Private Guatapé Tour from Medellín: El Peñol Rock, Town and Private Boat
A full-day private trip from anywhere in Medellín to Guatapé, about 2 hours each way. You'll have your own vehicle, driver and bilingual guide. The day includes the Piedra del Peñol (740 steps, climb optional), a guided walk through Guatapé's painted zócalo streets, and a 1-hour private boat tour of the reservoir that flooded the old town of El Peñol in 1978.
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Tour at a glance
| Price (per group, private) | 1–8 people: 1,800,000 COP per group (1 van) 9–16 people: 2,700,000 COP per group (2 vans, +900,000 COP for the second van) US dollar amount shown at checkout at the live exchange rate. |
|---|---|
| Duration | Full day, about 9 hours including about 2 hours' drive each way |
| Start time | Any time from 6am. We recommend starting early to beat the crowds at the rock. The example day below starts at 7am. |
| Pickup | Your hotel or Airbnb anywhere in Medellín, or José María Córdova airport (MDE, Rionegro). Airport pickup or drop-off costs the same. |
| Included | Private vehicle and driver, private bilingual guide (English, Spanish or French), visit to El Peñol rock, guided Guatapé town tour, 1-hour private boat tour of the lake |
| Not included | Meals and drinks, El Peñol climb ticket (35,000 COP per person in 2026, cash only; see notes), optional extras (jet ski, helicopter ride; priced individually with you), tips |
| Group size | Up to 8 per van. Groups of 9–16 travel in 2 vans. Maximum 16 people. |
| Cancellation | No cancellations or refunds, because your driver, guide and boat are reserved for you. You can reschedule with at least 7 days' notice. |
Your day, step by step (example with a 7am start)
Your private driver and guide pick you up at your hotel or Airbnb anywhere in Medellín, in a car or van depending on group size. Flying in or out? We can pick you up at, or drop you off at, José María Córdova airport (MDE) in Rionegro, which is on the way, at the same price. Only need a ride from the airport? See our Medellín airport transfer page. The drive east to Guatapé takes about 2 hours.
The first stop is the granite monolith, about 220 m tall, with a 740-step staircase. Climbing is optional; the entrance ticket isn't included. If you skip the climb, there are viewpoints, shops and cafés at the base.
Walk the streets lined with zócalos, the painted reliefs along the base of the houses. You'll see the main plaza and the Church of Our Lady of Carmen, browse the shops and hear the town's history from your guide.
Your private boat is waiting when your group is ready. There's no shared party boat. On the way you'll see:
- Lake scenery: green islands and inlets, the hilltops of the valley flooded in the 1970s.
- Pablo Escobar's Finca La Manuela, seen from the water. The former estate is now dilapidated. It's a viewing stop only, and going ashore isn't part of the tour.
- The site of the underwater church, where old El Peñol's parish church stood before the 1978 flooding. It's marked by a cross. The church itself isn't visible under the water, but there's a life-size replica of the old church on the outskirts of town, an optional stop if you'd like (the story below).
- Lakeside mansions, including homes of famous Colombian soccer players.
Optional extras such as jet skis or a helicopter ride over the reservoir can be arranged. They're priced individually with your group.
About 2 hours' drive back to your hotel or Airbnb in Medellín, or to the airport (MDE).
Price
This is a private tour priced per group, not per person. It includes the vehicle, driver, bilingual guide and private boat.
| Group size | Vehicles | Price per group | Per person (full group) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–8 people | 1 van | 1,800,000 COP | 225,000 COP with 8 people |
| 9–16 people | 2 vans | 2,700,000 COP | 168,750 COP with 16 people |
Airport pickup or drop-off (MDE) costs the same. Card payments carry a 3.5% processing fee, shown at checkout. Prices in COP; the USD figure is an estimate at the live rate.
Private vs. shared tour vs. doing it yourself
| Our private tour | Shared bus tour | DIY by public bus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | From 1,800,000 COP per group | About 109,000–149,000 COP per person (operators' 2026 prices) | 20,000–22,000 COP each way |
| Pickup | Your door or MDE airport, from 6am | Fixed meeting points, about 7am | Terminal del Norte (Metro: Caribe), buses 5am–8pm |
| Boat | Private boat, 1 hour | Usually a shared "party" boat | Buy on the waterfront |
| Pace | Yours | Group schedule, often with extra stops | Yours, but you handle all logistics |
| Guide | Private, EN/ES/FR | Shared, often Spanish-first | None |
El Peñol rock: facts box
| Steps | 740 to the top, according to the site's operator. Other sources count 702, depending on where they stop counting. |
|---|---|
| Height | About 220 m above its base; summit about 2,135 m above sea level |
| Climb time | Typically 20–40 minutes up; allow 1.5–2 hours in total |
| Ticket | 35,000 COP per person from 1 Jan 2026, as reported by El Tiempo. Cash only, in COP. Note (checked Oct 2026): the operator's website still shows 30,000 COP. |
| Hours | Roughly 8am–5pm daily. Note: sources disagree (the operator's site lists summit hours of 7am–4pm). Check on the day with Centro Turístico La Piedra, +57 313 657 9198. |
| Geology | An exposed part of the Antioquia Batholith, a granitic intrusion (mostly granodiorite) formed in the Late Cretaceous |
| Accessibility | Stairs only, no lift. Not advised for people with heart or breathing problems. Tickets are cash only, in Colombian pesos (COP). The town and the boat don't require the climb. |
A short, sourced history
1954, the first climb. Between 12 and 16 July 1954, Luis Eduardo Villegas, Pedro Nel Ramírez and Ramón Díaz climbed the rock using wooden wedges driven into its crack.
The reservoir and the town under the water. In 1969, El Peñol signed a master contract with EPM, Medellín's public utility. The first stage of the reservoir began filling in 1970. In May 1978 the final filling began, and the old town of El Peñol, around 8,000 people, went under the water. Its residents were moved to a newly built El Peñol. A metal cross on a concrete base, standing since 1984, marks where the old parish church stood. Every 6 January, residents gather there by boat for the "Misa de Pueblo Viejo". Today the reservoir feeds EPM's 560 MW Guatapé power plant and holds about 1,070 million m³, the most regulated reservoir in Colombia.
Guatapé and its zócalos. Guatapé was founded in 1811. Its zócalos date from the early 20th century and still decorate the town's façades.
Myth vs. fact
| You may read… | The facts |
|---|---|
| "The zócalos were invented in the 1980s for tourists." | They date from the early 20th century, according to the municipality and local histories (sources above). New ones are still added today. |
| "The rock is in the town of El Peñol." | It sits in Guatapé's territory but carries El Peñol's name. The giant painted "G" and part of a "U" are from a 1988 attempt to paint "GUATAPÉ" on it, which the governor stopped. |
| "There's a town and a church under the lake… that's just a legend." | True. Old El Peñol was flooded in 1978. The cross in the reservoir marks the site of its church, and you'll pass it on the boat tour. You can't see the church under the water, but there's a life-size replica of the old church on the outskirts of town, an optional stop if you'd like. |
| "Buses to Guatapé only leave when full." | The terminal publishes departures roughly every 30 minutes, 5am–8pm. |
Best time to go
- Weekdays (Tue–Fri) are much quieter than Saturdays, Sundays and holiday weekends ("puentes" and Semana Santa).
- Climb early. Queues and heat build from late morning. Our private tours can start as early as 6am, putting you at the rock around 8am.
- Dry season: December–March usually has the clearest skies. Afternoon showers are common in April–May and October–November.
- What to bring: cash for the rock ticket, trainers (not flip-flops), sunscreen, a light rain jacket and water.
FAQ
How much does the private Guatapé tour cost?
1,800,000 COP per group for 1–8 people (one van), and 2,700,000 COP for 9–16 people (two vans). It's priced per group, not per person.
How long is the drive from Medellín to Guatapé?
About 2 hours each way, depending on traffic. The full day is about 9 hours.
Where do you pick us up?
At your hotel or Airbnb anywhere in Medellín, or at MDE airport, at the time you choose (from 6am).
Is the El Peñol ticket included?
No. In 2026 it's 35,000 COP per person (the operator's site still shows 30,000), payable at the rock in Colombian pesos, cash only. Cards and dollars aren't accepted.
How many steps does El Peñol have, and how long does the climb take?
740 steps. Most people take 20–40 minutes to reach the top.
Do I have to climb?
No. The climb is optional. You can wait at the base viewpoints and still enjoy the town and the boat.
Is the boat private?
Yes. It's a 1-hour private boat tour, for your group only.
Will we see the underwater church?
The boat passes the site, marked by a cross, where old El Peñol's church stood before the 1978 flooding. The church itself isn't visible under the water. There's a life-size replica of the old church on the outskirts of town, an optional stop if you'd like.
Will we see Pablo Escobar's La Manuela?
Yes, from the boat. Escobar's former lakeside estate is now dilapidated. It's a viewing stop only, and going ashore isn't included.
What else do we see from the boat?
Lake and island scenery, the underwater-church site, La Manuela and lakeside mansions, including homes of famous Colombian soccer players.
Can you pick us up or drop us at the airport?
Yes. We can combine the Guatapé trip with pickup or drop-off at José María Córdova airport (MDE, Rionegro) at the same price.
What time does the tour start?
Any time from 6am; it's private. We recommend an early start to reach the rock before the crowds.
Are there optional extras?
Yes. Jet skis and a helicopter ride over the reservoir can be arranged as extras, priced individually with your group.
Are meals included?
No, meals and drinks aren't included. Your guide will recommend restaurants in Guatapé and can plan around dietary needs.
What languages do the guides speak?
English, Spanish and French. Choose your language when you book.
Can large groups book?
Yes. Each van takes up to 8 people. Groups of 9–16 travel in 2 vans (+900,000 COP). The maximum is 16 people.
What is the cancellation policy?
No cancellations or refunds, because your driver, guide and boat are reserved for you. You can reschedule with at least 7 days' notice.
Do you have baby or child seats?
Yes, a baby seat can be rented. See our baby seat page.
Is Guatapé safe?
It's one of the most visited, lowest-stress day trips in Antioquia. Use normal precautions in crowds, especially with phones and wallets.
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Book your private Guatapé tour
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