Medellin and Guatape
★ 4.6🇨🇴 MedellinSuggested visit 1-2 daysBest season Year-round; December to March and July to August are drier
Natural wonderCity walkViewpoint
The city of eternal spring with cable cars and street art, paired with a giant rock beside a lake town.
Overview
In an Andean valley at about 1,500 metres, Medellín has a mild climate year-round. Cable cars link the hillside barrios to the centre, and the murals of Comuna 13, the botanical garden and Barefoot Park are highlights. Nearby Guatapé is known for its painted houses and the 200-metre Piedra del Peñol, climbed by more than 700 steps for views over the reservoir and its green peninsulas.
History
Medellín suffered severe social conflict in the late 20th century and was transformed from the 2000s through public transport and urban renewal, becoming a widely cited case study; Guatapé grew as a resort town after the reservoir was built.
Highlights
- •The 700 steps up Piedra del Peñol
- •The painted houses of Guatapé
- •Medellín's cable cars and city views
- •The Comuna 13 murals
Practical tips
- •It is windy at the top of the rock — take care
- •Explore the cable cars and barrios by day
Practical information
- Best time
- Year-round
- Tickets
- The rock about COP 25,000
- Opening hours
- The rock 8:00-18:00
- Local food
- Arepas, grilled beef, tropical fruit
- Getting around
- About two hours by road from Medellín to Guatapé.
- Visa
- Visa-free for stays up to 90 days with a valid passport.
Traveller reviews
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