Tour Guatapé con visita a Granja de las Llamas y las Alpacas

The most unusual part of this Guatapé day trip comes early, at Alto del Chocho farm, where you can meet llamas, alpacas, horses, and other animals before the classic lake-and-town stops. I like that the tour gives you more than a photo at El Peñol Stone. You also get breakfast, a boat ride, lunch, and time in Guatapé’s colorful streets.

I also like the family-friendly mix of activities. Children get animals and a boat, while adults get mountain views, Colombian food, and the chance to climb El Peñol Stone if they wish. The main caution is timing: although the tour is sold as eight hours, one booking extended to about 14 hours, so avoid scheduling a fixed dinner afterward.

Key points to know

• The llama and alpaca farm is the tour’s most distinctive stop, with time to interact with animals and horses.
• Breakfast and lunch are included, which adds real value to the $50 price.
• Climbing El Peñol Stone costs extra, and you can choose to skip the climb.
• The boat ride lasts about one hour on the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir.
• Pickup is limited to selected Medellín areas, mainly El Poblado and Carrera 70.
• English and Spanish are offered, but the group may be mainly Spanish-speaking.

Why this Guatapé tour feels different

Many Guatapé day trips focus on the same three images: El Peñol Stone, the reservoir, and the colorful town. This one adds a working animal farm near the start, giving you a softer and more relaxed opening before the main sightseeing begins.

That change matters if you are traveling with children, enjoy animals, or simply want more variety than a town-and-viewpoint excursion. You are not spending the entire day walking through streets or sitting on a bus. The day moves between a farm, a breakfast stop, a boat, a major viewpoint, a meal, and a historic-looking town center.

The price is $50 per person. For a full-day outing from Medellín, that is a reasonable package because round-trip transport, breakfast, lunch, the farm visit, the boat ride, and a guide are included. The value becomes less attractive if you mainly want to climb the rock and take a quick look at Guatapé, since independent transport could give you more control over your schedule.

The tour has a published rating of 3.5 from 11 ratings, which signals a mixed experience rather than a sure thing. The strongest positive pattern is simple: several people describe the day as excellent, very complete, or highly recommendable. The main concerns are language balance and time control.

Pickup from El Poblado or Carrera 70

You can be picked up at one of two general locations: Carrera 70 or Carrera 43B. Hotel pickup is available in specified areas of Medellín, including the El Poblado zone and around Carrera 70. You should be in the hotel lobby five minutes before the agreed time.

This is convenient if you are staying in one of those areas. It is less convenient if your accommodation is elsewhere, since the pickup service is not described as citywide. Check the exact meeting point before booking, especially if your hotel sits outside El Poblado or near another part of Medellín.

The first ride takes about one hour by bus or coach. That is useful context for the day. Guatapé is not a quick hop from Medellín, and traffic or multiple pickups can affect the schedule. Bring water, a light layer, and patience for the road. You will be sitting for part of the morning before the farm and meal stops begin.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, though the climb at El Peñol Stone is clearly optional and not included. If you use a wheelchair, confirm which parts of the farm, boat, rock area, and town are practical for you before paying.

Breakfast in Marinilla and the first photo stop

The first planned stop is Marinilla for a typical breakfast, with about 30 minutes set aside. This is a useful way to start the day because Colombian breakfast can be filling, and you are not expected to wait until lunch for your first meal.

The exact breakfast dishes are not specified, so do not book this expecting a particular menu. Think of it as a local meal break rather than a food tour. Thirty minutes is enough for a straightforward stop, but not for a slow, leisurely breakfast.

The group also pauses in Marinilla for photographs for another 30 minutes. This gives you a quick look at a town along the route instead of treating it only as a road between Medellín and Guatapé. Photo stops are best handled with realistic expectations. You will get a taste of the place, not a full visit.

Meeting llamas and alpacas at Alto del Chocho

The farm visit is the most memorable reason to choose this version of the Guatapé trip. At Alto del Chocho, you can share time with llamas, alpacas, horses, and other animals at the property.

The wording suggests an interaction rather than a distant view from a bus. That makes the stop especially appealing for families. Children get a close animal encounter, and adults get a change of pace from the standard sightseeing route. Keep your camera ready, but follow the guide’s instructions around the animals and avoid assuming every animal can be touched.

This stop also gives the day a more personal feel. El Peñol Stone and Guatapé are famous, heavily photographed sights. A farm visit is less about checking off a landmark and more about spending time in a place with a local, rural character.

The available schedule does not give a separate duration for the farm, so this is one place where the pace may vary. The tour description says the group will enjoy and share with the animals, but it does not promise a particular feeding activity, animal show, or private encounter. You should book it for the chance to interact with farm animals, not for a guaranteed special program.

The old Peñol and the reservoir boat ride

The next major stop is the old Peñol area, where you have about 30 minutes of free time before a one-hour boat ride on the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir. The boat is described as a rumbero boat, so you should expect a social sightseeing ride rather than a silent nature cruise.

The reservoir is the visual heart of the region. From the water, you can see the unusual shape of the surrounding hills and the many inlets that make the area look more complicated than a simple lake. A boat ride also gives you a break from walking and lets you enjoy the setting from a different angle.

An hour is long enough to make the ride feel like a real part of the day, not just a short transfer. It is also a fixed group activity, so you will have less freedom than on a private boat. If music and a lively group mood suit you, the rumbero format may be fun. If you prefer quiet scenery, set your expectations accordingly.

The free time around old Peñol is brief. Use it for photos, a short look around, or a quick break. Do not count on a full historical visit unless the guide gives you extra time.

El Peñol Stone and the extra climb

The tour then heads to El Peñol Stone, the giant rock that dominates most photographs of the area. You have time to decide if you want to climb it, but the entrance fee is not included in the $50 price.

This is an important detail because the climb is optional. You can stay at the base, enjoy the views, shop, eat, or take photographs without paying for entry. If you do want to climb, bring some cash or another accepted payment method and allow enough time for the stairs. The provided information does not state the current entrance price, so check at the box office rather than relying on an old figure.

The rock is the tour’s most physically demanding choice. Your decision should depend on your energy, the day’s timing, and how much you value a high view over time in Guatapé. If the group is already running late, the climb may make the day even longer.

Lunch takes place in the same general area after the rock visit, with about 110 minutes scheduled. That is a generous meal window compared with the short breakfast stop. It gives you time to eat without rushing and leaves room for the group to manage the optional climb.

The tour includes lunch, but no menu is specified. Ask the guide about meal choices if you have dietary restrictions. Do not assume that every special diet can be handled unless the provider confirms it.

Lunch and the colors of Guatapé

After the rock, the group continues to Guatapé for about an hour of photographs and sightseeing. Guatapé is known for its painted zócalos, the decorative panels on the lower parts of buildings, along with bright facades, small squares, and the central park.

This is the most pleasant part of the day for wandering. You can look closely at the building details, take photos, and sample local food if you still have room after the included lunch. The town’s charm comes from the way ordinary streets are decorated, not from one single monument.

The one-hour stop gives you enough time to get a feel for the center. It is not enough for a slow, unplanned exploration of every street, shop, and church. Stay aware of the meeting time. Group tours cannot wait for a long café stop or a distant walk.

The included visit covers the zócalos square and Guatapé park. This is helpful if you want an introduction to the town without arranging a separate guide. It also means you can enjoy the town after the more structured farm and boat portions of the day.

The real question: eight hours or much longer

The advertised duration is eight hours, but time management deserves serious attention. One person reported a 14-hour day and missed a planned dinner because the group spent too much time at several stops.

That is not a minor difference. An eight-hour tour can fit neatly into a morning and afternoon. A 14-hour outing can consume nearly the entire day and evening, especially after the drive back to Medellín. I would not schedule a restaurant reservation, airport transfer, show, or other fixed plan immediately after this tour.

The published schedule adds up to a busy day: one hour of driving to the region, breakfast, a photo stop, free time, one hour on the boat, nearly two hours for lunch, an hour in Guatapé, and the return journey. Pickup delays, traffic, boarding, and group decisions can stretch that plan.

If punctuality matters to you, ask the operator to confirm the expected return time before departure. The tour may finish close to its planned duration on a good day, but the longer reported experience means you should leave a wide buffer.

Language and group atmosphere

Guided service is offered in English and Spanish. That is useful for mixed groups, but the language split may not be even. One booking described a group of 39 people with only three English speakers, while most of the group spoke Spanish.

If you understand Spanish, this may not matter much. If you booked specifically for English commentary, contact the provider before the trip and ask how explanations will be handled. A bilingual guide may repeat key points in both languages, but large groups can make that process slower and less detailed.

The provider is Turismo Sin Barreras Colombia S.A.S. No individual guide names are supplied, so you cannot select a particular guide in advance. Expect a group excursion rather than a private tour with a guide focused only on your party.

Who will get the most from the $50 price

I would recommend this tour most strongly to families and first-time visitors who want many major sights handled in one day. The animals add interest for children, and the included meals remove two common planning chores. The boat ride and town visit keep the day varied.

It also works well if you do not want to arrange separate transport from Medellín to Guatapé. The package covers pickup, return transport, a guide, the farm, meals, the reservoir ride, and the main sightseeing stops.

I would be more cautious if you prefer a slow pace, independent meals, or a firm return time. The tour makes several stops, but your freedom at each one is limited. The possible language imbalance is another concern for anyone who wants detailed English explanations throughout the day.

The $50 price is fair for the number of inclusions. It becomes particularly good value if you eat both included meals and take the boat ride. Remember to budget separately for El Peñol Stone if you want to climb, and do not assume the optional entrance is covered.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies help if your Medellín plans are still changing, but they do not solve the main practical issue: the day can run long.

Should you book this Guatapé day trip?

Book it if you want a broad, social day with llamas, alpacas, horses, breakfast, lunch, a reservoir cruise, El Peñol Stone, and Guatapé in one package. The animal farm gives the experience a welcome twist, and the included food and transport make the price sensible.

Think twice if you need an exact eight-hour schedule or an English-only group. Confirm the language setup, keep your evening free, and treat the rock climb as an optional extra rather than a guaranteed part of the price.

For families and first-time visitors, I would consider it a solid all-round introduction to the region, provided you accept the possibility of a long day. For independent travelers who want to linger in Guatapé or control every stop, a private or self-arranged trip may suit you better.

FAQ

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is available at selected locations around Medellín, including Carrera 70, Carrera 43B, and hotels in the El Poblado area. You should be in the lobby five minutes before the scheduled pickup time.

Is breakfast included?

Yes. The tour includes a typical breakfast stop in Marinilla, scheduled for about 30 minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and takes place in the El Peñol area, with about 110 minutes scheduled for the stop.

Can I climb El Peñol Stone?

Yes, you can choose to climb it, but the entrance fee is not included. You pay the admission at the box office if you decide to go up.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. Live guiding is offered in English and Spanish. Since groups may include more Spanish speakers than English speakers, confirm the language arrangement before booking if English commentary is essential.

Is cancellation free?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now-and-pay-later option.