On the third day, after exploring all of Medellin, we decided to book a day trip to the nearby attraction of Guatapé. It's only a 2h bus ride from the city, so it's one of the best ways to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and explore nature. Guatapé is a small city with a really charming old town that sits on Embalse El Peñol, one of the largest lakes in the country, which was created in part by the construction of a hydroelectric dam that now provides 30% of Colombia's electricity supply. Today it is one of the must-see attractions while being there, but the highlight of the site is El Peñón de Guatapé, which is also known as the Stone of El Peñol, or simply La Piedra. This is a 200 metre high outcrop that was formed along the Antioquia Rock Base 70 million years ago. Essentially in a nutshell, this granitic rock is the result of a weathering and erosion resistant composition of intrusives and igneous rocks that were formed by the crystallisation of magma slowly cooling below the Earth's surface. What makes this peak unique is that it is surrounded by bedrock, which is more susceptible to erosion. La Piedra can be conquered by visitors via a staircase that were built into one side. This path includes exactly 649 steps and the way to the top usually takes up to 10 minutes. Before leaving the bus, our guide mentioned that the unofficial segment record is around 5 minutes, so it was obvious that our intention was to beat that time. To our delight, we made it to the top in 4 minutes 40 seconds, which can be considered the new unofficial ascent record. At the summit, there is a flat platform that offers a great view of the surrounding area and the nearby town of Guatapé. Of course, the rock is also visible from all the surrounding countryside, including the town, so the town authorities have also managed to attract tourists to visit their town. This was an effective move, as El Peñón is visited by 3,000 tourists a day. The cost of entry is 20,000 Colombian pesos, which equates to 4.5 euros, and the entire amount goes to local families.