Guatapé and Jardin are both popular destinations on Colombian itineraries and can both be reached from the much larger city of Medellin. Depending on your exact itinerary, you may need to transfer directly between the two towns like I did.
Here’s exactly how to travel from Guatapé to Jardin (via Medellin).
Guatapé to Jardin by Bus
There are no direct buses from Guatapé to Jardin, so you’ll have to transfer in Medellin. Additionally, there are no airports in Guatapé and Jardin, so flying isn’t an option either. Either you need your own vehicle (which I don’t necessarily recommend in Colombia) or you’ll need to rely on public buses.
Guatapé to Medellin
The first step of your journey is to travel from Guatapé to Medellin. Since Guatapé is a popular day trip from Medellin, buses frequently make the journey between the two cities.
The journey is listed as two hours, but this is Colombia and buses often take longer. In my experience, it took two and a half hours when I traveled from Medellin to Guatapé (leaving at 10:30 am on a Thursday), but it actually only took two hours when I traveled from Guatapé to Medellin (leaving at 7:00 am on a Sunday). I’d plan to give yourself two and a half to three hours for the journey, especially if you leave later in the morning.
The bus station in Guatapé is small and consists of a ticket window, small waiting area, and even smaller parking lot. I had no problem buying my ticket the morning of my departure. Buses run every 30 minutes, so if your bus is full, at most you’ll wait 30 minutes for the next one.
At the time of writing, the bus journey costs 25,000 COP.
Medellin North Terminal to Medellin South Terminal
The bus from Guatapé will take you to Medellin’s North Bus Terminal. The good news is that you’re in Medellin, but the bad news is that the bus to Jardin leaves from Medellin’s South Bus Terminal. So, as you’re planning your itinerary, make sure to leave enough time in your schedule to accommodate traveling across Medellin.
Taxis will be lined up and waiting at Medellin’s North Bus Terminal, but it’s also possible to take an Uber. I chose Uber and paid about 25,000 COP for the journey across Medellin.
How long the journey takes depends on traffic and time of day. I was traveling on a Sunday so the journey took just over 20 minutes, but even we hit some traffic. At peak traffic times, this journey could take much longer. Again, give yourself more time than you think you’ll need.
And yes, there is a metro in Medellin and if you really want to, you could take the metro. Honestly, I’d just take a taxi or an Uber. The metro station is right nearby the North Bus Terminal, but it’s a 15 to 20 minute walk from the South Bus Terminal. Just make your life easier and take the taxi.
Medellin to Jardin
Once at Medellin’s South Bus Terminal, you’ll need to pick up a ticket for Jardin. Rapido Ochoa makes the journey between these Medellin and Jardin, so head up to their ticket window. At the time of writing, buses leave every two hours, so it might be a little tricky timing your entire day since you can’t predict traffic and how long your journey will take. If you’re like me, you’ll end up having to kill time in the Medellin bus terminal (for me it was close to an hour and a half, which sucked).
The bus ticket from Medellin to Jardin cost 46,000 COP (though they did have a VIP service that ran once per day for 51,000 COP).
The journey time is listed as three hours, but in my experience, it was closer to three and a half hours (which is better than the four hours I was expecting). About halfway through the journey, we stopped for a bathroom and for the opportunity to purchase snacks.
Once in Jardin, grab your bags and head off to your hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does it Cost to Travel from Guatapé to Jardin by Bus?
In total, I spent 96,000 COP on my journey from Guatapé to Jardin. Here’s what the break down looks like:
Guatapé to Medellin: 25,000 COP
Medellin North Terminal to Medellin South Terminal: 25,000 COP
Medellin to Jardin: 46,000 COP
How Long Does it Take to Travel from Guatapé to Jardin by Bus?
This is difficult to answer because traffic plays such a big role in timings. When I did this journey, it took nearly eight hours from the time I left my hostel in Guatapé to when I reached my hotel in Jardin. The break down looks like this
Guatapé to Medellin: 2 hours (but I’d budget 3 hours)
Medellin North Terminal to Medellin South Terminal: 20 minutes (though I’d give yourself about 45 minutes)
Medellin to Jardin: 3 hours (it took 3.5 hours for me, but I’d budget 4 hours)
Note that this does not include any time spent waiting at the bus terminal in Medellin for your bus to Jardin.
Can You Travel from Jardin to Guatapé by Bus?
Of course you can do this route in reverse. Starting in Jardin, purchase your ticket from the Rapida Ochoa station. I’m hesitant to call this a bus station because it’s really just a small office, but you can purchase your ticket to Medellin here. Buses run every two hours or so, so make sure you time things correctly.
Once in Medellin, take a taxi or Uber from the South Bus Terminal to the North Bus Terminal.
At the North Bus Terminal, you’ll need to buy a ticket for Guatapé. Purchase this from ticket counter #14. Board your bus and eventually, you’ll reach Guatapé.
What to Do in Guatapé
Guatapé is most famous for La Piedra del Peñol which actually sits just outside of Guatapé. It’s a giant, naturally occurring rock that can be climbed for incredible views of the surrounding area.
Beyond the rock, Guatapé is a cute, colorful tourist town. Stroll through it’s colorful streets, looking for the zoletas (colorful images painted on the lower levels of the buildings—they are everywhere across the city), get a good meal, and stroll along the malecon.
For those staying longer, there are plenty of hikes in the area. While you may need a guide to reach some of the more remote hikes, Mirador San Jose offers a nice view. Mirador San Luis is closer to the city center and would be a great place for sunset (too bad it was cloudy when I visited).
What to do in Jardin
Jardin, in my opinion, feels more lived in than Guatapé and many of the other popular towns in Colombia’s coffee region. It’s still popular with tourists, but because it’s not quite accessible for a day trip, most tourists who visit spend at least one night and I think that greatly impacts the vibe of the town.
You’ll have no shortage of hiking trails near Jardin in the surrounding mountains. That said, it is important to note that many of the most popular and accessible trails are shared with tuktuks and motorcycles. Still, the traffic is light that it can still be an enjoyable experience with incredible views of the surrounding mountains.
Perhaps one of the most popular things to do in Jardin is to visit Cueva del Esplendor, which is a cave with a massive waterfall pouring through the roof. It’s a beautiful sight and it’s easy to see why so many visit. Tours make the journey easy, but if you’re really trying to cut costs, you can hike three hours one way from town to visit the waterfall.
Beyond the hiking, you can also look into coffee farm tours at nearby fincas.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed both Guatapé and Jardin on my trip to Colombia and I think both towns are worth a stop. Depending on your Colombia itinerary, it might make more sense to travel directly from Guatape to Jardin (or Jardin to Guatapé) without stopping in Medellin (it did for me). With this guide, you can now make the journey with ease.
Continue Your Adventure
Medellin & Surroundings: Spend two days in Medellin exploring the highlights of this city. While you can visit Guatapé on a day trip, I recommend spending the night. Jardin is west of Medellin and is home to Cueva del Esplendor and numerous hiking trails.
Transport in Colombia: Still trying to plan bus routes in Colombia? I’ve also written guides for Cartagena to Tayrona National Park, Bogota to Villa del Levya, Villa de Leyva to San Gil, and San Gil to the Bucaramanga Airport.
