El Peñol Rock: how many steps it has, how much it costs to climb and tips

Steps

649 to 740

Climbing fee

COP 35,000 (2026)

Hours

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Time to climb

20 to 40 minutes

Height

About 200 m from the base

From Medellín

81 km, about 2 hours

El Peñol Rock (Piedra del Peñol) is the most famous rock in Colombia: a granite monolith about 200 meters tall that rises beside the Guatapé reservoir, 81 kilometers from Medellín. Climbing its steps is a must on any visit to the region, and from the top you get one of the most impressive views in the country: a maze of islands, peninsulas and blue-green water as far as the eye can see.

In this guide we tell you how many steps it has, how much it costs to climb, how long it takes, the opening hours and what to bring, plus the history of the rock and a few tips to enjoy the experience without hassle.

What is El Peñol Rock?

El Peñol Rock, also called Peñón de Guatapé or simply “la Piedra” (the Rock), is a granite outcrop of the Antioquia Batholith. According to geologists, it is about 65 million years old and is made up mainly of quartz, feldspar and mica. It stayed standing because the rock is less fractured than the surrounding ground, which eroded over time and left the monolith exposed.

Its summit sits at about 2,135 meters above sea level. From base to top it measures around 200 meters, although many guides say 220 meters if you count from the lowest point of the terrain. On one of its faces you can see huge white letters, a “G” and the stroke of a “U”: they are what is left of an attempt to paint the word GUATAPÉ, which we explain below.

How many steps does El Peñol Rock have?

The short answer: between 649 and 740 steps, depending on where you start and stop counting. Colombia Travel, the country’s official tourism guide, puts it at 649 steps to the top. Other sources count 708 or 740 because they include the sections at the base and the lookout tower, which is the highest point. For visitors, the number that matters is this: you will climb about 700 steps up and about as many back down.

The staircase is built into a natural crack in the rock and zigzags upward, with brick and concrete walls on either side. The steps are numbered, so you always know how far you have left, and there are rest stops with views at several points along the way.

How long does the climb take?

A person of average fitness climbs it in 20 to 40 minutes, stopping to catch their breath and take photos. The way down takes about 15 to 20 minutes. If you are traveling with children or older adults, or in high season when the staircase gets crowded, allow an hour to climb at an easy pace.

How much does it cost to climb El Peñol Rock?

You pay at the ticket booth at the base of the rock. In 2026 the fee is COP 35,000 per person. Entry is managed by the owner of the land, not the municipality, so the price can change without notice; in 2025 it was COP 30,000. Young children may have a different rate: ask at the ticket booth.

Opening hours and the best time to climb

The Rock is open every day of the year, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. These are the times we recommend:

• Early morning: between 8:00 and 10:00 there are fewer people and the sky is usually clearer.
• On weekdays: on weekends, long holiday weekends, Holy Week and in December there are lines at the ticket booth and on the stairs.
• Dry season: from December to March and from June to August it rains less. In the rainy months, afternoons tend to cloud over.

The climate in the area is mild, with temperatures between 15 and 25 °C. It is windier at the top, so a light jacket always comes in handy.

What’s at the top and what you can see

At the top there is a multi-level lookout, drink and snack stands and a few souvenir shops. The reward is the view: more than 2,200 hectares of reservoir forming forest-covered islands and peninsulas, the farms of the region and, on clear days, the mountains of eastern Antioquia.

From the top you can also see a cross on the water. It marks the spot where the old town of El Peñol stood, which was flooded when the reservoir was filled in the late 1970s. On the tour we visit the Réplica del Antiguo Peñol, a town that recreates the streets and church of the lost municipality.

History: the first ascent and the dispute over the letters

For centuries the rock was considered impossible to climb. On July 16, 1954, Luis Eduardo Villegas López, Pedro Nel Ramírez and Ramón Díaz made it to the top after five days of work, driving wooden poles into the crack in the rock to move up. That same crack is the one the staircase follows today.

The Rock sits on the border between the municipalities of Guatapé and El Peñol, and for years both claimed it. A group of Guatapé residents started painting their town’s name on the rock to stake their claim, but people from El Peñol found out, showed up and stopped the work. That is why only the “G” and part of the “U” remain. Today the Rock belongs to El Peñol, although almost everyone associates it with Guatapé.

Tips for climbing El Peñol Rock

1. Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. Some steps are tall and they can be wet.
2. Bring water and sunscreen. At this altitude the sun burns even when the day feels cool.
3. Carry cash in Colombian pesos for the entrance fee, drinks at the top and shopping in Guatapé.
4. Climb at your own pace. Stop at the rest areas, especially if you are not used to exercise or to the altitude.
5. Think about your health: if you have heart or knee problems or vertigo, check with your doctor first. The staircase is narrow and very steep in some sections.
6. Save energy for Guatapé: after the Rock, it is worth exploring the town and its zócalos.

How to get there from Medellín

The Rock is in the rural area (vereda) of La Piedra, about 2 kilometers before the center of Guatapé and 81 kilometers from Medellín via the Medellín–Bogotá highway and the road to Marinilla. The drive takes about 2 hours. You have three options:

• On a day tour: the most comfortable option. We pick you up at your hotel, the transportation goes straight there, and the day includes breakfast, lunch, a boat ride on the reservoir and a walk around Guatapé.
• By bus: buses leave from Medellín’s North Bus Terminal (Terminal del Norte). Ask to be dropped off at the entrance to the Rock, then walk or take a mototaxi up to the ticket booth.
• By car: there are paid parking lots near the ticket booth. In high season the road back gets congested, especially on Sunday afternoons.

What else to do in Guatapé after the Rock

A few minutes from the rock is Guatapé, known as the “town of zócalos” for the colorful relief figures that decorate the lower part of its house fronts. It is worth walking along the Calle del Recuerdo, the Plazoleta de los Zócalos, the lakeside promenade (malecón) and the main square.

Another must is the boat ride on the reservoir, which passes close to islands, farms and the cross of the old El Peñol. You can do all of this in a single day with the Guatapé Tour from Medellín, which also includes a stop at Alto del Chocho, where you can see llamas and enjoy the scenery.

Frequently asked questions

Keep planning your trip