Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 20 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin worth booking?
Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin is a 8-hour experience in Medellín, Colombia, from $199 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 20 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 60 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (20)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $199 per person
Head two hours east of Medellin to discover the charm of Guatape town. Your day trip will be filled with cobble-stoned streets, colorful facades, a huge natural rock and beautiful landscapes.
What you get
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entry tickets
- Typical Colombian lunch
- Expert guide in Spanish or English
About this experience
Head two hours east of Medellin to discover the charm of Guatape town. Your day trip will be filled with cobble-stoned streets, colorful facades, a huge natural rock and beautiful landscapes.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entry tickets
- Typical Colombian lunch
- Expert guide in Spanish or English
Not included
- Optional tips and gratuities
- Unspecified food or beverage
- Personal expenses
- Boat ride along the dam
What you'll see and do
Guatape Dam
This tour will take you to one of Colombia’s must-see attractions: the massive rock La Piedra de Guatapé, also known as El Peñol or simply La Piedra (The Stone). Merely a one-and-a-half hour drive east of Medellín, the rock is located right next to the Peñol-Guatapé Dam, near the border of the towns Guatapé and El Peñol. You’ll be breathless after climbing up the 649 stairs – not only because of the hike but also the astonishing view!
Piedra Del Penol
As soon as you get off the bus, you are ready to start the hike up to the top of La Piedra, where you’ll have time to relax and marvel at the panoramic view over the beautiful lake and its magnificent surroundings. Back at the bottom, you’ll have a closer look at the environment and capture its beauty from different perspectives. You will also get to hear the story about the letters G and U imprinted on the north side of the rock, telling us about two cities claiming El Peñol as their own. The next part of our tour includes visiting the gorgeous colorful town of Guatapé. Walking down the cobblestone streets of the laid-back village you’ll admire the decorative panels at the base of the houses. In Guatapé you’ll also get a delicious meal in one of the nicest traditional restaurants with the best local ingredients. After a good hike, and a walk through the town of Guatapé, you’ll return to the bus and will be on your way back to Medellín.
240 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Impulse Travel
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We recommend wearing comfortable clothes ans shoes as well as sunscreen and a cap or hat.
- Changes on the tour may occur due to external factors. These changes will be notified to you with anticipation.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 20 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
6 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Food and drink
4 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
20 verified traveler reviews for Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
A must do tour when in Medellin
Excellent private trip to Guatape and El Peñol. Doriel was our tour guide, he was amazing, very informative and attentive throughout the whole trip. He gave ha enough time for all the experience. The boat ride in the lake was a big plus, a better perspective of the stone. Lunch at Guatapé was incredible and the city was beautiful and magical. Doriel made this trip a wonderful experience. Ask for him, very knowledgeable!!!!! Gracias por una experiencia inolvidable!!!!
Response from the operator: We are thrilled to hear that your trip to Guatapé and El Peñol was an unforgettable experience. Doriel is truly a star—his deep knowledge, attentiveness, and perfect pacing are exactly what make our private journeys so special. We're so glad you loved the boat ride perspective of the monolithic stone and that incredible local lunch in the colorful streets of Guatapé. Your high recommendation and praise for Doriel mean the world to us, and we will make sure he gets this glowing shout-out. Whenever you're ready for another magical adventure in Colombia, you know where to find us
via Tripadvisor
If you go up….
You must go down 2!!! Super awesome experience doing this tour, the guide was super informative and made out tour fun, highly recommend
Response from the operator: Thank you x2 for joining us on the Private Guatape and El Penol Day-Trip! 🙌 We're thrilled you had an amazing time with our informative and fun guide. Your recommendation means the world to us. 🌟 Looking forward to more adventures together! 🌎🚀
via Tripadvisor
Guatapé Day Trip
Thought the company that employs our guide (Impulse Travel) didn’t confirm the guide would be arriving the next day after I provided our pickup address and requested confirmation, our guide and driver did show up as scheduled. Oscar, our guide) was very knowledgeable of the area we passed through on the way to Guatapé. We made a brief stop in El Penon to visit a very ornate church with its exterior built to look like Guatapé. Then we visited the rock and climbed all 675 steps to the top. The views from there are amazing. After we left the area around the rock, we visited the quaint town of Guatape admiring the zocalos and ate a delicious lunch of fresh caught fish. I highly recommend our guide but don’t recommend Impulse Travel.
via Viator
Amazing Trip Thanks to Impulse Travel
I used Impulse Travel for all the activities I did during my 4 day trip to Medellin. Felipe coordinated the entire itinerary and made a few changes to accommodate the conditions in Medellin. Day 1: Coffee Tour. It was just amazing. I am a coffee lover and really enjoyed every aspect of the tour. We ended the tour at a roastery and coffee shop - Urbania. At Ubania had one of the best coffee I have tried during the trip. Day 1 a: City tour with Diana. We started with a lunch at "In Situ" at the botanical gardens. Diana knew I was vegetarian and took good care of my dietary requirements. Diana knew Medellin very well and spoke very good English. We went from lunch to Plaza Botero and walked around the city. We tried some local delicacies and fruits. Day 2: Pablo Who Tour and Comuna 13 trip. Ruben was the guide for day. We started the day at Mira Flores and took the Cable Car up the hill. Ruben talked about how the city had transformed itself over the years. We then went to the Memorial Museum (Museo Casa de la Memoria) and the museum guide and Ruben walked me through each of the exhibits. Lunch was at Govinda's and we had some amazing vegetarian food. After lunch we drove to Comuna 13. Comuna 13 was one of the most dangerous place in the world in the 1980's to early 2000. The transformation is very visible and we had someone who had lived there tell us the story. Day 3: Guatape and El Penol. Diana was the guide for the day. Diana did an amazing job both sharing the history, culture and food. We started really early as it was a weekend and expected to get really crowded. We stooped on the way to have some delicious Colombian breakfast - Pan de Queso, Arepa de chocolo and Torta de chocolo. We reached El Penol at about 9:00 AM and it was already getting crowded. We climbed up the 740 steps. The views from the top were STUNNING. They had some green mangoes with lemon at the top. Just what was needed after a long climb. We walked down and drove to the lake took a quick 1 hour boat ride. The views were amazing. Diana shared the legend of the blue dragon during the boat ride. The legend of the blue dragon. A priest over 100 years ago claimed that the city of Guatape would be swallowed by blue dragon. In 1960 the Colombian government decided to build a dam. They flooded this city and moved the residents. After the flooding when people looked at the satellite picture were shocked by what they saw. The boat ride ended with a walk around Guatape and the must take picture of the street with umbrellas. We wrapped up around 12 and drove to Bosko hotel for a lunch. The drive back to Medellin took about 2 hours. All in all the trip planned by Felipe and supported by Diana and Ruben were just amazing. I thank Diana for all the stories and sharing amazing locations, food and culture with me.
via Tripadvisor
One of my favourite day trips in Colombia
Such a great day! We had an amazing guide who taught us lots about the area, took us for coffee and an amazing lunch. We learnt and saw much more of the area than I was expecting. The view from the top will not disappoint and wasn't as difficult as I thought to reach the top! Enjoy a michelada before you head down. Would highly recommend. Even just the drive to and from Guatape is stunning.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $199 to $817
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 7
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Impulse Travel, who run 34 experiences we rank across 3 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.1.
See everything Impulse Travel runsWhy this scores 60
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Medellín.
How much does Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin cost?
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Prices start at $199 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Medellín usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Medellín is not rushed.
Is Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 20 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Medellín, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin?
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Around 7 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Medellín can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Medellín and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Guatape and El Peñol Day-Trip from Medellin start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Medellín within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Medellín?
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On Outty we rank every Medellín experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Guatapé Tour: Piedra del Peñol with Boat Tour, Breakfast, Lunch, Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with Street Food, Half Day Bike Tour in Medellin - Local snack, Coffee or Beer. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Medellín?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Medellín?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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