Guatapé is a very popular day trip from Medellin and one of the top attractions is actually located outside of the city. La Piedra del Peñol is a massive, naturally occurring rock with manmade staircases. If you climb the more than 700 stairs to the top, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the surrounding area. Spot the lagoon, islands, and the surrounding mountains.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting La Piedra del Peñol.
How to Get to La Piedra del Peñol from Guatapé
There are two ways to get to La Piedra del Peñol from Guatapé (assuming that you don’t have your own vehicle). The first is to walk. This is a doable walk, but note that it’s about five kilometers one way from Guatapé to La Piedra del Peñol. I briefly considered walking, but decided against it in the end. I had been doing plenty of walking within Guatapé and knew that I’d want energy for the 700+ stair climb to the top of La Piedra del Peñol.
The second option is to take a tuktuk. Colorful tuktuks line Parque Principal in Guatapé waiting for visitors to need their services (the front of the tuktuk line is right near the church). The good news is that these tuktuks are regulated so there’s no need to negotiate a price. There’s actually a price sheet in the back of the tuktuk listing popular destinations.
At the time of writing, there were two options for a tuktuk to La Piedra del Peñol. The first cost 14,000 COP and takes you to the gas station near the bottom (your driver may refer to this as “bajo” for the lower stop). From here, you’ll have a bit of a climb until you reach the main ticket office. It’s not a long walk, but it is steps on top of what you’ll be doing at La Piedra del Peñol.
The second option is to go to the upper parking lot for La Piedra del Peñol. This costs 22,000 COP and eliminates that stair climb (though obviously you’ll still have to climb the stairs to the top of the rock).
It’s your choice whether you want to walk or take a tuktuk. I saw the tuktuk as part of the experience and was glad I did it (because it saved close to 10 kilometers of walking). Note that the price of the tuktuk is per journey. So if you have a group of two or three, splitting the price of the tuktuk makes it incredibly cheap per person.
For those wanting to go back to Guatapé, there will be tuktuks waiting both at the top drop off point and at the lower drop off point by the gas station.
Entrance Fees for La Piedra del Peñol
A ticket for La Piedra del Peñol costs 35,000 COP per adult (less for children). Most importantly, this payment must be made in cash. Credit cards are not accepted, so make sure to bring enough cash with you. That said, there did look to be an ATM right near the ticket office.
Climbing to the Top of La Piedra del Peñol
Once you buy your ticket, it’s time to start your climb to the top of La Piedra del Peñol. All things considered, it’s a pretty boring climb as it is just seemingly endless stairs. You’ll have about 650 stairs until you reach the main viewing area and then there’s another 50 or so stairs up a spiral staircase to the top viewing platform. In total, it’s 704 stairs, but most people stop and take a break once they reach that first viewing area.
As you climb, you’ll get some views, but honestly, it’s not that impressive (at least compared to the top). What I found myself focusing on is the stairs themselves. Every 25 stairs are marked, so you can easily track your progress. While progress can feel slow and never-ending, you’ll always have a good idea of how much you’ve already climbed (and how much further you’ll have to go).
About half way up, there’s a small shrine. This is a great place for a break if you need one because it’s a bit out of the way of the main staircase.
Speaking of the main stair case, note that it is narrow and passing can be difficult. Based on what I had read on other blogs, I assumed that passing would be impossible. It wasn’t, but I’m not going to say it’s as easy as passing people on the sidewalk. So while you probably don’t want to get stuck behind someone who is going incredibly slow, you will likely get some kind of opportunity to pass.
On the way down, you’ll also take the stairs. There are actually two stair cases on La Piedra del Peñol: one for those ascending and one for those descending. So even though the staircases are narrow, you never have to worry about people passing in the opposite direction.
At the Top of La Piedra del Peñol
There are two different viewing areas. The first area you reach is larger and more popular for those who just want to hang out and enjoy the view. There are also stands selling water, gatorade, beer, ice cream, souvenirs, and more. What better way to reward yourself for climbing 650 stairs than with an ice cream or beer?
That said, I think the best views come from climbing the last 50 stairs to the top viewing platform.
How Long Do You Need at La Piedra del Peñol
I think it depends on the person, but in general budget a minimum of one hour, though you could stay for longer. After climbing the stairs (and paying the entrance fee), I wanted to enjoy the view at the top before descending.
Note that at the top of La Piedra del Peñol and at the bottom surrounding the ticket office, there are places to shop and eat. At the top it’s pretty basic with vendors selling drinks and ice cream, but at the bottom, you can find actual restaurants. And of course, there are plenty of souvenir shopping opportunities.
Note that my one hour minimum does not account for any travel time to or from La Piedra del Peñol.
When to Visit La Piedra del Peñol
The time of day, as well as the day of the week, can have a big impact on your enjoyment of La Piedra del Peñol. In general, if you want the fewest crowds, go early in the morning, right when La Piedra del Peñol opens (typically around 7:00 or 8:00 am). The crowds are lowest at this point because all of the day trippers from Medellin haven’t made it in yet.
I visited at 2:00 in the afternoon and while there were other visitors, it never felt overwhelming. Based on what other bloggers had said, I was expecting super narrow staircases filled with people. That wasn’t my experience at all, but I may have gotten lucky.
If you can, avoid the weekends as this is when Guatapé and La Piedra del Peñol get the busiest. I spent three nights in Guatapé and the Saturday of my visit, I couldn’t believe how many people were in Guatapé. Don’t get me wrong, people made the trip every day, but the weekends were so much busier.
How to Get to Guatapé from Medellin
Many people visit Guatapé on a day trip to Medellin. If you’re looking for a guided tour, you’ll find plenty of options available, but it’s super easy to do on your own.
From Medellin’s North bus terminal, you can catch a bus to Guatapé. Buses run every 30 minutes from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm. The journey takes anywhere from two to three hours (depending on how much traffic you hit). My bus to Guatapé took about two and a half hours, but my return journey was actually under two hours (though it should be noted that I caught a bus at 7:00 am on a Sunday). Buses cost 25,000 COP (as of February 2026) and can be purchased from ticket counter #14.
If you’re doing your own day trip from Medellin, I recommend taking an early bus from Medellin. When you board, ask to be dropped off at El Peñol (or just say La Piedra). From here, you can visit La Piedra del Peñol. Then catch a tuktuk from La Piedra del Peñol to Guatapé. When you’re finished in Guatapé, you can catch a bus from the station in Guatapé.
What Else to Do in Guatapé, Colombia
La Piedra del Peñol is not the only thing to do in Guatapé, but it is the most popular. Guatapé itself is colorful, fun town to explore. It is touristy, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Stroll through it’s colorful streets, looking for the zoletas (colorful images painted on the lower levels of the buildings—they are everywhere across the city), get a good meal, and stroll along the malecon.
For those staying longer, there are plenty of hikes in the area. While you may need a guide to reach some of the more remote hikes, Mirador San Jose offers a nice view. Mirador San Luis is closer to the city center and would be a great place for sunset (too bad it was cloudy when I visited).
How Long Do You Need in Guatapé, Colombia
As I’ve mentioned throughout this article, most people visit on a day trip from Medellin and you could hit the highlights on a day trip. I spent three nights in the city and that gave me two full days to explore. On my first day, I did all of the typical tourist things and visited La Piedra del Peñol and strolled the town. On my second day, I did some hiking and relaxed.
Final Thoughts
La Piedra del Peñol is a major draw for visitors to Guatapé, and while it comes with incredible views, it shouldn’t be the only thing you see when you’re in Guatapé. That said, don’t skip it. See La Piedra del Peñol and climb to the top. You won’t regret it.
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