Imagine climbing El Peñol, a 740-step monolith in Guatape. It was a great experience. Ascending the winding steps awarded aerial views of the surrounding crystalline lakes, lush green islands and colorful pueblos. The most magnificent view was enjoyed at the top — where it reaches 2,135 metres (7,005 feet) at its highest point — where even the rain and clouds couldn’t ruin the beauty and serenity of the country landscape. It was a welcome respite from the bustle of Medellin.
Tip: the best way to savor it all is paired with a frosty local beer from one of the restaurants or bars at the top.
Guatape.
Reliefs in Guatape.
Afterward, most people head to Guatape — a neon-colored pueblo about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away — to check out the rainbow bright buildings, savor a local meal, partake in water sports like wind surfing, kayaking and peddle boating, and watch locals crafting intricate reliefs depicting local life and culture.
For me, this day trip from Medellin was a major highlight of my 2-week Colombia trip.
Have you visit El Penol and Guatape? Please share your experience in the comments below.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
