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Town · Guatapé, Antioquia
Centro de Guatapé e os zócalos
Guatapé's center, with houses painted in bright colors and facades decorated with zócalos — relief panels showing animals, trades and scenes of local life. The Plaza de los Zócalos and the church are in the middle.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Centro de Guatapé e os zócalos
Guatapé is a small town in Antioquia, on the shore of the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir, known for its zócalos. These are cement relief panels, painted in bright colors, that decorate the lower parts of house facades. The tradition began in the early 20th century and spread across the town: each house shows designs that tell about the family or the residents' trade, such as sheep, flowers, fruits, boats, trains, bicycles and rural scenes.
The streets of the center, like Calle de los Recuerdos, which is stepped, are lined with two‑story houses painted blue, yellow, green and red, with balconies and wooden doors. The Plaza de los Zócalos is a small stepped square surrounded by colorful houses, bars and cafés, and the main square has the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, with a wooden interior.
Shops sell handicrafts, miniature zócalos and sweets, and on corners the drivers of tuk-tuks and the chivas, the colorful wooden buses, offer rides. The town fills up on weekends and holidays with visitors from Medellín.
The center can be explored on foot in a short time, but it’s worth walking slowly to see the details of each facade.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Best time
In the morning or late afternoon on a weekday, when there are fewer visitors. At dusk the light enhances the colors of the houses.
How to get there
Buses from Medellín arrive at the malecón on the reservoir's edge, a few minutes' walk from the main square. From Medellín it's about 80 km and two hours.
Tip
Look for Calle de los Recuerdos and Plaza de los Zócalos, the most photographed spots, then walk the parallel, quieter streets. Notice the zócalos that tell each family's trade.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Centro de Guatapé e os zócalos
What are the zócalos of Guatapé?
Raised cement panels, painted in bright colors, that decorate the lower parts of façades and show designs related to the family or the residents' trades.
Where are the most photographed zócalos located?
On the Calle de los Recuerdos and the Plaza de los Zócalos, in the center, but they appear on almost every house.
Is it worth staying overnight in Guatapé?
Yes — to see the town calm after the day trips return and to climb the rock early the next morning.