick-up or drop-off address - we let you add these later!
Each passenger is allowed one large bag (29" x 21" x 11" / 74 x 53 x 28 cm) and one small bag (22" x 14" x 9" / 56 x 36 x 23 cm). Luxury sedans can only accommodate 2 large bags. We always send the vehicle that is the best fit for you and your luggage, so make sure to select the actual amount of luggage you are traveling with when booking. If you have oversized luggage, or are unsure if your luggage will fit, contact us.
Everywhere except the USA, drivers will supply appropriate child seats (just let us know during booking). In the USA, certain states require you to supply your own child seats.
