Guatapé Day Tour from £30

Guatapé is a town and municipality in the Antioquia Department of Colombia. It is located approximately 70 kilometers east of Medellín and is known for its stunning landscapes and colorful architecture. The town is situated on the edge of a large artificial lake created by the Guatapé Dam, and is surrounded by rolling hills covered in lush vegetation. One of the most popular attractions in Guatapé is the “Piedra del Peñol,” a large granite rock that provides panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The town itself is famous for its brightly painted buildings and vibrant street art, making it a popular destination for tourists.

Before Iberian conquistadors reached the area in the 16th century, this territory was inhabited by indigenous groups, some controlled by a cacique named Guatape. In his honor, the town was named after him. The name “Guatapé”, comes from the Quechua language, related to “stones and water”. Another name that the town had in the past was “La Ceja de Guatapé”. In 1714, the indigenous people under Guatapé of this region were grouped into a shelter known as “San Antonio de Remolinos Peñol”. Traces of their existence come from clay urns found in the town of Alto Verde, and several archaeological sites not yet studied in the villages of La Peña, La Piedra, El Roble, and El Rosario. Guatapé was founded on 4 October 1811, by the Spaniard Don Francisco Giraldo y Jimenez. It was declared a municipality in September 1867. Guatapé has changed throughout its history. It was predominantly a farming town that relied on livestock, agriculture, and mining. Empresas Públicas de Medellín built a large hydroelectric complex here in the 1970s. This megaproject produced large impacts on social, economic, political, environmental, and cultural development in the locality. With the construction of this dam, Guatapé became one of the most important electric production centers in the country.