Guatapé and Hacienda La Manuela tour from Medellín

You climb a rock face and stand above a reservoir, then walk through the rooms where a country's darkest chapter unfolded.

This 10-hour guided tour from Medellín takes you through Guatapé's colored streets, up Piedra del Peñol for panoramic views, across a lake by boat, and into Hacienda La Manuela: a property tied to Colombia's complex history. The itinerary includes a farm visit, regional fruit tastings, a typical Paisa lunch, and time in the town itself. A bilingual guide leads the whole day and handles the logistics so you move between stops without arranging transport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Guatapé and Pablo Escobar's Hacienda

• Depart from Medellín
• Enjoy strawberries and cream
• Visit Alto del Chocho farm
• Stop at Phoenix Monument
• Taste tree tomatoes
• Boat tour across the dam
• Enter Hacienda La Manuela
• Have typical Paisa lunch
• Climb Guatapé Rock
• Walk down Umbrella Street
• Try traditional solterita
• Explore colorful town of Guatapé

The experience

The day starts before dawn from Medellín and opens with strawberries and cream at Alto del Chocho farm, a working property where you see how the region grows its signature crops. From there you move through a sequence of stops that build on each other: the Phoenix Monument, where you taste tree tomato and panelita; a boat crossing of the reservoir with views across the water; entry into Hacienda La Manuela, the estate that carries the weight of Colombia's recent past. The guide contextualizes what you are standing in front of, and the tour does not shy from the history. It names it.

After the hacienda you eat a full Paisa lunch, then climb Piedra del Peñol itself. The rock rises 220 meters from the landscape, and the climb is a series of painted steps built into the stone. At the top, the view opens across the reservoir and the surrounding hills. You come down and walk Umbrella Street, a narrow lane where locals have painted the walls and hung umbrellas overhead, then try a solterita, a local sweet. The afternoon closes in Guatapé's town center, where the buildings are painted in bright geometric patterns and the streets are built for walking.

A bilingual guide moves with the group through all of this, and the inclusions (transport between stops, entry fees, the fruit tastings, lunch) mean you are not negotiating or planning once the day starts. The boat ride across the lake is included, and so is the time to walk the town. What you pay separately is the $6 fee to climb the rock itself, which covers the maintenance of the steps.

What’s included

• Strawberries and cream at the farm.
• tree tomato tasting with panelita.
• a full typical Paisa lunch.
• entry to Hacienda La Manuela.
• a boat cruise across the lake.
• visit to Alto del Chocho farm.
• time on Umbrella Street with a solterita.
• a walk through Guatapé's town center.
• bilingual guide throughout the day.
• all transport between stops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (3 to 80 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 120

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by AEROTUREX S.A.S

Is this one for you?The 10-hour length means the tour fills the whole day and leaves no room for other activities in Medellín itself. Book this if you want a complete immersion in Guatapé's landscape and history, not a morning or afternoon add-on. The bilingual guide and fixed itinerary mean you move through each stop without deciding what comes next, which is what makes a day this full hold together.

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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).

How long does the whole tour take from Medellín?

The tour runs 10 to 11 hours total, departing from Medellín in the early morning and returning in the late afternoon. That length is what fits all the stops (the farm, the hacienda, the rock climb, and the town walk) into a single day without rushing any of them.

What is Piedra del Peñol and how hard is it to climb?

Piedra del Peñol is a massive rock formation rising above the landscape near Guatapé, and the ascent is a series of painted steps built into the stone face. The climb is steady but not technical. It suits all fitness levels, and the payoff is a panoramic view across the reservoir and the surrounding hills from the top.

What exactly is Hacienda La Manuela?

Hacienda La Manuela is a historic estate with deep ties to Colombia's recent past. The tour enters the property and walks through its buildings and grounds, and the guide provides context about its history and significance. It is a place where you confront a complex chapter of the country's story, not a celebration of it.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes strawberries and cream at the start, tree tomato with panelita at the Phoenix Monument, a full typical Paisa lunch in the afternoon, and a solterita (a local sweet) on Umbrella Street. A bilingual guide leads all the tastings and explains the regional significance of each one.

Is there a boat ride included in the tour?

Yes, a lake cruise across the reservoir is included. The boat departs from near Guatapé and offers views across the water toward the surrounding landscape. It is a break in the day and a chance to see the region from a different angle.