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Photo courtesy of Jessica Festa
This photo was taken while visiting Colombia, specifically after climbing El Peñol, a 740-step monolith in Guatape. It was a great experience, especially as I was taking a break from traveling solo and having some adventures with friends (including the lovely Seattle’s Travels).
Ascending the winding steps awarded aerial views of the surrounding crystalline lakes, lush green islands and colorful pueblos. The most magnificent view was enjoyed at the top — where it reaches 2,135 metres (7,005 feet) at its highest point — where even the rain and clouds couldn’t ruin the beauty and serenity of the country landscape. It was a welcome respite from the bustle of Medellin.
Tip: the best way to savor it all is paired with a frosty local beer from one of the restaurants or bars at the top.
Guatape. Photo courtesy of Jessica Festa.
Reliefs in Guatape. Photo courtesy of Jessica Festa.
Afterward, most people head to Guatape — a neon-colored pueblo about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away — to check out the rainbow bright buildings, savor a local meal, partake in water sports like wind surfing, kayaking and peddle boating, and watch locals crafting intricate reliefs depicting local life and culture.
For me, this day trip from Medellin was a major highlight of my 2-week Colombia trip.
Have you visit El Penol and Guatape? Please share your experience in the comments below.
Jessie Festa is a New York-based travel content creator who is passionate about empowering her audience to experience new places and live a life of adventure. She is the founder of the solo female travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and is editor-in-chief of Epicure & Culture, an online conscious tourism magazine. Along with writing, Jessie is a professional photographer and is the owner of NYC Photo Journeys, which offers New York photo tours, photo shoots, and wedding photography. Her work has appeared in publications like USA Today, CNN, Business Insider, Thrillist, and WestJet Magazine.
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