Getting there
How to get to the Rock of Guatapé from Medellín
It is about 80 km and roughly two hours by road. Buses leave the Terminal del Norte every half hour and can drop you at the turnoff for the rock.
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- ~80 kmfrom Medellín
- 2 to 2.5 hby bus
- COP 20,000bus to Guatapé (Sotrapeñol)
- every 30 min5:00 am to 8:00 pm
By bus from the Terminal del Norte
Buses to Guatapé leave Medellín's Terminal del Norte (North Bus Terminal), right next to Caribe metro station. According to Terminales Medellín there are two companies:
| Company | Counter | Published schedule | Fare to Guatapé |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sotrapeñol | 9 | 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, every 30 min | COP 20,000 |
| Sotrasanvicente | 14 | 5:00 am to 8:00 pm | COP 22,000 |
Source: Terminales Medellín, checked October 2026. Sotrapeñol charges COP 16,000 to El Peñol. Fares change; confirm at the counter.
- Take the metro to Caribe station and walk across to the Terminal del Norte.
- Buy a ticket to Guatapé at counter 9 (Sotrapeñol) or 14 (Sotrasanvicente).
- Ask the driver to drop you at "La Piedra". The bus passes the turnoff about 2 km before Guatapé.
- From the road, walk up or take a moto-taxi to the ticket booth at the foot of the stairs.
The published schedule is for departures from Medellín. For the way back, check in Guatapé what time the last bus leaves that day before you start exploring, especially on Sundays and holidays when buses fill up.
By car
The usual route is the Medellín Bogotá highway past Marinilla and then the road to El Peñol and Guatapé. In normal traffic it is about two hours. There is paid parking at the rock (COP 5,000 per hour for cars). Driving lets you be there at 8 am, before the tours, and stop at the Old El Peñol replica at your own pace.
On a tour
If you do not want to deal with buses, a day tour picks you up in Medellín and usually includes the rock, the town and sometimes a boat ride and lunch. Colombia.com reported prices of up to about COP 100,000 per person depending on the season. The differences between tours are in the Guatapé and El Peñol day trip.
Sleeping there instead of going back
Four hours on the road in one day is tiring. If you sleep in Guatapé, you climb early and have the afternoon for the lake. See hotels in Guatapé and El Peñol and check the weather by month before picking dates. Keep the ticket price in mind so you bring cash.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the bus from Medellín to Guatapé?
How much is the bus fare?
Where does the bus leave from?
Does the bus stop at the rock?
Sources
Checked on October 18, 2026. Prices and opening hours change: always confirm with the official source before you travel.