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.
Daytrip Àr det mest bekvÀma sÀttet att uppleva 14 600+ stÀder runt om i vÀrlden.
Varje resenÀr förtjÀnar verklig insikt i kulturerna i de lÀnder de besöker. Och varje fantastisk plats pÄ jorden förtjÀnar att besökas och uppskattas. Vi tror att unik lokal kunskap och verklig mÀnsklig kontakt Àr oersÀttliga nÀr det gÀller att verkligen förstÄ en annan kultur.
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.
Besök dessa sevÀrdheter lÀngs vÀgen
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
âJag anvĂ€nde denna tjĂ€nst för en transfer frĂ„n Split i Kroatien till Perast i Montenegro. Min upplevelse var exceptionell. Min chaufför Bojan var hjĂ€lpsam, informativ och sĂ„g till att min resa var bekvĂ€m och trevlig. Jag rekommenderar starkt denna tjĂ€nst.â
âVi var mycket nöjda med kvaliteten pĂ„ den service vi fick frĂ„n Day Trip. Vi hade tvĂ„ resor med Day Trip: den 31 augusti frĂ„n Aten till Lefkada och den 7 september frĂ„n Lefkada tillbaka till Aten. BĂ„da resorna inkluderade stopp vid natursköna platser i Grekland. BĂ„da förarna var utmĂ€rkta och tillmötesgĂ„ende. Vi vill dock sĂ€rskilt uppmĂ€rksamma Panos Peppas, som var vĂ„r förare frĂ„n Lefkada till Aten. Panos var otroligt trevlig och behaglig och levererade enastĂ„ende kundservice, som inkluderade att han tog hand om allt vĂ„rt bagage, gav oss kallt vatten under hela resan, försĂ„g oss med proteinbars, gav oss tryckt material om Korintkanalen (ett av de natursköna stoppen), tog reda pĂ„ och gav oss terminal- och gateinformation för vĂ„rt flyg hem, samt gav oss ett recept pĂ„ tzatziki.â
Recenserad av Tripadvisor-resenÀren Daydream20046758137
âVi Ă€lskar verkligen det hĂ€r företaget och har anvĂ€nt det mĂ„nga gĂ„nger genom Ă„ren för att ta oss frĂ„n A till B utan krĂ„nglet med att hyra bil sjĂ€lva. UtmĂ€rkta chaufförer varje gĂ„ng. Effektiva och professionella. Det Ă€r vĂ€rt varenda krona, och vi rekommenderar Ă€rligt Day Trip till alla. Deras femstjĂ€rniga betyg Ă€r vĂ€lförtjĂ€nt.â
âVi reste frĂ„n NĂŒrnberg till MĂŒnchen i en vacker Audi. Chauffören hĂ€mtade oss pĂ„ vĂ„rt hotell exakt vid den begĂ€rda tiden. Han fick oss till MĂŒnchen i god tid för vĂ„r nĂ€sta tur. Chauffören sĂ„g till att vi hade det bekvĂ€mt.â
âGonzalo frĂ„n Daytrip var vĂ„r chaufför och han var helt fantastisk. Han gjorde allt för att hitta oss eftersom vĂ„r mobiltĂ€ckning var dĂ„lig. Han vĂ€ntade tĂ„lmodigt i lobbyn tills vi kom, sĂ„ att han kunde köra oss frĂ„n Tulum Dreams Resort till vĂ„rt andra hotell i CancĂșn, en och en halv timme bort nĂ€ra flygplatsen inför vĂ„r hemresa. Han var artig, respektfull och vĂ€nlig. Han sĂ„g till att vi hade det bekvĂ€mt under hela resan. Snabb och effektiv. Jag rekommenderar detta företag eftersom det inte Ă€r lĂ€tt eller billigt att hitta en enkelresa frĂ„n Tulum till CancĂșn, och detta företag erbjuder en utmĂ€rkt tjĂ€nst till ett bra pris. Jag kommer definitivt att anvĂ€nda dem igen nĂ€r jag Ă€r i omrĂ„det CancĂșn/Tulum. Tack DayTrip och Gonzalo.â
âMarianna hĂ€mtade oss för att köra oss frĂ„n Heraklion till Chania. VĂ€dret var hemskt, och pĂ„ grund av detta kom Marianna nĂ„gra minuter sent. Hon kontaktade mig för att meddela det. Marianna bor i Chania och gjorde resan vĂ€ldigt intressant genom att berĂ€tta om lokala sevĂ€rdheter och saker att göra i Chania. Marianna Ă€r en sĂ€ker förare och vi kĂ€nde oss alla trygga med bĂ„de hastigheten och hur bra hon körde i det kraftiga regnet. Hon Ă€r en underbar person och talar flytande engelska. Vi rekommenderar verkligen Daytrip, och om du Ă€r i Heraklion eller Chania, se till att frĂ„ga efter Marianna.â
âJag anvĂ€nde tjĂ€nsten för att Ă„ka frĂ„n Luxor till Hurghada, Egypten. Ahmed H var vĂ„r chaufför och han var perfekt. Bilen var ny, ren, han hade vatten och snacks för oss och anpassade sig efter vĂ„ra stopp. Fantastisk service frĂ„n honom, jag rekommenderar det varmt.â
âVi anvĂ€nde Daytrip för tvĂ„ resor i Mexiko, och bĂ„da var fantastiska. SĂ„ bekvĂ€mt, och vi anlĂ€nde till varje destination i perfekt tid. BĂ„da förarna var otroliga, och vi kĂ€nde oss vĂ€ldigt trygga. En av vĂ„ra förare, Miguel, spelade dessutom den bĂ€sta musiken! Vi kommer definitivt att anvĂ€nda Daytrip pĂ„ vĂ„r nĂ€sta resa till Mexiko.â
Recenserad av Tripadvisor-resenÀren Golourdesduarte
âVi visste inte vad vi skulle förvĂ€nta oss av denna resa och bokade frĂ„n Australien. Vi letade frĂ„n början efter ett enkelt sĂ€tt att resa frĂ„n Granada till Malaga. Vi bestĂ€mde oss för att inte missa möjligheten att se nĂ„got extra pĂ„ vĂ€gen. Miguel övertrĂ€ffade verkligen vĂ„ra förvĂ€ntningar. Hans engelska var utmĂ€rkt (tyvĂ€rr talar vi mycket lite spanska), och han var mycket vĂ€nlig och hjĂ€lpsam. Vi njöt verkligen av att höra om regionerna nĂ€r vi passerade genom dem och Ă€ven att diskutera nĂ„gra av de lokala sĂ€tten. Miguel tog oss till Antequera som planerat och sĂ„g till att vi enkelt kunde fĂ„ vĂ„ra biljetter till attraktionerna utan nĂ„gon brĂ„dska. Vi blev upphĂ€mtade och avlĂ€mnade punktligt och njöt verkligen av vĂ„r resa. Förhoppningsvis kommer vi att Ă„tervĂ€nda till Spanien och vi kan anvĂ€nda denna tjĂ€nst igen nĂ„gon gĂ„ng.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
Recenserad av Tripadvisor-resenÀren Rio123455
Bra att veta
Barn
Om du reser med barn, se till att meddela oss i bokningen sÄ att vi kan förbereda lÀmpliga barnstolar!
Husdjur
Husdjur Àr tillÄtna (och Àlskade)! Vi behöver bara veta i förvÀg. Du kan berÀtta om dem i nÀsta steg av bokningen.
Dricks
Dricks ingÄr inte och Àr inte obligatoriskt, men om du verkligen uppskattade din resa kan du visa din uppskattning till din förare med en valfri dricks (10% Àr tillrÀckligt).
Bagage
Stort bagage
74x53x28 cm
74x53x28 cm
Litet bagage
22x14x9 tum
56x36x23 cm
Varje passagerare fÄr ha en incheckad vÀska och ett handbagage. Om du reser med fler vÀskor eller skrymmande bagage kan du justera detta vid bokningen.
Betalningsmetoder
Betala med kreditkort online eller kontant direkt till din förare!
Daytrip Àr en plattform som kopplar dig till lokala förare som transporterar dig frÄn dörr till dörr, frÄn en stad till nÀsta. Vi ger dig ocksÄ möjlighet att utforska sevÀrdheter lÀngs vÀgen. Vi kör, du upptÀcker.
Alla Daytrip-bokningar Àr enkelresor. Om du behöver en returresa pÄ ett annat datum, boka det som en separat enkelresa. För en dagsutflykt, vÀnligen begÀr en anpassad resa. Om du planerar att stanna mer Àn ett par timmar rekommenderar vi att du bokar tvÄ enkelresor sÄ att du inte betalar förarens vÀntetid.
För Daytrips privata tjĂ€nst kan du avboka för full Ă„terbetalning upp till 24 timmar före avresa. För Daytrip Pool delad skyttel erbjuder vi tre biljettalternativ vid bokning: Ej Ă„terbetalningsbar, Flexibel (avbokning 24 timmar före avresa) och Super-flexibel (avbokning upp till 15 minuter före avresa). Ăndringar som begĂ€rs inom 36 timmar beror pĂ„ förarens tillgĂ€nglighet, sĂ€rskilt under högsĂ€song.
VÀlj helt enkelt din start- och slutdestination via vÄr hemsida och ange ditt avresedatum och tid. BlÀddra och lÀgg till sightseeingstopp lÀngs vÀgen genom att följa bokningsinstruktionerna pÄ skÀrmen. Det Àr ett enkelt och roligt sÀtt att boka ditt nÀsta Àventyr! Om din önskade rutt inte finns pÄ vÄr webbplats kan du begÀra en anpassad resa.
Varje passagerare fÄr ha med sig en stor vÀska (74 x 53 x 28 cm) och en liten vÀska (56 x 36 x 23 cm). Lyxbilar kan endast rymma 2 stora vÀskor. Vi skickar alltid det fordon som bÀst passar dig och ditt bagage, sÄ se till att vÀlja den faktiska mÀngden bagage du reser med vid bokning. Om du har extra stort bagage eller Àr osÀker, kontakta oss.
I alla lÀnder utom USA kommer förarna att tillhandahÄlla lÀmpliga barnsÀkerhetsstolar - meddela oss vid bokningen hur mÄnga barn som kommer att resa. I USA krÀver vissa delstater att du tillhandahÄller egna barnsÀkerhetsstolar. VÀnligen kontakta Daytrip kundtjÀnst för att kontrollera vad som gÀller för din resa.
