How to Get to Guatapé from Medellín by Bus Or Day Trip

A quick and useful guide covering the four best options for how to get to Guatapé from Medellín by bus, a private day trip, taxi, or driving yourself!

If you’re visiting the beautiful city of Medellín Colombia, then I’m sure you’ll want to plan at least a day of your Medellín itinerary to the colorful town of Guatapé.

Guatapé is located in the rolling hill region just a short 2-hour drive from Medellín. It’s a stunning but small town that is famous for its colorful buildings covered in unique art (called zocalos), delicious Antioquian food, awesome trails and waterfalls, and of course, the giant rock called El Peñón de Guatapé.

But, if you’re like I was, you’ll be sitting in Medellín and wondering how to actually get to here!

That’s why, after a bit of research, speaking to locals, and making the trip myself, I’ve written this useful travel guide to help you with the four best options for how to get from Medellín to Guatapé cheaply and fast. I last checked every price and timetable here in August 2026.

Here’s how the four options stack up:

Option	Cost per person	Time	Best for
Public bus	24,000 COP (US$6.30)	2 hours	Backpackers, anyone staying overnight
Organized day trip	Varies, includes rock entry, boat and meals	Full day	Short on time, want it all sorted
Taxi	330,000 to 345,000 COP (US$82 to 85) total	2 hours	Groups of four splitting the fare
Rental car	Fuel plus 26,300 COP (US$6.50) toll	1.5 to 2 hours	Anyone continuing east to San Rafael

Update: Changes to Transport Routes Between Guatapé & Medellín

Last checked: August 2026. Here's what's changed on this route recently.

• New bus line – the new Sotrasanvicente fleet has USB chargers and A/C, and mobile QR tickets scan straight at counter 14. This option is super handy since the first departure is at 06:00 so you can get to Guatapé earlier now.
• Day trip still best option - if you're short on time, the Medellín - Guatapé tour is still a great bet. Super affordable and now rated 4.9 from over 14,000 reviews on GetYourGuide.
• Fares are now 24,000 COP (about US$6.30) each way, up from 20,000. Sotrasanvicente charges the same in both directions, so there's no saving on a return.
• La Piedra del Peñol is now 35,000 COP (about US$8.75) per person. The price went up on 1 January 2026 and, for the first time, it's the same all year with no high or low season split. There's no online booking, so bring cash or a debit card. The stair markers read 742 steps and it's open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM.
• Road works – the Rionegro interchange is complete and will shave off around 20 min now if you drive yourself.

Option 2: How to Take the Bus from Medellín to Guatapé

For backpackers, budget travelers, or travelers looking to spend a night or two in the traditional colonial town, then the best way is to take the Medellín to Guatapé bus. This is how I got to Guatapé.

Below I'll outline exactly what you'll need to do to get the bus. Don't worry, it's easy and convenient!

1. Make Your Way to Terminal Del Norte

The bus to Guatapé from Medellín City departs from Terminal Del Norte. As the name suggests, this bus terminal is located in the northern end of Medellín.

Terminal Norte is the bus station catering to all routes heading north and east of the city. And, since Guatapé is approximately 2 hours east of Medellín, this is where you need to go.

There are several easy public transport options to get here from anywhere in the city. These include:

• Taxi - just tell them you're going to Terminal Norte. All taxis in Medellín city are metered, and it should cost somewhere between 10,000 to 15,000 pesos from El Poblado or Laureles.
• Metro - Medellín's metro system is very safe and reliable. You'll want to make your way to the blue line (Line A) and get off at Caribe station (here's a metro map). This is literally right next to the terminal. A single ride costs 3,450 COP (about US$0.90) with a Cívica card, and Caribe station connects straight to the terminal by a pedestrian bridge, so you won't cross a road.
• Uber - Uber is everywhere in Medellín and I use it without any drama, but it still sits in a legal grey zone rather than being formally regulated. The 2023 Supreme Court ruling cleared Uber of unfair competition, and Congress is still working on a bill to properly regulate ride-hailing apps. Just remember to get in the front and set the location to Caribe Station instead of the north terminal as a courtesy to the driver and to avoid conflict with taxi drivers, which is still a thing.

Below I've pinned a map showing the exact location you need to get to.

2. Head Downstairs to the Ground Floor

Once you arrive at the bus terminal, you'll need to make your way downstairs to the ground floor.

This is quite a large terminal, and you'll find loads of snack shops and fast-food outlets here. There are two main staircases and they are immediately obvious once you walk in.

If you're coming in by taxi, take the staircase on your left, which leads directly down in front of the ticket booth for the Medellín to Guatapé bus.

3. Find the Medellín to Guatapé Bus Ticket Booth

Did I mention this was a huge bus terminal? Yeah, there are over 50 ticket booths for different bus companies and transport routes!

What you'll want to do is head to Ticket Booth Number #14. The bus company name is Sotrasanvicente & Guatape La Piedra and it is a red and white booth.

There's also a large sign on the window reading "Guatape". Don't worry, it's really easy to find by following the sequential numbers on the booths. Worth knowing: there are two Guatapé counters at Terminal Norte, not one. Counter 14 is Sotrasanvicente and counter 9 is Sotrapeñol. Both run the same route for the same fare, so take whichever bus leaves soonest.

Once you arrive, purchase your ticket which costs 24,000 COP (about US$6.30) each way, confirmed against Sotrasanvicente's own timetable in August 2026. Sotrasanvicente charges the same in both directions, so there's no saving on a return.

While you can buy a return ticket here, it's just as easy to buy one in Guatapé town, so you don't need to decide now.

You can also skip the booth entirely and book online through Redbus before you leave your hostel. That's new since I first did this trip, and it's worth doing if you're traveling on a Saturday or Sunday. You'll still collect at counter 14, just show the QR code on your phone.

We lucked out and got here right on time! The bus was leaving in just 5 minutes. Unfortunately, this meant we missed out on buying snacks!

Tip: When I first did this trip I asked what time buses start and end, and the staff just said it depends. There's a proper published schedule now. Sotrasanvicente runs 31 departures a day, first bus at 06:00 and last at 19:30, roughly every 30 minutes through the morning and hourly after lunch.

• Morning: 06:00, 06:30, 06:40, 07:00, 07:30, 07:45, 08:20, 08:40, 09:15, 09:30, 09:45, 10:00, 10:15, 10:30, 10:45, 11:00, 11:30
• Afternoon: 12:00, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 15:00, 15:20, 15:40, 16:00, 17:00, 17:30
• Evening: 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30

4. Board Your Bus to Guatapé

Once you purchase your ticket, turn left, walk 20 meters, and continue until you see turnstile gates on your right.

Make sure to check your bus ticket to find the gate and your seat number. Yes, the buses have assigned seats, meaning you don't need to rush!

If your Spanish is lacking, puesto is your seat number, and rampa is your gate number.

Tip: Weekends are the busiest days and I've been told that buses do fill up on occasion!

The Bus Journey: What to Expect

Getting here 5 minutes prior to departure was really easy and actually quite relaxed. If you have large backpacks, don't stress. These buses are more like coaches and have a large rear trunk space to stow your backpacks.

I had my camera bag with me and always keep it with me on buses. This was fine with the driver and I chose to stow it in front of my legs.

The bus journey from Medellín to Guatapé is quite comfortable and very scenic. You'll notice that you'll quickly leave hectic city life behind and enter the beautiful, rolling green hills of Antioquian countryside.

The bus will stop a few times to pick up locals heading east. Like most buses in South America, you'll also find local salesmen boarding and offering snacks like candy, fruit, nuts, and drinks.

Overall, the bus journey to Guatapé from Medellín City takes only 2 hours.

Optional: Get Off at La Piedra Del Peñol First (the Guatapé Rock)

When you board the bus, the bus driver or staff stowing your baggage will likely ask you whether you are getting off at the Pueblo or at Piedra del Peńol.

This means, you have the option to disembark the bus at the town of Guatapé, or just at the base of the huge rock (10 minutes earlier).

Since we had our big backpacks with us, we decided to go all the way to the town and climb to the top of the rock afterward. This is something you must do when in town, you'll get beautiful views over the surrounding countryside and the stunning blue lakes!

If you do hop off at the rock first, you've got three ways to cover the last stretch into Guatapé town: walk it in 30 to 40 minutes, grab one of the tuk-tuks waiting at the base for around 15,000 COP (US$3.75), or wave down the next passing bus for about 2,500 COP. The tuk-tuk is the one I'd take with a pack on.

How to Get the Bus from Guatapé Back to Medellín

Getting back is easier than getting there, but there's one thing worth doing the moment you arrive: buy your return ticket.

The Guatapé bus terminal is about 500 m (0.3 miles) from the main plaza, on the main road as you come into town. I'd walk down and lock in a seat for the same evening or the next morning. Sotrasanvicente runs 31 departures a day, but weekend afternoons fill up and there's no standing room on a coach.

The fare back is the same 24,000 COP (about US$6.30), since Sotrasanvicente charges identically in both directions. The first bus out of Guatapé is at 06:30 and they run through the evening.

If you're finishing your day at La Piedra rather than in town, you can stand on the main road and flag down a Medellín-bound bus as it passes. It works, and you pay the driver directly. Just know the bus has usually filled up in Guatapé already, so you're gambling on a seat.

Tip: Try to be on a bus before 3 PM. The run back into Medellín hits city traffic from about 5 PM and the two-hour trip stretches well past that.

Option 3: How to Get to Guatapé From Medellín By Taxi

If you're not a big fan of public transport and want a private journey to Guatapé, then you can also just pay a taxi driver.

There is a fixed rate of 330,000 - 345,000 COP Colombian pesos in the city of Medellín for taxis to Guatapé. This is a little expensive (roughly $82-85 USD), but it is a long journey!

If you're traveling solo, or even as a couple, this option doesn't make much sense.

Instead, you'd get much more value out of just booking the Guatapé day tour (above), and telling the operator you don't need the lift back– this is cheaper and includes a guide and a boat trip!

However, if you're in a group of four, splitting this taxi fare makes sense, and is not too pricey! Split four ways that's about 85,000 COP (US$21) each, still three times the bus, but door to door and on your own schedule.

Option 4: Drive to Guatapé Yourself

If you're comfortable driving in South America, then you could also rent a car in Medellín quite cheaply.

I always use DiscoverCars when renting cars around the world. This is a "rental car search engine" that compares dealerships and cars available in your city.

This ensures you get a fair price and cuts out the need for passport deposits.

If you are set on getting a car, you'll want to head east on the Túnel de Oriente towards La Palma. From here take a left at the big roundabout (Guarne-Aeropuerto José Maria Cordova.

Next, turn right at the big intersection onto Autopista Medellín-Bogotá. You'll then follow this road all the way to Marinilla. At the end of the town, turn left onto Al Peñol, which is a narrower and winding mountain road leading all the way up to Guatapé.

Tip: The road to Guatapé from Medellín is actually quite relaxed once you get out of the city. There's usually not too much traffic but keep in mind that the roads are a little winding and steep in sections. There's also a new route that saves a bit of time. For this one take the Túnel de Oriente + new Rionegro interchange. Just know that on Sunday/holiday afternoons the tunnel becomes one-way Rionegro to Medellín. The toll for a car is 26,300 COP (about US$6.50), which went up on 17 January 2026.

I hope that this quick guide for how to get to Guatapé from the city of Medellín by bus, taxi, a day trip, or independently has made your travel planning a little easier!

If you found this useful, make sure to check out some of my other guides and blogs below.

• Medellín Travel Guide: Discover fun activities and top highlights in Medellín
• San Andrés Island: Guide to Colombia's best Caribbean Island
• Minca Travel Guide: Discover incredible hikes, beautiful fincas, epic jungle waterfalls, and all-around relaxing vibes.
• Things to do in Guatapé: Travel to Colombia's most scenic Antioquian town, known for its vibrant streets, traditional street art, and the famous Piedra del Peñol.