The Guape Canyon is an impressive Colombian destination located in the Meta department, captivating visitors with its towering rock walls, caves, and natural pools.
In this travel guide, based on our own experience, we’ll tell you where the Guape River Canyon is, how to get there from Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali, and everything you need to know to visit it.
Let’s start planning your adventure!
Where is the Guape Canyon and How to Get There
The Guape Canyon is located in the municipality of La Uribe, in the Meta department of Colombia. It lies between the mountains of the Andes, the Sierra de La Macarena, and the Eastern Plains, about 4 hours by land from Villavicencio.
To get to Guape Canyon from Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, or any other city, the first step is to travel to Villavicencio, the capital of Meta, either by plane or road. From there, you must continue by land to the municipality of La Uribe.
Although it is possible to take a bus from the Villavicencio Transport Terminal to La Uribe, the journey takes over 4 hours, and public transportation availability is limited. For this reason, the most comfortable and safest option is to travel in your own 4×4 vehicle or book an organized tour that includes transfers.
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Recommended Tour: Rafting in Guejar Canyon - 3 Days / 2 Nights
Embark on an exhilarating adventure as you safely explore the Guejar River Canyon and its stunning surroundings, engaging in thrilling activities like rafting in one of Colombia’s most beautiful locations.
This tour starts in Mesetas and includes rafting on the Guejar River, a visit to Arenales Waterfall, and a hike to the Paradise of Waterfalls. The package also includes accommodation, meals, certified guides, safety equipment rental, and travel insurance. Please note that guides speak Spanish.
Available every weekend and during holidays.
Price per person: $947,000 COP.
When to Visit Guape Canyon, Colombia
Now that you know how to get to Guape Canyon, keep in mind that while the municipality of La Uribe can be visited year-round, access to the canyon is only possible between January and mid-March. These months correspond to the dry season, when the river level drops, allowing exploration of the canyon.
Therefore, the best time to visit the Guape River and enjoy its main activity, tubing, is at the beginning of the year. During the rest of the year, the river flow increases, making access to the canyon impossible, so traveling off-season would mean missing the opportunity to experience it.
Tip: Take advantage of your visit to Guape Canyon to spend a couple of days in the nearby town of Mesetas. There, you can complement your experience with rafting in the Güejar River Canyon and visiting the beautiful waterfalls of the Serranía de La Macarena.
Click here to get a quote for your trip to Güejar and Guape
Recommended: 5 Must-See Destinations in the Eastern Plains
How to find last-minute cheap flights? Booking your tickets in advance is ideal, but we know that’s not always possible. If you’re looking for great fares and want to save money, Skyscanner is an excellent option.
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What to Do in Guape Canyon and Its Surroundings
1. Tubing in the Canyon: Fun Aboard a Float
The main attraction of Guape Canyon is tubing, an exciting adventure activity that involves floating down the river on an inner tube. It’s a fun and safe experience, as long as it is done responsibly, with local guides and the proper equipment.
Guape is the perfect setting for tubing. Here, you’ll immerse yourself in a stunning environment where the water carves through a narrow canyon, home to hundreds of birds, extraordinary rock formations, and multiple water springs cascading from the mountains above.
The tubing route through Guape Canyon usually lasts about 4 hours and covers approximately 3.5 kilometers. Along the way, you’ll navigate several rapids that add excitement to the adventure and make stops to rest, enjoy the river, have a snack, and admire the breathtaking natural beauty around you.
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Tips for finding good, beautiful, and budget-friendly accommodation: The best way to get the best price on lodging is to book in advance. If you wait until the last minute, the most affordable and top-rated options may already be sold out, leaving you with fewer choices.
Our favorite platform for finding the best deals is Booking.com. Click here to save up to 15% or more on your stay. In many cases, you can book without a credit card, pay at the property, and cancel without penalty.
Additionally, if you book frequently, you’ll get exclusive discounts, free breakfasts, and room upgrades at no extra cost, helping you save even more on your trip.
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2. Visit Mesetas and Explore the Güejar Canyon
As we mentioned earlier, you can’t miss the opportunity to visit the municipality of Mesetas, located 2 hours from Guape. Here, you’ll find the incredible Güejar Canyon, a hidden natural treasure featuring some of the most stunning landscapes in the region.
In Güejar, you can go rafting down the river and be amazed by its towering rock formations, some over 20 meters high. These formations are part of the ancient Guiana Shield, a geological structure that stretches from Venezuela to Ecuador and Brazil, passing through Colombia.
If you’re a nature and adventure lover, Mesetas and La Uribe offer even more reasons to explore Meta, a destination that combines breathtaking landscapes with sustainable tourism and peace. Additionally, another must-see in the region is the spectacular Caño Cristales, famous for being the “River of Seven Colors.”
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Click here to get information about tours in Güejar
Tip: Save time and money by booking on platforms like GuruWalk, Civitatis, or Denomades. We recommend these sites because, in addition to being secure, they allow you to compare prices, read reviews from other travelers, learn about the itineraries in detail, and know exactly what each tour includes.
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On these platforms, you can book at very competitive prices, sometimes even better than at the destination! Plus, they offer a great variety of payment methods and, in many cases, have flexible cancellation policies that allow you to get a refund up to 24 hours before the activity starts.
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3. Be Amazed by the Beauty of Arenales Waterfall
Another great reason to spend a few days in Mesetas—besides visiting the Güejar Canyon—is the stunning Arenales Waterfall. This majestic waterfall stands at over 90 meters (295 feet) high, forming a natural beach and a pool at its base where you can relax and enjoy the surrounding nature.
Visiting Arenales Waterfall is a full-day adventure. To get there, you must leave early from Mesetas in a 4×4 vehicle, travel to the La Argentina village, and then hike approximately 1.5 hours along a trail with steep ascents and descents before reaching the waterfall.
When planning your trip to Guape, we recommend setting aside at least three days to explore nearby attractions like the Güejar River (get a tour quote here). If you plan to travel independently, keep in mind that the road between Villavicencio and Mesetas is paved.
By the way, if you’re eager to keep exploring Colombia and discovering authentic, off-the-beaten-path destinations, here are some travel guides that will be very helpful:
Ciudad Perdida: The Best Tour from Santa Marta
Unmissable Activities in the Colombian Amazon
Things to Do in San José del Guaviare
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Tip: When planning an international trip, we tend to focus on choosing destinations, accommodations, and tours, but often overlook unexpected events such as illnesses, accidents, thefts, or the need to return earlier than planned due to a family emergency.
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Other Experiences You Might Be Interested In:
Recommended Excursion: Caño Cristales – 3 Days / 2 Nights
Discover the beauty of the world’s most beautiful river! On this trip, you’ll have the opportunity to safely explore the stunning Caño Cristales and Caño Cristalitos. Plus, enjoy wildlife and flora spotting at the mouth of the Losada River.
The package includes all necessary transportation to follow the itinerary from La Macarena. It also covers accommodation in a private room, meals, a traditional Llanero party, and the guidance of local experts who will enrich your experience.
Available dates 2025: July 25-27, July 1-3, August 8-10, August 15-17, August 22-24, August 29-31, September 5-7, September 12-14, September 19-21, September 26-28, October 3-5, October 10-12, and October 17-19.
Price per person: $1,457,000 COP
Recommended Tour: Norcasia, La Miel River and Amaní - 3 days / 2 nights
On this trip, you’ll have the chance to discover an unexplored, safe, and beautiful destination. You’ll visit Norcasia, navigate the La Miel River, swim in natural pools, and enjoy water activities such as tubing, body rafting, and snorkeling.
The package includes a boat ride along the La Miel River, Amaní Reservoir, and Pantágoras Dam, a body rafting or tubing activity, and a visit to the Manso River. Accommodation, meals, and all necessary internal transfers to complete the itinerary are also included. Please note that local guides speak only Spanish.
Tour available every weekend.
Price per person: $550,000 COP
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