Guatape & La Piedra de Peñón
Located about a two-hour drive outside of Medellin, Guatape is arguably one of the most colorful towns in the world. This sleepy town is home to a giant rock with 742 steps etched in zig-zags up the side of a sheer cliff, called La Piedra de Peñón. Admission is $18,000 CP per person (around $6.50 USD) and the views are out of this world. Be prepared for a good workout, even if you’re in good hiking shape, as the elevation is above 2,000 meters (6,000 feet)!
The view of the rock driving to it from Guatape.
Beautiful free-range horses are everywhere!
Take some time to explore the adorable quaint downtown and all the pretty painted houses and buildings. Each building has a painting that represents what the business is. For example, a school will have books and a hostel will have beds painted out front.
Can you guess what kind of business is inside?
A nun on the left and Sasha on the right. What a juxtaposition!
Where to Eat
There weren’t many options for good food here, but TripAdvisor steered us yet again in the right direction, to Namaste Cafe, a little vegan gem just across from the water. Owned and operated by two young local Colombians, this place is a real steal for value and absolutely delicious food using fresh ingredients! If you’ve been craving your veggies, this is the place to get them!
Salad starter with guava-carrot juice
We ordered the vegetable crepe with peso…SO delicious and cheap!
To get the price in U.S. dollars, simply divide the CP (Colombian Pesos) by 2,850.
I hope you have the chance to visit Salento, Colombia and hike to the top of El Penon!