Guatape is located in the outskirts of Medellín, bordering a reservoir created by the Colombian government for a hydro-electric damn, built in the late 1960s.
The reservoir has created a beautiful landscape full of hills and lakes. The lake covers thousands of acres and can be explored by renting a boat. On weekends, it's also possible to take one of the large party boats, one of which functions as a hotel.
Guatape's main attraction is the large rock otherwise known as Piedra del Peñol or simply El Penol. With two thirds of its height below ground, the exposed vertical face of the rock is over 200 meters high.
You can scale the rock via a staircase with 644 steps built into one side. Upon reaching the top there are some beautiful views of the surrounding lakes and countryside. |
