El Peñol
Old El Peñol replica: the town under the water
Before the reservoir, El Peñol was a valley town with its square, its church and over two centuries of history. In 1978 the water covered it. The replica, 1 km along the road, is the town's way of not forgetting.
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- 1978year of the relocation
- ~30%scale of the replica
- km 1El Peñol to Guatapé road
- 6,365 hacovered by the reservoir
What happened to Old El Peñol
El Peñol's original town center stood for more than 200 years in the valley that is now under water. When the Peñol-Guatapé hydroelectric project was built, the town was demolished and its people moved to New El Peñol in 1978. It was a forced relocation, and research such as a Universidad Nacional study of the 40 years since the move shows the wound is still felt in local families.
A cross was raised where the parish church altar used to be. Its concrete base is 25 meters tall up to the reservoir's maximum level, topped by a metal cross. When the water drops in the dry season, more of it shows. You can see it from the replica, and boat rides usually pass nearby: more in the lake and boat tours.
What the replica is
It is a reconstruction of Old El Peñol's main square at about 30% of its original size, built on a hill that used to be part of the Horizontes rural district, next to the Hondita bridge at kilometer 1 of the El Peñol to Guatapé road. Mayor Oscar Giraldo Ramírez started the project during his 2003 to 2007 term and later administrations expanded it.
- A central square with a Simón Bolívar monument.
- The church and facades modeled on the original town.
- A small museum with photos and objects from Old El Peñol.
- Craft shops, cafés, restaurants and a pier overlooking the reservoir.
We could not find a published entry fee for the replica. Ask when you arrive, especially if you want to visit the museum.
Combining it with the rock
The replica is on the same road that leads to the Piedra del Peñol, so most people stop on the way there or back. If you take the bus from Medellín, ask the driver to drop you at the replica and continue to the rock afterwards; details in how to get there from Medellín. Many day tours include it too.
To understand the rock and the reservoir in context, the history of the rock rounds out the visit. To stay in the area, see options in El Peñol and Guatapé in hotels in Guatapé and El Peñol.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Old El Peñol replica?
When was Old El Peñol flooded?
What is the cross in the water?
Sources
Checked on October 18, 2026. Prices and opening hours change: always confirm with the official source before you travel.