Hitchhiking comes up often enough in backpacker circles around Guatapé that it's worth an honest, non-alarmist look at what it actually involves rather than either promoting or dismissing it outright.
The honest context
Colombia has a more normalized culture of informal ride-sharing in rural areas than many Western countries, and short hops between nearby towns via a wave-down are not unheard of locally. That said, hitchhiking always carries inherent unknowns regardless of location -- you're getting into a vehicle with a stranger, and that basic risk doesn't disappear because a region is generally safe for tourism.
If you're going to do it anyway
- Stick to daylight hours only
- Prefer short, well-traveled stretches over longer or more remote routes
- Travel with at least one other person rather than solo
- Share your plans and expected timing with someone who'll notice if you don't check in
- Trust your instincts -- declining a ride that feels off costs you nothing but a few extra minutes of waiting
Why it's not really necessary here
Given how affordable and frequent Guatapé's public bus and shared shuttle options are, hitchhiking isn't really solving a cost or access problem the way it might in more remote parts of the world with genuinely limited transport options -- it's more a novelty or spontaneity choice than a practical necessity on this specific route.
The bottom line
This isn't a recommendation to hitchhike, and it isn't a claim that it's especially dangerous here either -- it's simply a normal-risk activity that exists locally, and if you choose to do it, standard hitchhiking safety practices apply the same way they would anywhere else in the world.
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See Guatapé Tours & Prices →Frequently Asked Questions
Is hitchhiking common around Guatapé?
Informal ride-sharing is more normalized in rural Colombia generally, but hitchhiking specifically isn't a common or necessary way to reach Guatapé given affordable bus options.
Is it safe to hitchhike near Guatapé?
It carries the same inherent unknowns hitchhiking carries anywhere -- standard precautions (daylight only, traveling with others, trusting your instincts) apply.
Is hitchhiking necessary to get around this area?
No -- public buses and shared shuttles are affordable and frequent enough that hitchhiking isn't solving a real access problem here.