Guatape and El Penol

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The following day we took a bus to a small town outside of Medellin called Guatape. It was about 1.5 hour ride long. Guatape is a lake community with beautiful homes, small farms and big rock call El Penol, which is a 200 feet and it stands out. Guatape was once a home for Pablo Escobar and his whole Medellin Cartel. After Pablo Escobars death, the FARC spread their operations into this area. Later on the Colombian government sent troops to drive the FARC and the rest guerrilla forces back to the dense forest. There are soldiers around to keep the area safe for the people and tourists.

We rode on horses, hiked up the El Penol. It was about 650 stairs. As you can see from my photos, the view was very beautiful. We had lunch at the top as well. Afterwards we walked around Guatape and took a boat ride around the lake. We saw many luxury homes while riding on the boat. Some of the luxury homes belonged to Pablo Escobar and his associates during the Medellin Cartel heydays. One of Pablo Escobars bombed out home is an easily viewed landmark. After Escboars death and the FARC's retreat, many of these homes were purchased by affluent Colombians and real estate investors. If you are coming out to Medellin, make sure to trip to Guatape and hike up the El Penol for a breathtaking view!

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Photos

Group Photo
Photo with our Colombian and French Friends we met the other night.

on top of El Penol
another picture from top of el penol

Lunch at El Penol
Lunch with a beauitful view!

Top of El Penol
Beautiful View of Guatape from El Penol

El Penol
El Penol... getting ready to climb those stairs

guatape
walking around the town of guatape

View of El Penol
View of El Penol on the lake

bottom of el penol
streets shops on the bottom of el penol

Home
a luxury home

home
another luxury home

Escobar
One of Pablo Escobars house and whats left of it.

escobar
Another view of Escobars home

Buildings
colorful homes of Guatape along the streets

Comments

[camilo]

que bien
vivo en Medellín y no conosco este pueblo. pronto lo estaré visitando. que bueno que no te haya dado miedo ir.

[OFELIA]

BEATIFUL PICTURES
I JUST CAME FROM THAT TRIP AND I THINK THAHT I WILL DO IT NEXT YEAR, IT WAS SO WOUNDERFULL.

[Tayron E. Duque]

pablo escobar y Guatape?????????????
I see you were "bitten" by the narcoturism bug".......I love my Colombia and have being to el Peñol and Guatape many times.... But it seems to me that people only go to these place because of the "pablo escobar legend".....Why do we have to publish such beautiful pictures and describe such beautiful place to others and mention mr.pablo escobar and las farc????????is no enough the beauty of el Peñol/Guatape and its people to make me want to come here and take my own pictures??????????? WHAT A SHAME........AND...BEAUTIFUL PICTURES.