Getting from Medellín to Guatapé is easier than it seems: the town is about two hours by car and there are three ways to get there. You can take a bus from the Terminal del Norte, drive yourself, or take a tour that takes care of everything.
In this guide we tell you how to get to Guatapé using each option: where the bus from Medellín to Guatapé leaves from, how much the ticket costs, how long it takes from Medellín to Guatapé depending on traffic, and in what cases a tour is more convenient.
Guatapé is a municipality in the eastern part of Antioquia, on the banks of the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir and between 76 and 80 kilometers from Medellín, depending on the route. It is famous for two things: its houses decorated with zócalos (colored reliefs on the lower part of the facades) and the Piedra del Peñol, the large rock that rises next to the reservoir and is accessed by a staircase of about 700 steps.
The stone is not located within the village, but a few minutes by road, between the municipalities of El Peñol and Guatapé. Therefore, when planning your trip, consider two stops: the stone and the village. Most travelers first climb the stone in the morning and spend the afternoon walking through the streets, having lunch, and taking a stroll along the boardwalk or by boat through the reservoir.
Since the trip takes about two hours each way, Guatapé works best as a full-day plan. With that in mind, the main decision is how to get there: whether you prefer to save money, have more freedom in your schedule, or want everything to be organized.
| Option | Approximate cost | Travel time | Advantage | To take into account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus from Terminal Norte | About 25,000 COP per trip | Between 2 hours and 2 hours 30 minutes | It is the most economical option | Lines at the box office on weekends and holidays |
| Own or rented car | About 130,000 COP for gasoline, tolls, and parking | About 2 hours | Manage your schedules and stops | Mountain road and limited parking during the high season |
| Tour de Turibus | 135,000 COP per person | Full day tour with departure from Medellín | Includes transportation, guide, boat, and lunch | Admission to the stone is paid separately, in cash. |
Below we explain each option step by step, so that you can choose the one that best suits your trip.
The bus is the cheapest way to get to Guatapé. Buses leave from the Terminal del Norte of Medellín, which is located next to the Caribe station on Line A of the metro.
The ticket costs about 25,000 COP per trip and can be purchased at the terminal ticket office on the same day. You don’t need to reserve in advance, but weekends and holidays are a good time to arrive early, because lines form and the first buses fill up quickly.
To make the bus trip from Medellín to Guatapé, follow these steps:
The buses that make the route are usually minibuses or intercity buses with numbered seats. When you buy the ticket, they assign you a seat, so there’s no need to arrive very early on weekdays; on weekends, however, it’s advisable to be at the terminal at least half an hour before the departure you want to take.
If you are traveling with a suitcase or large backpack, ask at the ticket office if you can bring it on board the plane. For a day in Guatapé, it is ideal to travel light, with a small backpack that you can carry on your legs and climb up the rock with.
Along the way, the bus makes short stops to pick up and drop off passengers, and in some cases to buy some food for the travelers. Have some water and some snacks on hand, especially if you leave early and don't have time to have breakfast.
Once you get to the area, the distances are short, but not so much that you can walk them all. There is a steep stretch from the road to the base of the rock; many visitors climb it on foot, but if you want to save energy for the stairs, the motor vehicles waiting at the entrance drop you off at the ticket office in a few minutes.
Between the stone and the village there are about 3 kilometers by road, without continuous sidewalk throughout the entire route. For safety and convenience, the most practical thing to do is to take that stretch by motorcoach or on the bus that goes to Guatapé. Agree on the price of the motorcoach before getting on each time you use it and bring cash in small bills: the trip can cost you between 15,000 and 20,000 COP.
The journey takes about two hours by road. On the bus it can take up to 2 hours 30 minutes, because it makes stops to pick up and drop off passengers along the way.
What changes the most with the weather is the departure from Medellín on the Medellín–Bogotá highway. On Fridays in the afternoon, on Sundays in the afternoon, and on public holidays, there is more traffic both on the way in and out. If you can, travel during the week or leave early in the morning.
To better plan the day, this is how the travel time is distributed in each section when you travel by bus on your own:
| Trama | Approximate time | How it is made |
|---|---|---|
| From your accommodation in Medellín to the Terminal del Norte | Between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on the location of your accommodation | Metro to Caribe station, taxi or app |
| From Terminal Norte to the entrance to Piedra del Peñol | About 2 hours | Intermunicipal bus |
| From the entrance of the road to the base of the stone | Between 5 and 20 minutes | By motorcycle or on foot |
| From the Stone of Peñol to the town of Guatapé | About 10 minutes | Motorcar or bus |
| From the town of Guatapé to the North Terminal | Between 2 hours and 2 hours 30 minutes | Intermunicipal bus |
If you add up all the transfers, you'll spend between 5 and 6 hours on transport alone during the day. That's why it's a good idea to leave Medellín before 8:00 a.m. That way you'll have enough time for the stone, lunch, and the town without having to return at night.
Here we share an example of a realistic schedule for those who take the bus from Medellín and want to see the stone and the village on the same day:
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 6:30 a.m. | Depart to Terminal Norte by metro or taxi |
| 7:00 a.m. | Bus from Medellín to Guatapé |
| 9:00 a. m. | Arrive at the entrance of the Piedra del Peñol and ride a motorcoach up to the ticket office |
| 9:15 a.m. | Climbing up the rock and time at the viewpoint |
| 11:00 a.m. | Descend and transfer to the town of Guatapé |
| 11:30 a.m. | Walk along the alley of the tenement houses and the main square |
| 1:00 p. m. | Lunch in the village |
| 2:30 p. m. | Walk along the promenade or by boat through the reservoir |
| 4:30 p. m. | Bus back to Medellín |
| 7:00 p. m. | Approximate arrival at Terminal Norte |
This schedule is a reference: on weekends and holidays, the wait times at the terminal and at the ticket desk increase. If you prefer not to keep track of the time, on a tour the times for each stop are already organized.
By car, the journey takes about two hours. The route leaves Medellín on the Medellín–Bogotá highway, passes through Guarne and Marinilla, and continues along the road to El Peñol until it reaches Guatapé. There are tolls along the way, with an approximate fee of 18,600 COP for private cars, which is paid in cash.
The road is mountainous, with curves, so it’s best to drive during the day and without haste. Both at Piedra del Peñol and in the village there are paid parking lots; in high season they fill up early, so it’s best to arrive before noon.
If you don't want to drive, you can also hire a taxi or a private car for the day. It's the most convenient option door-to-door, but it's also the most expensive if you're traveling alone: the service can cost around 600,000 COP. Agree on the fare and waiting times before you leave.
One advantage of driving is that you can stop wherever you want. Marinilla, one of the oldest towns in the eastern Antioquia region, has a quiet historic center for a short stop and a coffee. Further down the road, the municipality of El Peñol is just minutes away.
Very close to the stone is the replica of Old Peñol, a reconstruction of the original village of El Peñol, which was under water when the dam was built. It is an interesting stop to understand how the landscape was formed, which you will then see from the viewpoint; keep in mind that admission to some museums and private houses may have an independent cost.
Along the way you will also find makeshift lookout points and roadside restaurants serving typical Antioquean food. If you are traveling in a group, a stop for breakfast along the way makes the journey more enjoyable and allows you to reach the stone with energy.
If you prefer not to worry about terminals, schedules, or parking, a tour leaves everything sorted out for you. Our Tour Guatapé from Medellín It leaves every day, includes round-trip transportation, a guide, a boat ride through the reservoir, and lunch, and costs 135,000 COP per person.
Entrance to the Piedra del Peñol is not included: in 2026 it costs 30,000 COP and is paid in cash at the ticket office. To know what to expect from the climb, check out our guide here. How much does it cost to climb the Peñol Rock?.
If you want to explore the city as well, the 2-day combo with City Tour and Guatapé It includes a day in Medellín and another in Guatapé, with transportation, guide and lunch in Guatapé.
The cost of the day depends on both the transportation and what you want to do when you arrive. This table helps you compare, per person, going on your own by bus versus going on the Turibus tour:
| Concept | By your own means on the bus | Tour de Turibus |
|---|---|---|
| Round-trip transportation | About 50,000 COP | Included |
| Motorbikes between the road, the stone and the village | Around 30,000 COP | Not necessary |
| Entrance fee to El Peñol Rock. | 30,000 COP, in cash | 30,000 COP, in cash (not included) |
| Boat ride on the reservoir | Between 25,000 and 60,000 COP, depending on the duration and the boat | Included |
| Lunch included | Around 50,000 COP | Included |
| Guide | No | Included |
| Approximate total | Between 185,000 and 220,000 COP | 135,000 COP plus entrance fee to the stone |
On your own, you can spend less if you bring your own food and don't take the boat. But if you add the boat, lunch, and motorbikes, the difference with the tour is reduced, and on the tour you don't have to worry about schedules or lines at the terminal.
The return buses depart from the town terminal in Guatapé. Buy your return ticket as soon as you arrive, especially on weekends and holidays, when the afternoon tickets sell out quickly. Keep in mind that the last buses leave around 7:00 p.m.
If you are on the stone and don't want to go down to the village, you can wait for the bus on the road, at the entrance to the stone, although in high season many people pass by from Guatapé full.
If you arrive in Medellín by plane and want to go directly to Guatapé, you have an advantage: the José María Córdova airport is in Rionegro, in the eastern Antioquia region, closer to Guatapé than the center of Medellín. By car, the journey takes no more than an hour and a half.
The most practical way to do this part of the journey is by taxi or by private transport booked in advance. On the bus, it is usual to first go to Rionegro or Marinilla and take a bus to Guatapé there, which lengthens the journey and makes it difficult to move around with luggage.
If your idea is to visit Guatapé in one day and then settle in Medellín, the most convenient option is usually to arrive in the city first, leave your luggage at the accommodation, and do the excursion the next day by bus, car, or tour.
Many travelers make the trip without any problems, but there are mistakes that repeat themselves and can complicate the day:
Once in Guatapé, take advantage of the day between the stone and the village; our guide will show you the best places to visit. What to do in Guatapé It helps you organize it. And if you're planning the entire trip, in the 3-day itinerary in Medellín Guatapé takes second place on the second day.
Traveling from Medellín to Guatapé is a one-day plan that can be done on your own without complications, provided you leave early and have cash on hand. And if you prefer to forget about terminals and schedules, Turibus will pick you up in Medellín and take you back so you can just enjoy the trip.
About two hours by road. On a bus it can take up to 2 hours 30 minutes due to stops and traffic when leaving the city.
From the Norte Terminal in Medellín, next to the Caribe metro station, with frequent departures during the day.
Around 25,000 COP per trip. It is purchased at the terminal ticket office on the same day of the trip.
It provides flexibility in managing your schedules, but it involves mountain roads, tolls, and finding parking during peak season.
The Turibus tour to Guatapé includes round-trip transportation, a guide, a boat ride, and lunch, with daily departures. Entrance to the stone is paid separately, in cash.
Yes. It's the most common plan: you leave Medellín early, climb the stone, have lunch in the village, and return in the afternoon. Calculate a full day, with about four hours on the road alone.
The route is very busy with tourists and local travelers. As with any trip, take care of your belongings at the terminal, travel by day, and avoid walking on the road between the stone and the village.
Getting from Medellín to Guatapé is easier than it seems: the town is about two hours by car and there are three ways to get there. You can take a bus from the Terminal del Norte, drive yourself, or take a tour that takes care of everything. In this
