Guide · Eastern Antioquia
From Medellín to Guatapé
A 220-meter rock, a reservoir full of islands and a town painted in color. All of it fits in one day.
- 80 km from Medellín
- 2 h by road
- 220 m height of the Rock
- +700 steps to the top
Getting there
Private tour
We pick you up wherever you are in the Medellín metropolitan area and drop you off wherever you like on the way back. Vehicle, driver and guide just for your group, with breakfast and lunch included.
Pros: Nothing to organize, and you go at your own pace. Keep in mind: Book ahead; we do not take same-day bookings.
Bus
Buses leave from the Terminal del Norte. Sotrasanvicente and Sotrapeñol run the route, and the trip takes about two hours.
Pros: It is the cheapest option. Keep in mind: Fixed schedules, and once there you get around on your own. Check fares at the ticket office.
Car
Take the Medellín–Bogotá highway and then the Marinilla–El Peñol road.
Pros: You set your own schedule. Keep in mind: About four hours of driving there and back, and heavier traffic on the way back on holidays.
What to see
Piedra del Peñol
More than 700 zigzag steps up to the lookout. Many people climb it in half an hour; the ticket is paid at the ticket office.
Fact: In 1954, the first people to reach the top took five days.
The reservoir
More than 2,200 hectares of water, islands and forest. The best view is from the top of the Rock.
Fact: As it filled, from 1970 on, it covered the old town of El Peñol. A cross above the water marks where it stood.
The town of zócalos
Façades with colorful reliefs, the zócalos, showing trades, landscapes and animals. You can walk it in two or three hours.
Fact: By the water there is a promenade about 900 meters long.
Your day with us
- Alto del Chocho: Antioquian breakfast
- Upside-Down House: Admission included
- Piedra del Peñol: Climb at your own pace
- Malecón: Lunch by the reservoir
- Town: Guided walk
- Usual departure 8:00 a.m., flexible until 10:00 a.m.
- About 8 hours including pickup and return
- From 1 to 40 people
- Guide in English or Spanish
- Medical assistance included
Not included:
- Ticket to climb the Piedra del Peñol
- Lunch drinks and purchases at the stops
- Optional activities: quoted separately
Quick questions
Can I go and come back the same day?
Yes, it is the most common plan from Medellín. If you want the sunset over the reservoir, stay one night; our tour is a day trip.
Is it worth it?
Yes, especially on your first trip to Antioquia: landscape, history and small-town life in a single day. It is one of the most visited destinations in Colombia, so it pays to leave early.
Is Guatapé cold?
It sits at about 1,925 meters, higher than Medellín, so it feels cooler. But the sun is strong on the Rock.
What should I bring?
Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a cap, a light jacket, water and cash for the Rock ticket.
What is the Rock made of?
Granite from the Antioquia Batholith, formed underground tens of millions of years ago. It is not a meteorite, whatever the legend says.
Sources consulted
- Colombia Travel (ProColombia): height of the Rock, reservoir, cross above the water, promenade and walking time
- Terminales Medellín: buses from the Terminal del Norte and altitude
- Radio Nacional de Colombia: zócalos, steps and visitors
- El Colombiano: first ascent (1954) and geological origin
- EAFIT University, Ecos de Economía (2009): filling of the reservoir and relocation of El Peñol
- El Espectador: climbing time
November 3, 2026