El Peñol Rock in Guatapé: how many steps, price, hours, history and how to get there

El Peñol Rock, also called El Peñón de Guatapé or simply the Guatapé rock, is the single most visited natural landmark in Colombia. It is a granite monolith over 200 metres tall standing alone above a reservoir, with a concrete staircase wedged into its main crack. The view from the top, hundreds of green islands on blue water, is the image that put Guatapé on every Colombia itinerary.

This guide answers the questions travellers actually search for, in order: how many steps, how much it costs, opening hours, how tall it is, who climbed it first, who owns it and how to get there.

How many steps does El Peñol Rock have?

The staircase has 740 steps to the upper viewpoint. The numbers are painted on the steps so you can track your progress, and there are landings with railings along the way. A reasonably fit adult reaches the top in 20 to 30 minutes with breaks for air and photos.

A few tips for the climb:

• Go early or after 3 pm. At midday the sun hits the rock directly and queues are longest.
• Bring water, although there are kiosks at the top selling drinks and the local mango michelada.
• Wear closed shoes. The steps are uneven and slippery after rain.
• With small children or older travellers the climb is demanding but doable at a slow pace. There is no lift and no alternative route.

How much is the entrance to El Peñol Rock?

The ticket costs roughly COP 25,000 to 30,000 per person, about 6 to 8 US dollars, paid at the booth at the foot of the stairs. The price edges up each year, so confirm on arrival. Parking is charged separately.

The ticket covers the climb, the viewpoints and the tower at the summit. Food, drinks and souvenirs are sold separately at the top and at the base.

Opening hours

The rock is open every day from 8 am to 6 pm, with last entry around 5 pm so you can come down in daylight. Weekends and Colombian public holidays are the busiest. Go on a weekday if you can.

How tall is El Peñol Rock?

The rock rises about 220 metres from its base and the summit sits at 2,135 metres above sea level. Its perimeter is over 600 metres and it is estimated to weigh more than 10 million tonnes. It is a granite and quartz diorite formation roughly 65 million years old, with two thirds of its mass below ground.

History of El Peñol Rock

For centuries the rock was a place of worship for the Tahamí people, who called it Mojarrá or Mujará, meaning stone or crag. Nobody reached the top until July 1954, when Luis Eduardo Villegas López, with Pedro Nel Ramírez and Ramón Díaz, climbed it over five days using wooden boards wedged into the crack where the staircase now sits.

The concrete stairs were built afterwards and the rock became the main attraction of eastern Antioquia. When the valley was flooded in the 1970s to create the Peñol–Guatapé reservoir, the rock ended up surrounded by water and the view from the top became what you see today.

One curiosity: on one face you will see a painted "G" and half a "U". Guatapé tried to paint its name on the rock during its dispute with the neighbouring town of El Peñol over which municipality owns it. Residents of El Peñol stopped the work and the letters were left unfinished.

Who owns El Peñol Rock?

The rock stands on private land owned by the Villegas family, descendants of the first climber. They run the entrance and maintain the staircase. The monolith was declared a National Monument in 1940 and is protected, but it is not a public park.

Where is El Peñol Rock?

It is in the hamlet of the same name on the border between the municipalities of Guatapé and El Peñol, in eastern Antioquia, about 80 kilometres from Medellín. The rock is 2 kilometres from Guatapé town, so you can climb in the morning and have lunch among the painted zócalos.

How to get to El Peñol Rock from Medellín

There are three options, covered in detail in our Medellín to Guatapé guide. In short:

1. Bus from Medellín's Terminal del Norte with Sotrasanvicente or Sotrapeñol. Departures roughly every 30 minutes, about two hours, and you can ask to be dropped at La Piedra before the town.
2. Car along the Medellín–Bogotá highway to Marinilla, then El Peñol. Between 1 h 45 and 2 h 30 depending on traffic.
3. Day tour, which usually bundles transport, the rock and a boat ride.

If you stay at Atma Villas, the rock is 15 minutes away by car, or a short boat ride plus car. Many guests climb it at sunrise on their second morning, before breakfast, when there are no queues.

Is El Peñol Rock worth it?

Yes. It is a half-hour climb you remember for life, and the view of the reservoir from the top explains why Guatapé became Medellín's favourite weekend escape. Pair it with a walk through the town's zócalos and an afternoon on the water and you have a full day.

To sleep facing that same reservoir, with a private jacuzzi and the rock in view from your villa, see our Soul Horizons collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many steps is the Guatapé rock?

740 steps to the summit viewpoint. The steps are numbered.

How much does it cost to climb El Peñol?

Between COP 25,000 and 30,000 per person, paid at the ticket booth. Parking is extra.

What time does El Peñol Rock open?

8 am to 6 pm daily, with last entry at around 5 pm.

How long does it take to climb El Peñol?

20 to 30 minutes at a normal pace with breaks. Coming down takes about 15 minutes.

Is the rock in Guatapé or El Peñol?

On the border between both towns. The entrance and most services are on the Guatapé side.