piedra del penol

There are such beautiful mountains around Medellin...I don't understand the fascination with this dirty looking hunk of rock. Rickety stairs...don't seem safe to climb up!

Guatape is really easy to get to from Medellin, simply go to the north bus terminal and ask for a bus. After two hours, you can ask the driver to drop you off at the Peñal. You are in vacation so go at your rythm going up the 740 steps. The view is definetely worth it and one of the best in Colombia! Enjoy the fresh air and take breath taking pictures!

I was worried that our twin 4-year-old boys would not be able to do this hike but they did it just fine and walked the entire way up by themselves. The steps are numbered and they enjoyed hiking to the next number. The steps are irregular - some skinny, some steep. There aren't handrails in all locations on the way up so stay close to your kids. Bring water and snacks. It's mainly junk food vendors at the top. There are bathroom facilities at the top and bottom. I couldn't find toilet paper at the bottom and there was a small fee at the top. It is windy at the top so dress in layers. Bring your camera as the view is beautiful! All the ins and outs of the land through the water are so intricate. I've never seen a lake like this. Hike this crazy rock in Guatape - it's worth it!

This whole region is absolutely beautiful. We did some walking around, some paddle-boating on the lake, and hiking the rock. The view from atop is absolutely stunning. If you find yourself in the either Guatape or Medellin take the time to get to the rock and go to the top. It is totally worth the time and money.

Half of our group opted for a short rock climb on the far side of the Piedra. The others took the stairs to the top. In all it was about 700 steps so be sure you are physically up to the task and have the time as well. We then took a drive down to the quaint little town of Guatape in a Tuc Tuc, the makeshift local transportation.

You can take a tour (for 69k) or go solo, we opted to go solo and I thought it the better option. You can take the metro to Caribe, then pop over to the bus station and grab a bus for 12.5k (if you buy a return ticket you have to choose what time you leave Guatape) for a specified seat on the bus, they seem to run every 30mins or so. Takes 1.5-2 hrs to get there. You'll be offered tuktuk or horse rides up to the rock but it's not necessary, just stroll up the hill and it only takes 10 min taking it real slow. Entrance to the rock is 10k and you're straight into the 740 steps. We took our time and rested frequently, some people flew past us but we weren't in any rush. There are cafés at the ~670 mark and a souvenir shop in the tower. There are a few shops at the bottom as well but we took a tuktuk into Guatape town for 10k.Tickets back to Medellin were 12.5k from the town. I'd recommend doing it for the view but bring some water and don't rush yourself. Drinks and snacks were offered for sale on the bus on the way there but I would assume they are more expensive.

So this was a trip I was a little anxious about as I get carsick and the roads are notoriously windy. We had the great fortune to find a taxi driver in Medellin (Poblado) who speaks very good English and agreed to drive us to Piedra de Peñol. As it turned out, we had an amazing day with him. He picked us up at our hotel at 7am (thank goodness, because we like to stop and take photos of everything!), he took us everywhere a tour bus would and more, we stopped for a coffee and pastry break in Marinilla, which is famous for it's pastries (btw, 2 coffees and 4 delicious pastries only cost about $2.00), we saw a church that we wanted to deviate to, arranged an impromptu boat tour of Pablo Escobar's bombed out finca, got off and actually toured it on foot with people that actually used to work for Pablo Escobar (very interesting), climbed El Peñol, toured the gorgeous town of Guatape on foot until we grew hungry, and enjoyed an amazing barbecued meal overlooking the water before returning back to our hotel in Poblado by about 6pm. And I was not the faintest bit carsick ever! If you would like to take advantage of this wonderful driver, and very personable and knowledgeable man ( he points out a lot of sights along the way), his name is Sammy and his cell is 301-382-2998.

we booked a tour with piedrapenol.com and really enjoyed the trip to the rock, passing thru several picturesque towns to get to Guatape. our guide Francisco was very knowledgeable and enhanced the experience, filling in the history of the original village, with a tour by boat of the lake. the first step up is the hardest! it gets easier and more beautiful the higher you get. the view from the top is fantastic. a hearty lunch in the colorful town hit the spot after all the exercise and then back to Medellin. a really fun day!

It is a nice drive about an hour and a half outside of Medellin. Lots of lush scenery and lakes around the "Penol". Many Paisa restaurants nearby. I do not recommend climbing the "Penol", footing is tricky if the steps are wet and can be dirty inside. NO elevator, climbing steps only... I was here a few years ago and I was told it has not changed.

The views from the top of the "big rock" are breath-taking and should not be missed while in Guatape. 740 steps up to the very top viewing deck, I thought it would be crowed at the top of the rock but there is a very large space with about three different vendors to buy water, beer, natural juices and snacks with tables and chairs and lots of space to get some nice photos. Then to get to the very top viewing deck there is about 20 more steps and a gift shop located in the upper tower. The cost is 10,000 pesos about $5 America, I would recommend if you are staying in Guatape to go in the morning 9-10am because the tour buses from Medellin seemed to arrive just before noon. Also during my stay here I've noticed the sky is more clear in the morning!

The monolith is the 2nd largest in South America. It is amazing. The approximately 800 steps to climb to the top are beautiful. The views from the area around the monolith are just beautiful, even if to don't climb the monolith. There is lots of kiosk shops selling local goods. This is a worthwhile stop.

great tourist destination near Medellin. The whole surrounding is very attractive and worth staying one or more days.The climb to the top of the rock is not to hard and should not be a problem for anyone with a normal health and condition. But go there as early as possible to avoid crowdy steps and overall heat.

This place is simply awesome!!! The view can't be beaten. All the mountains and the labyrinth of water around them is magnificent. Any picture you take up on the top, is postal worth. Also, there have been several improvements, which gives more offerings to spend time there. Also, it is a great cardio, I went up with my parents and was a nice experience to share, my dad had a hearth attack years ago, and was good to see he had no problems to the task!! I recommend this place and won't be disappointed.

We climbed El Penol just before Christmas and it was wonderful! The views were breathtaking. You have to pay a fee to climb the stairs, but it's not too much. The stairs are definitely steep, so I wouldn't recommend the climb to people who aren't in good physical condition. In order to get to the rock, we took a bus from the main bus terminal in Medellin. It was easy, but make sure you confirm with your bus driver that he is taking you all the way to El Penol, not just dropping you off in the town of Guatape (which our driver tried to do). On the way back, you can book a bus home with the people who work inside the restaurant at the bottom of the hill. The bus takes a while to come, though, so be patient! There are lots of small restaurants and touristy shops at the bottom of the rock, and a couple on top of the rock. It's quite a bit cooler up here than down in Medellin, so bring a light sweater!Highly recommended!

A lot of steps to get up there, but the views are really nice. One the top you can get a beer. Possibility to leave bigger bags guarded at the bottom of the rock for around $1.