Climbing the Guatapé Rock: El Peñón de Guatapé (What to Know Before You Go)

The first person to look at El Peñón de Guatapé (the Guatapé rock) and think, “Hmmm, yes, I’d very much like to climb this thing,” did so in 1954. I imagine some daredevil nudging his friend – perhaps with added confidence from a splash of aguardiente – and saying, “I betcha we can do it! See you at the top?” 

I don’t know that the conversation when down like that for sure. But we do know they did in fact succeed, hundreds of wood scaffolds and zero deaths later. You can actually rappel on one face of the rock today. 

But you can also be a normal person and take the staircase.

Because it’s one of the classic things to do in Guatapé, Colombia. So, you know, ya gotta.

The 656-foot monolith that towers over Antioquia, Colombia boasts the best views in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. El Peñón de Guatapé, or The Rock of Guatapé in English, is a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the lake and nearby towns. And, even after seeing countless photos online and plastered on the side of windows in town, I can truly say the vista is worth the hype.

If the 650-foot staircase along the rock’s only notable crevice (or in my case, vertigo) doesn’t take your breath away, the saturated blues and greens below just might.

The interesting background of the big ‘ole Guatapé rock

Though there are certainly mountains taller than the Guatapé rock (lookin’ at you, Andes), what is most striking about this particular pebble is that all of the surrounding land is quite flat or not land at all. You see, in the 1970s, the government flooded the nearby valleys creating a massive lake and an outcropping of hundreds of mini tree-clad peninsulas peaking out of the bluer-than-blue waters. 

This dramatically changed the surrounding landscape – and added to the allure of the view that awaits at the top of the Guatapé rock. 

Since then – and likely before – nearby pueblos have argued over which town gets to lay claim to the rock (and perhaps more importantly, the tourism dollars it brings in). If you do a little looking around, you’ll see that it has been called both La Piedra del Peñol, or The Stone of Peñol, and El Peñón de Guatapé, or The Rock of Guatapé. 

It’s a bit confusing. Even I was wondering if there were actually TWO big rocks to climb before I got this cleared up. 

El Peñón de Guatapé even wears the scars of the dispute. On the North face, you can see “G1” painted on the side in huge letters. 

I originally thought that this was some sort of mark from the government or something for….planes?!?! Guys, I don’t know, the wheels of speculation were really turning. But, once I got to my hostel I did a little research on the mysterious monolith. And I learned that the letters are actually the handiwork of citizens from Guatapé. 

In the frenzy to claim the stone, someone had apparently decided to write “GUATAPE” on the side. The “1” was actually the beginning of the “U” that they didn’t have the time to finish before the nonsense, fortunately, came to an end. 

After all, can you really say you own something that has been around for thousands and thousands of years?  

Name or no name, El Peñón de Guatapé will probably be around much longer than any of us. 

How to plan your visit to El Peñón de Guatapé

I like when things are more than meets the eye, and the Guatapé rock certainly delivered on that. So, history lesson complete, let’s climb this thing!

The most common ways to see the view from the top of El Peñón de Guatapé is to take a day trip tour from Medellin or from a tour provider in Guatapé. But, I think that the best way to experience it is by simply going yourself. 

It’s very easy and quite affordable. Plus, it gives you the freedom to arrive as soon as it opens (which, believe me, you’ll want to) and linger as long as you please. If you decide to go this route, you can walk, take a local bus or hail a tuk-tuk from town.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the costs and other things you’ll want to know:

Getting to the Guatapé Rock

• Bus from Medellin: $5 USD
  • Duration: ~2.5 hours
  • Frequency: Daily every 30 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  • Departs from: The Caribe Metro station 
  • Stops: Either downtown Guatapé or the entrance of the rock itself – just let the driver know which one you want. 
• Bus from Guatapé: ~$2 USD
  • Duration: 15 minutes
  • Frequency: Every 30 minutes
  • Departs from: The Guatapé main station
  • Stops: The entrance of El Peñón de Guatapé
• Tuk Tuck from Guatapé: $3-$4 USD, depending on if you are solo or in a group
  • Duration: 20 minutes
  • You can walk around town and hail one yourself or ask your hostel/hotel to call ahead. 
• Walking: FREE
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Be aware that the walk is completely uphill and the climate is hot and humid year round. If you just fancy yourself a nice walk, I’d suggest the Ring Road around the lake instead. 

You can also drive there in a car or motorbike and pay about $.50 USD for parking if you have decided to brave the Colombian roads. 

I took the tuk-tuk. It was an experience in itself to sit in one of the colorful clown cars and bee-bop up the hill to El Peñón de Guatapé. All of the drivers are really friendly and the pricing is established on a written sheet in the back seat. Just be sure to bring cash for the ride up and back!

Climbing El Peñón de Guatapé

• Height: 656 feet (marked by 650 concrete steps)
• Elevation: 7,000 feet above sea level
• Difficulty: Medium-strenuous. It’s a straight-up staircase that hangs on the side of a giant rock. Not for the faint of heart, but worth the effort!
• Entrance fee (as of July 2019): ~$5.50 USD
• Hours: Daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Duration: 2.5 – 3.5 hours
• Free Bathrooms? Yes – bring your own toilet paper
• Can I drink the water? Not from the tap. Bring your own water bottle or bring cash to buy drinks there (about $1.50 USD for water)
• Do I need to pack snacks? Food stands and cafes are plentiful, but a bit more expensive by Colombian standards. There are options before you begin your ascent and even a bar at the top of the rock, in case you want to reward your efforts with a cerveza. Por que no?
• Bring Cash. This rock doesn’t take Visa. Make sure you have some extra Pesos for entrance, snacks and a ride back to town. 

I’ve got some other ideas for making sure you enjoy getting to the top of the Guatapé rock, too. I always think of what I’d tell my mom if she wanted to do something. 

So here goes…

Extra Safety Tips

• Bring lots of sunscreen and use it. You’ll be at a decent elevation near the Equator with no cover from the sun. Bring home cool pictures, not skin cancer.
• Make sure you wear comfortable clothes but, most importantly, practical shoes. I’d choose a sandal that is securely strapped to your food or tennis shoes. No flip flops. 
• Bring a backpack or purse that lets you be hands-free. You know, for holding on to the railing or your own chest when your heart starts beating fast from the exertion. 
• Pace yourself with the drinks! I almost reached for an ice cold beer when I got to the top. But then I remembered I’m a lightweight and that I’d have to walk my tipsy self back down 650 steps. 

El Peñón de Guatapé, or the Guatapé rock, is without a doubt the most iconic thing to do the colorful lakeside pueblo of Guatapé, Colombia. It’s well within the well-trodden tourist track, but no trip to this lively pueblo would be complete without snapping a selfie from the top.

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