The Road to Guatapé and Motion Sickness: Seats, Timing and Tips

Yes, the road from Medellín to Guatapé can make people carsick. It isn't dangerous or extreme, but it has long stretches of curves, climbs and descents, and in a bus or van the back seats feel every one of them. Most people who struggle do so on the second half of the trip, after leaving the main highway, and on the return when they're tired and full from lunch.

The good news is that a few practical choices make a big difference: where you sit, when you leave, what you eat, and how often you stop. This guide walks through all of them, plus extra advice for kids and for anyone who knows they get queasy easily.

What the drive is actually like

The trip is roughly 80 kilometers and usually takes about two hours without heavy traffic. It comes in two parts.

• The highway section. You leave Medellín's valley on the Medellín–Bogotá highway, climbing out of the city. The road is wide, but the climb itself is long and there are plenty of curves on the way up toward the eastern plateau.
• The country road. After turning off past Marinilla, the road toward El Peñol and Guatapé is narrower, two-lane and winding, rolling through farmland and hills with lots of short bends. This is where most carsick passengers start to feel it.

Add speed bumps, trucks to overtake and stop-and-go traffic near towns, and you get a ride that's fine for many people and miserable for some. Knowing that ahead of time is half the battle. For how the transport options compare, see our Medellín to Guatapé transport guide.

Where to sit

Seating is the single biggest factor you control.

The front of a vehicle moves less on curves and lets you see the road coming, which helps your brain match what your eyes and inner ear are reporting. If you're booking a shared tour, it's fine to ask the operator for a front seat and explain why. If you're on the public bus, arrive early at the terminal so you can choose. Our guide to the Guatapé bus from Medellín covers the terminal and ticket process.

Timing: when to leave and when to come back

Traffic makes motion sickness worse, because stop-and-go driving and lots of braking add to the curves. Leaving Medellín early in the morning usually means a smoother run out of the city. It also gets you to the rock before the lines grow, which our guide to departure times covers in detail.

The return can be the harder leg. People are tired, full from lunch, and the afternoon traffic toward Medellín can be heavy, especially on Sundays and holiday Mondays. If you're sensitive, consider:

• Leaving Guatapé a bit earlier than the late-afternoon rush.
• Avoiding the last afternoon of a long weekend, when the road back is at its slowest.
• Staying overnight so you don't do both drives on the same day. Our day trip vs overnight comparison can help you decide.

What to eat and drink before and during the trip

An empty stomach and a very full one can both make queasiness worse. Most people do best with something light before the trip.

• Eat a light breakfast an hour or so before leaving: bread, an arepa (corn cake), fruit or crackers rather than a big greasy plate.
• Bring water and sip it through the drive.
• Pack plain snacks like crackers or galletas de soda (soda crackers, sold everywhere in Colombia).
• Go easy on coffee and fried food before the drive.
• On the way home, give lunch a little time to settle before getting in the car, and skip the beer or aguardiente if you're prone to motion sickness.

Many people find ginger helpful; ginger candies or ginger tea are easy to bring. Evidence for it is mixed, but it's a common, low-risk thing to try for adults.

Medication: talk to a professional first

Over-the-counter motion sickness medicines exist in Colombia and at home, and some people rely on them. They can cause drowsiness and interact with other medications or conditions, and they aren't suitable for everyone, including some children and pregnant travelers.

Breaks and habits during the drive

1. Look at the horizon. Keep your eyes on the road ahead or the far landscape, not on a phone or book.
2. Get fresh air. Crack a window or point the air vent at your face. Stuffy, warm air makes nausea worse.
3. Plan one stop. Many drivers and tours stop once along the way for coffee, a bathroom and a stretch. Getting out for ten minutes resets a lot of people.
4. Speak up early. Tell the driver as soon as you start to feel off, not when it's too late. A short stop at a safe pull-off is easy to arrange in a private car.
5. Keep a bag handy. Just in case, especially with kids. It takes the anxiety out of the trip.

Some people also find it helps to close their eyes and rest, or to listen to music or a podcast rather than looking at anything.

Traveling with kids

Kids get carsick more often than adults, and a carsick child can derail a whole day. A few tips for families:

• Seat them where they can see out the front, within the safety rules for their car seat or booster.
• Bring their own car seat if they need one, and confirm with your transport provider ahead of time.
• Pack a change of clothes, wet wipes, bags and a small towel. You'll probably not need them, and you'll be glad if you do.
• Skip tablets and screens on the curvy section; audio stories or music work better.
• Time the drive around naps for little ones if you can. A sleeping child rarely gets sick.

Our family-friendly Guatapé day plan builds in breaks and a sensible pace for children.

If you arrive feeling rough

Sometimes you do everything right and still step out of the car feeling green. Don't head straight up the rock. Climbing hundreds of steps right after a queasy drive is a good way to feel worse, and the rock will still be there in half an hour.

Instead, find a shaded bench, sip water, and give it twenty to thirty minutes in fresh air. A plain snack and a slow walk usually help more than lying down. Many people feel completely fine once they've been on solid ground for a little while. If you're with a group, it's easy to reshuffle the day: do the town or a calm boat ride first and save the climb for later. Our guide to building an unhurried Guatapé day shows how flexible the order can be.

If symptoms don't ease, or someone has a headache, dizziness or vomiting that won't settle, it's worth checking in at a pharmacy or local health post rather than pushing through.

Private car vs bus if you get carsick

If you know you get motion sickness, a private car is usually the most comfortable option. You can sit in front, ask for a smoother driving style, stop when you need to and leave when traffic is lighter. The public bus is cheaper and works for many people, but you can't control stops, seat choice is first come first served, and the back of a full bus on a winding road is tough for sensitive passengers.

Shared tour vans fall somewhere in between: comfortable vehicles, but fixed schedules and seating that may not suit you. If you'd like a private, door-to-door trip at a gentler pace, tell us your dates and mention motion sickness so the driver can plan for it.

A quick pre-trip checklist

• Front seat requested or reserved
• Light breakfast planned
• Water, crackers and ginger candy packed
• Any medication discussed with a doctor or pharmacist beforehand
• Bags, wipes and a spare shirt for kids
• Departure time set to beat traffic, with a planned stop
• Return time chosen to avoid the late-afternoon rush

Frequently asked questions

Is the road to Guatapé curvy?

Parts of it are. The climb out of Medellín has curves, and the two-lane road from Marinilla toward El Peñol and Guatapé winds through hills. It isn't extreme, but people prone to motion sickness often notice it.

What's the best seat to avoid carsickness on the Guatapé bus?

A window seat in the front third of the bus. Arrive early at the terminal so you can choose, and avoid the back rows over the rear wheels.

Is a private car better than the bus for motion sickness?

Usually, yes. You can sit in front, ask the driver to take curves gently, stop when you need to and travel at quieter hours. The bus works for many people but gives you less control.

Can I buy motion sickness medicine in Colombia?

Pharmacies (droguerías) sell motion sickness remedies, and pharmacists can advise. Check with your doctor or a pharmacist before taking anything, especially for children, during pregnancy or if you take other medications.

Is the drive back worse than the drive there?

For many people, yes. They're tired, have just eaten, and afternoon traffic toward Medellín adds stop-and-go driving. Leaving earlier or staying overnight helps.