Rock Climbing Puerto Rico

WARNING

Rock climbing is a sport where you can be seriously hurt or fatally injured. This section of information is not meant to be an instruction manual for rock climbing.
​The information contained, including route description, difficulty ratings, and route drawings is not accurate. Do not depend on this information for your safety. Your knowledge, experience, skills, and judgment are of greater value.

Climbing Paradise

  • Fabulous weather
  • Beaches of fine, powdery sand
  • Friendly people
  • Lots of “extreme” shopping
  • Tasty food
  • Great caving
  • Exotic rain forest and burning deserts
  • Top Scuba diving sites
  • Awesome kayaking in bio luminescent bays
  • Exciting nightlife
  • Wild dancing: salsa, merengue, you name it.
  • Smooth sailing
  • Beautiful snorkeling
  • Horseback riding
  • Time travel to centuries-old Spanish forts and historic city of Old San Juan
  • Superb sport climbing!

About Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is the smallest island in the archipelago known as the Greater Antilles, located in the Caribbean Sea. Puerto Ricans like to say that it is “the largest of the Lesser Antilles”. The island is 110 miles long and 35 miles wide and rises to 4,390 feet at the highest point (Cerro Punta) along its Central Mountain Range.

With all year warm temperatures, little seasonal temperature variation, easy access limestone crags and plenty of rest day activities, the island is becoming a popular sport-climbing destination for climbers from around the world. Because it is an unincorporated territory of the United States, US citizens do not require a passport to travel to Puerto Rico. However, some form of government-issued photo identification is required.

The official currency used in Puerto Rico is the US dollar. While Spanish is the island’s primary language, English is widely spoken, particularly in the tourism areas. On the other hand, the taste, feel and rhythms of Puerto Rico are distinctly Caribbean-Hispanic in nature, influenced by its Spanish, Taíno Indian, and African roots. With a laid-back attitude of “why do today what you can leave for tomorrow”, partying and having a good time is a priority for most islanders.

Four main climbing areas have been developed, three of them limestone and one basalt. Most of the climbs are well-protected single pitch ranging from 5.8 to 5.13, although 5.10’s and 5.11’s are more abundant. What lacks in quantity of multi-pitch routes is compensated by the quality of the few.

When to climb

Puerto Rico enjoys a summery tropical climate. You can climb any month of the year, but some are better than others. Summer temperatures hover from 90 to 95 °F with high humidity. Climbing in the shade is OK, but you’ll sweat like hell, so bring a ton of chalk! The rainy months are September (the latter part), October, November, and December; maybe even January. Because rainfalls are usually of short duration –though they may be intense– it is often possible to wait them out. Some routes might dry fast; some might stay drenched so… bring a ton of chalk! By far the best climbing months are February and March, with low humidity, around 70 °F temperatures, and dry rock. You’ll want to climb every route so… bring a ton of chalk!

Guide Books

Puerto Rico Rock Climbing Mini-Guides series provide the best source for rock climbing information on the island. They might be mini but they are big in details. Why mini guides instead of just a full guide? First, there is so much developing happening on the island, that printing a full guide book will probably be outdated in a couple of months after its publication. Mini guides makes it easier to reprint and attempt to stay updated.

Guides for each area are available for download. They are stored in Portable Document Format (PDF), which require Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 and later in order to be viewed. Printed Mini-Guides are available at our store.

What Do You Get For Your Money?

Paying for an electronic data file can seem a bit weird; after all, it is difficult to see exactly what you have bought. In the case of the Guides, you will have purchased a full-color PDF file to keep on your mobile device, to be printed out or stored on your computer.

The Guides Include

  • Logistics, i.e., when to climb, accommodations, flights, and transportation, gear, flora and fauna.
  • Maps and directions to the climbing area.
  • Route specifics, i.e., description, bolts, degree of difficulty, star ratings, length, etc.
  • Things to do on rest days.
  • Full color pictures!