This guide is for you if the rock above the reservoir at Guatapé is the day out you want from Medellín. It helps you pick the day of the week, decide who in your group climbs, and know what the town and the water hold once you are down again.
Pick a weekday if you can
The day of the week changes this trip more than the season does. On weekends and Colombian public holidays the road, the stairs and the town square all fill up, and the plaza and waterfront are busy by mid-morning. A weekday gives you shorter queues on the rock and a quieter walk through the streets.
The weather is milder than in Medellín. Guatapé sits at about 1,890 metres, with temperatures around 19 °C, and it can feel cool on the water or at the top of the rock. The city's tourism office says rain is most frequent there in April and May, and again in September and October. Rain does not stop the day, but a wet stair is slower, and cloud can hide the view of the islands.
The rock
Most people call it El Peñol, after the town nearby, but it stands within the municipality of Guatapé, and its proper name is the Peñón de Guatapé. It rises about 220 metres from its base. The climb is 740 steps by the count of Colombia's national radio, set into a crack in the granite, with separate stairs for going up and coming down.
The first recorded ascent was on 16 July 1954, by Luis Villegas with two helpers. The first wooden stairs came in the early 1960s, and the cement ones you climb now replaced them later.
You reach the base at about 09:00. The ticket booth opens around then, and you pay in cash. The entrance is not included in the tour. Take water, go at your own pace and use the landings to rest.
Nobody has to climb. You can wait at the bottom, or your driver can take those who stay behind on to Guatapé while the others go up.
The water below, and the town
The water you see from the top is not a natural lake. The flooding began in 1978 to create the reservoir for the Guatapé power station, a sheet of water of more than 6,000 hectares. It covered the whole centre of the old town of El Peñol, whose people moved to a new town built for them. In dry years, walls, columns and parts of the old cemetery have come back above the surface.
Guatapé itself is the town of zócalos, the painted reliefs along the lower walls of its houses. They are said to have started in the 1920s, when a local man, José María Parra, added a religious scene to the base of his house and his neighbours asked for their own. The raised bases first protected the adobe walls from rain and animals. Now each one shows something about the family inside.
Lunch is at about 12:30 and not included. Trout from the reservoir is the local favourite. At 13:30 you can take a boat from the waterfront. Shared boats go for about an hour; private ones are hired by the hour. The boat is not included either.
By bus, or with a driver
You can reach Guatapé by public transport. Direct buses leave Medellín's Terminal del Norte roughly every 30 to 60 minutes through the day, and the ride takes about two hours.
That works well if you are staying the night. As a return trip in a day, the bus sets the time you arrive, and on a weekend that often means joining the crowd at the bottom of the stairs.
A private day puts you at the rock at about nine, takes you between the rock, the town and the waterfront, and gets you back to your hotel at about 17:00 without a terminal at either end. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Colombian pesos in cash, for the rock entrance, the boat and small purchases in town.
- Water for the climb.
- Shoes with grip. The steps are steep and narrow.
- A light layer. It is cooler than Medellín, and cooler again at the top.
- A rain jacket in the wetter months.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits almost anyone with a free day, because the hardest part is optional. Climbers get the view; the rest of the group gets the town and the boat.
Think twice in these cases:
- Someone dislikes heights or narrow stairs. The climb is in a crack in the rock, and the stair is busy. They can stay at the bottom without missing the rest of the day.
- You can only go on a Saturday or Sunday. It still works. Expect more people at every stop, and let your driver adjust the order.
- You would rather not spend four hours on the road. The drive is about two hours each way. Our half-day city tour stays in Medellín.
If you want an evening in Guatapé, we can drop you one day and collect you on another. Groups of more than 16 travel in two vehicles on one booking; message us for a price. Our guide to day trips from Medellín compares this day with the others.
Questions people ask
How long does the climb take?
It depends on your pace and the queue. Use the two hours before the drive to Guatapé without hurrying, and stop on the landings.
Are the town and the rock the same place?
No. They are separate stops on the edge of the same reservoir, and your driver takes you from one to the other.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Choose a weekday if your plans allow, bring cash and water, and decide in the car who climbs. The times, stops and what is included are on the Guatapé and El Peñol private day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
