Guatapé Private Tour with Helicopter Ride from Medellín

Climb 740 steps to the summit, then see it all from the air

A private tour from Medellín combining a climb of El Peñol Rock (a 650-foot granite monolith with 740 steps to the top), and a 6-minute helicopter flight over Guatapé's reservoir and town. The tour includes a bilingual guide, air-conditioned vehicle pickup, and insurance. You arrange your own lunch and pay a small entry fee at the rock.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Guatapé and El Peñol Rock

• Visit Replica de El Peñol town
• Climb 740 steps of El Peñol Rock
• Enjoy panoramic views and café
• Stroll colorful Guatapé town streets
• Take 6-minute helicopter flight

The experience

The day starts with a two-hour drive from Medellín to Guatapé in an air-conditioned vehicle with your bilingual guide. You'll first stop at the Replica de El Peñol, a reproduction of the original town that was submerged when the reservoir was built, where you can walk through colonial-style streets and see local shops and a small church. Then comes the main event: climbing El Peñol Rock itself, a massive granite monolith that rises over 650 feet above the landscape. The 740 steps are steep but steady, and at the summit you'll find a small café where you can rest and take in panoramic views of the sprawling reservoir, green hills, and the colorful town below.

After descending, you board a helicopter for a 6-minute flight that shows you what you just climbed from an angle impossible from the ground. You'll see the entire Piedra del Peñol, the winding waterways of the reservoir, the vibrant architecture of Guatapé's streets, and the surrounding countryside all at once. The flight is included in the tour price, as is all insurance. Your guide stays with you throughout to explain what you're seeing both on the ground and from the air.

The full tour runs about eight hours from pickup to drop-off. You'll need to budget separately for lunch in town and the small entry fee to climb the rock itself. Both are straightforward once you're there. Wear comfortable shoes for the 740 steps and bring water. The summit café can refill your bottle.

What’s included

• Bilingual guide throughout the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle pickup from Medellín.
• 6-minute helicopter flight over Guatapé and the reservoir.
• all insurance for the flight and climbing activity.
• access to the Replica de El Peñol and the town of Guatapé.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (6 to 60 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Ecoventure

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the pace and timing are yours alone: ideal if you want to linger at the summit or move through the itinerary without waiting for a group. The helicopter flight is the differentiator: you get both the ground-level perspective of climbing the rock and the aerial view most visitors never see, making it worth the longer day and the extra cost.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How many steps are there to the top of El Peñol Rock?

El Peñol Rock has 740 steps to reach the summit, where a small café and panoramic views of the reservoir and surrounding hills await.

What's included in the helicopter flight?

The 6-minute helicopter flight over Guatapé is included in the tour price, along with all insurance. It departs after you've climbed the rock and descended.

Is lunch provided on this tour?

Lunch is not included, but Guatapé's town center has local restaurants and cafés where you can eat before or after the climb.

How long is the drive from Medellín to Guatapé?

The drive takes about two hours each way in an air-conditioned vehicle with your bilingual guide, who provides context about the region along the way.

What is the Replica de El Peñol?

The Replica de El Peñol is a reproduction of the original town of El Peñol, which was flooded to create the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir. It features colonial-style buildings, a small church, and local craft shops.

Do I need to pay anything extra at the rock?

Yes, there is a small entry fee (about 6 USD) to climb El Peñol Rock, payable on-site. This is separate from the tour price.