Best 2026 Travel Guide To La Piedra del Peñol Colombia

Have you heard about the 650 steps to what some consider the best view in the world? That’s about experiencing La Piedra del Peñol Colombia, a huge rock monolith in this South American country. 

Your trip to Guatapé, Colombia, is incomplete without visiting the natural wonder that is Piedra del Peñol. Trekking to this popular tourist destination will provide a breathtaking view of Antioquia and surrounding towns, with the fingers of picturesque Guatape Lake stretching along the rolling hills and vast green mountainscape.

This article is a travel guide to the wondrous rock of Guatapé, its history, and how you can get there and make the most out of your trip. 

So, let’s cut to the chase and take the first step.

Basic Info – La Piedra del Peñol Colombia

Also known as Al Peñol or El Peñón de Guatapé, the La Piedra del Peñol is a gigantic rock, located between the towns of Guatapé and El Peñol in Antioquia, Colombia. It stands at an elevation of 2,135 meters and is one of the largest monoliths in the world.

From a cultural and historical point of view, La Piedra is one of the most prominent attractions in Guatapé. It is one of the main reasons crowds of tourists make a beeline for Guatapé to get a glimpse of the historic La Piedra. 

La Piedra del Peñol was named Mojarra or Mujara by the Tahami Indians, the indigenous tribe inhabiting the area. The natives acknowledged the significance of the rock and worshiped the gigantic La Piedra (the Rock).

La Piedra stands 200 meters above the earth and is estimated to be around 10 million tons of granite. Its huge size and the fact that it is the most prominent rock standing alone on an almost completely flat land surface makes it impossible to miss, and you can view it even if you are miles away.

La Piedra’s surface is almost smooth, except for a long crack that runs up to the base of the rock’s face. There is a 650-step staircase, which visitors can climb to the top of the rock.

History of La Piedra del Peñol Colombia

Geologists believe that La Piedra is almost 65 million years old. It was climbed for the first time on July 16, 1954, by Ramon Diaz, Luis Villegas Lopez, and Pedro Nel Ramirez.

In the past, there have been ownership disputes over the rock between El Peñol and Guatapé. When you see the rock’s face, you will see the two huge letters painted white. The letters read GI; however, the second letter is an unfinished U. 

Guatapé tried to write its name on La Piedra but was intercepted by a large crowd of residents of El Peñol.

La Piedra is a natural stone formation and is considered the result of a volcanic eruption. Such formations occur when molten rock cools down and turns into the solid underground. The Inselberg is a part of the Cordillera Occidental Mountain Range located near the Colombian Andes Mountains. The Colombian government built the masonry staircase on the rock in 2006.

The rock is surrounded by the river Nare reservoir. The reservoir is artificial and formed as a component of the national hydroelectricity project. The reservoir alone caters to more than 35% of electricity consumption in Colombia. In addition, the electricity produced from the reservoir is also sold to neighboring countries like Venezuela. 

When the hydroelectricity project was initiated, the old El Peñol town was immersed in the project and is now submerged underwater. Consequently, tens of thousands of locals of the old town were relocated to the new El Peñol town, which you can fully view when you get to the top of the La Piedra del Peñol. 

You can see a giant cross spearing through the reservoir water, which indicates the spot where the old town was originally and is now inundated underwater. 

How to Get to La Piedra del Peñol Colombia

La Piedra del Peñol is located just outside Guatapé, an almost 2-hour drive from Medellin. 

If you are already in Guatapé, you can easily find your way to La Piedra and add this charming destination to your itinerary as a day tour. You can go on foot; the stroll from the square (Parque Principal de Guatapé) down the road to the rock takes almost 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can jump aboard a tricycle taxi, commonly known as the tuk-tuk, to travel from the square or the Plazoleta de Los Zocalos. The ride will cost you around 10,000 Colombian Pesos ($3-$4).

However, if you first need to get to Guatapé from Medellin, that is not difficult either. You can take a taxi or Uber to get to the Terminal del Torte, the Medellin bus station in the north, or, if you prefer to go by train, the Caribe metro station. From there, you can travel to Guatapé on the bus. A ticket to Guatapé will cost you around 16,000 Colombian Pesos ($6-$7). 

Local buses run almost all day and are quite comfortable, and the view is also beautiful. The journey will also be very enjoyable if you are lucky enough to get a window seat. Most tourists prefer to stay in Guatapé, but you can also stay in El Peñol. 

Guatapé itself is a very interesting and lively town and offers many attractions with its gorgeous landscapes and adventurous activities. The buildings in Guatapé are quite interesting to look at as the walls have 3D paintings depicting beautiful mountains or village scenes. 

As for accommodations, you can stay in comfortable hostels or lodges and explore the town in the daytime. Walking around the town feels like you are roaming in an art gallery. Alternatively, if you do not want to stay overnight in Guatapé, a convenient and economical option is just to book a day trip. 

Climbing La Piedra del Peñol Colombia

Once you have gotten to La Piedra, next comes the monumental task of hiking on the rock to get to the top. The most common and obvious option is to climb the crisscrossing stairway of 650 steps (or 740, depending on who is counting) built in the vertical crack along the length of the La Piedra.

If you have mountaineering experience and are fond of the activity, you can choose rock climbing and book a rock-climbing tour. The booking process can easily be done online.

There is a large area with numerous restaurants and souvenir shops for tourists at the base. Also, a huge parking lot can be seen in the same area. You will need to climb to the side of the hill to get to the flat base area of La Piedra.

How Much Does It Cost to Go to La Piedra del Peñol Colombia?

There is a ticket booth at the arrival point where you have to pay an entrance fee of 20,000 Colombia Pesos per person to climb La Piedra del Peñol. The zigzag masonry staircase is located at the right of the ticket booth. 

The climb is steep and short and may seem tedious, but the view at the top is worth all the effort.

How to Enjoy La Piedra del Peñol Colombia

Depending on your health and fitness level, it may take 15 to 30 minutes to climb to the flat surface of the Guatapé rock. However, if you feel tired and want to rest in between, there is a small catholic shrine at the halfway mark, also used as a small resting place. Once you have rested, you can resume the climb to get to the top.

Once you reach the flat surface, you can spend some time there. There are many food options in terms of vendors and restaurants. There is also an observation tower, the highest part of which offers breathtaking views. You can enjoy food from one of the eateries or go straight to the top of the tower to see the 360-degree views.

The observation tower is three-story high, and you can get to the highest part for sightseeing through a spiral staircase. Once you have reached the top, be prepared to be amazed as you see the panoramic views of the beautiful countryside.

If you visit La Piedra on a clear day, you can see for miles in all directions. There is the beautiful Guatapé Lake and the reservoir for the hydroelectric power project in the north, while in the south, there is the beautiful countryside with charming villages and lush green hills.

You can easily spend an hour or so soaking in the scenic sights. The top offers the best views in the area, and the climb will seem worth the effort. 

If interested, you can also purchase trinkets or souvenirs from the souvenir shop for friends, family, or yourself on your way back to remind you of the trip and the magical time spent on the top.

Frequently Asked Questions – La Piedra del Peñol Colombia

Where Is La Piedra del Peñol in Colombia?

La Piedra Del Peñol is located near Guatapé in Antioquia, Colombia. Guatapé is almost two hours’ drive away from Medellin.

How Tall Is La Piedra del Peñol Colombia?

La Piedra del Peñol is around 721 feet tall, i.e., 219 meters. It has an altitude of 2,135 meters above sea level. The top of the observation tower stands at around 7,054 feet.

Is It Hard to Climb La Piedra del Peñol Colombia?

A zigzag staircase of 650 stairs is built in the vertical crack along the length of the La Piedra del Peñol. The climb to the top is short and steep, and it can take 15 to 30 minutes to get to the flat surface of the rock where the observation deck is located.

Conclusion – La Piedra del Peñol Colombia

Most travelers to La Piedra del Peñol Colombia consistently end the experience with raves about the beautiful view and consider the challenging climb very much worth it.

So if you’re planning to visit Colombia, don’t miss out on the amazing view from atop La Piedra del Peñol and include this wonder as one of the destinations in your travel plans. It is definitely one of the best places to visit.

Since this destination is near Medellin, check out our related articles to make the most of your travel to Colombia.

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