Guatape and El Penol Rock Day Trip with Boat and Lunch Medellin
Overview
This full-day tour takes you from Medellin to the lake district of Guatape in a modern air-conditioned vehicle with a certified guide. You have a traditional Antioquian breakfast, visit El Penol Rock with the option to climb it, stroll the colourful streets of Guatape, eat lunch at a local restaurant, cruise the reservoir by boat and meet the animals at a llama farm. Travel insurance is included. It is a shared tour that suits couples, friends and families, and it starts from a meeting point at El Poblado Park.
Highlights
- Climb El Penol Rock, or simply visit it, for wide views over the reservoir and its green islands
- Walk the colourful streets of Guatape and see its famous zocalos, the painted reliefs on the houses
- Take a boat ride on the Guatape reservoir
- Start the day with a traditional Antioquian breakfast and stop for lunch with vegetarian and vegan choices
- Meet llamas and other animals at a farm stop
- Travel with a certified guide, air-conditioned transport and travel insurance
Full Description
El Penol Rock (La Piedra del Penol)
El Penol Rock is a giant granite monolith that rises about 200 metres above the surrounding lakes and is the region's most famous landmark. A staircase built into a crack in the rock leads to the top, a climb of more than seven hundred steps that most people manage in 20 to 30 minutes. From the summit the reservoir spreads out like a puzzle of green islands and blue water.
The El Penol Rock climb is optional on this trip, and those who prefer not to climb can wait at the base and browse the stalls. The tour allows about an hour and a half at the rock, enough to go up, rest and take photos. The entrance fee is paid in cash on the spot. The best time to visit El Penol is in the morning, before the clouds and the crowds arrive.
The Colourful Town of Guatape
Guatape is one of the most photographed towns in Colombia. Its streets are lined with houses whose lower walls are covered with zocalos, painted and moulded reliefs that show family scenes, local crafts, animals and symbols of the village. Cobbled lanes, flower-filled balconies and bright doorways give the whole town a joyful feel, and the main church on the square is worth a look.
On this Guatape tour a guide first walks you through the centre, then you have about an hour and twenty minutes of free time to explore on your own. Head for the Plazoleta de los Zocalos to see the best reliefs, walk along the Malecon by the water and browse handicrafts. If you are looking for things to do in Guatape, wandering the lanes, taking photographs and finding a cafe corner are the top choices.
The Guatape Reservoir Boat Ride
The reservoir was created in the 1970s when a dam was built to produce hydroelectric power, flooding a wide valley and leaving hilltops as islands. The old town of El Penol lies beneath the water, and a replica village stands on the shore. A Guatape boat tour of about 40 minutes takes you across the calm water so you can see the islands, lakeside villas and the shape of the rock in the distance.
The boat ride gives you a different angle on the whole region and a lovely break after the climb and the town. Sit on the upper deck if you can, because that is where the views and the photographs are best. Music plays on board, and your guide shares stories about the reservoir and its history as you sail.
From Medellin: Breakfast, Lunch and the Llama Farm
The journey from Medellin to Guatape takes roughly two hours in total by road, including a stop for a traditional Antioquian breakfast about an hour after departure. The tour runs in a modern air-conditioned vehicle, the guide talks about the history and culture of the region on the way, and you return to El Poblado in the late afternoon. Anyone asking how to get from Medellin to Guatape will find that a Guatape day trip from Medellin removes the need to organise buses and transfers.
Lunch is served at a local restaurant with several options, including vegetarian and vegan choices. Before the drive back you also stop at a llama and animal farm, where children and adults can see llamas, sheep, goats and rabbits. The farm stop can be at one of two nearby places, decided by the guide on the day based on traffic and access.
Itinerary
- Meeting point at El Poblado ParkMeet your guide at El Poblado Park in Medellin at 06:50.
- Breakfast stopAfter about 70 minutes of driving, a traditional Antioquian breakfast of about 35 minutes.
- El Penol RockAround an hour and a half at the rock to climb the steps, enjoy the view or rest below.
- Guatape townA short guided walk of about 15 minutes, then about 80 minutes of free time in the colourful streets.
- LunchAbout 45 minutes for lunch at a local restaurant, with vegetarian and vegan options.
- Reservoir boat rideA boat cruise of about 40 minutes on the Guatape reservoir.
- Llama and animal farmA stop of around 25 minutes to meet llamas and other animals before the drive back.
- Return to MedellinAbout one hour and 45 minutes back, with drop-off in El Poblado in the late afternoon.
What's included
- Modern air-conditioned transport from Medellin
- Certified professional guide throughout the tour
- Travel insurance
- Traditional Antioquian breakfast
- Lunch with vegetarian and vegan options
- Boat tour on the Guatape reservoir
- Tour of the colourful town of Guatape
- Visit to El Penol Rock (climbing is optional)
- Visit to the llama and animal farm
Not included
- Entrance to El Penol Rock (paid in cash on site)
- Hotel pickup (optional add-on)
- Personal expenses and tips
Not suitable for
- People with mobility impairments and wheelchair users, because of the steps at El Penol Rock and cobbled streets in Guatape
- Travellers who cannot spend a long day on the road
Meeting point
This option starts from a meeting point at El Poblado Park in Medellin at 06:50, so plan to arrive about ten minutes early. Hotel pickup is not part of this option; a separate hotel pickup and drop-off option is offered in the booking panel for hotels in the El Poblado area near the park.
Important information
- Bring comfortable shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothes and cash.
- The entrance fee for El Penol Rock is paid in cash on site and is not included.
- Full names and passport numbers are needed for every guest to issue the travel insurance.
- The tour runs in all weather conditions, so bring a light rain jacket in the wet season.
- Children aged 2 and under travel on a parent's lap and are not served food.
- The tour is shared and is conducted in English and Spanish; add a note with your preferred language.
- The order of the stops can change at the guide's discretion.
- Personal expenses, tips and pets are not included or allowed.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Guatape and El Penol Rock day trip cost?
The price depends on the option you choose. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option. The entrance to El Penol Rock is paid separately in cash on site.
Is hotel pickup included?
Not in this option, which starts from El Poblado Park at 06:50. A separate option with hotel pickup and drop-off is offered in the booking panel for hotels near El Poblado Park.
How long is the Guatape tour?
The tour lasts about 10 and a half hours, from the 06:50 meeting until the late afternoon return to El Poblado.
Are breakfast, lunch and the boat ride included?
Yes. The tour includes a traditional Antioquian breakfast, lunch with vegetarian and vegan choices, the boat ride on the reservoir, a guide, travel insurance and transport. Only the El Penol Rock entrance is extra.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes. Guests aged 3 and over book as adults, and children aged 2 and under travel on a parent's lap without a seat or meal. The rock climb is optional.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable shoes for the steps, sun protection, light clothes, a jacket for cool weather and cash for the rock entrance. Passport details are needed at booking.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Choose your date in the booking panel and it will show whether the tour is still open. Because it leaves at 06:50, booking the day before is safest.
Do I have to climb El Penol Rock?
No. The climb is optional, and you can enjoy the base area and the rest of the day without going up.
What is the difference between the options?
The tour is the same for both options. One starts from a meeting point at El Poblado Park, and the other includes hotel pickup and drop-off for hotels in the El Poblado area, for an extra charge.
Is El Penol Rock worth visiting?
Yes. The view over the reservoir is among the most memorable in Colombia, and it fits perfectly with the town and boat ride on the same day.
