Guatapé is an Antioquian town located 75 kilometers from Medellín, in the eastern part of the department, and is considered the most colorful town in the world. This place also has a very particular history because, in 1970, it was announced that part of the municipality had to be flooded to build the hydroelectric complex of Empresas Públicas de Medellín, a dam of energy importance for Colombia. Therefore, the city had to be relocated, and the population of 8,000 inhabitants who lived in the municipality had to start anew. The good news is that this new town, where the relocated inhabitants arrived, became one of the most famous tourist destinations in the country.
The Most Colorful Town in Colombia
Its houses, doors, walls, and balconies are a spectacle for anyone’s eyes. This small colonial-style town has the typical architecture of colonial houses, decorated with colors and a large gate for the farmers to enter the horse through the first door and leave it there. In Guatapé, you can take a tour with the most commonly used public transport there, which is the motorcycle taxi. In these tours, you can stroll through all the houses, and the locals tell you their stories. The tour costs around 20,000 pesos, or 5 dollars, and can be a good option to get to know the town, its houses, and its colors, and prepare to walk and wander through its cobbled streets.
Cobbled Streets
Guatapé owes its popularity mainly to its vibrant colors, which have given it the colorful title it possesses. The cobbled streets adorn houses painted in multiple colors, and full of balconies, so representative of construction in the towns of Colombia. Guatapé also has a very representative element in its constructions, the “zócalos.”
Zócalos
The zócalos are small drawings, paintings, or representations at the bottom of the houses. These paintings are usually in relief and adorn all the houses in the town. They are usually related to the owner of the house, decorated according to their taste or profession. They can have sculptures of carpenters, bakers, pets, or even schools. It is a tradition that was originally Spanish but is being revived because it is one of the major tourist attractions of Guatapé.
These zócalos are works of art that tell stories of the locals and refer to the customs, symbols, animals, flowers, and trades of the inhabitants of Guatapé. Guatapé is the perfect day trip. You can easily walk its streets, and in 3 hours, you would probably already know the whole town. You can also talk to its inhabitants, who are very proud of their town, and are always open to telling stories.
Six places to visit in Guatapé
Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen
First, you should visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen. This was the first chapel in the town, built in 1818, and in 1865, the one that exists today was constructed. This cathedral is of Greco-Roman style and has very particular zócalos on the outside, showing the Flower of Liz and the 4 evangelists. Inside, there is also a carved wooden altarpiece and Byzantine elements, making it a church worth visiting inside and out.
Street of Remembrance
The second place you should visit is the Street of Remembrance. This street is very important because its zócalos narrate the history of Antioquian colonization. Additionally, flowers adorn this street, acknowledging the diversity of flowers in the country, particularly in Antioquia. Lastly, the street pays tribute to the steep slopes flooded by the reservoir, featuring an artisanal water fountain.
The Malecon
The third place to visit in Guatapé is The Malecón. This boardwalk measures nine hundred meters and surrounds the reservoir. From this boardwalk, you could enjoy water sports, such as kayaking. Horseback riding, hiking, and trekking are also very popular as there are many green spaces with forest vegetation surrounding the municipality. You can also fish in the reservoir and enjoy the landscape. From the boardwalk is where visitors embark on boats, and this brings me to my fourth point.
Boat Tour of Reservoir
I recommend taking a boat tour of the reservoir. You can go down to see everything from water level and take a tour on a boat for only 10,000 pesos or 2.5 dollars. On this basic route, you can sail above the town of El Peñol. Even though the houses underwent destruction before the flooding, remnants of the old church are still visible. It’s intriguing to consider that you are sailing over a submerged city, akin to Atlantis.
Old Town Square
The fifth place I recommend is the square that recreates the old town. The government made this small square to pay homage to the original town, and it is a replica to remember the town that would be underwater today.
Plazoleta del Zócalo
Finally, the sixth place I recommend visiting in Guatapé is La Plazoleta del Zócalo. This was built to commemorate the two hundred years of the founding of the municipality and has large colorful steps where the zócalos stand out. This square is perfect for taking photos, buying crafts, and enjoying this colorful town.
El Peñol
In addition to visiting Guatapé, you can take advantage of the trip to visit the large rock of El Peñol. This massive rock, situated between the municipalities of Guatapé and El Peñol, is recognized as the Peñón de Guatapé, standing at an impressive height of 220 meters. You can climb this enormous natural wonder to have a panoramic view of the reservoir.Tthe hydroelectric company created it and it is not natural, but it is a spectacular view. From up here, you can see the old location of the town, and the only thing you can see from its remains is the cross of the old church. The entire reservoir covers more than 2,200 hectares.
The only downside to this huge rock is getting to the top, as there are 700 steps. However, you can gain energy for this climb in a restaurant in front of the rock where they serve the typical dish of Antioquia: the bandeja paisa. This dish boasts a colossal size, designed for laborers who consumed only one meal a day. The bandeja paisa has sausage, blood sausage, beans, rice, ripe plantain, arepa, ground beef, salad, avocado, potato, and egg. This dish, for me, is too large, and I recommend ordering one to share.
However, after this dish, you will have all the energy to climb the 700 steps and enjoy the views from this huge rock. Up there, you can stay to relax, and you can also buy some crafts or typical sweets from the region.
Tours to Get There
There are many agencies that offer day tours from Medellín, and they are very convenient as they help you with transportation from Medellín to the town and back. Typically, tourists cover the journey to Guatapé and El Peñón in a single day. However, if you wish to prolong your stay in this town, you have the option to do so, as there are several hotels or hostels available for an extended visit.
My only recommendation when planning your visit to Guatapé is to try to arrive early because this is a very popular destination, and being such a small town, it fills up very easily. If you want good photos, try to arrive as early as possible, and you will find the streets empty and be able to enjoy its colors and zócalos.
