Guatapé and El Peñol Day Trip from Medellín

From $181 USD per person

Two hours north of Medellín a bare granite monolith rises out of the Antioquia highlands, and 700 stairs cut into its face lead to one of the most photographed viewpoints in Colombia. Below it sits a reservoir that drowned an entire town in the 1970s to generate power for the country. This is a full day out of Medellín: the climb, the water, and Guatapé itself, where every house front carries a hand-painted zócalo panel.

How the day works

• Your guide and driver collect you from your hotel in Medellín and head north through the highlands. The drive is about two hours.
• You climb El Peñol Rock. It is over 700 steps, taken at your own pace, and the reservoir opens up below you at the top.
• You move on to Guatapé and walk the town with your guide, who explains the zócalos and the story of the flooded valley.
• On the private option you sit down to a traditional Antioqueño lunch, then take a boat across the reservoir to one of the only surviving houses from the old town.
• You are driven back to Medellín and dropped at your hotel. Allow ten hours door to door.

What’s included

• Private English-speaking guide (private option)
• Private hotel pickup and drop-off in Medellín
• Entrance to El Peñol Rock
• Entrance to Guatapé Lake (private option)
• Boat trip on the reservoir (private option)
• Lunch (private option)
• All-risk insurance

Not included

• Breakfast
• Personal purchases

Good to know

• The climb is over 700 steps. Wear shoes with grip and bring water.
• Guatapé runs warm, roughly 23°C to 30°C, and the weather can turn during the day. Bring a light jacket and a rain layer.
• The sun is strong at the top of the rock and on the water. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a cap are worth packing.
• Tell us at booking about any health condition your guide should know about.
• The shared option covers transport and the El Peñol Rock entrance only, with no guide, boat or lunch. Shared pickup falls between 8 and 9am depending on where you are staying.
• The tour runs rain or shine.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to climb the rock?

No. The stairs are the reason most people come, but you can stay at the base, where there are cafés and viewpoints, and rejoin the group afterwards. Nobody is timed.

How hard are the 700 steps?

They are steep but they are proper stairs with handrails, broken up by landings where people stop. Most reasonably mobile visitors manage it in twenty to forty minutes with breaks.

What is the difference between the private and shared options?

The private option includes a bilingual guide, the boat ride on the reservoir, lunch and the Guatapé Lake entrance. The shared option is transport and the rock entrance only.

Is there time in Guatapé town itself?

Yes. The town is a stop in its own right, not a photo pause. You walk the zócalo streets with your guide and there is time to browse and eat.

How long is the day?

About ten hours from your hotel and back, with roughly two hours of driving each way depending on traffic out of Medellín.