Motorcycle tour from Medellin to Guatape

The best part of this day is the ride itself. You leave Medellín’s El Poblado, trade city traffic for open country roads, and reach Guatapé by motorcycle rather than in a packed bus. I like the small-group format and the regular stops for photos, which give you more breathing room than a fixed coach tour.

I also like that the price includes the motorcycle, fuel, tolls, lunch, boat trip, gear, water, snacks, and medical insurance. The main caution is serious: this is not a beginner lesson. One verified participant found the scenery beautiful and the day fun, but also scary without strong bike-handling skills.

Key points at a glance

• A real motorcycle day: You ride from Cra 43D #11a-36 in El Poblado to Guatapé and back, rather than simply being driven between sights.
• Two bike choices: The standard option is an automatic 125cc scooter. An AKT TTR 200cc enduro geared bike is available as a recommended alternative.
• Country roads to El Peñol: The route includes an unpaved section, but that section is excluded for automatic scooters, so confirm your route and bike before setting off.
• More than the famous rock: Your day includes a boat ride on the reservoir, lunch, Guatapé’s painted streets, and a stop in Marinilla’s main square.
• A compact group: The tour is limited to 10 participants, with a maximum of five motorcycles stated for the ride.
• Good value for a full day: At $168 per person, the price covers many costs that can add up on an independent excursion.

Why the motorcycle route changes the Guatapé day

Guatapé is one of the easiest day trips from Medellín, but the way you get there matters. A large bus can deliver you to the same headline sights, yet it usually keeps you on a strict schedule. This tour makes the road part of the experience.

You start at Moto Ride Medellin in El Poblado. From there, the ride heads toward the Medellín-Bogotá highway, then continues toward El Santuario and El Peñol. You get breaks for photos along the way, and the guide provides bilingual support in English and Spanish while riding.

That matters because the route is not just a transfer. You are out in the open, watching the scenery change as Medellín gives way to the countryside. The stop-and-go rhythm also helps you enjoy the ride instead of treating it as a race to Guatapé.

The group size is another real advantage. The information gives both a maximum of 10 participants and a maximum of five motorcycles. In practical terms, that is far more manageable than a 30-person coach. You can expect a closer group, but you should still confirm the exact number of riders when booking.

Leaving El Poblado for the Medellín-Bogotá highway

The meeting point is Cra 43D #11a-36, where you will see the Moto Ride Medellin Rental & Tours shop. Bring your driver’s license, passport or a copy, sunscreen, warm clothing, and a credit card. Warm clothing is worth taking even if Medellín feels mild, since a full day on a motorcycle can feel cool once you leave the city.

The standard motorcycle is an automatic 125cc scooter. That choice is useful if you can ride confidently but do not want to manage a clutch and gears. The optional AKT TTR 200cc enduro geared bike is the better fit for the rougher part of the route and for riders who prefer a conventional motorcycle.

The tour supplies a helmet and gloves. Fuel, tolls, water, snacks, and medical insurance are also included. You still need to arrive ready to ride in changing weather, since the tour runs rain or shine.

This is a key point to settle before paying: you must already be experienced with motorcycles. The tour is not suitable for people who cannot ride a bike, and the route can feel intimidating if you are uncertain with steering, braking, traffic, or uneven surfaces.

Marinilla and the first taste of Antioquia’s countryside

The day includes a stop in Marinilla, known here for its attractive main square. It gives you a chance to pause before the longer ride and see a town that many quick Guatapé excursions skip.

The stop is useful for two reasons. First, it breaks up the riding time. Second, it adds a more local town visit to a day otherwise centered on major attractions. You can have coffee, take photographs, and get a feel for the town’s central streets before continuing.

The exact order of stops can depend on road conditions, timing, and the guide’s judgment. The supplied schedule places Marinilla among the route highlights, while the broader day includes coffee, sightseeing, and guided riding. If seeing the town square is especially important to you, ask the guide to confirm where it fits that day.

The unpaved road toward El Peñol

The route from El Santuario toward El Peñol is where this tour becomes more adventurous. The promised unpaved road offers a different view of the area from the standard highway approach, with open scenery and photo stops along the way.

There is an important limitation. The unpaved section is excluded for automatic scooters. If you choose the 125cc scooter, you may take a different route for this part of the day. If the rough-road section is your main reason for booking, ask specifically about the AKT TTR 200cc enduro bike and whether that section will be available during your visit.

This is also the point where riding ability matters most. An automatic scooter can be easy to operate on ordinary roads, but easy operation does not mean easy handling on loose or uneven surfaces. The enduro bike may be a better match for the route, but it does not remove the need for experience.

I would not choose this tour simply because you have ridden a bicycle or driven a car. You should be comfortable controlling a motorcycle for a full day and prepared for conditions that may change with rain.

The reservoir boat ride gives you a break

The boat trip on the large Guatapé reservoir is included in the price. It provides a welcome change after the motorcycle sections and lets you see the area from the water.

The reservoir is one of the defining features of the Guatapé area. From the boat, you get a broader view of the surrounding hills and water than you can from the road. It also gives you time to rest your hands and legs before the next part of the day.

The boat ride is not a substitute for a long water excursion. It is one element of an active eight-hour program that also includes riding, walking, lunch, and sightseeing. Think of it as a scenic pause rather than the central event.

Since lunch and the boat trip are both included, you do not need to budget separately for those parts. Water and snacks are supplied as well, though you should still bring sunscreen and any personal items you prefer for a full day outside.

Climbing the 700 steps at El Peñol Rock

El Peñol Rock is the day’s headline sight. You can climb about 700 steps to reach the top for wide views over the reservoir and surrounding countryside.

The climb is optional, which is helpful. You can decide based on your energy, the weather, and how much time you want to spend walking after the motorcycle ride. The entrance fee is not included, so bring money or a card for that separate cost.

The view is the reward, but this is not a quick photo stop if you climb. The stairs require steady effort, and you may prefer to admire the rock from below if you are tired or have mobility limits. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or visual impairments.

Lunch is served at the base of the rock, with a view. That placement makes sense: you can eat before or after the climb, depending on the group’s schedule, and avoid adding another long transfer to the day.

Lunch, Guatapé’s painted streets, and time to look around

A meal at the base of El Peñol Rock is included. That is a useful part of the package because it keeps the day moving and prevents you from spending time searching for a restaurant between activities.

After the rock, you continue to Guatapé itself. The town is known for its colonial streets and colorful houses, with decorative details around doors and lower walls. This is the slower part of the excursion, where you can walk, take pictures, and look beyond the main natural sights.

The guide provides a tour of Guatapé, but the exact amount of free walking time is not stated. Since the entire experience lasts eight hours and includes a long motorcycle ride, a boat trip, lunch, and the rock, do not expect an entire afternoon at leisure in town.

That tradeoff is central to the tour. You gain a broad day with several different activities, but you give up the flexibility of spending hours in one place. If you want a relaxed Guatapé food-and-shopping day, an independent visit may suit you better. If you want to cover the major sights while riding, this format makes more sense.

Returning to Medellín after a full day outside

The return takes you back to the Moto Ride Medellin shop in El Poblado. By then, you will have spent much of the day in the saddle, so the ride home is part of the physical challenge.

Breaks along the route help, but they do not turn this into a gentle sightseeing trip. I would wear comfortable clothing, bring layers, and avoid packing anything bulky. Your driver’s license and required identification should be ready at the meeting point.

The tour runs rain or shine. That policy is worth taking seriously in Antioquia, where conditions can shift during the day. Rain can affect comfort, visibility, and the feel of an unpaved road, so check the weather before you go and dress for more than one condition.

What the $168 price really covers

At $168 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Guatapé. The price becomes easier to justify when you add up the included elements: motorcycle rental, fuel, tolls, helmet, gloves, bilingual motorcycle guidance, boat trip, lunch, water, snacks, and medical insurance.

You are also paying for the guide’s route planning and the chance to ride rather than arrange separate transport. A normal Guatapé day trip may cost less, but it will not give you the same motorcycle experience or the same control over the road stops.

The value is strongest for a rider who would otherwise rent a motorcycle, pay for fuel and tolls, arrange a boat ride, find lunch, and plan the route alone. The package reduces those decisions and adds a guide.

The value is weaker if you are mainly interested in the rock and town. In that case, the motorcycle component may be more activity than you want, and a simpler transport option could be a better use of your budget.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the reserve-now, pay-later option give you some useful flexibility. Starting times depend on availability, so check the schedule before making other plans in Medellín.

Who should book this ride

I would recommend it to an experienced rider who wants the journey to be as important as the destination. It fits you if you like small groups, scenic stops, rougher roads, and a full day with several different activities.

It also suits someone who dislikes large organized buses. The group is limited, and the motorcycle format allows more contact with the guide and more chances to stop for photographs.

I would be cautious if you are a first-time rider, have only brief experience on scooters, or dislike rain and uneven roads. The verified experience available for this tour gives the right warning: the scenery is beautiful and the day is fun, but the riding can be scary without strong bike skills.

Children under 13 cannot join. People who cannot ride, have mobility impairments, or are visually impaired should choose another way to visit Guatapé.

Should you book the Medellín to Guatapé motorcycle tour?

Book it if you want an active Antioquia day and already feel fully at home on a motorcycle. The combination of country roads, an unpaved route option, reservoir views, El Peñol Rock, lunch, Guatapé, and a small group gives you much more than a simple transfer.

Before booking, confirm three things: which motorcycle you will use, whether the unpaved section is included with that choice, and how much time the group expects to spend at Guatapé. Choose the AKT TTR 200cc enduro bike if the rough-road part matters to you and you are comfortable with geared motorcycles.

Skip it if you want an easy, low-effort day or if your motorcycle experience is limited. For the right rider, the $168 cost buys a complete day with most major expenses covered. For an uncertain rider, the same adventure could feel like work rather than fun.

FAQ

Where does the motorcycle tour start?

It starts at Cra 43D #11a-36 in El Poblado, Medellín. The shop is marked Moto Ride Medellin Rental & Tours.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts eight hours, including the ride from Medellín to Guatapé and the return to El Poblado.

What motorcycle can I use?

The included standard option is an automatic 125cc scooter. An AKT TTR 200cc enduro geared bike is available as a recommended optional choice.

Is the unpaved road included with every motorcycle?

No. The unpaved section toward El Peñol is excluded for automatic scooters. Ask about the route before choosing your motorcycle.

Is the entrance to El Peñol Rock included?

No. The entrance fee for the rock is not included. Climbing the approximately 700 steps is optional.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the motorcycle, gas, helmet, gloves, tolls, boat trip, lunch, bilingual motorcycle guidance, water, snacks, and medical insurance.

Do I need motorcycle experience?

Yes. You must be experienced in riding motorcycles. The tour is not suitable for people without riding experience or people who cannot ride a bike.