El Peñol & Guatape

A short bus ride from Medellin, yet worlds away from the city, is a El Peñol & Guatape. A 30 minute hike of 644 steps takes you to the top of El Penol with breathtaking views. Best to complete the hike in the morning in order to enjoy the afternoon exploring Guatape. The best way to get to Guatape from the rock is on a Chiva (old painted bus). The trip takes about 15 minutes and it's open air feels like a ride in an amusement park. The town is filled with tourist activities such as boat rides, zip lines, children's rides, restaurants, shops, and artwork.

Pablo Escobar once called Guatape his home and built several big homes on the lake shores. The area now is full of recreational activities and a perfect place to spend the day. What is fascinating is that most of the pictures on the outside of the stores represents what is inside. For example, the meat shop has a cow on the outside and the bar has a group of guys playing pool. I loved getting lost around town. This is a beautiful town with so much to explore.