Living in Peru : your everyday companion

By Meghan Jones

If you’re looking for something different to do next weekend in Lima, why don’t you give rock climbing a try? Rock climbing is a fairly new sport in Peru, but the community of participants is growing rapidly.

While Huaraz has long been considered the most famous outdoor rock climbing destination, there are many areas close to Lima which have remained fairly unknown. Whether you have never climbed before or are experienced climber, you no longer need to travel very far to participate in this extreme sport. A dedicated group of local climbers has been devoting their time over the last decade to develop outdoor climbing areas near Lima, along with new areas throughout Peru.

In Pachacamac. (Photo by Meghan Jones) Practicing at Base Camp Peru. (Photo courtesy Manolo Urquizo)

Photos: Rock climbing in Peru

If you only have a couple of hours, or if you are looking for a weeknight activity while in the city of Lima, Base Camp Peru is an excellent option. It is a small, inexpensively-priced climbing gym located in Miraflores. It is open year-round and is accessible to both children and adults.

The gym offers two types of climbing to patrons: roped wall climbing and bouldering, which is non-roped climbing close to the ground. It is equipped with a large selection of bouldering walls and a small section for roped climbing. The staff is extremely friendly with lots of expert knowledge that they are quick to share with any climbers who drop by. Both beginners wanting to try climbing for the first time and advanced climbers looking for a place to practice or to get information about outside routes will feel at home here.

If you are an experienced climber, Base Camp Peru is an excellent place to meet other climbers and to find partners for heading outdoors. It offers courses aimed at learning to climb, technique, skills improvement, as well as outdoor courses including trips to Pachacamac and Huayllay. The gym has varying hours depending on the season so it’s a good idea to check their website for the most up to date schedules.

There are three main areas close to Lima which can all be accessed as a day trip. Las Viñas in La Molina is the closest to the city and can be reached by bus or car. The furthest are the areas known as Canchacaya and La Escuela in Chosica, which can both be reached by car in about one and a half hours.

The most developed area is in the ecological park Lomas del Lucumo in Pachacamac. It has the widest selection of climbs, with difficulty ranging from easy to hard (low to 7b in the French grading scale). There are both sport and traditional climbing routes which allow climbers to try many different styles of climbing. The beauty of Pachacamac is not only in the climbing itself but in the picturesque view from the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean and the tranquility and peace of being in an area with very few other people.

Climbing is a very safe sport when practiced properly; however inexperience and arrogance has been the culprit of numerous accidents worldwide. Thus it is recommended for both experienced climbers and beginners to visit these places with a guide, at least for their first time. Currently, there are no guide books which identify the climbing areas, access, security, or grade of the climbs, so it would be very difficult to find quality routes when arriving for the first time.

Base Camp Peru offers guiding services, as well as outdoor courses for a low fee, and has the experience and safety measures to ensure a fun, lifetime experience. They also provide equipment, which is useful for visitors as there are no businesses in Lima that rent gear. If you are an experienced climber, I would suggest bringing your gear from home if it will fit in your suitcase, as it is expensive to buy. Gear can be purchased from the gym or in outdoor shops such as Tatoo Adventure Gear in Larcomar but generally it is not easy to find. You do not need to hire a guide; however, as an experienced climber myself, I would highly recommend it. It would be a shame to spend your entire day wandering around trying to find climbs instead of actually climbing.

Manolo Urquizo, owner of Base Camp Peru, along with a dedicated group of climbers, has been developing an area in Pasco known as Huayllay. Located in the Bosque de Piedras, there are rock formations spanning more than 6,000 hectares of land, an area much larger than that in Huaraz. Located approximately eight hours from Lima by car, it has been one of Peru’s best kept secrets. There are over 300 routes and new ones are constantly being equipped with bolts and anchors for the safety of climbers to enjoy. If you prefer to climb without a rope there are plenty of boulders scattered throughout this rock forest as well.

The local government recently built a hotel for visitors to stay in and camping is also available. The area itself is stunning, with abundant greenery contrasted by the shadows of tall, granite rock faces, and a small local community which is strongly supporting the growth and development of climbing tourism. If you have a weekend to spare, you can find your fill of climbing in Huayllay.

Whether you have a day, a weekend, or only a few hours, there are plenty of options to rock climb without having to travel very far from Lima. For more information about learning to climb, hiring a guide or finding out more about classic climbing areas in the back country of Peru, Base Camp Peru can be found at 374 Diez Canseco in Miraflores or at basecampperu.com.

Meghan Jones has lived in Peru the past six months, engaging in her passions for outdoor adventure, travel, and international development. Read her recent story "Finding the source of Peru's alpaca in Puno."

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1 Comments

# Nya Black says :
18 February, 2011 [ 07:50 ]

Nice article, thanks!

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