The Colombian countryside in the state of Antioquia is full of gorgeous rolling hills, valleys, and rivers. A perfect way to see the sights and soak in a bit of the Colombian culture is by taking a day trip from Medellin to a small village called Guatape. We hired a private tour guide to drive us to the town and show us around. We were worried that the 2hr drive would be too long. But, the beauty of the landscape and our knowledgeable guide sharing information about the land and the Paisa people (those living in Antioquia) kept us entertained, so the time flew by.
Before we knew it, we arrived at our first stop, a small town called El Peñól. We took a quick photo op with the Phoenix statue that commemorates 30 years since the big move and a city rising up out of the water. Back in the 70s, a project to build a hydroelectric dam was necessary due to the rising electricity needs of the country. Unfortunately, the city of El Peñól had to be moved because the land would be flooded by the project. Although a tough situation for the locals living in El Peñól, the dam ended up generating about 50% of the country’s electricity and now the unique landscape created by the newly-formed lakes has turned the area into a huge tourist attraction.
The biggest draw in the area just a short drive from El Peñól is the famous Rock of Guatape. The 200-meter-high granite rock rises above the surrounding landscape of turquoise lakes and rolling hills. The rock was first climbed in the 1950s by a group of 3 friends using nothing but wooden planks.
Now, tourists climb the 700 steps to the top and are rewarded with some of the most breathtaking views in the world (their sign says so, so it must be true).
The views are pretty amazing even half-way up.
In case you are struggling and need a little assistance, Mary is there to guide you.
Once at the top, you can enjoy an ice-cold mango beer or some ice cream while taking in 360 degree views of the countryside.
After the climb, we had worked up an appetite, so we headed into the charming lakeside village of Guatape for lunch. We got seats on the 3rd floor balcony with a perfect view of the waterfront.
We were treated to huge, organic beef steaks from local cows roaming the grassy hills, cooked on the open charcoal grill for the equivalent of only $7.
After lunch, our tour guide showed us around the narrow streets of town highlighting the colonial homes and the main plaza with an ornate church.
Guatape is famous for the vibrant colors of all the homes and office buildings. How cool is the mayor’s office?!?!
In the early 1900s, the townspeople decided to decorate their homes with zócalos, and everybody agreed to participate. These decorative paintings and 3D images on the front of homes and businesses represent the interests and hobbies of the homeowners or the purpose of the business. Here is the zócalo on a local bar:
Some of them even tell stories about the Paisa people and their way of life. Our tour guide told us that this one is making fun of themselves that on a weekend trip to visit relatives they must bring all their belongings with them.
Walking around this rainbow-colored town, you can’t help but be in a good mood and have a smile on your face. The designs, brilliant colors, and friendly locals create a magical effect.
The unique landscape of picturesque lakes winding around lush green hills with a giant rock to view it all plus a colorful, colonial town with a lot of character was the perfect day trip from Medellin to see a different side of Colombia.
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