Hotels in Guatapé: Stay by the Lake or in Medellín

A Guatapé tour means a night in Medellín: the tours on this site start in El Poblado early in the morning and bring you back in the evening. A night or two in Guatapé makes sense if you want the rock without the coach timetable, the town after the day visitors leave, or simply a slower stay by the reservoir. Searches for Guatapé hotels, a Guatapé hostel or other Guatapé accommodation all lead to the same small town.

One thing to know before you book a room by the lake: the tours from Medellín collect their guests in El Poblado (and, for the small-group tour, in Laureles). None of them picks up in Guatapé. If you stay there, the town is on your doorstep; if you want the tour, spend the night before it in Medellín.

Where to stay in Guatapé, or not

Guatapé town is where the zócalo streets, the malecón and the boats are, and where most of the tours stop for lunch. It is the obvious base if you stay.

El Peñol is the neighbouring town on the far side of the rock, whose old centre was flooded in 1970 to make the reservoir, according to its town hall.

El Poblado, Medellín is where the tours start: Viaja Medellin’s guide meets the group at Poblado Park at 6:50 a.m., and on some dates a dearer option collects you from hotels near the park.

A day tour from Medellín instead

If you are in Medellín for a few days, a hotel there plus a Guatapé tour is the simple plan: collected in El Poblado, breakfast, the rock, the town, the boat and lunch, and back the same evening. Viaja Medellin’s tour costs US$42.14 per adult (regular price, November 2026).

Check dates for the day tour

For the bus, see Medellín to Guatapé; for the climb, the Piedra del Peñol guide.