JessAbout 2 hours away from Medellin you can find La Piedra del Peñol. It’s a large rock – and about 650 feet high. With 700 steps to reach the top– you can feel the difference in altitude within the first few minutes. (As someone who is somewhat fit, and lives in an area that is below sea level, this was a bit tiring–not to mention I only had about 2 hours of sleep the night before!)
Once you get to the top of La Piedra del Peñol you can enjoy a 360-degree breathtaking view of all of the greenery along with a man-made lake right across.
***Side note if you’re scared of heights or have a phobia It’s not the best idea to go up. You can stay at the bottom and enjoy the atmosphere where the music is blasting, explore gift shops, and enjoy a cold drink and snack.
Since it’s about a two-hour drive from where I was staying in Medellin, I decided to book a tour through Airbnb. The all-day tour took us to the old village and the town of Guatape where I learned its rich history.
The tour began with an early morning pickup from a central location in El Poblado. There I met with the tour guide who explained how the day would go and what to expect. We headed for Guatape at about 9 am. One hour into the drive we stopped for breakfast at an outdoor restaurant where we were served coffee, arepa, eggs, cheese, and a plantain. The breakfast was delicious and filling for our busy day ahead. During breakfast, all of us who were on the tour got to know each other and then headed back on the road.
About an hour later we made two stops at El Peñol. Not the rock– but the small town before it. Here the tour guide told us about the history of it and what it is now. Back on the road and another hour later we made it to La Piedra del Peñol. Upon arrival you see the large rock- you can’t miss it. Our tour guide led the way to the kiosk where I purchased the $6 ticket and made my way up.
Once at the top not only can you enjoy the view but you can also cool down with some ice cream, natural juices, or a cold beer. There are several chairs, tables, and umbrellas that make it a good spot to relax especially after you summit 700 steps.
I do want to say, I thought going down would’ve been easier than the climb up… But I was wrong. So definitely take your time once you reach the top and enjoy the view. To go down, there’s another set of stairs that are pretty narrow. I did have to stop a couple of times because my legs were shaking and didn’t want to risk falling.
If you plan on adding this to your itinerary I recommend taking the following :
- Sunblock
- Water
- Comfortable clothes/workout clothes
- Sneakers,
- Hat
- Sunglasses.