We absolutely loved Medellin and spent several weeks there. One of our favorite weekend trips was to Guatapé. It is located about three hours by bus to the east of Medellin. This small pueblo is a very popular tourist spot for two main reasons. First, the zocalo or central area of the pueblo along with most of the streets nearby are full of brightly painted houses, stores and scenes. You could walk the streets all day long, stop for coffee here and there and have a wonderful day.
If you did that, however, you would miss the other main attraction. It is known by many names, el Peñón de Guatapé, Piedra del Peñol or in English the Rock of Guatapé. Whatever you want to call it, it is a huge bare monolith of rock jutting up from the ground beside the huge emblase de Peñol (Peñol Reservoir). If you want to walk to the top, you can do so by climbing the 700 rock steps on the side of the rock (you can see the stairway in some of the pictures below). If you make it, you will be rewarded by an incredible 360 degree view of the reservoir, the pueblo of Guatapé and the surrounding hills and mountains.
Some photos from around the pueblo
El Peñon de Guatapé. Apologies for the first blurry photo but it gives the perspective.
And of course ....
El Peñón de Guatapé looks a lot more challenging than climbing Enchated Rock near Fredricksburg. If I ever get to Guatapé, I'll skip the rock to explore all those brightly painted houses and shops, drink those well-presented lattes, and enter that impressive white and reddish-trimmed church (with the pagan-looking pictures next to the doors!).
Thanks for sharing these pics because I know I'll never really get there. Heck, I'm trying to convince Billy that taking the Cunard Queen Mary 2 from NYC to Southampton won't be too challenging for us this July. I think it will be much better than flying DFW to London. I'm making all kinds of outlandish promises trying to get him to commit to making reservations.…
What colorful and beautiful street scenes. And, of course, those 700 steps did not stop you for a second. Sending affection. Missed you at the graduation.