Guatapé and the Piedra del Peñol

The Piedra del Peñol is a monolith about 220 meters tall between the towns of Guatapé and El Peñol, in eastern Antioquia. A staircase of 740 steps takes you to the top; the climb takes about 30 minutes depending on your fitness. From the summit you see the reservoir and its islands.

A few kilometers away is Guatapé, at 1,925 meters above sea level. Its houses have zócalos: painted relief panels along the bottom of the facades. On the Calle del Recuerdo there are zócalos rescued from the old town of El Peñol, which went underwater in the 1970s when the reservoir was built.

It's about 81 km from Medellín on the Medellín-Bogotá highway, turning off at Marinilla. By car it takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes. You can go on your own by bus or with a day tour.

What to see

• The view of the reservoir from the top of the Rock.
• The zócalos on Guatapé's houses.
• The Calle del Recuerdo, with zócalos from old El Peñol.
• The reservoir boardwalk in Guatapé.

Getting there

• Bus: buses to Guatapé leave from the Terminal del Norte (next to Caribe metro station); the trip takes about 2 hours and the bus stops at the Rock first.
• Car: Medellín-Bogotá highway, turn off to Marinilla and then on to El Peñol and Guatapé (about 81 km).

Tips

• Leave Medellín early so you climb the Rock before the heat and the lines.
• If you go by bus, get off at the Rock first and then continue to Guatapé.
• Bring water and comfortable shoes for the 740 steps.