If you are looking for a place to stay in Guatape when visiting the area and climbing the rock called El Peñol, you might want to take a look at the Tomate Cafe Hostel. I know it looks like I spelt it wrong, but it is correct.

Day 196 – September 14th, 2014.

“Where to stay in Guatape”

Guatape has plenty of places to stay, yet not many are listed on the various sites for accommodation. You can find some of them and they range in price from cheap to very expensive. We found the Tomate Cafe Hostel through a website and then phoned to make our reservation. We didn’t even need a credit card to confirm the booking, and we paid on leaving.

Tomate Cafe Hostel in Guatape, Colombia

There are a few cheap places that are listed which get booked out quickly for weekends so book ahead if you plan to visit on a Saturday or Sunday. We stayed in Guatape on Thursday and Friday, traveling back to Medellin by Sotrasanvicente bus on Saturday. 

“The Tomate Cafe Hostel”

(the Tomato Cafe Hostel in English) is directly on the town square opposite the church of Guatape which is instantly recognisable with its bright white facade and brown/red edging.

The hostel has (at the time of writing) a double room with en suite, a dorm for four 0r six with en suite and a larger dorm for I think eight with shared bathroom. Also another room that they were doing some refurbishment to so I’m not sure how many it sleeps.

We stayed in the dorm with en suite and booked it just for the three of us, at no extra cost.

A dorm in Tomate Cafe Hostel

The hostel has a small kitchen which is at the rear of the building across the garden area. The kitchen is well equipped but lacks space and is typical of most hostels, in need of a little TLC.

Tomate Cafe Hostel kitchen

A table outside under a cover is the only communal area where we ate our fruits for breakfast. Dinner we ate out.

Laundry opposite the kitchen, outside table and garden area towards the hostel

Our room was clean and the bathroom had a good hot water shower even though it is small.

Ensuite of the dorm

As with most places in Colombia the buildings are not very sound proof and any noise will sound like it’s in your room, lucky for us every one was quiet after normal hours. There is a kitchen that serves the restaurant which is at the front of the hostel which just happens to be opposite the dorms and it did get a bit smelly and noisy. Thankfully the restaurant was not busy at all and so the kitchen was hardly used.

Inside the Tomate Cafe Hostel, corridor where the dorms are

The best things about staying here are its location, being right in town and easily walking distance to many restaurants, shops, waterfront etc. And the price 120,000 peso for the three of us in the dorm for two nights. That works out to be $11.06 AUD per person per night which is a cheap nights accommodation in Guatape, Colombia.

The staff are very friendly and helpful in any way possible, giving directions and other information. A good bonus here is that the staff speak good English.

“Would we stay here again?”

With the price being so competitive and its location we would certainly stay here again. Saying that though, if it was full I’m sure we would find suitable accommodation in the town as there are plenty of places to stay in Guatape, the Tomate Cafe Hostel was a good place for us at a good cheap price.