Eastern Antioquia, Colombia
San Rafael, Antioquia: a guide to river pools, rivers and where to stay
A town of about 17,500 people tucked between the Guatapé and Bizcocho rivers, a little over two hours from Medellín. Its nickname is the "spell of crystal-clear waters", and it earns it: dozens of green, transparent river pools surround the town.
- 1864year founded
- 1,000 mapproximate altitude
- 23 °Caverage temperature
- 102 kmfrom Medellín
San Rafael is in eastern Antioquia, past Guatapé, in the reservoir region. Miners founded the settlement in 1864 under the name La Cuchilla, and the town moved in 1905 to where it stands today, on a terrace between two rivers. Almost everything worth seeing comes from there: the water.
The Arenal, Bizcocho and Guatapé rivers and their creeks form pools with a visible bottom a few minutes from the main square. The busiest sit along the road to the El Arenal area, such as El Trocadero, and on the highway coming from Guatapé. A summary of each one, with distance and type of access, is in San Rafael river pools.
Where to stay in San Rafael
There are three ways to stay: in town, close to restaurants and the bus; at hosterías with a pool and slide on the road to El Arenal; or in ecolodges and cabins by a river, where a car helps. We compare them in hotels in San Rafael.
What to do, in short
- Swim in the Arenal river pools and, if you are up for it, hike to the Churimo waterfall.
- Float down the Arenal river on an inner tube with local operators.
- Get up early to spot tanagers and oropendolas in the rural reserves.
- Visit a sugarcane mill on the Ruta del Palmar and taste fresh panela.
- Spend a day pass at a hostería with a pool if it rains or you travel with small children.
The full list, with contacts published by the state tourism office, is in things to do in San Rafael.
When to go
It rains a lot: the nearest IDEAM station records about 3,660 mm a year, with October and September the wettest months and January and February the driest. In heavy rain the rivers rise and turn murky within hours. See the details in San Rafael weather.
Weekends and public holidays pack the swimming spots. If you can, go midweek and arrive early.
Frequently asked questions
Where is San Rafael, Antioquia?
How warm is it?
Can you do a day trip from Medellín?
Sources
Checked on October 18, 2026. Prices and opening hours change: always confirm with the official source before you travel.
- Wikipedia (Spanish): San Rafael, Antioquia
- Wikipedia: San Rafael, Antioquia, climate at the Las Violetas station (IDEAM, 1981 to 2010)
- Antioquia es Mágica (state tourism portal): San Rafael
- Local tourism network: tourist guide and river pool map (PDF, Spanish)
- Antioquia es Mágica: San Rafael, what to do