Guatapé and Medellín tour: 700-step climb and countryside views

Climb 700 steps to views that explain why Guatapé's stairway is one of the world's wildest.

A full-day sightseeing tour of Guatapé and Medellín with private transport, hotel pickup and a professional guide who speaks English or Spanish. The itinerary takes you to Pueblito Paisa for panoramic city views, then out to Guatapé lake where you climb the famous 700-step staircase and walk the shoreline. Stops at a flooded village replica and a colorful mountain town are included, and your guide can arrange detours to smaller villages on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Medellin and Guatape sightseeing tour

• Visit Pueblito Paisa replica village
• Walk around the lake and take photos
• Explore Guatapé surroundings and learn history
• Stop at cozy village on way to Guatape
• Climb 700 steps for panoramic views
• Visit replica of old town Peñol
• Walk around colorful Guatapé village

The experience

This tour pairs Medellín's hillside landmarks with a full countryside excursion, built around the climb at Guatapé and the lake that fills the landscape around it. You start with hotel pickup and head to Pueblito Paisa, a replica of a traditional Colombian village perched high enough to give you 360-degree views of the city below. From there the route moves outward to Guatapé itself (a massive reservoir built in the 1950s), where you walk the lake shore and photograph the countryside before tackling the 700 steps of El Peñol, the rock formation that rises from the water. The views from the top are the payoff: the lake spreads below, and the surrounding hills roll out in all directions.

On the way to and from Guatapé, the itinerary includes stops at Peñol town, a small replica of the original village that was flooded when the dam was built, and a colorful mountain village where the painted house facades tell you something about the place and its people. Your guide can arrange additional stops at smaller settlements if you ask, so the day is not locked to a single route. The whole tour runs about 10 hours door to door, with private transport throughout. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and can adjust the pace and timing to fit what you want to see.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional driver and guide in English or Spanish.
• private transport throughout the day.
• access to all stops on the itinerary.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessiblePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Medellin City Services

Is this one for you?The tour is led in English or Spanish, so you'll follow the guide's commentary in whichever language you speak. If your group speaks both, the guide can switch between them as you move through the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is Guatapé and why is the staircase there?

Guatapé is a massive lake created in the 1950s when a dam was built, and El Peñol is a rock formation rising from the water. The 700-step staircase was built on the rock to make it accessible, and climbing to the top gives you views across the entire lake and countryside.

Can I choose which stops to make on this tour?

Yes. The tour includes Pueblito Paisa, Guatapé lake, the 700-step climb, Peñol town and a colorful village, but your guide can arrange stops at other small settlements along the way if you request them.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The 700-step climb is the most demanding part of the day, but it is optional. You can walk around the lake and village instead if you prefer.

Does the price include food and drinks?

Hotel pickup, drop-off and the guide are included. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price, though you can purchase them at stops along the way.