Guatapé Day Tour from Medellín: Rock, Boat & Colorful Town

A full day in one of Colombia's most vibrant towns, without arranging the pieces yourself.

A 10-hour guided day tour from Medellín to Guatapé combines a boat ride across the reservoir, a walk through the town's famous zócalos and umbrella street, a visit to a llama and animal farm, and optional rock climbing, with breakfast, lunch, professional guide, transport and travel insurance included. The rock entrance fee (approximately 35,000 Colombian pesos, cash only) is separate. Children under 3 receive no meals.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guatapé tour with meals and boat ride

• Meet guide at Poblado church
• Enjoy traditional Colombian breakfast
• Travel to Guatapé
• Walking tour of Guatapé town
• Have traditional regional lunch
• Boat tour on Guatapé reservoir
• Visit llama and animal farm
• Bus transfer Medellín to Guatapé and back
• End tour at starting point

The experience

The guide meets you at the main church in Poblado before dawn, and the drive to Guatapé takes roughly two hours through the Antioquia countryside. A traditional Colombian breakfast stops the journey halfway, setting the pace for a day built around local rhythms rather than a clock. Once in town, you walk the colorful streets. The zócalos are painted in patterns that cover entire buildings, and the umbrella street (Calle de los Paraguas) hangs thousands of them overhead. The Malecón runs along the water's edge, and the guide points out the details most visitors miss: the history woven into the architecture, the stories of the families who live there.

The boat tour crosses the Guatapé reservoir, passing islands and the shoreline where the water meets the hills. The guide shares the region's geography and points out landmarks visible from the water. Lunch at a local restaurant follows, with vegetarian and vegan options available if you ask. The llama and animal farm visit comes next: either at Alto del Chocho or Parque Temático San José, depending on the day's logistics. Both offer the same kind of interaction with the animals and a quieter moment away from the town center.

El Peñol Rock stands 220 meters high with a panoramic view from the top, but climbing it costs extra and is entirely optional. Many travelers skip it and spend the time elsewhere in town. The return to Medellín leaves in the late afternoon, arriving back by early evening. The guide speaks either English or Spanish depending on which option you book, and the bus is air-conditioned. Bring cash in Colombian pesos for the rock entrance if you decide to climb, comfortable shoes for walking the town, and a light jacket. The bus and higher elevations can be cool. Seats are assigned first-come, first-served, so arriving on time matters.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned transport from Medellín with a professional guide in your chosen language.
• traditional Colombian breakfast and a full lunch at local restaurants.
• boat tour of the Guatapé reservoir.
• walking tour of the colorful town with its zócalos, umbrella street and Malecón.
• visit to the llama and animal farm.
• panoramic stop at El Peñol Rock.
• travel insurance.

Options for this experience

4 options

Meeting point: Poblado, Spanish-language tour06:50This option does not include hotel pickup or drop-off. You will meet your guide at the entrance of the church in Parque Poblado.

Meeting point: Poblado, English-language tour06:50This option does not include hotel pickup or drop-off. You will meet your guide at the entrance of the church in Parque Poblado.

Hotel pickup, tour conducted in English06:30This option includes pickup from selected hotels in the Poblado area.

Hotel pickup, tour conducted in Spanish06:30This option includes pickup from selected hotels in the Poblado area.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30 and 06:50

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 150

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viaja Medellin

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Guatapé's most recognizable sights (the painted streets, the reservoir, the rock) without spending the day figuring out transport, timing or where to eat. The guide handles the sequence and the logistics, so you move through the day without gaps or backtracking.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

8,214 verified traveler reviews

5 ★7,893

4 ★263

3 ★39

2 ★8

1 ★11

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3).

What exactly is the colorful town of Guatapé known for?

Guatapé is famous for its zócalos (intricate painted patterns that cover the lower sections of buildings throughout the town), and the Calle de los Paraguas (umbrella street), which hangs thousands of colorful umbrellas overhead. The Malecón waterfront and vibrant plazas are also central to the town's character, and the guide points out the history and stories behind these landmarks during the walking tour.

Is climbing El Peñol Rock included in the tour price?

No, climbing El Peñol Rock is optional and costs approximately 35,000 Colombian pesos (about 10 USD), paid in cash on the day. The tour includes a panoramic stop at the rock, but the climb itself is a separate choice you can make or skip depending on your preference and fitness level.

What happens during the boat tour on the reservoir?

The boat tour crosses the Guatapé reservoir, exploring islands and the lakeside scenery. The guide shares information about the region's geography and landmarks visible from the water, giving you a different perspective on the landscape and the towns around the shore.

Are vegetarian or vegan meals available?

Yes, vegetarian and vegan lunch options are available. Let your guide know your preference when you board, and they will arrange an alternative meal at the local restaurant where lunch is served.

How long is the drive from Medellín to Guatapé?

The drive takes approximately two hours each way. A breakfast stop breaks up the journey on the way there, and you return to Medellín in the late afternoon, arriving back by early evening.

What should I bring on this tour?

Bring comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and a light jacket. The bus and higher elevations can be cool. You'll also need your identity document for travel insurance purposes, and cash in Colombian pesos if you plan to climb El Peñol Rock. Infants must sit on an adult's lap, and pets are not allowed.