Guatapé Day Trip or Overnight Stay? Here’s What I Chose
In What to Do in Medellín: My First Impressions of Colombia, I explored the neighborhoods, history, and energy that made Medellín one of the highlights of my South America trip. Next, I traded the city streets for the mountains surrounding Guatapé.
When planning a trip to Medellín, one question comes up almost immediately: Should you visit Guatapé as a day trip, or is it worth staying overnight?
For most travelers, the answer is simple. Book a day tour, climb El Peñón, wander through Guatapé’s colorful streets, and return to Medellín that evening.
I almost did exactly that.
Instead, I decided to slow things down. Rather than squeezing everything into a single day, I booked two nights at Cannúa, a mountain retreat tucked away in the hills outside Guatapé. It wasn’t the cheapest option, and it definitely came with a few extra logistics, but it completely changed the pace of this part of my South America trip.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change that decision.
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.
Why I Chose Cannúa
Once I decided to stay overnight, the next question became where.
Whenever I travel, I usually start by checking whether I can use hotel points before comparing cash rates. Ironically, that’s exactly how I discovered Cannúa, a Mr & Mrs Smith property that can also be booked through Hyatt.
Although points weren’t the best value during my stay, the cash rate felt surprisingly reasonable for the type of property it offered. Surrounded by forest and mountains rather than the busy streets of Guatapé, it looked less like a hotel and more like somewhere you intentionally disappear for a couple of days.
I booked two nights almost immediately.
It also seemed like the perfect contrast to Medellín. After spending several days in Colombia’s second-largest city, the idea of waking up surrounded by nature sounded exactly like what I needed.
There was one catch.
Cannúa sits well outside the town itself, and nearly every review mentioned the same thing: the final stretch of road is rough.
Getting from Medellín to Cannúa
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.
My Stay at Cannúa
From the moment I arrived, Cannúa felt exactly like the retreat I had hoped for.
I was welcomed with a complimentary drink while checking in, and almost immediately noticed how the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows blurred the line between the building and the surrounding forest. Everywhere I looked, there were trees. It was exactly the change of scenery I had hoped for after several busy days in Medellín.
The property itself is relatively small, which only adds to the feeling that you’ve escaped somewhere secluded.
I’ll admit I was a little jealous of anyone visiting with Hyatt Globalist status, since I had booked the entry-level Superior Room. But honestly, I never felt like I was missing out.
The room was spacious, the bed was incredibly comfortable, and my small balcony overlooked the surrounding greenery.
If I ever return, though, I’d absolutely splurge on one of the cabanas. The wraparound windows and larger terraces seem to be the signature experience at Cannúa.
One tradeoff of staying here is that you’re fairly committed to eating at the hotel. Because of its location, there’s really nowhere else nearby. Fortunately, every meal I had—from breakfast through dinner—was excellent, and I never felt the quality didn’t justify the prices.
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 offers 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, carefully making our way through muddy trails left behind by the previous day’s rain.
The group started with three guests.
By the end, it was just the guide and me.
The other two decided to turn back early after realizing their shoes weren’t exactly hiking footwear, leaving just the guide and me to continue toward the viewpoint.
It was absolutely worth it.
The views stretched across rolling green hills, dense forests, and the valleys surrounding Guatapé. Standing there, I caught myself thinking something I never expected:
Do I need a mountain cabin?
Probably not.
But for a few minutes, it certainly felt like I did.
Was Staying Overnight Worth It?
Staying at Cannúa definitely cost more than joining one of the popular Guatapé day tours.
The private transfer, hotel meals, and arranging another driver to reach El Peñón the following morning all added costs that most day-trippers never have to think about.
Even so, I would absolutely make the same decision again.
Instead of treating Guatapé as a single busy day, I experienced a slower side of Colombia that became one of the most relaxing parts of my entire trip. Waking up surrounded by mountains, hiking through the forest, and enjoying the quiet before heading into town made the experience feel far more memorable than I think a rushed itinerary ever could have.
If your goal is simply to climb El Peñón and wander through Guatapé’s colorful streets, a day trip makes perfect sense.
But if you have an extra night and enjoy traveling at a slower pace, I’d encourage you to stay overnight.
Some destinations are worth seeing.
Others are worth lingering in.
For me, Guatapé became one of those places.
Next Up: My Day Exploring El Peñón and Guatapé — and the Helicopter Ride I Didn’t Plan
The overnight stay was only the beginning.
The next morning I finally made my way into Guatapé to climb El Peñón, explore one of Colombia’s most colorful towns, and somehow found myself taking an impromptu helicopter ride that wasn’t part of the itinerary at all.