Guatapé

Guatape is a small town in Colombia's Antioquia department. It is regarded as one of the nation's most vibrant and picturesque towns. Indigenous people lived there and "Guatape" dominated the region before Iberian conquistadors arrived in the sixteenth century. The town was called after Guatape since he was the chief of the tribe.

Guatapé, which is only a short bus ride from Medelln, is well-known for its colorful façade and massive monolith, the Peon de Guatapé. Climbing the peón is worthwhile because the views from the top, which are breathtaking in both directions and are made possible by the 740 steps needed to get there. However, in the town proper, the devil is in the details, with colorful zocalos (storytelling reliefs) adorning almost every building's lower half.

Since its founding on October 4th, 1811, Guatape has developed politically and economically. It was formerly an agricultural community with a mining industry and a reliance on agriculture for its economic survival. Guatape also saw the construction of a sizable hydropower plant in 1970, which aided in the village's growth and produced breathtaking natural scenery. Guatape rose to prominence as one of the nation's major hubs for the production of electricity.

• Top Attractions: Piedra del Peñol, Casa del Arriero, Iglesia del Calma, Museo Turístico
• Location: Antioquia