Bosko oozes luxury, peace, and, dare I say it… romance. The perfect glamping getaway for a special occasion or place to experience Guatapé in style. So, naturally, I went with my straight male friend for the night. In fact, we stayed there after the first epic lockdown in Medellín. My mate, being a blogger, wangled us a free stay — in separate lodgings mind. But, despite our lack of love interest, Glamping with Bosko blew my expectations out of the green Guatapean waters.
So If you’re thinking about Glamping in Guatapé with your loved one, fancy a break from hostel life, or you’re just a straight-up minted traveler — here’s my honest low-down on Bosko and guide to Guatapé.
Getting to Bosko Glamping in Guatapé
Buses leave regularly from Medellín’s north terminal. Look for bus companies Sotrapeñol or Sotrasanvicente (window 15 on the bottom floor of the terminal). Tickets cost 16 mil ($4.5) per person. The journey is around 2.5 hours.
The bus to Guatapé
Bosko is mid-way between the stop to climb La Piedra and Guatapé town. Just let the driver know that you’re getting off at Bosko. But, don’t worry, when you book they’ll tell you all you need to know in detail.
When you arrive, a tuk-tuk to take you to Bosko’s gates.
Glamping in Guatapé with Bosko
We got to Bosko’s gates at around 11 am. I was bloody excited to say the least. I’d spent 6 months sleeping on a mattress on the floor (don’t ask). And, from what I’d seen on Insta, this glamping experience was more glamour than camping.
In fact, that’s evident as soon as you arrive. The staff was impeccable, the check-in/restaurant looked brand new, and the grounds perfectly kept. It’s a special place, just like Guatapé.
La Piedra has this strange aura about it. I must have passed it 6 times on the way to various pueblos near Medellín, but I’m transfixed each time I see it. It’s as if the rock is speaking to you in a way only your soul understands.
The view from Bosko’s restaurant.
Anyway, check-in over we headed to our mushrooms. On your left, river and mountains as far as you can see. Your view for your stay you lucky bugger.
Your mushroom lodgings on the hillside.
The view from your mushroom.
Glamping mushroom bubble thing
Like a kid on Christmas morning, I burst through the door of my mushroom bubble. Admittedly, I’ve not stayed in many fancy places but I was massively impressed. I launched myself straight onto the bed. The softest bed I’d laid on since I left my home in Kent. And…it’s only bloody heated! The sign of a classy establishment in my eyes.
Then, what any self-respecting Englishman would do in a new hotel. Straight to the mini-bar. Gwarn treat ya self son I thought.
But, the coolest thing (other than the heated bed obvs), the shower. The shower is slap bang in nature. You can eye up the majestic mountainous view while washing your crown jewels. Bliss.
I had to see Michael’s reaction. He had the deluxe mushroom… So I ran down the pathway to see him firing up a jacuzzi. A bleedin’ jacuzzi! We were both as buzzed as each other to be there.
Michael had some blogger obligations, taking photos, etc. And, if anything, I looked the part with my vlogging set up in hand. In fact, you can watch the whole experience plus our school girl-like reactions in the video below.
We walked back to the main entrance/ restaurant. The restaurant was out of use due to Covid (fuck you Covid) but we ordered some coffees and got to work. I ordered the Chemex in an attempt to get some budget Peter McKinnon footage for my vlog. My backdrop… La Piedra del Peñol in all her glory. Well, until the Antioquean rain saw her blurred into the impending gloom. It was that rain that feels like it’ll last forever and brings with it a biting nip. Fortunately, our friends at Bosko brought out fur blankets that made me feel like the king of the north. Or, in this case, king of the central cordillera of the Andes.
Work out the way, it was time to eat. I had to ask the lady twice when she said the food was free and delivered as room service. This was all getting a bit much.
I sprinted to my bubble leaving in my wake… “Jacuzzi at eighttttt!”
Dinner
One glance at the menu and I knew… Steak covered in pomegranate salsa, cheesy potato mash, and tomato salad. And, of course, a small bottle of red from the minibar. Gotta treat ya self innit.
Now, you’ve got plenty of options even if you’re a vegetarian/ vegan. And prices vary from around 30 ($8) – 45 ($12) mil pesos for main courses.
After your dins, you could probably snuggle into your huge warm bed. Or, if you’ve got the jacuzzi, go for a late-night dip.
Pro Tip: start heating the jacuzzi before you eat dinner. Michael and I froze for a good hour in his tub. Still, the lightning storm we watched from the tub was well worth it.
The next day, I woke up with the sun revealing the beautiful view from my bubble. A coffee later, I got on the blower to room service. Breakfast was sutin’ else. These photos say everything you need to know… I’d tasted pure happiness for the first time since that soul-rotting lockdown.
On the left, french toast. On the right sausage and egg muffin.
In a few hours, we’d head back to Medellín. Michael was keen to fly his drone and I wanted to get in the Kayak. You can easily pass un buen rato on that river. So peaceful. So relaxing. Such a perfect end to a short but fully experienced stay at Bosko.
We drank in our surroundings one last time. La Piedra del Peñol now printed against a bright blue backdrop. Not a single cloud in the sky. Unfortunately, you couldn’t climb the 740 steps due to Covid (fuck you covid). But that would change soon…
Bosko Prices
Expedia offers one room for $220 per night inc breakfast. The deluxe mushrooms with jacuzzies are more expensive and often sold out. But, you can find last-minute deals on the Bosko website. If you’re not on a shoe-string budget it ain’t that bad tbh.
Day trip to Guatapé town
Guatapé town is just up the road from Bosko. The staff will organise a tuk-tuk so you can explore the colorful town. As a pretentious traveler, it’s too touristic for me…,nah, just kiddin’, you can’t help but enjoy the colonial cuteness. You’ve probably seen the below photo a bazillion times on Insta…
This umbrella street is right next to the other Insta famous steps.
As it’s a tourist spot, you’re gonna pay top peso. Lunch for 2 was 50 mil pesos ($20). We only ate a simple chicken dish plus jugos — pricey for a Colombian pueblo!
Climbing La Piedra El Peñol
Obviously, if you’re in Guatapé you’ve got to climb la piedra. There are a few ways to get to the entrance. By taxi, bus, or walking. If you fancy stretching your pins get a tuk-tuk back to the gas station. Behind the gas station are steps marking the start of the accent. Besides, that way you get a warm-up before the main event.
Start your first ascent from behind the gas station.
Follow this road up to the main entrance.
Getting back to Medellín
This is super fácil. Every taxi, bus, and tuk-tuk passes the station which is on the main road to and from Guatapé. You’ll have zero problems finding it. Buses leave every hour until 7 pm.
En fin.
If you’re umming and ahhing about Bosko or glamping in Guatapé, I can’t say Bosko is better than other options out there. But, I can say the people at Bosko will do everything to make your stay special. Guatapé will look after the rest. Let me know in the comments what you thought of the place if you ended up Glamping with Bosko.
Hasta la próxima!
Nick
