Climbing in Viñales

The best climbing region is the western province of Pinar del Río, primarily in Viñales Valley's National Park; the Sierra de los Organos also offers plenty of space and many routes. The routes are grouped by the principal areas: Mogote del Valle, El Palenque, La Costanera, Mogote de los Hoyos, Sierra Galeras, and Sierra Ancón.

Cuba’s Valle de Viñales has that combination of high quality rock, accessibility, and ambience that has quickly put it on the climbers’ circuit of the world’s “must see” climbing venues. The rock climbing is superlative. Cranking jugs and pockets in chiseled karst limestone on improbable lines through stunning overhangs of stalactites and tufa columns. Picture the rock features and formations of Thailand’s Railae.

Mogote del Valle

More than half of the routes in Valle de Viñales are on the walls of the Mogote del Valle. The closest routes are about one kilometer from town. The Mogote del Valle can be seen to the northwest from Viñales, with the gold wall of Milenio easily identifiable. This is where most of the route exploration has taken place since 2000. More than three-quarter of the routes in the valley are on the walls of the Mogote del Valle.

El Palenque

El Palenque lies four kilometers north of town and is easy to reach on foot, cab or bike, this area includes the Mogote Palmarito, Cuba Libre Wall, Cueva de San Miguel, Mr. Mogote Wall, and the Sport Wall.. At the center is El Palenque Disco, which may be the cushiest, indulgent "advance base camp" in climbing. El Palenque is a bar and disco in a cave opening. The bar provides rest and refreshments after climbs and bouldering in heat and rain.

La Costanera

La Costanera is a spectacular cathedral chamber of limestone. Its north facing walls are the best place to climb when it is hot. Usually, the north coast and ocean can be seen from the upper belays of La Costanera routes. Its 120M walls have yielded the greatest number of long routes of 4 to 5 pitches.