Guatapé & Coffee Farm Day Trip: Rock Climb, Lunch & Pickup

Summary

Guatapé day trip with coffee farm visit rock climb lunch and village walk

You’ll pick ripe coffee cherries alongside local farmers near Guatapé before tasting what you’ve helped make, climb El Peñol rock for wild panoramic views over Antioquia’s lakes, share a Colombian lunch in town, and wander through streets bursting with color and stories—all with hotel pickup included.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the smell—rich, earthy coffee mixing with that faint sweetness you get in the hills outside Medellín. Our guide, Camilo, grinned as he handed us baskets at the coffee farm near Guatapé. “You’ll see,” he said, “it’s harder than it looks.” He was right. Picking those little cherries is fiddly work—my fingers got sticky fast, and I definitely dropped more than I kept. But there was something grounding about it. The farmers laughed when I tried to pronounce ‘cosecha’ properly. We followed them through the whole process: depulping (the machine made this sloshy sound), washing beans in cold water that stung my hands a bit, then drying them under sheets of plastic that crackled in the breeze. Finally, we ground some beans and drank a cup right there—hot, nutty, not bitter at all. It tasted different after you’ve done the work yourself.

Afterwards we headed straight for El Peñol—the rock you see in every photo of Guatapé. It looked even taller in person (708 steps, but who’s counting). The climb was sweaty and my legs complained halfway up, but everyone cheered each other on—even a grandma from Bogotá who just powered past me at one point. At the top: wind in your face, water everywhere below like shattered glass, and those crazy green islands dotting the dam. I took too many photos but none of them really got it right. You know?

Lunch came next in town—trout with coconut rice for me (Camilo said it’s a must here), and then we wandered through Guatapé’s streets. The zócalos on every house were brighter than any Instagram filter—kids playing soccer against walls painted with llamas and guitars. Camilo told us how families choose their own designs; it’s sort of like telling your story without words. There was this old man selling chocolate truffles from a tiny shop—he let us try one “on the house” because he liked my hat (or maybe he just says that to everyone). By then I’d lost track of time.

I still think about that view from the top of El Peñol sometimes—how small everything looked, how alive the town felt below us. If you’re curious about coffee or just want to feel part of a place for a day, this Guatapé & coffee farm tour is kind of perfect without trying too hard.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Coffee farm, rock climb, and town tour

• Visit market for fruit tasting
• Learn coffee process on farm
• Pick, depulp, wash, dry coffee
• Grind coffee and taste it
• Climb 700+ steps to rock top
• Enjoy panoramic dam views
• Have lunch with Colombian gastronomy
• Walk town and learn history
• Explore local shops and chocolate

Top questions

How long does the Guatapé & coffee farm day trip take?

The tour lasts a full day including travel from Medellín to Guatapé and back.

Is hotel pickup included for this day trip?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included; airport drop-off is available at no extra cost.

Do I need special shoes or clothes for the coffee farm?

It’s best to wear pants and comfortable shoes you don’t mind getting muddy—not flip flops or sandals.

Can vegetarians be accommodated for lunch?

Yes, vegetarian options are available if requested at booking.

Is climbing El Peñol rock accessible for everyone?

The rock climb involves over 700 steps and isn’t wheelchair accessible; other parts of the tour are accessible.

What is included in this Guatapé day trip?

The tour includes hotel pickup/drop-off, fruit tasting at a market, entry fees for the coffee farm experience, lunch in town, transportation by air-conditioned vehicle, and health insurance.

Will there be time to buy handicrafts or chocolate in Guatapé?

Yes, there is free time to visit local shops for chocolate or handicrafts during your walk around town.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off (or airport drop-off if needed), fruit tasting at a local market before heading out to Guatapé’s countryside, full access to a working coffee farm where you join every step from picking to brewing your own cup, entry fees covered throughout; plus a traditional Colombian lunch in town before wandering colorful streets—and all transport is by comfy air-conditioned vehicle.