Getting There
Piedra del Peñol is one of the most popular attractions in Colombia. Any place you stay in Medellin will have a connection to a tour agency. A full day excursion to visit La Piedra del Peñol cost about 98.000 Colombian pesos ~ $26.00. This included a visit to the small town of Guatapé, the replica of Viejo Peñol, a boat tour, breakfast, lunch and transportation via shuttle bus. The pick up and drop off from the hotel was also included.
The first thing you need to know is that the line to visit is VERY long. Stick with your guide because they may leave and decide to come back later if there isn’t enough spaces for the buses to park. There are two lines, one is for purchasing your tickets and the other is for actually going up.
Time & Cost
It does take some time to just get to the entrance, its kind of a hike to the top. First there are a set of stairs you need to go up and then its about a 10 minute walk to the ticket booth. From the ticket booth all the way up is at least an hour with foot traffic and stopping for views. Plan for 2-3 hours here, the line to get in can be very long and the walk down takes a while because the path is so narrow.
The entrance cost is 20.000 mil pesos ~ $6 USD, cash only. Ticket is only good for that day. This was not included in the excursion package.
Photos
There are a couple of spots on the way up where you can get some great photo shots, not just at the top. There is a little look out when you are heading up to you right, where many people stop to take in the views.
*Note: Take all your photos on the way up because you won’t get the same views coning down. Most of your view going down is the staircase and can’t see the view of the lakes.
The Way Down
Coming down takes a while longer than the way up because the path way down is narrower so not as many people can fit. Be patient and mindful of your steps, due to the often rain it can be slippery and have some puddles.