Guatapé's hostel scene is compact but solid. The town is small enough that every hostel is within walking distance of the main plaza, the malecón, and the bus terminal. What differentiates them is vibe, social scene, and the extras. Here's the landscape.
Price Range (2026)
These are walk-in or same-day booking prices. Booking a week ahead on platforms like Hostelworld or Booking.com can sometimes get you slightly lower rates, especially for multi-night stays.
What to Look For
Social vs. Quiet
Some hostels are built around the social experience — common areas, bar nights, group dinners, organized tours. Others are quieter, more guesthouse-like spaces where the focus is a comfortable bed and a good breakfast. Know what you want before you book.
Solo travelers often prefer social hostels — they're the fastest way to meet people and find travel companions for boat tours, La Piedra, or onward travel to Medellín, Jardín, or the Coffee Triangle.
Location: Town vs. Lakeside
Town-center hostels put you within a 2-minute walk of restaurants, bars, and the bus terminal. Convenient, especially if arriving late or leaving early.
A few hostels are perched on the hillside with lake views or along the road toward the reservoir. These are quieter with better scenery but require a short walk or tuk-tuk ride into town for food and nightlife.
Kitchen Access
Budget travelers who cook their own meals save significantly. A full day of self-catered food (market bread, fruit, pasta) can cost under COP 15,000. Most hostels have a shared kitchen — confirm this before booking if it matters to you.
Breakfast Included
Some hostels include a basic breakfast (bread, eggs, coffee, fruit). Others charge extra (COP 8,000–15,000) or don't offer it at all. A free breakfast that saves you COP 10,000/day adds up fast on a multi-night stay.
The Social Circuit
Guatapé's backpacker social scene centers around hostel-organized activities: group boat tours (often cheaper than booking independently), shared colectivos to La Piedra, and bar crawls on the main plaza. If you're a solo traveler, the hostel notice board is your friend — other travelers post group plans constantly.
The town's size works in your favor. With only a handful of bars and restaurants, you'll run into the same travelers repeatedly. The atmosphere is friendly and low-pressure. Don't be surprised if the person you shared a boat tour with in the afternoon ends up at your dinner table.
Hostel vs. Finca: Which Is Better for Budget Travelers?
If you're solo, hostels win on cost and social life. A COP 50,000 dorm bed is hard to beat.
If you're in a group of 4+, run the numbers on a budget finca. A simple finca sleeping 6 at COP 300,000 per night = COP 50,000 per person, same as a dorm — but you get a private house, kitchen, and often a pool. For groups, fincas are almost always the better deal.
Booking Tips
Friday and Saturday nights are the hardest to book. Guatapé is a popular weekend escape for both tourists and Colombians. If you're arriving on a Friday, book in advance.
Weeknight stays are easy to find and sometimes discounted. Monday through Thursday, walk-ins are almost always available.
Long stays: If you're staying 3+ nights, ask for a discount. Many hostels offer weekly rates that cut 10–20% off the nightly price.
Reviews matter more than photos. Check recent reviews on Hostelworld, Google Maps, and Booking.com. Hostel quality can change fast with management turnover. A hostel that was great 6 months ago might have new owners. Trust reviews from the last 3 months.