Guatape Tour Review: Boat, Meals, Llama Farm – Is It Worth It?
If you’re thinking about a trip to Medellin, Colombia, then it’s almost certain you’ve heard whispers about Guatape. It’s that scenic town known for its vibrant buildings and the gigantic rock called El Peñol. I recently had the chance to go on a tour, one that promised a bunch of experiences, like a luxury boat ride, some good grub, and, get this, a llama farm. This review tells about my time, and maybe help you choose your next vacation plan.
Getting to Guatape: More Than Just a Bus Ride
Most tours, this one included, will handle the transportation thing for you. What usually happens is that you’ll meet the group very early in the morning in Medellin. From there, it’s usually around a two-hour ride heading east into Antioquia’s countryside. I will say, even the drive has really pleasant sights. The urban sprawl transforms into greener hills. Our guide began to tell some stories and info about the area too.
If you choose to make your way solo, buses often depart from Medellin’s Terminal del Norte. It is also possible to consider a private car to get flexibility. Yet, there’s very good convenience in having the tour deal with this part of the thing.
Climbing El Peñol: Views Worth the Effort
El Peñol is just really the centerpiece of this area. As our tour group got close to the bottom, well, that feeling of thinking “Wow, that is big!” hit me. You are faced with a climb of over 700 steps. That said, don’t let it spook you, anyway. The steps are well-made. There are also multiple stopping places if you have to pause. You know, catching your breath is alright.
When you finally get up to the top, the view is amazing. You can look over the lakes, those are formed from a man-made reservoir, plus many small islands. There are many vendor places up there if you’d like to grab a quick snack or a drink.
Word of caution: it can get pretty crowded, mainly during peak times of the day. Being patient is always beneficial when looking for picture places, you know. And wearing comfortable footwear? Absolutely essential.
Luxury Boat Ride: Drifting on the Reservoir
The boat bit was supposedly “luxury”. It was just better compared to some of the basic ones, really. So there were comfortable places where we sat down and a second deck to get some clearer shots of the place.
Now, it wasn’t super fancy. However, gliding over those lakes and looking at all the fancy homes along the shore was really relaxing. Our guide kept pointing out the histories too, info of how the reservoir got there, which, apparently, flooded a bunch of old properties.
If you’re on a tight timeline, these rides provide a really neat way to watch some sights around Guatape without actually using too much physical activity. You’re able to see much more by water rather than traveling by land.
Lunch with a View: Satisfying Colombian Cuisine
Most Guatape tours often wrap lunch in, it seems. It is also good to experience local stuff. The food was good, if not outstanding. A usual dish may be bandeja paisa, full with beans, rice, meats, and other staples. It fills your belly.
The eating spots are picked mainly because they give great sights of the water or the rock. The food wasn’t something extremely amazing. Yet, eating conventional dishes with a view similar to that truly contributed to the day.
Llama Farm Experience: More Than Just a Photo Op
Okay, so a llama farm: this I was kind of thinking might be gimmicky. It was just genuinely pleasant! The farm was relatively small, really. The llamas looked to be really looked after. I got the option to give them something to eat, pet them. Naturally, there are also pic opportunities galore.
What makes it cool, yet, is hearing from those who run the place about these animals. Turns out, they are not naturally from Colombia, so having them here’s quite weird. They give a summary of taking care of the animals and what it is like.
For families or individuals who like creatures, it’s definitely an unexpected highlight.
Guatape Town: Colors and Culture
Guatape town is actually pretty cool, even just to stroll around a bit. Those houses happen to be really, really colorful, and nearly every building seems to have these fancy designs on the lower walls called zócalos.
A guide gave some history, mainly, these designs tell something of what someone does for work or a slice of what’s vital to a family.
Plazoleta de Los Zócalos is also definitely somewhere to look. We were given some leisure time here. Many were going to the shops and others grabbing local espressos.
The Guide and the Group Dynamic
I think that tours really rely a lot on how good the guide may be. Ours happened to be just knowledgeable. Plus, very fun too. They had to ensure that the thing stayed enjoyable and informative, also doing it in both English and Spanish.
One small downside might have just been that there have been rather a lot of people. Keeping tabs on everyone could feel kind of hard from time to time. Tours generally cater toward the bulk audience, and so if you hate crowds, a private might very well be for you.
Value for Money: Is the Tour Worth the Cost?
Talking dollar signs, so the tour that included transportation, El Peñol fees to get inside, a boat tour, dinner, as well as a visit to the llama farm appeared very practical. Thinking about doing it solo, well, the charges probably could add up, and the anxiety from coordinating the entire thing will be on you.
If you might like things created, someone to impart understanding, and not stressed on the logistics side, yeah, it seemed worth it.
Final Thoughts: A Well-Rounded Guatape Experience
This day travel to Guatape checked a lot of boxes. There was some fitness via rising El Peñol, taking in landscapes on that vessel, seeing local customs at Guatape, and hanging out alongside strange animals. There were few aspects, that you will discover during a visit, I hope so too you may make an smart decision.
- Breathtaking Views: The climb up El Peñol is rewarded with outstanding scenery of the lake district.
- Cultural Immersion: Get insights on Colombian cuisine, town, plus customs from regional specialists.
- Hassle-Free Experience: Round-trip transfer that made everything rather convenient and relaxed.
- Unique Activities: Not every tour will provide seeing cute llamas on a little farm in Colombia.
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