Guatape in 3D: The Monolith Above a Maze of Islands

In the Colombian hills near Medellín, Guatapé is the country's most colourful town, and beside it a 200-metre monolith juts from a maze of islands and reservoirs. Here's how to explore every corner of Guatapé in 3D with live Street View — right from your iPhone.

In the Colombian hills near Medellín, Guatapé is the country's most colourful town, and beside it a 200-metre monolith juts from a maze of islands and reservoirs.

But here's the catch: most people will never stand here in person. The flights, the crowds, the sheer distance — Guatapé stays firmly on the someday list. The good news is that you no longer have to wait for someday. You can explore Guatapé today, in full 3D with live Street View, right from your phone.

The reservoir was created by a 1970s hydroelectric dam, drowning valleys to form today's island-dotted lake. That history is exactly what makes it worth seeing up close — and worth scouting properly before you go.

What makes Guatapé special

A few sights define Guatapé, and you'll want to find each of them when you explore in 3D:

• El Peñol Rock — A giant granite rock climbed by 700 zig-zag steps for a view over a labyrinth of blue water.

• Zócalos Streets — Streets lined with vividly painted houses, each base decorated with hand-moulded friezes.

• Guatapé Lake — The vast man-made reservoir that fractured the landscape into countless green islands.

• The wider setting — half the magic of Guatapé is the landscape around it, which reads best from above in a 3D view.

Together, these sights give Guatapé its unmistakable character. Exploring in 3D lets you move between all of them in seconds — comparing the angles, judging the distances, and deciding which ones deserve the most of your time when you finally visit in person.

How to explore Guatapé in 3D with MAPAS

You don't need a plane ticket to walk these streets. Here's the fastest way to experience Guatapé from your sofa:

1. Open MAPAS and search for Guatapé, Colombia — the map drops you straight into the region.

1. Switch to 3D view and tilt the map so the terrain, buildings and landscape rise into relief around you.

1. Drop into Live Street View near El Peñol Rock, the view most visitors travel here for, and look around in every direction.

1. Fly across to Guatapé Lake to see it from an angle few travellers ever reach on foot.

1. Turn on GPS navigation to trace the real walking route between the sights — so the day you arrive, you already know it by heart.

The best viewpoints to look for

When you're exploring in 3D, aim for these spots — they're the exact angles photographers wait all morning for:

• El Peñol Rock — 6.2306° N, 75.1783° W

• Zócalos Streets — 6.2339° N, 75.1583° W

• Guatapé Lake — 6.2500° N, 75.1667° W

Line any of them up in 3D first, and you'll know precisely where to stand — and which hour of the day gives you the light — long before you travel.

Why see it in 3D before you go

Scouting a destination virtually isn't just fun — it saves real time and money. You'll spot which viewpoints are worth the climb, how the sights connect, and where the crowds gather, so your actual visit is spent seeing rather than searching. You arrive already oriented, instead of burning your first morning getting lost.

And if a trip to Guatapé isn't on the calendar yet, the 3D tour stands on its own — a genuine way to experience one of the world's most remarkable places from wherever you are.

Good to know

A few essentials before you dive in:

• Cost — MAPAS is free to download on the App Store, with no sign-up required to start exploring.
• Best for — trip planning, virtual travel, and scouting photo spots like El Peñol Rock before you commit to a route.
• Works on — iPhone and iPad, so you can plan on the couch and navigate on the road.
• Part of — our "Hidden Places You Must See" series, a growing collection of the world's most surreal destinations in 3D.

Plan the real trip (when you're ready)

Guatapé is a two-hour trip from Medellín, an easy day tour or overnight. Climb El Peñol early, then wander the zócalo-lined streets in the afternoon light.

Whenever you do go, a little virtual scouting means you'll spend your time on the ground soaking it in rather than working out where to point the camera. Until then, the 3D version is open 24/7 — no crowds, no flights, no queue for the viewpoint.