Guatapé: "El Pueblo de Los Zocalos"

Guatapé: “El Pueblo de los Zócalos”

The emerald green waters shimmer in the light, lapping against the red and brown shoreline. Lush, green pastures race away over folds of land, interspersed by deep forest; the dark green trees in direct contrast to the bright blue skies above.

You’d be forgiven for thinking this is about as colourful as your day is going to get as you admire the views from El Peñol, one of Colombia’s most iconic tourist attractions. Yet it’s a small town, just two miles away, that claims the title for most vibrant.

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Read my detailed guide on how to get to Guatapé from Medellín here.

Guatapé, home to 5,000 people, is a charming, resplendent pueblo lying deep in rural Antioquia. Awash with colour, the walls of every building are adorned with intricate paintwork shining bright in the morning sun. Tourists walk hand in hand, awe-struck by the ingenious craftsmanship of the local people displaying pride in their home.

Whereas some buildings are decorated with mythical animals or intriguing patterns, others paint an historical picture, giving a nod to the family heritage. From sheep and carts to fishing boats, it’s a fascinating insight into the history of this community.

In addition to exploring the streets, there’s a whole range of pastimes that can be enjoyed on Laguna Guatapé, the beautiful stretch of water running alongside the town. If you’ve read my article on El Peńol, you’d have seen pictures of the incredible network of waterways strewn across the landscape. There’s clearly a very good water sports scene present, with advertisements for kayaking, pedalos and sailing in abundance.

In hindsight, I’d have loved to have spent a day on the water discovering the islands. No doubt, it must be magnificent. I guess that’s one for the future eh?

Anyway, back to what I did do, and that’s explore. Take a walk under the colourful ceiling of umbrellas lining the main street into Plazoleta de los Zocalos, the cheerful plaza consisting of cafes and craft shops. It’s a pleasant atmosphere here, as people socialise over a coffee amidst the wall of colour around them. It’s garish in places, yet somehow it just works. It really is like nowhere you’ve ever been before.

Strolling down each calle as the smell of street food wafted in the air, it always felt like a safe, friendly community. The main square, home to a beautiful church, is lined with restaurants and shops. Locals and visitors alike mix out front, dining alfresco as they watch the world go by.

Camera in-hand, I regularly stopped to snap some of the flamboyant buildings, vivid in their colour and style.

If you’re backpacking through Colombia, it might be tempting to do Guatapé as a day trip upon arrival in Medellín. In my experience, it’s so much more than that, and warrants at least a stopover to fully appreciate the town and all it has to offer. There are even highly recommended excursions to other places in the area such as San Rafael, which is said to be beautiful too.

I do regret only doing a day trip and wish I’d stayed longer. By all means, if you’re tight for time, then a day trip will suffice. If you’re travelling slow, don’t make my mistake. Spend a day or two there, then make me jealous by letting me know what I missed out on!