After our decent down El Penol, we wandered along the malecon with our twin 4-year-old boys and had a fun afternoon. There are vendors along the walk with everything from fruits to empanadas and dulces galore! I thoroughly enjoy Colombian food so being able to buy and try bits of this and that along the way was quite the treat. It's not a bad way to sample Colombian food without having to buy huge meals, and potentially waste a bunch of food that your kids don't like. Try the filled churros or the lulo juice or the guama beans - delicious!There are two zip lines, one for little kids. It's a chair with lots of straps to secure them in. I love zip lines and have been trying to find a safe one for my little guys to try. We finally found it in Guatape. They LOVED it! They hopped off their seats at the end and came racing back to us with face-splitting smiles screaming, "Can I do it again?" Luckily, it was cheap so they could go a few times. Walk the streets a little behind the malecon as well. They facades are intricately decorated with painted panels on the bottoms of the walls. These little streets are absolutely charming with all their flowers too. We went on a Saturday and it was not too busy. Locals tell us Sundays are the busiest on the malecon. Enjoy a relaxing walk, and a bite or two, while you're in Guatape - you won't be disappointed!
I went their last year during an internship with 2 other collegues. We took a tour to go there. The trip takes hours but they make stops to get food, stretch ur legs and use the bathroom. We went to different touristic attractions and our guide was very helpfull and kind with information and knowledge of all around. Deffinately worth it. One of those tours you gotta try atleast once.
Not something many Canadians would with impressed by...full of people on the week-ends. Go on a week day if you must...
It has a nice tourist infrastructure, with beautiful landscapes, really nice weather. 2.5 hours from Medellín beacause of de road but it worth to visit Guatape.
Majestic Andes surround the area, including the quaint picturesque town of Guatapé, the lake, one of the country's largest lakes, created by the construction of a hydroelectric dam that provides 30% of Colombia’s electricity supply, and the region's most famous attraction, a 200+ meter high rock outcropping that towers over the surrounding area, El Peñol de Guatapé. Over 600 stairs have been built into the side of this enormous geological marvel, allowing safe access to the top, where a viewpoint offers spectacular views.
the big rock remaindered me of structures at Zion National Park. Take public transportation don't book a tour. Slow walk up, great views and the pueblo is very picturesque.
The "Piedra" or "Peñon" was a fantastic 740 step walk to the top with an incredible view of the laguna below. The area reminds me much of the area where I live in México, specifically Coatepec and Xico, Veracruz which are also coffee growing regions. The village of Guatepé is charming, with extremely friendly people and I would love to go back again.
This place is absolutely magical. It is beautiful, well organized, clean, and rather inexpensive to climb el pennol. The town of guatape itself is adorable and so welcoming. great place to have an inexpensive local meal for sure. To climb, there are 740 steps to the very top, but very much worth the climb. The way down is separate from the way up to avoid traffic, which is clever. The views only get better the higher you get. It is located about 2 hours from Medellin depending on traffic, so it is worth making it an all day event. Lots of places around to go swimming in the dam, jet skiing, etc too.
We joined a tourist coach trip 10 mind from our hostal.Comfortable, safe driver and Spanish speaking guide. A really good day, old colonial towns, rock church, then the Pier a Penon which is a must, boat trip and town tour. The lakes, reservoirs, are stunning from the rock, the boat and the shore. Salsa dancing by locals out on the boat was really colourful. Great day at a very reasonable price cop 64.000.
this place is a piece of heaven. when u climb the rock of Penol and look around you it feels like paradise, one of the most amazing places I've ever been to. Worth spending at lest 2-3 days something that I never did and still regret it.