Airbnb in Guatapé: Rules, Registration (RNT) and Real Numbers

Airbnb is legal in Guatapé if you hold an RNT registration (Registro Nacional de Turismo), collect IVA where required, and pay income tax on your net profit. Roughly 1,200 active listings charge $45 to $300 USD a night, with 35 to 55 percent occupancy on well-run properties.

The rules: what Colombia actually requires

RNT registration. Any property rented to tourists for stays under 30 days must be registered in the Registro Nacional de Turismo as a vivienda turística. Registration is done online through the Cámara de Comercio, must be renewed annually in the first months of each year, and the platforms enforce it: Airbnb and Booking require an RNT number on Colombian listings. Operating without one exposes you to fines and delisting.

Building rules. If the property sits in a condominium or gated development, the reglamento de propiedad horizontal must permit tourist rental. Read it before you buy, as part of the due diligence checklist; some lakefront developments restrict short stays.

Taxes. Most foreign hosts collect 19 percent IVA on the nightly rate unless they qualify for the simplified regime, and pay income tax on net rental profit, which after deductions usually lands at an effective 5 to 15 percent blended rate. A vetted Colombian accountant handles RUT, Cámara de Comercio, RNT, and monthly IVA filings for about $80 to $180 USD per property per month.

What hosts actually charge

These are the year-blended benchmarks from our Guatapé Airbnb pillar, by property tier:

Location splits the market. Town-center apartments near the zócalos run $60 to $120 a night but book constantly on two-night trips. Lakefront cabins in zones like El Marial and La Cristalina command $130 to $300 and dominate group bookings. Rural event fincas reach $300 to $700. For where those zones sit on the reservoir, see our guide to the best areas around the reservoir.

Occupancy: the number that decides everything

Blended across casual and professional operators, average annual occupancy in Guatapé sits at roughly 38 to 42 percent per the booking data aggregated in our Airbnb pillar. Peak windows (holidays, puentes, high season weekends) approach 90 percent on quality listings; rainy-season weekdays drop to 35 to 45 percent even for professionals who price well.

The spread between average and good operation is the real investment story. A property with a $140 average nightly rate generates about $19,400 USD a year at 38 percent occupancy, and about $29,600 at 58 percent. Same asset, roughly $10,000 difference, purely from pricing, reviews, and management discipline.

Revenue by purchase tier

Modeled with average occupancy and rates for each tier: a $65,000 entry-level cabin grosses about $9,300 a year ($58 blended rate, 44 percent occupancy); a $150,000 mid-tier house about $20,100 ($115 rate, 48 percent); a $300,000 lakefront cabin with dock about $36,950 ($220 rate, 46 percent). Net yields on well-run properties land at 8 to 12 percent before financing. What those purchase prices buy on the water is covered in our lakefront pricing guide.

Getting legal, step by step

The compliance path is short and sequential. Done in order, it is a few weeks of paperwork, most of it delegable to an accountant:

How we knowFigures as of October 13, 2026. Prices: active listings we verified ourselves; USD rate: TRM 3,181.74 COP per US$1, valid October 14, 2026 (Banco de la República, via datos.gov.co).

Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Guatapé?

Yes, fully legal with an RNT registration for stays under 30 days, IVA collection where applicable, and income tax filing. There is no cap on rental nights and no Guatapé-specific licensing beyond the national framework.

How do I get the RNT?

Online through the Cámara de Comercio, registering the property as a vivienda turística. You will need your RUT first. Renew it annually in the first months of the year; platforms block Colombian listings without a valid number.

What occupancy should I underwrite?

Use 40 to 45 percent for a professionally run property, not the 70 percent a listing agent might suggest. If your deal only works above 55 percent occupancy, it is a bet on flawless execution in a market that averages around 40.

What happens if I operate without an RNT?

Two consequences: administrative fines under the national tourism framework, and delisting, because Airbnb and Booking require a valid RNT number on Colombian listings and block those without one. Registration is cheap and annual; there is no economic case for skipping it.

Talk to a team that closes these deals

We are the Guatapé Properties team and we model occupancy, nightly rates, and net yield on specific listings for buyers deciding between zones. Browse current listings and market data at our Guatapé real estate guide, or message us on WhatsApp at +57 312 668 1788 and tell us what you are planning. We will give you a straight answer.

Keep reading

Guatapé: prices and inventory