Why I Chose an Overnight Stay Near Guatapé Instead of a Day Trip from Medellín

My trip to Guatapé started in Medellín. Like most people planning a visit, the first decision was whether to book one of the packaged Guatapé day trips from Medellín, the kind where you’re picked up, taken to El Peñón and the town, then brought straight back, or whether to slow things down and plan it independently.

Personally, I have nothing against these types of tours (popular on Viator and GetYourGuide), and throughout my five-week journey through South America I did book a few of them. However, when possible, I prefer to piece together my excursions on my own, especially when the infrastructure exists to do so.

At that point in my trip, I had mostly been traveling through “calmer” cities. Right before Medellín, I had been in Quito, Ecuador and Santiago, Chile. While these are still major cities, they felt noticeably more relaxed in comparison. Medellín immediately felt bigger, busier, and far more hectic. Whether it’s the population size, the pace, or simply the energy of the city, you can feel the difference almost instantly.

Because of that, the idea of rushing through Guatapé on a day tour didn’t appeal to me. I wanted to experience this part of the trip at a slower pace

I do have one guided excursion from my South America trip that I regret, my day at Perito Moreno Glacier. The pre-booked transportation options sold throughout El Calafate simply don’t give you the amount of time this place deserves.

I’ll be sharing more about how I used points and credit card strategies to reduce the cost of this trip in a later post. I was able to cover my flight to and from South America, as well as six out of seven flights within the region using points. I follow a similar approach with hotels: starting with any available credit card credits, then comparing major hotel chains, points redemptions, and cash pricing.

In this case, I did end up booking the hotel with cash rather than points, but my search for points-eligible stays is actually what brought this property onto my radar in the first place.

While I did have a budget target for this trip, every dollar saved meant I could reallocate it toward food or experiences. I do enjoy staying in comfortable hotels when possible, within my budget and preferred location range.

One option stood out immediately: Cannúa, part of the Mr & Mrs Smith collection under Hyatt, located in the hills outside Guatapé. The cash price felt like a bargain for the level of property it offered, and I booked two nights without hesitation. I would absolutely stay here again — although next time I would be more aware of the unexpected costs I hadn’t fully anticipated.

As I researched more, I realized the beautiful mountain views and lush scenery came with a tradeoff: the hotel is tucked away outside the main town of Guatapé. Several reviews mentioned that once you leave the paved roads, the drive becomes rougher and more rocky. While taking an Uber from Medellín to Guatapé would likely have been cheaper, I was concerned about finding a driver unfamiliar with the route or unwilling to make the trip. Instead, I contacted the hotel directly and arranged a private transfer from Medellín to Guatapé. It cost a bit more than an Uber would have, but for the peace of mind, it felt worth it.

The morning of checkout, I had a leisurely breakfast in Medellín and waited at the hotel for pickup. (Side note: great hotel — I’ll cover that in my Medellín post.) My driver coordinated with me via WhatsApp, which for anyone traveling outside the U.S., quickly becomes essential for communication. He arrived promptly, and it felt like a small luxury having everything taken care of. It was a smooth hour-and-a-half drive as the scenery gradually shifted from the city toward the countryside outside Medellín on the way to Guatapé.

The reviews I had read described the final approach to the hotel as “roads,” though that feels generous. I’m not a stranger to narrow country roads, including one-lane stretches where vehicles pass on the shoulder. We were in an SUV, and we could definitely feel the road get rougher in the final 20 minutes. I was glad I had chosen a private transfer, knowing the driver was familiar with the route and the hotel. It allowed me to relax and enjoy the scenery as we climbed into the hills of Guatapé.

I was greeted warmly on arrival and offered a complimentary drink during check-in. If you are looking for a true oasis retreat near Guatapé, this is it. Floor-to-ceiling windows open the space so completely that the surrounding trees feel like part of the room itself. The setting was incredible, almost surreal in how peaceful it felt.

It is a smaller property, which adds to its charm and sense of retreat. This is also where I’ll admit a small amount of envy for anyone holding Hyatt Globalist status came in. I don’t have status with Hyatt, which meant no upgrade for me. I had booked the entry-level superior room, but thankfully nothing about it felt like I was missing out.

I do hope to return one day, and next time I would absolutely book a cabana. The wraparound windows, larger balcony, and closer connection to nature feel like the true signature of this Cannúa hotel experience.

I have no complaints about my room. It was spacious, the bed was extremely comfortable, and I even had a small balcony. One tradeoff of staying here is that you will likely be eating most meals on-site. While prices weren’t unreasonable, you are limited to the hotel’s menu. That said, everything I had from breakfast to dinner was excellent, and I never felt the quality didn’t match the price.

I had no plans scheduled for my arrival day since I was getting in late afternoon. Fortunately, the hotel offers guided nature walks, and I arrived just in time for the late afternoon outing. I changed quickly and met the guide.

Calling it a “walk” is generous. Within five minutes we were climbing over rocks, and shortly after we were stepping through mud from earlier rainfall. It started as a small group of three guests plus the guide, but the other two turned back early due to footwear, so it ended up being just the guide and me for the full hour.

It was absolutely worth it. The climb is steep in sections, but the reward at the top is spectacular, sweeping views of the hills around Guatapé, dense greenery, and the valley below. On the way back down I remember thinking: do I need a small mountain cabin? Waking up to that view every day would be hard to beat.

One final drawback of the location was logistics for the following day. Getting to El Peñón required arranging another private driver through the hotel, an additional cost I hadn’t fully anticipated.

That said, it also set the stage for what ended up being a full day exploring Guatapé at a slower pace, from the town itself to the iconic rock formation. Somewhere along the way, the day took an unexpected turn and I even found myself on an impromptu helicopter ride over the landscape, one of those unplanned moments that ends up defining the trip.

I’ll break down that full day in El Peñón and Guatapé, including the helicopter ride, in the next post.