Guatapé has accommodation for every budget. Most of it is within walking distance of the main attractions. The meaningful choice isn’t location: it’s whether you want to be in the town center, near the waterfront, or out on the reservoir at a finca.
Our Top 10 Places to Stay
Ranked by Google rating. From lakeside chalets to a bamboo treehouse — verified by local experience, not commission.
Casa Dodo Guatapé
Apartment-style stays · Cra. 32 #31-28, Malecón
Colorful apartment-style rooms a block from the waterfront, run with hospitality that shows in the reviews — 224 of them, nearly all five stars. Kitchen access, lake views from some rooms, pet-friendly.
Book: A lake-view room if you want to wake up to the reservoir without leaving town.
El Nido Hotel Guatapé
Boutique hotel · Guatapé
A newer boutique hotel with a distinct wood-and-white design and a reservoir-adjacent location. Small enough to still feel personal.
Book: Ask for a room with a balcony — the newer builds here were designed around the view.
Taibará Refugio Natural
Ecolodge · San Rafael
Cocoon-shaped cabins built into the cloud forest outside San Rafael, unlike anything else on this list. A destination in itself, not just a place to sleep — worth combining with a waterfall day.
Book: The Deluxe Double or Twin Room with Mountain View — it’s the one most guests specifically ask for.
Ecohotel Río de Oro
Ecolodge · San Rafael road
Wood cabins built directly into the forest canopy, screened-in but open to the jungle around them. Quiet, remote, and about as immersed in the tree cover as lodging gets in this region.
Book: A cabin with the forest-facing deck — mornings here are why people come.
Casa Kayam
Creative stay & music studio · Guatapé
An elevated bamboo cabin built on stilts into a hillside, part accommodation and part music studio. Distinct architecture, more of an experience than a standard room.
Book: Worth it for the design alone — check if the studio space is available if you’re bringing instruments.
La Posada de Las Aves
Birdwatching lodge · San Rafael
Already one of our top picks for birdwatching — and it doubles as a place to stay, run by Winston and his wife. Waking up here means breakfast with hummingbirds instead of a drive to see them.
Book: Stay the night if birdwatching is the actual point of your trip — the early morning access is the whole value.
Guatapé Country House Hotel
3-star hotel · Sector Playa Hermosa
A garden hotel on the Playa Hermosa side of Guatapé, a short drive from the center. Terraced grounds and a string-lit terrace, with tidy, well-kept rooms. A comfortable mid-range base — reliable rather than flashy, and well-reviewed for the setting.
Book: Ask for a room facing the gardens. Solid value for a 3-star at this price point.
MYLOS Hotel Boutique
Boutique hotel · Vereda Los Naranjos
A 16-room boutique hotel on the Los Naranjos side, about 10 minutes from town and just over a mile from La Piedra. An infinity pool, sun terrace and garden look out to the hills, with an on-site restaurant and breakfast included. More polished and design-led than the town-center options, without the adults-only resort price of Bosko.
Book: Ask for a room with the pool-and-mountain view — that outlook is the reason to stay out here rather than in town.
Hotel La Madriguera Guatapé
Hostel-style hotel · Guatapé
A brick-and-tile property with a laid-back, surf-shop energy — boards on the porch, murals out back, a common area built for hanging out rather than just passing through.
Book: A good pick if you want a social atmosphere over a private, quiet stay.
Bosko
Adults-only resort · Vereda Los Naranjos
The most striking infinity pool setup on the reservoir — private plunge pools under sculptural canopies, cantilevered over the water. Restaurant on-site, adults-only, priced accordingly.
Book: Come for a day pass or sunset drink even if you’re not staying the night — the view alone is worth the trip.
Town Center — Most Convenient
Staying in the town center puts you within walking distance of the zócalos, restaurants, the bus terminal, and the start of the cycling rides. Most budget and mid-range accommodation is here. 10 minutes by tuk-tuk to La Piedra.
What to look for: hostels and guesthouses in converted colonial buildings — good value, local character. Confirm the room has working air conditioning or a fan.
Noise — be honest with yourself: The town center is loud at night. On regular weekends, music from bars and street speakers runs past midnight. During public holidays, festivals, and long weekends, it gets genuinely intense: full-volume speakers, crowds drinking in the plaza, drunks in the street, shouting until 2 or 3am. This is Colombian festival culture and it’s not going to stop. If you are a light sleeper, ask for a back room away from the street, bring earplugs, or book outside the center.
Waterfront and Lakeside
A few hotels and hostels with reservoir views or direct water access. Generally more expensive, and worth it — not just for the view but for the experience. Mornings at the waterfront are quiet in a way the town center never is: birds calling from the hillsides and the water’s edge, herons working the shallows, the reservoir flat and still before the day starts. That version of Guatapé — the one most visitors miss entirely — is what you get when you sleep close to the water.
The trade-off: on regular weekends the center’s noise carries. During long weekends and public holidays, boat parties on the reservoir add their own layer — speakers on the water, crowds at the dock, going until late. The birds come back in the morning.
Fincas Outside Town
Several fincas on the reservoir outskirts offer rooms and camping. These have the best views and the most peace. Trade-off: you’ll need transport to town and La Piedra. Good for groups, families, or anyone who wants to slow down.
What to know: most require a car or private transfer from town. Weekend rates are often higher with minimum stays. Book well ahead for holiday weekends: fincas sell out first.
Booking Advice
| Weekdays | Book 2–3 days ahead, or sometimes same-day |
| Weekends | Book at least 1 week ahead |
| Long weekends / Semana Santa | Book 4–8 weeks ahead. The town fills completely. |
| Where to book | Booking.com has the widest selection. Some smaller guesthouses are WhatsApp-only. |
Price Ranges (July 2026)
| Budget | COP 40,000–80,000 per person (dorm or basic room) |
| Mid-range | COP 150,000–300,000 (private room, private bathroom) |
| Finca / lake view | COP 300,000–600,000+ per room |
| Holiday surcharge | +30–50% on long weekends and holidays |
What to Avoid
- Don’t book the first place you see on the waterfront strip without checking reviews: tourist pricing applies.
- Avoid non-refundable stays for Semana Santa or holidays without confirming exact conditions.
- If a price seems very low for a holiday weekend, verify the address: some listings are well outside town.
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