The zigzag stairs
A zip in the stone.
Zack Knowles — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ferferic — CC BY 4.0 · Dtarazona — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zack Knowles — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Nathaly 1106 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A huge, smooth granite rock rising about 200 metres above green hills, as if dropped from the sky into a vast, winding lake. It is a rock remnant that resisted erosion for millions of years while the rock around it wore away, leaving it standing alone. Visitors climb to the top on a long zigzag staircase of more than 700 steps built into a crack in the rock's side, looking like a giant zip stitched into the stone. The climb is tiring but manageable for most people with rests, and the steps are numbered as you go. From the top is one of the finest views in Colombia: a huge reservoir of blue-green water threaded with dozens of green islands and peninsulas to the horizon. The lake formed when a hydroelectric dam was built, flooding the valley and part of an old town. Go in the morning before the crowds and heat, especially at weekends when queues grow long. The staircase is narrow both up and down, so it is not for anyone afraid of heights.
A zip in the stone.
Green islands.
Alone among hills.
Between Guatapé and El Peñol, about two hours' drive east of Medellín
About twenty minutes to half an hour for most people with rests; there are more than 700 steps. Go in the morning to avoid queues and heat.