Views from Guatape Colombia
GETTIN MY GROOVE BACK IN GUATAPE COLOMBIA
I was still hurting from missing Roatan
As I found myself about to say goodbye to my friend Nicole and take on the rest of Costa Rica solo...
I just didn’t want to do it.
No part of me was motivated to do the research, the buses, the small talk, the meeting new friends, and all the other stuff it takes to travel a country solo.
UGHH, what's wrong with me?!
I didn’t come out here to not enjoy the actual traveling part. It was as if nothing was exciting me, I couldn't appreciate all of the beautiful things surrounding me.. and I couldn’t help but feel so guilty that I felt this way.
YES I wanted to see more of Costa Rica
and
YES I wanted to sail from Panama to Colombia... that was my 'plan'
But at this moment, I knew it wasn’t where my heart was and if I went I wouldn't be able to enjoy it, to appreciate it. So.. what’s the point?
I came out here to be happy, to do whatever makes me happy, to expect the unexpected and to have fun..!
So, screw the 'plan'
I knew only one of two things would make me happy...
1. Get on a plane back to Roatan
OR
2. Take Meg up on her invitation to come take on Colombia with her.
In theory, maybe I would have loved to show up in Roatan again, but in reality I knew that was not the best choice for me.
I want to move forward. I have a lot more I really want to see and that’s important to me.
Last minute plane to Colombia it is !!
And the right choice it was.
I was showered by a massive shriek-filled hello when I arrived in Colombia to meet Meg at the hostel. The receptionist so curiously asked "Oh my how long has it been since you've last seen each other?" Anddd gauging by his confused facial expression he was expecting a much more significant amount of time than our "22 days" response...
I was so happy to see her!
We spent some time catching up and blowing off some steam in Medellin before grabbing our day packs and heading to Guatape, Colombia for a night.
A super small town jam-packed with bright colors everywhere you turn. A great place to spend an afternoon, with which you can cover the city in its entirety.
It is said to be Colombia's most colorful city, and now I know why...
The main attraction is Piedra del Peñol aka The Rock of Guatape.
Piedra del Peñol is an astounding rock formation right in the middle of town. Absolutely beautiful.
740 steps separates you from the top of this bad boy.
Tiring.. so tiring, but you are greeted to a pretty fantastic view. One that I found refreshing and unique.
Getting There
To get to this magical little colorful town with a random huge rock in the middle.. you can easily take a $5 bus from the Medellin North bus terminal. Guatape is located about 70 kilometers outside of Medellin.
Once in Guatepe, the rock is located a 10 min tuk tuk drive away, or a hourish walk from town center. Ask around for what a tuk tuk should cost so you don’t get ripped off. The entrance fee to the rock is around $5.
A lot of people do day trips here, but I would recommend staying the night to soak up all the quaint charm Guatape has to offer.
Meg and I stayed at Lakeview Hostel. A cute place with a nice upstairs common area and restaurant. We spent most of our evening drinking wine in our rocking chairs with this cute little view...
Meg made friends with these two dogs and they followed her everywhere. Even all the way to the bus stop, and watched her get on and she waved goodbye.
I definitely made the right choice by coming to Colombia early.
The plan was to do ALL of Central America, every country. But.. like anything in life.. things change and shit happens. Adapt and roll with it. After all, the other part of my original plan was to do what feels right, what makes me feel good.
So I skipped Costa Rica and Panama.. good thing they ain’t going anywhere!
That extra time with a new and dear friend was priceless. Meg and I, well together there isn’t ever room to not have a good time...
We hit a fútbol game in Medellin, had lazy days, had a crazy night out with new friends, and got a little cardio in by climbing those 740 stairs.
Cheers to you Meg, can’t wait for our next adventure. Thanks for your understanding and for being there for me when I needed ya most, BUENASSS.
NEXT STOP.. Salento, Colombia. One of my favorite places I have been in my entire trip!
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