My Guatape Private Tour Review (2025): Is El Peñol Worth It?

So, you’re thinking about a day trip out of Medellin, and obviously, everyone is talking about Guatape. Actually, it’s one of those spots that seems to be on every single list of things to do around here, and you know, for a very good reason. We had heard a lot about the massive rock, the colorful town, and the unbelievably beautiful water views, so it was pretty much a definite on our to-do list. The big question for us, though, was *how* to do it. Honestly, you could just hop on a public bus, or you could join a big tour group, but we kept hearing about the idea of a private tour. At first, you know, it sounds a little bit fancy, maybe a bit too much for a simple day trip. But as we looked into it for our 2025 visit, the idea of having a day that was totally our own started to seem really, really appealing. In this review, I’m just going to lay out what our experience was like, so you can sort of decide if it’s the right fit for your own plans.

Leaving the City Behind: The Private Ride Experience

Alright, so the day starts, and literally right on time, a really clean and comfortable car pulls up to our hotel. You know, there was no need to find a meeting point in a confusing part of town or anything like that. Right away, that’s a pretty big difference from the typical big bus tours. As a matter of fact, we just walked out the front door, met our guide who was incredibly friendly, and we were on our way. The guide, who actually spoke perfect English, started telling us stories about Medellin as we drove, so it felt like the tour had kind of already started. The car itself was obviously way more comfortable than a bus seat would have been. We had space to stretch out, and you know, the air conditioning was a gift on what was shaping up to be a hot day. That kind of personal space and comfort really does change the whole feel of a trip, I think.

Now, the drive from Medellin to the Guatape area is typically about two hours, more or less. Honestly, watching the city’s tall brick buildings fade away and be replaced by these super green, rolling hills is an experience in itself. With a private guide, you basically get a running commentary on everything you see. He pointed out different types of farms, explained a bit about the local economy, and so on. We asked if we could stop for a quick coffee and maybe a local snack, and of course, he knew just the spot. It was a little roadside place with amazing views and, like, the best pan de queso we had the whole trip. That’s the thing, right? That spontaneity is pretty much impossible on a big tour that has to stick to a super strict schedule. That stop alone made the private option feel like the right call for what you might want out of your day.

The journey continued, and frankly, it was just so relaxed. There was no pressure, no feeling of being herded along with fifty other people. Instead, it was like having a local friend show you their backyard, and you could just ask any question that popped into your head. For instance, we were curious about some of the unique-looking houses we saw, and he gave us the whole backstory. At the end of the day, it’s these little personal touches that often stick with you the most. Getting to Guatape felt like part of the adventure, not just something you had to get through to get to the main attractions. Seriously, the comfort and flexibility of the drive itself really set a positive tone for everything that was to come that day.

The Main Event: Conquering the 740 Steps of La Piedra Del Peñol

So then you see it. From a distance, you know, La Piedra Del Peñol, or just The Rock, looks almost unreal. It’s this massive, dark grey monolith that just juts straight up out of the otherwise gentle, green landscape. As you get closer, you see this sort of concrete staircase that looks like a giant seam stitched right into the side of the rock. Honestly, it’s a little bit intimidating at first glance. Our guide parked the car, and then he basically explained the best way to tackle the climb. He told us there are just about 740 steps to the top, and the key is to just go at your own speed. You don’t have to rush; you know, you can take as many breaks as you need.

The climb itself is actually a bit of a workout, I’m not going to lie. The steps are numbered, so you can sort of track your progress, which is both motivating and, well, a little bit daunting at times. Anyway, the stairs are quite wide, and there are little platforms and viewpoints along the way where you can stop to catch your breath. The views, you know, just get better and better the higher you go. You start to see the incredible man-made lake stretching out below, and it really spurs you on. You share the stairs with other folks, all of you kind of panting and smiling at each other in shared effort. This is where wearing comfortable shoes is an absolute must; seriously, don’t even think about trying this in flip-flops.

You know, when you finally get to step number 740 and walk out onto that top viewing platform, every single bit of effort is instantly worth it. The view is just… I mean, it’s absolutely stunning. It’s a full 360-degree panorama of the Guatape reservoir, which is this crazy, beautiful maze of green islands and peninsulas surrounded by deep blue water. Frankly, it doesn’t look real; it’s more like a painting. You can spend a good amount of time up there just trying to take it all in. There are a few small shops at the top selling drinks and snacks, so you can grab something and just sit and stare for a while. That feeling of accomplishment mixed with the jaw-dropping scenery is something pretty special, for sure.

A Delicious Pause: What Lunch on a Private Tour Looks Like

Okay, so after all that climbing, we were, as you might expect, pretty hungry. This is another area where the private tour really made a big difference for us. Instead of being led to a pre-selected, often crowded tourist restaurant, our guide asked us what we were in the mood for. He was like, “Do you want something very traditional? Or maybe something with a nice view of the water?” Of course, we wanted something traditional. He took us to this little family-run spot a bit away from the main tourist area. It was just one of those places you would probably never find on your own, you know?

He recommended we try the local specialty, the *Bandeja Paisa*. And honestly, when it arrived, it was this huge platter of food. I mean, it had grilled steak, a piece of fried pork belly called chicharrón that was perfectly crispy, a chorizo sausage, rice, red beans, a fried egg, a slice of avocado, and a small arepa. Basically, it’s a feast on a plate. The smells coming from the kitchen were just incredible, and every single thing on that plate was so full of flavor. It wasn’t just about the food, though. It was the whole atmosphere. We were sitting there, eating this amazing meal, listening to the local chatter around us, and it just felt so authentic. We could take our time, enjoy the food, and just relax, which is something you don’t always get to do on a tighter schedule.

Frankly, having that flexibility for lunch was a huge perk. You know, you get to choose not just what you eat but also the kind of vibe you want for your meal. Maybe you want a quiet, local experience like we did, or maybe you’d prefer a fancier place with a stunning view of the lake. A private guide can make recommendations based on your actual preferences, not a business arrangement with one specific restaurant. At the end of the day, food is such a big part of traveling, and being able to have a genuine, unhurried, and delicious local meal really added a lot of value to our day trip.

Strolling Through a Kaleidoscope: The Charming Streets of Guatape

After that very filling lunch, the next stop was the town of Guatape itself. You know, you see pictures of this place, but they honestly don’t quite do it justice. The entire town is, basically, an explosion of color. Almost every single building has these wonderfully bright base colors—blues, yellows, greens, reds. But the truly unique thing is the *zócalos*. These are these beautifully detailed, three-dimensional panels that line the lower part of the buildings. Our guide explained that each zócalo tells a story. Some of them show the trade of the family that lives or works there, like a baker or a musician. Others, you know, show local animals, flowers, or just simple geometric patterns.

We just spent a while wandering through the cobblestone streets, and it was kind of like walking through an open-air art gallery. Each corner you turn reveals another incredibly decorated street. The main town square, the Parque Principal, is especially lively, with the big, white and red church at its center. A little bit away from there is the Plazoleta de Los Zócalos, which is this small plaza with a fountain and steps that are just completely covered in these colorful tiles and designs. It’s obviously a very popular spot for photos, and it’s easy to see why. As a matter of fact, you could probably spend hours just looking at the details on all the different zócalos; it’s a very engaging activity.

Many tours also include a boat ride on the reservoir, which our guide highly recommended. So, we hopped on a small boat for about an hour-long tour of the lake. Honestly, this gives you a completely different perspective of the area. From the water, you get a much better sense of the sheer size of the reservoir. The guide pointed out some interesting spots, including some of the submerged vacation homes that once belonged to famous—and infamous—people. But really, it was just very peaceful being out on the water, with the breeze in your hair and the massive Rock of El Peñol always in the background. It was just a really nice way to wind down the afternoon before the relaxed drive back to Medellin.

Is a Private Guatape Tour Truly Worth It? A Frank Look at the Cost and Value

Okay, so let’s talk about the big question: is a private tour like this one really worth the extra money? Because, obviously, it does cost more than the other options. To answer that, I think you really have to look at what you’re getting and compare it to the alternatives. Let’s just break it down a bit.

The Group Tour Experience

First, you have the big bus group tour. You know, these are pretty much the most common option. The main upside is that they are relatively affordable and they take care of all the logistics for you. You just show up at a meeting point, get on a bus with 40 or 50 other people, and they take you to the main spots. On the other hand, you’re on a very fixed schedule. If you want to spend more time at the top of the rock or less time shopping for souvenirs, well, that’s usually not an option. Lunch is often at a specific, pre-arranged place, and the whole day can feel a little bit rushed, to be honest. It’s an efficient way to see the sights, but it is not a very personal experience.

The DIY Public Bus Method

Then there’s the do-it-yourself route, taking the public bus from Medellin’s Terminal del Norte. This is, without a doubt, the cheapest way to do it. So if you’re on a very tight budget, this is definitely appealing. Still, it comes with its own set of challenges. You know, you have to find your way to the bus terminal, figure out the tickets, and then deal with the bus schedule, which might not always be super reliable. Once you get to the area, you’ll probably have to take moto-taxis or tuk-tuks to get between the rock and the town of Guatape. At the end of the day, it’s totally doable, but it just takes a lot more time and effort, and you could end up feeling a bit stressed from all the planning involved in arranging everything by yourself.

The Private Tour Advantage

So then we come back to the private tour. The cost is definitely higher, there’s no way around that. But what you are really paying for is, in a way, freedom and comfort. You have a whole day that is designed completely around what you want to do. You want to stop for coffee? No problem. You want to have a long, leisurely lunch at a specific type of restaurant? You got it. The whole experience, from the hotel pickup in a comfortable car to having a guide’s undivided attention, is just so much more relaxed. You don’t waste any time waiting for other people or trying to figure out logistics. In short, you get to spend all your energy just enjoying the amazing places you’re visiting.

So, What’s the Real Deal?

Basically, whether a private tour is worth it comes down to your personal travel style and budget. If you are looking for the most comfortable, flexible, and personal way to experience Guatape and El Peñol, then honestly, the answer is a definite yes. It takes all the stress out of the day and lets you just soak in a truly incredible part of Colombia.

• Personal Pace: A private option, you know, is completely about your own personal comfort and the speed at which you want to see things.
• The View: Seriously, the view from the top of La Piedra is genuinely as breathtaking as everyone says it is.
• Local Food: Frankly, don’t skip out on trying the local food; it’s a huge and delicious part of the entire experience.
• Colorful Town: The town of Guatape, with its incredibly bright colors and detailed zócalos, is pretty much a dream for anyone who likes taking pictures.
• Value Proposition: At the end of the day, spending more on a private tour buys you a day with way less stress and, arguably, a more complete and fulfilling experience.