Guatapé Day Trip or Overnight Stay? Here’s What I Chose

This post is part of my South America series, following my five-week solo trip through Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia. I share what I experienced, the day trips and regions I considered, and what I’d plan differently next time. You’ll find related guides in the Explore South America section at the end.

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Guatapé is a colorful town east of Medellín, known for its brightly painted buildings, decorative panels called zócalos, and setting beside a sprawling reservoir. Nearby, El Peñón de Guatapé, also called Piedra del Peñol, is the enormous granite rock you can climb by staircase for sweeping views over the water and its scattered islands. Together, they make one of the most popular excursions from Medellín.

When planning my visit, the question wasn’t whether to go, but whether to visit Guatapé as a day trip or stay overnight. A day tour would let me climb the rock, wander through town, and return to my Medellín hotel that evening without arranging transportation or repacking my bags. I almost chose that option.

Instead, I booked two nights at Cannúa, a secluded mountain retreat outside Guatapé that required separate transportation to the main sights. I wanted more than a sightseeing outing: after weeks of moving between cities, I wanted time surrounded by nature, with a comfortable hotel worth lingering in.

Staying overnight added costs and logistics, but it also changed the pace of this part of my trip. Here’s why I chose it, what the tradeoffs were, and when I’d recommend a straightforward day trip instead.

Why I Skipped the Typical Guatapé Day Trip

Most organized Guatapé tours follow a similar schedule. You’re picked up in Medellín, driven to El Peñón and Guatapé, given a few hours to explore, and then brought back to the city that evening.

I actually have nothing against these kinds of tours. Throughout my five-week trip across South America I booked several organized excursions, and many of them were excellent.

But I also learned something during that trip.

Earlier in Argentina, I joined one of the popular transfers to Perito Moreno Glacier. While seeing the glacier was incredible, I left wishing I’d had several more hours to explore. The transportation schedule dictated how long I could stay instead of letting me experience the glacier at my own pace.

I didn’t want to repeat that mistake.

At that point in my trip I had just arrived from Quito and Santiago, two cities that felt noticeably calmer than Medellín. Medellín immediately struck me as louder, busier, and more energetic. After a few days in the city, the thought of waking up early for another tightly scheduled tour honestly didn’t sound appealing.

Instead, I wanted Guatapé to feel like an escape rather than another item to check off my itinerary.

That’s ultimately why staying overnight made more sense for me. It gave me the flexibility to explore Guatapé without watching the clock and turned what could have been a long sightseeing day into a much slower break from Medellín.

But if you only have one day to spare, I can absolutely see the appeal of an organized day trip. You can still visit El Peñón, explore Guatapé, and get back to Medellín that evening without having to arrange transportation or change hotels.

Explore Guatapé and El Peñón day trips from Medellín →

Why I Chose Cannúa

Staying overnight doesn’t have to mean choosing a remote retreat like I did. A hotel in Guatapé itself would make exploring the colorful streets and waterfront easier. But once I saw photographs of Cannúa Lodge Hotel, surrounded by green hills and trees, I barely considered anywhere else.

Cannúa is a small ecolodge near Marinilla, with 18 rooms and cabanas, including eight standalone cabanas. The design feels contemporary while keeping the surrounding landscape in view: large windows, open terraces, and earthy materials soften the boundaries between the buildings and the forest. Exposed earth bricks, wood, and bamboo give it warmth and texture, while the cabanas’ wraparound windows make the hillside setting especially striking.

That combination was what caught my attention. I rarely venture beyond city hotels, where my main concern is usually how conveniently I can reach everything on my list. Here, I could picture enjoying the accommodation itself: breakfast overlooking the valley, time on a terrace, and an afternoon without needing to head into town. It felt like the perfect reason to choose a different kind of stay.

I actually discovered Cannúa while checking hotel points options through its connection to Mr & Mrs Smith and Hyatt. Points weren’t particularly good value for my dates, but the cash rate felt reasonable for the experience it offered. I booked two nights almost immediately, excited for a quieter contrast to Medellín.

The location came with tradeoffs. Cannúa wasn’t a convenient walk into Guatapé, and staying there meant arranging transportation for sightseeing and planning meals around the hotel. Reviews also repeatedly mentioned the rough final stretch of road. Those were details to account for, but they didn’t diminish the appeal. For once, being somewhere secluded was exactly what I wanted.

Explore Cannúa Lodge Hotel and check current rates →

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Getting from Medellín to Cannúa: Why I Arranged a Transfer

Originally I considered simply taking an Uber from Medellín.

The more I researched, though, the less confident I became. Cannúa sits off the main roads, and several reviews mentioned that the last portion of the drive becomes rocky and uneven. I wasn’t sure every driver would know exactly where the property was or even want to make the trip.

Instead, I contacted the hotel directly and arranged a private transfer.

It definitely cost more than an Uber would have, but it also removed any uncertainty from the day. My driver coordinated everything through WhatsApp, arrived exactly when scheduled, and handled the winding mountain roads with ease.

The drive itself ended up becoming part of the experience. Gradually the city disappeared behind us, replaced by rolling green hills and small farms. By the time we reached the final twenty minutes, I completely understood why so many reviews mentioned the road.

Calling it a road almost feels generous.

Even riding in an SUV, we bounced over rocks and uneven terrain as we climbed higher into the mountains. Instead of worrying about directions or whether we’d make it, I was able to simply enjoy the scenery.

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My Stay at Cannúa

I was welcomed with a complimentary drink at check-in, and settling in felt easy. I’d booked an entry-level Superior Room, which was spacious, with an incredibly comfortable bed and a small balcony overlooking the greenery. Although the cabanas had caught my eye, I never felt shortchanged by the room I chose.

The hotel’s wraparound balcony quickly became my favorite place to start the day. Of course, I had breakfast outside each morning, enjoying the views without needing to hurry anywhere. After weeks of early departures and sightseeing plans, having time to sit over a meal felt like part of the experience.

With other restaurants requiring a drive, I ate at the hotel throughout my stay. Fortunately, every meal, from breakfast through dinner, was excellent, and I felt the quality justified the prices. Dining there became something to look forward to rather than simply a consequence of the location.

I’d happily book again, though next time I’d consider spending more for a cabana with a larger terrace. My Superior Room gave me everything I needed; the upgrade would be about enjoying even more private outdoor space.

The Unexpected Highlight: The Nature Walk

Since I arrived later in the afternoon, I hadn’t planned anything beyond settling into the hotel. Fortunately, Cannúa offered complimentary guided nature walks, and I arrived just in time for the afternoon departure.

Calling it a “nature walk” turned out to be a little misleading. Within minutes, we were climbing over rocks and carefully navigating trails left muddy by the previous day’s rain. Our group started with three guests, but the other two turned back after realizing their shoes weren’t suited to the terrain. That left the guide and me to continue toward the viewpoint.

The views made the effort worthwhile. Rolling green hills, dense forests, and valleys stretched out before us, and I found myself imagining what it would be like to have a mountain cabin of my own. Did I need one? Probably not, but standing there, I could certainly understand the appeal.

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Was Staying Overnight Near Guatapé Worth It?

Staying at Cannúa cost more than joining a Guatapé day tour. The private transfer, hotel meals, and another driver to reach El Peñón all added to the total, but I would absolutely make the same decision again. I was paying for more than extra sightseeing time: I wanted a retreat, and Cannúa became one of the most relaxing stays of my five-week trip.

Waking up surrounded by mountains, having breakfast outside, and hiking through the forest gave this part of Colombia a different rhythm. Cannúa is somewhere I’d choose specifically to spend time at the hotel, with a book, a leisurely meal, or an afternoon enjoying the view. Visiting Guatapé and El Peñón added an adventure to that stay, but the quiet hours at the property were just as much a reason to be there.

If your goal is to climb El Peñón and explore Guatapé’s colorful streets, a day trip makes perfect sense. Staying in town would give you more time to wander without Cannúa’s additional transportation arrangements. But if you’re looking for a retreat surrounded by nature, I’d consider giving Cannúa two nights, as I did, so the arrival, sightseeing, and downtime don’t all compete for the same few hours.