Colombia: El Peñol Rock
About two-three hour drive from Medellin lies one of the most visited attractions in Colombia – a massive Piedra El Peñol aka Rock of Peñol. The rock is a massive monolith and one of the largest single granite rocks in the world, rising over 650ft above the surrounding terrain. The rock was never scaled until 1954, when a group of free climbers finally accomplished it and discovered spectacular panoramic views and even a species of a bromeliad plant – Pitcairma heterophila – that was unknown before. Today, it takes a gruesome switchback climb of 740 steps to the top, where the views are truly stupendous, where you can also try a special beer mixed with mango and lime.
