Guatapé tour from Medellín: Peñol Rock, boat ride, llamas

Climb 700 steps to a 360° view, then drift past island estates on a reservoir boat

A full-day guided tour from Medellín to Guatapé includes breakfast, a visit to the enormous Peñol Rock, a traditional lunch, a boat ride across the reservoir, and a stop to feed and interact with llamas and horses. Entrance to the Peñol Rock Tourist Center is included, and the tour runs in all weather.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guatapé tour with rock climb and boat ride

• Meet guide at Parque del Poblado
• Enjoy traditional breakfast break
• Pass through New Peñol town
• Visit Replica of Old Peñol
• Climb 700 steps of Peñol Rock
• Have traditional lunch
• Take luxury boat ride on reservoir
• Explore Guatapé town with guide
• Free time to explore Guatapé
• Visit animal farm to see llamas and horses
• Return to Parque del Poblado

The experience

The day starts at Parque del Poblado in Medellín with a short drive and a traditional breakfast stop: corn arepa, soft cheese, and eggs cooked your way, with coffee or juice. From there you pass through the town of New Peñol, rebuilt after the dam construction displaced the original settlement, and stop at a scaled-down copy of the old town's main square, where you can pose for photos in a traditional ruana against the backdrop of the dam. The real draw is next: the Peñol Rock itself, a massive batholith with 700 steps climbing its face. The ascent takes effort, but the reward is a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape and the reservoir below.

After descending, you eat a traditional lunch (soup, rice, salad, yuca, and your choice of protein, with juice included), then board a luxury boat for a relaxing ride across the reservoir. The boat passes islands and the waterfront estates of notable Medellín residents, a stretch of the day built for taking in the landscape without moving. Back on land, you walk through Guatapé's most recognizable streets with your guide: Calle de las Sombrillas, Plaza de los Zócalos, Calle del Recuerdo, and Parque Central. You then have free time to wander the town on your own before the final stop at a small animal farm where you feed and interact with llamas and horses.

The tour runs in all weather, and the itinerary can shift based on traffic, crowds, or conditions. Transportation is shared (a bus or van with other groups), but each guide leads a limited number of people, which keeps the experience more personal than the standard 40-person tours. Breakfast and lunch are included. Vegan and vegetarian options are available for both meals. Carry a passport or ID card, since local officials can ask to see it during the day.

What’s included

• Round-trip transportation from Medellín in an insured vehicle.
• breakfast with coffee or juice.
• entrance to the Peñol Rock Tourist Center.
• traditional lunch with your choice of protein and juice.
• a luxury boat ride across the reservoir.
• guided walking tour of Guatapé's main streets.
• time to explore the town at your own pace.
• animal interaction with llamas and horses.
• bottled water.
• life jackets for the boat.
• travel insurance.
• vegan and vegetarian meal options.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by GIGI TOURS

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to experience the full day (Peñol Rock, boat ride, town, and farm animals) with a guide who looks after a smaller group than on large 40-person tours.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

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 does Peñol Rock have, and what's the view like from the top?

The Peñol Rock has 700 steps to the summit. From the summit you get a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape and the reservoir.

What's included in the meals on this tour?

Breakfast includes a corn arepa, soft cheese, and eggs cooked to your choice (scrambled, seasoned, or with sausage or ham), plus coffee, hot chocolate, or juice. Lunch is a traditional Colombian meal: the soup of the day, then rice, salad, and yuca with a protein you pick from chicken, pork belly, chorizo, pork, or ground beef, plus juice. Vegan and vegetarian versions of both meals are available.

Is the boat ride on the reservoir included?

The luxury boat ride across the reservoir is included in the tour price. It's a relaxing stretch where you see the islands and the waterfront properties along the water.